CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 404: I AM THE DEMON_1

Chu Hao was somewhat helpless. "If I really have to sleep in this place, wouldn’t I freeze to death?"

System: "Host, I recommend purchasing a Plant Bed. It requires 1,000 Pretentiousness Points, prevents mosquitoes and poisonous creatures, and is an excellent item for tomb raiding and home use."

Chu Hao was startled. "Aren’t you the Ghost-catching System?" he asked. "How come you’re now a tomb raiding System?"

System: "Previously, when the Host leveled up, the System store was updated with new items, including tomb raiding equipment."

So that was it. Every time he leveled up, the System would also upgrade, automatically updating the store’s inventory.

"Purchase."

"DING... Host has purchased a Plant Bed, spending 1,000 Pretentiousness Points, with 13,500 Pretentiousness Points remaining."

Item: Plant Bed

Rarity: ★

Ability: Place in a rock crevice, and it can instantly grow a plant bed.

Facing Su Muyue’s question, Chu Hao waved his hand dismissively and boasted, "Places like Ancient Tombs? I, as a Taoist Master, have grown tired of them long ago. You didn’t really think I came unprepared, did you?"

Su Muyue blinked. What could he have possibly prepared?

Chu Hao found a crevice in the rocks and placed a thumb-sized seed into it.

Rapidly, the seed began to grow, forming a huge lotus flower three meters in diameter. It was fragrant and soft, making one want to sleep on it.

"DING... Host has performed a stunning show-off, earning 800 Pretentiousness Points."

Su Muyue’s small mouth hung agape as she looked at Chu Hao in disbelief.

Chu Hao jumped onto it. It was as comfortable as a large bed, soft and plush. The System reminded him of Doraemon; it was truly amazing.

"Come on up," Chu Hao smiled.

Su Muyue was very curious. Besides, she genuinely wanted to sleep on this lotus flower bed. It must be incredibly comfortable. She slipped off her shoes, revealing her delicate, fair toes.

Su Muyue climbed onto the lotus bed. "This... what is this?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.

"It’s a type of Ancient Huaxia Witchcraft."

The Plant Bed was indeed a form of ancient witchcraft.

"You actually know witchcraft?" Su Muyue was even more astonished, looking at him as if he were a monster.

Chu Hao looked at her fair toes, rosy and white. Those feet are unparalleled. He chuckled, "What doesn’t your Brother Hao know?"

Su Muyue had been a soldier, so she was used to sleeping with others. However, this was her first time sleeping with a man, and on such a magical lotus flower bed at that. Was there a unique sort of charm to it?

Without overthinking, she found the Plant Bed too comfortable; it even had a hypnotic effect. She quickly fell asleep.

Lying on the lotus bed, Chu Hao opened the System interface.

Pretentious Expert: Chu Hao

Level: 8

Experience Points: 300,000/9,000,000

Pretentiousness Points: 13,500

Mana Points: 14,700

Merit Points: 60,000

Ghost Servants: Zhao Yun, Confucius, Sadako, Chu Renmei, Jiayeci, Ghost Dragon (Qiu)

After level eight, one more level up, and according to the System’s usual antics, level nine would be the maximum.

Chu Hao couldn’t help but ask, "System, what comes after Pretentious Expert?"

System: "Pretentious Little Prince, an entirely new pretentiousness system."

Chu Hao was speechless. "..."

"Can’t you pick a better name? Pretentious Supreme would be fine, or how about Pretentious Emperor? What the hell is Pretentious Little Prince? And what on earth is this ’pretentiousness system’?"

System: "The so-called pretentiousness system requires the Host to complete tasks issued by the System, perform a show-off, and thereby earn a large amount of Pretentiousness Points at once."

Brother Hao was truly impressed; they even managed to create so many variations for showing off.

He had killed the Corpse General today and obtained a Silver Treasure Box, which he decided to open now.

"DING... Congratulations, Host. You’ve acquired a Copy Puppet."

Item: Copy Puppet

Rarity: ★★

Ability: Copies a target, creating a puppet that will exist for 24 hours.

This thing is pretty good. It can copy humans, ghosts, demons—anything—and they will obey his commands one hundred percent.

Su Muyue slept soundly. When she slowly woke up, she found herself lying in Chu Hao’s arms, sleeping like a baby. She instantly felt embarrassed.

Of course, it was just embarrassment. As an adult woman, her mindset wasn’t that of a little girl. It was fine as long as she wasn’t sleeping naked with Chu Hao.

Su Muyue couldn’t help but observe Chu Hao. This young man was six years her junior. Generally, she wouldn’t be interested in younger men, but Chu Hao was an exception; he possessed a great deal of charm.

The more Su Muyue looked at him, the redder her face became. He’s so young, yet he knows so much, she thought silently.

Chu Hao was sleeping soundly. Su Muyue watched him quietly, becoming engrossed without realizing it, looking for a full five minutes.

Suddenly, a chill swept over her. She looked up sharply and saw a pair of children with deathly pale faces. A boy and a girl, dressed in ancient attire, were cupping their small faces, their hollow eyes staring at them from outside the lotus bed.

The sudden scene made Su Muyue scream.

Chu Hao’s eyes snapped open. The pair of golden boy and jade girl had vanished.

Su Muyue’s hair stood on end. "There... there’s a Ghost!" she stammered.

Chu Hao nodded. He had also felt the yin energy, though he hadn’t seen the children; it seemed they had already left.

"That golden boy and jade girl must have been burial offerings for the Ancient Tomb," Chu Hao said.

In ancient times, the tradition of burial offerings was tragic. These people had done nothing wrong. Newborn golden boys and jade girls, as well as beautiful concubines, had to be buried with King Chu.

"Let’s go. Time to move on."

He plucked the lotus seeds from the Plant Bed, and it immediately wilted. Its seeds could still be used, which was very convenient.

The three of them continued onward. The path was lined with steep rocks, making it very difficult to walk.

After walking for some time, they found a small, relatively stable path leading downward.

"AH!"

Someone’s scream echoed endlessly in the pitch-black space.

When Chu Hao and his companions arrived, they found a person lying on the rocks. Their internal organs had been torn out by something and were scattered everywhere. It was a gruesome disembowelment.

Moreover, when Chu Hao and the others arrived, the person was still breathing, their eyes filled with terror.

In the darkness, Chu Hao saw a figure disappear behind the rocks. Its way of walking was strange, almost like a spider crawling, supporting itself on all fours on the ground.

Ji Ba’s expression changed. "OMG, there’s a devil in the dark!" he exclaimed.

"Here, I am the devil," Chu Hao said calmly.

"DING... Host has performed a nonchalant show-off, earning 800 Pretentiousness Points."

When it comes to showing off, I only acknowledge Brother Hao; he’s the true Pretentious Expert.

Ji Ba was speechless for a moment, then chuckled. Chu Hao’s statement was fitting. He walked over to the deceased and, ignoring the nauseating sight of the spilled intestines, rummaged through the body, finding two guns. He happily tucked them away, giving one to Su Muyue for self-defense.

"Ji Ba, why did you come here?" Su Muyue asked.

The homophone for Ji Ba’s name was truly unfortunate. Every time Su Muyue said his name, she felt incredibly embarrassed.

Louis Dajiba didn’t hide anything. "I’m a mercenary," he chuckled. "My main purpose for coming here this time was to protect Chu Hao."

Chu Hao was taken aback. He pointed at himself. "You’re here to protect me?"

Louis Dajiba nodded. "That’s right. But now, I feel it’s unnecessary. You clearly don’t need my protection."

After witnessing Chu Hao’s capabilities, Ji Ba protecting him? That was wishful thinking.