Ghost Catching System

Shangu Yizun turned around, his face pale and unsightly. In a defeated tone, he said, ”You’ve won.”

Chu Hao sneered. ”I have won, but have you forgotten something?”

Shangu Yizun, having exhausted twenty years of his lifespan, looked pale as he asked, ”What is it?”

Chu Hao said, ”Apologize. Also, leave the True Word Brush behind. Even though it’s a replica, it can’t stay in Wo Country.”

Shangu Yizun’s face turned even uglier.

Chu Hao said indifferently, ”You’d better think carefully. Whether you can leave Huaxia Country or not all hinges on your decision.”

Shangu Yizun’s face grew more unsightly, his body swaying as if about to fall. Furious, he exclaimed, ”Chu Hao, you’re going too far!”

Chu Hao retorted, ”I’m going too far? You come to Huaxia to stir up trouble and think you can just walk away? If it hadn’t been for me, how many people would Yamata no Orochi have killed? And now you’re telling me I’m going too far? Fine! I’ll kill you right now.”

Chu Hao advanced step by step toward him.

Shangu Yizun’s face was ashen. Sensing Chu Hao’s killing intent, he knew Chu Hao would surely kill him. He cried out, ”Here, take it!”

The True Word Brush was thrown over.

Chu Hao caught it. I wonder if this True Word Brush is real, he thought.

The System announced, ”True Word Brush discovered, 60% damage level. Can be refined with the Host’s True Word Brush to gain the Nine-character True Words ability. Requires 60,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

Chu Hao was overjoyed. This thing really is the True Word Brush; it’s just severely damaged, he realized. I don’t have 60,000 Pretentiousness Points right now, but I can accumulate them slowly. Showing off about ten more times should do it.

Chu Hao put away the True Word Brush, clasped his hands behind his back, and said, ”Scram.”

Shangu Yizun and his disciples left in indignation.

The entire venue erupted in cheers; this was truly cathartic.

Even the two foreign Ten-Star Yin-Yang Masters came over to congratulate him. Feted by the adoring crowd, Chu Hao thoroughly enjoyed the limelight, and Brother Hao’s popularity soared even higher.

”Master Chu, in your hands, the True Word Brush will truly shine,” said a Yin-Yang Person, stepping forward.

Chu Hao, hands still behind his back, carried himself with the air of a great master. He waved his hand and said, ”It’s not that I’m too strong, but that the enemy is too weak. Life is as lonely and fleeting as fireworks; I have no worthy opponents.”

”DING... Host has successfully shown off, gaining 4,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

See? Even though they knew Chu Hao was putting on airs, these people still played along.

”Master Chu’s star rating is surely beyond ten stars; I think there’s something wrong with those people’s judgment.”

”I believe Master Chu’s star rating should be at least fifteen stars, comparable to the previous Longhu Mountain Taoist Master, Zhang Guanyi.”

”Such a young master, truly a role model for our generation.”

”Soon, when the global Yin-Yang community announces its Top Ten Distinguished Individuals, the top spot must go to Master Chu.”

A crowd of people showered Chu Hao with praise, as if it cost them nothing. He felt as if he were floating on air, thoroughly enjoying their flattery.

As the saying goes, flattery can move heaven and earth. Chu Hao waved his hand and said, ”Our time together is always brief, and it’s time to part. But the future is long, so if anyone faces difficulties, feel free to come to me at Sanqing Pavilion.”

”Master Chu is truly benevolent.”

”Whoever says Master Chu is despicable and shameless must be blind,” declared a businessman.

Someone else added, ”How could such a righteous master be shameless? I say those who slander Master Chu are the ones with malicious intentions, the real scoundrels.”

Chu Hao was thoroughly enjoying himself. It’s incredibly satisfying to be flattered, he thought. No wonder people like to gather in crowds; receiving compliments feels amazing!

Chu Hao said, ”Everyone, the future is long. Until we meet again.”

”Master Chu, take care.”

Chu Hao left. Although he still wanted to listen to more flattery, he had to maintain his cool, mysterious aura and couldn’t use up all his ’showing off’ material at once.

...

Soon, lengthy news reports emerged.

People from Wo Country had come to Huaxia to cause trouble, claiming that both Taoism and Yin-Yang Techniques originated from their country. However, they were publicly humiliated and fled the scene in disgrace.

Because of this battle, Chu Hao became a legend, a role model for the youth, especially for the young nationalists, who were all applauding him.

Those who had previously scorned Chu Hao online for his shamelessness were now won over. They, in turn, began to criticize anyone who spoke ill of Chu Hao.

However, some commentators remarked that Chu Hao had gone too far by taking things like the True Word Brush from his opponent.

As soon as this commentator spoke out, they were bombarded by netizens. Yet, the commentator refused to apologize and continued to discuss the origins of the True Word Brush and Taoism, as if trying to prove a point.

This person was clearly trying to capitalize on Chu Hao’s soaring fame to gain attention.

A few days later, he was recognized while walking down the street and severely beaten, leaving him bedridden for a month.

What a joke!

Chu Hao was now a role model for both Yin-Yang People and the general populace, a hero who brought hope. Did this flea really think it could find significance by blindly stumbling into a cesspool?

This battle greatly boosted Chu Hao’s popularity. Countless young girls became infatuated with him, and he received endless praise.

Chu Hao’s rank as a Ten-Star Yin-Yang Master was updated the very next day.

Thirteen-Star Yin-Yang Master.

A three-star increase all at once was astonishing.

In fact, since the star-ranking system was established, many skeptics had tested it, only to find it accurate. A Six-Star Yin-Yang Person who challenged a ghost with a Seven-Star terror rating was tormented nearly to death. The ranking system was indeed quite strict.

Chu Hao was the first person since the rankings were established to jump three stars at once—and these were three stars above the Ten-Star level.

An expert who studied the rankings commented that advancing one star above the Ten-Star level was as difficult as, if not more difficult than, a high school student getting into Tsinghua University.

Some even said that Chu Hao should be a Fifteen-Star Yin-Yang Master, noting that Zhang Guanyi was also Fifteen Stars. However, Zhang Guanyi’s age was revealed. At 170 years old, his understanding of Yin-Yang far surpassed Chu Hao’s, making his Fifteen-Star rank thoroughly deserved.

Just as everyone was ”universally celebrating,” people from Wo Country began to condemn Chu Hao, claiming he was despicable and had assassinated Shangu Yizun.

Shangu Yizun had not returned to his country; he and his disciples had died in Huaxia. This news shocked everyone.

Had Chu Hao killed Shangu Yizun?

This once again pushed Chu Hao into the eye of the storm. The Valley Financial Group held a press conference, demanding the surrender of the ”vicious” Chu Hao and the return of the True Word Brush. They declared that if Chu Hao was not handed over, the Valley Financial Group would find its own ways to ensure he received the punishment he deserved.

Countless people called Chu Hao, asking if he had killed Shangu Yizun.

Even the Seventh District called to inquire.

Chu Hao was also baffled. I definitely didn’t kill Shangu Yizun, he thought.

However, with the Valley Financial Group now accusing him of the murder, Wo Country was furious, as a Ten-Star Yin-Yang Master was extremely important to them.

At the press conference, they demanded that Chu Hao go to Wo Country and turn himself in; otherwise, they would retaliate.

This declaration angered many people, who began to argue fiercely with the citizens of Wo Country online.