Chapter 288: Peak from the start, max level upon first meeting.

Red ghostly energy from the Underworld, carrying a bone-chilling cold, spread out from the formation, causing the surrounding temperature to drop by several degrees.

As the red aura expanded, a massive, looming black skull gate appeared in the center of the formation.

One drop, two drops...

Countless drops of dark red blood dripped from the edges of the black gate onto the formation. The moment they touched the formation, they transformed into blooming Manjushage flowers that spread out, yet a path was left open right in the center of the main gate.

Looking from afar, it was as if clusters of blood-colored Higanbana were surrounding that black skull gate, waiting to welcome the great Specter about to walk out from the Ghost Gate.

'Tap, tap, tap.'

After a few breaths, rhythmic footsteps began to approach from afar, sounding from within the Ghost Gate, coming to a halt behind it.

'Creak...'

An ancient and heavy sound of a door opening slowly resonated, bringing a wave of decaying, ruinous aura that rushed toward her, choking Lin Xi and causing her to instinctively raise her hand to cover her nose.

Such a complex mixture of odors was undoubtedly a disaster for Lin Xi, whose five senses had been heightened. It was like mixing all the perfumes on the market together and having someone with an extremely sensitive sense of smell sniff it. You could not exactly call it "stinky," but the scent was something no ordinary person could endure.

At this very moment, this was exactly how Lin Xi felt.

Among those odors, there was the decay of rot, the sourness of rust, the raw scent of dripping blood... all sorts of smells mixed together, almost stinging tears out of Lin Xi's eyes.

As the Ghost Gate opened wide, Lin Xi finally caught a glimpse of the figure of the Fengdu Ghost Emperor.

It was not quite what Lin Xi had imagined. She had thought that as a Fengdu Ghost Emperor, and the famous Great Emperor of Fengdu of the Dragon Kingdom, even in a game, the figure would be depicted as handsome and dashing, surrounded by an aura of kingly dominance.

Not to mention looking fierce and menacing like a statue looking down on the masses, the figure should at least have a strong aura, intimidating ghostly energy, and an aloof, superior demeanor.

However...

The person... oh no, the Specter did not look tall or mighty. From a distance, one might even think it looked somewhat delicate and small. It was wearing a luxurious black robe, embroidered with complex totems in dark gold. As it walked, the movements were fluid, and depending on the light, one could see several different patterns.

There were embroidered edges resembling Higanbana, various totems of fierce Specters, and one could even see two eerie golden dragons intertwined on it.

Luxurious, mysterious, and carrying the aura of a superior being that could not be taken lightly.

Yet on its face, unexpectedly, it wore a demon mask. Lin Xi stared closely for a few moments; it looked a bit like the masks from the legendary Nuo opera.

Used for praying to the heavens for blessings, warding off evil, and providing disaster relief.

But... but it was the Great Emperor of Fengdu, a Fengdu Ghost Emperor. According to the settings of this Specter, was it really reasonable to wear a ghost mask similar to a Nuo opera mask?

As it walked out of the Ghost Gate, the massive gate, which almost touched the crack in the sky, quickly closed and immediately vanished above the formation.

However, those Higanbana did not disappear along with the Ghost Gate. Instead, they crowded around the Fengdu Ghost Emperor, surrounding it as if celebrating and offering their loyalty.

A ghost mask slowly magnified as it stopped just three steps away from her. If the Red-clothed Earthbound Spirit's entrance had been spectacular enough, this one was even more of a heavyweight. Just by pulling this card, it almost caused the other District 8s across the server to go into a state of martial law.

Lin Xi was sizing it up, and the Fengdu Ghost Emperor seemed to be staring intently at Lin Xi through that ghost mask as well. Human and Specter looked at each other like this, and for a long time afterward, neither made a move.

Xi Niang and the Wraith also exchanged confused glances. It had to be said that the Fengdu Ghost Emperor's aura was truly powerful. Even though it did not do anything, nor did it launch a mental attack upon arrival like the Red-clothed Earthbound Spirit, just standing there gave the Specters a sense of overwhelming pressure, as if all Specters in heaven and earth were born to obey it.

That aura of the Lord of Ten Thousand Specters was captured perfectly.

The atmosphere between Lin Xi and the Fengdu Ghost Emperor was somewhat eerie for a moment.

No one understood what these two were looking at.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xi looked the figure up and down, but frowned with even more confusion.

To begin with, Lin Xi did not care that much about Specters. Having spent so much money to play this game, the initial, original thought was just to survive and to take revenge.

But this Specter...

Although it wore a gorgeous classical ceremonial robe, a complex and eerie yet aesthetically pleasing bone phoenix crown, and a dramatic ghost mask on its face, hiding its true appearance from top to bottom, Lin Xi just felt that the figure of the Fengdu Ghost Emperor before her was very familiar.

She must have seen it somewhere, and probably many times!

She just could not recall it for the moment.

For this reason, Lin Xi even went through the names of people she knew and remembered in her mind, matching them against the Fengdu Ghost Emperor, but none fit.

Could it be... that she was overthinking?

"Won't you invite me in for a seat?"

While she was pondering, an ethereal, gender-neutral voice came from behind the mask. It sounded more like a command from the game or system—cold and heartless, yet even more mysterious.

Lin Xi narrowed her eyes upon hearing this, then signaled for Xi Niang and the Wraith to step aside, silently acquiescing to the visitor's request.

With its malevolent aura restrained, the figure walked into the Ghost Mansion Immortal Palace with Elegant movements. In every gesture, it seemed somewhat familiar with the place, as if this Fengdu Ghost Emperor had been to the Ghost Mansion Immortal Palace before.

Realizing that its actions might draw unnecessary suspicion to Lin Xi, its current card master, the Fengdu Ghost Emperor chuckled softly and explained, "A long time ago, by the banks of the River of Oblivion, I had the fortune of sitting here once."

Lin Xi: ???

This... if any other Specter had said this, she probably would not believe it. But if it was this one... she did not know if it was because of its status or some kind of magic, but although its voice was strange, the words it spoke instinctively made Lin Xi willing to believe.

It was as if... it would never lie to her.

Seeing that the Fengdu Ghost Emperor had no intention of attacking, and could even peacefully enter the Ghost Dormitory, Xi Niang and the Wraith finally set their hanging hearts at ease.

After all, they were currently the lowest-star Specters under Boss Yi Meng. If they had clashed with this Fengdu Ghost Emperor just now, they would have been either dead or severely injured.

Furthermore...

"Max-level card?"

Looking at the dialog box popping up in the game system, Lin Xi looked at the attributes in disbelief, then back at the Fengdu Ghost Emperor, who was calmly drinking tea across from her. Her mind was full of question marks.

This... is it even okay to be max-level right out of the pull?

Not only was the level maxed, but the star rating was also maxed. It even came with exclusive weapons, exclusive skins, special effect skins, maxed intimacy, and Resonance Bond all arranged. And what Lin Xi did not expect was...