Despite being bewildered by Zhang Chao's words, Captain Sun and his team, faced with the urgent situation in the bustling city, had no time for questions and rushed to the scene.
Meanwhile.
In the bustling city of Sanjin.
Xia Mei, along with her two best friends, frantically evaded a malevolent ghost. Every so often, someone from the surrounding crowd would be caught by the ghost. In just a few minutes, dozens of people had been killed.
As for this.
Xia Mei and her friends were helpless. Even if they wanted to save people, they were like crossing the river on a shaky raft, barely able to save themselves.
Xia Mei cried out:
"No!!! Lan Lan!!!"
As the crowd scattered and more people died, a malevolent ghost set its sights on them.
It was a lustful ghost. Unlike the others, it wasn't in a hurry to kill. It roamed through the crowd, looking for a target, and then it found Xia Mei and her friends. Silently, it appeared beside the girl in jeans and dragged her away.
The girl's revealing attire had ignited the lustful ghost's desires.
Xia Mei noticed the situation immediately and quickly reached out to pull the girl in jeans, preventing the lustful ghost from dragging her friend away.
However.
How could ordinary humans compare to ghosts in strength? Even with all their might, Xia Mei and the JK-clad girl couldn't slow down the girl in jeans from being dragged away. They were even close to being pulled away themselves.
"Hehehe, I was originally planning to have my fun first, then deal with you two. I didn't expect you to come as a package deal. I won't be polite."
The lustful ghost spoke.
Seeing Xia Mei come to rescue the girl in jeans, its lustful thoughts surged. It extended its other hand towards Xia Mei, intending to take her as well.
"Don't come near me!!!!"
Xia Mei was terrified, screaming as she reached out to slap the lustful ghost.
In an instant.
A shocking scene unfolded.
Melodious Buddhist chants, like an ancient Buddha reciting in Leiyin Temple, erupted with golden Buddhist light. This light transformed into golden Buddhist scriptures, scattering like stars around Xia Mei and bombarding the lustful ghost.
It was the Buddhist prayer beads Xia Mei wore on her wrist. Sensing Xia Mei's danger at that moment, they activated their sacred Buddhist light.
"Ah—"
The lustful ghost let out a scream. Its outstretched hand was corroded and dissolved by the Buddhist light, and the entire ghost was blasted away.
The bustling city suddenly fell silent.
The crowd and the malevolent ghosts all turned towards Xia Mei. The events that had transpired here were too shocking to go unnoticed.
Even.
The Ghost King was attracted and glanced at the Buddhist beads in Xia Mei's hand:
"A Buddhist artifact?"
It recognized the prayer beads in Xia Mei's hand as an artifact, and not an ordinary one. Such artifacts could only be forged through the continuous cultivation and influence of generations of highly accomplished Buddhist monks. Its Buddhist power was immense, making it impossible for ordinary malevolent ghosts or red-clothed malevolent ghosts to get close.
"Go and capture her. She seems to have a high status."
The Ghost King commanded.
One could see.
Its surprise was unconcealed. It hadn't expected to encounter a valuable hostage here. In its opinion, anyone who possessed such a powerful artifact must have an extraordinary background. Capturing her would be beneficial, and if it could even refine the artifact into a ghostly entity, it could increase its own strength.
For a time.
The targets of the malevolent ghosts all shifted. Many powerful red-clothed malevolent ghosts surged towards Xia Mei, but they were all blocked by the Buddhist light from the prayer beads. A vacuum zone, free of ghosts, formed around Xia Mei.
Outside the vacuum zone.
Malevolent ghosts surrounded them, constantly charging and roaring.
"Quick, quickly go to that girl."
Many people also noticed this. Seeing that Xia Mei seemed to be able to resist the ghosts, they all ran towards her, seeking protection within Xia Mei's Buddhist light.
The girl in jeans and her two friends also breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Xia Mei in surprise. They hadn't expected Xia Mei to have such a capability.
However.
While everyone else was happy, Xia Mei couldn't smile. She touched the glowing prayer beads in her hand:
"Wu Nian gave this to me. But I don't think it can last much longer."
Now that the prayer beads were in her hand, she could sense that they wouldn't last long. There were too many malevolent ghosts. If no one came to save them, they were merely trapped beasts, waiting to die slowly.
Without hesitation.
Xia Mei quickly took out her phone and sent a plea for help to Wu Nian.
Then, the next second.
Wu Nian, who had been waiting for Xia Mei's reply and was already on his way, immediately sent a message back.
[Wu Nian]: Donor Xia Mei, do not panic. This humble monk is on his way. You have the prayer beads I gifted you, which can last for a while. Furthermore, this humble monk has already sent friends for support. You will be rescued soon.
[Xia Mei]: Really? Wu Nian, don't lie to me. Am I going to die? Don't just comfort me, okay? Who are your friends? The ghosts here are so powerful, much stronger than the ones you took me to exorcise before. It seems there's a Ghost King.
[Wu Nian]: Believe this humble monk. The friends this humble monk sent are very powerful. You know them, it's Zhang Chao. He is a descendant of the Maoshan Sect, and he now has a way to deal with Ghost Kings.
As Wu Nian sent this message.
Considering the dangerous situation there, and that Xia Mei was still a young girl, she would surely be scared and helpless in a place filled with widespread panic.
Finally.
Wu Nian thought for a moment and sent Xia Mei a message:
[Wu Nian]: Amitabha, Donor Xia Mei, do not worry. Everything will be fine. This humble monk is naturally blessed with great Buddhist fortune. And you and this humble monk are boyfriend and girlfriend, so you will naturally share in this fortune and turn misfortune into good. Believe this humble monk, everything will be fine. Believe my friend Zhang Chao, he is very powerful.
Perhaps it was the mention of fortune, or perhaps it was the first time Wu Nian had mentioned being boyfriend and girlfriend, but Xia Mei's fearful heart eased considerably. She even busied herself reassuring the girl in jeans and others present, telling everyone:
"Everyone, don't be afraid. Although what I'm about to say might sound a bit far-fetched, my boyfriend is indeed a highly accomplished monk from Mount Wutai. The prayer beads in my hand are proof of that."
"He can deal with ghosts. He's already on his way, and his friends are also on their way to provide support. My boyfriend's friends are also very powerful, more than capable of dealing with these ghosts. He is a descendant of the Maoshan Sect."
"Ah? A descendant of the Maoshan Sect? Xia Mei, are you telling the truth? You're not just trying to comfort us, are you?"
The girl in jeans spoke, looking back with lingering fear at her ankle, which had been grabbed by the malevolent ghost earlier.
Xia Mei nodded emphatically in response:
"It's true. Lan Lan, you've seen him before. He's in the group photo I showed you. The descendant of the Maoshan Sect is among them."
"You mean Zhang Wei?!"
"No, it's another Zhang Chao."
Xia Mei picked up her phone and pointed to Zhang Chao in a group photo of Zhang Wei, Wu Nian, and Zhang Chao.
Their conversation was not loud.
But the red-clothed malevolent ghosts surrounding them still heard it. Xia Mei did this intentionally, hoping to scare off the malevolent ghosts with the names of the Maoshan and Mount Wutai sects.
In fact.
The malevolent ghosts were indeed startled by Xia Mei. Upon hearing about Mount Wutai and the Maoshan Sect, they began to retreat.
However, at this moment.
The Ghost King's voice echoed:
"What are you afraid of? We have her as a hostage. Even if a highly accomplished monk from Mount Wutai comes, wouldn't they dare to act rashly?"
Before its voice faded, the Ghost King glanced at Xia Mei with a chilling gaze:
"Do you think I don't know what you're trying to do? I must admit, your scare tactics are effective. But unfortunately, if it weren't the Maoshan Sect, I might have considered leaving. But since it is the Maoshan Sect, I have ways to deal with them, because... I was also a Maoshan術士 in my past life."
"Although I was only a Maoshan術士 who joined midway, I know how to break some Maoshan techniques."
As its words were spoken.
The malevolent ghosts were all invigorated.
"Boss is actually a Maoshan術士 in his past life."
"Haha, that's great. We don't need to run. We'll wait for Boss to break the Maoshan techniques of the Maoshan Sect descendant and capture him. Plus, with this woman who has ties to Mount Wutai, even if the Guard Department sends their top Qilin Guards, they wouldn't dare to act rashly."
Facing the flattery of the malevolent ghosts, the Ghost King remained unfazed and calmly said:
"I will deal with that Maoshan術士 personally. You all break that Buddhist string for me as quickly as possible."
Before its words finished.
As if sensing something, the Ghost King looked forward, its chilling eyes flashing:
"They're here, the descendant of the Maoshan Sect."
Just then.
Not far ahead, five or six figures were rushing over. Among them, a young man was carrying a 'thing' as tall as a person. He led the charge towards them.
Simultaneously.
The arriving young man also noticed the situation. Seeing the malevolent ghosts surrounding the crowd, he also saw Xia Mei in the crowd, as well as the beautiful girl in jeans and the JK-clad girl beside her. To prevent the malevolent ghosts from continuing to attack the crowd, and to show off in front of the beauties, he shouted out:
"Your grandpa, Zhang Chao of the Maoshan Sect, is here! Which of you beasts dares to lay a hand on them!!!"
Having said that.
Zhang Chao also noticed the Ghost King, and the Ghost King also noticed him.
At this moment.
Their gazes met and clashed.
Then.
Under everyone's watch.
Zhang Chao dropped a line and faced the Ghost King:
"Captain Sun, leave the other ghosts to you. I'll handle this little Ghost King. Oh, you dare to come forward? You're looking for death, little Ghost King."
Regarding Zhang Chao's arrogance.
The Ghost King didn't say much. It was already prepared and sneered inwardly as it charged forward.
However, while it remained silent, Xia Mei and the others did not. Xia Mei urgently shouted:
"Zhang Chao, be careful!! That Ghost King knows Maoshan techniques. It was a Maoshan術士 in its past life..."
"Too late."
The Ghost King spoke, having already closed in on Zhang Chao.
Even ordinary people like Xia Mei and the others could see that at this distance, it was too late. Even if Zhang Chao wanted to retreat, the Ghost King would still latch onto him. And facing a ghost that could break some Maoshan techniques, the descendant of the Maoshan Sect was in grave danger.
Just as they were thinking this.
They saw that after hearing Xia Mei's words, Zhang Chao not only didn't retreat, but simply replied indifferently:
"Oh, I see."
Then.
Zhang Chao, carrying the 'thing' on his shoulder, threw it towards the Ghost King:
"Little Ghost King, take this attack from your grandpa, the Maoshan Invocation Technique."
Everything happened in a flash.
Everyone saw it.
As the descendant of the Maoshan Sect shouted and threw out a life-sized object, a cold sneer appeared on the Ghost King's face. Yes, it was a cold sneer.
It was mocking Zhang Chao.
But the next second.
Its smile abruptly stopped as the 'thing' erupted with light...
[Ding! The Ghost King sneered, Maoshan Invocation Technique, huh? Sorry, this is precisely my specialty Maoshan technique. So you're finished, descendant of the Maoshan Sect... Chao?! No... Not good! ... Ah!!!]
[Host has obtained System Points +130]
...