With the force of thunder, Jiang Yun swiftly slew two ghosts, causing the other wandering souls and wild ghosts to retreat in fear. Suddenly, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Why do I feel like my strength has suddenly improved?"
In the underworld, the strength of ghostly beings is categorized, starting from Lesser Ghosts, progressing through Wandering Souls, Yin Fiends, Ghost Soldiers, Ghost Generals, Nether Lords, and finally to Underworld Sovereigns and Yin Emperors...
The realm of Wandering Souls, also known as the Wandering Soul realm, is further divided into three levels: Lesser, Intermediate, and Greater.
In his prime, Jiang Yun had reached the level of a Greater Wandering Soul, which is the Greater Wandering Soul realm.
However, due to a long-term lack of pure ghostly energy for cultivation, and having suffered the torment of the Three Calamities and Five Poisons, his strength had continuously declined, falling to the Half-Step Wandering Soul level decades ago.
The Big-Eared Ghost, whom Jiang Yun had just killed with a single move, was an old ghost that had survived for seventy to eighty years, a fierce ghost among Lesser Ghosts, with strength just below that of a Half-Step Wandering Soul.
Ordinarily, Jiang Yun would have needed to expend some effort to kill it.
Yet, with just a thought and a single strike, the Big-Eared Ghost was instantly killed.
Jiang Yun carefully sensed his own power and found that he still remained at the Half-Step Wandering Soul level, but the ghostly energy he released was significantly stronger than before.
This was strange. His realm hadn't improved at all, so why had his strength suddenly increased?
Could it be...
Jiang Yun's ghostly eyes widened in disbelief as he focused on the game helmet of "Mountains, Rivers, and Realms."
He had leveled up in the game and equipped the Pauper's Wooden Sword, Pauper's Straw Sandals, and a Crude Necklace, which had enhanced his attributes.
Could it be that the enhancements he gained from the game could be brought back to the underworld, boosting his own strength?
At this thought, Jiang Yun was so shocked that his ghostly soul nearly leaped out, his ghostly heart pounding wildly.
If this were true, he could truly rise to greatness!
For those penniless and powerless wandering souls and wild ghosts, cultivating to improve their realm in the underworld was as difficult as ascending to the heavens, an insurmountable barrier for all ghosts!
If he could truly level up in the game and bring that strength back to the underworld, it would be like having a cheat code!
Moreover, he had learned two skills in the game—Falling Rock Spell and Level 1 Ghost Eye Insight.
To verify his hypothesis, Jiang Yun immediately focused his mind, recalling the incantation for the Falling Rock Spell from the game.
As Jiang Yun silently recited the incantation for the Falling Rock Spell in his heart, a portion of his ghostly energy was suddenly consumed.
Then, with a loud "boom," a black rock the size of a washbasin, weighing over fifty pounds, crashed into the thatched hut, denting the ground.
Witnessing this scene, Jiang Yun was so excited he nearly jumped ten meters high!
He had actually brought a skill from the game into the underworld!
This "Mountains, Rivers, and Realms" game was simply unbelievable!
However, after using the Falling Rock Spell once, Jiang Yun felt that about one-twentieth of his ghostly energy had been consumed.
But this consumption wasn't irrecoverable; on the contrary, he keenly sensed that the depleted ghostly energy was slowly recovering.
"Jiang Dabao, oh Jiang Dabao! My good descendant, you've really done your great-grandfather a huge favor!"
"You've sent me such a miraculous item! This is truly my supreme fortune!"
"Rest assured, once your great-grandfather rises to power, I'll make sure you thrive in the mortal world, winning at life effortlessly!"
At this moment, every ghostly cell in Jiang Yun's body was cheering with excitement.
Knowing that he could enhance his underworld strength through the game, he could no longer contain his excitement and was eager to enter the game again.
However, just as Jiang Yun was about to enter the game, his brow furrowed, and his ghostly face was once again covered with a layer of frost.
"Hmph, is there still a ghost unafraid of death?"
He saw a short, dwarf-like Lesser Ghost, missing half of its chest, sneaking toward the thatched hut.
When Jiang Yun had taken over this hut, he had set a rule: any ghost daring to step into the hut without his permission would be killed without mercy!
Having just slain two ghosts, was there still a ghost bold enough to challenge his authority?
Jiang Yun coldly smiled, thinking to himself: Is my deterrence not ruthless enough?
Are these ghosts not afraid of me?
Unexpectedly, when the dwarf ghost was still five meters away from the hut, it suddenly prostrated itself on the ground, shouting, "Sir... Sir, this Lesser Ghost has something to report, begging for your permission to enter and report!"
Something to report?
Jiang Yun temporarily suppressed his murderous intent, narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment of silence, said, "Come in."
The dwarf ghost, with a very respectful attitude, said, "Thank you, sir."
Then, it quickly crawled toward the hut but dared not fully enter, stopping at the doorway, kneeling on the ground, and only peeking its head inside to respectfully look at Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun gazed at it indifferently, "What is it? Speak."
The dwarf ghost first glanced around outside, then peeked back inside, saying to Jiang Yun, "Sir, I discovered that Guang Fang and Kou Miao, those two old ghosts, quietly left here after you received incense offerings from the mortal world."
"Those two old ghosts have been holed up here for decades, never leaving. I grew suspicious and secretly followed them for a while."
"I eventually discovered they were heading to Pockmarked Wang's territory, fifteen kilometers away."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing through them.
Guang Fang and Kou Miao were two old ghosts over a century old. When Jiang Yun first wandered here, this thatched hut originally belonged to them.
They were driven out after being defeated by Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun's face regained a hint of a smile, "Very well, if what you say is true, when the next Three Calamities and Five Poisons descend, I'll allow you to hide under this thatched hut."
The dwarf ghost was so thrilled that it kowtowed repeatedly, "Thank you, sir! This Lesser Ghost is willing to serve you loyally!"
This dwarf ghost was quite perceptive. After expressing gratitude and loyalty, it immediately retreated slowly.
But Jiang Yun's gaze turned cold.
Guang Fang, Kou Miao, you pair of old ghosts, choosing to go to Pockmarked Wang now, are you planning to use the excuse of me receiving incense offerings from my descendants to incite him against me?
Thirty-one years ago, Jiang Yun defeated Guang Fang and Kou Miao, took their house but didn't kill them, mainly because this ghost couple was also quite strong.
If he really wanted to kill them, this ghost couple would fight desperately, and Jiang Yun would suffer some injuries, affecting his strength.
And Pockmarked Wang, fifteen kilometers away, Jiang Yun had once encountered him, and his ghostly energy was slightly stronger than Jiang Yun's, seemingly possessing a unique ghostly technique.
Ghostly techniques are the unique spells that Yin Spirit ghosts can perform, equivalent to player skills in the game.