Ghost Catching System-Chapter 674 - 673: Chess Piece!_1

One of the Ten Abominations. The mere mention of that name made many people’s expressions change. Lan Zhen actually wanted to hunt the Golden-Wood Drought Demon.

Chu Hao looked at Lan Zhen seriously. "You’ve got guts," he said, "daring to hunt a fully formed Golden-Wood Drought Demon. That creature is far more formidable than a Ghost Monster King."

Lan Zhen laughed. "Of course I know. That’s why I wanted to invite you to join me."

Chu Hao asked, "The Jinmu Core is very precious. What do you plan to use to persuade me?"

Hearing Chu Hao say this, Lan Zhen felt a glimmer of hope. "After the job is done," she said, "the Merit for eradicating the Golden-Wood Drought Demon will go to you."

"Merit?"

It was the first time Chu Hao had heard of it.

Lan Zhen explained, "Fellow DaoistChu might not know this! The Golden-Wood Drought Demon is a target for capture by the Underworld. Once it’s caught or destroyed, the Underworld sends a Ghost Officiant to award Merit."

This was the first time he had heard of such a thing.

Chu Hao asked, "The Black Water Ghost King is also an opponent the Underworld wants to capture. I killed him, so why didn’t the Underworld give me any Merit?"

After thinking for a moment, Lan Zhen said, "It seems, Fellow DaoistChu, that you haven’t registered as a Yin-Yang Person with the Underworld."

This thing requires registration to be awarded Merit?

Chu Hao was very clear about how important Merit was in the Underworld. It was different from the Merit Points given by the System and also had a significant impact.

Lan Zhen explained further, "Ordinary Yin-Yang Masters from the Human World cannot reach this level. Only Inborn Experts can register as a Yin-Yang Person in the Underworld."

So that was it.

Chu Hao asked, "Do I have to go and register myself?"

Lan Zhen looked at him strangely. "Hasn’t an Underworld Ghost Officiant come to find you, Fellow DaoistChu?"

Chu Hao shook his head.

Lan Zhen chuckled. "It seems you’ve recently become an Inborn Expert. I’d guess that around this time, the Underworld will send a Ghost Officiant to verify your status, and then you’ll be able to register as a Yin-Yang Person."

If it weren’t for meeting Lan Zhen, Chu Hao really wouldn’t have known about this.

Lan Zhen said, "There are many benefits to registering as a Yin-Yang Person. In the future, Fellow DaoistChu, you will understand how important Merit is to us. And! A registered Yin-Yang Person can see their own ranking among Inborn Experts."

Rankings of Inborn Experts?

Chu Hao felt he needed to learn more and asked, "How many Inborn Experts are there in the Human World?"

Lan Zhen answered, "Including you, Fellow DaoistChu, Wang Junshu, and Zhang Chenfeng, there are a total of one hundred and five Inborn Experts in the Human World. No! To be precise, one hundred and three. Two of them have already been dealt with by you, Fellow DaoistChu."

Chu Hao frowned. "Why so few?"

Lan Zhen was speechless for a moment. "Although the Human World has a large population, those in the Yin and Yang Realm are few. Furthermore, not everyone gets the opportunity to become an Inborn Expert."

Thinking about it, it made sense. It was incredibly difficult for others to condense Inner Strength into True Qi, a feat comparable to scaling the heavens. Wang Junshu and Zhang Chenfeng had trained on famed mountains since childhood. If they had been in the secular world, becoming Inborn Experts would also have been exceptionally challenging.

But, for Chu Hao, it was very easy.

Chu Hao said, "I agree to go with you."

Lan Zhen was ecstatic. With Chu Hao’s help, the chances of success would be greater.

They exchanged contact information and agreed to get in touch when it was time to depart.

On the way back, Luo Yan, who was driving, kept glancing at Chu Hao’s face.

Her constant glances made Chu Hao feel a bit awkward. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?" he asked. "Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me."

Luo Yan rolled her eyes. "Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just curious about where you learned all these skills."

Chu Hao said, "Self-taught."

Luo Yan said, "You’re just teasing me. The Yin and Yang Realm sounds fascinating. Can I become a Yin-Yang Master too?"

Chu Hao chuckled. "Sure. We can explore in depth."

Luo Yan, seemingly oblivious to his implication, said, "Alright! No time like the present. Teach me when we get back."

Chu Hao gave a wry smile. "The Yin and Yang Realm is as vast and perilous as the sea once you step into it. Are you sure you want to learn?"

Luo Yan nodded. "Yes, I want to learn! It’s a field I’ve never encountered before, and the thought of it is exciting!"

Chu Hao thought for a moment, his own curiosity piqued, and asked the System, "System, can anyone besides me use items from the Shop?"

System: "They can, but outsiders will not receive data prompts."

My System is awesome!

The retreat of the Censure Alliance.

It caused an uproar in Taoist circles. Some people had recorded videos, and seeing Chu Hao’s overbearing style left them shocked. Especially since he had even shattered the True Monarch Divine Incantation of Mao Mountain.

"This is outrageous! Does Taoism have no one capable left?" some fumed upon seeing Chu Hao sweep through all opposition.

"I never expected both Taoist Priests to be defeated. Rumor has it that Wang Junshu used a forbidden Mao Mountain incantation and still hasn’t regained consciousness."

Many in Taoist circles were vexed. With no other recourse, it seemed only other Inborn Experts could possibly deal with Chu Hao now. But Inborn Experts were rare, and each one cherished their life. Hadn’t they all seen that two from Mao Mountain and Longhu Mountain had already perished?

Others were also dissatisfied, coveting the Ghost Sutras and the True Word Brush in their hearts.

「Zhongnan Mountain.」

When Su Huansheng heard about Chu Hao’s situation, and his claim that he would take him out on sight, he couldn’t help but smile.

In front of Su Huansheng sat a white-haired old man with an ethereal, sage-like bearing and a high, prominent forehead. The two were playing Go. The old man remarked, "This young fellow is quite arrogant."

Su Huansheng placed a white stone. "Arrogant individuals have their uses."

The white-haired old man studied the board, placed a black stone, and asked, "Have you chosen him?"

Smiling at the white stone, Su Huansheng replied, "Merely testing him. He has passed."

The white-haired old man said, "What is your next move then? He doesn’t trust you at all."

Su Huansheng waved his hand. "Chess pieces don’t require trust. They just need to follow my strategy."

The white-haired old man shook his head. "You are very confident. But then again, that is your style."

Su Huansheng frowned, gazing at the board. "I’m not so confident this time. Chu Hao is an unpredictable variable; his abilities and methods seem to grow stronger each time."

The white-haired old man chuckled. "To think there’s someone who makes you uncertain. How about you let me have this chess piece?"

Su Huansheng shook his head. "In your hands, he would just be an ordinary piece. In mine, he is a pivotal one."

The white-haired old man, looking dissatisfied, glanced down only to realize he had lost the game.

The white-haired old man said with keen interest, "If I get the chance, I’d like to meet this young fellow."

Su Huansheng rolled his eyes. "Forget it. You’d better not go. I’m afraid you’d frighten him."

The white-haired old man smiled. "Let’s play another game. It is time I returned to Fengdu. Lord Yanjun has already ordered me to guard the southern border of the Land of the Vast Ancient."

"Very well."

「Back at Sanqing Pavilion.」 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Luo Yan insisted on learning Yin-Yang Techniques. Chu Hao, suggesting she shouldn’t get involved in fighting and killing as a girl, proposed teaching her physiognomy instead. Luo Yan immediately rejected the offer.

"I dream of being a martial arts heroine."

Chu Hao couldn’t help but retort, "A crazy lady’s dream, you mean!"

Luo Yan rolled her eyes. "Don’t be such a smart aleck. Are you going to teach me or not?"

Unable to refuse her persistence, Chu Hao agreed to teach her some fundamentals. To his surprise, Luo Yan wasn’t interested. "I want to be like you," she declared, "able to walk on water and kill someone with a single punch!"