“Have you all seen it too?”
Wu Ming looked around and saw the same stunned expressions on Shan Lan and the other two.
“We…”
Shan Lan and Ling Guhong both wore bitter faces. “When did we choose the benevolent faction?”
“How should I know?”
Wu Ming felt somewhat depressed because this task seemed so ironic: “However… since we’ve accepted the mission, we can only try our best to complete it. Fortunately, we don’t have to be directly opposed to Heishan Jun, and we can count on the assistance from the City God of Heitai…”
Although he said that, hearing that they might confront Heishan Jun, who ruled the 300-mile Heishan range, naturally made their hearts heavy.
“Mission change… should we inform that damned one?”
Shan Lan’s expression changed several times before she spoke: “Although that person is only a small leader within the Blood Oath Alliance, he can still mobilize some resources…”
“Fear not… it won’t be that simple…”
Wu Ming sighed: “How do you know their mission is the same as ours? If it’s different, wouldn’t we be handing over a weakness for nothing?”
“That’s true…”
Lin Qizhi and Ling Guhong both changed expressions, while Shan Lan added: “Right, I didn’t think it through. Thanks for reminding me, Wu Ming!”
Seeing this, Wu Ming immediately realized that these three were clearly under so much pressure that they had lost their composure.
His heart grew even more alert: “Could it be that the divine powers in this world are this formidable?”
At this time, there was no further discussion. The group exchanged a few casual words, then went back to their rooms with heavy hearts and went to sleep.
Night fell.
Dark clouds obscured the moon, and the county town had a curfew. In ancient times, not even a glimmer of light could be seen. At the hour of Zi and Chou, the world was pitch black.
Inside the guest room, Wu Ming lay fully clothed, breathing evenly and deeply, almost imperceptibly. A faint glow shimmered faintly on his face, appearing and disappearing.
The “Turtle Cultivation Art” had reached a level of consummate skill. Even in sleep, he could still make progress.
“Gurgle!”
At this moment, the window trembled slightly, and in the darkness, something seemed to slip inside.
This object rolled into the room and transformed into a human shape. Its sharp fingernails slashed toward the bed.
Bang!
Just as the dark green nails were about to touch Wu Ming’s clothes, a golden light suddenly appeared, illuminating the entire room.
“Ahhh!”
The figure let out a high-pitched, piercing scream, revealing a terrifying face with disheveled hair, a green face, and sharp fangs. It stared in shock at the golden light surrounding Wu Ming before trying to retreat.
“So there really are ghosts?”
Wu Ming opened his eyes calmly, watching with another twitch at the corner of his eye: “I do not harm others, but others harm me. Fine! Very well!”
Without further words, he flew out a talisman and stuck it on the door frame. The entire room seemed to shimmer with auspicious light, like crystal or jade, forming a barrier as solid as a copper wall. The ghost, which could normally pass through walls, now shrieked and was flung back upon impact.
“This ghost is being controlled by someone?!”
A gleam of eagerness appeared in Wu Ming’s eyes. In an instant, he leaped from the bed like a tiger descending the mountain. With a howl, he threw a punch, sending a gust of energy through the room.
“Jiji!”
The ghost’s thin form fluttered like paper. Facing Wu Ming’s punch, it floated backward like a small boat on turbulent waves, unshaken despite the raging storm.
However, seeing Wu Ming’s robust vitality and positive energy, it dared not approach again, continuously crashing toward the windows and doors.
“Tsk tsk… indeed… without attaining the innate state of martial arts and fully unifying one’s essence, energy, and spirit, one can only defend oneself but cannot harm intangible entities like this?”
Martial artists possess robust vitality and positive energy. If they are fearless, ordinary ghosts naturally cannot approach. However, at this stage, one can only protect oneself.
But once one attains the Xiantian state, or even cultivates the “Gangqi” energy, their techniques can integrate vitality, energy, and spirit. Even the mere wind from their punch can harm malevolent spirits!
However, Wu Ming was currently at the peak of the “Zhenqi” stage. His essence, energy, and spirit were still slightly unrefined, hence this result.
“Before reaching the sixth level of the body realm, martial artists can only…”
Wu Ming flicked his finger, pricking his index finger with his nail, squeezing out a single drop of blood as red as a ruby, crystal clear, and hurled it at the ghost, which was flailing its arms and legs mockingly.
Bang!
A red shadow flashed through the punch’s wind, piercing through the ghost’s chest.
“Ahhh!”
The ghost screamed, a large hole torn through its chest. Its form scattered momentarily, even its pupils showing fear, as it quickly flew toward the window like a trapped beast.
“Even an ordinary person can expel ghosts by biting their tongue to draw blood, as it contains a bit of yang energy. A martial artist is even more so… this ghost doesn’t even require the blood from the tongue; ordinary blood is sufficient… of course, the martial artist must be in peak condition. If injured or fearful, their essence, energy, and spirit cannot unite, thus having little effect when infused into the blood…”
Wu Ming added another note to his knowledge.
“What happened?”
Shan Lan’s startled cry came from outside, accompanied by a clear and sharp sword sound.
Apparently, the commotion had alerted the others.
Seeing this, Wu Ming had no mood for further experimentation. He drew his peach-wood sword and slashed several times. The ghost screamed and dissipated, its black mist slowly vanishing under the golden light.
“What happened?”
After a few breaths, Shan Lan and Ling Guhong’s voices were heard approaching.
Wu Ming opened the door and even saw the scholar Lin Qizhi stepping out of his room. Obviously, in this mission world, none of them could completely relax. At the first sign of trouble, they became alert.
“An unexpected guest disturbed my peaceful dream, but it’s nothing serious…”
At this point, Wu Ming had naturally cleaned up all the unsightly traces. His clothes were neat, his expression calm, making Shan Lan and Ling Guhong feel that he was unfathomably deep.
“You… where are you going?”
Seeing Wu Ming heading toward the courtyard, Shan Lan couldn’t help but ask.
“Merely to return the favor!”
A flash of cold light passed through Wu Ming’s eyes as he smiled coldly.
If he didn’t retaliate, would they really think he was soft clay to be molded? Moreover, immediately after the mission was issued, an attack came, instantly triggering Wu Ming’s suspicions.
“From this ghost, the person controlling it is clearly not very powerful—not even a cultivator. At best, he’s just a wandering charlatan who picked up some ghost-manipulation tricks…”
“And… the distance can’t be too far…”
Wu Ming leaped onto the wall like a nimble cat, a cold expression on his face…
…
“Ahhh… my little ghost… my little ghost was destroyed!”
Just as Wu Ming killed the ghost, not far from the inn, in a small courtyard, a man with a horse-like face was bleeding from his nose, screaming in pain, his muscles convulsing, drenched in cold sweat, as if enduring immense suffering.
“That… that damned bastard, he destroyed my little ghost… ahhhh… this grudge cannot coexist under the same sky! I’ll curse his entire family to an ill fate!”
After catching his breath roughly, the horse-faced man got up, his face pale, his eyes filled with bone-deep hatred.
Nearby, Tu Yanghao and another member of the Blood Oath Alliance also had grim expressions: “Ma Laosan… we all know your abilities well. It seems this time the opponent has capable people…”
Tu Yanghao glanced around, making the trembling newcomers shudder: “We can’t stay here any longer. We must leave immediately!”
The county town has strict laws, and in this world, there are ghosts and gods to be especially wary of.
Not to mention, the entire Heitai County was still under the jurisdiction of the City God. Although the county was vast with tens of thousands of people, it might not necessarily notice this matter, but it was still a trouble.
“My little ghost…”
Ma Laosan’s face was full of grief, as if his beloved son had died.
“I told you long ago… this method of summoning spirits by using one’s own body harms the practitioner first and risks severe backlash. It’s far inferior to the authentic Five Ghost techniques of the mystical sects… Perhaps this incident presents an opportunity for you to abandon this minor skill and embrace a new path!”
A young man standing beside Tu Yanghao spoke up.
When he was silent, he seemed ordinary, like any other person. But when he spoke now, he was extremely logical, exuding a certain authority that even Tu Yanghao dared not interrupt. Ma Laosan nodded repeatedly in agreement.
However, after nodding, Ma Laosan could only smile bitterly.
Of course, he also aspired to cultivate authentic mystical techniques, but such techniques were exorbitantly expensive. For instance, the mystical Five Ghosts Transportation Technique encompassed various methods like ghost capturing, ghost nurturing, altar rituals, sacrifices, ghost offerings, and incantations. The ghosts produced through this technique could be controlled as effortlessly as one’s own limbs, wielding immense power without any risk of backlash. However, the cost was staggering—two hundred major merits! Based on the Merit Hall’s exchange rate, it amounted to a total of two thousand two hundred minor merits, a sum he couldn’t afford even if he sold himself.
Not to mention, after purchasing the technique, one would still need matching magical artifacts, yin energy-rich locations for ghost cultivation, and finally personally capture powerful ghosts. Adding up all these costs, it wouldn’t be less than three thousand minor merits!
With the wealth he had accumulated through several cycles of missions, he had already exhausted his resources just to exchange for the “Ghost Feeding Technique.” Other techniques were beyond his wildest dreams.
At this moment, he heard the young man continue: “Of course… I know your cultivation has been difficult. After this, I can lend you merits. Consider this incident as a rebirth after destruction, and surely, there will be blessings after surviving great calamity!”
“Thank you, Master Zheng! Thank you, Master Zheng!”
In the Merit Hall, lending merits was practically a life-saving grace. Ma Laosan was overwhelmed with gratitude, repeatedly bowing in thanks. In his heart, he secretly thought: “This young master Zheng Qian is said to have great backing. His elder brother holds a high position in the Blood Oath Alliance, and even Tu Laoda must serve him carefully…”
He secretly decided to latch onto this powerful figure.
Glancing at Tu Yanghao’s expression and seeing it was calm without much displeasure, he secretly resolved to follow suit.
“However, as Tu Laoda previously said, we can’t stay here any longer. Let’s leave quickly!”
Zheng Qian nodded slightly after seeing that he had gained Ma Laosan’s loyalty.
Anyone who had survived several cycles in the Merit Hall was no pushover.
Though Ma Laosan was short-sighted and had a wretched appearance, his destiny was intertwined with yin energy, allowing him to master ghost-feeding techniques. At the very least, he was a minor talent.
Although Zheng Qian relied on his older brother and was temporarily unchallenged, how terrifying was the Merit Hall? Even the Blood Oath Alliance was merely a struggling ant. Naturally, he needed to prepare more and strengthen his own power.
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