The infant spirit stood about fifty centimeters tall, its form lacking true substance. Sparse newborn hair covered its head, chubby cheeks framed its face, and its short, plump limbs resembled segments of a lotus root, making it utterly adorable.
It clung to Jiang Yu'er's calf like a koala, its tiny head tilted, eyes closed, and body motionless, as if asleep.
Was Aunt telling the truth? Is her hospital really haunted, and by an infant spirit no less? Zhang Yuanqing stared at the tiny spirit, his mouth gradually widening in disbelief.
This completely shattered his understanding of the world.
"What are you staring at?!" Aunt glared at her nephew, noticing his suspicious gaze.
She pulled out a chair, slumped against the back, and whined, "Mom, I'm exhausted. Get me some rice."
"Do you not have arms and legs?" Grandmother grumbled, but she still rose and went into the kitchen.
"Oh, look who's back—the family disgrace!" Aunt greeted her older brother, grabbing a piece of roast duck as she spoke.
"Just wait a few more years of being single, and you'll become the family disgrace too," Uncle retorted with a mischievous grin. "Then we siblings can join forces like a pair of swords, fighting against that heartless witch together!"
Just then, Grandmother emerged with a bowl of rice. Aunt immediately adopted a docile demeanor, wrapping her arm around Grandmother's and resting her head on her mother's shoulder. "You're the real family disgrace," she declared. "I'm Mom's chosen maiden, here to crush trash like you."
This was Aunt's signature move, used to win over Grandfather and Grandmother and secure their exclusive favor.
"Then I can team up with Yuanjun too," Uncle chimed in. "He's practically a family disgrace already, right, honey?"
Aunt rolled her eyes at him.
"Hmm?" Aunt chewed thoughtfully on a piece of roast duck. "Mom, did you forget the salt? This duck tastes bland."
"We bought it from outside," Grandmother snapped, clearly annoyed.
Aunt's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She inhaled deeply and exclaimed, "Why can't I smell anything? The food has no aroma at all!"
Hearing this, Grandmother asked with concern, "Are you coming down with a cold?"
At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing noticed the Infant Spirit clinging to Aunt's calf. Its tiny, flattened nose twitched, and then its black button-like eyes opened. Upon seeing the unfamiliar surroundings, its face went blank with confusion, as if it couldn't understand why it was here.
Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing's heart grew heavier.
This wasn't an ordinary Spectral Entity. Ordinary Spectral Entities lacked consciousness and the ability to think, acting solely on instinct.
The Infant Spirit didn't remain confused for long. Driven by some primal instinct, it twitched its tiny nose and crawled up Aunt's body to her shoulder.
There, it spotted the table laden with delicious dishes.
Zhang Yuanqing's gaze followed the Infant Spirit as its crawling speed suddenly increased. It trembled as it scrambled down Aunt's arm and onto the table.
The Infant Spirit sprawled across the tablecloth, reaching out with its chubby little hand to grab a piece of roast duck, but it grasped nothing.
After repeated attempts, it seemed to finally realize it couldn't touch the food and began to wail in frustration.
The phantom cries immediately rang in Zhang Yuanqing's ears, loud and piercing.
This damned child is so noisy! Zhang Yuanqing channeled Lunar Power into his palm, reached out, and grabbed a piece of roast duck, effectively capturing the Infant Spirit in his hand.
"You guys eat first. I'm going to the restroom."
He carried the Infant Spirit by the scruff of its neck, like a Little Milk Dog, into the restroom.
From behind him, Aunt's voice called out, "Huh, my nose suddenly cleared up, and the roast duck smells delicious now."
At the sink, Zhang Yuanqing cradled the dead infant in one hand, watching as its tiny pink tongue darted out to greedily lap up the Lunar Power from his palm.
For Spectral Entities, the Lunar Power of a Nightwalker was a potent elixir.
"It must have followed Aunt home because she carries my scent," Zhang Yuanqing mused. "That scent is fatally alluring to Spectral Entities."
What puzzled him was the infant's weak Mental Energy. After death, such spirits typically dissipated quickly—within a day or two at most, sometimes just a few hours.
Yet rumors of hauntings at Aunt's hospital had persisted for some time.
This didn't add up.
When in doubt, consult the data. Zhang Yuanqing pulled out his phone with his free hand and logged into the Five Elements Alliance's official forum.
[ Shocking! Eerie Eye Judge Suspected Dead! Fallen Ones May Lose Control in the Coming Days! All Personnel on High Alert! ]
[ Breaking! She Ling Tunnel Conquered! The Identity of the Clearer Remains a Mystery! ]
Zhang Yuanqing skimmed the two pinned posts without much interest. The Official Organization would inevitably disclose the Eerie Eye Judge incident to prepare for potential Fallen One outbreaks.
News of his conquest of the She Ling Tunnel had already spread through the Five Elements Alliance's official forum. The unfamiliar ID "Primordial Heavenly Venerable" was now known to the official Spirit Realm Walkers for the first time.
Zhang Yuanqing used the forum's search function and typed in "Special Spectral Entity."
He quickly found a post explaining the basics of Spectral Entities:
"Spectral Entities are formed from the condensed Mental Energy left behind after a sentient being dies. Having lost most of their consciousness, these entities exist in a dormant state, acting purely on instinct or lingering obsessions.
"Upon death, a being's Spectral Entity gradually dissipates. For ordinary people, this process takes no more than seven days. Spirit Realm Walkers' Spectral Entities can persist longer, depending on the strength of their Mental Energy.
"However, there are always exceptions. To my knowledge, high-level Nightwalkers and Illusion Masters can maintain their Spectral Entities in the world indefinitely through special means, even after their physical bodies are destroyed."
At this point, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but glance at the Infant Spirit. This little guy clearly lacks the ability to persist indefinitely, he thought. He couldn't possibly be a high-level Spirit Realm Walker.
He continued reading the post:
"The above describes Spectral Entities under normal circumstances. Now, let's discuss Special Spectral Entities, also known as..."
The content abruptly ended. Zhang Yuanqing scrolled to the bottom and found the latter half of the post locked, requiring payment to access.
So this is the legendary paywall for knowledge? His lips twitched as he used his phone to add 200 yuan to his "Primordial Heavenly Venerable" account and completed the transaction.
It's worth noting that in recent days, the clerical staff had already processed a separate phone card and bank card for him under the "Primordial Heavenly Venerable" identity, severing ties with his "Zhang Yuanqing" persona.
"Special Spectral Entities are those artificially refined through ritualistic practices. The most famous example is the Nightwalker's Ghost Taming Art, though other classes also possess similar methods, which I won't detail here.
"Refined Spectral Entities have a chance to develop Special Abilities, making them valuable as tools or pets. In Nightwalker jargon, such entities are called Spectral Servants.
"However, remember that Spectral Entities vary in aptitude. Not all can be refined into Spectral Servants; only one in ten thousand possesses the necessary qualities. Next, let's discuss the refinement methods..."
"A final reminder: Refining Spectral Entities of Evil Classes is permitted, but enslaving the Spectral Entities of ordinary people violates the Discipline."
"Posted by: Yuan Ting"
The two hundred yuan was well spent. After reading the post, Zhang Yuanqing sincerely remarked, "This post has revealed a wealth of information."
First, after leveling up, Nightwalkers can cultivate Ghosts and refine Corpses. In combat with Spirit Realm Walkers, they can switch between a stealthy assassin playstyle and a stealthy summoner playstyle.
Second, this dead child is an extremely valuable Spectral Servant—a true treasure.
Having already manifested a Special Ability, it's a genuine Spectral Servant, not just a Special Spectral Entity.
Third, there's something wrong with the hospital where Aunt works.
"Aunt suddenly lost her sense of taste and smell earlier. That must have been its doing. So its ability is to steal others' senses of taste and smell? Hmm, I'll verify that later. If I can nurture this little guy properly, it might be worth as much as an artifact."
While Zhang Yuanqing was delighted, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
A Spirit Realm Walker must be hiding in Aunt's hospital. Now that the child has followed her home, its original refiner will never let such a valuable Spectral Servant go.
This would inevitably lead to trouble, potentially even endangering his Aunt.
Whether the perpetrator was an Official Organization member or a Wild Spirit Realm Walker, using ordinary people's Spectral Entities to create Spectral Servants was a clear violation of regulations.
There was no way this matter could be resolved peacefully.
"I'll report this to the Chief tomorrow. I need to make proper use of the resources around me."
With this decision made, Zhang Yuanqing felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He examined the Infant Spirit clinging to his palm and forearm.
Sensing his gaze, the little creature opened its large, button-like eyes and cooed ingratiatingly, "Aba, aba."
When Zhang Yuanqing ignored it, the Infant Spirit resumed lapping up Lunar Power.
Though more intelligent than an ordinary infant, it still couldn't communicate properly. Zhang Yuanqing pinched the Infant Spirit's nape and flipped it over. "Let's see if you're a Little Goofball or a Little Troublemaker."
"From now on, you'll be called Little Goofball."
Carrying the Infant Spirit, Zhang Yuanqing left the bathroom. The family dinner was nearing its end.
He returned to his seat and casually draped the Infant Spirit around his Uncle's neck while eating as if nothing were amiss.
This was the perfect opportunity to test the Infant Spirit's abilities on the family's black sheep.
His Uncle, preoccupied with flossing his teeth, remained completely oblivious to the dead child riding on his neck.
"Uncle, would you like a bowl of soup?"
Seeing that his uncle had finished, Zhang Yuanqing ladled him a bowl of soup.
He wanted to know if his uncle would lose his sense of taste and smell, just like his aunt.
His uncle patted his round belly and shook his head. "No, no soup. Unless you have Jianbing Guozi."
As he spoke, he struck a self-invented rap pose. Just when Zhang Yuanqing expected to hear familiar lyrics, his uncle suddenly sucked on his thumb and began babbling, "Aba aba aba."
Simultaneously, the Infant Spirit perched on his uncle's neck emitted a voice only Zhang Yuanqing could hear: "Yo yo, check it out, Jianbing Guozi, let's get a set!"
Pfft!
Zhang Yuanqing and Jiang Yu'er, in perfect unison, spat out the chicken soup they had been drinking.
Their grandparents, aunt, and cousin wore expressions of pity mixed with exasperation.