The Metaphysics Master Carries the Team to Victory

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Yan Shixun has spent years traveling far and wide, making a little money by helping people catch ghosts and exorcise demons, and living a carefree life.

But then his rich third-generation friend was filming a variety show and couldn't even find enough celebrity guests. He wailed, “Brother Yan, if you don't come, I'm going to die here!”

Yan Shixun: “...”

He gritted his teeth and agreed.

He never expected to become an overnight sensation across the internet!

On a travel variety show with contestants eliminated from the bottom up, vengeful spirits surrounded a villa in the woods, their opera singing echoing through the night as they demanded lives; spirits possessed the cast at a remote mountain temple, leaving everyone in mortal danger; and in a folk village, ghost soldiers marched through while witchcraft bewitched the living...

As viewers watched in horror while the travel show turned into a horror show, screaming themselves hoarse, only Yan Shixun stood out, elegant as a gentleman in the breeze.

Yan Shixun plucked a leaf and turned it into a sword, piercing a vicious ghost through the chest. Yellow talismans burned in his hand, sending spirits fleeing, and at his command, the Ten Courts of Yama cowed the ghost soldiers until they trembled in fear.

The audience stared, dumbfounded.

Yet while casually dealing with ghosts and monsters, Yan Shixun never forgot to face the camera and earnestly explain everything from a scientific perspective.

With a world-weary expression, he said disdainfully, “Read more, believe in superstition less. What ghosts? This is all science.”

The viewers he'd just lectured: This man is so hot! Master, I understand now.

The audience voted like crazy, and Yan Shixun's popularity soared.

Yan Shixun had only planned to get eliminated from the bottom in a few days and leave: This wasn't part of the plan!

Watching Yan Shixun grow ever more cold and world-weary, and hurl increasingly vicious insults as he tried to get eliminated, the audience only got more excited: Is there anything more captivating than a self-proclaimed charlatan idol who promotes science? Record companies, sign him immediately and make him a star!

Before long, Yan Shixun's name was all over the internet. Entertainment industry bigwigs and wealthy people seeking fortune-telling and advice on money came knocking.

Yan Shixun swallowed a mouthful of blood: I'm not becoming a star! I'm not dating or building a fanbase! Stay away from me! I just want to catch a ghost like an ordinary person!

A big shot from the ghost realm wrapped his arms around Yan Shixun's waist from behind. “We could try dating... You and me.”

Coming soon: "The Patriarch Comes Down the Mountain"

It is said that, a thousand years ago, the Xuan Yi Sect had a brilliant and extraordinary founding patriarch. He fought the Ghost Emperor for eighty-one days, then used his own body to suppress the evil spirits and preserve peace in the mortal world.

But the tale is too old to verify, and even the Xuan Yi Sect no longer believes it.

All that remains is a single history book describing how the Xuan Yi Patriarch was a refined gentleman, dressed in white like three layers of snow. It also tells how the Ghost Emperor was willful and cruel, and despised all humanity.

·

Lin Qi, who left the cultivation path to become an idol, doesn't believe it either. If such a patriarch had really existed, would the Xuan Yi Sect have fallen so far that only he and his master were left?

But his master kicked him out the door, so he still went up the mountain to pay respects to the patriarch. He even lost his phone and didn't notice.

Then, a few days later: “I'm alive. Come pick me up.”

Lin Qi: “!! Who are you?”

The person on the other end sneered. “Your grandpa, Xie Daoling.”

The Xuan Yi Patriarch's surname really was Xie.

·

Xie Daoling has a terrible temper and a sharp tongue. Everyone who comes seeking help at the Xuan Yi Sect, along with Lin Qi's colleagues in the entertainment industry, gets a thorough dressing-down. This one's brought it on himself; that one's a disgrace. No one escapes. Unfortunately, his combat skills are maxed out. No one can beat him in a fight, and no one can win an argument with him. The celebrities are furious enough to spit blood.

Other celebrities' fans: Who are you? Get lost!

But the other occult sects ask: Isn't that our patriarch? Why is he at the Xuan Yi Sect?

Disciples from across the sects crowd the entrance, eager to claim him as their founding master, while the rich and powerful flock to him.

But Xie Daoling says, “I don't take junk. Get lost.”

The fans are dumbstruck: I admit I was a little too loud earlier. What kind of immortal has descended to earth?

Only Lin Qi, grinding his teeth as he competes in the contest to claim Xie as his grandpa, protests: “He's a fraud! Don't believe him! What happened to being a refined gentleman?”

The vicious ghosts and villains, beaten black and blue: “Waaah, what do you mean, gentleman? How can a Taoist priest be this terrifying?”

Xie Daoling smiles. “Your grandpa here is a gentleman. Got a problem with that? Come at me.”

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Theme: Science is power