"You saw it too?"
Wu Ming looked around and saw the same dazed expressions on Shan Lan and the other two.
"We..."
Shan Lan and Ling Guhong both wore troubled expressions. "When did we choose the Good faction?"
"How should I know?"
Wu Ming felt rather vexed. There was something deeply ironic about this quest. "But... since we've accepted it, we can only do our best to complete it. Fortunately, we don't have to directly oppose Lord of Black Mountain. We can also count on the Black Terrace City God for support..."
Even so, the thought of possibly facing Lord of Black Mountain, who dominated a three-hundred-mile stretch of territory, weighed heavily on them all.
"The quest has changed... should we notify that bastard?"
Shan Lan's expression shifted several times before she finally said, "Although he's only a minor leader in the Blood Oath Alliance, he can still mobilize some resources..."
"I'm afraid... it won't be that simple..."
Wu Ming sighed. "What makes you think their quest is the same as ours? If it's different, wouldn't we just be handing them leverage against us?"
"That's true..."
Lin Qizhi and Ling Guhong's expressions changed. Shan Lan said, "You're right. I didn't think it through. Thank you for reminding me, Nameless!"
Seeing this, Wu Ming immediately realized that the three of them were clearly under too much pressure and had lost their bearings.
A chill ran through him. Is the divine order in this world really so powerful?
He didn't say anything more. They chatted for a little while, but nobody felt like continuing the conversation. Each of them went back to their rooms in low spirits and went to sleep.
Night fell.
Dark clouds blotted out the moon. The county seat was under a curfew, and in ancient times, a single glimmer of lamplight was hard to find. During the hours of the Rat and Ox, the whole world was a pitch-black void.
In his room, Wu Ming lay in bed fully clothed, breathing evenly and deeply, almost imperceptibly. A faint, shimmering golden glow appeared and disappeared across his face.
With the Spirit Turtle Qi Cultivation Technique circulating within him, he continued to make progress even in his sleep, having mastered it to the point of perfection.
Gurgle!
At that moment, the window shifted, and something seemed to slip through the darkness.
It rolled across the room, then changed into human form. Its fingernails were sharp as blades as it lunged toward the bed.
Thud!
Just as its dark green nails were about to touch Wu Ming's clothes, a layer of golden light suddenly appeared, illuminating the entire room in a flash.
"Ah!"
The shadow let out a piercing, mournful shriek. Wild-haired, with a blue-green face and fangs bared, it wore a hideously terrifying expression. It stared in alarm at the golden glow around Wu Ming, then tried to flee.
"So ghosts really do exist?"
Wu Ming opened his eyes and watched calmly. The corner of his eye twitched. "I don't provoke others, yet they come after me. Good! Very good!"
Without another word, he flicked a talisman onto the doorframe. A brilliant radiance seemed to sweep across the room's entire surface, which gleamed like crystal and glass, as solid as a wall of bronze and iron. The ghost had no fixed form, but when it struck the barrier, it shrieked and bounced back.
"So this ghost was being controlled by someone?!"
A gleam of eager anticipation appeared in Wu Ming's eyes. In an instant, he sprang from the bed like a tiger descending a mountain. With a roar, he threw a punch, True Qi driving the force of the blow and sending currents of air surging through the room.
"Eek!"
The ghost's shadowy body was as thin as paper. Faced with Wu Ming's punch, it drifted backward like a small boat in raging seas. The towering waves could batter it, but they couldn't capsize it.
Still, seeing Wu Ming's vigorous, blazing Qi and Blood, it didn't dare approach him. It repeatedly hurled itself at the window and door instead.
"Tsk, tsk... just as I thought... before a martial artist reaches the Innate level and gathers essence, energy, and spirit into one, they can only protect themselves. They can't harm an intangible thing like this."
A martial artist's Qi and Blood were full of yang energy. If he wasn't afraid, ordinary ghosts couldn't get close to him. But at this stage, all he could do was protect himself.
Once he reached the Innate level—or even cultivated astral energy—his moves would carry the combined force of his Qi and Blood and spirit. Then things would be different. The wind of his fists could even injure vengeful and Evil Ghosts!
But Wu Ming was only at the True Qi Realm peak. His essence, energy, and spirit still lacked that final thread needed to fully meld together, so this was the best he could manage.
"For a martial artist below the Body Refinement Realm Sixfold, there's only one way to deal with ghosts..."
Wu Ming flicked his finger. His nail pierced his index finger, drawing out a drop of blood, bright as a red agate and crystal clear. He flung it at the ghost, which was baring its claws and sneering at him as if mocking him.
Thud!
A flash of red shot through the wind of his punch and pierced the ghost's chest.
"Ah!"
The ghost shrieked. A gaping hole opened in its chest, and its form began to scatter. Fear even appeared in its eyes as it hurtled toward the window, like a wild beast trapped in a cage.
"Even ordinary people can ward off ghosts with the blood beneath the tongue, where yang energy gathers, if they bite through it. The same goes for martial artists. To deal with this ghost, I didn't even need blood from beneath my tongue. Ordinary blood was enough... of course, the martial artist has to be in peak condition. If he's badly injured, or his heart is filled with fear, his essence, energy, and spirit can't unite and infuse the blood, so it won't have much effect..."
Wu Ming had learned something new.
"What happened?"
Shan Lan's startled exclamation came from outside, followed by the clear, ringing cry of a sword.
The commotion had clearly alerted the others in the neighboring rooms.
Seeing this, Wu Ming no longer felt like experimenting. He drew his Peach wood sword and struck several times. The vengeful ghost shrieked and vanished, while wisps of black smoke slowly dissipated beneath the golden light.
"What happened?"
A few breaths later, Shan Lan and Ling Guhong's voices came from outside.
Wu Ming opened the door and saw the Confucian scholar Lin Qizhi stepping out of his room as well. Clearly, none of them could truly let their guard down in this Quest World. The slightest unusual sound had put them all on alert.
"An uninvited guest disturbed my sleep, but it's nothing..."
Wu Ming had naturally cleared away everything that might draw attention. His clothes were neat and his expression composed, making him seem unfathomable to Shan Lan and Ling Guhong.
"You... where are you going?"
Seeing Wu Ming head toward the courtyard gate, Shan Lan couldn't help asking.
"To return the favor, of course!"
A cold glint flashed in Wu Ming's eyes as he gave a mocking smile.
If he didn't hit back, would they really take him for soft clay that anyone could knead? Besides, having been attacked just after the quest was issued immediately set Wu Ming thinking.
Judging by this ghost, the person controlling it isn't very powerful. He probably doesn't even count as a true cultivator, just some street Sorcerer who's learned a few Ghost Controlling tricks...
And... he can't be far away...
Wu Ming vaulted over the wall like a nimble cat, a cold look crossing his face...
"Ah... my little ghost... my little ghost has been destroyed!"
Just before, when Wu Ming had killed the ghost, a horse-faced man in a room at a small courtyard not far from the inn had let out a scream. Blood streamed from his nostrils. His muscles spasmed all over as cold sweat poured down his body, as if he were enduring immense pain.
"That... that bastard killed my little ghost... Ahhh! I'll never rest until I've avenged this! I'll make sure his whole family dies a horrible death!"
After panting heavily, the horse-faced man scrambled to his feet. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes burned with bone-deep hatred.
Nearby, Tu Yanghao and another member of the Blood Oath Alliance looked grim as well. "Ma Lao San... we know what you can do. It seems the other side has someone capable among them..."
Tu Yanghao glanced around. Several trembling newcomers flinched under his gaze. "We can't stay here. We're leaving at once!"
The county seat had strict laws, and in this world, ghosts and gods truly existed. Such matters were especially taboo.
What was more, Black Platform County was, in reality, under the jurisdiction of the City God. The county seat was vast, with tens of thousands of people, and the City God might not notice them—but it would still be a nuisance.
"My little ghost..."
Ma Lao San, however, wore a mournful expression. He was more heartbroken than if his own son had died.
"I told you before... this kind of Ghost Feeding Technique uses your own body to nourish ghosts. When you hurt others, you hurt yourself first, and you risk being struck by backlash. It's nowhere near as powerful as the Five Ghosts Spiritual Power of the Orthodox Xuan Gate. This may be your chance to abandon this little trick and learn a new one!"
A young man standing beside Tu Yanghao spoke.
When he was silent, he seemed utterly ordinary, like any other man. But the moment he spoke, his words were measured and authoritative. Even Tu Yanghao didn't dare interrupt, while Ma Lao San nodded repeatedly in agreement.
But after nodding, Ma Lao San could only smile bitterly.
Of course he wanted to cultivate the Orthodox Xuan Gate's techniques. But how exorbitant was the price of such techniques? Take the Orthodox Xuan Gate's Five Ghosts Transport Method, for example. It was an unparalleled art encompassing ghost-catching, ghost-raising, ritual altars, sacrifices, ghost food, incantations, and countless other methods. The ghosts it refined obeyed like his own limbs, were immensely powerful, and never turned on their master. But it cost a terrifying amount: a full two hundred Great Merit! Under the Main God Hall's exchange rates, that meant a full two thousand two hundred minor merit points. He couldn't scrape together that much even if he sold himself.
And after buying the art, he would still need the accompanying ritual implements, a suitable place to raise ghosts, and, in the end, he would have to capture powerful ghosts himself. All told, three thousand minor merit points wouldn't even cover it!
With the wealth he had accumulated over several reincarnation quests, he had already spent everything just to exchange for this Ghost Feeding Technique. He couldn't even dream of affording anything else.
At that moment, the young man continued, "Of course... I know cultivation hasn't been easy for you. After this, I can lend you some merit points. Consider this a chance to rise from the ashes. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"
"Thank you, Young Master Zheng! Thank you, Young Master Zheng!"
To borrow merit points from the Main God Hall was an act of salvation, an immense kindness. Ma Lao San was overcome with gratitude and bowed repeatedly, while secretly thinking, They say Young Master Zheng Qian has a powerful background. His older brother holds a high position in the Blood Oath Alliance, and even Boss Tu has to tread carefully around him...
He began to think about clinging to this powerful patron.
He looked at Tu Yanghao's expression again. Seeing that it was calm, with little anger in it, he silently made up his mind.
"But Old Tu was right. We can't stay here. Let's get out of here, quickly!"
Seeing that he had won Ma Lao San over, Zheng Qian nodded slightly.
Anyone who had survived several Main God Hall quests was no easy opponent.
Ma Lao San might lack foresight and look rather unsavory, but his fate belonged to yin, which made him suited to cultivating ghost-raising arts. That made him a talent, of sorts.
Although he could rely on his older brother to keep others from bullying him for now, how terrifying was the Main God Hall? Even the Blood Oath Alliance was no more than a struggling ant before it. He naturally needed to make more preparations and strengthen his own power.
Before you continue