Chapter 8 – Brother Su, Are You Already Dead?

Meanwhile, with the approval of the military and the school, Guo Dong, the saint of the Heavenly Saint Sect, and Yun Shang, the saintess, entered together. Their goal was the Vermilion Bird inside.

Guo Dong: “Now that I have the Azure Dragon and White Tiger, and you have the Black Tortoise, although our combat strength isn’t strong, if we work together to unleash the power of these Three Sacred Beasts, I think we can handle the Eighth Realm.”

Yun Shang, looking detached from worldly affairs: “I don’t want to compete with you. If you want the Vermilion Bird, take it.”

Guo Dong was puzzled: “How can that be? That’s not fair.”

As he spoke, he tried to hold Yun Shang’s hand, but she dodged away.

Yun Shang: “After helping you collect all Four Sacred Beasts, please return my Ice Crystal Turtle to me.”

Guo Dong couldn’t understand: “Isn’t the Black Tortoise stronger than the Ice Crystal Turtle?”

Yun Shang gave him a cold look: “The Ice Crystal Turtle has been my companion since childhood. It’s different. If I hadn’t been bound by a contract, you wouldn’t have been able to take it away.”

Guo Dong: “Master said you are the saintess, and the Ice Crystal Turtle isn’t worthy of you.”

Yun Shang: “You’re the ones who made me a saintess. Besides, the Black Tortoise was forced on me through forbidden means. It was originally yours.”

Guo Dong grew anxious: “Don’t you know my feelings? I…”

Yun Shang interrupted: “I don’t need this kind of charity.”

Seeing Yun Shang getting more agitated, Guo Dong still suggested going into the Forbidden Zone to search. Maybe they could find it.

Back to Su Ming’s side, on the way, he accidentally encountered over a dozen wandering ghosts. None of them were strong, all only at the First Realm.

Chef Ghost Leader: “Brothers, it’s time to show our loyalty! Take them down, charge!”

Su Ming and Blood Soul Ghost, who were about to make a move, were stunned. Then they watched as a group of chef ghosts, wielding various kitchen knives, spatulas, and rolling pins, charged straight in…

In no time, Su Ming saw her points reach thirty. Of course, the casualties among the chef ghosts also counted toward Su Ming’s points.

This battle cost one chef ghost, but seeing that they didn’t seem particularly bothered, Su Ming didn’t know how to console them.

Leader: “How about it, boss? Our loyalty isn’t bad, right?”

Su Ming was somewhat concerned: “Isn’t this casualty rate a bit…”

The leader said helplessly: “Forget it, boss. Before you came, the military attacked us, and the stronger ones inside bullied us. Losing just one is already good.”

Su Ming felt helpless. After all, they were his own people now. Losing a few still stung a bit.

System: “New mission issued: Go to the Forbidden Zone, subdue the Vermilion Bird. Reward: Spirit Beast Domain.”

Su Ming was stunned and blurted out without thinking: “Wait, there’s a Vermilion Bird here?”

The leader heard Su Ming’s confusion: “Boss, how do you know this is the Vermilion Bird’s ruins? Even students from previous years didn’t know that.”

Su Ming: “Wait, it’s really here?”

The leader recalled: “I remember two years ago, when I went looking for food, I accidentally saw the Vermilion Bird. There seemed to be a Flood Dragon guarding nearby, and the Vermilion Bird was severely injured. I almost got killed by that Flood Dragon back then.”

Su Ming quickly pressed: “What strength is the Flood Dragon?”

The leader: “Don’t tell me you’re really going to go for it, boss. Two years ago, it was at the peak of the Eighth Realm. Who knows now. It’s terrifying. That ghost of yours is only at the Fourth Realm. Even if we all go together, we can’t win.”

Su Ming thought carefully for a moment. Two years ago, that person was already at the peak of the Eighth Realm. If his luck had been bad, he would now be at the Early Ninth Realm. Even the Sword Ghost might not necessarily be able to defeat him…

System: “Host, please note that someone has already gone to look. The opposing side has a Pseudo-Azure Dragon at the Seventh Realm, a Pseudo-White Tiger at the Sixth Realm, and a Pseudo-Black Tortoise at the Sixth Realm.”

Su Ming: “Huh? How come there are real and fake versions?”

System: “Sacred beasts with impure bloodlines are considered pseudo.”

Su Ming looked clueless: “Then what if they’re real?”

System: “Once the Heavenly Dao recognizes them as true sacred beasts, they are born at the Peak Ninth Realm.”

Su Ming’s mouth hung open in shock: “How much?!”

System: “The Host heard correctly. It’s the Peak Ninth Realm, only one step away from the Grandmaster Realm.”

Su Ming looked at the Chef Ghost Leader: “I think I can give it a try.”

Leader: “Boss, why don’t you just kill us instead? I think being killed by the Flood Dragon or burned to death by the Vermilion Bird would be too torturous…”

Su Ming patted the Leader’s shoulder: “You just help me cover my tracks. Leave the rest to me.”

The Leader looked at his underlings: “The boss says we’re going to prepare a feast. You all get ready.”

Su Ming was speechless. Why did the Leader now feel exactly like that sleeping turtle in personality…

After being flicked on the forehead twice by Su Ming, the Leader led the way, and the group headed toward where the Vermilion Bird might be.

Su Ming looked at the map. Although it didn’t say where the Vermilion Bird was, looking at that Forbidden Zone, Su Ming still guessed it might be inside.

At this moment, Su Ming didn’t notice that Shi Zhen happened to be nearby. Seeing the massive group of ghosts following behind Su Ming, she thought Su Ming had been captured by ghosts…

Shi Zhen: “Forget it, forget it. I thought he was strong. Never mind. I’ll save him after I kill another batch of ghosts to secure first place.”

By now, Shi Zhen had already reached a terrifying one thousand points. Remember, this was the first day. The vast majority of people hadn’t even broken a hundred, let alone reached the passing mark.

Su Ming lingered near the Forbidden Zone, still pondering whether to bring the Sword Ghost inside. If he brought it, his chances of victory would certainly be higher. If he didn’t, he could protect these fragile chef ghosts.

After all, the highest among them was only at the Third Realm. Any random creature here was at the Third Realm. Fortunately, the military had already cleared the area. At most, only the Flood Dragon inside was truly terrifying. The others were at most at the Sixth Realm, but that still wasn’t something ordinary new students could handle.

The Leader trembled uncontrollably. He couldn’t figure out how Su Ming dared to walk in here… Were new students these days really this bold?

Suddenly, the Blood Soul Ghost reminded him: “Master, there’s a student nearby.”

Su Ming: “Huh? A student?”

This wasn’t good news. Su Ming was about to break away from the group. Where did this random person suddenly come from?

Looking from afar, he could only see a somewhat plump figure frantically running this way, with a Third Realm snake slithering rapidly behind in pursuit.

“Help! Is there anyone who can save me? Aiya ya, I shouldn’t have run this way!”

System: “Ding, the Blood Soul Ghost has awakened a skill, Blood Pupil. Skill description as follows: Enhances vision, can share the Blood Pupil with the Host, and can unleash a Blood Curse to destroy the target’s flesh and soul.”

After gaining the Blood Pupil, the Blood Soul Ghost’s vision surged dramatically, and she immediately recognized the person as Fatty.

Blood Soul Ghost: “Master, I’ll go take care of that snake.”

Su Ming: “Go ahead, go ahead. Be careful.”

Blood Soul Ghost charged straight at the snake, first catching it off guard by using Blood Curse and Blood Claw to knock off a third of its health bar, then engaging it in close combat…

Su Ming asked the system, “Why did the skill suddenly awaken?”

The system replied, “Blood Soul Ghost has always possessed skills, and with the abundant ghostly qi here, it’s only natural for awakening to occur easily.”

Su Ming nodded in understanding. It seemed she’d have to keep Sword Ghost here, or else these chef ghosts wouldn’t even know how they died. This place was far too dangerous.

Du Liang saw Su Ming waving and hurried over, but halfway there he noticed a group of ghosts behind her and broke out in a cold sweat from fright.

“No way, Brother Su, are you already dead?”