Chapter 1 The Ghost Qi Source

Qiao Yu sprinted in the direction Zhang Nianyu pointed and soon saw the source of the so-called ghost qi.

It was a group of over a dozen fierce-looking evil ghosts surrounding five people.

"Wang Tiezhu?"

Qiao Yu frowned slightly, unsure whether to intervene.

He had held off the faceless spider in the tunnel while Wang Tiezhu and the others had just left without a word of thanks, which made Qiao Yu uncomfortable.

Although he wasn't one to demand repayment, he shouldn't be treated like a fool either. Qiao Yu decided to wait and see.

"Sit cross-legged, chant the mantra!" Wang Tiezhu shouted, and the five members of the Firmament team immediately sat down.

"Miǎo fó yàn niè, xīn ǎn dù kōng."

"Miǎo fó yàn niè, xīn ǎn dù kōng."

The five people sat with their palms facing the sky, chanting the mantra from the stone pillar in unison.

The evil ghosts, who were supposed to pounce and start a massacre, stood frozen in place, their ugly faces serene as if they were performing some mysterious ritual.

And this wasn't an isolated incident. After discovering that this mantra had a restraining effect on ghosts, the sound of chanting began to echo in many parts of the silent town.

The evil spirits or vengeful ghosts who heard the mantra first had their resentful expressions turn peaceful, then slowly retreated, disappearing into the darkness.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure wielding a large blade silently followed them as they vanished into the darkness.

"Huh? Such dense ghost qi, how did it suddenly disappear without a trace? Something's not right!"

Zhang Nianyu, flying on his sword, finally arrived late. Because he arrived late, he didn't see any evil ghosts.

"Young friends, have you seen any ghostly creatures?" Zhang Nianyu asked Wang Tiezhu and the others ahead.

"Captain, that old man is Zhang Nianyu! I've seen the walkthrough. That old man is an important NPC. We have to follow him to trigger the main storyline," Xiang Kaifeng whispered.

"I understand!"

Wang Tiezhu nodded, then put on a hearty expression.

"Daoist Zhang! I'm Wang Tiezhu. The ghosts were just taken care of by us."

"Taken care of by you?" Zhang Nianyu looked suspicious.

"Indeed. Since the Daoist also has a kind heart to vanquish demons and benefit the world, why don't we travel together?" Wang Tiezhu asked.

"Brother Wang, it was one thing that you didn't wait for me when I was holding off the faceless spider, but now you want to poach me?"

Qiao Yu walked out from a corner. The dozen or so evil ghosts had already become souls under his blade.

"Ah! Brother Qiao Dapao!" Wang Tiezhu's expression was a little awkward. "Sorry, I was just thinking that going ahead would clear the way for you guys, but I didn't expect to end up in Silent Town."

"As long as you keep chanting the mantra, that section of the road should be safe..." Wang Tiezhu seemed to realize something, and suddenly paused, then asked tentatively, "You guys don't recognize all the mantra on the stone pillar, do you?"

"Who said that? We recognize all of it!" Qiao Yu was speechless. The fact that there were three illiterate people on his side was too embarrassing.

"Brother Dapao, if you don't recognize all of it, I can teach you," Wang Tiezhu said, becoming more certain of his guess after seeing Qiao Yu's expression.

"No need! We naturally recognize the mantra, we just disdain to use it."

Qiao Yu scoffed. After knowing that the mantra's purpose was to exorcise ghosts, he immediately lost interest.

Qiao Yu was hoping that all the ghosts and monsters in Silent Town would come rushing at him.

"Then okay, sorry, Brother Dapao," Wang Tiezhu scratched his head sheepishly.

"Wang Tiezhu, you're really useless, being so obsequious to someone from a third-rate university," Qiu Xin's mean voice rang out inappropriately.

Her face was filled with mockery as she contemptuously scanned Qiao Yu and the others.

"You're so eager to catch up, just so we, the Firmament Academy, can protect you. Do you really think no one can see through your little schemes? How laughable!"

Yang Xiangdi silently pulled out his staff, Ma Fei also drew his sword, Zhao Ziyue prepared to heal, and they all turned their gazes to Qiao Yu.

"Why are you looking at me? You know I don't hit women," Qiao Yu spread his hands.

"Oh? Judging by your tone, you want to fight?" Qiu Xin's expression became even more disdainful.

"Brother Dapao, Brother Dapao."

Wang Tiezhu quickly grabbed Qiao Yu.

"Don't bother with that woman, her brain got kicked by a donkey, she's not right in the head."

"How about this, let's travel together, you just follow behind us, and leave the other troubles to me! Is that okay?"

Qiao Yu looked at Wang Tiezhu's honest face. Before he could answer, Zhang Nianyu, who was to the side, spoke up.

"What are you guys muttering about? If you're not leaving, I'm leaving first!"

"Let's go, let's go! Please lead the way, Daoist!"

After Wang Tiezhu finished speaking, he patted Qiao Yu on the shoulder and said softly.

"Brother Dapao, consider it me owing you one, don't lower yourself to the level of that idiot."

"Alright," Qiao Yu nodded.

Zhang Nianyu took the lead and walked in front, muttering to himself as he walked.

"Strange, wasn't this town abandoned a long time ago? Why are there so many people everywhere now... I hope we don't awaken that thing."

"Daoist Zhang, what thing?" Wang Tiezhu asked.

"The ghost king of Silent Town."

Zhang Nianyu's expression became very serious.

"In a place like this, filled with yin qi and ghosts everywhere, the ghosts will inevitably fight and devour each other, until they give birth to the most powerful ghost king!"

"Only in a place where a ghost king sits, can the ghosts live in harmony."

"Is the ghost king strong?" Qiu Xin couldn't help but ask.

"Strong?" Zhang Nianyu snorted through his nostrils.

"Strong is not enough to describe the terror of the ghost king. Whenever a ghost king is born, it's a disaster for the living and a calamity for the world."

"My father once encountered a ghost king. At that time, he was assisted by another enlightened master, and they barely managed to kill that ghost king."

"You must know, my father was a master of Daoist arts! He was many times more powerful than me, and that ghost king was an enlightened monk who fell into the path of ghosts. That battle, tsk tsk tsk..."

A look of nostalgia appeared on Zhang Nianyu's face as he recalled the past.

What the speaker said unintentionally was heard with great interest by the listener. Qiao Yu, who was behind them, began to breathe rapidly.

He rushed forward, grabbed Zhang Nianyu by the collar, lifted him up, and asked urgently.

"What's your father's name?"

"Qiao Dapao! What are you doing? Quickly put the Daoist down!" Qiu Xin shouted angrily when she saw this.

Pa!

A slap landed, and Qiu Xin, dressed in lolita fashion, flew out more than ten meters like a pink cannonball, then plunged headfirst into the rubble.

Qiao Yu only said he wouldn't hit women, but he didn't say he wouldn't slap them.

"Quick, what's your father's name?" Qiao Yu retracted his hand and continued to question Zhang Nianyu.

Qiao Yu's face was full of murderous intent, and his eyes were shining blue. Zhang Nianyu was almost frightened by this sudden change.

Zhang Nianyu trembled and replied.

"My father... Zhang Erhe..."