I wield power with my innate talents, and forge the Heavenly Court.

As the eerie energy entered his body, Xu Lao Er felt a chill and couldn't help but shiver violently.

After a while, Xu Lao Er finally lifted his foot and looked down at his feet.

However, there were no longer any strange paper figures under his feet.

Seeing this, Xu Lao Er couldn't help but feel slightly surprised. Was it really that easy to beat?

Isn't it said that being entangled with these strange creatures means certain death?

So how did he end up killing the monster?

Could it be that he's special compared to others? Is he the legendary chosen one?
Unconsciously, a look of daze appeared on Xu Lao Er's face, his mind wandering off somewhere.

Until
The power of the rules rippled, and a strange aura arose out of thin air. The surrounding energy of heaven and earth rapidly converged, and a pale white paper figure the size of a palm slowly emerged once again.

In that instant, Xu Lao Er felt his body suddenly stiffen. He had almost forgotten that these strange creatures were unkillable.

Most of the strange and troublesome things are not that they are really powerful, but that they will keep resurrecting even if they are killed.

Seeing the pale paper figure reappear and grab at him again, Xu Lao Er swallowed hard, but still stepped on it.

Regardless of whether this strange paper figure can be reborn.

However, it can at least be crushed underfoot, so that it is not completely powerless to resist.

Even if the eerie paper doll can be reborn, it still needs some time, right?
Wang Chao was not surprised by what he saw.

After all, that paper figure wasn't a particularly powerful being, let alone capable of projecting across worlds.

Even if the Celestial Empire is stronger, after being projected onto the late Ming Dynasty world, it will become extremely fragile, and ordinary people can easily shatter it.

The only special thing is that it has become indestructible and is corroded by eerie energy.

Sensing the surrounding laws of heaven and earth, Wang Chao revealed a thoughtful expression.

Because the surrounding world seemed to be permeated with some puppet rules, and the strange paper figure was in harmony with some of those puppet rules.

As long as no one can break its connection with the puppet rules, or erase the puppet rules, it can be reborn no matter how many times it is destroyed.

Moreover, although ordinary people can easily kill the strange paper figures.

However, during this process, the eerie energy will continuously invade a person's body.

Over time, how can ordinary people resist the corrosive influence of this eerie energy? In the end, they will die a painful and violent death, and even after death, they may turn into strange beings such as zombies.

After an unknown period of time, as the strange figure was repeatedly crushed, a large amount of eerie energy invaded Xu Lao Er's body.

After crushing the eerie paper figure once more, Xu Lao Er felt a chill run through his body. Despite it being the height of summer, he felt as if he were in the dead of winter.

This made him dare not continue to crush the eerie paper figures. Instead, he took a few steps back in a panic, his eyes darting around, hoping someone could help him.

However, there was no one around. Even the shops and restaurants along the street had all closed their doors.

Until, in the distance, he saw a young man dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe by the side of the street.

The man's figure was ethereal, like an immortal, yet his imposing presence was like that of an unparalleled king.
However, looking at the strange person who had come back to life, Xu Lao Er didn't even consider whether it was reasonable for a figure to suddenly appear there at this moment, and immediately shouted.

"Hey you over there, help me out, my family is rich."
"I'll give you everything as long as you can help me."

Wang Chao was slightly taken aback when he saw Xu Lao Er suddenly shouting at him, but he quickly realized what was happening.

Clearly, with the erosion of the eerie energy, Xu Lao Er's body and spirit have undergone some changes, and he can even see strange entities at will.

That means that once you've been exposed to something eerie, you're likely to encounter or see something eerie again in the future.

It's actually quite easy to understand.

Because their bodies have been eroded by the eerie energy and have resonated with it, they are now in the same dimension and can naturally see the strange things containing that energy.

Of course, because the degree of erosion and the depth of connection vary, the strange phenomena observed will also differ.

If the influence of eerie energy is relatively mild, one may only be more likely to see strange phenomena in special environments.

In normal times, they are not much different from ordinary people.

If someone is heavily corrupted by eerie energy, like Xu Lao Er now, then while they might not be able to see eerie things all the time, they're not far off.

Therefore, the reason why ordinary people don't often see strange things is not because strange things are rare, but because they can't see them.

The two are as if they are in different dimensions. Even if they walk side by side or pass by each other, they will not affect each other.

Only under certain specific circumstances, when both parties achieve a certain spiritual resonance, can humans witness the bizarre.

If people can remain calm and ignore it at this time, they can avoid being harmed.

However, once they interact with the strange entity, whether actively or passively, a special causal relationship will be formed between them, which will put them in the same dimension and make them able to harm each other.

Yes, it's about hurting each other, not some bizarre, one-sided harm to humans.

For example, Xu Lao Er can also crush the eerie paper figures.

However, it will continue to be reborn.

Now, they are actively seeking help from the dynasty.

That also means that the two sides have formed a special causal relationship, and can not only communicate with each other, but also come into contact with each other and kill each other.

"hehe."

As Wang Chao watched Xu Lao Er run stiffly toward him, his body cold and rigid, he couldn't help but chuckle.

How can I help you?

"Gudong!"

Xu Lao Er swallowed hard and said with difficulty:
"I think you also know about the strange nature of it; as long as you ignore it or don't see it, it won't harm you."

I'm being corrupted by a strange power, so my body is having difficulty moving. I want you to take me away from here, away from that eerie paper figure.
As long as you ignore the strange paper figure, it cannot harm you.

"Clang!"

The moment Xu Lao Er finished speaking, Wang Chao's keen hearing detected a loud thud from behind the inn door, followed by gasps of shock and suppressed whispers.

"Who is Xu Lao Er talking to?"

"I found it strange just now. We had already closed the door, so why was he asking us for help?"

Looking at it now, it was clearly a plea for help from others!

"But there's clearly no one in the direction he's looking!"

"Damn it, could there be another weirdo right next to our teahouse?"

"."

In an instant, the countless whispering people felt their hair stand on end and their scalps tingle, and dared not utter another word, for fear of attracting something strange.

Wang Chao glanced at the teahouse beside him before looking back at Xu Lao Er, who was running with difficulty and was not much faster than an average person walking.

Wang Chao couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, asking with a hint of curiosity.

"Since you know that as long as you ignore those strange things, they won't harm you, then what's going on with you?"

"I"

Upon hearing Wang Chao's question, Xu Lao Er couldn't help but look bitter.

"I was careless, wasn't I? That thing appeared suddenly, and I didn't react in time, so I overreacted, and that's how I got entangled with it."

He turned his head and glanced behind him. The small, eerie paper figure had come back to life and was now moving its two short paper legs, lightly chasing after him.

Although its speed doesn't seem fast, even slower than an average person walking, it doesn't need to eat, drink, or rest. It will relentlessly pursue its locked target until it kills it.

Of course, if the target is thousands of miles away, it will be extremely difficult for it to catch up.

The strange paper figure in front of them was, after all, just a projection of the lowest-level cannon fodder paper figure. It was extremely weak in every aspect, so it was normal that it couldn't kill the target.

It would be abnormal if you could kill your target instantly.

Wang Chao smiled and nodded as he saw Xu Lao Er approaching.

"Okay, where do you want me to take you?"

"Home, home, my home"
When I leave with my wife and daughter, at the speed of this paper figure, it's highly unlikely they'll be able to catch up.

Xu Lao Er said somewhat uncertainly.

"Oh! So where do you live?"

Wang Chao nodded and asked casually.

"My home is in Xujia Village, about ten miles southwest of the new city."
I still have ten taels of silver that I've saved up at home. If you're willing to take me home, I'll... I'll...
I'll give you half.

No, I'll give you eight taels.

No, no, no, it's all yours, I'll give it all to you.

Xu Lao Er spoke incoherently, glancing back at the eerie paper figure that was approaching from time to time, his face showing a look of anxiety and pleading.

However, the panicked Xu Lao Er was completely unaware that as the strange paper figure approached them, its speed was getting slower and slower, as if there was something in front of it that it feared.

"Oh Well!"

Wang Chao didn't mind Xu Lao Er's urgency and urging. He simply picked him up and walked quickly towards the west of the city, gradually increasing the distance between them and the strange paper figure.

Those who were peering cautiously from behind doors and second-floor windows of the teahouse where the dynasty was located, as well as the restaurants and shops across the street, couldn't help but gasp again as they watched Xu Lao Er being carried away as he hurried westward.

"This is really weird."

"Gulp, but the most important thing is that Xu Lao Er also sought help from the supernatural."
And the eeriness took him away too.”

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.

Why does it feel so surreal? This strange thing can actually help humans? How is that possible?
"Uh, who said that the supernatural taking him away means helping him leave?"

"."

After that person finished speaking, everyone looked at each other again, and another period of silent conversation ensued.

In the future, they will most likely never see Xu Lao Er again.

Meanwhile, as dusk fell, Wang Chao finally brought Xu Lao Er back to Xu Family Village.

Walking along the country lane on his way home, Xu Lao Er greeted the villagers and thanked Wang Chao repeatedly.

He thanked Wang Chao for sending him home and promised to give him all ten taels of silver from his family after he returned home.

Wang Chao didn't say much about it, but just chuckled and looked around.

Looking at the thatched houses he hadn't seen in over a decade, and at the villagers whose faces turned pale after greeting Xu Lao Er, Wang Chao couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Xu Lao Er still hasn't noticed anything amiss.

Until he met a little girl who was six or seven years old.

"Tongtong, aren't you going home yet? Aren't you afraid your parents will be angry?"

"No, Mom and Dad won't be angry with Tongtong."

The little girl Tongtong's innocent answer drew a burst of laughter from Xu Lao Er and Wang Chao.

However, what Tongtong said next made Xu Lao Er stop laughing.

Tongtong looked curiously in the direction of the dynasty, then turned to Xu Lao Er and asked:
"Uncle Xu, who are you talking to?"

"."

"Gudong!"

In an instant, Xu Lao Er's smile froze on his face. He swallowed hard, slowly turned to look at Wang Chao, and forced a smile as he said:

"Hehe, of course I'm talking to this uncle. You can call him, um, Uncle Wang."

"Uncle Wang? Where is Uncle Wang?"

Looking at the empty space in front of her, Tongtong couldn't help but scratch her head.

In an instant, Xu Lao Er's forced smile vanished, replaced by a deathly pallor.

Just as he was about to say something, a man and a woman suddenly rushed out from around the corner, grabbed Tongtong, and said in a panic:

"You brat, can't you see it's already dark? Hurry up and go home for dinner."
Second brother, it's getting dark, you should go home too.

After saying that, the two of them didn't wait for Xu Lao Er's reply and quickly left with Tong Tong.

Tongtong, who had been pulled away, kept looking around curiously, wanting to see where Uncle Wang was.

At this point, what could Xu Lao Er not understand?
So the person who brought me back wasn't even human.

"Heh, heh heh, great, great, great man."

Looking at Xu Lao Er, whose face was pale and whose body was swaying precariously, Wang Chao said with a smile:

"Didn't you say you were inviting me to your house and would pay me? Come on over!"

"Yes, yes, sir, please come with me."

Xu Lao Er nodded with a forced smile, his body stiff as he slowly made his way home.

Seeing this, Wang Chao couldn't help but chuckle and said:
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Although Xu Lao Er nodded stiffly, it was clear that he did not believe the dynasty's assurances.

Since the emergence of the supernatural, no supernatural phenomenon has been without its harmful effects.

After a while, they finally entered Xu Lao Er's house, which was not far away.

"The boss!"

A woman came out of the room and, upon seeing Xu Lao Er, immediately called out happily.

Immediately after, a little girl poked her head out and called out in a clear voice.

"Daddy!"

Then, the little girl shyly shrank back.

"Hey! Hey!"

Yao Yao!

Xu Lao Er nodded stiffly, then repeatedly winked at the two men, hoping they would escape quickly.

However, it was already getting dark, and they did not see Xu Lao Er's signal.

Or rather, even if they saw it, they might not be able to decipher its meaning. (End of Chapter)