"System? I'd like to ask: does time flow at the same rate on the Douqi Continent and in the world of A Chinese Ghost Story?"
"Ding! Time does not flow at the same rate. When the host enters another world, time in the main world will stop. It will only begin flowing again after the host completes the mission and returns."
"I see. Doesn't that mean if I cultivate for a year in the world of A Chinese Ghost Story, I'll have gained an extra year of cultivation compared to everyone else when I return to the Douqi Continent?"
"Just as the host understands. However, the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi and the laws of nature differ from world to world. After traveling to another world, the host's cultivation speed may slow down or increase dramatically."
Scratching his chin, Xiao Han found the system's explanation a little hard to follow. Curious, he asked, "For example?"
"For example, if the host travels to an age without magic, the speed at which he absorbs Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi will be greatly reduced, making cultivation extremely difficult."
"I see. I understand."
Xiao Han let out a breath. He was ready for what lay ahead.
But since he was going to travel to another world, he wasn't about to do it without making proper preparations.
First, Xiao Han recalled what he could of the plot of A Chinese Ghost Story, then instructed Qinglin to go to the Family Medicinal Herb Store and pick up nearly half a year's worth of supplies for him.
Then he packed some everyday necessities: things like Douqi Continent–style Otaku Happy Water, food that could be stored for a long time, dried fruit, jerky, rice, snacks, clean water, and a tent. He brought enough to last several years, just in case.
After all, he'd always loved storage rings, even before he'd crossed worlds. Now that he had a Storage Ring with more than a thousand cubic meters of space, he naturally had to put it to good use.
After thinking it over, Xiao Han went to the Mittel Auction House and bought two more low-grade Storage Rings, each with over ten cubic meters of space. Only then did he clap his hands in satisfaction and return to his room to prepare for the journey.
After closing the door, Xiao Han took a deep breath.
He still remembered the general plots of A Chinese Ghost Story 1 and 2, but not how long the events took in detail.
He only knew that they lasted at least a year or so. The thought of not seeing Qinglin and the others for a year or more left him reluctant to go.
But that was life. A man had to travel far and wide. Sooner or later, he had to leave home and venture into the world.
Gritting his teeth, Xiao Han summoned the system.
Just as he was about to travel, the system sent him a message: "Since the host has advanced to Dou Master, the system will randomly gift an item from the Myriad Worlds. Would you like to accept it?"
"Such a good deal?"
Xiao Han raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Yes. In the future, every time the host advances to a major realm, he will receive a random item," the system replied coolly. "Would you like to accept the item now?"
"No! I'll wait until I've traveled to the instance world."
Xiao Han shook his head. He'd finally managed to steel himself, and it was frustrating to be interrupted now.
"System! Open the world interface and select the Hong Kong version of the A Chinese Ghost Story film world as my destination!"
"Ding! The Portal of Transmigration has opened... Countdown begins: five, four, three, two, one."
Boom!!!
As the system's cold, mechanical countdown reached one, Xiao Han felt a powerful vortex of energy explode in his mind.
The next moment, the vortex—now towering seven feet tall before his eyes—sucked him inside.
A dizzying sensation of his world turning upside down swept over him. Xiao Han felt terribly sick, his stomach churning as if he were about to throw up.
Passing through layer upon layer of black light, Xiao Han finally broke through the World Barrier and successfully entered the world of A Chinese Ghost Story.
As soon as he got out, his stomach lurched. He bent over on the grass and vomited uncontrollably, nearly bringing up his stomach acid.
"Damn, if I'd known traveling between worlds was worse than motion sickness, I wouldn't have eaten beforehand... Urk!!!"
After throwing up a mass of unidentifiable mush, Xiao Han wiped his mouth and stood up, surveying this new world.
Whoosh—
"Caw—caw—gaa—gaa—"
A chilling wind swept by, accompanied by the cries of crows.
It was midnight, and a waning moon hung high in the sky.
If he wasn't mistaken, he'd arrived on a Wild Mountain.
The area was nothing but desolate wilderness, with mottled shadows cast by the trees. Ever since arriving in this world, Xiao Han had felt an eerie presence all around him.
"Hiss—"
He instinctively pulled his clothes tighter, feeling a little afraid. This world, crawling with monsters, was even more terrifying than the sinister atmosphere depicted in the film.
Xiao Han looked as cautious as an ordinary person who'd stumbled into some unholy place in a ghost movie. Fortunately, he had skills to protect himself. Unlike ordinary people who'd be doomed the moment they encountered a demon or ghost, Xiao Han could destroy these Evil Souls with a casual counterattack.
He made his way downhill over rotting branches and leaves. Looking into the distance, he spotted something swaying from the Crooked Neck Tree halfway up the mountain.
"Extreme Shadow Steps!"
At a thought, Xiao Han activated his perfected movement technique. He lightly pushed off with his toes and darted toward the middle of the mountain in a few quick bounds.
When he got closer, he was horrified.
"Hiss—"
The sight was so terrifying that Xiao Han drew in a sharp breath without thinking.
Five small children's corpses hung from the dried-up Crooked Neck Tree, swaying in the wind!
If they'd been just corpses, Xiao Han wouldn't have been so afraid. What truly horrified him was the gruesome state they were in.
The five limbless children had been disemboweled and had their hearts removed. Maggots crawling over their bodies devoured the flesh, and faint livor mortis showed beneath their skin.
Judging by their condition, they hadn't been dead for long. Their twisted, terrified faces suggested they'd been subjected to inhuman torture before they died.
There were three boys and two girls.
All five children had their ears, lips, and noses cut off. Their eyes, which should have been innocent and bright, had been cruelly gouged out.
Looking down, he saw a number of severed limbs scattered on the ground. They must have belonged to the children.
And judging by their wounds, the murderer hadn't just cut off their features and removed their hearts. The children's genitals and wombs had also been cut out—and while they were still fully conscious!
Boom!!!
Xiao Han slammed a fist into the ground, blasting out a crater four meters in radius and one meter deep.
After his initial shock, boundless fury surged through him. His eyes turned red, and with the rage came a murderous intent that flooded his heart!
The Demon Armor in his Dantian was roused by his killing intent. Sensing its host's emotions, it immediately stirred with excitement.
An overwhelming Demonic Might burst from his body and resonated with Xiao Han's killing intent. Demonic Qi surged into the clouds, blackening the sky for a hundred miles, as if it would devour the heavens whole!
"Damn... you!"
Xiao Han never claimed to be a good person, but when facing an enemy, he always killed with a single blow. He never tortured them.
And these innocent children weren't even eight or nine years old!
He knew that in a chaotic age, human life was worth less than grass.
But witnessing it with his own eyes stirred a feeling in him that was hard to describe.
Judging by the wounds on the children's corpses, the murderer was most likely not an ordinary human. It could be any of the Evil Spirits in the world of A Chinese Ghost Story!
Demons!
Vengeful ghosts!
Demonic Path cultivators!
Xiao Han focused all his Soul Power on scanning the five corpses. Beneath the Crooked Neck Tree, a strange aura lingered—one he'd never sensed before. If he wasn't mistaken, it was the legendary Demon Aura!
As an alchemist, Xiao Han naturally had exceptional Soul Power. What was more, Old Man Yao had spent the past month teaching him all kinds of ways to use it, along with a few useful tricks.
With his Soul Power searching the area, no Evil Spirit would escape notice!
Sure enough!
Xiao Han abruptly turned around. On the grass not far from the Crooked Neck Tree, he spotted a single white hair.
He couldn't tell what animal it belonged to, but he was certain it wasn't an unintelligent Beast. It belonged to a genuine—
Demon!
Xiao Han wanted to subdue demons and eliminate evil, but all he had was a clue. He didn't know how to search or track his prey!
Damn it! This was infuriating!
Xiao Han punched the tree beside him, leaving a hole straight through it.
"Ding! Based on the clues available, the host has triggered the Side Quest 'Demon Extermination.'
As the nation nears its fall, the land teems with demons.
As a system host with a shady deal with the World Consciousness, you should wield your Three-foot Sword and sweep away the Evil Spirits of the world.
Mission: During the mission period, eliminate at least 1,000 demons, vengeful ghosts, and Demonic Path cultivators.
Reward: The complete Wind Riding Sword Technique.
'Is a leaf's life all about returning to its roots?'"
"Ding! The host has triggered the Side Quest 'Demon Extermination.' To ensure the host can make progress on the mission, the random item granted for advancing to Dou Master will be replaced with a tracking method. The host may claim it."
Before you continue