Chapter 9: The Seventh Gluttonous Eye and Little Yun
Chapter 9: The Seventh Gluttonous Eye and Little Yun
The wealth from ghost coin incense and candles was no longer worth mentioning; the enhancement from pure ghost energy alone, combined with these three factors, totaled 551 points—more than five times his original 101 points.
As the ghost energy entered his body, Duan Ming distinctly felt his strength multiply several times over. This was a ghost energy value of 652, considered medium to high among the ranks of malevolent spirits.
Looking back through human history, who could reach such a level on their very first attempt?
Duan Ming couldn’t help but feel a bit elated.
But he quickly regained his composure and slowly opened his left hand.
At first glance, it looked normal, nothing unusual. Yet in the next moment, a blood-red eye suddenly opened in the palm, controlled by him but still startling to behold.
The Seventh Gluttonous Eye was deeply embedded in the palm of Duan Ming’s left hand.
The system offered little explanation about this reward, just a brief line: “Can absorb all ghost energy.”
However, Duan Ming waved his hand randomly in the air but saw no increase in his internal ghost energy, so he set it aside for the time being.
“Getting less and less human,” he muttered to himself.
He closed the Gluttonous Eye and turned his attention to his other arm. A strange dark blue-black tattoo appeared on his forearm, with intricate lines forming the image of a girl.
This was the final reward: the enslaved spirit, Little Yun.
Duan Ming was surprised that a spirit could become a reward. In the real world’s textbooks, he had heard of contract spirits.
Those who ventured into the Phantom Realm and were recognized by compatible spirits would sign contracts to coexist symbiotically, allowing humans to borrow some of the spirit’s power. These individuals were fiercely sought after by major factions, and some powerful ones even became factions themselves.
But here… enslaved? And a girl?
Well, that was intriguing.
As the tattoo rippled, it vanished, and before him, a figure appeared.
Long, slender, and alabaster white legs; a slim waist no wider than a handful; grand and imposing. And above…
“Uh… why is it another headless ghost? What a pity for such a stunning figure,” Duan Ming said, his eyes fixed on the empty space above her neck where her head should have been. The hollow sockets and nostrils seemed to grow larger, and all hope quickly froze into ice.
“What did you say?”
“Who—who’s talking?”
The girl glanced around nervously. Duan Ming couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked at the headless girl and sized her up from top to bottom.
“Is that you? What language are you speaking?”
The girl did not answer. Though she had no head and no facial expressions, her awkward gestures showed she was clearly nervous.
“I… why am I here?”
“Yeah, how did you end up here?” Duan Ming was curious about how spirits were captured.
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve forgotten many things, and whenever I try to remember… ah! My head hurts!”
The girl raised her hands as if to cover her head, but ended up clasping them together.
“My head—is missing?”
“Yes, where’s your head?”
“Is that you? What have you done to me?”
“It’s me, but I don’t know what I did to you!”
“You!”
“Damn it! Why can’t I bring myself to kill you?”
“No! Why have I become your enslaved spirit?!”
The girl was terrified and furious. Not only had she lost her head and memory, but she had also been enslaved. Hysterical and desperate, she tried repeatedly to kill the man before her but failed, as if driven mad.
Duan Ming stood dumbfounded nearby, observing where the voice came from while sending out a probe.
[Enslaved Spirit]
[Master: Duan Ming]
[Name: Little Yun]
[Level: Fierce Ghost (Incomplete)]
[Friendliness: -20]
[Target Information: Body incomplete, details unknown.]
[Hint: None]
Seeing her level and hostility, Duan Ming immediately retracted the frenzied woman back into the tattoo.
No way—just escaped from a big shot, and now another one is sent straight to his side?
System, are you trying to kill me?
With such a madwoman, enslaving a ghost? What if she accidentally harms allies?
Duan Ming swore he would never release her until she calmed down.
Regardless, even if he ignored this reward, it was a huge gain. After tidying up, he headed back to the small property office.
At the same time, in the Customer Service Department:
Rotting Ghost exclaimed, “What! You sent Duan Ming to find Zhao Gang’s gang? He’s a rookie! Isn’t that just sending him to his death?”
Headless Ghost wrote back, “Aren’t you overstepping? He’s just a temporary worker without official status. I handle him as I please.”
Rotting Ghost said, “He… he’s my friend! If anything happens to him, I… I…”
Headless Ghost snapped, “Enough! You’re acting weird today. Believe it or not, I’ll beat you up!”
Rotting Ghost instinctively recoiled but stared fixedly at Headless Ghost.
Headless Ghost laughed aloud: “Look at you, scared stiff. What a loser. I’m going to eat now. Move aside, don’t block the way!”
Rotting Ghost was silent for a moment before obediently stepping aside, letting Headless Ghost swagger off.
Wang Tao and Qiu Rui didn’t dare to speak, and the office fell silent.
Soon, a voice sounded at the door.
“Hey, everyone’s here?”
“Duan Ming!”
Rotting Ghost immediately approached, his chubby face beaming with joy, but stopped abruptly a few meters away.
“What’s wrong?”
Rotting Ghost fiddled with his fingers like a scolded child. “I’m afraid my smell will offend you.”
“Hey, what kind of talk is that?”
Duan Ming stepped forward and gave him a sincere bear hug. At least for now, Rotting Ghost was the only one truly friendly toward him.
Rotting Ghost was deeply moved. From childhood to now, from human to ghost, no one had treated him like this. He was momentarily speechless, then suddenly remembered something and quickly grabbed Duan Ming’s hand.
Duan Ming: “???”
Wang Tao and Qiu Rui: “???”
[Learned from Rotting Ghost, obtained ghost skill “Corruption.”]
[Corruption: Uses ghost energy to accelerate the decay or aging of the target. The more ghost energy infused, the faster and more severe the corruption or aging.]
After about ten seconds of contact, they separated.
Rotting Ghost scratched his head shyly and said, “This is why I was assigned to Customer Service. When dealing with unreasonable low-level ghost clients, this ability can really give them headaches.”
Duan Ming chuckled, “You’re really my good friend. Come on, lunch is on me.”
“No, no, I should treat you. You just arrived and don’t have much money.”
“Don’t say that. I earned some from a few commissions. This meal is on me—to our friendship!”
“Aw, you’re too kind to me.”
The two, one human and one ghost, linked arms. One was loudly lamenting their late meeting, the other sobbing genuinely, then they left the office.
Only Wang Tao and Qiu Rui remained, still confused.
Qiu Rui blankly asked, “What just… happened?”
Wang Tao’s eyes gleamed. “What else could happen? Look at Duan Ming’s grin—he must have gained something, probably a ghost skill.”
“Ah! Ghost skills! But this is just a beginner’s dungeon!” Qiu Rui covered her mouth. “Ghost skills aren’t something even advanced users get easily.”
“Is this still our classmate Duan Ming? I remember he barely passed Phantom Realm Theory. How come he seems so suited for this place, even gaining ghost skills?”
Wang Tao’s expression shifted from servile to something more volatile.
“Some things you have to admit—some people are just gifted. But I don’t think I’ll lose to him.”
“What are you talking about?” Qiu Rui asked.
Wang Tao smiled slyly at her. “Stop pretending. You think I don’t know you pushed Headless Ghost to send Duan Ming to Zhao Gang’s gang? Look at his thin arms and legs; it can’t have been a pleasant experience.”
“You!”
“Don’t deny it yet.” Wang Tao stared her down until her gaze faltered, then continued, “I bet you’ve established at least a basic relationship with Headless Ghost. To be honest, I’ve also made some contacts with a client from this commission. If I’m right, once your friendliness with a spirit reaches a certain level, you might receive gifts from them.”
“So…”
“Let’s cooperate.”
“Form an alliance and help each other. Perhaps not just ghost skills, but even contract spirits could be within our reach.”
(End of Chapter)