American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

Zhu Mingyao remained outwardly calm, maintaining a sincere expression, but secretly, he brought up the system panel.

Causal Point Pool: 122

He looked at the reward points he had just received, took a deep breath, and added all the points to the Divine Essence among the three elemental attributes!

In an instant, an indescribable feeling came over me, like taking a cold shower on a sweltering summer day, bringing an indescribable coolness and comfort.

The system's attributes change accordingly.

Essence: 0.6

Qi Yuan: 0.6

Shen Yuan: 2.8

After the enhancement, his mental strength is now nearly three times that of an ordinary person.

You think I'm not qualified enough, huh?

We'll give you an on-site upgrade!

……

Huh?

An elderly man who was about to leave nearby turned around and looked at them with a puzzled expression.

He walked over with his clothes fluttering in the wind, frowning as he looked him up and down, his expression filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

"How come your spiritual power has suddenly increased so much? It's like you've broken through a cultivation bottleneck or eaten some kind of elixir?"

Seeing that he had indeed attracted the other party's attention, Zhu Mingyao was secretly pleased, but on the surface he pretended to know nothing and let the old man examine him by pinching and kneading him here and there.

"That shouldn't be the case. Could it be that he has some rare bloodline?"

The old man muttered to himself for a long time but found nothing unusual. He looked at the boy staring at him expectantly and felt a strong urge to provoke him.

He straightened his face and cleared his throat twice:

"I don't plan to take on apprentices, but I own an antique shop and I'm short of a general assistant..."

"Yes, yes!"

Before the old man could finish speaking, Zhu Mingyao responded without hesitation, his joy practically overflowing.

Plan approved!

Seeing the undisguised curiosity and inquiry in the old man's eyes, Zhu Mingyao chuckled inwardly.

Curious? That's exactly what you need!

In the future, you will find that this kid's talent will rise rapidly, and he may be a gifted genius. Then I'll see if you will be willing to let him go.

……

"call."

Exhaling a long, stale breath, Zhu Mingyao raised his hand to shield his eyes from the somewhat glaring morning light, and followed the old man out of the filthy sewer entrance.

Looking back, the tall buildings stand in the distance, their glass windows reflecting golden light. Cars and people are busy on the overpass, and a passenger plane is slowly landing in the sky with a roar. The atmosphere of a modern metropolis is overwhelming.

Recalling the fantastical things he had just witnessed, a tremendous sense of dread suddenly welled up in his heart, as if a giant hand had gripped Zhu Mingyao's heart, leaving him standing there somewhat bewildered.

Can I really... survive in this strange yet familiar other world?

He silently closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, his face was full of determination.

Overthinking is pointless!

They come, the security.

Let me see just how wonderful this world really is!

As a new author, please bookmark and follow along!

Chapter 5: A Novice Exorcist with Two and a Half Years of Training

The bright midday sun shone through the glass windows onto the slightly worn wooden floor, replacing the dim, flickering electric lights as the main light source in the room.

Like other middle-class homes common in the Federation, this two-story Colonial-style house is constructed entirely of fine spruce and North American oak.

Although some minor problems such as damage and leakage inevitably accumulate over time, thanks to the high-quality building materials and the careful maintenance by successive owners, it has withstood decades of wind and rain and is still in relatively good condition overall.

This allows Los Angeles real estate companies to sell it for a good price.

—If there are no other questions.

Inside the house, Zhu Mingyao stood in the second-floor bathroom, holding a compass inlaid with mysterious silver symbols. He gazed at the illusory image of an old woman with bulging eyes and a long tongue lolling out, suspended under the showerhead, and sighed inwardly:

"That's exactly what I'm saying! Those idiots from the past who didn't understand their own identities should be allowed to experience life to the fullest and come to the Lighthouse to see the real lives of the people at the bottom of the Empire!"

That way they won't be stuck there repeating that bullshit nonsense about one-dollar chicken and Big House all day long.

There was no one around, and he was too lazy to carry it any longer. He put the compass he was using for show on the washstand and took out a bottle of free holy water from the neighborhood chapel from the leather suitcase at his feet.

Zhu Mingyao uncorked the bottle, lit a cinnabar talisman, threw it in, and shook it a few times.

Holy water paired with talismans—this is called a fusion of East and West, primarily aimed at satisfying the religious beliefs of a wide range of customers.

After the faint incense and prayer power in the holy water were fully activated by the talisman, he first bowed to the old lady whose pension had been drained by the high medical expenses of the Federation and who had finally had no choice but to take her own life.

After all, death is the greatest tragedy.

Even if the other party is just a wisp of ignorant and irrational remnant, Zhu Mingyao is willing to show it some respect in accordance with traditional virtues.

"Although there is no longer the cycle of reincarnation in this world, it is still better for the soul to return to heaven and earth than to linger in the mortal world and be unable to find liberation. May you have a safe journey."

As he spoke, he poured all the prepared talisman water into the old woman's illusory image.

The glistening water droplets fell, carrying away the lingering spirit of the departed soul and washing away most of the gloomy atmosphere of the place.

Once Zhu Mingyao opened all the windows, letting the warm midday sun flow in with the breeze, the day's business was considered complete.

As he packed his things, picked up his suitcase, and went downstairs to leave, he muttered under his breath:

"I wonder where this stereotype in the Federation that Eastern mages must always carry a mysterious compass comes from."

Now, if you don't bring this thing, these clients think you're not professional enough..."

……

Upon seeing the door open, a white couple who had been anxiously waiting across the street immediately surrounded him. Looking at the Chinese-American boy who appeared to be a high school student, their expressions were a mixture of unease and anticipation.

Fortunately, the handsome young man didn't have any mischievous tendency to keep things mysterious. He nodded and said directly:

"Thank you for your trust. The problem has been completely resolved. The former homeowner has passed away peacefully, and you are ready to move back into this new home at any time."

"Thank God! Thank you so much!" The woman's tense emotions immediately relaxed. She touched her forehead and thanked him repeatedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

She couldn't help but be excited. Most residents of the Federation were used to spending in advance, and even though they were middle class, they didn't have much cash on hand.

The couple had already spent most of their savings to buy this house, and if it just sat there unsold, the loss would be enormous.

Unlike his wife, a housewife, the man next to him, dressed in a neat suit and looking like a business elite, clearly still had some doubts, but was too embarrassed to speak up.

As if reading the man's mind, Zhu Mingyao casually flashed eight white teeth, striking a standard American smile.

"Please rest assured, we accept delayed payments. Once you have lived here for a while and are sure there are no problems, we will transfer the money to the account specified in the contract."

……

After declining the couple's offer to drive him home, Zhu Mingyao stretched in the sunlight and strolled slowly along the roadside.

"Hmm, let me see. The reward for exorcising the earthbound spirit this time is a bit low. The system only gave me 2 karma points."

The boy mentally opened the system panel and checked his gains.

"But thinking about it, it makes sense. It's just a harmless remnant of the dead, not even a proper ghost. Getting a small reward is already a favor from the system."

Besides, one should be content; even a small mosquito bite is still meat. Adding these two points, it's more than enough to upgrade.

Remembering that he was still on the street, he suppressed the urge to get promoted on the spot, quickened his pace, and headed home.

Affected by the cold current from the Pacific Ocean, December is the rainy season in Golden State on the west coast. The weather is unpredictable; just a moment ago it was sunny and clear, but now it is surrounded by dark clouds and the wind is getting colder.

Just before the first drop of rain hit his head, Zhu Mingyao finally returned to his destination.

A three-and-a-half-story old building located at the end of the street is his "home" for the past three years.

On the first floor, several pots of lush green calamus and mugwort are placed on either side of the entrance, their slender leaves dancing freely in the cold wind.

He glanced up at the wooden signboard above that read "Zhang's Antique Shop" in large characters, then pushed open the door and went inside.

Behind him, the spring-loaded glass door closed automatically, and in a short while, the fine rain that gradually intensified coated it with a layer of mist.

The boy had barely stepped into the store when a lazy voice came from inside.

"Finished your work? What time is it? Why are you only just getting back?"

As the words were spoken, Zhang Shouzhong, the owner of the shop, lifted the blanket covering him and slowly stood up from the recliner behind the counter.

Although it was a question, there was little sense of blame in the tone.

Zhu Mingyao has long accumulated rich experience in dealing with the elderly man who was rescued from the clutches of a cult priest and has been taken in ever since.

"It was just a phantom formed from a wisp of resentment and lingering regret. I finished it early this morning. I made a detour to the supermarket to buy some fresh lamb and mushrooms. I'll stew a casserole for you tonight to get rid of the winter dampness."

He picked up his shopping bag and answered with a smile.

After saying this, Zhang Shouzhong's face relaxed a little, and he gave a soft hum and gave the order:

"Well, you've got some filial piety, but I have to go to the Chamber of Commerce right now and I'm not sure when I'll be back. You don't need to leave the door open; you can eat by yourself tonight."

With a smile and a nod, the young man quickly helped the old man put on a thick woolen overcoat, watched him put on a soft hat, pick up an umbrella, and turn to leave.

Watching the figure gradually disappear into the misty rain, Zhu Mingyao then flipped the sign on the door to "CLOSE," pulled up the roller shutter, and strode quickly into the basement.

Now, it's time to upgrade!

Chapter 6 Upgrade

As the place where the owner usually practices martial arts, the basement is equipped with special restrictions to isolate it from all kinds of interference. To be on the safe side, Zhu Mingyao usually uses the system to upgrade his skills here in order to avoid being seen.