Mysterious Awakening

The location where supernatural objects were stored was deep beneath headquarters, carved out of an underground base. The narrow and profound passages were oppressive and stuffy, with faint lights flickering on the thick concrete walls, barely illuminating the path ahead.

The surrounding silence was eerily unsettling, with only the footsteps of their small group echoing about, and the air here seemed somewhat turbid, making it difficult to breathe smoothly.

If an ordinary person were to stay here for an extended period, they would surely suffocate from lack of oxygen.

As Cao Yanhua walked, he said, "Actually, according to me, some things should be sealed away forever, never to reappear in this world. The presence of these objects only leads to greater problems, but now the biggest issue isn’t these anymore. So, taking you here today is quite unprecedented."

Yang Jian remained silent, simply following with a composed expression.

Soon.

Alongside the passage ahead, a series of small rooms appeared, each bearing a number such as 001, 002, and so on, leading to a turning point in the distant corridor.

"We’re here, this is where the supernatural items are stored. This is the first room; you can come and see. If you need detailed information, you can ask me or Professor Wang." Cao Yanhua stopped at the entrance of the first small room.

The room’s door was made of steel, thick and sturdy. There was a small window at the top of the door, and through the pale yellow glass, the interior could be glimpsed.

"How about giving me a file? I can read through it quicker," Yang Jian said as he walked over.

Cao Yanhua replied, "Files can cause problems; people will not. If the person who knows about the files runs into trouble, then they are most likely dead. In such a case, these items would be sealed away forever."

"Oh, why is that?" Yang Jian asked, slightly puzzled.

"If even those who know about the files can’t survive, it means the situation has completely spiraled out of control. Therefore, these items must be sealed away and prevented from being leaked at all costs," Cao Yanhua said with firm conviction.

"Vice Minister, your thinking is quite peculiar," Yang Jian said with a smile. He then walked up to the door, placed his hand on the cold steel, and peered through the pale yellow glass into the room.

On the table inside the small room sat an old-fashioned camera that didn’t seem to be a modern product; it was probably several decades old since its paint had already begun to peel off, making it look dirty and old, like a piece of junk salvaged from a garbage heap. It was hard to believe such a thing could still function properly.

"What is this thing?" Yang Jian’s hand slowly came down.

He realized he could not breach this door; clearly, the door’s exterior was made of steel, and it must contain a layer of Gold inside, blocking any supernatural powers.

"Ghost Camera," Cao Yanhua responded slowly.

"What’s it used for?" Yang Jian inquired.

Cao Yanhua recounted briefly, "Taking pictures."

Yang Jian looked at him with a peculiar expression, "Why do I feel like you’re messing with me? Aren’t all cameras used for taking pictures? I’m asking what’s different about this camera compared to ordinary ones."

"This device is capable of photographing ghosts. If this camera successfully captures a ghost, it can imprison the ghost within the photograph," Cao Yanhua continued.

"The previous owner of the Ghost Camera was a photographer. He succeeded in photographing a ghost, which then vanished, and the camera spat out a photo. What was depicted in that photo was precisely the appearance of the ghost, hence it has the ability to contain ghosts," Cao Yanhua went on to elaborate.

Yang Jian’s gaze shifted slightly, "Such an important tool not being utilized by ghost controllers to resolve supernatural incidents, but instead kept here, must have some terrifying side effects, right?" Explore new worlds at

The ability to imprison ghosts upon capturing them seemed even more powerful than Coffin Nail. If it were as Cao Yanhua described, this device should be used to photograph Ghost Envoys and incarcerate them within photos.

However, headquarters had not done so.

Therefore, clearly there was a problem with the Ghost Camera.

"Yes, the Ghost Camera can indeed contain ghosts when used correctly, but there are two prerequisites. The first one is that it must capture the ghost’s entire form; that is, the ghost’s entire body has to be photographed. If an arm or a leg is missing, the Ghost Camera won’t be able to complete the containment," Cao Yanhua explained.

Yang Jian asked again, "And the second condition?"

"During the shooting process, the camera will flash, and there’s a risk that the flash will go out of control. Once it does, the user will be trapped inside the photo," Cao Yanhua explained.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian laughed. "So, holding this camera is like gambling with a fierce ghost? But if that’s all there is to it, this Ghost Camera wouldn’t be sealed away. After all, sacrificing a few ordinary people to imprison a fierce ghost seems worthwhile. There must be other dangers."

"Indeed there are, but I don’t know much about them. I only know that every time a photo is taken, the lens is obscured by some eerie things. Sometimes, a non-existent hand is captured; other times, a second shadow appears; sometimes the photo comes out blurred as if something is interfering with the shot," Cao Yanhua said.

Cao Yanhua glanced at the camera in the room: "I fear it could be a potential horror, and considering the low success rate of capturing a ghost’s full body, it wasn’t approved for use. However, sometimes, if you’re lucky, it could turn the tide of battle, as even ordinary people can use it."

"The odds you talk about don’t seem very high, otherwise, it would have been used long ago," Yang Jian remarked.

"That’s why I put it in Room One, because if there’s really no other way, I would allow its use," Cao Yanhua said. "It’s a last resort."

"I’ll continue to look at the others," said Yang Jian.

With that, he moved on to the next room.

Still, the Ghost Camera indeed tempted him. If he ever faced an unsolvable fierce ghost, instead of waiting to die, he might as well give the camera a shot. If he could successfully capture the ghost’s full body and avoid the dangers of the flash going out of control, then he could survive.

It was like having an ace in the hole.

But being new here, he felt he needed to look around more; Yang Jian thought what he needed was something to keep him safe, not put him in danger. After all, if you frequently walk by the river, it’s hard to keep your shoes dry; gambling with your life too often, you’re bound to fail at some point, so staying safe was especially important.

He had reached the second room.

Yang Jian peered through the small glass window and saw what was inside.

It was a small, delicate wooden box that he couldn’t identify at first glance.

"What’s that box?" Yang Jian asked.

"Eight-Tone Music Box."

Cao Yanhua answered casually, familiar with the information: "Once opened, music will play from inside. As long as the music is playing, the person holding the Eight-Tone Music Box is guaranteed not to die, even in the presence of the most horrifying ghosts. This has been tested, and others have used it before."

"Similar to the Ghost Candle?" Yang Jian asked.

"Not quite. The Ghost Candle only prevents you from being attacked by ghosts, but the Eight-Tone Music Box doesn’t guarantee you won’t be attacked; it just guarantees you won’t die. Plus, it lasts an incredibly long time; the limit hasn’t been tested, but it can definitely keep you safe for several days," Cao Yanhua explained.

Yang Jian narrowed his eyes, "An Eight-Tone Music Box that guarantees you won’t die? What’s the risk?"

Supernatural items all come with some risks; some are controllable, others are not, just like the Ghost Mirror in his home that can resurrect the dead, but at a great cost—it requires releasing a fierce ghost. This risk isn’t borne by himself, so it’s tolerable, but something like the Ghost Camera, that’s troublesome; if things go wrong, he could die.

"We don’t know yet."

Cao Yanhua pondered for a moment: "All we know is that people who have used the Eight-Tone Music Box to prolong their lives, including ghost controllers, have all died. Their causes of death were very strange. Despite attempts by headquarters to save the last ghost controller who used the Eight-Tone Music Box, they all failed. This thing carries an incomprehensible curse, and considering how easily it can lead to death, it was sealed away."

"How can it be used in combination with the Ghost Camera?" Yang Jian squinted.

The immortality granted by the Eight-Tone Music Box could offset the Ghost Camera’s side effects. It was a solution with no escape in the short term, though one might still be killed by the curse of the Eight-Tone Music Box afterwards. But at least, for the moment, it could keep him alive.

At this point, Wang Xiaoming spoke up: "I’ve considered such a combination, so headquarters placed these two items in Rooms One and Two. If they’re to be activated, it’s best to do so together; at least we can ensure the successful imprisonment of a fierce ghost at the expense of one person."

"Yes, these two items can be lifesavers in critical times, even turning the situation around," Cao Yanhua nodded.

"Let me continue to look at the other items," Yang Jian decided, and moved on.