Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

"System! Where's my newbie gift pack? Does it contain any items I can use right now?" Ling Yun urged anxiously in his mind. He was currently a lonely soul drifting in the night, without a body or strength, desperately needing a cheat to save his life.

The system orb flashed twice, its voice tinged with embarrassment: [Reporting to the host, the standard newbie gift pack... we can't use it right now! Wait... I've got it! I'll go visit the other players next door!]

Before he could finish speaking, Ling Yun saw the ball of light representing the system disappear in a flash, as fast as if it were afraid of being caught.

Ling Yun: "???" Visiting someone's home? Which home?

This wait lasted for more than ten minutes. Just as Ling Yun was wondering if the system had run away, a panting ball of light suddenly rushed back. Before it could even steady itself, it shouted urgently: [Host! Gift pack! It's been fused into your soul! Check it yourself! Hurry!]

Before Ling Yun could react, the ball of light shot out again as if its rear end was on fire.

Then—less than ten seconds later—"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Several even faster streaks of light followed closely behind, accompanied by shouts of anger (although Ling Yun couldn't understand the specifics, he could feel the fury from a great distance). One after another, the streaks of light, like shooting stars, streaked across the dark night sky and vanished instantly into the horizon.

Ling Yun: "..."

Even if he were stupid, he would suddenly realize the truth at this moment.

His system is more than unreliable, it's practically a thief! Nine times out of ten, it went to steal or rob other systems, but couldn't beat them and was chased away in a panic!

"Damn it!" Ling Yun couldn't help but curse inwardly, feeling a mix of anger, amusement, and a strange thrill. "What kind of mess is this?!"

Despite his complaints, his biggest concern right now was the dubious "newbie gift pack." He didn't care if it was stolen or robbed, as long as it worked!

Ling Yun focused his mind and began to introspect on his soul. Sure enough, deep within his soul, there was a warm and gentle presence. He tried to touch it, and a cool sensation instantly spread throughout his entire soul.

The Tai Chi Yin Yang Jade Pendant (fragmented) is now soul-bound.

An ancient, round jade pendant appeared in his soul, its black and white colors intertwined, with a faint Tai Chi pattern flowing within. The jade pendant seemed like an independent little world, its interior divided into two completely different spaces!

Lingyun's consciousness first probed into the "Anode Space," which exuded a warm aura.

"Holy crap!" Ling Yun almost whistled out of his mind.

This anode space is ridiculously large! At a glance, it's nearly a hundred acres of fertile black soil, flat and smooth, glistening with oil—it's practically a giant natural farm. In the center of the black soil, there are three thatched huts standing alone: ​​a kitchen, a bedroom, and a study, simple in appearance but fully equipped.

Lingyun floated into the study and saw several items neatly arranged on the desk: seven cards that shimmered with a faint light, and three small jade bottles.

He first used his soul to lift the card, and a stream of information flowed directly into his soul: "National Martial Arts: Twelve Tan Legs", "Tai Chi Hehuan Gong", "Lightness Skill: Swallow Three Drops of Water", "Bajiquan", "Xingyiquan", "Tai Chiquan", "Wing Chun".

Good heavens! A whole collection of top-tier Chinese martial arts manuals! From external martial arts techniques to internal martial arts mental cultivation methods, and even lightness skills and movement techniques, it's practically the ultimate dream for martial arts enthusiasts!

Ling Yun was so excited that his soul trembled as he looked at the jade bottles again. The first bottle was labeled "Marrow Cleansing Pill x 10", the second "Foundation Building Pill x 10", and the third bottle was the smallest, containing only one pill, labeled "Fusion Pill", with the note: "[Main function is to perfectly fuse the soul and body]".

Pills! Especially those miraculous pills that can change one's fate, like those for marrow cleansing and foundation building! Fusion pills are one of the things he needs most right now!

Lingyun's soul floated excitedly around the study, feeling as if he had reached the pinnacle of his life...

and many more.

peak?

He stopped abruptly.

He's a soul now! A pure energy being!

Marrow Cleansing Pill? For whom? To cleanse the air? Foundation Building Pill? With what to build a foundation? With the soul? Martial arts manual? He doesn't even have a fist yet, what's the point of practicing! Those three thatched huts and the hundred acres of black soil... are visible but untouchable, the doors are impossible to open! To pick up anything on the table, he has to strain his soul to support it, like a ghost.

Ling Yun's soul felt as if it had been doused with a bucket of ice water, instantly plummeting from heaven to hell.

"Damn it! What a waste of my excitement!" He was so angry he almost threw the elixir bottle in his hand (though he couldn't even lift it). The things in this Yang-Yang Space were good, but they were all prepared for living people! They were completely useless to him in his current state!

"Wait a minute," Ling Yun suddenly remembered something, "The system mentioned the 'Tai Chi Yin Yang Jade Tablet,' which has the Yang polarity, so is there also...?"

He immediately turned his attention to the area within the jade tablet that exuded a cold, deathly aura—the Yin Yin Space!

This is his home turf now! Let's hope he doesn't disappoint again!

The cathode space was as large as the anode space, but much darker, with a hazy gray sky and hard, black rock on the ground. There was also a solitary thatched hut, but it looked more dilapidated and exuded an eerie atmosphere.

Lingyun floated into the thatched hut, which was empty except for a seemingly ordinary futon on the ground, which emitted a faint fluctuation of soul power that seemed to calm the soul and concentrate the mind.

Besides the futon, there were several other items scattered on the ground.

First came a small, palm-sized black flag, its surface rough, faintly shrouded in black mist. The moment Ling Yun touched it with his soul, a message arrived: [Soul Refining Banner (Fragment): Can absorb and refine wandering souls and ghosts, turning them into pure soul energy for the host to consume and strengthen their own soul.]

"!!!" Ling Yun's eyes lit up! This is great! This is so useful! Strengthening the soul! This is exactly what he needs right now! It's practically tailor-made for him! He immediately enveloped it with his soul power and completed the recognition process.

Then, he looked at the few purple orbs of light scattered on the ground. These orbs of light flickered slightly like fireflies, emitting different fluctuations.

He picked up one of the tokens, and a massive influx of information instantly flooded his mind, leaving his soul somewhat dazed. After a long while, he finally processed it, exclaiming with elation, "Maoshan Taoist techniques! And from that movie/TV world of the One-Eyebrow Taoist!" It contained basic talismans, footwork, hand seals, as well as instructions on using the Three Pure Ones Bell and how to forge a peach wood sword! Although it was only basic, for a novice ghost, it was a godsend! With this, he was no longer an ordinary wandering soul, but half a Taoist (soul)!

The second orb of light: [Soul Clone Technique: Allows the user to split their soul into multiple independent units, each possessing a portion of the original's consciousness and abilities. Consumes soul essence; clones can be retrieved.] Ling Yun's eyes narrowed. This was crucial! Clones meant being able to do different things simultaneously—reconnaissance, sentry duty, even…cannon fodder? It was practically a lifesaver!

The third orb of light: [Memory Reading: Can be used on remnant souls or recently deceased souls to read their remaining memory fragments.] "This…" Ling Yun stroked his chin (if he had one). This ability is a bit sinister, but definitely useful! Gathering intelligence, understanding the world, even… plundering other people's knowledge!

The fourth orb of light: [Soul Control: A soul can forcibly enter a living being's body and briefly seize control. Note: The duration of control is uncertain, influenced by the strength of both souls and willpower. Controlling a living person is extremely difficult, while controlling a dying person or a corpse is less difficult.]

"Hiss—" Ling Yun gasped (though he didn't need to breathe). This ability was simply heaven-defying! Controlling a body? This meant he had a chance to "come back to life"? Even if it was just temporarily controlling someone else or a corpse!

This newbie gift pack from the Cathode Space is truly a godsend! Every single item precisely addresses his current pain points!

Soul Refining Banner – Strengthens the soul! Maoshan Taoist Techniques – Offensive and defensive methods! Soul Clone Technique – Reconnaissance assistance! Memory Reading – Intelligence gathering! Soul Control – Acquiring a physical body (method)! And that unassuming futon can assist in soul cultivation!

"It was worth it! Even being hunted down was worth it!" Ling Yun was now incredibly grateful to the system that had run away. Although it was obtained through questionable means, this was a worthwhile investment, a huge profit!

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately began to integrate these abilities. One by one, the purple orbs of light entered his soul, and the vast amount of knowledge and power flowed into his consciousness like a gentle stream. The process was somewhat overwhelming, but everything went smoothly. The Soul Refining Banner was also completely refined by him, and he could store it deep within his soul with a mere thought.

Just as he finished digesting everything, feeling his soul solidify a bit, and was about to try out his new ability—

"Ooh ooh ooh—!"

A few clear rooster crows, like thunder, came from afar!

Ling Yun's expression changed!

The rooster crows! Dawn is approaching!

He's just an ordinary wandering soul now. Although he's gained some benefits, his essence hasn't changed! Souls on the Yin side are most afraid of Yang energy! When the sun rises and Yang energy surges, if he's still wandering around outside, at best his soul will be scattered, and at worst he'll be completely dissolved by the Yang energy!

He still remembered the system's previous instructions: not to stray too far from that little raindrop, which seemed to be his anchor point in this world.

"Damn it!" Ling Yun didn't dare to be careless. He immediately suppressed all his soul fluctuations and sank his consciousness into the Tai Chi Yin Yang Jade Tablet deep within his soul. Fortunately, the space within this jade tablet was hidden within his soul and could not be seen from the outside, making it a safe haven.

After doing all this, he felt his soul power begin to be suppressed by an invisible force, his range of movement shrank drastically, and he could only wander within a few meters around the small rain pillar. His consciousness also began to become somewhat blurred, as if he was about to fall asleep.

He realized that he could only be active at night and had to lie low during the day.

"Let's leave it at that for now." Ling Yun forced himself to calm down. "At least, I'm no longer that penniless, lost soul."

He sensed the small black flag deep within his soul, the profound mystery of Maoshan Taoist arts in his mind, and those powerful soul abilities... A smile of anticipation involuntarily crept onto his lips.

"The Cathode...this world...I, Lingyun, have arrived!"

As the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, Ling Yun's soul sank completely into silence beside the small raindrops, awaiting the arrival of the next night. Unbeknownst to him, the "neighbors" whose gift packs had been "borrowed" by the system were currently searching the myriad realms in fury for the "visiting" thief.