Ghost Catching System

The next day, Chu Hao, the toad, and Zi Jing arrived at the agreed-upon location. They arrived at noon, at a hotel in a county town where Lan Zhen had already arranged accommodations.

The hotel wasn’t luxurious, but it was the best in the county. When Chu Hao and his companions arrived, Lan Zhen was already waiting in the lobby.

Lan Zhen had a delicate face, a slightly prominent nose, and strikingly pale, translucent skin. Dressed in casual clothes, she didn’t look like a female Taoist priest.

Nowadays, Taoist priests don’t necessarily wear their robes everywhere; Qingcheng Mountain is one of the more relaxed branches of Taoism.

Seeing Chu Hao arrive with a young girl, Lan Zhen felt puzzled. She greeted them with a smile, ”Fellow Daoist Chu, you’ve arrived.”

Truth be told, Chu Hao wasn’t actually a Taoist priest. However, he proclaimed himself a Taoist Master, and everyone genuinely believed him to be one. In the Yin and Yang Realm, the term ’fellow Daoist’ simply refers to a peer; it’s not exclusive to Taoist priests.

Chu Hao nodded. ”When do we depart?”

Lan Zhen said, ”We’re just waiting for you, Fellow Daoist Chu. Who is this young friend?” she asked, referring to Zi Jing.

Chu Hao explained, ”She is my distant relative’s daughter, who wants to come with me to see the world.”

Lan Zhen was speechless. Aren’t you afraid your distant relative’s daughter will encounter danger? After all, we are going to confront the Golden-Wood Drought Demon.

Lan Zhen said helplessly, ”Is this... is this really okay?”

Zi Jing, feeling looked down upon, made a face and retorted, ”I want to go! It’s not like you own the road. Mind your own business.”

Lan Zhen was at a loss for words. This little girl is so fierce! Alright, I won’t argue with you; after all, I’m the adult, and you’re the child.

Lan Zhen then said, ”However, we cannot guarantee her safety.”

Chu Hao replied, ”I will make arrangements.”

People gradually started coming down to the hotel lobby. Chu Hao recognized two of them at a glance: Wang Junshu and Zhang Chenfeng. They were invited as well?

Chu Hao found this strange. What terms did Lan Zhen offer? The Jinmu Core goes to her... Could it be that the Merit Points will be divided among us?

Upon seeing Chu Hao, Wang Junshu became very serious. Since the True Monarch Divine Incantation had failed to affect Chu Hao last time, the gap in their strength was clear, and Wang Junshu now considered Chu Hao a rival.

Zhang Chenfeng’s expression was unpleasant. Lan Zhen hadn’t told him who the final person would be, and his face darkened upon seeing Chu Hao.

Besides them, there were two others Chu Hao hadn’t seen before, who appeared to be a couple.

Zhang Chenfeng said, ”Lan Zhen, you knew Longhu Mountain and I have a grudge with him, yet you still invited him. What’s the meaning of this?”

”I just want this operation to be as successful as possible,” Lan Zhen replied. ”Fellow Daoist Chu is very strong.”

Zhang Chenfeng was clearly upset. ”It’s either him or me,” he retorted.

Chu Hao said indifferently, ”One should know one’s place.”

Zhang Chenfeng angrily asked, ”What did you say?”

Although Zhang Chenfeng was angry, he didn’t make a move. He knew he couldn’t beat Chu Hao. However, this time was different; he had obtained something to deal with the Golden-Wood Drought Demon.

Chu Hao said calmly, ”You’re lucky you ran into someone as good-tempered as me. If it were anyone else, you’d probably be on the ground by now.”

Zhang Chenfeng furiously said, ”It’s not certain who would be on the ground!”

With his hands behind his back, Chu Hao stated calmly, ”Not just any riffraff can bark in my presence. Try shouting again and see what happens.”

DING! Host has successfully acted with overwhelming presence, gaining 3,000 Pretentiousness Points.

Zhang Chenfeng truly didn’t dare to speak again. He was indeed suppressed by Chu Hao’s aura and felt deeply resentful, but it only confirmed Chu Hao’s words: one should know one’s place.

Zi Jing blinked her eyes and pointed at Zhang Chenfeng. ”He’s chickened out.”

Zhang Chenfeng felt like he could vomit blood. Why did this tactless girl have to point it out, rubbing salt in the wound?

Chu Hao looked at Wang Junshu and asked, ”Are your injuries healed?”

Wang Junshu replied, ”I’m healed. Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Chu.”

Chu Hao waved his hand. ”You misunderstand. I was just thinking, if your injuries hadn’t healed, why would I bring along a burden?”

Wang Junshu was speechless. It was incredibly demoralizing.

Wang Junshu felt deeply indignant. He was, after all, a Mao Mountain Taoist, yet he was being looked down upon like this.

It had to be said, Mao Mountain’s Taoism held Chu Hao in high regard. They recommended not provoking him for the time being, suggesting they wait until the era truly changed. By then, with the foundation of Mao Mountain combined with the resurgence of the Human World, he too would reap many benefits. What needed to be done now was to make all necessary preparations, waiting for the genuine great revival of the Human World.

Seeing the awkwardness, Lan Zhen laughed. ”Fellow Daoist Chu, let me introduce you. These two are the Chang Gong Couple: the man, Zheng Gong, and the woman, Xu Chang. They entered the Inborn Expert realm before any of us four.”

Zheng Gong laughed. ”Fellow Daoist Chu, your reputation precedes you! Seeing you today, you truly are a young and formidable talent.”

Chu Hao shook his head. ”Are you two also independent cultivators?”

”Yes.”

Independent cultivators, or ’Sanren,’ were those without backing from a sect or clan, who cultivated on their own. The Chang Gong Couple were quite famous in the Yin and Yang Realm. Despite having no sect affiliation, they had reached the Inborn Expert realm, so their strength was not to be underestimated.

At this moment, the toad in Zi Jing’s pocket secretly transmitted his voice, ”This couple is very strong, Kiddo Chu. One-on-one, neither could beat you, but both of them together? That might be a different story.” This was the toad’s assessment after seeing the Chang Gong Couple.

Chu Hao was curious how the toad could tell, as he himself, despite being at the peak of Intermediate Foundation Building, couldn’t perceive it. He could only discern the combat strength of ghosts and demons, not humans.

「Ready to set off.」

As everyone was assigned to their respective vehicles, Chu Hao asked, ”How did you discern the Chang Gong Couple’s strength? Why can’t I see it?”

The toad replied disdainfully, ”It’s child’s play. For you, however, it’s indeed difficult.”

This toad is really asking for it.

Zi Jing said, ”Big Brother, it’s actually nothing special. I can see it too. It’s a kind of spiritual will that allows you to observe the True Qi within others and thus determine their strength.”

Chu Hao looked surprised. ”Zi Jing, you can use spiritual will too?”

Zi Jing puffed up proudly and mimicked the toad, ”It’s child’s play!”

Chu Hao’s face darkened. No doubt, Zi Jing is great at crushing people’s egos.

The toad taunted further, ”Beg this Emperor, and I’ll tell you.”

Zi Jing made a face, her small, almond-shaped face alight with mischief. ”Big Brother, beg *me*, and I’ll tell you!”

Go ahead, you two keep trying to one-up me. Do you think Brother Hao has no solutions?

Chu Hao asked in his mind, ”System, is there a way to clearly see other people’s strength?”

System: ”Host is recommended to purchase Truth’s Curse. Requires 10,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

Brother Hao currently has 22,000 Pretentiousness Points. So Chu Hao immediately made the purchase.

DING! Host has purchased Truth’s Curse, consuming 10,000 Pretentiousness Points.

Item: Truth’s Curse

Rarity: Three Stars

Ability One: Allows the user to clearly see the extent of an opponent’s True Qi, thereby judging their strength.

Chu Hao formed a hand seal. As Truth’s Curse activated, his eyes seemed to gain new clarity. Looking at Zi Jing, he immediately saw a layer of grayish-red True Qi enveloping the little girl.

Chu Hao instantly saw Zi Jing’s strength: Intermediate Foundation Building.

Holy crap! A nine-year-old girl at Intermediate Foundation Building? Does she have to be that outrageously strong?