Chapter Sixteen: The Divine Arts of the Ghostly Path

Houde Daoist's words about the stipend made him somewhat envious, but Zhou Bai was not particularly concerned. Lin Danian continued in a tone tinged with resignation, “You must have noticed by now—there’s something unusual about me. I, too, have awakened supernatural abilities. In a sense, everyone in the Nether Ritual Bureau is someone like us, different from ordinary people.”

“Unusual people… Do supernatural abilities have some hidden drawback?” Zhou Bai keenly caught the emphasis in his words.

Lin Danian’s expression grew complicated. He looked at Zhou Bai with a sense of kinship. “You and I both practice the Ghost Path. You possess the Yin-Yang Eyes, so you should be able to sense the ghostly aura on me. Do you think ordinary people can easily control such an aura?”

“So these abilities can endanger one’s life?” Zhou Bai couldn’t help but recall the time he had been trapped in the deep ghost domain, and shivered involuntarily.

“I can’t speak for other types of supernatural abilities, but the Ghost Path is indeed so. The threat to life is manageable, but it draws a person closer to the nature of ghosts. You’ll understand more in time.” With that, Lin Danian glanced at Houde Daoist and did not elaborate further. “Don’t worry, the Nether Ritual Bureau has its ways to deal with this.”

Houde Daoist furrowed his brow and added, “Our Daoist cultivation methods should also suppress the Ghost Path’s supernatural abilities. The sect leader of Maoshan, Chen Mingyang, has Yin-Yang Eyes—and history records many Daoists with similar abilities, none of whom encountered problems.”

Soon Zhou Bai regained his composure. He believed that every mountain brought its own road, and he was not one to wallow in self-pity. “Are there different types of supernatural abilities? If it’s inconvenient to say, don’t worry.”

Houde Daoist, only half-learned in these matters, perked up to listen.

“There’s no harm in telling you. Supernatural abilities are categorized into Ghost Path, Demon Path, Human Path, Devil Path, and Buddhist Path. These are the types I know of.”

Zhou Bai nodded. His Yin-Yang Eyes belonged to the Ghost Path, which explained why his body had been infused with ghostly energy when confronting the Five Ghosts.

Lin Danian continued, “I can’t disclose more for now. Once you join the Nether Ritual Bureau, you’ll gradually learn all of this.”

Having explained, he fell silent, allowing Zhou Bai time for consideration.

Houde Daoist kept signaling Zhou Bai to accept, hinting that although he himself was reluctant to join the Bureau, hitching a ride on this great ship could only be beneficial.

“I am indeed interested in the Nether Ritual Bureau. It seems there are methods there to fully utilize supernatural abilities?”

“The Bureau has been established for over four centuries. There are countless such methods—not only to unlock the full power of your abilities, but also to help you control ghostly energy and eliminate their drawbacks.”

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Zhou Bai nodded. He truly had no reason to refuse—not only for the methods to strengthen his Yin-Yang Eyes, but because after killing the ghost, the system had directly awarded him two points. From now on, he could only walk the path of slaying demons and monsters to its very end.

His goal was to grow strong enough to protect himself in this dangerous world. Joining the Nether Ritual Bureau was an opportunity to gain such power.

Seeing Zhou Bai accept, Lin Danian felt visibly relieved—the process had its ups and downs, but the task was accomplished.

“I’ll inform Master Wang about your situation. She’ll verify everything—this step is crucial.”

Zhou Bai nodded. Because of his injuries, Lin Danian didn’t linger. “I’ll take my leave for now. Stay here. I’ll return for you tomorrow.”

He set a bottle of pills on the table. “These are called Yellow Elixirs. You only need one. For wounds like yours, you’ll recover in a few days. The one I gave you earlier was from this bottle, and this one is for emergencies.”

With that, Lin Danian pushed open the door and departed, leaving Zhou Bai alone in the room.

Soon, Houde Daoist also left. He had no intention of getting involved in Qinghe’s affairs, so he spent the next few days setting up formation arrays near the butcher’s shop.

The narrow alley was ideal for such formations—hidden and secluded. Moreover, with the butcher’s shop constantly slaughtering livestock, the place was naturally infused with the scent of blood. With a little manipulation, this could become a powerful method for exterminating ghosts.

Once everyone had left, Zhou Bai’s mind settled. Though he’d inevitably be involved in Qinghe’s ghostly troubles, with the Bureau’s methods, their confidence could only mean thunderous action.

He summoned the system panel. The points column now showed a stirring number: 2.

Though the system log didn’t specify, it was clear that killing ghosts yielded far more rewards than slaughtering livestock.

“Eliminating vengeful ghosts greatly accelerates the accumulation of points.”

Those two points—Zhou Bai didn’t hesitate. With the threat of evil ghosts looming, he needed to strengthen himself or risk losing his life.

He focused on the Meat-Cutting Technique. The Blade-Forging Technique could improve his combat ability, but the points needed to elevate it to supernatural status were not enough. The former could be advanced more straightforwardly.

Moreover, the Meat-Cutting Technique, used for slaughtering livestock, was likely a Human Path supernatural ability when elevated.

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Compared to Ghost Path abilities, Human Path abilities should carry fewer drawbacks.

“Do you wish to spend 2 points to advance the Meat-Cutting Technique?”

Zhou Bai chose yes. Even though he was prepared, the sudden pain nearly shattered his consciousness.

He felt as if his lower abdomen were burning, the sensation spreading throughout his body. He writhed on the bed, tearing at the injury on his chest without even noticing.

The system seemed to violently destroy Zhou Bai’s body and then reconstruct it according to its own design, with no concern for whether he could endure it.

The agony lasted for more than half an hour. When the Meat-Cutting Technique finally advanced, Zhou Bai collapsed on the bed, utterly drained.

He had no energy to check the new supernatural ability on the system panel; he soon fell into a deep sleep.

Four or five hours passed before Zhou Bai awoke. Houde Daoist, apparently afraid of disturbing his rest, had not entered during this time.

When his mind cleared, Zhou Bai immediately sensed the profound changes in his body—a proof that the ordeal had not been suffered in vain.

First, the wound he’d received from the Five Ghosts, though still faintly aching when pressed, was now healed on the surface, leaving only a few pale scars.

Of course, Lin Danian’s Yellow Elixir contributed, but more so did the body’s transformation upon awakening the new supernatural ability.

The Yin-Yang Eyes had only altered his eyes; this second ability affected his entire body.

Though Zhou Bai didn’t feel a dramatic increase in his constitution, it was indeed a complete rebirth—a heightened mastery over his own flesh.