The young woman lay on the bed with a quiet sigh. Bing Yan's death had come too suddenly.Just half a month before his demise, he had still been gathering intelligence on his enemies.…When Mo Lin awoke that morning, he noticed something unexpected—A steaming breakfast had been laid out on the table.Millet porridge, accompanied by a few simple vegetarian dishes.It was all… rather miraculous.Mo Lin lived alone—who could've prepared this meal?Could someone have entered the house?
He glanced toward the villa's front door.It was locked, tightly shut. No signs of forced entry.Besides, if anyone had come in, his ghosts would've alerted him immediately.
Just as he puzzled over the matter, a wisp of shadow flickered into view.It was a ghost—Ice Jade.Upon seeing Mo Lin awake, she fetched him a bowl and handed him a pair of chopsticks.
Mo Lin pointed at the food on the table and asked, "You made this?"Ice Jade nodded softly. "Mm."
"Impressive…"
Mo Lin had spent many years in the underworld, but never before had he encountered a ghost quite like Ice Jade.From the very first meeting, he had sensed a strange vitality in her.Not the ordinary kind, but the sort one would use to describe a gifted child—an innate spiritual intelligence.
She was clearly different from ghosts like Chen Xi.Her mannerisms, expressions, and behavior all resembled those of the living.She still retained the traits she had possessed in life.Whereas Chen Xi and others had long lost such qualities, incapable even of cooking—a basic memory erased by death.
Ice Jade, however, had prepared a proper meal.It tasted like any homemade dish.It wasn't extraordinary, but it carried warmth.
"After I died," she said, without prompting, "my father used a special method to preserve my soul. Perhaps that's why I differ from other spirits."
Mo Lin hadn't asked, but she explained of her own accord.Her days inside the Ghost-Sealing Book had made her aware of her uniqueness.
"Do you know how to use a Thunder Talisman?" Mo Lin suddenly recalled the matter and asked.
Ice Jade blinked in surprise. She had expected him to interrogate her about ghost matters—Her past, or perhaps about what had happened at Mount Wanlin.Yet he hadn't asked a single question about any of those things.Instead, he brought up the most trivial of concerns.
She shook her head. "I don't."
"Ah, what a pity… This is a Thunder Talisman, after all. If I could wield it, wouldn't they have to start calling me Thunder Talisman Celestial?" Mo Lin joked.
Well, he could always inquire about it elsewhere later.
He turned his gaze back to Ice Jade.She truly was the most exceptional ghost he had encountered.
Knock knock knock…A knock came at the door.
"Brother Mo…" It was Qian Yun's voice.
Mo Lin opened the door to find Qian Yun standing outside, dressed in a pale gray qipao and crystal heels.It was evident she had put considerable effort into her appearance—her makeup was delicately applied, every detail perfect.She looked stunning.
"You can speak normally. No need to put on airs," Mo Lin said flatly.
Qian Yun's cheeks flushed as she nodded. "Understood."
"I'm here to invite you to the auction."
Mo Lin turned to Ice Jade. "Come with me."
"Eh? My lord, why bring me along?" she asked, puzzled.
Her mannerisms were again uncannily human.Were it not for her incorporeal form, Mo Lin might have mistaken her for a living girl.
"I intend to train you," he said bluntly.
Simple. Direct.
Ice Jade was unique—and full of potential. She was worth nurturing."I'll have use for you in the future," he added.
"But… why me?" Ice Jade asked, still confused. "You have so many ghosts. Why choose me?"
"Because you're different. And promising."
That was the truth.She was a ghost with the potential to grow—one who deserved cultivation.
"Thank you," she said quietly.Instead of returning to the Ghost-Sealing Book, she slipped into Mo Lin's shadow—A special privilege Mo Lin had granted her.
Soon after, Mo Lin boarded Qian Yun's luxury car.
As they drove, Qian Yun began to explain the auction's details.
"This auction is hosted by the Wanhai Corporation. They're offering rare ghost artifacts—some of which are said to be usable up to seven times. That's why so many have come."
"The embroidered shoes and silk overcoat you wanted will also be up for bid. They're ghost artifacts too, though they lack special properties. Neither offensive nor defensive. Their estimated price is around thirty thousand nether coins."
"Understood," Mo Lin replied with a nod.
Money wasn't a problem for him at the moment—he had at least a hundred thousand nether coins, if not more.
After a half-hour drive, they arrived at the Wanhai Auction House.The parking lot was filled with luxury cars—clearly, the guests were mostly ghost-wielders.They were here for the high-grade artifacts.
Mo Lin followed Qian Yun into the building.No familiar faces caught his eye.They found seats casually among the crowd and waited for the auction to begin.
The process itself was dull:A woman on stage would present each item, describe it, and the crowd would shout out their bids.It was the usual routine.Boring enough that Mo Lin nearly dozed off as he waited for the items he came for.
One by one, the artifacts were sold.
"Next, we will auction two rather unique ghost artifacts: a pair of embroidered shoes and a silk overcoat."
At that moment, Mo Lin sat up straight.Finally—his targets had arrived.
"These two artifacts will be sold together. Starting bid: thirty thousand nether coins. Each increase must be no less than one thousand," the auctioneer announced.
"Thirty-one thousand!"Someone shouted before Mo Lin had a chance to speak.
He turned to see the bidder—a middle-aged man.
"Thirty-two," Mo Lin offered calmly.
Though one thousand was not a small sum—nether coins were hard to come by for most—Mo Lin didn't hesitate.Of course, to ordinary ghost-wielders, coins were scarce.And the two items in question had no practical abilities: no offensive power, no defensive function.Most wouldn't even consider bidding on them.
As expected, once Mo Lin called out thirty-two thousand, the room fell silent.No one was willing to offer more for such seemingly useless items.
Just as Mo Lin thought he had secured them—
"Thirty-three thousand!"
A sudden voice rang out from the crowd.