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 someone skilled in 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 us from getting dragged into trouble.

But someone skilled in the Dao? Could it be one of those legendary Daoist cultivators?"

Chen Shaojun frowned slightly.

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

Once the Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique succeeded, it had nothing to do with him anymore.

And the one whose life was linked to Zhang Gao's was not him, but appraisal apprentice Zhang Ke.

What he truly worried about was that the Daoist might possess profound abilities, discover something from this, and then, with a surging sense of justice, trace the matter back to him.

Having secretly made up his mind not to use any spells these next few days if possible, he stopped dwelling on it.

That night, the little ghost arrived as expected.

After only a few days of "getting along," he had learned that until the ghost had drained Zhang Ke dry, it would not trouble anyone else.

Thus, both sides had remained at peace.

Originally, Chen Shaojun had thought that after a day of rushing about, Zhang Gao should have found some "master" to intervene.

There ought to have been a fierce battle between that master and the ghost.

Unexpectedly, after an entire night had passed, the ghost's body had nearly solidified, yet nothing had changed.

"Looks like people skilled in the Dao aren't so easy to find."

Chen Shaojun sighed and rose to his feet.

Yesterday, although Ayong had heard about the Third Appraiser being haunted, he still proposed to the shopkeeper that he enter seclusion to break through to the next rank.

To verify the strength of his Divine Gaze Technique, both the First Appraiser and Second Appraiser had stepped forward.

The result was unsurprising. 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 one's mental strength to a certain extent, to lend him a helping hand.

Many appraisal apprentices watched with envy and cried out in amazement. Ayong had hidden himself far too deeply—he had kept the fact that he had long since raised the Divine Gaze Technique to the proficient level concealed from them all this time.

Chen Shaojun's expression remained perfectly calm.

Especially when he saw the unfathomably deep look in the Second Appraiser's eyes as he gazed at Ayong, he understood even more clearly.

Appraisal apprentices had always been in an extremely dangerous profession.

Above them, several official appraisers were watching them like tigers eyeing prey, ready to use them to block Baleful Intent and die in their place. Without caution and care, how could they possibly survive?

Soon, night fell once more.

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

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

However, to Chen Shaojun's surprise, the ghost seemed somewhat agitated, continuously pacing around Zhang Ke.

"Has the Third Appraiser found someone skilled in the Dao, and has that person made a move?"

Chen Shaojun was startled inwardly. He calmly returned to his bed and silently observed.

Meanwhile, inside Zhang Gao's appraisal room.

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

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

On the first day, he had invited Lin Youzhi, a somewhat famous local temple keeper.

Although Lin Youzhi was merely a temple keeper, he was also a genuine practitioner of Daoist arts. He excelled at reading feng shui and setting formations, and had even captured and destroyed ghosts several times. He was quite formidable, and Zhang Gao had paid a hefty price to hire him.

It was only a pity.

Temple Keeper Lin had used every method at his disposal, yet he was helpless against the ghost. He even swore that there was no ghost nearby and accused Zhang Gao of making a fool of him before leaving in fury.

Zhang Gao was dumbstruck and filled with grief and indignation. In the end, he could only endure another night of being drained, then hurried out of the city when dawn was still gray and dim.

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

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

To save himself, he had nearly emptied his entire fortune before finally managing to invite the temple master's junior brother, Five-Powers Daoist.

"Five-Powers Daoist, are you sure about this?"

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

It had to be said, the man's spotless Daoist robes, lean figure standing straight as a pine, and the few wisps of beard around his lips and chin gave him the bearing of an immortal sage. It truly gave Zhang Gao a little sense of security.

Yet 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 expression changed. His voice nearly broke into a sob as he cried anxiously, "It's here, it's here. It's here again... It's sucking at me again..."

At almost the exact same moment, Five-Powers Daoist sprang to his feet. His hands moved slightly, then swept across his eyes.

A flash of golden light passed.

"Hm?"

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

That draining force immediately weakened by half. Yet half a mouthful of life force still vanished into the air along an unknown trajectory.

"Daoist, have you discovered anything?"

Zhang Gao asked anxiously.

"No wonder no ghost has appeared.

If I'm not mistaken, you've fallen victim to a minor technique. Someone has plotted against you."

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

"A minor technique? What does that mean?

A plot? Could someone have deliberately driven a ghost to harm me?"

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

"A minor technique means an evil art.

If my guess is correct, the other party must have used one of your personal belongings to cast the spell upon you.

As for who is harming you, that may not necessarily be a person.

It could be the ghost itself, or some other evil entity."

After explaining, Five-Powers Daoist's expression grew slightly grave. "If it was done by a person, then things will be somewhat troublesome.

If I am to save you, I must engage the other party in a battle of Daoist arts across the void.

If the other party is weak, that would be one thing. But if he is powerful, even I may end up buried here."

"How could that be?

You are a man who has attained the Dao, with such profound Daoist arts..."

"What are you panicking for?

I only said it was possible.

If those powerful evil Daoists had truly made a move, would you still be alive today?

So I reckon that either the other party only knows one or two evil arts for raising and driving ghosts, or some ghostly evil is causing trouble itself. You were merely unlucky enough to be targeted."

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

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

When the situation looked bad, running was the best plan.

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