"Last night, a new type of specter was discovered in the Nan'an District. It appears between midnight and three in the morning, dancing eerily in the corridors while dribbling a basketball. Investigations suggest that the specter's abilities are primarily related to the sound of its basketball dribbling."
"Thirteen people have fallen victim so far, and the authorities have named it the Basketball Specter."
"Students, please be vigilant during the late hours..."
On a sunny afternoon.
Golden sunlight filters through the gauze curtains, sprinkling the classroom with a layer of golden dust, sparkling brilliantly.
Unlike the other students engrossed in taking notes, a young boy sitting at the very back is struck with astonishment, dumbfounded.
"I was just lying in bed reading a horror novel, and then... I time-traveled?"
With a sudden influx of memories and the surrounding classroom scene, Jiang Xiao never imagined he would encounter such an event.
According to the memories of this individual also named Jiang Xiao, this world is akin to a parallel version of Earth, with little difference in technology and culture.
Just recently, the new music video by the Heavenly King Zhou was trending on various platforms...
The only distinction is that this world is teeming with spirits and demons, with malevolent entities running rampant!
"Good grief, it seems I can't stay up late reading novels anymore!"
Jiang Xiao's heart races with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Thwack!
At that moment, a "Dongfeng missile" accurately hits Jiang Xiao's forehead.
"Jiang Xiao! What are you daydreaming about?! Stand up and answer what to do if you encounter a Night Path Specter on your way at night!"
On the podium, a middle-aged woman glares with anger.
This is Jiang Xiao's homeroom teacher, Zhou Haiyan, a woman in her forties going through menopause.
The original owner of Jiang Xiao's body seemed to be well aware of her fearsomeness and instinctively stood up.
"Uh... the Night Path Specter..." Jiang Xiao pondered and answered, "The Night Path Specter itself doesn't have the ability to harm people; it lures them with words, causing mental hallucinations, leading them deep into the mountains to be devoured by other specters. If you encounter a Night Path Specter, just ignore it and walk away."
A textbook answer.
Seeing the tigress on the podium's killing intent diminish, Jiang Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Haiyan said, "Sit down, and pay attention! This concerns your own safety! Not long ago, a student from the neighboring class fell victim to the Night Path Specter. Isn't it clear why the school has specifically established a Specter Studies subject?"
Sitting back down, Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded, "Good heavens, this world is too dangerous!"
You can actually run into ghosts when walking at night?
Ding ding ding—
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
Suddenly, a chubby little boy waddled up to Jiang Xiao, "Quick, get your phone out, let's have a one-on-one in 'League of Spirits and Demons'."
"Huh?"
Jiang Xiao was momentarily stunned, then remembered that the other was referring to a mobile game.
This little fatty was the best friend of the body he now inhabited; both of them were the average, unremarkable type in class.
Having just time-traveled, and into a world filled with all sorts of ghosts and monsters, Jiang Xiao was in no mood for games.
He replied irritably, "Buzz off, not in the mood."
Seeing Jiang Xiao's lack of interest, the little fatty changed the subject, "By the way, I heard we're testing for spiritual artifacts today. Do you think I should awaken a Dragon Slaying Sword? Or maybe a 98K?"
"Why don't you just awaken a Gatling gun? The kind that spits blue fire, rat-tat-tat~"
Just as Jiang Xiao finished his sarcastic remark, he suddenly paused, "Wait? Spiritual artifacts?"
Below the stage, all eyes were fixed on him.
Huu~
The crew-cut boy took a deep breath and then grasped the spirit stone in his hand.
Suddenly, a fiery red phantom emerged from his body.
"Wow! That's amazing!"
The crowd exclaimed in unison.
The crew-cut boy looked excitedly at his destined spiritual artifact but soon froze, "This... what is this?"
His destined spiritual artifact was only the size of the spirit stone, flat and thin.
It somewhat resembled... something you'd find by the roadside...
"A stone," Chen Fan stated.
At that moment, the crew-cut boy's face fell.
The classmates below the stage burst into laughter.
But just then, Chen Fan spoke up, "What are you laughing at? So what if it's a stone? Your destined spiritual artifact has seven skill slots, making it a top-tier spiritual artifact."
Whoosh!
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed.
"Really?!" The crew-cut boy looked at Chen Fan in disbelief.
Although he didn't understand what a top-tier spiritual artifact was, the name alone suggested it was extraordinary.
Chen Fan nodded, "You must remember one thing, the type of destined spiritual artifact doesn't mean anything; the skill slots it possesses are the most crucial."
As he spoke, Chen Fan waved his right hand, and a curved blade emitting a white glow instantly appeared in his grasp.
As spiritual energy poured in, five beads of different colors slowly materialized on the blade.
Chen Fan explained, "These beads are called soul beads, the most important things for a spirit master."
"Regardless of the type of specter, they all possess powers
"After slaying a ghost, it will drop a soul bead, which contains the abilities they possessed. By absorbing the soul bead with your destined spiritual artifact, you can make these ghostly abilities your own."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiao's eyes lit up, and he thought to himself, "So, the more skill slots a destined spiritual artifact has, the more soul beads it can absorb!"
On the podium, Chen Fan continued, "You've all probably played 'League of Spirits and Demons.' A character with only three skills versus one with seven skills—who has the upper hand?"
It was a very relatable analogy, and the seasoned gamers in the room immediately understood.
The crew-cut boy was also very excited; it seemed his potential was indeed remarkable.
With a good start, the remaining students grew even more eager.
Soon, the other boys and girls stepped up with anticipation to test their own destined spiritual artifacts.
"A rifle... a common spiritual artifact... five skill slots..."
"A long staff... a top-tier spiritual artifact... six skill slots..."
"Scissors... a common spiritual artifact... four skill slots..."
"..."
Time gradually passed.
Some were disappointed, while others were overjoyed.
It felt even more real than the moment when Jiang Xiao, in his previous life, received his college entrance exam results.
After a series of tests, most people's destined spiritual artifacts had skill slots ranging from four to six.
Suddenly, a golden light burst forth on the podium.
Chen Fan's expression shifted slightly, "A top-tier spiritual artifact... seven skill slots..."
On the stage, a boy with a side-swept fringe, wearing a three-leaf clover jacket, looked particularly proud. In his hand, a silver throwing knife phantom exuded a sharp aura.
The room erupted in a buzz of conversation.
Zhou Haiyan couldn't help but nod in approval, "Good! Zhang Hai, very good!"
Jiang Xiao's expression, however, was not so good.
The reason was simple: this side-swept fringe boy didn't get along with him.
The other had once bullied a female student, and the original owner of Jiang Xiao's body couldn't stand by and intervened, which led to a feud.
Moreover, the boy came from a privileged background, and his lackeys had caused Jiang Xiao no small amount of trouble.
The little fatty behind him muttered, "How did that guy awaken a top-tier spiritual artifact with seven skill slots? What a stroke of luck."
"Heh, it's fine, just seven skill slots, right?" Jiang Xiao chuckled and said, "Wait and see what I've got."
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice called out,
"Next, Jiang Xiao."