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墨書 Inktalez
In the city where Fang Lin Kong lived, there were no direct flights to Europe. Therefore, he needed to transfer in Beijing. Fang Lin Kong had considered flying there himself, but his skills were insufficient; even with the Great Freedom Heaven Realm Seven Treasures Banner, he couldn't match the speed of a large passenger plane. Coupled with the difference in comfort levels, he ultimately abandoned the ancient celestial arts and opted for modern technology.
This wasn't Fang Lin Kong's first time traveling far, so he wasn't particularly nervous during the journey. Wen Yi and the others were on the same flight, but they remained unusually silent throughout, not uttering a single word. Fang Lin Kong didn't feel comfortable leaving his seat on the plane to engage with them.
Aside from admiring the flight attendant's smooth, fair thighs and requesting two extra meals to enjoy more service, Fang Lin Kong didn't act out of line.
When the plane landed and Fang Lin Kong picked up his backpack to disembark, he noticed Wen Yi standing frozen at the cabin door. The flight attendant approached him politely to ask what was wrong. Wen Yi sighed and said, "It's my first time on a plane; I just wanted to take in the airport scenery."
The flight attendant smiled gently and was about to suggest that he let other passengers pass. Fang Lin Kong walked over and pulled Wen Yi away, quickly descending the stairs. He leaned in close to Wen Yi's ear and said lightly, "You must be scared since it's your first flight; I can see your legs are trembling."
Behind them, Chen Mingbin and Ma Jingjie suddenly erupted into laughter that they had been holding back. Only Wen Yi looked flustered and wanted to explain. The awkward atmosphere among friends suddenly returned to normal at that moment.
Though the boys had their worries, they weren't concerned about benefits.
Despite Beijing being a cultural capital with a long history and countless historical sites, Fang Lin Kong and his friends had little fondness for the city beyond their interest in its snacks. For a high school student facing university entrance exams, it was hard to feel positively about a city with an admission score that was a hundred points lower than his own region. Experiencing the different urban atmosphere, they left the airport and discussed finding a nearby hotel to stay in. They stated plainly that they would continue flying and had no time for sightseeing in this ancient capital.
Compared to the frequently traveling Fang Lin Kong, Wen Yi, Ma Jingjie, and Chen Mingbin appeared quite naive. Everything felt fresh to them; compared to their hometown in Northeast China, the capital's development was more than tenfold greater. The cultural atmosphere and iconic architecture surpassed anything they had ever seen by hundreds of times. Any building chosen here could easily stand out as unique in Northeast China.
The New Year's atmosphere had not yet faded; this ancient city still retained some festive remnants. Not far from the airport, Fang Lin Kong and his group spotted a very luxurious hotel. Wen Yi glanced at it and exclaimed excitedly, "Let's stay here today! We won't do any activities!"
Chen Mingbin looked puzzled and whispered to Fang Lin Kong, "Doesn't this place feel a bit strange? It seems like not many people are coming or going."
"It seems there's some eerie energy here; it must have bad feng shui! But who cares? Let's go!" Young and brimming with confidence, Fang Lin Kong failed to notice how oddly quiet the hotel was.
The three individuals who had always looked up to Fang Lin Kong did not say much. In their hearts, they thought, "Even if this hotel has some issues, what do we have to fear with our abilities?"
Since gaining their powers, Wen Yi and the others had never officially put them to use. During the last invasion by the International Demon Alliance, their strength was vastly inferior, leaving them with no opportunity to act, which had left them feeling quite frustrated. They were eager for something to happen, a typical display of youthful ignorance.
They booked four rooms and headed to their respective accommodations. Fang Lin Kong paid no attention to the surprised and beautiful face of the Front Desk Attendant; he simply returned to his room, dropped off his backpack, and ran hot water for a bath.
Following Wen Zhongda's advice, he set up a protective array before heading out. This was to prevent any unknown enemies from catching him off guard. Moreover, anything done within the array would remain undetected. Although Fang Lin Kong believed that his Great Freedom Heaven Realm Seven Treasures Banner was immensely powerful and that the Four Treasures of the Demon Gate could activate its defenses at will, he still habitually placed six Solar Fire Orbs at the door, window, ventilation openings, and beside the bed. The Solar Fire Orbs were particularly suitable for setting up defensive arrays due to their significant power and sensitivity.
After checking his luggage, the hot water was soon ready.
Fang Lin Kong slipped into the bathtub, feeling the warm sensation on his skin that brought him immense comfort.
Taking a deep breath, he controlled all his pores to open slowly, absorbing the heat from the water. He then circulated it throughout his body, expelling all impurities along with the warmth. With each breath, Fang Lin Kong's true energy flowed through him as he gradually entered a profound meditative state.
When Fang Lin Kong awoke from his meditation, he suddenly felt a chill on his body. Testing the water temperature revealed it was shockingly cold. If not for his unique physique, he might have already succumbed to numbness.
Although he found it strange, Fang Lin Kong did not dwell on it. He summoned a Solar Pearl to raise the water temperature quickly. He initially intended to soak a bit longer but noticed a hissing cold air seemingly emanating from nowhere; even with the Solar Pearl's heat not fully activated, it failed to warm up the bathroom.
"Damn it! I'm going to complain about this later. How can it be this cold? What month is it?"
Increasing the heat of the Solar Fire Orbs once more, Fang Lin Kong stepped out of the bathroom in a foul mood. He couldn't be bothered to dry himself off; instead, he used his internal energy to evaporate the moisture on his skin before putting on his clothes. Feeling an overwhelming presence of Eerie Energy in the room that was hard to bear, he decided to leave and check out what was happening in the lobby and see how Wen Yi and the others were doing.
As soon as he stepped out of his room, Fang Lin Kong sensed something was very wrong. The hallway was colder than his room, and it seemed all the lights were out—pitch black and eerily strange.
Cursing under his breath as he prepared to conjure some light, he suddenly felt something behind him. A chilling aura swept over him, startling him. When he turned around, dozens of people covered in blood stood silently behind him, staring at him with expressions that were nothing short of bizarre.
Fang Lin Kong glanced around, muttering, "A bunch of bored folks, pretending to be ghosts to scare people."
He turned back, intending to head downstairs, but suddenly looked back again.
—These guys are indeed ghosts, aren't they?
"Damn it! It's haunted!"
Fang Lin Kong, along with Ding Chifeng and Li Bing, had spent so much time in this place that they no longer found non-human entities frightening. Therefore, although he felt an eerie energy the moment he entered the hotel, it didn't raise any alarms for him. Even the strange occurrences while showering didn't bother him.
He had actually recognized the ghosts in front of him during his first glance back, yet Fang Lin Kong didn't take it to heart. It wasn't until he looked a second time that he understood why this place felt so desolate and cold.
Fang Lin Kong's running speed could barely reach supersonic levels; logically speaking, he should have dashed out of the hotel and into the daylight within three to five seconds. Although he hadn't paid attention to the time, even if it was late, he should have been able to see stars and the moon.
However, after running for seven or eight minutes, Fang Lin Kong felt as if this passageway would never end. Suddenly jolted awake, he thought to himself: "Damn it! What am I running for? I can hunt ghosts!"
This place had been sealed by some force, turning it into a ghostly trap from which Fang Lin Kong couldn't escape. Only then did he remember that not only had he learned how to cultivate from Wen Zhongda, but he also had some knowledge of ghost hunting techniques.
In truth, even if Fang Lin Kong didn't understand ghost hunting skills, mere specters wouldn't pose a threat to him. Ghosts were formed from eerie energy; as long as a cultivator's energy was strong enough, they could disperse the form of a ghost.
As soon as Fang Lin Kong stood his ground, countless sorrowful faces slowly surrounded him. In a moment of panic, Fang Lin Kong spread his palm and shouted, "Flames arise!"
Five or six fireballs erupted outward but passed through the forms of the surrounding ghost spirits. Although the ghosts that were penetrated appeared extremely pained and their forms shattered, they quickly reassembled.
Seeing this scene, Fang Lin Kong awkwardly scratched his head and chuckled foolishly, "Oops! I used the wrong spell. I should have used Samadhi True Fire instead of Fire Magic! Let me switch it up."
The Western Fire Magic had a low concentration of spiritual energy and was primarily focused on physical damage. It was not particularly effective against ghosts. However, the surrounding spirits seemed impatient, as a chilling wind swept through, and countless arms, dripping with saliva and blood, surged toward Fang Lin Kong.
“Damn it! Watch my Holy Cross Slash!”
Fang Lin Kong had only a superficial understanding of Samadhi True Fire, having never practiced it seriously. In this moment of desperation, he couldn't summon it, so without a second thought, he transformed his energy into a Holy Power blade and swung it wildly.
The Western Holy Power was specifically designed to dispel evil spirits, making Fang Lin Kong's attack perfectly timed. The pure white blade cut through the oncoming spirits, sending them all flying.
Holy Power enveloped Fang Lin Kong, shimmering like Liquid Mercury. The dazzling platinum light burst forth, illuminating the previously dark Passageway.
In an instant, all anomalies, chilling winds, and Evil Spirits vanished. Fang Lin Kong noticed that at his feet was an open doorway leading to nothing but empty air.
“Damn! Are they trying to make me fall to my death?”
Worried about his friends' situation, Fang Lin Kong rushed to their room after resolving the immediate crisis. However, he found all three of their doors wide open, yet they were nowhere to be seen.
Finding the stairs down, Fang Lin Kong felt quite frustrated. When he reached the first floor, the atmosphere in the lobby seemed completely normal. The Front Desk Attendant was diligently on duty and greeted him politely: “May I help you, sir?”
Fang Lin Kong scrutinized the two Front Desk Attendants. Although his cultivation was decent, he had not practiced any spells for detecting spiritual energy or identifying monsters. He couldn't discern anything unusual about these attendants.
“I can’t find my three friends. Have you seen them come down?” Fang Lin Kong asked in a low voice.
A round-faced girl with a sweet smile enthusiastically replied, “I just saw them running out in a panic not long ago. You should be able to find them quickly.”
With a suspicious expression, Fang Lin Kong hesitated before stepping out of the hotel door. Peering around, he soon spotted three figures rushing toward him. Upon seeing Fang Lin Kong, one of them exclaimed in surprise, “So you’re not dead yet, Old Fang! We were just about to take revenge for you!”
Fang Lin Kong looked at the fully armed Wen Yi and the others, saying irritably, "How could I die? It seemed like the hotel was haunted just now, and I was worried about you! Why did you run out?"
The three figures were indeed Wen Yi and his companions. Upon hearing Fang Lin Kong's question, they felt a bit embarrassed, but it was Chen Mingbin who spoke up, "We were scared too. Suddenly, blood started flowing in the room, and all the lights went out. Fortunately, we had Vampire's Kiss with us. We forced our way out and realized you hadn't come out yet, so we came back to find you!"
At that moment, Fang Lin Kong slowly turned to look at the hotel behind him. From the outside, it appeared bright and lively, with no signs of trouble. However, a chilling and eerie aura seemed to linger in the air.
He declared firmly, "There must be something strange going on here. But I won't let myself be frightened for nothing. I need to find out what is causing this disturbance. Why do those Front Desk Attendants seem completely unafraid?"
Although Wen Yi and the others were still shaken, they knew Fang Lin Kong's abilities well. Since he dared to boast, he must have some confidence. However, Wen Yi's eyes twinkled mischievously as he said, "Old Fang, you know my Flame Emblem isn't very effective against ghosts. Chen Mingbin and Ma Jingjie’s Air Hammer and Lightning Bolt are even less powerful than my Flame Emblem. Old Fang, what do you think…"
Fang Lin Kong smiled slightly and glanced at Wen Yi, saying, "Do you want me to create Platinum Glory for you?"
Concentrating his psychic energy, Fang Lin Kong's palm emitted a soft white glow. One by one, as Holy Power gathered, conical white bullets slowly fell to the ground.
"Wow! Ten shots, twenty shots! Fang Lin Kong, you're amazing."
As the one hundred twentieth Platinum Glory was formed, Fang Lin Kong wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled as he said, "This is my limit; these Psychic Bullets should be enough for now."
Wen Yi chuckled as he and Ma Jingjie and Chen Mingbin collected the Psychic Bullets created by Fang Lin Kong. They finally realized the gap between them; the Vampire's Kiss magazine could hold fifteen Psychic Bullets. Although their abilities varied slightly, it would take them over half an hour to create a full magazine of Psychic Bullets. Meanwhile, Fang Lin Kong could produce ten times that amount in just a few minutes—his power was far beyond theirs.
Sighing deeply, Chen Mingbin looked at Fang Lin Kong, who was slowly regulating his breathing to recover his psychic energy, with a complex expression. Suddenly feeling impulsive, he said, "Fang Lin Kong! We are friends; there are some things I won’t blame you for not wanting to share. However, there are some matters you should explain so that we have no misunderstandings."
Upon hearing Chen Mingbin's words, Fang Lin Kong spread his hands and replied lightly, "There are some things I don't want to hide from you. However, there are changes that I am also unclear about; therefore I can't explain everything clearly. Since you want to know, I might as well tell you!"
Fang Lin Kong had been keeping a vigilant eye on the hotel building; his belongings were still inside. Although he had six Solar Pearls for protection and believed no evil spirit could enter his room, he still felt uneasy. His greatest fear was encountering someone more powerful than himself who might take advantage of his absence to steal the Solar Pearls—such a loss would be significant.
Fang Lin Kong trimmed the edges of his own experiences, concealing the cause and effect. He simply explained what he could share. When he mentioned that he had obtained a treasure from the Ancient Immortal, Wen Yi's eyes sparkled with excitement, glowing red like the sun. If it weren't for the drool at the corner of his mouth, he would have looked quite impressive.
A single sentence from Fang Lin Kong extinguished Wen Yi's enthusiasm. "I have many treasures in my possession, but I don't know how to use them. Giving them to you would just mean waiting for someone else to snatch them away. After we finish the Demon Hunter License exam and return home, I'll introduce you to Wen Zhongda. If you can reach a certain level of cultivation, I'll gift you a Flying Sword."
Wen Yi was so thrilled that he hugged Fang Lin Kong tightly, ready to express his gratitude, but Fang Lin Kong's next words struck him down again.
"Modern technology is highly advanced, and the techniques for forging treasures are improving day by day. Don't say I didn't warn you; the Flying Swords of ancient immortals may not be stronger than weapons created using modern technology combined with Eastern Mysticism and Western Magic. The Blazing Fire Wheel used by that Elephant God Clan member, Ganesha, is incredibly powerful, and it's much easier to cultivate than a Flying Sword."
Hearing this, Wen Yi's spirits plummeted. He was aware of many secrets from the Chifeng Legion and understood that modern weapons were not necessarily weaker just because they were newer. Some newly developed Psycho Weapons even surpassed certain low-end ancient treasures. Fang Lin Kong's words were indeed true.
Chen Mingbin, however, had a broader perspective and wasn't overly greedy for these treasures. He gently patted the disappointed Wen Yi on the shoulder and said, "It's just a coincidence that we brothers entered this field. Wen Yi, don't be too ambitious; once we obtain our Demon Hunter licenses, we'll go to the European Arms Market to buy the best Psycho Weapons."
Chen Mingbin's words instantly reignited Wen Yi's ambition, lifting his spirits once more.
Looking at the hotel entrance, Wen Yi asked, "Fang Lin Kong, do you know what's going on here? What should we do?"
Seeing Wen Yi's eager expression, Fang Lin Kong shook his head and replied, "I'm not sure either. Perhaps there have been many deaths here or it's a Four Yin Extreme Gathering Place that attracts a lot of ghosts. But after thinking it over, I believe it's more likely that someone has set up a formation here. The Eerie Energy is intense, but so is the Yang energy. If there were ghosts here, people would have stopped living here long ago; even the staff shouldn't be around."
"What should we do then?"
"Let's head back first! Then we'll adapt as needed!"
Fang Lin Kong spoke decisively, leaving Wen Yi and the others no choice but to follow him back to the hotel. It was nearly midnight by now; it was already past nine o'clock. The Front Desk Attendant seemed to be changing shifts while several girls in uniforms chatted away.
Fang Lin Kong took a deep breath and strode toward the elevator with purpose. Wen Yi and the others followed closely behind.
At that moment, the elevator doors opened. A man stumbled out in a panic, shouting, "There's a ghost! There's a ghost! I haven't done anything wrong! The last time wasn't my fault..."
Watching the man ramble incoherently, Fang Lin Kong glanced into the elevator and saw a woman holding her own head, her eyes glazed over in a disturbingly red hue, glaring menacingly at the outside. This sight was enough to startle even Fang Lin Kong, who had been somewhat prepared; the already half-crazed man was completely terrified. Behind them, Wen Yi moved his hand, ready to draw Vampire's Kiss.
Fang Lin Kong pressed down on Wen Yi's hand and turned to look at the hotel front desk. The staff, trained for such situations, rushed over to help the man up. They quickly produced a sedative from somewhere and injected it into his arm.
The round-faced female staff member who had spoken to Fang Lin Kong earlier swiftly pulled out a yellow talisman and tossed it into the elevator. Instantly, the ghostly woman faded away.
Fang Lin Kong was no longer just startled; he was utterly shocked.
"Dear gentlemen, we are disciples of Zao Ge Sect, and this is our Chain Hotel. The various spirits in the hotel are under our care. Normally, we would draw an Exorcism Charm on each guest so they wouldn't see any strange phenomena. We sensed that you are practitioners before you entered the hotel and decided not to take extra precautions. We truly apologize for any oversight."
"So this hotel specializes in ghost services?"
Fang Lin Kong turned to look at Wen Yi and the others; his four friends exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.
The beautiful staff member continued explaining the history of Zao Ge Sect and the unique practices of their sect.
"Our establishment not only features ghostly attendants as a special service but also offers Millennium Ghosts for companionship during lonely midnight hours. They can chat with you, share drinks, or even provide overnight services. You may want to take a look at our price list..."
Although her words were somewhat veiled, Fang Lin Kong understood their implications. Just as he was about to politely decline, he heard Wen Yi interject, "Are your female ghosts attractive?"
(To be continued)
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