Chapter 38: Underestimated

Judging by the folds in the ghost’s skin, it had likely survived for over a hundred years.

"So, it really is a human!"

"It seems you still don't know who I am! If you did, you wouldn't have barged in so recklessly!"

Yang Xuan studied the ghost before him, well aware that its strength was far beyond that of a first-star ghost emperor.

"Let’s get straight to the point! I heard everything just now. What is your plan?"

The ghost wore a look of disdain upon hearing this.

"Never mind the plan; do you have any idea what the consequences of speaking to me like that will be?"

A surge of malevolent energy erupted from the ghost, laced with a hint of blood aura. As the blood aura swelled, it completely blocked the entrance to the cave.

Yang Xuan, however, remained calm, staring intently at the ghost.

"Do you know what kind of fate awaits you if you don't reveal your conspiracy?" Yang Xuan’s tone was even more imposing, overpowering the ghost.

"Fate? You have the nerve to say that to me?" The ghost remained dismissive, its malevolent energy hovering like a predator, fixed on Yang Xuan.

Yang Xuan ignored it and continued, "If you don't talk, you die today!"

"What a big mouth!"

Yang Xuan accessed his system and, after some searching, pulled out a banner.

It was the Soul Clan Banner. Any ghost that laid eyes on it would be shaken by the powerful aura it radiated.

"The Soul Clan Banner?"

"I never imagined this thing was in your hands. It seems my luck is truly incredible; heaven is helping me!"

Malevolent energy surged, wrapping around Yang Xuan.

Before the energy could make its next move, Yang Xuan swung the Soul Clan Banner.

One... two... three!

With each swing, Yang Xuan felt the effort required increasing significantly. By the time he reached the third swing, his arm felt unusually sore and swollen.

After the three swings, the surrounding malevolent energy tried to close in, but it stalled about a meter away from Yang Xuan.

"To be able to swing the banner three times... it seems I truly underestimated you!"

Yang Xuan had only just begun to grasp how to use the Soul Clan Banner. Each swing generated immense pressure against ghosts, but the physical strength required doubled with every movement.

"It seems if I want to get hold of that Soul Clan Banner, I’ll have to do it myself!"

The ghost stood up slowly. In the dim light, it became clear that the creature was missing a leg. As the one-legged ghost rose, the malevolent energy in the air grew much denser.

[Host, the system detects that you require strength. Would you like to make a purchase?]

As the system report ended, the shop interface popped up.

[Strength Pill: Doubles the user’s physical strength. Effects are infinitely stackable. Price: 1,000 Merit Points.]

"One thousand merit points?" Yang Xuan muttered.

Most of the pills he currently needed from the system shop only cost a few hundred. This Strength Pill was audacious, demanding a thousand right out of the gate!

Moreover, he didn't even know how effective it would be. If it took a lot of strength to use, wouldn't he need several, or even dozens? This kind of spending was simply absurd.

But right now, facing this creature, Yang Xuan knew he had no choice but to pay.

"Purchase three!"

[Understood, Host. Three pills have been purchased for you.]

With the three Strength Pills in hand, Yang Xuan immediately swallowed one. A surge of powerful energy flooded his body. Feeling the new strength in his arm, he swung the Soul Clan Banner again.

The fourth swing!

As it landed, the surrounding malevolent energy dissipated quite a bit. The one-legged ghost’s expression turned to one of confusion upon seeing this fourth swing.

"You can swing the Soul Clan Banner four times? Are you human or ghost?"

"You don't deserve to know!"

Immediately after, Yang Xuan swung for the fifth time.

Half of the malevolent energy vanished. If the one-legged ghost had been arrogant before, it was now replaced by shock. In its experience, the most powerful human it had ever encountered could only manage four swings, yet here was Yang Xuan, swinging it for the fifth time right before its eyes.

Contemplating this, the one-legged ghost couldn't be sure if Yang Xuan was human or ghost. The fact that a little ghost kid with a meat cleaver was tagging along with him only added to the confusion.

"Stop! Although I don't know why you have the scent of a human on you, I’m now certain you should be one of my own!"

The one-legged ghost reached out to stop him, but Yang Xuan ignored the remark.

"Old geezer, are you going to talk or not?"

"Don't force me to slap you!"

"..."

Words like "barbaric," "crude," and "ill-mannered" suddenly flashed through the one-legged ghost's mind, but it found itself unable to come up with a retort.

The sixth swing!

The Soul Clan Banner came down again. The one-legged ghost began to panic. It knew the banner all too well. While its initial power wasn't overwhelming, its strength lay in the fact that it could be swung infinitely, provided the user had the strength to keep going. If the user was strong enough, the banner could unleash tremendous power.

The one-legged ghost felt restless and uneasy. That was the sixth swing; if it continued, even it wouldn't be able to handle the pressure.

"Heh, you old geezer, your mouth is still quite tough!"

As soon as Yang Xuan finished speaking, he swung again.

The seventh swing!

With this swing, all the malevolent energy in the cave dissipated, leaving the one-legged ghost standing there alone.

The little ghost kid with the cleaver, who had been silent until now, noticed the air had cleared. It pointed its chubby little finger at the one-legged ghost and burst into mocking laughter.

"..."

"You guys are bullying a ghost too far!"

The one-legged ghost growled viciously, but it was like an ant on a hot pan—agitated and restless, yet not daring to lash out.

"So tough, aren't you?"

"I want to see how long you can keep that up!"

Yang Xuan wanted to keep swinging, but the soreness in his arm made it impossible. He took another Strength Pill.

Power surged.

The eighth swing!

As the banner came down, a lock of the one-legged ghost's already sparse hair was roughly swept away, and its tattered clothes gained several more holes. It looked utterly disheveled.

"It’s come to this, and you still don't know what to do?" Yang Xuan’s eyes were cold, clearly threatening a ninth swing if it didn't confess.

"Don't! Don't swing it again!"

"I admit I was wrong, okay?"

"You just want me to call you boss, right? I'll do it, okay?"

The one-legged ghost knelt on the ground as it spoke.

This scene caught Yang Xuan off guard. He had just wanted to extract information about their plans, and now he had accidentally recruited a lackey?

"Speak! What exactly is your conspiracy?"

At the mention of this, the one-legged ghost struggled for a moment, but upon seeing the Soul Clan Banner still in Yang Xuan's hand, it surrendered and revealed the plot.

"I'll talk, I'll tell you everything! Just please, don't swing that thing again!"