Five-Powers Daoist

"What happened after that?"

"When the rooster crowed at the fifth watch, the ghost vanished on its own.

Then the Third Appraiser hurried off, saying he was going to invite a man of the Dao to perform rites and drive out the ghost. He probably won't be back for the next few days."

"That's good too. Saves me from having trouble come knocking.

But inviting a man of the Dao? Could it be one of those legendary cultivators of Daoist arts?"

Chen Shaojun's brows furrowed slightly.

He was not worried that the other party would threaten him while exorcising the ghost.

Once the Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique had succeeded, it had nothing to do with him anymore. Besides, the one whose life was linked to Zhang Gao's was not him, but Appraiser Apprentice Zhang Ke.

What he was truly worried about was that the man of the Dao might possess profound arts, notice something in the process, then have his sense of justice explode through the roof and trace the matter back to him.

After silently making up his mind not to use any spells for the next few days if possible, he stopped dwelling on it.

That night, the little ghost arrived as scheduled.

After only a few days of "getting along," he had learned that until the ghost had completely drained Zhang Ke, it would not trouble anyone else. Thus, the two sides had remained at peace.

Originally, Chen Shaojun had thought that after running about all day, Zhang Gao should have found an expert to take action, resulting in a fierce battle between dragon and tiger against the ghost.

To his surprise, an entire night passed. The ghost's body had nearly solidified, yet nothing had changed.

"It seems men of the Dao aren't so easy to find either."

Chen Shaojun sighed, then got up.

Yesterday, even after hearing that the Third Appraiser's place was haunted, Ayong had still proposed to the shopkeeper that he enter seclusion to break through to the next rank.

To verify his mastery of the Divine Gaze Technique, both the First Appraiser and Second Appraiser had come forward. The result was naturally no surprise: Ayong had indeed raised the Divine Gaze Technique to the proficient level long ago.

Thus, the shopkeeper specially approved his seclusion and even brought out a small bottle of Origin-Restoring Pills, which could restore mental energy to a certain extent, to lend him a hand.

Many Appraiser Apprentices watched with envy and exclaimed that Ayong had hidden himself far too well, concealing all along the fact that he had already cultivated the Divine Gaze Technique to the proficient level.

Chen Shaojun's expression remained perfectly calm.

Especially when he saw the Second Appraiser's inexplicably profound gaze directed at Ayong, he understood even more clearly.

Appraiser Apprentices were already in an extremely dangerous profession. Above them stood several Certified Appraisers eyeing them like tigers eyeing prey, ready to use them as shields against Baleful Intent and substitutes for death. Could they afford not to be cautious?

Soon, night descended once more.

After practicing martial arts, Chen Shaojun returned to the dormitory.

With the Spirit Eye Technique activated, the ghostly shadow arrived as expected.

Yet to Chen Shaojun's surprise, the ghost seemed somewhat agitated at this moment, constantly pacing around Zhang Ke.

"Has the Third Appraiser invited a man of the Dao and had him make a move?"

Chen Shaojun's heart jolted. He hurriedly returned to his bed without showing any sign of it, silently observing.

Meanwhile, inside Zhang Gao's appraisal room.

After being haunted and drained by the ghost for two consecutive days, his vitality and blood had been depleted to the extreme. His eyes were bloodshot, his face pale with a bluish cast, and even the black hair atop his head had nearly turned half white.

These past two days had been pure torment for him. He had not dared close his eyes at all.

On the first day, he had invited Lin Youzhi, the somewhat renowned temple keeper from the nearby area.

Though Lin Youzhi was merely a temple keeper, he was also someone who truly cultivated Daoist arts. He was skilled in reading feng shui and arranging formations, and he had even captured and destroyed ghosts several times before. He was quite capable, and Zhang Gao had paid a great price to invite him.

But unfortunately.

Temple Keeper Lin had exhausted every method at his disposal, yet remained helpless against the ghost. He had even sworn that there was no ghost nearby, accused Zhang Gao of making a fool of him, and left in anger.

Zhang Gao was left dumbstruck and filled with grief and indignation. In the end, he could only endure another night of being drained, then rush out of the city at the first gray light of dawn.

This time, he invited a Daoist from Clear Spring Daoist Temple.

This was also the place he could reach that was most likely to help him resolve this trouble.

To save himself, he had practically emptied his entire fortune. At last, he managed to invite the junior brother of the temple's master, Five-Powers Daoist.

"Five-Powers Daoist, are you confident?"

Zhang Gao looked cautiously toward the middle-aged Daoist before him.

It had to be said that the man's spotless Daoist robes, lean frame, pine-straight posture, and the few wisps of beard around his lips and chin gave him the air of an immortal, providing Zhang Gao with a little sense of security.

But the unease in his heart was beyond words. He did not dare relax in the slightest.

"Rest assured."

Five-Powers Daoist smiled reassuringly.

Zhang Gao nodded, but suddenly his face changed. His voice nearly carried a sob as he cried urgently, "It's here, it's here! It's here again... It's sucking at me again..."

Almost at that same moment, Five-Powers Daoist sprang to his feet. His hands moved slightly as he wiped them over his eyes.

A streak of golden light flashed.

"Eh?"

He uttered a startled sound. With a step, he was already standing beside Zhang Gao, reaching out to press against his neck.

The draining force immediately dissipated by half. Yet half a breath of vitality still followed an unknown path and vanished into the air.

"Daoist, did you find anything?"

Zhang Gao asked timidly.

"No wonder no ghost has shown itself.

If I'm not mistaken, you've been afflicted by a minor spell and plotted against."

Five-Powers Daoist clearly possessed some cultivation and astonishing eyesight. He quickly reached a conclusion and spoke.

"Afflicted by a minor spell? What does that mean?

Plotted against? Could someone have specifically driven a ghost to harm me?"

Zhang Gao's face changed. Though he racked his brains, he could not figure out who wanted to harm him. Among the people he knew, who possessed the ability to drive ghosts and hurt others?

"A minor spell is another name for a wicked art.

If I'm right, the other party must have used one of your personal belongings to place the spell upon you.

As for who harmed you, it may not necessarily have been a person.

It could have been the ghost itself, or some other evil spirit."

Five-Powers Daoist explained briefly, then his expression grew somewhat grave. "If it was done by a person, then things will be a little troublesome.

To save you, I'll have to contend in Daoist arts with the other party across the air.

If their strength is lacking, that would be one thing. But if they are powerful, even I might end up losing my life here."

"How could that be?

You are an enlightened man of the Dao, your arts are profound..."

"What are you panicking for?

I only said it was possible.

If the one acting were truly one of those powerful wicked Daoists, would you still be alive now?

So I suspect that the other party either knows only one or two wicked methods of raising and driving ghosts, or that some ghost or evil spirit itself is causing trouble. You were simply unlucky enough to catch its eye."

Five-Powers Daoist waved his hand, though there was something he did not say.

If the matter truly proved thorny, he would not risk his life, much less offend another cultivator for the sake of a pawnshop appraiser.

When the situation looked bad, leaving was the best strategy.

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