Ghost Catching System

Chu Hao stepped forward but didn’t get too close to the Incense Burner. He secretly cast the Stealing Curse without anyone noticing.

Chu Hao crooked his finger toward the Incense Burner and said, ”Little darling, come over here.”

”DING... Host has spent 30,000 Mana Points; attempted theft of the Incense Burner failed.”

When the crowd saw no reaction, they couldn’t help but laugh.

Ji Wu said with a smile, ”Master, in our Buddhist domain, monks do not speak falsely, and for making mistakes, one must be punished.”

Chu Hao retorted, ”Monks abstain from sensual pleasures, but you don’t look like a novice in that department. You’ve been succumbing to carnal desires for over five years, haven’t you?”

”DING... Host’s Scary Show Off was successful; gained 5,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

Ji Wu’s face instantly darkened. He could feel Master Nian Qiong’s peripheral gaze on him, and his heart grew heavy.

Damn it! How did this guy figure it out? My little secret hobby was discovered, and he even knew about my five-year-long habit! The legendary connoisseur!?

Chu Hao bought a bottle of Magic Recovery Potion, costing 3,000 Pretentiousness Points. It truly stung a bit; what comes quickly also goes quickly.

Chu Hao looked at the Incense Burner with the caring gaze of a father for his son and said, ”Little darling, come to Daddy’s arms.”

”DING... Host has spent 30,000 Mana Points; attempted theft of the Incense Burner failed.”

Damn, it failed again! It seems high-order seals are hard to come by. Chu Hao, however, wasn’t disheartened.

The crowd was speechless, looking at Chu Hao oddly. Is he some kind of clown sent by monkeys? they wondered.

Chu Hao tried the Stealing Curse once more.

”This Taoist Master is a favorite of the heavens! You, a mere little Incense Burner, dare to resist? Do you want to be cremated? Come over here now.”

”DING... Host has spent 30,000 Mana Points; successful theft of the Incense Burner.”

The Incense Burner flickered and appeared in Chu Hao’s hand.

System Notification: ”Third Order Incense Burner Seal, exchangeable for 5,000,000 Experience Points and 10,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

Chu Hao was ecstatic. Not only Experience Points but Pretentiousness Points as well!

”DING... Host has flaunted successfully; gained 5,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

What the hell!! How... how did he do that?

Zhang Guanyi, Nian Qiong, Ji Wu, Zhang Zhonghao, and the others were all dumbfounded, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

Could it be? Is Chu Hao really a favorite of the heavens?

”Amitabha! Guanyin Bodhisattva, Tathagata Buddha... this is just unscientific!” Ji Wu exclaimed, utterly shocked.

Chu Hao, holding the Incense Burner, felt incredibly smug. He glanced around with faint disdain and declared, ”A bunch of mortals, acting like you’ve never seen the world. Invincible as I am, who could possibly understand? In this life, I, Chu Hao, have had too few challenges. Ah... what a burden it is to be me.”

”DING... Host’s taunting was successful, dealing 10,000 critical damage to the crowd and earning 5,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

Even Master Nian Qiong mentally cursed a blue streak.

He hurriedly prayed inwardly, Amitabha, may the Buddha Ancestor forgive my outburst. This young man is truly... peculiar.

Chu Hao saw the hostile glares from the crowd, even from a master like Nian Qiong. The Third Order Incense Burner Seal was too valuable; they clearly didn’t want him to just walk away with it.

Chu Hao wasn’t foolish. He said, ”The green mountains will always stand, and the clear waters will forever flow. One day, when we meet again, I hope we can coexist peacefully. Let’s not resort to fighting and killing. We can sit down for a chat, enjoy some tea, talk about the Longhu Mountain Daoist Nuns, discuss the Buddhist Nuns... Farewell for now, everyone.”

Chu Hao turned to leave. I’ve got the Incense Burner; why stay here and wait to get beaten up?

Zhang Guanyi yelled angrily, ”Stop right there!”

Master Nian Qiong also took a step forward, immediately giving chase.

Without turning his head, Chu Hao called back, ”If you have any guts, don’t chase me. Anyone who does is a real bastard.”

Damn it! Zhang Guanyi and the others were infuriated. Paying no heed to Chu Hao’s taunts, they pressed on in pursuit.

Chu Hao ran like the wind, feeling smug. With my Qinggong skills, who could possibly catch me?

However, when he glanced back, he found Master Nian Qiong and Zhang Guanyi hot on his heels, both moving with graceful agility.

Surprised, Chu Hao asked, ”Master, what kind of Qinggong is that?”

With a smile, Master Nian Qiong replied, ”The Buddhist Lightweight Water Floating Skill. There’s no time like the present, Master Chu. Why don’t we sit down and talk? Many Buddhist Nuns have admired you for a long time. If fate wills it, they could even renounce their vows for you.”

Chu Hao was speechless. ”The nuns from the temple should be left for the young monks there! Master, please stop chasing me. If you keep this up, you’ll really earn that ’bastard’ title.”

It was as if Master Nian Qiong hadn’t heard a word.

Zhang Guanyi, a True Qi Master—truly no simple opponent—also caught up, saying, ”Chu Hao, we can make a deal.”

Chu Hao retorted, ”We have a blood feud, what’s there to deal? You’re shameless, but Brother Hao isn’t as thick-skinned as you.”

Zhang Guanyi was enraged; this kid’s words were infuriating. He quickened his pace.

The others pursued just as relentlessly. Ji Wu, his bald head gleaming, gnashed his teeth and said, ”Chu Hao, restore my good name!”

Chu Hao said, ”It’s not my place to say, but monks should abstain from carnal desires; it’s not good for your health. Go back and get yourself a couple of bull’s pizzles to recuperate. You might still have a chance.”

Ji Wu was driven to madness. To think Chu Hao implied he was deficient! He wished he could catch Chu Hao and give him a sound thrashing.

The group doggedly pursued him. The Third Order Incense Burner was simply too extraordinary; they had searched for an entire day before finding this one. How could they possibly let Chu Hao make off with such a precious treasure?

Just then, a mirror materialized, and Emperor Bai Jiang appeared out of thin air with a laugh. ”Over here!”

It was the Yin Yang Mirror, a wondrous artifact that practically served as a portal through space. The others were instantly annoyed; if Chu Hao entered the mirror, they knew they would likely lose him.

Without a second thought, Chu Hao stepped into the mirror and disappeared.

Finally, only the pursuing group remained, staring angrily in the direction where he had vanished.

Inside the ancient city, Chu Haoyu, Emperor Bai Jiang, and Toad stepped out from the mirror, landing on solid ground.

Toad said excitedly, ”Let me see the Incense Burner!”

Chu Hao took out the Incense Burner. This time, he didn’t exchange it with the System. He was curious if he could extract something from its Curse Mark.

Chu Hao asked, ”How do I use this Curse Mark?”

Toad explained, ”You have to use your soul to accept the Curse Mark.”

Chu Hao wanted to try. His soul was now so powerful that he could leave his body without performing any rituals. He placed the Incense Burner in front of him and closed his eyes.

A while later, Chu Hao felt as if he had entered a mysterious space filled with swirling Curse Marks, an utterly fantastical sight.

There, he saw an ancient, golden Buddha statue, its face benevolent, like a living Bodhisattva.

The ancient Buddha was three zhang tall, an imposing figure before which humans would seem as small as beans.

This is the Buddha’s form within the Incense Burner Seal, Chu Hao realized.

Chu Hao was intrigued. He tried to communicate with the ancient Buddha, saying, ”Hello!”

The ancient Buddha did not respond. Just as Chu Hao was wondering what to do, Toad’s voice reached him from the outside world: ”Use your Soul Force to refine the Curse Mark!”

Within this strange space, numerous Curse Marks and mystical symbols floated about. Chu Hao’s heart stirred. He emitted a spiritual force, like a magnetic field, to refine these Curse Marks.

After a while, the Curse Marks finally resonated with his soul.

Chu Hao felt them settle upon him, as if he were undergoing a sacred baptism.