Ancient Tomb Relocation, Martial Arts Competition for Marriage

At this very moment, Ge Xian was suffering from a hypnotic, strange power akin to Void Sublimation.

That whisper, coaxing him to sacrifice his beloved, rustled like an intimate murmur in his ear, spreading like vines deep within his soul, releasing streams of venomous thoughts. Once these thoughts filled his mind, he would be unable to maintain himself, driven mad.

Ordinary county residents, or cultivators with lower cultivation, would find it extremely difficult to resist.

Unfortunately, it chose Ge Xian.

This fellow listened to the void's murmur while sneering in his heart:

"How long have I, this peddler, been here? I have no parents, siblings, nor the time for romance, so naturally, I have no beloved. Currently, the closest being to me is a Broom Spirit... Hmm?"

Halfway through his laugh, Ge Xian suddenly realized he was the clown.

His expression couldn't help but turn serious, and he thought angrily, "Showing off in front of an expert. Hypnosis is just a petty skill."

As the thought landed, Ge Xian forcefully resisted the Evil Power attempting to bewitch him, then squeezed through the crowd and headed towards the inner room, which was covered in bloodstains and mud ingots.

His movement caused his neighbors to exclaim in surprise and immediately drew the Ghost Eyes of the two Ghoul constables.

Before the two ghosts could reprimand him, Ge Xian preemptively took off his Waist Token and raised it, then said politely:

"Fellow Daoists, I am acquainted with Big Brother Zhang Buzu and Big Brother Zhao Wuyou. This is a Token they gave me."

"Let it be known to you both that since awakening my talent, I've developed a peculiar habit: I enjoy collecting Evil Artifacts and possess some Containment Methods."

"Passing through this place, I've made some discoveries and dare to offer my assistance. Do you two require...?"

Ge Xian hadn't finished speaking.

A Ghost Shadow flickered, and he was already grabbed by the two Ghoul constables, one on his left and one on his right.

The ghost on the left examined the Waist Token and said joyfully, "Indeed, it's the Token from the two Big Brothers. They're one of us."

The ghost on the right simply dragged Ge Xian into the house. Along the way, he kicked aside the man still making ingots with mud, then said to Ge Xian very eagerly, "Little brother, hurry up and do your thing, find that Evil Thing causing trouble. Whatever it is, my brother and I will help you subdue it. The item is yours, and the merit is ours."

Hearing this, he knew they were two rough and direct Ghoul constables.

Ge Xian didn't delay. He glanced at the man, who was already at his wit's end, only sustained by a surge of Evil Qi as he went mad. He signaled to the two ghosts, then strode towards the inconspicuous Gray Pottery Jar in the corner.

As expected, in an instant.

The man, who a moment ago was kneading ingots with blood and mud, suddenly roared, grabbed a knife, and leaped towards Ge Xian.

Unfortunately, he was attacked by the two ghosts in mid-air. Amidst the rising ghost energy, the figures of two fierce ghosts appeared with sinister grins, and then two terrifying blade lights slashed out. With a tearing sound, the man was first split horizontally, then vertically.

One person, turned into four pieces, with hot intestines and organs spilling out.

Ugh!

Outside the courtyard, the retching grew louder.

At the same moment, Ge Xian had already picked up the Gray Pottery Jar.

The original "Void Sublimation" instantly intensified tenfold.

Vivid images of countless desires being fulfilled flooded Ge Xian's mind.

An extremely terrifying temptation sought to draw his soul into it.

The scenes he witnessed during the process horrified Ge Xian even more. They were the twisted, shriveled, and eternally wailing Withered Souls of previous victims, desperately lunging to seize Ge Xian's soul.

Within their souls, everything they had done in life was replaying, tormenting them madly. The resulting pain brought pleasure to this Evil Artifact.

Ge Xian knew of two victims.

But now, he roughly counted dozens of Withered Souls.

Soon, a new soul even appeared – that of the man who had transformed into the four-sectioned ingot-maker.

Ge Xian couldn't be bothered to look further. He cursed inwardly, "A mere jar trying to show off in front of an expert. Taste my methods too."

Before the thought even finished, a wisp of Charm Qi seeped from his palm. Before the Two Ghosts could even sniff it, it was instantly swallowed by the Gray Pottery Jar.

The jar, already agitated and attempting to hypnotize Ge Xian, went into near-berserk mode after consuming this "Charm." It clung tightly to Ge Xian's palm. If they were separated now, the jar would likely shatter.

Unfortunately, if Ge Xian didn't give it, the jar couldn't absorb even a wisp of his soul. Instead, Ge Xian used his perception of its strange power to glimpse some of the jar's origins:

"Gray Eye Soul Bottle, an item from the Western Jin."

"It seems a high official back then, while observing the stars one night, accidentally saw an [Outer Sky Gray Eye] resembling an Immortal God. He was inspired and refined this bottle. He prepared his own tomb before death, placed his ashes in this bottle, and arranged for Death Warriors to kill his family to be buried with him... This completed a full Sacrifice Ritual, seeking Ascension and eternal life."

"The Ascension likely failed."

"But it succeeded in turning this Soul Bottle into an Evil Artifact, capable of Bewitching people, toying with them at will, and drawing them into the bottle, never to be reborn."

"From the Western Jin to today, the victims number over sixty."

"The efficiency seems average, but that's because this cursed thing acts up sporadically. After killing a few people each time, it goes dormant."

"Among past victims, there were indeed two or three cultivators from the Jin and Song dynasties."

"Unfortunately, their souls had all withered and crumbled at a touch, preventing any secrets from being obtained."

As he glimpsed these details, Ge Xian also perceived that if he were to absorb this Soul Bottle Evil Artifact, he would gain a certain Pupil Demon Art with hypnotic effects.

However, if the conditions weren't met to form a Cultivation Path, the absorbed Qi and demon art would dissipate.

To avoid waste, Ge Xian had long set a rule for himself not to randomly Cai Bu.

Perhaps sensing the power of "Cai Bu," the soul unexpectedly calmed down.

This change made Ge Xian's eyes light up, knowing he had grasped another method to deal with Evil Artifacts.

At this moment, seeing him holding the jar and not letting go, the two Ghoul constables and the surrounding County Residents cast curious glances.

Ge Xian thought for a moment and said, half-truthfully and half-falsely:

"This item is likely a burial anomaly unearthed from a tomb of a previous generation, called a [Soul Jar]."

"It has become an Evil Artifact due to certain circumstances, specializing in Bewitching and manipulating people's hearts. Afterward, it absorbs souls and imprisons them within the jar, accumulating over generations, with numerous victims."

"I have temporarily suppressed it. Once I let go, this thing might Bewitch all of you to kill me and snatch it away."

"The two fellow Daoists, due to the County Magistrate, are not afraid of this Evil Artifact absorbing souls, but once it acts up, it might absorb half of the ghost qi from your bodies."

As soon as these words were spoken.

Panic spread inside and outside the courtyard. Especially the neighboring County Residents, who asked in terror, "Are you saying... that Peng Family Man's Soul has already been captured inside?"

Ge Xian nodded upon hearing this, then deliberately relaxed his suppression slightly and released another wisp of charm.

As expected, the Soul Jar was about to go berserk again, revealing part of its true form.

A patch of gray, empty void appeared out of nowhere, within which dozens of Withered Souls wailed. In a fleeting glimpse, the figure of that Peng Family Man was clearly visible.

The next moment, with a crash, the surrounding County Residents scattered like birds and beasts.

Fearing they would be too slow and suffer the same fate.

However, the two Ghoul constables remained in the house, each with their Ghost Eyes open, curiously watching the Young Peddler before them.

Then, they each praised:

"Little brother has great skill. You look like you can't even lift a chicken, yet your insight is so sharp, and you even hide methods to subdue evil spirits. No wonder Brothers Zhang and Zhao gave you their Token."

"But with such excellent talent, little brother, why haven't you entered the Dao to cultivate earlier? If you lack connections, we brothers can help a bit..."

As the two ghosts were speaking, they suddenly realized something.

Instead of leaving, they each took two steps forward, encircling Ge Xian.

Seeing this, Ge Xian cursed in his heart:

"As expected of Ghoul, their faces change so quickly."

"I suppose like the wealthy families behind those Evil Cultivators, they see me as living merchandise to be sold off to some faction for benefits, kickbacks, and such. What kind of twisted logic is that."

Ge Xian cursed inwardly.

At the same time, he said dismissively, both as a threat and a warning:

"No need for two Daoist friends to worry. I'm currently working in the propaganda team. Big brothers Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou likely have arrangements for me."

"Besides giving me a token, they also gave me a soul bell. With just one shake, the two of them will arrive."

As soon as these words were spoken, the two crude, shameless ghoul constables both retreated.

They also realized that this coveted prize had been claimed by Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou in advance.

Lu Hualong had many ghoul subordinates, but in terms of status, the Eight Ghosts were supreme, and Zhang and Zhao occupied two of those seats.

These small fry couldn't afford to offend them, so naturally, they couldn't snatch it either. They could only retreat with forced smiles.

Ge Xian also chuckled in his heart: "Borrowing the tiger's might to bully others, using ghosts to control ghosts. How interesting."

At the same time, Ge Xian, holding the soul bottle, felt the peculiar desire to collect treasures within his body gradually fading and no longer acting up.

He felt slightly relieved and hurried home, while also unable to help but speculate:

"This peculiar habit of mine... seems to be greatly beneficial to my cultivation."

"After all, I can absorb all methods, not only Dao Qi from demonic paths but also the Dao Qi exotic powers contained within these evil artifacts."

"If that's the case!"

"This peculiar habit might not have arisen from my cultivation of the [Evil Dragon Aspect]."

"But rather from my own innate talent?"

With these speculations, Ge Xian returned to Locust Flower Old Lane in a short while.

As soon as he entered the lane, his brow furrowed. Looking at his courtyard from afar, he wondered:

"Wang Family Eldest Daughter-in-law?"

"No, although the Qi sensation is similar, it's much weaker. Could it be a cultivator from the [Ancient Tomb Sect]?"

"Why are they at my home? Could it be that sending a letter to invite me wasn't enough, and they've come to snatch me directly?"

Although puzzled, Ge Xian returned home at a normal pace.

Before long, he saw two women standing before his door, bathed in moonlight. They were dressed in white, with ethereal and cold beauty.

Ge Xian's gaze immediately went to their hands. As expected, they were as transparent and snow-white as jade, exuding a dangerous aura.

Seeing Ge Xian appear, the two beauties, who looked like they were carved from the same mold despite their different appearances, immediately stepped forward and handed him an invitation.

At the same time, they spoke in unison:

"Young Master Ge, we are disciples of the Ancient Tomb Sect, and we are here to deliver this invitation."

"The Ancient Tomb Sect will soon relocate to Qiantang and will hold a martial arts competition to choose a bride for our Saintess. As a distinguished young talent of Qiantang, Young Master Ge is cordially invited to attend and participate."