Ye Chen and Liu Yue arrived at the pickup area to collect their auction winnings. Several other buyers were already there, retrieving their items.
First, Ye Chen collected the proceeds from selling the Peach of Heaven. Normally, the auction house would take a 7% commission—standard practice. But since Liu Yue personally accompanied Ye Chen, and the auction was hosted by her family's company, he received the full amount.
Ye Chen checked his card: the twelve million dollars from the auction had been deposited. However, some of it had already been deducted to cover the Reideran Pendant and the villa necklace. After all expenses, his balance was down to nine hundred thousand.
He frowned. That pendant better be worth the ten million…
Curious, Ye Chen tested the Reideran Pendant. Fortunately, it wasn't damaged and worked as promised—it allowed him to conceal his cultivation level. He masked his strength to appear as a low-level Martial Realm cultivator.
This will keep my enemies underestimating me, he thought.
Next, Ye Chen examined the villa ownership documents and the key. Eager to see what he had purchased, he turned to Liu Yue.
"I'm heading to the Golden Eagle District to check out the villa."
"If you like, I can take you there," Liu Yue offered with a smile.
Ye Chen nodded. "Sure, let's go together."
But before they could leave, Liu Yue's phone rang. She took the call, speaking briefly with the caller. Her expression darkened.
"Something came up at the company—I need to head back immediately. I'm sorry I can't go with you," she said, clearly reluctant.
"No worries. Go take care of things. I'll check the villa out myself," Ye Chen replied.
They exchanged contact information before parting ways. Ye Chen then flew toward the Golden Eagle District.
The area was filled with extravagant mansions—clearly a neighborhood for the city's elite. Ye Chen soon found the villa that matched the image in the purchase documents.
The property was massive—200 meters wide and 200 meters long, with four above-ground floors and three more underground. Though a bit dusty, it was still in decent condition. Strangely, the place was surrounded by dense, lifeless trees—no doubt contributing to the rumors of bad luck that plagued previous owners.
Ye Chen approached the villa. As he reached the entrance, a wave of dark, eerie energy washed over him.
So the rumors were true… this place is haunted.
He opened the door and stepped inside. Dust coated every surface, and the air was heavy with age and neglect. As he made his way through the silent halls, he felt a malevolent presence watching him.
When he reached the staircase, a shadowy figure appeared—its body a shifting black mass, with glowing red eyes and a sharp, twisted mouth.
"Hahaha! Another fool dares to enter! You'll soon know the true meaning of despair!" the spirit cackled.
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. So you're the reason everyone abandoned this place.
Though he'd never seen an evil spirit before, Gu Xuan had once taught him how to recognize them.
The spirit suddenly stopped laughing. It noticed Ye Chen's intense glare.
"You… You can see me?"
"Of course," Ye Chen said coldly. "And I heard everything you just said."
The spirit recoiled in surprise. "Impossible! No human has ever been able to perceive me—you're the first!"
"No need for introductions," Ye Chen said, gathering his energy. "I'll be sending you back where you came from."
The spirit snarled. "Arrogant human! Let's see if you can back up your words!"
Dark chains erupted from the spirit's body, writhing with malicious energy.
"Be careful, Ye Chen! Those chains can harm your soul!" Chu Yuechan warned inside his mind.
"I got it." Ye Chen threw a talisman. It exploded in a burst of purifying light—but when the smoke cleared, the spirit stood unharmed.
"Hahaha! Fool! You think such low-grade talismans can destroy me? I'm no minor ghoul—I'm a centuries-old spirit!"
Flames surged around Ye Chen. So, a mere talisman won't work. Time to escalate.
"One Hundred Thousand Fire Swords!"
Behind Ye Chen, flaming swords materialized in the air. Though he could only unleash the first level of this technique, it was still powerful—an inheritance of the Flame God.
The swords shot forward like a storm. The spirit responded with its chains—"Soul-Devouring Bind!"
Sparks flew as swords and chains clashed violently.
Ye Chen gritted his teeth. He'd been holding back to avoid damaging the villa, but it was clear this spirit had real power—possibly Sky Realm tier.
No more playing around.
He focused his mind. The swords circled the spirit, forming a blazing vortex.
"Hell Prison!"
Flames roared as the swords spun faster, trapping and incinerating the spirit.
"Aaaargh!!" The spirit screamed, echoing through the house. Then, silence.
The spirit was gone.
Ye Chen exhaled and lowered his arms. The threat seemed neutralized.
But just as he turned to explore the rest of the villa—
BAM!
A sudden strike knocked him back. Pain shot through his arms even though he blocked the attack. The spirit was still alive.
"Surprised?" it sneered. "You think centuries of hatred can be destroyed so easily?"
Ye Chen's brows furrowed. I was sure I eliminated it...
Chu Yuechan's voice echoed in his mind. "Ye Chen, it's tethered to a spiritual artifact somewhere in this house. Find and destroy it."
Without hesitation, Ye Chen activated his spirit sense, scanning the villa.
On the second floor, he found it—an old sword mounted on the wall, radiating dark energy.
He darted past the spirit and flew upstairs.
"Trying to run? You won't escape!" the spirit shrieked, giving chase.
Ye Chen reached the sword and grabbed it. The spirit arrived just as he turned around.
"Do you have any last words?" Ye Chen asked, raising the sword.
Fear flickered in the spirit's eyes. "Wait! Let's make a deal. Put the sword down, and I'll grant you power, wealth, even women!"
Ye Chen smirked. "Really?"
"Yes! Everything you desire—just hand me the sword!"
Ye Chen stared him down. "Too bad. I don't make deals with scum."
CRACK!
He shattered the sword in his hands.
"Noooo—!" the spirit howled as its body disintegrated into flickering ashes and vanished.
The oppressive aura lifted. Peace finally returned to the villa.
Ye Chen sighed. "Now to clean this place up… and set some protective arrays."
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