Evil Ghost

Night falls at the Gongsun Manor.

The interior is luxurious and grand.

Gongsun Qiong sat in the main seat, one hand on the table, tapping lightly with his fingers.

'Da~'

'Da~'

'Da~'

Zhao Xiaodao and Chu Hongyuan stood aside, quietly watching Gongsun Qiong tap her fingers.

A long time.

Zhao Xiaodao finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "President, what are you doing?"

Gongsun Qiong tapped the table with great interest, saying in a somewhat excited tone, "Didn't you notice anything different?"

Zhao Xiaodao and Chu Hongyuan exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Gongsun Qiong stopped tapping on the table and said, "I was just trying to amuse it."

Now the two were even more confused.

Gongsun Qiong glanced at the two of them, knowing they wouldn't understand her meaning, so she didn't explain further, withdrew her hand, and asked earnestly, "Has there been anything unusual with the Chamber of Commerce lately?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Hongyuan quickly replied, "The Chamber of Commerce has been operating normally during the two months you were away. However, according to information from the Chamber's headquarters, King Chu Heng issued an edict a month ago inviting you to attend this year's state banquet. The Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince even made a special trip to Dubian Town to look for you; you saw them just now outside the Mysterious Bookstore."

After listening, Gongsun Qiong didn't dwell on the Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince, but instead asked, "What about the trading market?"

Chu Hongyuan replied, "Due to the upcoming state banquet, the population of Dubian Town has been declining sharply since last month. According to statistics, there are now less than 500,000 people. This sharp decline in population has had a significant impact on the revenue of the trading market, with a monthly drop of more than 20%. However, the market for exclusive phone numbers, Pokémon, and related merchandise is on the rise."

Gongsun Qiong nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, "How are the preparations for the Pokémon Championship going?"

Chu Hongyuan continued, "The venue has been set up on a wasteland twenty miles north of Dubian Town. All preparations are complete, and the number of people who have registered for this Pokémon Championship has reached 2,300, far exceeding our initial expectations."

Although the state banquet caused some cultivators to leave Dubian Town, the Pokémon Championship remained unaffected. Most cultivators who owned Pokémon Championship; after all, the rewards were simply too Captivate for them.

Who wouldn't want a book awarded by the Mysterious Bookstore, especially Yellow Quality one?

While state banquets are enjoyable, offering free food, drinks, and entertainment, they don't actually increase cultivation levels, provide martial arts techniques, or grant magical artifacts. For these cultivators, the appeal is far less than that of the Pokémon Championship.

"However, everyone has some objections to the start time of the Pokémon Championship, and everyone hopes that we can set a date as soon as possible," Chu Hongyuan added.

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Qiong pondered for a moment and said, "Let's set it for the 25th of this month."

There has been a lot of publicity surrounding the Pokémon Championship, but no specific participation time has been given. Now that the approximate competition time released by Wantong Trading Market is getting closer, everyone is naturally hoping to hear an accurate competition time.

"The 25th?" Chu Hongyuan asked hesitantly.

Upon seeing this, Gongsun Qiong asked, "Is there a problem?"

"The state banquet ceremony will also be held on the 25th this year," Chu Hongyuan said softly.

The Chu Kingdom had explicitly prohibited any activities from being held within the Chu Kingdom borders during the state banquet period since its inception. Even top-tier institutions like Zhenguan Academy moved their annual entrance exams earlier because of the state banquet, which is enough to demonstrate the importance that King Chu Heng banquet.

Currently, Mysterious Bookstore and Wantong Trading Market are not only hosting Pokémon Championship during the state banquet, but they've also scheduled the opening day for the same day as the banquet's opening ceremony! Once this gets out, it's hard not to think that Mysterious Bookstore and Wantong Trading Market are challenging King Chu Heng's authority.

Gongsun Qiong waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about that, just focus on organizing the competition."

Since Gongsun Qiong had said so, Chu Hongyuan naturally couldn't say anything and could only nod in agreement.

"You can discuss the specifics with Xiaodao later. She will be in charge of this competition. After you hand over the duties, come back and protect my safety," Gongsun Qiong continued.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaodao couldn't help but ask, "Is the president worried that someone might assassinate you?"

Gongsun Qiong nodded and said, "It's better to be safe than sorry. This time the commotion was too great. I've completely comprehended Epic-grade- quality book, and the outside world is definitely wondering what I gained from it. At times like this, some people will inevitably be unable to suppress their curiosity. In order to avoid repeating the same mistake as last time, it's best to be careful."

The assassination attempt on Gongsun Qiong by the Phantom Organization last time left a deep scar on her.

When Zhao Xiaodao heard Gongsun Qiong mention the previous incident, a look of lingering fear immediately appeared on his face.

"But President, what exactly did you gain from that copy of the Analects?" Chu Hongyuan couldn't help but ask, his curiosity piqued.

Zhao Xiaodao, standing to the side, also showed an expectant expression.

Upon seeing this, Gongsun Qiong couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly frowned, stared intently at the door, and showed an incredulous expression on his face.

Chu Hongyuan and Zhao Xiaodao looked around with puzzled expressions and turned to look outside the door, only to find it empty and without any sign of anything amiss.

However, Chu Hongyuan seemed to sense something was different, his brows furrowed slightly, and he subconsciously moved closer to Gongsun Qiong.

"Xiaodao, come here," Gongsun Qiong said coldly.

Zhao Xiaodao was still confused when he saw Gongsun Qiong's serious expression. He immediately felt nervous and ran to Gongsun Qiong's left side, where a spirit sword silently appeared in his hand.

"President, do you sense something's amiss?" Chu Hongyuan stood to Gongsun Qiong's right, looking at the empty hall, and said in a deep voice.

Gongsun Qiong nodded, not answering Chu Hongyuan's question, but staring intently at the doorway, and asked, "Who are you?"

Chu Hongyuan and Zhao Xiaodao, standing on either side, looked puzzled, wondering who Gongsun Qiong was talking to.

"Phew~"

A gust of cold wind blew in, extinguishing all the lights in the hall.

"Phew~"

Another gust of cold wind rushed towards Gongsun Qiong. Without thinking, Zhao Xiaodao stepped forward, held his sword horizontally in front of his chest, and thrust it forward.

There was no one or anything in front of him, so Zhao Xiaodao's sword struck empty air.

"Bang~"

Suddenly, Zhao Xiaodao felt a powerful Tackle, and he was sent flying, crashing heavily into a pillar.

"President, be careful!" Chu Hongyuan's Spiritual Power spread out, forming a powerful Spiritual Power wall that he pushed directly towards the door.

"Bang!"

The powerful Spiritual Power Tackle the door, triggering a high-level array. The attack was neutralized by the array; otherwise, the entire house would have collapsed from that single blow.

Gongsun Qiong watched all this from behind with a frown, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"

Chu Hongyuan, wielding his spirit sword, began an indiscriminate attack, his sword energy covering every corner of the hall.

"Hongyuan, stop." Gongsun Qiong said.

Chu Hongyuan stopped attacking and retreated to Gongsun Qiong's side, his face somewhat anxious. He said, "Guild Leader, I can't see him!"

Gongsun Qiong nodded and said, "Give me the sword."

Chu Hongyuan was taken aback.

Gongsun Qiong stood up, palms facing upwards.

Chu Hongyuan subconsciously handed the seventh-tier spirit sword in his hand to Gongsun Qiong.

Gongsun Qiong held the spirit sword, but because it lacked spiritual energy, the sword's aura instantly vanished, turning it into an ordinary spirit sword.

"Da, da, da~"

Gongsun Qiong gripped her spirit sword and walked step by step toward the door.

"Phew~"

A chilling wind, even stronger than before, blew in. Chu Hongyuan and Zhao Xiaodao were terrified and couldn't help but shout, "President, be careful!"

The strong wind blew up Gongsun Qiong's long robe and hair. Holding a spirit sword, she exuded a rather imposing aura.

"Hiss~"

Suddenly, a piercing, sharp Growl rang out from the hall, the sound aimed directly at Gongsun Qiong.

Gongsun Qiong raised his eyebrows, and a powerful force suddenly erupted from his body. Carrying this inexplicable power, Gongsun Qiong held his sword with both hands and stepped forward to slash!

"Pfft!"

The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh rang out.

"Hiss~!"

A sudden, mournful Growl rang out.

Immediately afterwards, a woman dressed in mourning clothes, with a pale and terrifying face, appeared before Gongsun Qiong.

"Ah!"

Zhao Xiaodao had never seen anything so terrifying before, and he cried out in fright.

Chu Hongyuan was also shocked, but he suppressed his shock, formed a palm with one hand, and struck the woman dressed in mourning clothes with powerful Spiritual Power.

"Boom~"

With a tremendous sound, enveloped by powerful Spiritual Power, the woman in mourning clothes was blasted into the air, then Sheer Force absorbed by the Spiritual Power and completely disappeared.