“I say, you guys were just fighting some ghost claws. How did you end up in such a sorry state?”
Huang Tianbao asked as he opened his eyes and saw the pathetic condition of the ghost kings.
“What?”
“Ghost claws?”
“...”
The moment the words left Huang Tianbao’s mouth, the ghost kings snapped their heads up to stare at him.
“Yama, you fought ghost claws?” Ghost King Huang Dun blurted out in shock.
“Huh? We fought ghost claws. Did you guys fight ghost feet or something?” Huang Tianbao asked, looking puzzled.
“Why?! Why did you get ghost claws while we had to fight those powerful monsters?!” Ghost King Bai Dun demanded, unable to contain himself.
At this point, he also noticed that Lu Ming’s entire group was safe and completely unharmed.
He could accept that Yama was powerful, but what about the Ox-Head and Horse-Face ghosts? And those outsiders—even if their combat power was suppressed, they should only be at the Nascent Soul stage, right?
Why were they all fine?
Huang Tianbao rubbed his chin and pondered for a moment. “Maybe it’s because we’re so handsome!”
Ghost King Bai Dun and the others rolled their eyes, utterly speechless.
Could you be any more narcissistic?
You’re wearing a mask and haven't even shown your face! Handsome, my ass!
He even began to suspect that this Yama wore a headpiece every day because he was actually hideous.
Afterward, the ghost kings began to reconstruct the events, recounting their experiences. They finally concluded that the monster was a devouring-growth type.
The reason the ghosts they fought were so powerful was that those entities had devoured the ghost soldiers. As for why they had been expelled from the path? No one could quite figure it out.
Hearing their words, Huang Tianbao couldn't help but look at Lu Ming. His Eldest Senior Brother really was amazing.
Lu Ming’s insistence on not bringing cannon fodder was proven right. Sometimes, fodder wasn't just useless; they were essentially health packs for the enemy.
The ghost kings began to rest and recover. Monk Fa Zhen and his companions used a large number of spirit stones to replenish their internal spiritual energy, as the previous battle had been a massive drain on them.
While they rested, Lu Ming and his group brought out pots, pans, bowls, and chopsticks and started cooking a meal.
Hearing the commotion, Ghost King Hei Dun and the others were left speechless.
We’re here to fight for supremacy, not for a picnic! Can you people be a little more serious?
“Yama, why haven't you guys moved on ahead?” Ghost King Huang Dun asked, watching Huang Tianbao gnaw on a roast chicken.
“We’re waiting for you! What if there’s a choice to be made up ahead? It wouldn't be right if we left first, would it?” Huang Tianbao mumbled, his face covered in grease.
“Want some? It’s roasted Linglong Chicken!” It was one of the birds Big Yellow and the others had caught back at the Tiansheng Sect.
“Hehe... No thanks, no thanks. You guys enjoy,” Ghost King Hei Dun and the others replied, their lips twitching as they declined.
Inwardly, they grumbled, I’ll believe a ghost before I believe you! There’s no way you’re being this kind.
Once the ghost kings had finished recuperating, the group set off once more.
They hadn't walked far before they encountered a massive river. The water was pitch-black as ink; though it seemed still on the surface, dark undercurrents surged beneath.
Lu Ming’s eyes flickered. He was certain this river hadn't been here when they first arrived. It seemed his previous guess was correct.
Black mist rolled over the great river, and the water cast a strange, eerie glow. The river itself appeared to be only two or three meters wide.
Six dark-green stone bridges were lined up across the water. The bridge surfaces were mottled and covered in dark moss, while the black water beneath was shrouded in swirling mist.
“See! I told you I was waiting for you, but you didn't believe me!” Huang Tianbao muttered, pointing at the six stone bridges.
The ghost kings were stunned. Could we have really judged a noble heart with our own petty suspicions? Is this Yama actually that magnanimous?
Hmph... what a fool! If I were unharmed and reached this first, I definitely wouldn't have waited.
“Everyone, hurry up. How are we deciding the order?” Huang Tianbao urged.
“Let’s draw lots again!” Ghost King Hei Dun suggested.
The proposal was met with unanimous agreement, and as usual, Huang Tianbao drew the very last lot.
Ghost King Bai Dun, who drew the first lot, unhesitatingly chose the bridge on the far right—the same position Huang Tianbao had chosen last time. He felt that spot was lucky.
This time, they left the third bridge from the left for Huang Tianbao.
Once the choices were made, the ghost kings couldn't wait to charge onto their bridges. They all wanted to cross quickly and reach the end to see what rewards awaited them.
As they rushed forward, Lu Ming and his group saw black smoke billow over the bridges. In an instant, the bridges and the ghost kings vanished from sight.
Whatever they were experiencing was completely hidden from the outside.
Huang Tianbao looked at Lu Ming. “Boss, what should we do?”
Lu Ming’s eyes shifted as he walked up to the last remaining bridge. He inspected it closely, but no matter how he looked at it, it seemed like an ordinary black stone bridge.
“This doesn't look like anything special,” Big Yellow mumbled, wagging its tail.
Wang Defa and the others also examined the dark-green stone bridge but found nothing out of the ordinary.
Just then, Lu Ming reached into his storage bag and pulled out Ye Fan.
“Mighty immortal artifact, it’s your time to shine!”
Ye Fan was startled and looked around. There were no trees to chop, no people to slice, and no ghosts to slay.
Finally, his gaze landed on the dark-green stone bridge.
“Lu Ming, you’re not going to make me chop a bridge, are you?”
“What are you thinking? Does a saber like you have no civic-mindedness? You actually want to chop a bridge and destroy a cultural relic?”
Ye Fan choked on his words, but then his eyes brightened. “If I’m not chopping the bridge, then what do you want? You don't want to use me to commit suicide, do you?”
As he shouted this, Ye Fan secretly hoped: Do it! Kill yourself! I’d love it if you killed yourself!
Lu Ming glared at him, realizing the saber had picked up some bad habits. “Hurry up and grow larger and wider. We’re going to step over you to cross the river!”
“What?! Stepping over me to cross? I am a dignified immortal artifact! An immortal artifact!” Ye Fan shrieked in disbelief.
“You’re not even a divine artifact, so what are you acting so tough for?”
“Get moving and be quick about it, or I’ll toss you right into this river!” Lu Ming didn't coddle him at all.
Ye Fan was so angry he nearly exploded on the spot. Don't anyone stop me! Let me hack this guy to death!
...
In the end, Ye Fan compromised. He realized this might be an opportunity.
When Lu Ming stepped onto him, he could launch a sudden attack and split the guy from bottom to top!
“I can’t grow on my own. I need you to input spiritual energy!”
Hearing this, Lu Ming grabbed Ye Fan and unhesitatingly poured his spiritual energy into him.
Ye Fan was shaken by the sheer density and destructive nature of Lu Ming’s spiritual energy. No wonder this guy is so hard to kill; he’s actually this powerful!
He recalled the time his own primordial spirit was nearly crushed in Lu Ming’s dantian. Why is he so strong?
No, I have to make him expend more spiritual energy. Otherwise, I might not be able to kill him later.
Boom!
As Lu Ming’s spiritual energy flowed in, Ye Fan controlled himself to expand and lengthen. At the same time, a golden light illuminated the riverbank.
Sizzle, sizzle...
“Wait, wait! Lu Ming, pull me back! The mist on this river is corrosive!”
Just as Lu Ming laid Ye Fan across the river, the saber screamed in terror. He hadn't expected the mist over the water to be so potent that it could actually corrode him.
Rate on N.U.
