Chapter 241

Chapter 241

The third white fog circle covers about two-thirds of Bauhinia City, including four-fifths of University City, where the majority falls within the trigger range of the 'Ghost Yin Soldiers' domain.

"Understanding the students' initial excitement upon discovering a large number of enemy corpses on the back mountain, but the rapid spread of this information among university students had consequences no one anticipated. What was originally only a few thousand corpses became tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, and some people still believed it."

The growth of spirits requires time, and Ji Xinghai is not in a rush. His gourmet restaurant business is thriving, everything is on track, so there is no need to face those Yin soldiers head-on just yet.

The immediate priority is to understand the enemy's situation.

As the most powerful domain encountered since dealing with the bizarre phenomena, the Ghost Yin Soldiers indeed have many noteworthy characteristics to discuss.

For example, the number of bizarre entities exceeds reality by at least thirty thousand, and these entities come equipped with firepower, including guns, cannons, tanks, and planes. The bombs they drop are particularly accurate, making them impossible to dodge.

In such a hail of bullets and bombs, even Godzilla would be riddled with holes. No wonder so many trainees passed through this white fog but none of them triggered the bizarre phenomena after learning the specifics.

They are all flesh and blood; unless they use mechs, they cannot handle it, risking failure.

Under the temptation of special phones and to resolve the threat of the Ghost Yin Soldiers, legends of spirits began spreading across various bases. Not elsewhere, but right here in this city and district, Heroes Memorial Hall and the adjacent Martyrs Cemetery.

The warriors who once defended this land have been silently guarding here, waiting for the moment they are needed to step forward.

In perilous environments, human hearts, fragile as they are, desperately need support. It could be ideals and beliefs, religion and legends, or more commonly, heroes ingrained in their childhood memories.

They once turned the tide during wartime, and they can do so again now.

Thus, the legend of spirits spread like wildfire, igniting powerful beliefs within days.

When Ji Xinghai arrived at Heroes Memorial Hall, he found that the building, previously eroded by white fog and somewhat dilapidated, had regained its vitality, protected by an invisible layer of energy.

The same was true for Martyrs Cemetery, which already had some mystical qualities, and now even through the white fog, one could feel a fierce fighting spirit.

He did not enter to disturb them, merely watching from the entrance and placing a bouquet of flowers and a jug of fine wine.

At the same time, in another world, the remaining trainees, under the pressure of a three-day countdown, attempted to pass through chaotic passages into this world.

The chaotic passages were fraught with danger, with bizarre entities harassing them along the way. They suffered heavy losses, but nearly seventy percent managed to reach this world safely.

These hundreds of thousands, having endured great hardships to reach this shore, immediately took up arms to clear the bizarre phenomena, infusing new life into this world.

Unlike before, when thirty thousand trainees concentrated in Aoki City and then spread out, this time they appeared everywhere around the world, emerging from each chaotic rift.

Ji Xinghai soon learned about this because the newly arrived trainees also carried special phones.

This was done by a noblewoman from another world. She found Ji Xinghai's custom phone factory, paid out of her own pocket to produce a batch, and distributed them as basic equipment to extraordinary individuals willing to go to another world.

Her actions directly benefited these trainees.

The second batch of trainees discovered that the Gourmet Food House app had updated upon arrival, unlocking new dishes and two physical stores. Entering the physical stores allowed the second batch to communicate seamlessly with the first batch.

The sudden feeling of having a 'home base' is something lonely individuals cannot imagine. If they were not strong-willed, they might have shed tears upon seeing familiar faces.

Thanks to these phones, the trainees remained a cohesive group despite being scattered across the globe.

The most perplexed were the local extraordinary individuals mixed among them, as they could overhear the trainees' discussions. Their minds were filled with questions:

Are there so many extraordinary academies in this world? Why did they know nothing about them?

How can an academy set preventing bizarre invasions as a graduation project? Do these academies want to kill their students?

What? Even the designer of the gourmet app is a student from some academy?

Did the world evolve while I blinked?

Why wasn't I included?

Watching these bewildered locals, Ji Xinghai quietly munched on a salt-roasted pigeon while mingling with the trainees. In front of him was a separate circular platform with a giant screen displaying looping team-up messages.

He had just posted a message: "A certain trainee in a certain district plans to clear the Ghost Yin Soldiers occupying University City in Bauhinia City. Seeking team members to clear other bizarre phenomena in Jinniu District. Requirements: clear at least ten C-level or higher bizarre entities daily for ten days, with a daily subsidy of one hundred bizarre coins. Rewards from clearing bizarre phenomena belong to you."

He hired people because this area has many high-level bizarre entities, and these entities tend to remain stationary in their territories. He couldn't visit each one individually due to limited resources.

In this case, using money to solve the problem was best. After opening the physical gourmet store, his daily profits exceeded hundreds of thousands, and they would only increase.

"Hello, are you Mr. Ji who posted the team-up message for Bauhinia City?"

"Hello, can I arrive tomorrow? I have a car."

The high daily subsidy of one hundred bizarre coins attracted several people, both trainees and locals. After communicating with them, Ji Xinghai confirmed seven individuals. The bizarre phenomena in Jinniu District generally have high levels, so weak combatants would be sending themselves to their deaths.

"Starting from tomorrow, for ten consecutive days. Please keep detailed records. I will verify the completion of tasks based on your videos," Ji Xinghai said, not wanting to be deceived despite his wealth.

"Of course," the person taking the job responded promptly. "It's a hundred bizarre coins a day."

Since the appearance of the gourmet store, money equaled life. With enough money, anything is negotiable.

The cleanup operation in Jinniu District began. The seven hired individuals targeted high-level bizarre phenomena, while teams from surrounding bases cleared low-level ones. When they occasionally met, they worked in harmony, each focusing on their tasks.

Unless they entered the physical gourmet store for a brief respite, they might sit down and chat.

However, Ji Xinghai's task was heavy, requiring the elimination of ten C-level bizarre entities daily, scattered across different areas, leaving little time for rest and conversation.

Ji Xinghai himself was not idle. Sitting in his gourmet food truck, he 'fished' for bizarre entities, knowing well how to lure non-human creatures with abnormal food.

By the end of the day, he had killed more bizarre entities than the combined efforts of the other seven—though the levels varied, the sheer quantity made up for it.

After ten days, the white fog in Jinniu District had thinned, and almost no threatening bizarre entities remained on the outskirts.

However, as long as the Ghost Yin Soldiers, this massive entity, remains, the white fog will persist, and bizarre phenomena will continue to emerge.

Having taken away the firewood from under the pot, we must still address the unsettling realm of the Phantom Yin Soldiers.

Fortunately, the Heroes Memorial Hall and the Martyrs' Cemetery have already taken shape.

The newly formed domain already exudes an aura that rivals the long-established Ghost Yin Soldiers.

In truth, the concept of 'Spirit Guardians' has always existed in people's hearts, but it is too pure to be transformed into 'the eerie.' There is also a sense of shame and reluctance to face our ancestors, considering they won battles under extremely difficult circumstances, while their descendants cannot solve problems on their own and must seek help from their forebears.

Thus, for many years, this idea was avoided until now when it has been ignited. Once that flame burns, it can never be extinguished.

On this night, Jinniu District was particularly quiet. Ji Xinghai placed a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine outside the Heroes Memorial Hall and the Martyrs' Cemetery. After some thought, he added some lollipops. He had heard that there were many people his age inside who might enjoy sweets.

"Strictly speaking, I am not a creature of this world or a citizen of this country. But at this point, let's not be so formal, okay?" He squatted on the steps by the entrance, as if chatting with the silent building.

"I've met your descendants. They are just like you—hardworking and willing to fight, but their fate hasn't been good, and they've encountered tough challenges. So they need your help.

"Considering I've brought ten days' worth of good food, this friendship is sealed. When I call you, you must come."

After unilaterally binding the agreement, Ji Xinghai stood up and returned to the food truck. "Let's go."

The food truck started and headed toward University City. Qin Yu looked out the window; the glass doors of the Heroes Memorial Hall faintly revealed many faces.

Though it should have been a terrifying sight, for some reason, it didn't feel scary at all.

The food truck drove all the way to Bauhinia University, where they stopped at the gate.

"A nostalgic visit. A dark and windy night, perfect weather." Ji Xinghai jumped off the truck, followed by Qin Yu, who was becoming more human-like, showing no signs of being an anomalous creature.

As for the food truck... it wasn't selling anything today and waited at the gate.

Before them stood an immeasurable black 'mountain,' emitting ghostly energy that suppressed the entire Bauhinia City. As long as it remained, the city would not see clear skies.

This was the domain of the Ghost Yin Soldiers, which was once a small 'back mountain.' Over the years, it devoured countless eerie entities and now dominated half of University City, even swallowing Mandarin Duck Lake.

Even if Ji Xinghai came seeking the 'headless female corpse of Mandarin Duck Lake,' he wouldn't find it. The headless female corpse had long become nourishment for the Ghost Yin Soldiers.

Putting aside his sudden thoughts, the two walked through the marble gates of the university. Due to the recent thorough cleaning, Bauhinia University was unusually quiet. The surviving eerie entities sensed the energy emanating from the two figures and hid in various corners, knowing better than to confront them.

Ji Xinghai ignored them, carrying an umbrella as he approached the edge of Black Mountain.

"I remember this was the library, and beyond it was Mandarin Duck Lake." But now it was all territory of the eerie black domain, and even before approaching, they felt the chill.

"Still, the people of this world are too concerned about their reputation. Even when attacked by foreign eerie entities, they don't call upon their ancestors. I'm different."

Qin Yu thought he would say, "These aren't my ancestors," but instead, Ji Xinghai said, "I don't care about my reputation."

"... Fair enough."

The 'reputation-less' Ji Xinghai, filled with determination, entered the area of Black Mountain. A dark forest loomed ahead, and the patrolling Ghost Yin Soldiers seemed to have sensed the presence of living beings and approached.

These scattered soldiers wore contemporary uniforms, carrying blood-stained guns, their faces green, lips white, and eyes blood-red—clearly malevolent spirits.

Drawn by the scent, they found a piece of rotting meat drenched in fresh, warm blood. The raw meat and fresh blood stirred them.

Just then, a bright blade descended, severing one head, followed by another.

Qin Yu stood on a tree trunk, watching Ji Xinghai effortlessly slay enemies in the dark forest.

The night did not seem to favor the Ghost Yin Soldiers but rather him. A born hunter, he could pinpoint enemies' locations using only his ears in the darkness.

For a moment, he recalled the first time they met. Back then, Ji Xinghai was truly a lone wolf, with no retreat and no fear, more ferocious and mad than he is now.

Ji Xinghai used only his blade, as seizing weapons here would be useless. These Ghost Yin Soldiers retained mobility unless half their heads were blown off, so he decapitated them.

But he did not convert them into employees, fearing it would taint his domain.

Using the rotting meat and fresh blood, Ji Xinghai began ambushing the patrolling soldiers at the edge. In the dark forest, he thrived, utilizing branches and natural traps.

Until deep within Black Mountain, a commotion arose. Suddenly, a cloud of black smoke rose, forming two low-flying planes in the sky. The sound of the planes flying over the forest merged with the marching sounds in the distance, like drums pounding in the heart.

The disappearance of numerous patrolling soldiers finally drew the true army of Ghost Yin Soldiers. Ji Xinghai stood at the periphery, feeling the earth tremble.

He focused on the direction, suddenly smiling. "Time for the main course."

With a severed head in hand, he placed it atop a small hill, creating a pyramid of enemy heads and dead branches, two meters high, using hundreds of heads.

"No steamed buns, so these will have to do. Next time, I'll bring proper offerings. Don't be picky." He respectfully lit three incense sticks.

"The first incense offering is to Heaven."

The smoke from the first stick curled into auspicious clouds.

"The second incense offering is to Earth."

The tip of the second stick glowed red like a gem, flickering in the wind.

"The third incense offering welcomes the spirits of this land."

All the smoke gathered, forming a vague door.

"Today, invaders threaten our land, cut off our lineage, and break our heritage. Shall we fight?"

"FIGHT!" Shadows emerged from the ethereal door, and a steel-clad army marched out.

"FIGHT!" They raised their guns towards Black Mountain, their voices shaking the universe.