"Been a long time since anyone came here."
"Heh… kid, be smart and hand over what you've got. Don't force us to get rough."
"Skin's pretty smooth, too. What do you say—sell him to the slavers?"
"Haha, not a bad idea."
Sinister laughter echoed through the darkness.
From the dim shadows, figures stepped out one after another.
They were humans, not ghosts.
Each of them stared at Bai Jue with twisted expressions, greed flashing in their eyes. From their words alone, their intentions were obvious.
After all—this was the slums.
The world was already dangerous enough. Even with the Federation and Festival Adepts protecting civilians, there were still plenty who treated the current era as the apocalypse, letting the darkness in their hearts run wild.
The slums were the worst of it.
Bai Jue turned calmly, looking at the group surrounding him.
"You want money?"
"Obviously."
A man with a scar running across his face snarled.
"You know what we're here for. Hand it over—and don't make us do it ourselves."
"Tsk."
Bai Jue clicked his tongue. Then, suddenly, the corner of his mouth curled upward.
"Well… that works out nicely."
"I was just wondering how to lure those ghosts out."
"Fear should be more than enough bait."
As he spoke, Bai Jue casually raised his right hand and flicked it.
"What the hell are you babbling about?!"
The scar-faced man didn't understand a word, but Bai Jue's smile infuriated him. Feeling mocked, he yanked a dagger from his waist and strode forward aggressively.
"Enough nonsense—hand over the money!"
But in the next instant—
Buzz.
Black mist surged.
A grotesque figure materialized in front of Bai Jue.
Its appearance was horrifying. A long, crimson tongue swayed violently before shooting forward—
Snap!
It wrapped tightly around the man's neck, hoisting him into the air like a toy.
A Hanging Ghost.
Twisted. Monstrous.
The moment it appeared, the expressions of the surrounding men froze—then shattered into pure terror.
They stumbled backward, drenched in cold sweat.
"G–ghk…"
"A ghost… it's a ghost…"
"He's a Festival Adept! How could we possibly fight a Festival Adept?!"
"Run—RUN!"
Panicked screams erupted.
The men who had been threatening Bai Jue moments ago now scrambled away in utter chaos.
Bai Jue's expression remained calm.
With a thought, he said lightly,
"Don't let them escape. Just make them afraid."
As his words fell—
Black mist surged once more.
Five shadowy figures emerged.
Five vicious ghosts.
The moment they appeared, they obeyed Bai Jue's command without hesitation.
Yin energy exploded outward.
Those attempting to flee suddenly froze, their eyes turning dull as terror twisted their faces.
They had fallen into illusions—
Or rather…
Ghost Wall.
Screams and panicked wails echoed endlessly through the alley.
Despite the fact that none of them had suffered real injuries.
Bai Jue stood quietly, waiting.
Fear was a delicacy for ghosts.
It didn't strengthen them directly—but it was irresistible bait.
[Notice: You used your ability to instill fear. Qili has increased slightly.]
[Notice: You used your ability to instill fear. Qili has increased slightly.]
[Notice: You used your ability to instill fear. Qili has increased slightly.]
"…This works too?"
Bai Jue raised an eyebrow, surprised as he felt the subtle growth of Qili within his body.
Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"They've arrived."
A cold wind swept through the alley.
At its entrance, a figure stood silently.
At first glance, it looked like a mass of black mist.
But on closer inspection—
It had no head.
A headless corpse.
Blood streamed endlessly from the jagged neck, the sight horrifying beyond words.
Drawn by the scent of fear, the Headless Ghost had come.
But the moment it arrived and saw the scene before it—
Its body trembled violently.
When it looked at Bai Jue, an overwhelming sense of terror surged through it.
Without hesitation, it turned to flee.
"Since you're here…"
"Don't leave."
Bai Jue spoke calmly.
At his side, an Underworld Warden clad in official robes appeared instantly, radiating solemn authority.
"Impudent spirit!"
"Seeing the Master, yet you refuse to submit?!"
The warden roared.
The soul-binding chain lashed out, instantly restraining the Headless Ghost and yanking it back toward Bai Jue.
"Return."
Bai Jue raised his right hand, palm open.
Black mist surged, forming a swirling vortex that radiated terrifying suction.
The Headless Ghost struggled wildly, terror flooding its nonexistent eyes.
But under the dual suppression of the soul-binding chain and the vortex—
It was helpless.
In moments, it was dragged into the black swirl and vanished completely.
[Notice: You have absorbed a vengeful spirit. Qili has increased slightly.]
[Notice: You have absorbed a vengeful spirit. Qili has increased slightly.]
[Notice: You have absorbed a vengeful spirit. Qili has increased slightly.]
[Notice: Your realm has advanced.]
Buzz—
A surge of aura erupted from Bai Jue's body.
His cultivation had jumped directly from Apprentice Early Stage to Apprentice Mid Stage.
But before he could even feel joy—
Another system prompt sounded.
[Notice: You have absorbed a vengeful spirit using Zhongyuan. This has drawn the attention of "Qingming."]
[Notice: Qingming has taken a faint interest in you.]
"…Qingming?"
Bai Jue froze.
Then his eyes widened in shock.
The consciousness of Qingming Festival?
Did this mean—
That once Zhongyuan reached full recognition, he could awaken Qingming as well?
And Qingming…
If he remembered correctly—
Was the festival that communicated with the underworld, borrowing its authority.
A terrifyingly powerful festival in its own right.
The thought alone made Bai Jue's blood race.
"This really is a double blessing."
Bai Jue smiled, his eyes gleaming.
Qingming's attention aside—
The most important thing was this:
After breaking through, the second ability of Zhongyuan Festival was about to awaken.
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