Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost

"By the way, doesn't it consume energy for you to float around like this?" Wang Linchi asked the Fox Ghost.

It claimed its abilities had become ineffective, but it didn't seem any different from before. It could still fly, cast illusions, and its agility was even better than Wang Linchi's.

This indirectly confirmed that the ghost's protection capability hadn't failed. Instead, it had been turned off because it couldn't find an object to anchor to, which was a good thing.

"No, why should floating consume energy?" the Fox Ghost asked, puzzled.

The man and the ghost had now traveled about five kilometers from Yuan City, so they slowed down.

"This has to do with the Law of Conservation of Energy, roughly..." Wang Linchi began.

The Fox Ghost interrupted Wang Linchi's explanation very rationally, "Now, now, don't just say 'roughly.' Have you noticed that hawk has been following us for a long time?"

"I know, but I can't hit it," Wang Linchi shrugged.

His attack range was limited. Even if he threw out his Fanciful and Fickle, it couldn't reach that high.

So, he could only let the creature follow them.

As for the Fox Ghost, forget it. Besides its useful protective Home-keeping Immortal ability, it was even weaker than Wang Linchi.

"Is this the 'follow-up' you were talking about? So the Jealous Wife River God had someone backing her. No wonder she could easily establish herself in the city," the Fox Ghost quickly deduced.

"Well, she did have someone backing her, but with her abilities, establishing herself in Yuan City wasn't difficult at all," Wang Linchi corrected.

Even though Wang Linchi had killed the Jealous Wife River God instantly, her actual strength was not weak.

Even a ghost as weak as the Fox Ghost could survive in Yuan City, let alone the Jealous Wife River God, who was stronger than it.

They traveled about another thirty kilometers before encountering any sign of activity.

"Going somewhere in such a hurry? Hand over what you have," a steady voice said.

In the distance, a burly man surrounded by peculiar ghosts approached. He gestured, and the hawk in the sky landed on his arm.

"Excuse me, what is it you want?" Wang Linchi asked curiously.

Wang Linchi wasn't surprised that someone was intercepting them, but their demand for something was unexpected.

"The Defense Map," the burly man stated calmly.

"What do you want Yuan City's Defense Map for? Can't you just fight your way in?" Wang Linchi sized up the burly man. The other party was a ghost, and Wang Linchi recognized him.

Indeed, this was a Powerful Ghost King.

Unfortunately, he wasn't like the Powerful Ghost King the Exam Ghost had told him about—the one connected to the Giant Spirit Guest. This particular Powerful Ghost King lacked true intelligence.

Therefore, he could only be a brute.

"So, you're from the Ghost Village outside the city. I never thought the Jealous Wife River God was actually colluding with you," the Fox Ghost also recognized the Powerful Ghost King. Though they had no dealings, it knew a little about the Ghost Village.

"Hand it over, and this matter is settled. Otherwise..." The Powerful Ghost King paid the Fox Ghost no mind. With its small frame, crushing it would be effortless.

"I didn't take it. I just killed the Jealous Wife River God," Wang Linchi said honestly. Then he added, "Seeing as you have such a robust physique, why be a bandit? Why not join me?"

Wang Linchi was coveting the Powerful Ghost King's physique.

The Fox Ghost was rather speechless. It knew Wang Linchi possessed the Ghost Sigil Method known as the Confinement of Great Power Ghost King Law. Compared to itself, Wang Linchi would definitely choose the Powerful Ghost King.

A cold glint flashed in the Powerful Ghost King's eyes. "So, you're choosing the hard way..."

"I don't drink, thank you." Wang Linchi skillfully interrupted, further enraging the Powerful Ghost King.

The Powerful Ghost King's ghostly underlings, ever observant, swarmed Wang Linchi the moment he spoke.

Seeing this, Wang Linchi turned, snatched up the Fox Ghost, and using his Fanciful and Fickle power as a propellant, hurled it away.

The scene was somewhat comical to the onlooking ghosts. Shouldn't he be escaping with the Fox Ghost? Why throw it out? Self-sacrifice?

What happened next was even more baffling. Wang Linchi pulled out a string of Amulets, resembling a pearl necklace, from his robes, hung it around his neck, and then produced a Long Knife.

The knife didn't look sturdy, especially with the blade densely engraved with incomprehensible, tadpole-like script.

"Come! Today, I'll show you a treasure personally consecrated by the Great Sun Buddha of Rooster Crow Temple!"

Just as the ghosts swarmed Wang Linchi, a brilliant Buddhist radiance erupted, and Wang Linchi, Long Knife in hand, began hacking left and right.

The Fox Ghost, having just scrambled up, shuddered. Good thing Wang Linchi threw me far enough! Any closer, and I'd be a puddle of ectoplasm by now!

The Powerful Ghost King couldn't remain calm either. Who knew Wang Linchi would be so outlandish, possessing so many items that could restrain ghosts like them?

Therefore, he turned and fled without hesitation.

The Defense Map isn't important. The Ghost Village isn't important either.

My life is what matters!

"Stop, or I'll show you what a Zhuge Repeating Crossbow can do!" Wang Linchi pulled an already-loaded crossbow from his robes and fired without hesitation.

The warning is a warning, but that doesn't stop me from attacking.

The crossbow bolt whistled past the Ghost King's ear, grazing his skin.

It was bad that the bolt missed, but the good news was that the attack still connected.

Immediately, the Buddhist radiance on the bolt flared, directly injuring the Powerful Ghost King. Escape was impossible. He tumbled several times on the ground before skidding to a halt.

Powerful as the Ghost King was, he was nothing compared to the Soul Devices produced by Rooster Crow Temple.

Thanks to the good rapport he had built, Wang Linchi had previously custom-ordered a large number of Amulets, weapons, armor, and disposable consumable Soul Devices from Rooster Crow Temple. This accumulated arsenal was precisely why he had dared to choose a world teeming with ghosts in the first place.

He casually tucked the now-empty crossbow into his robes and pulled out another, already loaded. He had a total of ten such pre-loaded crossbows in his Soul Seed Page - Storage Space. The first ten shots required no reloading, which was very convenient.

"Wait, I surrender!" the Powerful Ghost King yelled, still on the ground, fearing Wang Linchi would press the attack.

That last bolt had merely grazed his skin, yet it left more than half his body burning with agonizing pain. If one hit me squarely, I'd probably turn into a pile of ashes on the spot!

"Good. But I need to inspect you first," Wang Linchi said with a smile, preparing to get hands-on.

Seeing this, the Powerful Ghost King scrambled to his feet and dodged aside. "No! Given what you're wearing, if you get close to me, will I even survive?"

"Oh, good point." Wang Linchi glanced at the Amulet string on his body, removed it, tucked it back into his robes, and then took out a miniature Vairocana Buddha statue.

It turned out to be even more potent than the Amulet string. Seeing this, he had to put it away too.

After rummaging for a bit, he reluctantly picked out a consecrated bracelet, one with a more moderate effect on ghosts.

"Wait, what lineage are you from? How do you possess so many ghost-restraining items?" the Powerful Ghost King couldn't help but ask.

It wasn't that ghost-restraining items didn't exist; they were just exceedingly rare. Unlike Wang Linchi, who seemed to be deliberately choosing weaker items to avoid accidentally obliterating the Ghost King.

The Fox Ghost's eyelid twitched, and it didn't dare get close to Wang Linchi. It's a miracle I'm still in one piece!

"Oh, these? A friend gave them to me," Wang Linchi said, preparing to 'examine' the Powerful Ghost King.

"I surrender! I'll follow you! Just don't touch me haphazardly!" The Powerful Ghost King dodged without hesitation. Does he take me for a fool? He'd have to take off that bracelet first!

"Eh? You're mine now. What's wrong with a little touch?" Wang Linchi shot the Fox Ghost a look, signaling it to come and help.

Unfortunately, the Fox Ghost didn't understand. All it saw was Wang Linchi blinking.

Wang Linchi felt a bit frustrated. Other people's eyes can flash with cold light and convey all sorts of emotions and intentions. Why can't mine? Am I missing out on some special eye-skill?

"What exactly do you want?" Hearing Wang Linchi's predatory words, the Powerful Ghost King fell silent.

"Nothing much. I heard you have a Ghost Village, and I just want to... browse. If I find some nice things, I won't lay a hand on you."

"But if the loot doesn't satisfy me... well, you wouldn't want to lose all dignity, would you?" Wang Linchi chuckled, a sinister edge to his voice.

The Powerful Ghost King felt a sense of absurdity. He had lived for so long, only to be threatened like this.

And by such a bizarre threat, no less.

"Fine. But how can you guarantee you'll keep your word?" The Powerful Ghost King felt he needed some assurance.

"I can't. You'll just have to gamble on my conscience." How could Wang Linchi possibly give a real guarantee to an experimental subject? Deception is key.