...
"Students from Class Three, please gather over here!"
On the sports field, Zhou Haiyan was organizing the students into lines.
Beside them were other classes that had just finished their destined spiritual artifact tests. The field was now crowded, with over three hundred people gathered.
Standing on a high platform was Chen Fan, a triple-layered spirit master from the Celestial Agency. His posture was as straight as a spear, exuding the demeanor of a soldier.
Seeing that all the students had assembled, Chen Fan spoke in a resonant voice,
"Students, each of you has just tested your destined spiritual artifact and become respected spirit masters.
But I want to ask you a question:
What is it that humans rely on when fighting against ghosts?"
His powerful voice, full of vigor, echoed across the field.
The boys and girls in the crowd began to murmur among themselves.
After a moment, Zhang Hai, who had awakened a top-tier spiritual artifact with seven skill slots, spoke up loudly, "Report! It's the destined spiritual artifact!"
Others nodded in agreement, seemingly convinced by this answer.
However, Chen Fan immediately refuted, "Wrong! It's courage!"
Zhang Hai's face turned red with embarrassment.
The little fatty next to Jiang Xiao snickered, "Always trying to show off, huh? Serves you right!"
Chen Fan stood on the platform, his gaze sweeping over the young faces below. He spoke solemnly,
"The strength of ghosts lies in the fact that they are dead beings, rooted in the deepest fears of our minds for thousands of years!
I have seen many spirit masters with extraordinary talents, some with over ten skill slots, destined for limitless futures!
But—
When faced with a weak wandering spirit, they were terrified! They lost the courage to even pick up their weapons!
Can we trust such geniuses when they face ghosts and bear the weight of countless lives on their shoulders?!"
Hearing this, the students, who had never truly faced ghosts before, grew solemn.
"This test not only includes the destined spiritual artifact but also a practical combat session," Chen Fan continued. "If you truly want the power to fight against ghosts, if you truly want to protect your families, then the first step is to have the courage to face ghosts head-on!"
"However, let me make this clear. Facing ghosts in any form carries life-threatening risks. I cannot guarantee your safety."
As soon as he finished speaking, the students' faces turned pale.
"What? There's a practical combat session today?"
"I just awakened my destined spiritual artifact and don't even have any skills yet. How am I supposed to fight ghosts?"
"The Night Path Ghost... the Starving Ghost... the Water Ghost... I... I..."
The ghost stories they had heard since childhood now turned into nightmares, looming over these young, immature minds.
Some students were already stammering in fear.
"Hey, Jiang Xiao... maybe we should just..." The little fatty's eyes darted around, clearly considering backing out.
His destined spiritual artifact was a shield with five skill slots—nothing extraordinary.
Jiang Xiao glared at him, "What are you afraid of? The big shot from the Celestial Agency is here. Do you really think they'd let us die? At most, they're just trying to scare us."
Seeing the expected reaction, Chen Fan spoke coldly, "If anyone is afraid, you can withdraw now. There's no shame in it. Leaving early can reduce future losses in the ghost realms!"
Before long, about two-thirds of the students stepped out of the line, heads hung low.
In Jiang Xiao's class, more than half of the students also withdrew. Although Zhou Haiyan felt uneasy, she tried to comfort them, "It's okay. This was sudden. The Celestial Agency didn't inform us beforehand..."
Looking at the remaining hundred students, Chen Fan suddenly noticed Jiang Xiao.
This boy, with the worst potential and only three skill slots, was still standing in place. It surprised him.
Without overthinking, Chen Fan continued, "Very well. I hope to see you all again in large-scale ghost realms in the future."
"Now, follow me."
With that, Chen Fan strode down from the platform.
On the sports field, Zhou Haiyan and the teachers from other classes led the students who had withdrawn back to their classrooms.
The upcoming practical combat session would be led by Chen Fan, the triple-layered spirit master.
"Oh? You really dare to go to your death, you trash?"
In the crowd, Zhang Hai glanced at Jiang Xiao and sneered.
"Don't you dare go too far!" The little fatty pointed at Zhang Hai's nose, furious.
"Indeed, someone like you, who even ghosts avoid, would be very safe in a ghost realm," Jiang Xiao suddenly said calmly.
Ghosts avoid him?
Zhang Hai was momentarily stunned, then replied arrogantly, "Trying to flatter me already? You're quite quick to recognize who's in charge."
The little fatty muttered in confusion, "Jiang Xiao, why are you complimenting this guy?"
To everyone's surprise, Jiang Xiao flashed a cheeky grin, "Yeah! With a face like yours, even ghosts would be scared if they saw you walking at night!"
With that, he grabbed the little fatty and headed toward the school gate.
Zhang Hai's face turned red, then purple. After a long pause, he finally spat out through gritted teeth, "You little brat! We'll see about this!"
At the school gate, three buses had been waiting for some time.
Chen Fan quickly organized the remaining students and spoke, "You've all studied ghostology for a year now, so you should have some understanding of ghosts."
"Next, we're heading to a budding ghost realm. It only contains wandering spirits, so as long as you stay strong-willed, you can come out unharmed even without relying on your spiritual artifacts."
Hearing this, Jiang Xiao and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it was just wandering spirits.
It made sense—there was no way they'd actually send a group of high schoolers to face fierce ghosts.
Ghosts are categorized into several levels of danger: White, Green, Red...
Among them, ghosts like the Night Path Ghost, which can only harm people when their guard is down, are considered White-level ghosts.
However, some Red-level ghosts are different. Once their seals are broken, they can wreak havoc in cities.
And certain high-level vengeful spirits can even blot out the sky and destroy entire cities.
As for wandering spirits, they aren't true ghosts—they're more like clusters of yin energy.
They are somewhat like a cold, eerie wind, at most emitting the mournful wails of lonely spirits.
The worst that could happen is being scared out of your wits for a few days, but some time in the sun would help you recover.
Suddenly, Chen Fan took out a smooth, glowing bead. "Before we leave the ghost realm, whoever kills the most wandering spirits will receive this Green-level soul bead as the first-place reward."
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes locked onto the soul bead in Chen Fan's hand.
"A Green-level soul bead?!!!"
"So there's actually a reward for this practical session..."
"Haha, those cowards who backed out must be regretting it now!"
The students were fired up, each secretly determined to come out on top.
Although they were just high schoolers, they spent enough time on their phones to know how valuable soul beads were in society.
Even the lowest-level White soul bead could cost thousands.
As for Green-level soul beads, they could easily go for tens of thousands.
And if it was a rare skill soul bead, the price could skyrocket to hundreds of thousands.
Even Zhang Hai, the rich kid, swallowed hard.
"That Green-level soul bead is mine!"
Just then, a girl in a pink dress spoke up with unwavering confidence.
Everyone turned to look, ready to question who had the audacity to make such a claim. But when they saw her face, the words caught in their throats.
"It's her! Bai Qimeng from Class One!"
"They say she awakened a celestial-grade spiritual artifact with nine skill slots during the test. She's the most talented in our grade!"
"She's destined for greatness! A genius like her will probably leave us ordinary people in the dust from the very start..."
At the center of the crowd stood a girl around sixteen years old, dressed in a delicate pink ruqun. Her figure was graceful, her skin as smooth and fair as fine jade, and her features were as exquisite as a painting. Her eyes sparkled like autumn water, full of life.
Chen Fan glanced at her, his usually indifferent eyes hiding a trace of approval. "Work hard. The future is in the hands of you young people."
Bai Qimeng was already a prominent figure on campus—wealthy, beautiful, and now with a celestial-grade spiritual artifact to her name. She shone like a phoenix, the center of everyone's attention.
"Bai Qimeng... my little dream girl..."
The little fatty was now wearing a lovesick expression, his mind clearly wandering to places unknown.
Jiang Xiao's lips twitched, ignoring the infatuated fatty.
He looked at the girl, as proud as a peacock, and suddenly, the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk.
"You want first place? Shouldn't you ask me first?"