Chapter 157: Red and Green Candles, Using Ghosts as Wax

Zhang Hao walked a circuit around this Abandoned Village, suppressing the Fierce Ghosts outside the Abandoned Village, and utilizing Ghost Servant Control.

He dealt with about a dozen ghosts, and Zhang Hao's own Suppression Quota increased by over twenty.

Suddenly, the mountain forest, which had been barely visible thanks to Dim Green Candlelight, grew dim.

An inexplicable darkness appeared within the forest.

Even though the forest was already pitch‑black after the light vanished, an odd sense made the area ahead feel even darker.

It seemed to be some kind of black bright light.

Zhang Hao lifted his head and looked toward the direction from which the darkness emanated.

It was the direction of the Mountain Village; the Red Candles in the Village, about human height, had already been completely engulfed in darkness.

Deep within the Mountain Village, a strange dim black glow emanated.

Faintly, Zhang Hao could still feel a peculiar attraction, as if a puzzle in the Mountain Village ahead possessed a strong pull on him.

"Changed the candles?"

Zhang Hao was not particularly surprised by this.

This Village's situation was unique, divided into day and night.

During the day, the Red Candles in the Village would be lit, emitting Dim Green Candlelight.

These lights had effects similar to Red Ghost Candles, but were stronger than Red Ghost Candles.

At night, the White Candles in the Village would be lit, emitting Black Candlelight.

These White Candles possessed the same ability as White Ghost Candles, continuously attracting Fierce Ghosts into the Village.

The Village was a special cage.

The White Candles could continuously burn, emitting Black Light that attracted Fierce Ghosts, drawing some stray Fierce Ghosts wandering in the forest into the Village.

During the daytime, the Village would light Red Candles, isolating the Village's Fierce Ghosts within the Village so they could not leave.

Moreover, this Village seemed to possess a special spiritual phenomenon that could forge some Fierce Ghosts into various Ghost Candles.

In this way, the Village could continuously limit the Fierce Ghosts that entered the Village.

All in all, this was a very clever Spiritual Realm for imprisoning Fierce Ghosts.

Continuously turning Fierce Ghosts into Ghost Candles could prevent the main Fierce Ghosts of the Spiritual Realm from growing.

It also prevented other Fierce Ghosts in the Village from colliding and mutually being controlled, which would cause them to grow and leave the Village, breaking the Balance.

Zhang Hao did not resist this inexplicable attraction, and simply walked toward the direction of the Village.

Although the Village's spiritual phenomenon was unique, it could not completely suppress him.

As he kept moving forward, Zhang Hao quickly entered the Village.

The Village contained many houses with doors open; looking inside, some human silhouettes could be seen standing motionless.

Approaching the houses, one would notice that the silhouettes inside were coated with a layer of wax.

These Fierce Ghosts were the raw material for making Candles; after a certain time, they would be fashioned into a Candle about human height.

This was the main reason the Village had not gone out of control until now.

These houses were like individual production rooms of a processing factory.

As Zhang Hao watched, the wax coating on the people inside the houses became brighter.

It was as if an invisible person were repeatedly brushing wax onto the people in those houses.

He did not linger long, roughly observing for a while, then Zhang Hao continued toward the deeper direction.

This black bright light, though uniquely able to attract Fierce Ghosts, was undoubtedly a Medium for Zhang Hao.

As long as one follows this Black Bright Light deeper, one will surely reach the source of the Black Candlelight.

As he approached the deeper part of the Village, the number of wandering Fierce Ghosts inside the Village began to increase.

Fortunately, these things posed little threat to Zhang Hao.

Fierce Ghosts that dared approach Zhang Hao would be suppressed by him, then subjected to Ghost Servant Control.

Without any hesitation, Zhang Hao quickly entered a special room at the center of the Village.

It was an old two‑story wooden house.

The first floor was empty, with many strange dark shadows wandering inside.

Obviously, each silhouette wandering here represented a terrifying Fierce Ghost drawn to the Village.

The Fierce Ghosts that managed to reach this two‑story wooden house were all of considerable terror.

Because many other Fierce Ghosts existed outside the Village, weaker ghosts had already been either suppressed or controlled after clashing with others before entering here.

Zhang Hao entered the room; the dim chamber felt especially oppressive due to the wandering Fierce Ghosts.

Even the eerie darkness emanating from the upper floor could not fully cover the entire room.

The sheer number of Fierce Ghosts, countless standing together, caused their Supernatural Aura to overlap invisibly, becoming extremely terrifying.

This also reduced the effect of the Black Candlelight's spiritual influence on them to the utmost.

In such a place and position, even Zhang Hao, before initiating infinite stacking, could not act recklessly.

Walking along the passage to the second floor, Zhang Hao could feel his own aura instinctively contracting.

He instinctively avoided contact with too many Fierce Ghosts, preventing attacks from other Fierce Ghosts.

Not out of fear; before obtaining the Candle Stand that could make Candles, there was no need to create unnecessary complications.

Starting to disrupt the Balance of the Spiritual Realm before achieving his goal would be a very foolish act.

Don't think that most Spiritual Realms are restrained by the Seven Elders and peers.

Yet after so many years, even if the Seven Elders tried again, they still could not be sure of confronting a completely out‑of‑control Spiritual Realm.

After all, spiritual phenomena are uncertain.

No one can be certain what terrifying thing might emerge from a Spiritual Realm that has imprisoned countless Fierce Ghosts for so long.

Even though the situation in this Village is unusual, being able to fashion Fierce Ghosts into Candles, to some extent avoids the problem of Fierce Ghosts controlling each other.

But as long as it is a Spiritual Realm, loss of control is inevitable.

After such a long time, there are nonetheless some Fierce Ghosts that have grown unexpectedly.

Zhang Hao walked toward the second floor while surveying the Fierce Ghosts on the first floor.

Soon, he noticed several figures worth noting.

One of the figures was covered in bluish‑black, its body half rotted, and occasional Blood Clots fell to the ground.

Around its body were many more Fierce Ghosts.

Whenever Blood Clots from that figure fell, those Fierce Ghosts would scramble to snatch the flesh and blood on the ground.

That flesh seemed to carry an extremely special Supernatural Aura, providing a very strong boost to the Fierce Ghosts.

Even Zhang Hao, upon seeing the flesh that fell on the Floor, couldn't help but feel a slight desire to devour it.

However, through Zhang Hao's observation, those Fierce Ghosts that ate the flesh.

Although in a short time, their recovery level increased considerably.

But soon these Fierce Ghosts would become motionless, eventually rotting, turning into a new Meat Ball that the rotting figure swallowed.

Each time it swallowed a Meat Ball formed from a Fierce Ghost, the ghost's body grew a bit plump, its fat seemed to be drawn out, and new flesh regenerated.

And when this newly grown flesh reached a certain point, it would, like before, fall off onto the ground.

"This is a Fierce Ghost that can continuously grow."

While Zhang Hao stared at that ghost, the ghost seemed to notice Zhang Hao's gaze.

It lifted its half‑rotted face, its cold, numb, hollow eyeballs staring straight toward the direction where Zhang Hao stood.

After Zhang Hao sensed the other's stare, he looked toward another direction.

There, a phantom human figure stood.

It was a Fierce Ghost that does not exist in reality, exuding a gloomy aura, with several ghosts' bodies touching it beside it.

Strangely, the ghost's body was as if it didn't exist at all, allowing those Fierce Ghosts' bodies to pass through.

"Too many ghosts have been drawn into this Village."

"Although the Red and White Candle can restrict Fierce Ghosts from leaving, and the Red Candlestick can continuously produce new Ghost Candles, thereby enhancing the Supernatural effect within the Mountain Village."

"But even so, the ones first turned into Candles are always the weak Fierce Ghosts; the powerful Fierce Ghosts are never suppressed in this Mountain Village."

"In this situation, while this Village attracts Fierce Ghosts and restricts them from leaving, it is also continuously helping those with higher Terror Level Fierce Ghosts find Puzzles."

Zhang Hao only surveyed briefly, then made a judgment in his mind. Such a place, for Fierce Ghosts with limitless growth ability,

as long as its own Terror Level can hold, it will not be immediately suppressed by other Fierce Ghosts upon entering.

Then thereafter, this Village is essentially a growth ground of endless Fierce Ghosts.

Even Zhang Hao now, after staying in this Village for a while, would likewise achieve tremendous growth.

However, compared with devouring Fierce Ghosts or increasing the Suppression Quota, it is clearly more important to go up to the second floor and obtain the Red Candlestick.

Zhang Hao passed through the corridor surrounded by Fierce Ghosts; when some Fierce Ghosts attacked, he immediately applied Supernatural Suppression with a Coffin Nail and then controlled them.

Soon, he completely traversed the corridor and arrived at the stairwell.

In front of the stairwell entrance, several ghosts stood.

These ghosts seemed attracted by the Black Candlelight from upstairs, wanting to go up.

But they appeared to be blocked by some Supernatural force, preventing them from actually stepping onto the Staircase.

Zhang Hao stood at the foot of the stairs, watching, and did not rush to climb.

This is the Village's second peculiar arrangement.

At night, the Black Candlelight on the second floor continuously attracts Fierce Ghosts.

But this Candlelight differs from the one‑time‑use white Ghost Candle at the Headquarters.

The Black Candlelight from these Candles here carries a certain special Supernatural aura.

They can welcome Fierce Ghosts, yet also prevent Fierce Ghosts from truly stepping into the Black Candlelight.

This situation is very similar to when Zhang Hao first encountered a White Lantern in the Ghostly Mansion.

Only, unlike the White Lantern which can shift between white and red, the Candles here evidently have a fixed ability.

The Black Candlelight summons ghosts, yet also blocks Fierce Ghosts from entering.

Dim Green Candlelight can block Supernatural forces, even lower Terror Level Fierce Ghosts; when in Dim Green Candlelight, they become immobilized.

Although the effect is similar to the Red and White Ghost Candle, it is more like an enhanced version.

However likewise, the difficulty of making the Red and White Candle here is higher; it requires real Fierce Ghosts as raw material, and also needs to be combined with other Supernatural products.

The enhanced effect brings stronger side effects as well.

Once the Candle burns out, the Fierce Ghost will revive.

To enter the second floor, one must wait until daytime.

At night, the Black Candlelight lures ghosts, but Fierce Ghosts cannot step into the source area.

During the day, Green Candlelight blocks Fierce Ghosts, and without the Black Candlelight's lure, Fierce Ghosts will not inexplicably go to the second floor.

Occasionally, some who mistakenly enter the second floor are suppressed by the Supernatural inside and turned into new Candles.

Zhang Hao stood motionless in place, occasionally devouring some approaching Fierce Ghosts.

As time passed, the Black Candlelight upstairs began to fade.

Another rotation period in the Village has passed, and now it is daytime.

Without the attraction of the black Ghost Candle, some Fierce Ghosts, because the Supernatural Aura here is too strong, began to walk outward.

This is due to the instinct of Fierce Ghosts to seek profit and avoid harm; the sheer number of Fierce Ghosts here creates an overlapping aura that instinctively makes every ghost sense danger.

However, Zhang Hao did not leave with those Fierce Ghosts; while the ghosts withdrew, he instead began moving toward the second floor.

Without the Black Candlelight's barrier, the invisible obstruction on the Staircase vanished, and Zhang Hao easily passed through the corridor.

On the second floor of the wooden house, what met his eyes were a series of White Candles.

Within those White Candles, one could barely see a number of vague dark silhouettes.

They seemed to be Fierce Ghosts sealed inside the candles.

The lighting of these candles evidently used the Fierce Ghosts as the candles' fuel.

Zhang Hao looked toward the deeper part of the house.

Some candles had already burned more than half, and a strangely shaped, eyes‑closed Fierce Ghost appeared before Zhang Hao.

It was a Fierce Ghost whose body from the neck down was sealed inside a candle; its eyes were closed, and only its head rested atop the candle.

The ghost's head bore the distinctive sheen of Wax Oil, as if a fresh layer of wax had just been applied.

Zhang Hao then looked in other directions, and many similar ghosts were present.

Some had only half their bodies inside the candles, while others were almost entirely exposed, with only a pair of feet still within the candle.

It was clear that the moment the wax coating fully melted, those Fierce Ghosts sealed in the candles would awaken.

Zhang Hao walked on the second‑floor wooden boards, and the old planks creaked—Creak—Creak—.

As Zhang Hao moved, a layer of Wax Oil began to appear on the Ground unnoticed.

As Zhang Hao's feet stepped on the Wax Oil, the oil strangely began to crawl up his body.

"Want to turn me into a candle as well?"

Zhang Hao glanced at the far corner of the second floor, where an old table stood, bearing a Red Candle Stand.

The Candle Stand was entirely red, appearing wooden, and its grooves bore marks as if left by flame.

The Candle Stand had four grooves; two showed burn marks, while the other two seemed to have once held fuel—kerosene.

Perhaps it was Wax Oil, but since the Wax Oil hadn't solidified, it resembled kerosene.

There were two kinds of Wax Oil, one red and one white.

It looked like an ordinary, albeit oddly styled, Candle Stand.

Yet at that moment, one Wax Oil‑filled groove on the Candle Stand continuously dripped white Wax Oil, highlighting its strangeness.

The Wax Oil that fell to the ground quickly solidified into a thick white wax, which surged toward Zhang Hao.

Nevertheless, Zhang Hao showed no panic at all.

Just beneath Zhang Hao's feet, a cold, pitch‑black Lake Water suddenly appeared.

The Lake Water spread outward from Zhang Hao as its center.

The Lake Water carried an extremely terrifying supernatural aura; as it spread, the Wax Oil in the house turned an even paler white.

And yet it was merely a shallow film of water, not even covering Zhang Hao's shoe soles.

But as the Lake Water appeared, all the candles on the second floor that sealed Fierce Ghosts began to fall downward.

It was as if it were a bottomless pool of water.

Zhang Hao walked atop the Lake Water, and as it covered the floor, the layer of Wax Oil on the second‑floor Ground began to float eerily.

It was like an oil stain had suddenly appeared on the lake surface.

The situation did not last long.

As the Ghost Lake's supernatural effect activated, the floating oil stain began to sink beneath the water.

The first clash between the Red Candle Stand and Zhang Hao clearly ended with the Red Candle Stand's defeat.

Nevertheless, the confrontation did not end there.

After the white Wax Oil could no longer threaten Zhang Hao, the red Wax Oil in another Candle Stand groove also began to flow out.

The moment these Wax Oils touched the Lake Water, a thick red wax layer formed on the lake surface.

The wax floated atop the lake, seeming to carry a special supernatural aura; wherever the Wax Oil reached, the Lake Water's effect began to fade.

"Did the Wax Oil inherit the effect of that Green Candlelight?"

Zhang Hao watched the red Wax Oil, curiosity stirring within.

In his hand, a cluster of eerie green Ghost Fire involuntarily manifested.

This was the Ghost Fire that Li Jun wielded; after Li Jun had taken it in with his Hungry‑Dead Ghost supernatural, Zhang Hao also mastered this supernatural.

However, Zhang Hao currently has no intention of developing this Ghost Fire.

He already possesses too many supernatural methods, leaving no time to develop these.

After all, each supernatural development consumes time; he needs to find the Puzzle pieces of these abilities to obtain more Medium.

And frankly, there is little worth in developing Ghost Fire.

The more fuel you can provide, the stronger the Ghost Fire naturally becomes.

If the fuel is insufficient, even if you reach the heavens, its power remains limited.

(End of Chapter)