Chapter 2678

【Currently transmitting original plot……transmission successful!】

The original plot revolves around the protagonist Fu Lingjing's upgrade-flow storyline, as talented individuals from all over gather in the capital because strange occurrences in the capital are increasing, and even those who have attained the Dao spread rumors that Prosperous Capital is bustling by day but turns into a ghost city at midnight.

When humans and ghosts share the same city, it causes ghosts to lose control; inside the imperial palace, the National Preceptor leads those who have attained the Dao in finding a way to enter the ghost city, but it requires selecting four individuals from the young talented persons to enter the ghost city.

In the original plot, the original body Jin Chen and his junior brother Chu Jiu Shan both came from the Divination Dao Sect, and they both took first place in the competition.

In order to smoothly enter the Dark Night Ghost City, the protagonist Fu Lingjing chose to use a yin tactic against Jin Chen to obtain the final spot, and afterwards gave him fifty taels of silver as compensation.

After entering the ghost city, Fu Lingjing inadvertently became involved with the fierce ghost city lord, the antagonist Yin Chaosheng; this ghost is unfathomably deep, cruel and ruthless, extremely beautiful yet demonic and strange, repeatedly nearly causing Fu Lingjing's death.

After enduring hardships, Fu Lingjing finally trained in the ghost city to become a ghost-catching expert, killed the obstacle Yin Chaosheng, and cooperated inside and out with the National Preceptor to completely destroy the ghost city.

Only after leaving the ghost city did Fu Lingjing realize that the human world had already become purgatory.

Myriad ghosts ran rampant, strange incidents incessant; Fu Lingjing once again took up the path of killing ghosts, and formed a bond with a certain noble in the imperial palace, occasionally returning to the palace to meet.

【That's the plot, but Host, you must not be replaced by Fu Lingjing; he doesn't know that the original plot later turned the human world into purgatory precisely because he greedily sought merit and recklessly advanced, directly destroying the ghost city, causing the myriad ghosts to lose their restraints and flee into the human world, which is terrifying.】

——

Imperial Palace, the square gathered talented individuals who had come from all directions.

On the high platform, the elderly emperor was surrounded by palace attendants, unable to hide the fatigue and turbidity in his brows.

At his side platform stood a woman in plain white robes, who was precisely the current National Preceptor.

Her face was cold and beautiful, without the slightest ripple; her phoenix eyes swept over the crowd below as if looking down on ants.

The National Preceptor slightly raised her hand; her wide sleeves swayed with the wind, and the disciple beside her stepped forward, circulating energy and projecting her voice.

"His Majesty's decree, the National Preceptor's edict. We now personally select four talented individuals to enter the Dark Night Ghost City, seek its roots and eradicate its fierce leaders, to set heaven and earth right and bring peace to all living beings! Upon success, you may choose any rare treasure from the National Preceptor's pavilion, and you will also be granted ten mansions in the imperial city, a hundred mu of good farmland, and ten thousand taels of gold!"

Despite the generous reward, instead there was an uproar.

That disciple paused briefly, then continued shouting: "Although the ghost city is perilous, with nine deaths to one life, the trial is about to begin; those who wish to withdraw, retreat to the east side gate of the square."

They whispered among themselves; many had originally come for the treasures of the National Preceptor's pavilion, never expecting they would actually have to set foot in that perilous place rumored to be the capital by day and a ghost city at midnight.

However, moments later, the crowd on the square had dispersed by half, leaving only twenty or thirty people still in place, most solemn, either confident in their skill or having no other choice.

The trial immediately began.

The rules are simple: a melee continues until only four remain in the field.

The Dao Divination Sect's reputation precedes it; as Jin Chen and Chu Jiu Shan entered the field, they immediately attracted many gazes.

Chu Jiu Shan was extraordinarily agile, his divination plate swaying feintingly, often diverting opponents' attention; Jin Chen, meanwhile, was more conspicuous, his figure drifting, and whether the opponent faced talismanic treasures or fist-and-foot martial arts, he would lightly flick his sleeve and snap his fingers, causing the opponent to stagger back as if struck heavily.

Before long, only a handful of people could still stand on the square.

Fu Lingjing retreated to the edge of the square, firmly locking his gaze on Jin Chen's silhouette.

〖Time's almost up—only five people remain in the field; we must seize Jin Chen's qualification. 〗

Fu Lingjing's Adam's apple rolled as he swallowed hard, his eyes conflicted, 〖I……I can't switch to someone else? That guy named Chu Jiu Shan seems easier to deal with. 〗

〖No! 〗 The voice in his mind suddenly hardened, 〖Opportunity is heaven-ordained, but seizing it requires defying heaven; you must take it from his hands, or it's all empty talk. 〗

Fu Lingjing could do nothing about this voice; three days prior it had appeared in his consciousness, calling itself some immortal from beyond the heavens, and since he had always wanted to rise steadily, he could only follow its instructions.

Fu Lingjing took out a long whip that seemed just fished from a cold pond, its shaft coated with moisture, and as he swung it, a cold wind followed.

"Sorry!" Fu Lingjing shouted low, no longer holding back, the whip lashing straight at Jin Chen's back!

【Host, be careful, the protagonist is attacking!】 Ling Gun Gun exclaimed from Jin Chen's shoulder, then tilted its head, 【Strange, why does this person hold such a deep grudge? Is he really unwilling?】

Jin Chen stepped back two steps, the whip's wind brushing past his cuff, his right hand's fingers together like a blade, he chopped downward.

Condensed gusts burst forth, slicing the whip; Fu Lingjing felt his tiger's mouth split, the whip flew from his hand, his whole body was flung out of the square's bounds and crashed heavily onto the blue stone slab, spitting out blood foam.

〖You……you gave this broken whip, and it's utterly useless! 〗 Fu Lingjing exclaimed in surprise and anger, roaring in his mind.

The immortal sneered, 〖Trash, you can't even force out half of Jin Chen's power. 〗

Immediately the tone turned disinterested, 〖Forget it, this path is blocked; I'll look for another method. 〗

Fu Lingjing: "……"

Giving up is too easy!

After the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, only four people remained on the square.

Even the seemingly off-key Chu Jiu Shan managed to stick with his senior brother to the end, grinning as he stood beside Jin Chen and cupped his fists toward the other two.

"Dao Divination Sect's Chu Jiu Shan, this is my senior brother Jin Chen; how should I address you two?"

At that moment, the National Preceptor's disciple stepped forward and loudly announced the names and origins of the final selections.

Innate Yin-Yang pupils, extremely sensitive to ghostly perceptions—Liu Shuoyue.

Generations of ghost-catching artisans, tall and sturdy—Zang Huaian.

"Miss Liu, Brother Zang, we'll be entering this dangerous place together; please guide us, Duoduo!" Chu Jiu Shan said with a bright smile.

As they got to know each other, Jin Chen leaned against the coiling dragon stone pillar, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the disheveled Fu Lingjing crawling up from the square's perimeter, his slender fingers rubbing the fingertip that had just touched the water whip.

【Does he have a system?】 Jin Chen asked in his mind.

【Huh?】 Ling Gun Gun immediately poked its head out, 【No system fluctuations detected; Host, did you notice something off?】

Jin Chen lightly withdrew his gaze, a fleeting, hard-to-describe interest flickering in his eyes.

He's pretty weird, stare closely.

Sure thing, I've got it covered! Ling Gun Gun nodded vigorously.