Nanyang City, White Lake Amusement Park – Ghost Maze District
At 3:20 a.m., a loud commotion broke out.
Lin Feng had been visited by three groups of people in succession.
The first group was led by Fang Yun, a woman in red, accompanied by a young Taoist, Lu Feng. They stood outside the door of Lin Feng's team. When Lin Feng finally emerged, Fang Yun sneered coldly, "Lin Feng, right? Clear Spring Temple will remember you!"
Lu Feng remained silent, his expression one of reluctant acceptance.
After Fang Yun and Lu Feng left, Xu Shou appeared. The tall, lanky man walked with a hunched back, resembling a wolf. His aura was intense and aggressive.
Yet, Xu Shou did not resort to threats. Instead, he simply remarked, "Since when did the life-and-death path of Nanyang City produce such a formidable newcomer? I'm impressed."
Xu Shou came and went quickly. In a place like Ghost's Triple Trials, where one's skills determined their fate, someone of Xu Shou's reputation couldn't afford to lose face by bickering with a rookie.
The third group consisted of a man with peach blossom eyes and another with a thick beard. They flanked Lin Feng, each wrapping an arm around his neck.
"You're ruthless, Black Dog! Spending so much ghost money to clear the path, and buying our lives along with it—what a cunning 'borrowed knife' strategy."
Both of them looked ready to snap Lin Feng's neck at any moment, leaving Lin Feng with no choice but to force a bitter smile. In this situation, he was powerless.
"Attention, all challengers! Please proceed to Green Bamboo Manor for the announcement of Ghost's Triple Trials rankings."
Lin Feng was escorted by the two men, with Nie Chuxia following helplessly behind.
"Hey, Brother Hua, didn't we talk about our dreams together? Why treat me like this?" Lin Feng struggled, sensing that falling into their hands would not end well.
Peach Blossom Eyes glared. "Hua? Damn you! My name's Wan! Black Dog, if that fat ghost hadn't wanted us dead with a little dignity, we wouldn't have known it was you who hired him to kill us!"
Lin Feng's face darkened. Damn it! How did that old ghost, Ma Chuan, leak such information? He flatly denied it, his expression resolute, as if prepared to die rather than confess.
"Deny it all you want. Wang Qian already admitted it was your plan. Our Fight Sect has officially formed a grudge against you!"
Lin Feng looked utterly defeated. Nothing is worse than having a stupid ally. That idiot Wang Qian—how could he sell me out? The team is falling apart!
"Where's that fat guy now?" Lin Feng asked. He hadn't seen Wang Qian since waking up.
"He left with his master and returned to the manor."
Green Bamboo Manor
The vast manor was filled with the 27 teams who had participated in the Ghost's Triple Trials.
On a simple elevated platform stood four elders.
One of them had flowing robes and white hair, his expression wise and composed. His attire resembled Lin Feng's. Lin Feng guessed this was Nie Chuxia's grandfather—Nie Lao Xian.
Another elder wore the distinctive garb of the Talisman Sect, the same one who had intervened when Wang Qian clashed with Lu Zhen.
The third was the towering head of the Fight Sect, Jing Sansheng—a lecherous old man Lin Feng remembered vividly.
In a corner stood a short, rotund, and sleazy-looking old man, conspicuous in his cheap Zhongshan suit. At barely 1.6 meters tall, his eyes darted around the crowd, lingering on Fang Yun from Clear Spring Temple, his lecherous expression making Lin Feng question his taste.
"Today, it is an honor to have so many fellow cultivators gathered here. The Southern Sect is truly privileged," the Talisman Sect elder began. "The Dao Gathering is merely a rite of passage. New ghost-hunters typically attend such gatherings to understand the gap between humans and ghosts, to assess the depth of their Daoist skills, and to learn how treacherous human hearts can be. From this point on, life or death depends entirely on your own fate."
The elder paused, then continued solemnly, "In this Ghost's Triple Trials, 13 teams reached the third trial. Of them, only three successfully passed. They are..."
"From the Talisman Sect—Wang Qian!"
"From the Candle Sect—Nie Chuxia!"
"And... Lin Feng!"
The elder's words stirred the crowd.
Two of the three victors were from the Southern Sect's branches, prompting some of the smaller sects to question the fairness of the event. However, others acknowledged their skill.
The Ghost's Triple Trials was a place where everyone became a ghost—where human hearts were unpredictable, and ghostly minds were even more so. Many resorted to any means necessary to achieve their goals, confronting deadly obstacles along the way.
Yet, many were puzzled. Who was this Lin Feng? Was he unaffiliated with any sect?
"Now, the successful challengers may come forward to receive their artifacts."
Lin Feng, Nie Chuxia, and Wang Qian stepped up to the elders. The crowd scrutinized the trio closely.
Fang Yun and Lu Feng, from Clear Spring Temple, were visibly envious. In their sect, magical artifacts were scarce, reserved only for Daoists of high rank. They had hoped to win one but ended up being outwitted by Lin Feng's team and expelled from the Mirage Realm. Seeing Lin Feng receive an artifact now filled them with resentment.
Xu Shou, however, remained silent, his eyes fixed on the trio on stage, his expression unreadable.
"Next, the Southern Sect's Sect Master will bestow the artifacts upon the three young talents."
Sect Master of the Southern Sect?!
Lin Feng was stunned and whispered, "Young Mistress, didn't you say the Southern Sect has been without a sect master for a long time?"
Nie Chuxia was equally surprised, as were the other young cultivators present.
Everyone knew that the Southern Sect had long been divided into three branches:
Candle Sect, led by the reclusive and mysterious Nie Lao Xian.Fight Sect, closely aligned with the government, with Jing Sansheng holding a high-ranking position in the military.Talisman Sect, which had expanded its influence in Southeast Asia, now operating as a corporate entity.
The division dated back to the early Republic era, and many of the younger generation had never even heard of a Southern Sect sect master.
Lin Feng watched as the sleazy old man stepped forward.
"Heh heh... I'm Wu Xiong. You youngsters probably don't know me, but since today is the Southern Sect Dao Gathering, I thought I'd drop by to see how things are going."
Wu Xiong grabbed Nie Chuxia's hand and grinned. "Nie Lao Xian is truly blessed to have such a granddaughter!"
Grandpa Nie stood behind with a dark face, coughing non-stop, while Nie Chuxia looked awkward.
The sleazy old man had a heart-to-heart chat with Nie Chuxia for a while before reluctantly letting her go. He said sincerely, "The mirage talisman for this Ghost Triple Pass was drawn by me, and I've observed everyone's performance. On the path of life and death, survival of the fittest is an old saying, and I give it to you all as a reminder. Also, remember—being a ghost catcher is just a profession. Not all ghosts deserve to die."
After speaking, the old man glanced subtly at Lin Feng. It was unclear whether it was praise or a hidden warning.
He didn't resemble a sect leader at all, constantly rambling with plain, unrefined words. After listening for a while, the group finally moved on to the distribution of magical artifacts.
The moment he touched the artifacts, the sleazy old man seemed to transform. His gaze sharpened, and he adopted a solemn demeanor.
"This is the Sky Embryo Brush, capable of drawing talismans mid-air. It was once the treasured possession of Wu Yunzi, a Taoist from the late Qing Dynasty. Wang Qian, as your master, I present it to you in hopes that you will make a breakthrough in the art of talismans."
The old man handed a brush to Wang Qian. Lin Feng now realized that the chubby guy actually had such a formidable master, dazzling him. Wang Qian accepted the brush with immense joy and carefully put it away.
Next, the old man looked at Nie Chuxia and handed her a copper tube. Nie Chuxia's face froze, clearly feeling that the gift was a bit underwhelming. However, Lin Feng noticed that Nie Chuxia's grandfather, standing not far away, was trembling.
"This is the Yin Dragon Flute, once used by Mr. Ma Yongjiang of the Ming Dynasty. The Yin Dragon Flame technique was Ma's own creation. Your grandfather has been wanting this for a long time, but I never agreed to give it to him."
The old man stared at Nie Chuxia, who was visibly excited, having evidently heard of the flute's history.
Finally, it was Lin Feng's turn. He rubbed his hands together, knowing the importance of magical artifacts. Just like in games, equipment and pets are essential. While he could catch ghost servants as pets, equipment was much harder to come by.
Moreover, these artifacts weren't ordinary; they seemed to have significant origins. Lin Feng eagerly anticipated receiving something once owned by a legendary figure, which would bolster his confidence as a ghost catcher.
But when the old man handed him an item, Lin Feng's expression changed dramatically—from anticipation to fury, then to rage.
The old man handed him a plain, worn wooden box with faded carvings. Upon opening it, Lin Feng found a used razor.
A razor?! This thing costs seven yuan at the welfare store in my hometown! It's used for haircuts and shaves—something old men love. I've seen it in plenty of movies—monks usually get one when they enter the temple.
I'm a ghost catcher, not a barber! And I definitely don't want to be a monk!
"Mr. Wu, what's the meaning of this?" Lin Feng waited for an explanation of the razor's significance, but none came. It seemed like just an ordinary razor.
"Lin, calm down! This is the Blade of Karma, left behind by the last companion of the Heavenly Dog. Based on your performance and skills, you would have been suited for the Iron Invincible Ice Silkworm Glove. However, the previous Heavenly Dog companion insisted that the blade must be passed down. Please, let's talk calmly and don't resort to violence. I really have no choice here." Wu, the sect leader, hurriedly explained, clearly frightened by Lin Feng's expression. He knew all too well the temperament of someone with the Black Dog Heavenly Fate—once enraged, they feared no one.
Wang Qian quickly hugged Lin Feng to prevent him from losing control and harming his master.
Lin Feng took a deep breath, calming himself. Fine, a razor is better than nothing!
Surely, this razor must have some hidden power.
As he grasped the razor, a system notification sounded.
"Ding! Congratulations on acquiring a magical artifact: Blade of Karma."
Blade of Karma
Type: Magical Artifact
Description: Capable of severing a ghost's karmic energy and collecting karmic flames. (Karmic flames have a wide range of uses and can be exchanged for skills related to karmic fire in the Ghost Hunter Shop.)
Overall Evaluation: Southern Sect severs karma; Northern Sect governs the heavens. Karmic flames are the foundation of all Southern Sect techniques. This item cannot be stored in your inventory.
"Sever karma?"
Lin Feng was surprised. It seemed this razor had a more impressive background than he initially thought. His mood immediately brightened.
After the distribution of rewards, the sleazy old man evaluated their performances during the trial. His observations, made from a near-omniscient perspective, were insightful. Many nodded in agreement, feeling they had learned something. At that moment, they realized that, despite his shabby appearance, the old man carried a subtle pride that befit the leader of the Southern Sect.
Once the evaluations were over, the old man rubbed his waist and stepped down from the stage. The other elders, who had been tense throughout the event, finally relaxed, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.
The cool breeze gently brushed against them. Lin Feng cracked open a beer and reclined in a chair.
As he and Nie Chuxia snacked on fruit, they questioned Wang Qian about how he managed to pass the trial. Upon learning that Wang Qian had used a hypnosis talisman to trick the little ghost into carrying him to the school's back entrance inside a coffin, Lin Feng cursed him for being so sneaky.
Wang Qian shrugged, explaining that he had merely recalled the ghost mentioning three coffins near the fountain during the first interrogation. He decided to give it a try—and it worked!
Lin Feng now realized that the chubby guy was far smarter than he looked. He made a mental note not to be fooled by Wang Qian's appearance in the future.