This old ghost was no ordinary specter, but a ghost cultivator.
He had performed some wicked sorcery.
Before him, all was condensed black mist, exuding palpable ghostly energy.
It looked bizarre, even sinister.
Mo and I exchanged glances, our faces etched with caution.
But after a few seconds, lines of white mist suddenly erupted from around the dilapidated building.
There were about a dozen such wisps, approaching from all directions.
Swiftly, they converged, coiled, and condensed around the "壽" (Shou, longevity) character formed by the black mist in front of the old ghost.
Both Mo and I widened our eyes.
Because we could clearly see, within that illusory "壽" inscription, two small spheres were forming.
This process lasted for about twenty seconds.
Finally, the old ghost let out a low growl:
"Condense!"
In an instant, the black mist runes vanished.
The white mist that had appeared, condensed, and coiled began to spin wildly, constricting.
Finally, with a "whoosh," it was all absorbed together.
Before the old ghost, two white pills, seemingly with faint white light, materialized.
The old ghost snatched them up and took a sniff near his nose.
"Fragrant, so fragrant..."
He spoke, his face alight with excitement, cradling them in his hands.
Even from a distance, we could detect that peculiar aroma.
Even more peculiar was...
I noticed a reaction from the purple bone vine on my left wrist.
The "Ju Shou Ming" (Gathering Longevity Inscription) carved on it flickered slightly.
My heart jolted.
These pills were truly lifespans, it seemed the old ghost hadn't lied...
But outwardly, I maintained a poker face, showing no emotion.
The Qing Dynasty old ghost, holding the human yang lifespan pills, strode towards Mo and me:
"Esteemed Daoist priests, the human yang lifespan pills are here.
Each person can take one in a lifetime.
As long as one hasn't reached the end of their predestined lifespan.
One pill can extend life by three years, making one vigorous and lively.
And such a pill requires thirty-three years of a living person's lifespan to refine, making it extremely precious.
These things are priceless on your mortal markets.
Hehehe!
Now, please accept them, esteemed Daoist priests."
As he spoke, the other party reached us, Mo and me.
He slightly raised both hands, revealing two pills as white as jade, exuding a strange fragrance.
Hearing his words, I felt a pang of surprise.
I hadn't expected these pills to be refined using thirty-three years of a living person's lifespan.
And he claimed these appeared on the market?
In other words, behind this.
There likely existed an entire industry chain spanning both the Yin and Yang realms.
The master behind this old ghost was probably no simple figure...
Though my heart was filled with shock, I didn't reach out to take the yang lifespan pills.
I merely glanced and took a step forward.
Looking at the old ghost.
The old ghost's paper-faced expression, a fake smile that wasn't a smile, was chilling.
"Daoist priest, please accept them! Spare this humble ghost's life."
After speaking, he even offered them towards me.
But in my eyes, a glint of killing intent had already ignited.
The old ghost sensed something amiss, his expression stiffening slightly as he attempted to retreat.
But it was too late.
With a sudden upward movement of my right hand, with lightning speed, I grasped the Qing Dynasty old ghost's neck.
My fingers directly tore through the outer paper figure, gripping the ghost soul within the paper effigy.
Pinning his ghost meridians...
Releasing my full Daoist energy, the intense field pressure made the old ghost feel utterly uncomfortable.
His ghostly power was rendered unusable.
The Qing Dynasty old ghost was now filled with terror, his hand holding the pills instantly loosening.
With two "ding ding" sounds, they fell to the ground.
A pair of white paper hands tightly gripped my wrist.
On the face of the white paper effigy, the shadows of two faces began to flicker repeatedly:
"D-Daoist priest, why, why is this?
You, you swore an oath.
You c-cannot kill me, you will incur karma..."
He spoke with difficulty.
On this point, I understood him better than he understood himself.
Looking at him with cold eyes:
"Hmph!"
With a forceful squeeze of my left hand.
With a "sissla," I yanked the old ghost out of the white paper body.
However, when I saw the old ghost's appearance again.
Both Mo and I were stunned.
Because I discovered that the old ghost, pulled out from the white paper body, was actually a human-shaped straw effigy, bound all over with red strings.
"Undead Grassman!"
I exclaimed, looking at the straw effigy that had a nose and eyes, and exuded palpable ghostly energy.
Mo, who had picked up the two yang lifespan pills nearby, also let out a gasp;
"Damn it, no wonder we couldn't kill this old ghost earlier.
So this old ghost is also a grass ghost, cultivated and planted.
This is its true form."
The Qing Dynasty old ghost, with my hand around its neck, remained exceedingly uncomfortable.
Its body's surface flickered continuously.
At one moment it appeared as a ghost, at another as a straw effigy.
Although ghostly energy emanated from it, strands of straw began to fall to the ground incessantly.
Simultaneously suffering and in pain, it continued to speak:
"You two, you two, why, why break your promise.
You, you aren't afraid of karmic debt.
But, but if you kill me,
My master, my master will not let you go!"
"Threatening us at death's door?
If I'm not mistaken, your master is that old demon Daoist, Miao Nanzi, right?"
I looked at him and spoke coldly.
The Qing Dynasty old ghost was surprised again:
"H-How do you know?"
I rolled my eyes, as if this needed guessing.
In this region, only that demon Daoist Miao Nanzi cultivated straw.
Planting ghosts everywhere, catching ghosts, or devouring living souls to harm mortals.
The Undead Grassman ghost appearing in the southern suburbs must be a menace left behind by that demon Daoist Miao Nanzi.
"Heh!
Your master has already lost two lives in my hands.
How could I not recognize him?
Tell me!
Where is that demon Daoist Miao Nanzi hiding?
Are there other "Lifespan Gambling Houses" like yours elsewhere?"
I continued to press.
The old ghost was terrified:
"This, this humble ghost, this humble ghost doesn't know.
This humble ghost has truly repented and has already handed over the human yang lifespan pills.
I beg the Daoist priest, by your oath, to spare this humble ghost's life.
This humble ghost can cripple its own cultivation, and never cause harm again!
E-Even willing to immediately go below to suffer punishment and hardship, to be born a pig or a dog in the next life.
Only asking to not die..."
This ghost was truly afraid of death, pleading incessantly, filled with panic and dread.
But today, it had run into me, and no matter how much it argued or how pitiful its plea, it was useless.
At this moment, I turned my head.
Looking at Wu Jing, who was peeking his head out from the rooftop entrance, staring at us.
"Mr. Wu, here's a chance for you to accumulate merit and redeem your lifespan.
Pick up my peach wood sword and stab him..."