Chapter 690: Chapter 209: Ning Zhuo vs Tian Shuang_2
The mechanical puppets were heavily damaged amidst collisions with ghost fire and evil qi.
Military art—Heroic Return Skill!
Ning Zhuo maintained this military art, his power continuously rising alongside the destruction of the mechanical puppets.
Thanks to the use of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat, his physical foundation advanced rapidly, allowing him to continue benefiting from this military art.
Ning Zhuo was not passively defending; he commanded the mechanical army upstream, slaughtering the fire evil ghosts all the way to the ghost gate.
Once opened, the Ghost Gate Pass could not be moved.
For the Earth Ash, it was a very important magic treasure. Not wanting any losses, he immediately stopped using it, opened his mouth and sucked the Ghost Gate Pass back in.
The bone-made ghost gate shrank in mid-air, forming a bone ball, and was swallowed by Earth Ash.
Ning Zhuo’s spirit surged, and he fiercely pushed the mechanical army towards Earth Ash.
After this rush, his mechanical army was nearly decimated.
Earth Ash did not take advantage of the mechanical army’s weakness to counterattack Ning Zhuo, but instead used Earth Escape Technique to burrow underground.
Ning Zhuo’s eyes flashed.
He knew very well that a large number of Earth Melting Ghosts were active underground.
“The Heavenly Ghost and Earth Ghost have already set up the battlefield before attacking. This is something worth learning.”
“It is very likely that there is another Ghost Gate Pass deep underground!”
“Moreover, Earth Ash and Tian Shuang’s combat styles are extremely different.”
Often, intense battles reveal one’s true nature.
Because it involves life and death, requiring the cultivator to make many key decisions in a short time. The more these decisions are made, the more one’s true nature is exposed.
An old saying confirms this: “The one who understands you most is often not your friend but your mortal enemy!”
Many times, after a deathly battle, the understanding between enemies is very deep.
Although Ning Zhuo, Tian Shuang, and Earth Ash met for the first time, the recent confrontation made him understand them much better.
“Tian Shuang prefers direct confrontation. Even possessing Buddha Thoughts, faced with pressure from the Three Generals, he never escapes but insists on counterattack.”
“Earth Ash mainly uses long-range attacks. Once at risk of close combat, he escapes and disappears, using spells or summoned ghost groups for attrition warfare.”
Ning Zhuo felt troubled.
“Even with profound Five Elements Realm, it is very difficult to restrain the Earth Ghost’s distant escape.”
“With the right magic treasure, this dilemma might be solved!”
Ning Zhuo discovered another weakness of his.
After some thought, he took out many mechanical puppets and merged them into the remaining army, replenishing significant military power.
Then, he controlled the more than two hundred mechanical soldiers to return to the Three Generals Camp, acting as external guerrilla forces for temporary defense and protection.
Ning Zhuo himself stood on the Somersault Cloud, rising into the sky to attack Tian Shuang.
A round of Five Elements Magic was directly launched.
Tian Shuang wanted to dodge but more Buddha Thoughts in his Divine Sea made him think, “I am so malevolent and dangerous, of no benefit to all beings. Why should I live?”
“Perhaps I should die here, setting an example for world peace!”
Thus, Tian Shuang didn’t dodge but suspended in mid-air, spreading his arms and accepting the attack calmly.
Ning Zhuo’s various spells hit Tian Shuang’s face directly.
This scene shocked everyone.
Earth Ghost shouted from the underground, “Tian Shuang, what are you doing? How come you haven’t dispelled the Buddha Thoughts?!”
Seizing the opportunity, Ning Zhuo transmitted thoughts to the Three Generals, “Quickly! Retreat to the camp and take command!”
At that moment, the fire evil ghost group and Earth Melting Ghost group simultaneously attacked from above and below, nearly annihilating Ning Zhuo’s just replenished mechanical army!
This showed the extremity of the battle.
Tian Shuang was held at bay by Ning Zhuo, and the Three Generals decisively retreated to their camp.
With the Three Generals taking command, the Iron Bucket Formation’s power greatly increased, immediately resolving the immediate crisis.
No matter how many Earth Melting Ghosts or fire evil ghosts attacked, the Three Generals maintained the formation, checking for gaps and keeping the line of defense like an impregnable fortress.
However, this scene made Zhu Xuanji frown.
In his view, Liu Guanzhang Ning made a very wrong choice.
“They should concentrate on one of the ghosts, Earth Ghost or Heavenly Ghost.”
“Earth Ghost excels at escape, Heavenly Ghost’s personality is such that Heavenly Ghost would be the more suitable choice.”
“Only by heavily injuring or repelling one of them can they have a chance to survive.”
“But they chose to split their forces.”
“Although it alleviated the immediate danger, it’s tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst, not beneficial to the overall situation.”
“Ning Zhuo is wise, but in times of crisis, he still lacks a layer of consideration.”
At this, Zhu Xuanji shook his head slightly.
Beside him, Red Sleeves Fairy softly said, “Ning Zhuo is only sixteen years old. To achieve this level and fight evenly with Tian Shuang and Earth Ghost is already extremely outstanding.”
“He’s just in the Foundation Establishment Stage. How many such talents are there in Southern Bean Country?”
“Such a brilliant youth deserves more encouragement and praise. Lord Zhu seems to expect too much from him.”
On the other side, Lin Bufan had a thoughtful look, “Ning Zhuo is protecting the Three Generals Camp.”
“He has invested a lot in the Three Generals Camp, perhaps trying to minimize his loss.”
“Bravery deserves commendation! Facing the two ghosts, he still thinks about such strategies.”
Lin Bufan, a senior Nascent Soul cultivator, understood far better the renown and strength of the two ghosts.
The two ghosts hailed from the Soul Devouring Sect and were Nascent Soul level masters. They coordinated extremely well, with numerous remarkable achievements known across nations.
Lin Bufan dared not claim that even ten of him combined could defeat the two ghosts!
Looking towards Zhu Xuanji, Lin Bufan felt puzzled that Zhu Xuanji had arrived but remained idle.
“What exactly is Divine Hunter Zhu’s plan?”
“His identity is too sensitive to intervene directly.”
“Even if he does, despite many divine skills, could he truly handle the two ghosts?”
Lin Bufan shook his head inwardly.
On the battlefield, Liu Guanzhang Three Generals led the formation, fending off Earth Ghost’s relentless attacks without any offensive posture.
Ning Zhuo and Tian Shuang began their duel.
“Both Earth Ghost and Heavenly Ghost are demon cultivators, sinful to the extreme. I must exterminate them completely, seeking welfare for all beings!” Ning Zhuo adapted to the Buddha Thoughts in his mind, capable of using them more effectively than Mirror Intent.
Ning Zhuo stood on the Somersault Cloud, fortified by his military power and spells, unleashing various Five Elements Magic in dazzling and radiant display.
Tian Shuang, struggling with his demonic nature, performed countless atrocities, driving out Buddha Thoughts while fighting back.
Ghost Lantern!
Ning Zhuo was severely troubled by the Ice Prison Light.
Ice Crystal Ghost!
He released ghosts that tangled around Ning Zhuo. These ghosts manifested as flowing ice crystal mist; any contact would freeze the target into ice, forming internal ice spikes that pierced the organs. Subsequently, clusters of ice crystals filled the body’s internal space.
“It’s a pity my mechanical puppets can’t fly!” Ning Zhuo found another of his shortcomings.
“Mengye Tiger can’t either.”
“Hmm? Yuan Dasheng seems capable!”
With a thought, Ning Zhuo immediately released the Heavy Blood Ape Dasheng.
He had long equipped Dasheng with a Black Iron Cloud, which was of higher grade than the Somersault Cloud beneath Ning Zhuo’s feet, being a magic treasure level.
“Master, your humble servant is here!” Heavy Blood Ape Dasheng stood on the Black Iron Cloud, guarding Ning Zhuo.
He fought off the Ice Crystal Ghosts with his outstanding martial skills, defeating several in no time.
But Ning Zhuo did not feel any less pressured.
All because Tian Shuang had made another move.
He threw out a magic treasure in the shape of a pipa, entirely ice crystal. The pipa played itself, emitting piercing ghostly wails.
The sound penetrated Ning Zhuo’s body, chilling his soul and making him shiver.
He swallowed elixir pills and used Five Elements Magic for protection; although effective, the continuous sound held him back significantly.