A World of Ghosts

Last night, a new type of ghost was discovered in the South Bank district. It appears between midnight and 3 a.m., performing a bizarre dance while dribbling a basketball down the corridor. Investigations suggest that the ghost's abilities are closely linked to the sound of the bouncing ball."

"So far, thirteen people have fallen victim to it. The higher-ups have officially named this apparition the 'Basketball Ghost.'"

"Students, please be extra cautious at night..."

A Warm Afternoon

Golden sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, bathing the classroom in a luminous glow as if it were dusted with fine golden powder. While most classmates were busy taking notes, a boy in the back row sat frozen, utterly dumbfounded.

"I was just lying in bed reading a horror novel... and then I somehow got transported here?" he thought.

An abrupt flood of unfamiliar memories, combined with the reality of the classroom, made Jiang Xiao realize that he had inexplicably become part of this bizarre world. According to the memories of the original owner of his body—who, by coincidence, also went by Jiang Xiao—this world was eerily similar to Earth. Technology, culture, and daily life were nearly identical. Even the latest music video by Zhou Tianwang was still trending on every platform.

The only difference? This world teemed with supernatural beings—ghosts, monsters, and spirits roamed freely!

"Damn! I really should stop reading horror novels at night," he muttered as his heart pounded with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Bang!

A piece of chalk—nicknamed the "Dongfeng missile"—smacked Jiang Xiao squarely on the forehead.

"Jiang Xiao! What are you daydreaming about?! Stand up and answer: what should you do if you encounter a Night Road Ghost?" demanded a middle-aged woman from the podium.

This was his homeroom teacher, Zhou Haiyan—a forty-year-old woman currently navigating the turbulent waters of menopause. The original Jiang Xiao had clearly recognized her fearsome reputation, as his body immediately snapped upright.

"Uh... Night Road Ghost..." Jiang Xiao hesitated, then continued, "The Night Road Ghost itself can't harm you directly. It manipulates you with its words, inducing hallucinations that lure you deep into the mountains, where other ghosts devour you. If you encounter one, you should ignore it and leave immediately."

A textbook answer.

Seeing the "tigress" on the podium calm down, Jiang Xiao silently exhaled in relief.

"Sit down and pay attention! This is a matter of survival!" Zhou Haiyan continued. "Just recently, a student from the neighboring class fell victim to a Night Road Ghost. Our school has even established a specialized Ghost Studies Department—doesn't that show how serious this is?"

As Jiang Xiao sank back into his seat, he was still reeling.

"Holy crap, this world is seriously dangerous!" he thought.

"Could walking at night really get you haunted?!"

Ding-ding-ding—

The bell signaling the end of class rang. Suddenly, a chubby boy scooted over to Jiang Xiao's side.

"Quick, get your phone out! Let's play a solo match in Ghost League," he urged.

"Huh?" Jiang Xiao was momentarily stunned before remembering that "Ghost League" was a popular mobile game. This chubby boy happened to be the original owner's best friend. Together, they were neither the top of the class nor complete nobodies.

Now, having been thrust into a world rife with supernatural horrors, Jiang Xiao had no time or interest for games.

"Get lost, I'm not in the mood," he snapped.

Undeterred, the chubby boy quickly changed the subject.

"By the way, I heard we're testing our spirit weapons today. What do you think I'll awaken—a Dragon Slayer Blade or maybe a Kar98K?"

"Why not a Gatling gun? One with blue flames—da-da-da-da!" Jiang Xiao quipped sarcastically.

Just as he finished his remark, his expression froze.

"Wait... spirit weapons?"

"Due to the worsening situation, after consultations between the Heavenly Mechanism Palace and the Ministry of Education, the 'Sky Net Plan' has been officially launched. You will now have the opportunity to enter the Heavenly Mechanism Palace ahead of schedule and become preparatory Spirit Guardians..." Zhou Haiyan announced solemnly from the podium.

The students buzzed with excitement.

"Class, please welcome Master Chen Fan, a Tier-Three Spirit Guardian from the Heavenly Mechanism Palace!" she declared, stepping aside to let in a tall, middle-aged man.

Dressed in a gray coat with a prominent hooked nose, narrow eyes, and deep nasolabial folds, he exuded quiet authority. Jiang Xiao's gaze was drawn to the emblem on the man's sleeve—a mist-shrouded mountain.

"My name is Chen Fan, from the Heavenly Mechanism Palace. I am a Tier-Three Spirit Guardian," he introduced briefly and firmly, his piercing eyes sweeping over the class. "Humans are born with a Life-bound Spirit Weapon—a manifestation of their inner selves. With the proper spiritual energy, it can be drawn forth..."

The students listened intently, their youthful faces brimming with anticipation.

"Good," Chen Fan nodded approvingly. "Now, I will conduct the Life-bound Spirit Weapon test." He produced a small, jade-like stone about the size of a ping-pong ball. "This is a Spirit Stone, a rare treasure extracted from the Ghostlands. It holds a vast amount of spiritual energy that will help you manifest your Life-bound Spirit Weapon ahead of time. Simply hold it in your hand."

After his explanation, he exchanged a glance with Zhou Haiyan. Taking his cue, she called out, "Students, line up in order. First up—Gu Wen."

A buzz-cut boy stepped onto the podium, drawing the class's attention.

Whoosh—

Taking a deep breath, the boy grasped the Spirit Stone. Instantly, a fiery-red shadow burst forth from him.

"Wow! That's amazing!" the students gasped in awe.

However, the boy's initial shock soon gave way to confusion.

"Wait... what is this?" he murmured, as his weapon, no larger than the Spirit Stone itself and flat and smooth, resembled nothing more than a common rock.

Chen Fan stated plainly, "A rock." The boy's face fell, and laughter soon broke out in the classroom. Before the laughter could escalate, Chen Fan added, "What's so funny? So what if it looks like a rock? This weapon has seven skill slots—it's a top-grade Spirit Weapon."

A stunned silence followed.

"Really?!" the boy exclaimed in disbelief.

Though he couldn't fully grasp what "top-grade" meant, it certainly sounded impressive.

Chen Fan nodded. "Remember—it's not the type of Spirit Weapon that matters, but the number of skill slots it possesses." He then raised his right hand, and a white-glowing curved blade materialized. As he infused it with spiritual energy, five gems of different colors appeared along its length.

"These are Soul Gems, the most crucial resource for a Spirit Guardian. Every ghost has unique abilities. For instance, Water Ghosts manipulate water to drown their victims, while Starving Ghosts grow stronger the more they consume. Defeating ghosts allows you to extract their Soul Gems, which you can then absorb into your Life-bound Spirit Weapon."

Jiang Xiao's eyes lit up.

"So, the more skill slots a weapon has, the more Soul Gems it can absorb!" he thought excitedly.

"Next up, Jiang Xiao," Chen Fan announced