System notification: "Merit Points can be exchanged for Pretentiousness Points and Experience Points. 1 Merit Point can be exchanged for 10 Experience Points, and 1 Merit Point can be exchanged for 0.1 Pretentiousness Points."
So there's such a thing, huh? Who knew what Merit Points looked like?
Chu Hao wasn't being greedy. After all, purchasing Confucius from the System store only cost 500 Pretentiousness Points. So, he held up one hand, spreading his five fingers, and said, "This many."
The Ghost King gasped, shocked by what he assumed Chu Hao meant. He hesitated for a long time before saying, "Fine, 50,000 it is."
Chu Hao was stunned. Fifty thousand?!! Dammit!!! I was thinking five thousand would be plenty, but you actually offered fifty thousand! This Ghost King must have loads of Merit Points, right? Definitely a tycoon of the Ghost Realm. To put it in perspective, an ordinary Ghost Officiant in the Underworld, like Gao Jingshou and Shorty, only gets an annual salary of 1,000 Merit Points. For this Ghost King to have more Merit Points in the Yang Realm than a Ghost Officiant—if he's not a tycoon, then what is he? My heart is pounding! 50,000 Merit Points would exchange for 5,000 Pretentiousness Points—how long would it take me to earn that much by showing off, huh?
Chu Hao was inwardly thrilled, yet his expression didn't change a bit. He said with a smile, "Principal, I believe 50,000 Merit Points should be enough to invite our esteemed Confucius."
The Ghost King felt a pang in his heart; those were the Merit Points he had accumulated over more than a decade by reforming countless wronged souls.
The Ghost King extended his hand towards his chest, where a Ghost Heart would be. Golden glows drifted out like dancing fireflies. So this is what Merit Points look like?
Chu Hao reached out to collect them and immediately received a System notification.
"DING... Host has gained 50,000 Merit Points. Would you like to exchange?"
Chu Hao said, "Exchange for Pretentiousness Points."
"DING... Host has exchanged 50,000 Merit Points for 5,000 Pretentiousness Points."
Chu Hao's face split into a broad grin. I've made a killing this time! I now have a whopping 8,200 Pretentiousness Points! Oh, Ghost King, it's not like I'm ripping you off. Who asked you to be so wealthy? I'm just helping you lighten your load of Merit Points.
Chu Hao said, "Purchase Confucius."
"DING... Host has successfully purchased Confucius, spending 500 Pretentiousness Points."
Ghost General: Confucius
Skills: Education Knowledge (other skills to be discovered)
Looking at Confucius's skill, Education Knowledge, I feel it's particularly badass.
Education Knowledge: Confucius uses his teaching philosophy to educate all beings. Educating one being grants 10 Experience Points. Experience can be obtained once a day and stacks, with no upper limit on the number of beings educated.
Hell yeah!! Chu Hao was astounded.
Let me break this down: if Confucius educates one Ghost, that's 10 Experience Points. Moreover, he gets those 10 points every day. If he educates a hundred, that's 1,000 Experience Points accruing daily. What about ten thousand, or a hundred thousand? With Confucius gaining Experience Points every day, his level will rise the fastest! Confucius, my man, you're truly worthy of being the founding father of education in my great Huaxia!
Chu Hao pretended to recite some incantations and summoned Confucius.
Confucius appeared as a kind-looking old man with a protruding forehead and a long black beard, exuding an aura of classical learning.
Confucius eloquently said, "Do not blame heaven, nor resent others; study the lower learning to comprehend the higher truth. Only heaven knows me."
This meant: "I don't blame heaven or resent people. I have studied common knowledge to grasp profound principles. Probably only heaven understands me."
"DING... Ghost Servant showing off. Host gains 300 Pretentiousness Points."
Holy cow!! Confucius, you really are the original master of pretentiousness!
Chu Hao said with a sheepish smile, "Esteemed Elder Confucius, I'm sorry to trouble you."
This is a Sage of Huaxia; he must be respected, right?
The Ghost King also hurriedly paid his respects, his heart pounding with excitement. This man is indeed Confucius, the very person who devised educational principles dating back to ancient times! A true master, indeed!
The Ghost King said respectfully, "Greetings, Senior Confucius."
Confucius, a smile beaming on his face, shook his head and said, "No trouble, no trouble at all."
Having resolved the matter, Chu Hao left the hundred-odd wronged souls in the Ghost Cave. I'll send them for reincarnation when their resentment dissipates, which should earn me a decent amount of Experience Points.
My soul returned to my body, and this time, thankfully, no bastard tried to snatch it!
This time, his gains were very impressive: Diao Chan had gained three levels, he had leveled up as well, and he had also received two Golden Treasure Chests.
Chu Hao rubbed his hands together and said, "Open the Golden Treasure Chests."
"DING… Host has opened a Golden Treasure Chest and obtained a Ghost Soldier Post."
"DING… Host has opened a Golden Treasure Chest and obtained the material Purple Gold Sandstone."
Ghost Soldier Post: This post can lead the Host to find the souls of Ghost Soldiers.
This thing is great! It can help me find Ghost Soldier-level ghosts. It's like a quest scroll.
Purple Gold Sandstone: A purple-gold material used for forging weapons. Rarity: Three Stars. (Fusion available)
A three-star rarity! Chu Hao glanced at his Yin Yang Sword, which was only a one-star rarity.
He took out the Ghost Night Umbrella and the Mantis Claw that had previously dropped from the Eight-Headed Ghost Mantis.
Mantis Claw: The toughest part of the Eight-Headed Ghost Mantis. Can be used to forge weapons. Rarity: Two Stars. (Fusion available)
What would happen if these three things were fused together? Chu Hao was somewhat excited.
"DING… Host, do you wish to fuse the Ghost Night Umbrella, Mantis Claw, and Purple Gold Sandstone? It will cost 5,000 Pretentiousness Points."
Damn!! Fusing costs 5,000 Pretentiousness Points? What the hell!? Oh well, those 5,000 Pretentiousness Points were a gift from the Ghost King anyway.
"DING… Fusing in progress."
System prompt: "System upgrading. After the upgrade, item rarity can be identified."
System prompt: "System upgrade successful."
"DING… Fusion successful. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Night Demon Umbrella."
Ghost Soldier: Night Demon Umbrella
Umbrella Form: Offensive and defensive. Skill: Spiky Absorb (can absorb Ghost Qi to gain Experience Points and absorb an enemy's Merit Points).
Spear Form: Violent attack. Skill: Night Demon Spear Thrust (consumes 5,000 Mana Points per use).
Chu Hao was stunned. This is the Night Demon Umbrella? It's downright a Divine Artifact, isn't it?
Chu Hao took out the Night Demon Umbrella. It was a black umbrella that looked no different from an ordinary one, except for a sharp spike at its tip. The umbrella was quite heavy, definitely weighing more than fifty pounds.
The Night Demon Umbrella instantly transformed, becoming a pitch-black long spear. This spear had a viciously barbed head and sharp blades on both sides. If someone were stabbed by it, it could certainly rip out their intestines.
The spear weighed a hundred pounds, a perfect weight for Chu Hao to wield.
Chu Hao let out a howl to the sky, wishing he could find a powerful ghost to test its power.
But alas, life is lonely; there are no opponents!
"Brother Hao is now invincible! I'm just waiting for enemies to come and offer their heads!" Chu Hao bragged.
After the excitement subsided, he put away the Night Demon Spear and called Luo Yan, who had kindly invited him to dinner.
The thought of having dinner with the mother-daughter duo, who were as beautiful as a pair of sisters, lifted his spirits.
He arrived at a residential complex. This was Luo Yan's home in Anli City, not some fancy hotel, which Chu Hao found quite agreeable.
The door was opened by Fang Linxuan. She was wearing casual clothes and smiled gently, saying, "Ah-Hao, you're here! Come in quickly, Luo Yan is cooking."