Ghost Catching System

The glass door swung open. A three-meter-tall Evil Ghost, enshrouded in swirling black smoke that obscured its features, appeared inside the office building. An intensely powerful surge of Yin energy hit them full in the face.

System prompt: "A Ghost Soldier detected, with extremely strong combat capabilities."

This is the first time I've encountered a ghost of the Ghost Soldier rank, Chu Hao thought, taking this very seriously. Even the System noted its formidable strength in combat.

Chu Hao and Diao Chan strode purposefully into the office building.

The towering Ghost King said, "Living person, please, have a seat."

Chu Hao glanced at Teacher Qiu. He was now certain she wasn't in mortal danger—a significant part of her soul was still within her physical body. However, the soul fragment that had been brought here to the Ghost School looked dazed and unresponsive.

At this point, Chu Hao had stopped fretting and sat down. "So you're the Ghost King? What exactly happened to my teacher? I need an explanation."

Surveying Chu Hao, the Ghost King's dark, gloomy eyes conveyed a bone-chilling feeling. He said, "There's been a misunderstanding."

Chu Hao snorted with derision. "A misunderstanding? My teacher nearly died because of you."

The Ghost King smiled and explained, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Luo Dong, the principal of this Ghost School. Your teacher was indeed brought here by mistake. I do not advocate dragging living souls here; it was a unilateral decision made by my subordinates."

Chu Hao made a face. "Ghost School?!"

With a faint smile, the Ghost King said, "Our school is dedicated to providing refuge for benign spirits, those Wandering Wild Ghosts who are not inherently evil."

So this place is a refuge for benign spirits? Chu Hao felt awkward.

He had no reason to disbelieve, for if Luo Dong, the Ghost King, had truly desired Teacher Qiu's life, she would have already been dead.

The Ghost King smiled and asked, "And you are?"

Chu Hao responded, "Chu Hao."

Seeming quite interested, the Ghost King remarked, "You are strong, possessing the ability to project your soul, a feat only those deeply versed in Taoist arts can achieve. I've lived for hundreds of years and have only seen five such individuals. You are the sixth."

Indeed, this near-Ghost General is powerful, having lived for several centuries, likely originating from ancient times, Chu Hao mused. Claiming this precious land, he could easily reign supreme as its ruler. After all, the Ghost Cave's Yin energy is strong, and any average ghost, after residing there for around a hundred years, could become a fierce specter. Given enough time, who knows how many powerful spirits there could be in this place? The ghosts I saw outside were probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Chu Hao smiled faintly. "May I ask why you decided to establish this Ghost School?"

Instead of answering, the Ghost King posed a puzzling question, "Would you be interested in joining our school?"

Chu Hao's mouth twitched involuntarily. Join the Ghost School? What a ridiculous joke! I am a living person; how could I mingle with a bunch of ghosts?

System prompt: "Host has triggered an Extraordinary-level mission, with the objective of establishing a Mysterious Underworld."

System prompt: "Upon mission completion, the host will receive one hundred million Experience Points and one million Merit Points."

Chu Hao was dumbstruck and hurriedly asked, "System, what's going on? Aren't missions only up to SSS rank?"

In the System's display, the SSS rank represented the highest level of mission. So what the hell is this Extraordinary-level mission?

System: "Host lacks sufficient privileges for the System to answer, but I can tell you that this is a golden opportunity, which you must grasp."

Establish a Mysterious Underworld? That is, to create a real Underworld in the Yang Realm? It sounds incredibly impressive; the System wouldn't be setting me up.

Chu Hao gave a slight smile and said, "I am flattered that the principal thinks so highly of me. After careful consideration, I am willing to join this Ghost School."

Ghost King Luo Dong was startled and asked, "Master Chu Tian, you agreed without further thought?"

The next moment, Chu Hao's demeanor changed, and he proclaimed righteously, "I, as a Taoist Master, advocate for truth, goodness, and beauty. In this world, humans, ghosts, and demons are all equal. Kind Wandering Wild Ghosts should be protected. Since the principal's ideas align with mine, why wouldn't I agree?"

DING... The host has grandly shown off, gaining 200 Pretentiousness Points.

The corners of the Ghost King's mouth twitched. Is that really the case? Why do I feel like you're just showing off while preaching about truth, goodness, and beauty?

Ghost King Luo Dong said with immense joy, "Master Chu Tian is truly a noble person. I believe that ghosts have good and evil in them. There are many good ghosts in the Yang Realm that cannot be reincarnated, and that is the purpose behind the existence of our school."

Are you really that benevolent? Anyway, I don't believe it, Chu Hao thought, but he kept a smile on his face and asked, "What's next, principal?"

After thinking for a moment, Ghost King Luo Dong said, "My idea is to first establish the Ghost School, to gather kind Wandering Wild Ghosts, to provide them with educational philosophies so they can have hope to continue living, instead of being confused and lost, and to build a sustainable Ghost Realm."

The way I hear it, it sounds more and more like an Evil Cult, Chu Hao thought. Sure enough, establishing the Ghost Realm is his real goal! By establishing the Ghost Realm in the Yang Realm, the strength of Ghost King Luo Dong would rapidly increase. In time, if his merit is complete, becoming the next Yanjun is not impossible. Such ambition is indeed grand.

Chu Hao had grasped the Ghost King's ambition, but both parties had ways to utilize each other. Now that a human and a ghost had come to an understanding, it was time to talk about benefits. Chu Hao said with a smile, "In that case, I wonder if I could assume a shareholder position?"

The Ghost King frowned slightly and said, "Shareholder? If Master Chu wants the position of Ghost School director, that's possible."

Chu Hao smiled lightly and said, "Since the principal wants to establish a Ghost School, how can it be done without anyone to guide the ghosts to transcendence? When the kindly ghosts have accumulated enough merit, it will be time for me, the Taoist Master, to guide them."

"Oh! Now that Master Chu Tian puts it that way, I can certainly consider it. How many ghosts could Master Chu guide in one go?"

The Ghost King understood. This living person was very clever; he knew what he was after. Exactly. The Ghost King was keen on Chu Hao's ability to guide ghosts. Using that ability to benefit the future Ghost Realm by guiding kind ghosts would be a perk, attracting Wandering Wild Ghosts from the outside.

If I, the Taoist Master, don't show off a thing or two, I won't be able to secure this shareholder position, Chu Hao thought. Since you want me to show off, then I, the Taoist Master, will not hold back.

Chu Hao waved his hand, uttered an incantation, and a brilliant golden Merit Gate appeared.

"This is the Underworld Merit Gate. Once they step through this gate, they can be reincarnated. Principal, are you satisfied?"

Ghost King Luo Dong was dumbstruck. If his face could show expression, he would be gaping in shock.

He knew what that was—the legendary Merit Gate documented in tales, something only Ghost Gods or immeasurably powerful beings could summon. He... he!!

DING... The host has successfully shown off, gaining 100 Show-off Points.

As they say, only a connoisseur knows the true worth of the Merit Gate, and the Ghost King was such a connoisseur.

The Ghost King, overcome with excitement, said, "Master Chu, is... is this really the Underworld Merit Gate?"

PS: A new week begins, asking for recommendation tickets!!