Even living as a half-step malevolent spirit is truly arduous~

It was a shadowy mass, pitch black, flowing like water, and as this thing spread, the area seemed to be permanently stained with darkness. It was like ink spilled onto white rice paper, instantly bleeding out and seeping through to the other side. However, when it encountered Chen Sheng, the blackness hesitated slightly, then the spreading portion began to retract, eventually rising slowly to take the shape of a snake. But atop this snake’s head was not a snake’s visage—it was a human face. A very beautiful and alluring woman’s face. It resembled the legendary seductive snake spirits from folklore, yet this snake emanated a power that caused ripples in time itself.

Observing the shadow’s transformation with interest, Chen Sheng mimicked the snake’s form, shaping himself similarly, though he was considerably shorter in length than the dark serpent. When Chen Sheng’s face emerged at the head position, the snake froze for a moment, then blinked in apparent shock. At the next instant, its gaze shifted, and it began to emit subtle signals, attempting to communicate its intentions to Chen Sheng. Unfortunately, Chen Sheng was merely imitating its form, influenced secretly by a punitive device, and had no real understanding of the snake’s messages—he simply regarded the signals as strange noises.

After a while, seeing Chen Sheng remain unmoved, the snake grew frustrated and agitated, its tail trembling as if readying to strike. Yet in the end, it dissolved back into a shadow and retreated. After all, she could see the noose apparatus nearby. The deterrent power of the punitive device sometimes had some effect on things other than spirits. More importantly, Chen Sheng’s face evidently pleased her.

“Leaving just like that? Because you realized I’m not one of your kind?” Chen Sheng immediately wanted to follow, but the shadow moved swiftly, disappearing entirely within mere breaths. “Another game plot device, huh?” Chen Sheng noted the snake’s appearance, intending to research this “special wild monster” when time permitted. After all, in any game, wild monsters tied to the plot were never ordinary. Of course, creatures like the task of hunting twenty caterpillars hardly counted.

After climbing for a while more without encountering anything else, Chen Sheng returned to human form. At that moment, he noticed he was clad in the basic police uniform from the Police Bureau’s Spirit Investigation Division, including the gold necklace symbolizing the division. This was expected and one of the reasons Chen Sheng firmly believed he was inside a game world. Otherwise, how could he always receive appropriate attire upon entry?

“Before the upper Sanjiang City was swallowed by the lost mist, I recall there was a nearby town. I wonder if that town was affected? Well, I’ll go check it out first. If it’s still there, I’ll try to find a television to contact my ghostly mentor,” Chen Sheng said. He had come back specifically to complete the third mission and submit his promotion application to intermediate officer rank, as well as to urge his little female ghost and the headless girl to leave upper Sanjiang City quickly.

Chen Sheng sprinted forward, and in his human form, he was naturally several times faster than in his bloodlike liquid state, even outpacing the shadowy mass. Having been here once before, he quickly found the town and was surprised to see it densely populated, especially with police officers. Even more astonishing was that these officers were all official members of the Spirit Investigation Division!

Compared to the timid official officers in upper Sanjiang City—who had been rattled after two of their number died—these officers near the original city showed remarkable courage. Upon entering the town, Chen Sheng learned from several local NPCs that these officers had come to investigate the mysterious disappearance of upper Sanjiang City. However, fearing some terrifying supernatural outbreak, they had gathered cautiously in this town, intending to explore carefully to avoid being wiped out by any strange phenomena.

“Aren’t you the captain of the Spirit Investigation Division? How could you not know about this? The captains have already dispatched several teams for exploration,” a local resident asked, puzzled.

“I was trapped in a cave and barely escaped with my life; I’m not responsible for exploration,” Chen Sheng replied casually.

He then sought out a television to try contacting his reliable, if inexpensive, mentor. Just as he inquired about a household with a TV, a junior officer approached to relay a message: Captain Xu wanted to see him immediately.

“Captain Xu?” Chen Sheng muttered. He couldn’t recall any Police Bureau NPC named Xu, so he ignored the officer’s message and went to the house with the TV. Upon turning it on, he found it useless.

“Looks like not every TV can reach her.”

Just as Chen Sheng was about to switch off the television, it suddenly exerted a suction force, pulling him inside in an instant. The sensation of being drawn into a TV was familiar, and upon opening his eyes to look around, recognition dawned.

The entire world was rendered only in black and white, devoid of any other colors.

This was the Realm of Death, also called the Death World.

Chen Sheng suddenly felt a chill in his legs. Looking down, he saw a familiar small figure clutching his legs.

“Master?”

“Waaah! Apprentice, you have to help me! I’ve lost my territory again!” the little female ghost exclaimed excitedly upon seeing Chen Sheng.

“No problem, I’ll find you another suitable place to establish your base,” Chen Sheng promised readily, having done this before and finding it not difficult.

“Thank you, apprentice!” The little ghost was deeply moved; in that moment, Chen Sheng seemed more handsome than ever, even glowing like a beacon of light, filling her with a sense of hope. Although this rebellious apprentice usually bullied her—treating her like a radish to pull or using her as a light source—he was reliable when it mattered most.

“Master, how did you know I returned?” Chen Sheng asked curiously. He had just turned on the TV and been pulled into the Death World. Was this another game plot twist? Could it be a hidden storyline?

“I don’t know…”

“Then why did this place pull me in the moment I switched on the TV?”

“Because I’ve been summoning you!” the little ghost replied with a look of grievance.

“All these days?”

“Yes!” This half-step fierce spirit looked utterly pitiful.