Ghost Control and Demon Transformation

At that moment, Old Fourth Gu suddenly smiled. "Kid, I won't make things difficult for you. Do me a favor, and I'll consider this matter settled. You won't have to return that half jin of ash, either."

"Captain Old Fourth, just say what you want. Stop beating around the bush."

Lin Yi immediately understood. Old Fourth Gu was quite the schemer. His earlier insistence on making Lin Yi repay the debt had probably all been leading up to this.

After all, Old Fourth Gu knew that the Mist Wraith Spirit Stone was already gone. There was no point in nitpicking over it anymore.

Old Fourth Gu narrowed his eyes. "This favor carries some danger for you, so don't rush to agree."

"Go ahead. What exactly is it?"

"I want you to log in after midnight tonight and use your special ability to take me into the Core Zone of Ancient Tomb Valley. There's a cave there..."

Before Old Fourth Gu could finish, Gu Chenghu's expression changed instantly.

"Old Fourth, are you insane? That place has long been a forbidden zone. If you want to die, go by yourself. Don't drag someone else along to die with you!"

Old Fourth Gu ignored Gu Chenghu and stared directly at Lin Yi. "Kid, are you going or not? Don't worry. Even if I die in there, you won't."

Lin Yi frowned. "Captain Old Fourth, first tell me what that cave in the Core Zone is, and what you're going there for."

"As long as you can guarantee there isn't too much danger, I'm willing to make the trip with you."

"Fine. There's nothing wrong with telling you. After all, it's a dark chapter in our village's history."

Old Fourth Gu began speaking. He then nodded and asked, "Qingshan, do you know the origins of Ancient Tomb Valley?"

Lin Yi glanced at Gu Chenghu. "I heard the Captain say that this valley was originally where the bodies of outstanding members of the village Militia Team were buried. Later, though, it was occupied by a Ghost Spirit with the ability to revive corpses. It stayed in the valley for a long time, and the remains were tainted by its aura. Over time, this became Ancient Tomb Valley."

After hearing him out, Old Fourth Gu let out a mocking laugh. "You're not wrong, but true history is often embellished. Let me tell you the truth: Ancient Tomb Valley became what it is today entirely because of the sins committed by our ancestors."

Old Fourth Gu found a clean stone, sat down, and continued.

"About three hundred years ago, civil strife broke out in Ancient Pool Village. One faction was the Divine Sacrifice force that controlled Ancient Pool Village's most vital resources, while the other was the lower-class Ghost Controllers, regarded as heretics."

"The flames of war destroyed more than half of the ancient Ancient Pool Village. Over ten thousand villagers died in that upheaval."

"In the end, the forces represented by the Divine Sacrifice drove all the Ghost Controllers out..."

Hearing this, Lin Yi could not help asking, "Ghost Controllers? People who can control Ghost Spirits?"

Old Fourth Gu continued, "That's right. Apocalypse Continent doesn't just have the Four Professions you know of. There are countless unrecognized professions as well, such as Ghost Controllers and Demon Transformation Masters. These are professions that can only advance by relying on Ghost Spirits and Monsters, respectively."

"Among them, Ghost Controllers are a powerful profession that takes one Ghost Spirit as its core and grows by housing multiple Ghost Spirits within the body. I once read in ancient records that some Ghost Controllers could gain Professional level combat power after cultivating for only a few months..."

Gu Chenghu cut in at that moment. "Qingshan, don't listen to Old Fourth's nonsense. Ancient records state that Ghost Controllers have always been short-lived. It's an evil profession that trades one's own life for power. And after spending too long in contact with Ghost Spirits, a person's humanity gradually becomes twisted until their temperament changes completely and they no longer resemble a human."

After hearing both of them, Lin Yi understood.

"So what you mean, Captain Old Fourth, is that the Ghost Controllers in the village back then didn't all die. They fled into Ancient Tomb Valley and used some Ghost Spirit method to turn the corpses underground into Corpse Fiends?"

Old Fourth Gu immediately snapped his fingers with a smile. "Smart. Talking to smart people is refreshing. You're right. Quite a few of those Ghost Controllers escaped deep into this valley, and the cave I mentioned is where they hid back then."

Lin Yi pressed on, "What's in that cave? Why do you insist on taking me, and why do we have to go after midnight?"

Old Fourth Gu pondered for a while. "Let me tell you one more thing. Before the unrest in Ancient Pool Village, the village had many inherited secrets and treasures. One of those treasures was a Soul Artifact passed down from ancient times. It could sense Ghost Spirits and absorb their abilities to grow."

Lin Yi was startled. Sense Ghost Spirits and absorb their abilities? Wasn't that exactly the Strange Stone Soul Artifact he had already bound?

It seemed Old Fourth Gu already knew the Soul Artifact was on him.

Taking in Lin Yi's slightly panicked expression, Old Fourth Gu smiled. "You don't need to worry, kid. You've already bound yourself to the Soul Artifact. Unless someone kills you, they won't be able to separate the Strange Stone Soul Artifact from you even if they dig out your heart."

Lin Yi could not help cursing inwardly. Thanks for the reminder.

Old Fourth Gu continued, "During the unrest back then, many secret treasures and inheritances in Ancient Pool Village were lost. The Strange Stone Soul Artifact was one of them. You asked why I want to go to the cave deep in the valley. It's because it holds the Divine Sacrifice Legacy that the Ghost Controllers took away back then."

"Second, I'm taking you because you have the Strange Stone Soul Artifact. To the Ghost Controllers who rebelled back then, that secret treasure was a holy relic. If they see you, there's a good chance they won't attack you."

Lin Yi's expression changed. "They?"

Could those Ghost Controllers still be alive?

Old Fourth Gu paused, then smiled teasingly. "Oh, I meant 'them'—the Ghost Spirits that formed contracts with those Ghost Controllers. A few years ago, my master, the old Village Chief, went to that cave."

"The old man said those Ghost Controllers had died long ago, but most of the Ghost Spirits they had in life remained behind to guard those inheritances. Even he had no way to retrieve those inherited items."

At last, Lin Yi understood what Old Fourth Gu wanted him to do, as well as the danger within that cave.

"Captain Old Fourth, if I'm not mistaken, the Ghost Spirits left behind by those Ghost Controllers should all be Professional level beings, right? You say they 'might' not attack me. Are you expecting me to risk my life with you based on that?"

Old Fourth Gu had grown tired of sitting. He stood, spread his hands, and dusted off his backside. "That's why I promised to give you half the benefits from that cave. What do you think?"

"Not interested."

Lin Yi decisively shook his head. With the Omnipotent Talent in hand, he only needed to develop steadily to grow stronger quickly. There was no need to risk his life.

What did it matter if the cave held even better treasures?

After all, he only had one life.