Chapter Seventy-Six: The Watch Council Squad-The Shady Shop in the Age of Spiritual Awakening(This person has survived by living in obscurity until now.)

“Those ghosts… they’re actually people? Just contaminated?” Qin Jing was utterly astonished by this revelation. Compared to these “contaminated students,” those who still resembled people—like the female ghost he had just bargained with—were, in fact, true specters.

However, the number of actual specters was pitifully small. The range of Qin Jing’s recovery map was limited; he could only see specters within a ten-meter radius, and within his field of vision, there were only two—the same two female ghosts with whom he had just negotiated.

“So far, I haven’t seen any ‘contaminated’ items on the recovery map. Does that mean only specters possess such tainted things?”

But it didn’t matter. Now that he understood this, his objective became clear: seek out specters. And since he was already using the GPD, he might as well exploit all its functions. In the client list, Qin Jing located Xu Li.

He paid a price of 10 grams and, as if seeing through her eyes, observed Xu Li’s current state.

This young woman was inside a classroom. Upon the podium lay a corpse—headless, armless, and legless, yet there was no blood. The body exuded a chilling black aura that blanketed the entire room. Qin Jing glanced around and saw every seat occupied by “people,” who seemed far more normal than the two female ghosts he’d encountered earlier. The girl sitting next to Xu Li had healthy, tanned skin and rosy cheeks—her complexion radiant and flawless. She whispered to Xu Li, “Who’d have thought our drama class would ever have us playing dead bodies?”

The boy in front of Xu Li turned around, grinning, “Exactly! And we’re supposed to be headless and limbless corpses. Shall we chop off our heads and limbs too?”

The vision was brief—just this fleeting glimpse before it faded. Qin Jing took in a deep breath; he understood now that all these “people” were no longer specters, nor even ghosts in the conventional sense.

According to the mythic lore of this world, specters are but ordinary wandering souls, weak and unable to influence the material realm. They may frighten mortals but cannot cause harm. True ghosts, however, are suffused with resentment and a violent urge to attack, posing serious threats not only to ordinary people but even to extraordinary ones.

“In that case, I just have to find where the ghosts gather in greatest numbers.”

Murmuring to himself, Qin Jing moved purposefully toward the southern teaching block—the central building with the most students.

“Captain, ghosts are everywhere. We’re surrounded,” Chen Nan said with a wry smile. As a third-level extraordinary, he was fairly well-known among his peers, but he hadn’t expected to be trapped in a spiritual eruption.

Two companions stood back-to-back beside Chen Nan. One was a burly, broad-shouldered middle-aged man, who, upon hearing Chen Nan’s words, gritted his teeth and ordered, “Break out with me! We’re heading to the central teaching block!”

Behind him stood a young girl, hardly more than a child. She couldn’t help but protest, “But Captain, according to the spiritual energy monitors, the central teaching block is the most saturated area. There are likely supernatural entities above level five inside! We’ve already scouted the area. If we’re trying to break out, shouldn’t we head outwards?”

The middle-aged man shook his head. “Yao Yao, you don’t understand. This spiritual eruption happened too suddenly. On the surface, it seems the Ghost King Zhou Jian instigated the chaos, but the Oversight Council suspects a deeper secret. Although we scouted the southern teaching block, what did we learn? Only that the students here inexplicably became specters, and nothing more. Only by reaching the central block—maybe even its very core—can we uncover the true cause of this campus spiritual eruption!”

Chen Nan nodded in agreement. “The captain is right. Since we benefit from the Oversight Council’s resources, we must shoulder our responsibilities.”

Though frightened, Yao Yao nodded at her brother’s words.

The trio burst out of the classroom. Outside, countless “specters” had their eyes fixed on the door, and as soon as the three emerged, every last one surged toward them.

“Swift!”

The middle-aged man threw a talisman of yellow paper into the air. At his command, it ignited in the wind, and a mighty gale erupted, sweeping the specters aside.

Chen Nan seized the chance, grabbed Yao Yao, and dashed southward, the captain close on their heels.

A sharp clang rang out as Yao Yao, jaw clenched, wielded a longsword that gleamed with golden light. Sword energy flared with every sweep, scattering specters in all directions. Such a powerful attack, however, came at a steep price, and she knew she was the team’s weakest link. Her brother, Chen Nan, had already advanced to level three, and the captain was a seasoned third-level extraordinary. Only she remained at level two.

Fortunately, the western block wasn’t large, and the number of specters seemed manageable. The trio carved a path through the corridor, and Chen Nan, leading the charge, kicked open the railing to the southern block, leapt five or six meters, and landed directly on the third floor of the central building.

“Yao Yao, come on!”

Behind her, the captain gave her a gentle push, a soft force propelling her forward in Chen Nan’s wake and into the central block.

At that moment, calamity struck. A ghostly figure materialized out of thin air, blocking Yao Yao’s advance in midair.

It was a man shrouded in baleful energy, his face twisted in a cruel grin. “Oversight Council lackeys—all of you must die!”

“Yao Yao!” cried Chen Nan, barely having regained his footing. Panic seized his heart, but he was powerless to intervene.

At this critical moment, the middle-aged captain arrived. Seeing the spectral figure, his eyes flared with fury. “Zhou Jian! You bastard!”

He raised his hand, conjuring a small flag, and began chanting. The sky split open, revealing dark blue clouds, and with a thunderous crack, a bolt of lightning as thick as a water snake crashed down.

Zhou Jian sneered, seizing a nearby specter and hurling it into the air. The lightning struck, reducing the specter to a charred husk.

A shrill scream echoed. Yao Yao frowned; could specters scream?

None of the others noticed, for as the lightning struck, the entire central block seemed to awaken. Waves of black energy surged forth like giant hands, reaching for the four of them.

Zhou Jian slipped away, vanishing as a wraith into the gloom. The other three were not so fortunate—even the captain, who had just unleashed his formidable powers, was left weakened and snatched up by a shadowy hand.

“Damn it! Zhou Jian set a trap—he threatened Yao Yao just to force my hand!”

But realization came too late. In an instant, their surroundings shifted, and the three found themselves in front of a classroom.

“Do the three of you need anything? Premium spirit water, only 998 a bottle!” Suddenly, a human voice rang out, sending chills down their spines. A talking ghost—how terrifyingly powerful must it be?

Thanks to Leaf’s Sorrow for the 1,000 coin reward. Now that the new book period is over, exposure is dropping. If you haven’t already, please add the book to your collection!