The red eye on his forehead instantly erupted with a blinding crimson light.
A scarlet ghost domain spread out from him in an instant, enveloping everything within a dozen meters.
The moment the Ghost Baby plunged into the red light, it was as though it had sunk into a swamp. Its movements became agonizingly slow.
Yang Jian did not even glance at it. A slight tilt of his head was all it took to evade its attack.
Realizing it could not attack Yang Jian, the Ghost Baby immediately turned its pitch-black eyes toward Ning Rongrong, who was hiding behind him.
It abruptly changed direction, opened its mouth full of serrated teeth, and lunged at Ning Rongrong.
"Help! Save me!" Ning Rongrong screamed in despair.
Yet Yang Jian remained where he stood, watching coldly without any intention of intervening.
"What supernatural ability do you have?"
Yang Jian's voice echoed through the empty corridor, cold enough to chill her to the bone.
"Keeping useless people around only makes them a burden. You and I have nothing to do with each other. It isn't my place to save you."
He had brought Ning Rongrong along solely because he thought she might be a Ghost Handler.
If this girl was nothing more than a useless pretty face, he would never waste his energy protecting a burden inside the Knocking Ghost's ghost domain.
Ning Rongrong had been scared senseless by the Ghost Baby.
But Yang Jian's icy words snapped her awake like a bucket of cold water.
Show my worth!
If I don't show my worth, this cold-blooded boy really will watch me get eaten alive!
"Seven treasures turn, revealing glazed tile!"
Ning Rongrong frantically channeled the soul power within her, and four Soul Rings-yellow, yellow, purple, purple-lit up in an instant.
"First: Strength! Second: Speed! Third: Soul! Fourth: Defense!"
Four dazzling rays shot out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and landed precisely on Yang Jian.
Yang Jian raised his eyebrows slightly.
He felt a faint surge of energy enter his body, giving his strength and speed an exceedingly slight boost.
But those enhancements were not what truly surprised him.
Rather, this energy could actually suppress the restless stirrings of the ghost reviving within him, however faintly!
The suppression was minuscule, almost negligible.
But to a Ghost Handler constantly walking the line between life and death, it was priceless!
If this girl grew stronger, she would be an exceptionally rare strategic support asset!
"You have some value after all." Yang Jian sneered.
Just as the Ghost Baby was about to bite Ning Rongrong's neck-
Red light flashed.
Yang Jian instantly appeared in front of Ning Rongrong, a pale, icy hand clamped tightly around the Ghost Baby's neck.
The Ghost Baby struggled wildly, but under the Ghost Eye's suppression, it could not move at all.
Yang Jian casually pulled a box made of gold from his backpack, stuffed the Ghost Baby inside, and locked it shut with a click.
The entire process was fluid and seamless, taking less than three seconds.
The Douluo Continent fell into deathly silence once again.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.
That terrifying monster had instantly killed a Soul Elder and wounded a Soul Douluo.
Yet this boy with a red eye on his forehead had dealt with it as casually as catching a chick?!
Yang Jian ignored Ning Rongrong's admiring gaze.
He pressed the Special Communication Earpiece at his ear, a hint of disdain in his voice.
"Lin Cheng, mission complete."
"I also found an unusual new Ghost Handler. She has the potential to suppress ghost revival. We can bring her back."
He paused, looked at the gold box in his hand, and sneered.
"Also, this ghost was way too weak. You said it had the potential to develop into an S-class supernatural incident? Are you kidding me?"
Those words left the entire Douluo Continent utterly stunned and numb.
A monster that had instantly killed a level-50 Soul King and sent a level-82 Soul Douluo fleeing in panic-
This boy, who looked only seventeen or eighteen, had actually called it weak?!
And just who was this Lin Cheng he had mentioned?!
Downtown Dachang City.
A newly completed skyscraper.
Inside a spacious, luxurious office on the top floor.
A young man in casual clothes lounged lazily on a leather sofa.
The air around him was visibly distorted.
Five distinctly different supernatural presences resided within his body, maintaining a flawless balance.
System, perform today's check-in.
Lin Cheng lifted his eyelids slightly and issued the command silently.
[Ding! Today's check-in successful.] [Check-in reward obtained: supernatural puzzle piece-Ghost Hand.] [Check-in reward obtained: Special Communication Earpiece ×1 (ignores distance and all supernatural interference).]
As the notification ended, a deathly pale severed hand appeared out of thin air on the coffee table before him.
The moment the Ghost Hand appeared, it radiated a sinister chill.
Its fingers flexed slightly, as though it wanted to spring into action according to its killing rules.
But beneath the suppression of the five terrifying presences surrounding Lin Cheng, it instantly froze on the tabletop, unable to move another inch.
Lin Cheng glanced at the earpiece on the table, the corner of his mouth twitching helplessly.
"System, did you overstock on these earpieces?"
He casually opened the drawer beside him, revealing rows upon rows of identical black earpieces.
"You give me one every time I check in. I'm practically drowning in these things. I have enough to open a phone accessories shop downstairs."
Complaints aside, Lin Cheng's gaze then settled on the deathly pale Ghost Hand.
"Still, this Ghost Hand is pretty good."
Lin Cheng rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"That kid Yang Jian has only barely managed to open three Ghost Eyes. His strength is still a little lacking. This Ghost Hand would make the perfect puzzle piece for him and help suppress his revival."
Just then-
Yang Jian's complaints came through one of the Special Communication Earpieces on the table.
Listening to him, Lin Cheng could not help chuckling.
Before he could respond, a shrill alarm suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Warning! Unknown plane coordinates detected forcibly connecting to this world!] [Plane analysis complete: Xuanhuan Plane, Douluo Continent!] [Notice: the Douluo Continent's firmament law is attempting to project the host's location for a continent-wide broadcast! Activate concealment?]
"The Douluo Continent?"
Lin Cheng froze for a moment, then a trace of amusement flashed through his deep eyes.
It was supposedly the absolute bottom tier of fantasy worlds. Thinking of the personalities of the Douluo Continent's natives, he suddenly found the prospect rather entertaining.
If those people brought their ridiculous arrogance into this supernatural world of inescapable rules, wouldn't they fare even worse than children playing house?
"Conceal it," Lin Cheng ordered without hesitation.
As soon as he gave the command, the firmament law attempting to spy on this place was instantly repelled.
With that done, Lin Cheng pressed his earpiece.
Since the Knocking Ghost's ghost domain was at No. 7 Middle School in Dachang City, he intended to send someone to wrap things up.
"Ye Zhen," Lin Cheng said evenly. "Go have some fun at No. 7 Middle School in Dachang City. Team up with Yang Jian and bring back that Knocking Ghost that hasn't fully revived while you're at it."
The communication channel went silent for two seconds.
Then came the sound of someone noisily sucking down Want Want milk.
The sound of someone noisily sucking down Want Want milk came through the earpiece, followed by Ye Zhen's roar.
"Team up?! Boss Lin, you're insulting me!"
"I am Number One in Asia! How could some door-knocking old man possibly warrant me teaming up with Little Yang?"
"With just myself and my sword, I can crush every enemy in the world! Sword, come!"
Beep. The other party ended the call.
Listening to the dead tone in his earpiece, Lin Cheng rubbed his brow, looked out at the gloom hanging over Dachang City, and let out a long sigh.
"Sure enough, Yang Jian lacks strategy, and Ye Zhen lacks sense."
Before you continue