Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Gu Dongting, seemingly nonchalant as he bid farewell to others, felt his heartbeat slightly lose its rhythm the moment he closed the door to his room.

Looking down, he saw a toy-like small sword lying in his palm.

The pure black sword, in stark contrast with his pale, jade-like fingers, made the sword appear even darker and his skin even more luminous.

Carefully picking up the small sword, Gu Dongting cherished it, examining it closely, guessing it might be a decorative pendant, a gift from Shen Wang.

Suddenly remembering something, he searched the room, found his neglected phone, and opened the messaging app, indeed seeing messages from Shen Wang.

The previous messages were informing him about the end of Shen Wang’s seclusion.

The latest message was: [Drop blood on the blade of the small sword.]

Gu Dongting, puzzled but curious, followed Shen Wang's instruction, biting his fingertip and dripping a drop of blood on the blade of the black sword.

Just as he was about to inquire, the small sword flickered, greedily absorbing the drop of blood, and Gu Dongting's pupils contracted. He felt an inexplicable connection forming between him and the sword.

Gu Dongting’s heart nearly stopped for a moment, his composure slipping for the first time: "Is this... a magical weapon?!"

In modern society, weapons used by cultivators are called magical weapons, but in the ancient times of the metaphysical world, there was another kind of treasure.

Blood recognition, flying through the sky, moving mountains and seas... The magical weapons of those times were almost like fantastical creations.

Only a few deeply rooted families and sects still possess genuine magical treasures, carefully hidden and known only to the core members of these families.

Such a precious item had been casually given to him by Shen Wang.

Gu Dongting took a deep breath, his first thought being that Shen Wang was unaware of the artifact's value. He immediately stood up, with a solemn expression, opened the door, and stepped out.

After slipping the small sword into Gu Dongting's palm, Shen Wang leisurely searched for his room in the corridor.

Fortunately, there were few rooms on the top floor, and it didn't take Shen Wang long to find his. Upon entering, he couldn't help but express his awe at the lack of worldly experience.

The room, clearly a hotel room, was exquisitely decorated, nothing like a typical hotel, complete with all kinds of furniture and several incomprehensible paintings on the walls.

Shen Wang noticed that not only was the room beautifully decorated, but the placement of furniture and decorative items was also meticulous, creating a simple Feng Shui layout that enhanced comfort and peace, even improving sleep quality.

A hotel this meticulous indicated that the capital was indeed a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

Flopping onto the soft bed, Shen Wang sighed in contentment: "Comfortable."

Lying on the bed, he took out his phone and sent a message to Gu Dongting, a thought drifting aimlessly through his mind: I wonder if he'll like that sword. He once said he liked black, so he probably won't dislike it...

Inappropriately, Shen Wang found himself recalling the feel of Gu Dongting's fingers.

Gu Dongting, a swordsman, had hands that were exceptionally beautiful in shape and color, with distinct joints, slender and strong, as fair and elegant as carved jade.

Only by touching them could one feel the roughness that belied their beautiful appearance.

It was the thin layer of calluses formed from years of holding a sword.

The calluses brushing against Shen Wang’s fingertips left a tingling sensation that started at his fingers and tickled its way to his heart.

Shen Wang suddenly buried his head in the covers, covering his flushed ears.

As he lay there, annoyed with himself for impulsively teasing Gu Dongting, there was a knock at the door.

Shen Wang sprang up from the bed, asking irritably, "Who is it?"

As he opened the door, the face that unsettled his heartbeat appeared before his eyes.

About to blurt out a retort, Shen Wang suddenly found himself at a loss for words, managing to squeeze out, "Why did you come here?"

Feeling his tone was too gentle, Shen Wang hurriedly added, "I mean... aren't you busy?"

Gu Dongting, as if he hadn't heard Shen Wang's words, extended his hand, displaying the black small sword in his palm: "This magical weapon is too precious, you shouldn't have given it to me."

Shen Wang's gaze fell on Gu Dongting's palm.

Gu Dongting continued, "Having a magical weapon can significantly enhance your strength..."

Gu Dongting's words suddenly halted, and he tilted his head in confusion, looking at Shen Wang.

Shen Wang, touching Gu Dongting's hand and not letting go, instead explored it further, like a child discovering a beloved toy, innocently remarking, "You have sword calluses on your hand."

Feeling his hand being examined, Gu Dongting involuntarily curled his fingers, a bit uneasy: "I'm a swordsman, of course I have sword calluses."

"Right, you're a swordsman," Shen Wang released Gu Dongting's hand and looked up with a smile, "So this sword was custom-made for you. Give it a try."

Gu Dongting pursed his lips, his fingertips twitching slightly as if to shake off the lingering tickle, but he ended up just gripping the small sword more tightly.

With a casual movement, the toy-sized sword suddenly expanded, transforming into a full-sized black long sword.

The length and size were similar to Gu Dongting's usual sword but slightly heavier. Effortlessly spinning the sword, its sharpness was extraordinary.

Intending to unleash a sword strike, Gu Dongting paused, realizing his usually fluid sword intent felt awkward and sluggish, as if mired in mud.

Gu Dongting tried several times to channel his sword intent, each attempt yielding the same result, leaving him bewildered as he turned to Shen Wang.

Shen Wang chuckled proudly, puffing out his chest as he explained, "It contains a sword-resolving stone that refines your sword intent. Impressive, isn't it?"

Gu Dongting looked at the long sword in his hand and then back at Shen Wang, his expression complex.

While other people's magical treasures enhance their master's strength, the one in Gu Dongting's hands seemed to halve his combat power.

Gu Dongting reluctantly nodded, "Impressive, a very unique design."

He wondered which ingenious artifact smith had crafted such a piece, thinking that if they took on commissions, their stall would probably be overturned by the crowd.

Shen Wang's eyes sparkled: "You must really like this high-class, understated, and meaningful black color, right?"

Gu Dongting nodded with difficulty: "I do."

He didn't have a particular preference for colors. Since the Gu family's cultivation attire was white, he had always worn white. But black... Gu Dongting was sure he had never revealed his liking for black to anyone.

So why did Shen Wang think he liked black? Gu Dongting was puzzled.

But... seeing Shen Wang's lively expression, a smile crept into Gu Dongting's eyes: "I do quite like black."

At least he didn't dislike it.

"I know," Shen Wang nodded confidently. How could he not know? Gu Dongting had told him himself.

When he first found out, Shen Wang was also surprised. Given Gu Dongting's perpetual attire in plain white, Shen Wang didn't understand if his 'liking' meant something different from the ordinary.

Casting away the moment's confusion, Shen Wang excitedly watched Gu Dongting practice with the sword, feeling utterly satisfied.

Several times Gu Dongting felt like he was performing a monkey show, but seeing Shen Wang's excitement, he went through the motions.

He took it as making Shen Wang happy. Gu Dongting, wielding the sword in flashy, dance-like movements he would never normally perform, looked beautiful yet practically useless in actual combat.

Only when Shen Wang had his fill did Gu Dongting stop this meaningless show-off, solemnly thanking Shen Wang with his sword in hand.

"If you ever need anything, I will oblige."

Without waiting for Shen Wang's response, he left.

Left alone in the room, Shen Wang was startled, then fell backward onto the bed, laughing, "So serious."

Unspoken yet heartfelt, his cold, firm-like expression while giving thanks was unexpectedly moving.

Back in his room, the black long sword in Gu Dongting's hand reverted to its small, two-finger-sized form. As he pondered how to wear the small sword, it transformed into a streak of light and flew into his body.

Inside his dantian, a pure black long sword now appeared.

"So this is the ancient magical weapon," Gu Dongting murmured to himself, his eyes sparkling with a bright light, "My cultivation, like a drop in the ocean."

A great fighting spirit was ignited in Gu Dongting's heart. It was said that this was the era of decline, where modern people couldn't compare to even a fraction of their ancient counterparts. However, he believed that no matter the era or circumstances, each had its own opportunities.

Modern people might not necessarily be inferior to the ancients.

But… a flicker of contemplation passed through Gu Dongting's eyes. He felt that something about him had been unusual lately.

He vaguely knew what had happened during this period, yet it seemed like looking at flowers through fog, only remembering the gist, without noticing anything unusual.

"Could it be deviation? Or the influence of inner demons?" Gu Dongting's brows furrowed even more. His cultivation, however, showed no issues and had even improved.

Unable to figure it out, Gu Dongting decided to take things one step at a time, his eyes calm: whatever happened, as a swordsman, his only choice was to face challenges head-on.

After resting in the hotel for a few days, the National Metaphysical Competition officially began. The organizers sent the location of the competition to the contestants via text message, directing them to the venue.

Shen Wang, who had been simply following Shi Yan’s lead without much thought, only felt the reality of the situation as he stood on the competition grounds.

Looking at the undulating mountains and forests before him, Shen Wang was stunned: "Did the Metaphysical Competition rent several mountains?"

Shi Yan: "...Didn't you read the information I sent you?"

Shen Wang avoided Shi Yan's gaze, looking around to change the subject: "There are so many people here."

Indeed, the place was crowded, teeming with people. Among the crowd were monks, Taoists, people dressed like ordinary citizens, and even some in tattered clothes resembling beggars...

Shen Wang also encountered a few acquaintances.

His former teammates from the entrance exam, except for the youngest monk, all were present: the chubby Chen Jiming, the geomancer Li Nian, and the Miaojiang youth Si Ke, all standing there together.

Upon seeing Shen Wang, his former teammates eagerly pushed through the crowd to his side: "Brother Shen! I knew you'd be in the competition!"

The chubby Chen Jiming, in particular, was overjoyed, greeting Shen Wang excitedly: "Brother Shen, do you have a team? Want to join ours?"

Shen Wang eyed Chen Jiming, skeptically noting his unchanged cultivation level: "You're participating in the competition with your skills?"

This made him question the seriousness of the competition.

Chen Jiming chuckled: "Every sect gets a few nominations, so why not give it a try?"

"Although we'll probably be eliminated in the first round, participating in such a competition is an experience in itself," added the geomancer, standing with Chen Jiming.

Noting Shen Wang's doubt, Shi Yan struggled to hold back an eye roll: "Didn't you read any of the information I gave you?"

Shen Wang scratched his head, looking innocently: "You arranged everything so clearly, what was there to read?"

His job was just to fight, right? That was something he excelled at.

The corner of Shi Yan's eye twitched. With the competition about to start, he had no choice but to quickly explain the essentials.

It turns out that the National Metaphysical Competition is organized by sects, nominating talents from within to participate. However, in modern times, metaphysical practices have waned, with some sects dwindling to only one or two disciples.

Not to mention young cultivators under the age of thirty-five.

Therefore, the entry threshold for the competition is extremely low. Even if not recommended by a sect, solitary cultivators who wish to participate are welcomed by the organizers.

Shen Wang: "..."

He knew that the spiritual energy in the modern world was thin and metaphysics was in decline, but he hadn't realized it was to this extent.

Noticing Shen Wang's puzzled look, Shi Yan tried to justify the state of the metaphysical world: "It's just for participation, the majority will be filtered out in the preliminary round."

So, as Chen Jiming said, most people are just there to add to the atmosphere.

Shen Wang nodded in understanding, then asked, "What does forming a team mean? Isn't this an individual competition?"

At this, Chen Jiming perked up, leaning towards Shen Wang to eagerly explain: "The preliminaries follow a set procedure, like our entrance exam. It's about capturing ghosts, and those who catch more rank higher."

"But unlike the entrance exam, in this competition, participants can attack each other."

Shen Wang suddenly understood why people formed teams.

The competition rules were simple and brutal but effective. Those who could find and subdue ghosts certainly had some ability, and also had to fend off attacks from other participants... The one who comes out on top in such circumstances truly deserves to be the winner.

Shen Wang pondered and then asked, "What if, and I'm just saying what if, there's a scenario where..."

"A lot of participants team up to seize the spoils of the strongest contender, leaving them empty-handed and eliminated in the preliminaries?"

The drama of a top contender losing in the first round would be quite intense.

Chen Jiming's eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new world: "Can we do that?!"

Shi Yan, exasperated, interrupted their conversation: "Nice thought, but unfortunately, that won't work. Besides rankings, judges also have the power to nominate participants for advancement."

So, the possibility of overlooking a hidden gem doesn't exist.

If a strong contender gets unexpectedly eliminated early, the judges will surely give them a second chance.

After explaining, Shi Yan was perplexed: "Even if you could gather enough people for a raid, would the ghosts captured by the target be enough for all of you? Would each person even get one?"

It would hardly impact the rankings, a lose-lose situation. Why would anyone do that?

Chen Jiming chuckled: "Defeating the outstanding disciples of major sects would be so cool to boast about."

His friends, the geomancer and the Miaojiang youth, nodded in agreement, seemingly eager to try.

Shi Yan was at a loss for words, his look conveying disdain: What kind of people are these?

While they were talking, someone nearby scoffed: "You guys? Beat disciples from major sects?"

Following the sound, Shen Wang smiled: "Yo, my magical weapon is here. Did you keep it safe for me?"

Zhao Hang's arrogant demeanor stiffened, his teeth gritted: "At this time, you're still bragging."

Shen Wang looked bewildered: "What bragging? I haven’t bragged at all."

Seeing Shen Wang’s expression, Zhao Hang glowered at him, sneering: "You’ll see who’s just talking big in the competition."

With that, he pointed straight at Shen Wang's nose, raising his voice: "Fellow Daoists, this is the man who made a bet with me, Zhao Hang. Whoever loses has to kowtow three times to the other."

The people standing next to Zhao Hang exchanged glances, simultaneously revealing smiles: "So he's that overconfident solitary cultivator."

"Daring to provoke Brother Zhao, he's really seeking death."

"Brother Zhao, rest assured, if we see him in the competition, we will take very, very good care of him."

"Does someone like him even deserve Brother Zhao's effort? Leave it to us."

It was clear that Zhao Hang held a leading position among this group. His word directed everyone's attention towards Shen Wang.

Not just Zhao Hang's few companions, but even some onlookers gathered around him, flattering: "With Brother Zhao's strength, dealing with this nobody should be a piece of cake, it's almost an overkill."

"We'll be waiting to see him kowtow. We'll take photos, record it, and post it online."

"Hahaha, that idea is so wicked, I love it."

Zhao Hang held his head high, a disdainful sneer on his lips as his eyes dismissively passed over Shen Wang and settled on Shi Yan: "I'm waiting for your kowtow."

Shi Yan, Chen Jiming, and the others changed their expressions, about to retort in anger, but Shen Wang, stroking his chin, said: "Not just kowtowing, but also running three laps around the hotel building, shouting 'The Metaphysical Society is trash, inferior to the Special Department.'"

"Oh, and if you lose, you have to give me your magical weapon," Shen Wang reminded with concern, "You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Zhao Hang's expression darkened, coldly responding: "I haven't forgotten, and don’t you forget either. Kowtowing naked, running three laps, shouting 'The Special Department is trash.'"

He emphasized the word 'naked'. As he spoke the final words, his gaze fell on Shi Yan and the others, enunciating each word: "The Special Department is trash."

Shen Wang: "???" Why is there an extra bet? No one mentioned stripping last time.

The three members of the Special Department behind Shi Yan were furious, their eyes nearly shooting flames: "Shut up!"

This man was clearly provoking the Special Department! Xie Qingming clenched his demon-slaying sword, while others also readied their weapons.

Shen Wang, no longer fixating on the stripping issue, raised his hand to stop others who were about to rush into a fight: "Let’s see the truth in the competition!"

"Let’s find out who's stronger, the Special Department or the Metaphysical Society."

As if responding to his opponent, Shen Wang’s last few words were especially forceful and resonant.

Both parties were brimming with a fighting spirit, their gazes nearly igniting sparks in the air, the atmosphere around them charged with a combustible tension.

However…

After issuing his bold statement, Shen Wang crossed his arms, stroking his chin, still couldn't help but wonder: "Running naked... isn't that illegal?"

He wasn’t concerned for himself, confident he wouldn't lose, but upon reflection, such an indecent act seemed likely to attract police attention in modern times.

Both groups, trying to intimidate each other with their stares: "???"

At this point, why worry about legality? Building momentum was what mattered!

After a few seconds of consideration, Shen Wang shook his head in disappointment: "Alright, alright, let’s forget the stripping part."

Zhao Hang's eyes flickered with contempt: "What’s wrong, scared? If you’re scared, kowtow to me three times right now, and we’ll call off the bet."

Shen Wang sized him up, speaking seriously: "No need for that. Mainly, your physique doesn't look that impressive. I'm afraid it might be an eyesore for others."

While speaking, he made an ‘ok’ gesture, leaving a small gap between his thumb and forefinger: "It wouldn't be good to scare anyone."

Amid an eerie silence, someone finally spoke: "...How would that scare anyone?"

"If you suddenly see a caterpillar, won’t you jump in fright?"

The atmosphere, which had been tense and fiery, suddenly turned colder than the Arctic, with only those around Shen Wang unable to hold back their laughter.

"You!" Zhao Hang glared fiercely at Shen Wang, his face livid with anger, "Very well! Very well! Shen Wang, right? I’ll remember you!"

Shen Wang: "?"

Shen Wang: "With a face as handsome as mine, if you forget me after one meeting, you might need to see a doctor about early-onset dementia."

Zhao Hang, fuming with rage, stared at Shen Wang, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

Only when a staff member came to remind them that the competition had already started did Zhao Hang suppress his anger and issue a final threat: "Don't let me see you in the competition!"

After saying this, he left with his group in a flurry, leaving Shen Wang and his companions behind.

Chen Jiming, who had been standing firmly behind Shen Wang, sighed with relief when Zhao Hang left, "Brother Shen, aren’t those guys from Baiyun Temple? How did you offend them?"

Shi Yan rubbed his forehead, his voice low: "I'm sorry, it's because of me."

Shi Yan's family had some background, so even with his mediocre talent, he was admitted to Baiyun Temple through connections. However, due to his average abilities, his life there was difficult, and his master barely paid any attention to him.

Under these circumstances, the young Shi Yan became a target for bullying by his peers, with Zhao Hang being the most excessive.

Shi Yan gave a bitter smile: "Our families knew each other. I outperformed him in secular education, so he had to compensate in cultivation."

As an adult, Shi Yan resolutely left Baiyun Temple to join the Special Department. Because of this, he was considered a traitor by Baiyun Temple and despised by all its disciples.

He thought moving to City C from the capital would change things, but unexpectedly encountered the same situation. Shi Yan sighed.

Xie Qingming and others following Shi Yan finally understood why he had suddenly joined the Special Department and quickly rose to become the head of the Feng Shui division and the actual leader of the City C Special Department.

"Poor kid, don’t worry, I’ll avenge you," Shen Wang patted Shi Yan on the shoulder, "In the competition, we can attack each other, right?"

The heavy feeling in Shi Yan’s heart dispersed with Shen Wang’s words, and he even started to worry about Zhao Hang: "Just... be careful with your strength."

Don't kill him.

Shen Wang confidently replied: "Don't worry, I know my limits!"

Talking as they went, the group no longer hesitated and entered the forest.

Unnoticed by them, several mini cameras hidden in discreet corners diligently broadcasted everything happening to a large screen.

In a massive hall, a row of people sat at the front, with others standing or sitting behind, filling the room.

If the contestants saw this, they would recognize them as elders from their own sects and families.

Among the row of people at the front, an elderly man with a kindly face sat in the middle, stroking his beard and chuckling: "The young ones these days are really full of energy."

Gu Dongting, seated to the old man's left, commented coolly, "The disciples of Baiyun Temple act rashly and impulsively, lacking the temperament for significant responsibilities."

The middle-aged man sitting to the right of the elder slightly changed his expression: "It's just a squabble among the younger generation. Why should Daoist Gu condemn everyone for it?"

Gu Dongting simply stated, "The actions of the subordinates reflect their leaders. It’s evident."

The older man, seeing the displeasure on the middle-aged man’s face, hastily intervened: "Let’s leave it to the youngsters. We're just here to watch the competition."

Others also chimed in: "Right, let’s see if there's an underdog who might surprise us in this competition."

"There's news that other countries have their hidden aces. We can’t just rely on Daoist Gu to turn the tide; we need to find some reliable young successors."

"That young man just now seemed quite audacious. I wonder how capable he really is."

"Haven’t seen him much before. He might just be a frog in the well, ignorant of the larger world."

While the judges at the front argued, those at the back started murmuring among themselves.

"Who is this kid, acting so arrogantly…"

"You don’t know Shen Wang? Oh right, you’re practically a fossil buried in the ground, without even a smartphone. Of course, you wouldn’t know."

"He’s been popular on the forums lately. I heard he's skilled in talismans. My grandson managed to get one and brought it to me overnight. The craftsmanship of that talisman... tsk tsk, truly profound skills."

"Looks like that Zhao Hang is going to capsize in the gutter."

Among a group of onlookers, a middle-aged, portly man was encircled and bombarded with questions: “Old Chen, who’s that person your son is following?”

“So that kid is Shen Wang? Rash and impetuous, not very impressive.”

The middle-aged man, wiping sweat from his forehead, replied helplessly: “Fellow Daoists, my son has only just passed the entry-level exam. This competition is just for him to gain experience... He met Shen Wang during the entry exam.”

As he frantically tried to appease the others, he looked for help from a friend, only to find that the friend had silently distanced himself, pretending not to know him.

Unbeknownst to Shen Wang, outside the examination area, he had become the center of everyone's discussions. He was leading a group in a widespread search for ghosts on the mountain.

This competition's area was vastly larger than the one used for the entry exam, making the search much more challenging.

After observing the surroundings, Shen Wang led the group in a particular direction.

The chubby boy and others followed him closely, excited and seeming more like they were on a hike than at a competition: “This mountain is so huge, and there are no paths. It’s quite difficult to traverse…”

A young man from Miaojiang asked, “How long will we be staying in the mountains? Three days?”

The Feng Shui master appeared somewhat anxious: “I wonder what rank we’ll get… I hope not the last, or my dad will definitely spank me.”

Qin You Rong and Huang Guoqiang from the special department blended in perfectly with the youngsters: “Exactly, we're not aiming for top results this time, just to advance smoothly. But with Brother Shen here, advancing shouldn’t be an issue!”

They chatted away, oblivious to Shi Yan and Xie Qingming’s increasingly darkening expressions.

Just as Shi Yan was about to lose his patience and stop them, Shen Wang suddenly halted.

The chubby boy looked tense: “What’s wrong, Brother Shen? Did we find our target?!”

Shen Wang surveyed the surroundings and then focused on the ground. He kicked aside some mud and fallen leaves, revealing a deeply etched arc on the surface.

Shi Yan crouched down, observing for a moment before tentatively asking, "Is this... a formation?"

"A simple Misleading Formation," Shen Wang replied.

He said it so casually that Chen Jiming couldn't help but express his admiration: "Brother Shen, you knew it was a formation just by one glance? You're amazing."

The others quickly got down on the ground, following the revealed lines of the formation, brushing away leaves to fully expose it.

Just as Shen Wang said, it was a small formation, spanning just over two meters.

Chen Jiming marveled at the formation: "This is my first time seeing a real formation. Too bad we can’t bring phones into the competition area, or I’d have taken a photo."

The astonished Chen Jiming was unaware that those outside the competition were equally amazed.

"He didn't even step into the formation. How did he discover it?"

"Did he use some kind of magical tool that can detect formations?"

"That shouldn't be... Maybe it was just luck..."

"This is our first time incorporating a formation in the competition area. We didn't expect it to be discovered before anyone was ensnared... Who is this guy, exactly?"

Gu Dongting, amidst the surrounding discussions, watched Shen Wang intently without a word.

Shen Wang didn’t disrupt the formation but cunningly covered it again with leaves, grinning, "Let’s hope the next person who comes by is lucky."

Chen Jiming’s expression twisted: "Brother Shen, shouldn’t we warn the people following us?" Covering it back up like nothing happened seemed a bit unfair...

Shen Wang, surprised, said: "The others are your competitors, are you really that generous?"

With one more person falling into the trap, there's one less competitor. Is this plump boy so carefree even in the face of competition?

The plump boy instantly replied: "Then forget it."

They're competitors after all, so don't blame him for not adhering to martial ethics.

"A teachable child," Shen Wang nodded in approval, "That settles it."

The group followed Shen Wang for about fifteen minutes, finally arriving at the location he had in mind, but…

"Where are the ghosts here?" the plump boy asked, his question coming from the depths of his soul.

Surrounded by trees rustling in the wind, sunlight filtering gently and tranquilly through the leaves, there was no sign of yin energy or ghostly aura.

If it weren't for their trust in Shen Wang's abilities, they wouldn't have stayed here for long.

While everyone was puzzled, Shen Wang walked towards a certain direction, tapping the relatively flat ground with the tip of his foot: "It's right here."

The rest of the group: "???"

Shen Wang opened a bag specifically for containing ghosts. He thrust his right hand into the soil and pulled it back out, fiercely grasping a dark, grimy head, brutally pulling on its already short hair.

Like pulling up a radish, a huge dark shadow was forcefully yanked out.

The dark shadow struggled fiercely while wailing, "Master, please be gentle, it hurts... don't pull my hair, I hardly have any left..."

When he was fully exposed to the air and saw Shen Wang's face, his incessant babbling stopped abruptly: "It's... it's you!"

Shen Wang, who was about to stuff him into the ghost bag, paused, intrigued, "You know me?"

The plump ghost, who had been thinking of escaping, lost all thought of it, cautiously smiling, "Master Shen, you must have forgotten me... During the entrance exam, someone tried to harm you by sneaking in a fierce ghost..."

Shen Wang remembered.

During the entrance exam, this plump ghost had cunningly hidden underground, undetected by the candidates walking above. It was Shen Wang who discovered and captured him.

"But then, a fierce ghost suddenly appeared. To protect the others, Shen Wang had no time to pay attention to this chubby ghost."

"Later, he emerged from underground, blending into the fierce ghost's aura, allowing Shen Wang to track the real body of the ghost amidst the dense aura."

"'It's you.' Shen Wang didn't bother putting him in the bag anymore, casually releasing him, 'Are you here to be a prop again?'"

"Even though released, the chubby ghost dared not flee. He nodded and bowed apologetically: 'The Taoist who made a contract with me is both poor and weak, I have no choice but to work for money... I'm just a worker.'"

"The poor Taoist watching the live stream: '...' Damn! You're the one who's poor and weak!"

"Shen Wang, puzzled: 'His poverty is his business, what does it have to do with you?'"

"Speaking of this, the chubby ghost also felt helpless. With a crying face, he lamented: 'Master Shen, you don't know, our ghostly life is also very tough.'"

"As a lonely ghost who doesn't wish to be reborn, if one's not strong enough, they can only be bound by obsessions in a small space, eventually losing their sanity and entering the cycle of reincarnation in confusion, or simply dissipating."

"To move freely, one either harms people to absorb negative energy or makes contracts with Taoists."

"Ordinary ghosts without strong resentment can't harm people and can only choose to make contracts with Taoists... Even after the contract, it's not all smooth sailing."

"Ghosts need to work for the Taoists in exchange for survival energy and wish power. Some are wealthy and powerful, offering more energy, but if the contracted Taoist is poor, the ghost has to live frugally too."

"Unfortunately, the chubby ghost contracted with a poor and weak ghost-controlling Taoist, forcing him to toil even after death to support himself and his Taoist."

"After hearing his complaints, Shen Wang thoughtfully remarked, 'Your ghostly lives are so miserable.'"

"Upon seeing this, the chubby ghost cried even more earnestly: 'Master Shen, you don't know, those in the Ghost-controlling Dao are a bunch of crazed fools. They don't treat us like beings, making us serve tea and run errands, even using us as teaching tools, and often let the newcomers beat us up...'"

"'We're not humans, but they are the real dogs.'"

"Outside the arena, the poor and weak Taoist watched his complaints: '...'"

"Feeling the stares of those around, the Taoist chuckled awkwardly: 'He's talking nonsense. Our contracts with the ghosts in the Ghost-controlling Dao are friendly; we're not that inhumane. The spiritual energy and willpower we provide them are sufficient.'"

"Others: '...Don't bother explaining, we understand.'"

"Taoist: '...'"

"Damn it, once the exam is over, I'm going to give this chubby ghost a good thrashing!"

"After listening to the chubby ghost, Shen Wang suddenly smirked and said, 'Since you're often used as a teaching tool, do you know other ghosts?'"

"The chubby ghost shivered inwardly, sensing an ominous premonition: 'I, I know some, but only a part of them, not all.'"

"'A part is enough.' Shen Wang beckoned him with a finger and said with a smile, 'Gather those ghosts and tell them someone wants to make a deal with them, promising ample spiritual energy.'"

"The chubby ghost shivered in his heart. He wanted to refuse, but he didn't dare."

"He had seen Shen Wang annihilate a fierce ghost with his bare hands; how could he dare resist? He could only sob: 'Master Shen, it's not that I don't want to help you, but we have contracts with those Taoists. If we breach them, we lose our pay, I mean, our spiritual energy.'"

"Shen Wang looked earnest: 'They are too inhumane, so I'm here to help you.'"

"'Want a minimum spiritual energy guarantee? A basic salary? Social and health insurance? I'm willing to fight for these rights for you, just bring them all here.'"

"Chubby ghost: '...' Truly a heart-stopping moment."