Ghost Catching System

This Three Hundred Demon Sealing Array could be considered a divine formation, containing records of three hundred types of talisman formations, ghost formations, and nefarious formations.

Every formation that qualified to be among the Three Hundred Demon Sealing Array was incredibly powerful, varied in style, and its might was infinitely changeable.

At that moment, upon observing the matrix techniques of Master Kong and the others, the incantations they muttered, and their strategic positions within the formation, Chu Hao immediately knew what it was.

The Sun-Absorbing Ghost Technique Array, he identified.

This was not an exorcism or evil-warding formation, but a Ghost Technique array with a simple function: to absorb the Yang Qi within the human body.

Once too much Yang Qi was absorbed, it would diminish a person's lifespan!

This was a nefarious formation, and also a ghost formation.

Chu Hao narrowed his eyes. Old Master Luo definitely has a conspiracy, and it's a significant one. Is he planning to absorb the Yang Qi of everyone present? There are many people here, easily three hundred. That's enough to harvest a substantial amount of Yang Qi to nourish whatever is beneath the pond. In other words, the thing below requires human Yang Qi to survive! I suspect it isn't just about survival; perhaps it's to appease the entity below? Keep it 'fed' so it won't cause trouble.

With that, the situation became clearer.

However, the techniques of these eight individuals were far from professional. Each of them bore an air of immortal sagacity, appearing highly experienced. Yet, their minds were clearly not on the task. The result wasn't a proper Sun-Absorbing Ghost Technique Array, but a crippled, half-baked version.

As a professional, Chu Hao found it almost unbearable to watch.

Especially one particularly lecherous Taoist priest, who, while supposedly chanting his incantations, actually let his mind wander! His shifty eyes drifted towards the deep neckline of a young celebrity as he muttered the incantation.

"Supreme head follows the black path, transcending to utmost spirituality; oscillating between darkness and light, waxing and waning, yang virtue dims..."

The first half sounds professional enough, Chu Hao noted internally. Despite his eyes straying to the celebrity's chest, nearly drooling, he seems to possess some genuine skill.

Then the Taoist priest continued, "So white and tender, so large and round; if I, this humble Taoist, could touch them, I'd willingly live two or three years less."

Chu Hao: "..."

What the hell is he mumbling about? If he doesn't die later, he's definitely a living immortal.

The young celebrity, hearing the Taoist priest muttering these words, couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Many people didn't understand what was happening and began to discuss it among themselves.

Old Master Luo spoke up, saying, "Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday. However, before that, I must pay homage to my ancestors. After all... the glory of the Luo Family is the legacy left by our forebears. Paying respects to heaven, earth, and ancestors is fundamental; we mustn't forget our roots. I ask for your patience for just a moment."

Someone immediately said, "Old Master Luo, you are too modest; it is as it should be."

"Indeed, we should honor our ancestors. Old Master Luo's actions set an example for our younger generation."

"Old Master Luo, you are too courteous."

These sycophants, Chu Hao thought with contempt. None of them have a clue what's going on. Their lifespans will be absorbed, and they'll still be in the dark. A bunch of idiots.

With plenty of time on his hands, Chu Hao couldn't be bothered to watch. He simply sat in his chair, cracking melon seeds, just another spectator enjoying the show.

These half-competent individuals took a long time setting up the formation. After half an hour, many people grew restless, thinking the Luo Family's customs were indeed troublesome.

However, they didn't dare to sit; they could only stand and watch.

But their peripheral vision kept drifting to Chu Hao, who was munching on melon seeds, his legs crossed, looking like he was just there for the entertainment. This sight irked them.

Curiously, someone asked, "Who is that kid? He doesn't even seem to respect the Luo Family."

A young woman said, "I noticed him earlier. Everyone here is a person of status, yet judging by his dress and demeanor, he doesn't seem to come from a significant background."

Discussions broke out, and for a moment, Chu Hao became the center of attention.

Even the Luo Family Descendants turned their stern gazes toward him.

That kid is too arrogant, they thought. If it weren't for Old Master Luo's presence, he would have been thrown out by now.

Finally, the formation was about to be completed.

Chu Hao spat out a melon seed shell and said, "Here it comes."

As the formation activated, a dark cloud unexpectedly drifted across the sky, obscuring the full moon. The night turned windy and dark, as if another downpour was impending.

Everyone present couldn't help but shiver as the air suddenly grew colder.

Old Master Luo spoke, "I ask everyone, please put your hands together."

Though they didn't understand what was happening, once Old Master Luo spoke, everyone complied. This was perhaps another rule of the Luo Family.

Seeing everyone with hands clasped together as if in worship, a strong sense of amusement gleamed in Old Master Luo's eyes.

Wearing the Yin Yang Ring, Chu Hao immediately saw the Yang Qi on these people's bodies fluctuating, as if something was about to absorb it.

Indeed, Old Master Luo is merely using the birthday banquet as a pretext, Chu Hao realized. His true aim is to give the entity beneath the pool a chance to feed.

Slowly, the Yang Qi of over three hundred people began to rise and drift towards the swimming pool.

The lifespan of everyone with their hands clasped together began to diminish day by day.

Ten days... twenty days... thirty days...

Stealing lifespan in this manner was a practice that violated the natural order, an act that would even enrage Yama, the King of Hell.

Whatever lay below was supposed to bring enormous wealth to the Luo Family. However, should there be a backlash, it would spell catastrophe for the family.

In Chu Hao's view, this was an act of courting disaster.

The crowd, as their Yang Qi was drained, felt nothing but extreme fatigue.

"Why do I feel so tired?"

"It must be because we've been standing for so long. The Luo Family's ceremonies are so troublesome. It should end soon, right?"

These clueless people, Chu Hao mused. How pitiful. They're completely unaware they've been led into a trap. They're like those who naively help count the money after being sold.

Suddenly, the area around the swimming pool trembled. Everyone struggled to keep their footing, thinking it was an earthquake.

The eight people casting the spell, including Master Kong, all vomited blood, their expressions changing drastically.

"What's happening?" The lecherous Taoist priest stopped ogling the young celebrity, his face filled with panic.

Heh heh... Serves him right, the fool! Chu Hao sneered internally. This lecherous Taoist priest definitely had no idea what was down there; he even dared to let his mind wander while setting up the formation.

The next moment, a whirlpool appeared in the swimming pool, and a vast amount of water began to churn and sink downwards.

The thing inside was coming out!

System Prompt: "AC-level ghost creature detected: Eight-Headed Ghost Mantis, an ancient ghost creature."

System Prompt: "AC-level mission triggered. Task objectives: Break a Ghost Mantis's Claw, Break a Ghost Mantis's Wing, Break a Ghost Mantis's Eye."

System Prompt: "Completing twenty percent of the task rewards a Silver Treasure Box. Completing fifty percent rewards a Golden Treasure Chest. One hundred percent completion by killing the target yields two Golden Treasure Chests."

Holy shit!! Such high rewards? The thing below must be formidable; after all, it's an AC-level ghost creature.

Chu Hao knew of the Eight-Headed Ghost Mantis; it was documented in the Ancient Ghost Scripture.

It was a type of ancient ghost creature, most prevalent during the Jin Dynasty era.

It was said to be a malevolent entity from the Dwarf Kingdom, transformed from an ancestor of the praying mantis.

It was an ancient ghost creature, much like the Ghost Winged People Chu Hao had encountered in the Seventh District; both were ancient entities.

However, compared to that specific Ghost Winged Person, this mantis still fell short by many levels. That Ghost Winged Person was a creature from the Cretaceous Period, while the Eight-Headed Ghost Mantis was, at most, a few thousand years old.