Ghost Catching System

Chu Hao was a bit puzzled. By all accounts, this situation should have counted as an intimidating display, yet the System didn’t prompt any Pretentiousness Points.

System, shouldn’t you prompt for Pretentiousness Points at a time like this? Chu Hao thought.

System: ”The level requirement for Pretentiousness Point prompts has increased. This display is too monotonous and doesn’t warrant any Pretentiousness Points.”

There’s actually such a thing? Chu Hao muttered to himself.

Then there was nothing more to be said. He simply killed the Bat Demon with one strike of his stick.

”DING... You have killed an Intermediate Semi Demon King, earning one million Experience Points.”

”DING... The Bat Demon dropped an item: Listening Stone.”

Item: Listening Stone

Rarity: ★★★

Ability: Allows the user to hear all sound waves within a one-kilometer radius. An excellent tool for tracking enemies. (Consumes 100 Mana Points per second)

This thing, isn’t it similar to a bat’s sensory perception?

It’s common knowledge that bats don’t rely on eyesight to navigate. In the dark, bats emit sound waves to judge directions and track prey. This Listening Stone replicated that ability.

With a wave of his hand, Chu Hao materialized a shimmering yellow stone. He then circulated his Mana Points.

”DING... Host has used the Listening Stone. 100 Mana Points consumed per second.”

Through the Listening Stone, Chu Hao instantly heard all the sounds within a one-kilometer radius.

The sounds of city traffic, the footsteps of people walking, various arguments, noises from bars—all were clearly audible.

”If I don’t get revenge for this, I, Min Ran, swear I’m not human!”

Suddenly, this voice reached him, startling Chu Hao. Wasn’t that Taoist Min Ran?

Chu Hao concentrated intently, trying to discern Min Ran’s direction. Once he focused, all other sounds were isolated, leaving only Min Ran’s footsteps and the sound of his heavy breathing.

Chu Hao put down the Listening Stone and looked in a certain direction; Taoist Min Ran was over there.

Chu Hao chuckled softly and, without a moment’s hesitation, gave chase.

Min Ran is a scourge; leaving him around would be too much trouble. Better to finish him off while he’s vulnerable. As for that toad, I’ll deal with it later.

Taoist Min Ran had a splitting headache; the blow to his head had him hovering between life and death. If not for his protective magical robe, he probably would have perished.

Right now, the two he hated most were Chu Hao and that despicable toad.

Min Ran knew he couldn’t return now; he had to leave Anli City to recuperate for a while. He vowed that when he returned after some time, it would be Chu Hao’s day of doom.

As Min Ran walked, a voice emerged from the darkness, ”Taoist Min Ran, the Wolf King would like to invite you for a visit.”

Min Ran frowned and said, ”Come out, don’t lurk in the shadows.”

A brown bird with flashy, multicolored feathers flew out from a nearby tree. Flapping its wings and speaking in a human tongue, it said, ”Taoist Min Ran, let’s go.”

Of course, Min Ran didn’t want to go. He knew all too well what sort of character the Demon Wolf King was. With the plan having failed, the Demon Wolf King was sure to be furious. Besides, he was injured, making him even less inclined to go.

”Tell your Great King that once my wounds are healed, I will go to him myself,” Min Ran said.

The bird replied, ”The Great King said it can heal your wounds.”

To go or not to go? Min Ran hesitated.

Suddenly, a streak of golden light struck, and Taoist Min Ran staggered again, clutching the back of his head and squatting on the ground, the pain immense.

Chu Hao’s surprised voice rang out, ”What kind of protective magical robe is this?”

Goddammit! Can’t you stop with the sneak attacks? My head hurts so much!

Min Ran felt like crying. A large bump had swelled on the back of his head from being sneak-attacked twice, making it look as if he’d grown a second head. The pain was unbearable.

Turning around, Taoist Min Ran pointed at Chu Hao, tears in his eyes, the picture of utter grievance, and said, ”You... you’re shameless!”

Chu Hao curled his lips. ”That protective magical robe is pretty good, huh? It’s let you survive twice.”

Min Ran roared, no longer caring about anything. His Jian Chi appeared and shot towards Chu Hao.

At this moment, the street was bustling with people and heavy traffic. Their fight instantly attracted countless onlookers.

Someone even took out their phone to record.

”Wow! Are these two filming a movie? Their fight looks so impressive!”

”They’re so fast, I can barely see them clearly!”

Their fight drew numerous spectators. Chu Hao had initially underestimated him. This Min Ran is truly impressive, able to fight me evenly even while injured. I definitely can’t let him escape.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the Greenwood Flame Fan with him; otherwise, a single sweep of the fan would have turned Min Ran to ash.

Min Ran’s eyes were bloodshot with fury as he chanted an incantation. The Jian Chi in mid-air multiplied into seven, all targeting Chu Hao.

”Flying Sword!”

Is Qimen Dunjia really that powerful? Chu Hao was startled.

”You little beast, today is the day you die for daring to provoke me!”

Taoist Min Ran was truly going all out, ignoring his wounds and controlling the seven Jian Chi with all his might.

Chu Hao swung his Ritian Stick, keeping the Jian Chi at bay, but he was still forced to retreat continuously.

Chu Hao sneered and shouted, ”Grow!”

The Ritian Stick grew longer, sweeping across. It struck Taoist Min Ran hard, sending him flying a great distance as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

”Holy shit! Are my eyes deceiving me? That stick just got longer!” a passerby exclaimed.

Chu Hao sneered. ”And you think you can match me with those petty tricks? I haven’t even used a tenth of my strength.”

Taoist Min Ran steadied himself, gradually calming down. He had already been severely injured when fighting Wu Jian, and knew he couldn’t endure a prolonged fight against Chu Hao. He formed hand seals for a Qimen Dunjia Escape Technique.

With a stomp, Taoist Min Ran cracked the ground open and quickly disappeared beneath the surface.

Chu Hao’s strike hit nothing. He was inwardly shocked. Just how many Qimen Dunjia techniques does this old fellow know?

He took out the Listening Stone, only to hear a sound retreating from deep underground.

Chu Hao sneered and chased after him.

Taoist Min Ran burrowed over three hundred meters before surfacing in a park and cautiously raising his head.

He had just raised his head when, unexpectedly, a golden stick came crashing down, scaring him back underground.

Above him, Chu Hao’s voice could be heard. ”Min Ran, you sure have some skill escaping like a groundhog. I, this Taoist Master, want to see just where you can run to.”

”DING... Host has gained 2000 Pretentiousness Points for a successful taunt.”

Taoist Min Ran was furious. The anger he’d felt this year surpassed that of the past twenty years combined; he was nearly exploding with rage. This is a classic case of ’a tiger driven from the mountains is bullied by dogs in the plains.’ I’m a prime example of that now, being hounded by Chu Hao!

Underground, Min Ran’s expression was ferocious as he muttered, ”How on earth does he know exactly where I’ll surface?”

Min Ran yelled, ”Don’t push me, or I’ll take your life even if it costs me half of mine!”

Chu Hao said disdainfully, ”You groundhog, what’s with all the nonsense? If you have the guts, come up for a one-on-one fight!”

This is utterly infuriating!

Left with no choice, Min Ran had to keep consuming his True Qi and continue using the underground Escape Technique.

But no matter where he appeared, Chu Hao could always find him, hitting him as if playing whack-a-mole.