C25 Tian Kui Horse Armor

"Wang Xu! Wang Xu! Get out here! I've gathered everything you asked me to find!"

To confront the old ghost, a special type of magical ingredient was required. This substance was incredibly potent. Even a ghost with a millennium of cultivation could lose five hundred years of progress or be incapacitated indefinitely if they weren't careful. Yet, acquiring this ingredient was no easy feat.

In ancient times, only emperors or malevolent sorcerers who killed without remorse would use such a rare magical ingredient. That's not to say it was particularly valuable; in reality, it's something quite common in everyday life. The difficulty lies in the fact that it's a bit embarrassing to mention, and a substantial quantity is needed to cast the spell, making it a challenge to acquire.

I had Wang Dali collect it for two reasons: first, his father is the village chief, so his words carry more weight than mine. Second, he and Little Phoenix had already done the deed, leaving the ranks of virgins behind him. His skin is thick enough to handle this tough task.

To my surprise, Wang Dali managed to gather everything so quickly.

I rushed out to meet him, stopping him from bringing the items into my house—my parents mustn't see them. We headed back to the village chief's house instead, where Wang Dali showed me his collection in a metal bucket.

Inside the bucket was a pointed layer of white paper products, all stained with blood and covered in various unsavory fluids. Yes, these were the sanitary pads from all the women in the village.

"Just like you said, I collected 91 sanitary pads, mostly from married women. For the unmarried ones, I made sure they weren't virgins before taking theirs. Look what I got for it!" Wang Dali said, his voice tinged with a cry.

I examined his face closely; it was indeed a bit red, especially on the left side where a clear handprint was visible. It seems our village's customs are quite... straightforward.

"I didn't think we had that many women in the village. I expected you to take a few days to collect these. How did you manage to do it so quickly?"

When the topic came up, Wang Dali scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.

"Isn't it simple? I started collecting them, but after making the rounds in the entire village, I only gathered a little over ten. That got me mad! Why were there so few women on their period today in our village?

But then it hit me. The ones who had already contributed would need to use more. After they did, they'd still be bleeding, so off I went again! For those who bled slowly, I'd wait right outside their homes. After five or six rounds, I managed to collect eighty-one!"

Listening to Wang Dali's ingenious approach left me at a loss for words. What an earnest and hardworking guy, not one to cut corners... To fulfill my task, he went around the village several times, even waiting outside people's homes.

I must admit, Wang Dali's ingenuity outshone mine. He completed the task in record time! But as for me, even if I'd thought of this method, I would never have used it.

"Dali, your face... did you get slapped while you were squatting outside their doors?"

Wang Dali hastily shook his head.

"No! No! They treated me well when I was squatting, even offering me water! This bruise came from the first round of collections when they refused to give them up, and I insisted. I ended up getting slapped by seven or eight men..."

Okay, I'd rather not delve into the details of how Wang Dali collected those sanitary pads. His story is surely more legendary than all the tall tales I've ever spun in my lifetime.

Since Bai Xiaoxiao saw what Wang Dali had brought back, she hadn't come within three feet of us. From a distance, her face pale, she asked,

"Wang Xu, you... you're not planning to use those to fight off the old ghost, are you? This... Ugh..."

And just like that, Bai Xiaoxiao, who's quick to react, started to gag. I couldn't blame her; I was barely holding it together myself, while Wang Dali seemed unfazed.

I nodded and explained,

"Ghosts lack a physical form and are most repelled by filth. A urine pot, some foot-washing water, or even a woman's scornful look during her monthly cycle can disrupt a ghost's energy, let alone this many sanitary pads."

Bai Xiaoxiao found herself in agreement, although she couldn't help but gag again before speaking up.

"That may be true, but isn't it utterly revolting to collect so much of this stuff? There have to be other ways to gather Heavenly Sunflower!"

Heavenly Sunflower, another term for menstrual blood, was not only used to ward off spirits but also served as an ingredient for alchemy in ancient times. Legend had it that the Heavenly Sunflower from a virgin was the purest substance on earth, capable of producing elixirs that granted eternal youth. On the other hand, that from a non-virgin was considered the ultimate filth, feared even by ghosts.

I've never delved into the specifics of women's physiology, so I can't vouch for the veracity of these claims. However, the idea that impure substances can disrupt ghostly forces is indeed true, which is why I've amassed such a collection.

"Hehe, Xiaoxiao, you were just twelve or thirteen when you passed away, weren't you? At that age... you wouldn't have experienced this, right? Seeing me gather so much of this 'aunt's blood,' did you suddenly feel a sense of life's incompleteness?"

Bai Xiaoxiao chose to ignore me completely.

I had Wang Dali fetch a genuine immortal to dye the thread red with cinnabar. Then I inquired of Wang Dali:

"Dali, do you know how to sew?"

It was clear to everyone that I was setting him up, but the guileless Wang Dali earnestly replied:

"I'm no good at embroidery, but I can manage larger stitches, like sewing a pocket."

So, I entrusted him with the needle and thread, saying:

"Fantastic, Dali! Who knew you were such a jack-of-all-trades? I'm assigning you the task of sewing these... uh, well, let's just say, making a vest out of them. The style doesn't matter, nor does it need to be warm. As long as it can be worn, that's all that counts. Off you go, this is crucial for saving your sister!"

With that, I took off running, not even giving Wang Dali the chance to decline, and headed home.

Bai Xiaoxiao followed suit, rolling her eyes at me the entire way and muttering:

"Wang Xu, you... you're just too cruel. Do you think it's okay to trick people like this?"

I just grinned and replied:

"My mom definitely has no clue, but I bet she'd much rather not have her darling son stitching together 'auntie pads'..."

Bai Xiaoxiao didn't argue; instead, she questioned me further, "Now that we're nearly ready, are you confident we can take down the Old Ghost?"

I pulled out the box I'd been carrying, the one with the zombie meat inside, and told her, "Even if we don't kill him, we'll make him shed a layer of skin. However, it might mean you'll have to endure some hardship..."

Bai Xiaoxiao's brow furrowed, and she went a shade paler. Maybe after I had Wang Dali sew a vest with a sanitary pad, she realized that my driving skills were just as good as hers. But while she only talked a big game, I was ready to put my words into action, and that was truly terrifying...

"You... What are you planning to do to me? I... I have a strong Yin Qi. Don't lay a finger on me..."

Well, this young lady actually thought I was planning to take advantage of her...

"Don't worry, I have no interest in someone who's all skin and bones. But be prepared, when we confront Old Ghost tomorrow, it might get rough for you..."