Ghost Catching System

"AH!" A piercing scream tore through the heart.

The Ghost-whipping Whip was meant for ghosts; used on humans, it was just an ordinary whip. His wail was so agonizing—if it was not from some vile being, then what was it?

Before the second lash could land, the figure cried out in agony, "I’ll talk! Stop... stop hitting me!"

"We... we are Ghost Sacrificers, possessing the bodies of the dead, preparing to leave the Ancient Tomb."

Ghost Sacrificers were Yin Yang ritual masters from the Chu Kingdom era, somewhat similar to modern Yin Yang Masters.

The Chu Kingdom had once formed an army akin to Yin Yang Masters. They were trained as soldiers and used Mystical Arts to seal themselves in coffins. If anyone approached, they would possess the intruder, taking over their body and living on in their stead.

Chu Hao was shocked. "How many Ghost Sacrificers are here?" he asked.

"One hundred and eight."

So many!

Chu Hao could not help but ask, "What do you plan to do when you get out?"

The Ghost Sacrificer, filled with hatred, said, "We want to defeat the Qin Guoren."

Chu Hao was speechless.

He sighed. "The Qin Kingdom has been gone for a long time. Don’t you know that three thousand years have passed?"

"The Qin Kingdom is gone?" the Ghost Sacrificer asked excitedly.

The Chu Kingdom’s animosity toward the Qin Kingdom runs so deep, Chu Hao lamented inwardly. Even after all these years, they can’t let it go.

If the Qin Kingdom had lasted for three thousand years, with its aggressive tendencies, it might have conquered Earth by now, Chu Hao could not help but think.

Suddenly, Chu Hao felt something was off. Su Changyu is possessed by a Ghost Sacrificer and has the memories of the deceased. How could he not know the current state of the world?

Chu Hao lashed out with his whip. "Are you playing me?" he said angrily. "With the memories of the deceased, you would know the Qin Kingdom has already perished, wouldn’t you?"

The Ghost Sacrificer writhed in pain; this whip strike had nearly annihilated him. "How... how do you know that?" he stammered in terror.

He really was deceiving me, Chu Hao thought. Brother Hao almost believed him.

Chu Hao adopted an all-knowing posture. "There is nothing in this world that this Taoist Master does not know," he declared. "No matter how skillfully you try to deceive, you cannot escape my sight. It seems you do not plan to speak the truth. Very well then, I will find another Ghost Sacrificer to question. I will end you now."

"I’ll talk!" the Ghost Sacrificer exclaimed.

"I am a member of the Ghost Sacrificer Tribe, not of the Chu Kingdom."

The Ghost Sacrificer Tribe!

"We, the Ghost Offering Clan, possess Yin and Yang abilities. Initially, our Ghost Sacrificer Tribe served the Chu Kingdom and made significant contributions. It could be said that Ghost Sacrificers conquered half of the Chu Kingdom’s territory."

At this point, the Ghost Sacrificer’s face twisted with ferocity. "But later," he continued, "the Chu Kingdom grew fearful. They worried they could not control our tribe’s potent abilities and began slaughtering our people."

Chu Hao was startled. The Chu Kingdom actually had such a tribe, knowledgeable in Yin and Yang abilities. With this knowledge, they could accomplish things ordinary people could not.

Chu Hao said, "Continue. This is the Ancient Tomb of successive Chu Kings. Why are you Ghost Offering Clan members here?"

The Ghost Offering Clan member spoke with rage, "The people of the Chu Kingdom all deserve to die! They slaughtered all of my tribe—my parents, my wife, my children—forcing us to flee."

His face contorted with hatred and murderous intent. "We sought revenge. In the end, my kinsmen and I infiltrated the workers building King Chu’s Tomb and initiated our plan."

"What plan?"

"We laid numerous traps and rigged the Ancient Tomb, all for revenge."

Chu Hao asked, "So, did your revenge succeed?"

The Ghost Sacrificer nodded. "Yes. After their deaths, the souls of the Chu Kingdom’s successive kings became our prisoners within this tomb."

Chu Hao was somewhat shocked. The resentment in this Ghost Sacrificer’s heart is so intense. They couldn’t kill the Chu Kings in the outside world, so they waited until after their deaths to torment their souls in the tomb. They were harsh on themselves and even harsher on their enemies. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The Ghost Offering Clan member continued, "My clan and I took over this Ancient Tomb and began discussing our future plans. Using our unique abilities, we interred our own souls beneath this Divine Tree to wait. As soon as someone opens the Ancient Tomb, the Ghost Offering Clan will return to the surface."

Such a grand ambition, in the works for so long. They waited three thousand years. Indeed, the Ghost Offering Clan is terrifying, Chu Hao mused.

Chu Hao took a deep breath. "And now you’ve succeeded."

The Ghost Offering Clan member shook his head. "The number of living bodies we’ve possessed is not yet enough."

Chu Hao narrowed his eyes. "So, you want to go out and bring more living people in?"

"Yes."

Chu Hao asked, "Where are the souls of the past Chu Kings?"

The Ghost Offering Clan member was startled. "You... Why are you asking this?"

This Ghost Offering Clan member is quite vigilant, Chu Hao noted. Ordinary people, of course, wouldn’t care where the past Chu Kings are, unless they were related to a King Chu.

Chu Hao waved his Ghost-whipping Whip. "So you don’t plan to tell me?" he said indifferently.

Frightened, the Ghost Offering Clan member quickly replied, "Below... in the main tomb chamber, on the Soul Offering Platform."

So that’s the target for this rescue mission, Chu Hao realized.

Chu Hao then asked, "What else? What other plans do you have? Don’t lie to this Taoist Master. One more lash, and you’ll be reduced to ashes."

Filled with terror, the Ghost Offering Clan member quickly replied, "After we get out, we will find the descendants of King Chu and kill them all!"

FUCK! Chu Hao swore internally. I’m a descendant of King Chu! These Ghost Offering Clan members are out to kill me! Damn it! This world is brimming with intense malice. Heaven only knows who has been possessed by a Ghost Offering Clan member. They’re in the shadows, and I’m out in the open. This is going to be difficult.

Chu Hao suddenly asked coldly, "Do you know who I am?"

"You... who are you?"

It was very dark, so the Ghost Offering Clan member could not see Chu Hao’s face. After all, while they had the ability of Possession, they lacked night vision.

Chu Hao took a flashlight from his pocket and shone it on his own face. The light made his features stark and somewhat frightening. "Now," he said, "who do you say I am?"

"DING! Host initiated a Scary Show Off, gaining 700 Pretentiousness Points."

Chu Hao was puzzled. So this is another Scary Show Off moment? Seriously, does Brother Hao look that terrifying?

Seeing Chu Hao, the Ghost Offering Clan member’s composure shattered. He possessed the memories of the deceased and, of course, knew that Chu Hao was the descendant who had opened King Chu’s Tomb.

"Chu Hao!" the Ghost Offering Clan member screamed.

"Correct. So you, too, shall be reduced to ashes." With a crack of the Thunder Whip, Chu Hao struck. The soul of the Ghost Offering Clan member dissipated into nothingness.

"DING! For slaying the soul of a Ghost Sacrificer, you have gained one hundred thousand Experience Points."

Chu Hao felt a bit downcast. If I had known, I shouldn’t have spared Su Changyu earlier. That man must have known my identity. If he tells the other Ghost Offering Clan members, my troubles will be even greater.

On second thought, most people who came here probably know my identity. Anyone left alive could be a threat to me.

What a headache.

It was not that Chu Hao was afraid of the Ghost Offering Clan; it was their thirst for vengeance and their incredible patience that sent shivers down his spine.

Chu Hao inquired, "System, is there a way to identify members of the Ghost Offering Clan?"

System: "It is recommended that the Host purchase the Six Paths Pupil. It requires fifty thousand Pretentiousness Points."