Chapter 635: Giant Statue Ning Zhuo

"I feel completely empowered!" Ning Zhuo's heart pounded with excitement.

This was the first time in his life he had officially controlled the Paper Golem. Having previously struck a deal with the White Paper Immortal City Lord, the Paper Golem now belonged to Ning Zhuo. After the transaction, the City Lord had taught Ning Zhuo the specific methods of control.

Afterward, Ning Zhuo had secretly practiced a few times, but only briefly and cautiously.

When the crisis erupted at the South City Gate, Ning Zhuo immediately rushed there. Instead of joining the battle directly, he first entered the Paper Golem and activated it.

Upon activation, Ning Zhuo felt himself inflate like a balloon, transforming into a giant within moments and donning a layer of paper armor.

Initially, he could still feel the distinction between himself and the paper armor. But soon, this sense of difference vanished completely, and he merged entirely with the Paper Golem.

Ning Zhuo's spirit was greatly elevated; he could no longer perceive his soul or physical body, only the Paper Golem.

From an external perspective, after kicking away the Golden Core Ghost General, the Paper Golem also began to change rapidly.

It transformed into a fiendish apparition with a green face and fangs, its white paper body spewing dark energy. This dark energy, like ink, solidified from vapor, forming a layer of black iron armor that equipped the Paper Golem.

Ning Zhuo kicking away the Golden Core Ghost General was like an ordinary person kicking a mouse.

Seizing the momentum, he strode forward, then lifted his foot and stomped down hard.

The terrifying force of his foot created a deep, foot-shaped crater directly in the White Paper Immortal City's paving stones.

The unleashed air current was like a hurricane, blowing the Scarlet Ghost General away.

The Scarlet Ghost General shivered all over, staring at the deep footprint. "If I had been hit by that, I would surely have been critically wounded, on the verge of death!"

Yang Sanyan's divine sense transmitted a message, telling Ning Zhuo, "Ning Zhuo! Don't chase them recklessly; I'll handle these Golden Core Ghost Generals! You should go after the big one!"

"Alright," Ning Zhuo replied decisively.

Although that flying kick had struck the Long-Axe Ghost General, it was an unexpected move that caught the opponent off guard.

While the Paper Golem's strength was astonishing, its slow speed made its attacks easy to anticipate and counter.

Thus, the subsequent stomp was easily dodged by the Scarlet Ghost General.

"Dealing with these smaller targets is indeed inconvenient."

"Unfortunately, the Paper Golem truly lacks such methods."

Having experienced two national wars, Ning Zhuo naturally possessed ample combat experience.

Knowing Yang Sanyan was right, he decisively abandoned the pursuit of the ghost generals, instead taking large strides towards the Dead Bone Titan.

Boom, boom, boom...

As the colossal Ning Zhuo ran, each footfall on the paving stones created deep craters, shaking the ground with every step.

With another deafening crash, Ning Zhuo directly slammed into the Dead Bone Titan, tackling it to the ground.

The buildings beneath the two colossal figures were instantly crushed and flattened.

Tie Gu Zheng's eyelids twitched as he hastily transmitted a message via divine sense: "Don't fight here! Get further away from the city gate!"

The colossal Ning Zhuo stood up first, with the Dead Bone Titan following closely.

The latter extended its arm and swung its fist from left to right, aiming for Ning Zhuo's head.

The colossal Ning Zhuo ducked, dodged the counterattack, then grabbed the Dead Bone Titan and executed an over-the-shoulder throw.

The Dead Bone Titan crashed heavily onto the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Another dozen buildings collapsed, sending paper fragments flying.

Just as Ning Zhuo was about to press his advantage, he suddenly heard someone shout, "Watch out!"

A powerful gust of wind rushed at him from behind.

Ning Zhuo instinctively squatted down, rolling with the momentum to dodge the heavy blow from behind.

It was a second Dead Bone Titan!

Its fist, like a colossal siege hammer, swung wide and missed, then slammed heavily into a partially collapsed three-story paper building nearby.

The paper building, like a lit powder keg, violently deformed and expanded in an instant, then exploded into countless fragments and scraps of paper.

These debris then flew out like a meteor shower, whistling through the air and crashing into distant low-rise houses, causing secondary damage.

Ning Zhuo rolled some distance on the ground, then crouched, turning to look back.

Seeing two Dead Bone Titans standing together, his heart sank. "How am I supposed to fight this?"

His gaze instinctively shifted, focusing on the ghost cultivator in another direction.

It was Mournful Melody, the Ethereal Spirit.

Mournful Melody was still maintaining her Candle of Returning Silence.

The candle was burning fiercely, already two-tenths consumed.

"I have to eliminate her!"

"Otherwise, the Dead Bone Titans will keep multiplying!"

Ning Zhuo's gaze swept over the scene, seeing Yang Sanyan and Bone Tomb Daoist locked in intense combat with the Golden Core Ghost Generals, unable to break through immediately. Ning Zhuo decided to act himself.

But just as he rose, he was surrounded by two Dead Bone Titans.

Boom, boom, boom...

The three colossal figures clashed head-on, engaging in fierce close-quarters combat.

"This enlarged body isn't convenient either!"

Lacking practical combat experience with this form, Ning Zhuo was entangled in a struggle with the two Dead Bone Titans.

Turning, punching, retreating, sidestepping, meeting force with force—though Ning Zhuo was fighting two, he quickly gained control of the situation and seized the upper hand.

While the Dead Bone Titans possessed immense power and formidable defense, their limited intelligence meant they lacked even basic combat techniques, giving Ning Zhuo a significant advantage in close combat.

This advantage was short-lived, however, as the addition of a third Dead Bone Titan immediately turned the tide.

The colossal Ning Zhuo was steadily pushed back.

He retreated into a cluster of buildings, crushing a residential house with every step.

"Time to use martial arts!"

The Paper Golem came equipped with certain abilities.

Martial Arts—Long-Arm Python Constriction.

The colossal Ning Zhuo's arms suddenly elongated, working together from left and right, like two living, pale giant pythons!

The python-like arms directly coiled around a Dead Bone Titan.

Crackle, crunch...

The Dead Bone Titan's body was forcibly twisted apart, creating a continuous series of cracking sounds.

Ning Zhuo felt as if he were tearing apart rotten wood.

The Dead Bone Titan's bones, under the colossal Ning Zhuo's power, truly snapped inch by inch like decayed branches!

The upper half of one Dead Bone Titan was twisted until only its spine and skull remained.

Just as it was about to be completely destroyed, the remaining two Dead Bone Titans were provoked. Their bone spikes expanded all over their bodies as they embraced the colossal Ning Zhuo.

Many sharp, thick bone spikes pierced directly through his armor, deeply embedding themselves into the colossal Ning Zhuo's body.

Intense pain immediately followed.

Ning Zhuo let out a muffled groan, stubbornly maintaining the Long-Arm Python Constriction technique. After twisting off one Dead Bone Titan, he finally pushed with both palms and used his legs to push off, creating distance between himself and the two remaining Dead Bone Titans.

The colossal Ning Zhuo's armor and body were riddled with numerous holes.

Two Golden Core-level Ghost Generals slipped through the large holes and entered the Paper Golem.

Ning Zhuo noticed this, both shocked and enraged. "What's going on? What is Yang Sanyan doing? How could he not stop these ghost generals?"

Ning Zhuo had considerable respect for Yang Sanyan's combat prowess and had high expectations.

However, he had faltered at this critical moment.

Yet, when Ning Zhuo scanned his surroundings and saw Yang Sanyan, his heart sank abruptly, and he instantly understood.

Blood trickled from the corner of Yang Sanyan's mouth, his chest was caved in, bearing the deep imprint of a staff.

He glared fixedly at his assailant. "What do you Soul Devouring Sect members want?"

His attacker was none other than Bone Tomb Daoist.

Bone Tomb Daoist, a true Golden Core disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect, caressed the bone staff in his hand and calmly told Yang Sanyan, "The Soul Devouring Sect naturally desires more."

"However, the White Paper City Lord values her independence more."

"Even if we offered better terms, she was unwilling to cast aside the Myriad Manifestation Sect and name our Soul Devouring Sect as the premier sect here."

"Given that, it's perfectly reasonable for us to cooperate with the Lord of Oblivion River."

The White Paper City Lord's plea for aid had inadvertently invited a wolf into her home.

Yang Sanyan retorted coldly, "Myriad Manifestation Sect has painstakingly managed and contributed so much to White Paper Immortal City, so becoming the premier sect here is what we rightfully deserve."

"Bone Tomb Daoist, you will pay for your mistake now!"

Rumble—

Yang Sanyan and Bone Tomb Daoist clashed, locked in an inseparable battle.

This left Ning Zhuo in a predicament.

His energy was only sufficient to control the Paper Golem and deal with the two Dead Bone Titans outside.

As merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was already incredibly difficult for him to activate and control a Nascent Soul-level Paper Golem.

At present, Ning Zhuo had no spare energy to deal with the enemies who had entered the golem's interior, let alone interfere with Mournful Melody, the Ethereal Spirit.

If Mournful Melody wasn't eliminated, she would continue to summon more Dead Bone Titans!

Time was greatly in favor of the ghost army.

Rumble! Ning Zhuo rolled on the ground, once again evading the pincer attack of the Dead Bone Titans. At the same time, he used this movement to shake off the other Golden Core Ghost Generals attempting to infiltrate.

Along the path of his roll, all buildings were crushed and exploded.

Boom, boom, boom...

The two Dead Bone Titans pursued relentlessly.

Ning Zhuo tried to stand, but his knees suddenly buckled.

The Long-Axe Ghost General had penetrated his knee, destroying most of the array nodes within.

"Oh no!" Ning Zhuo's integrated state with the Paper Golem was thus broken.

He immediately felt incredibly uncomfortable; every movement he made felt like bearing the heavy burden of a mountain.

Another ghost general, meanwhile, advanced along his left arm, heading for his chest.

As it destroyed everything in its path, the armor on Ning Zhuo's left arm rapidly faded, showing a strong tendency to collapse and dissipate.

Ning Zhuo immediately felt a tearing pain in his left arm.

A Dead Bone Titan delivered a heavy blow, knocking Ning Zhuo down.

The heavy impact on Ning Zhuo made him feel his soul being assaulted, causing intense, wrenching pain.

He could only curl his body, focusing all his energy on defense.

Boom, boom, boom...

The Dead Bone Titans attacked repeatedly; each strike felt like a heavy hammer pounding on Ning Zhuo's soul.

For a moment, Ning Zhuo's ears rang incessantly, his vision swam with darkness, and small, fragmented red light points even began to appear at the edges of his sight.

He was caught between internal turmoil and external threats.

Even if he wanted to disengage now, he would have to sever his intimate connection with the Paper Golem.

Carelessly disengaging would result in terrifying backlash!

The Underworld.

The Grand Tribulation Offering Altar.

The Black Sphere of Returning to the Void, belonging to the Soundless Ghost Monk, was clashing with the Lord of Oblivion River's Myriad Soul Torrent.

The former's Nirvanic Zen Chimes, meanwhile, sought to bring death upon the Lord of Oblivion River's demonic subordinates.

The Lord of Oblivion River made his choice!

He chanted incantations, shifting his offensive.

The waters of the Oblivion River burst forth, transforming into several Profound Netherwater Dragons!

The water dragons roared ferociously, formed from millions of tons of Oblivion River water, endless Yin energy, immense magical power, and a vast number of departed souls.

Carrying terrifying death qi, they bypassed the Black Sphere of Returning to the Void and collectively surged towards the Soundless Ghost Monk.

The Soundless Ghost Monk was ruthlessly slaughtering the Lord of Oblivion River's demonic subordinates.

Faced with the water dragons' encirclement, his cloudy eyes finally showed emotion.

A single one would be enough to tear apart an ordinary Avatar cultivator, and now there were seven besieging him!

The Soundless Ghost Monk conjured his natal magic treasure, a Buddhist Wheel.

The Buddhist Wheel ascended, radiating terrifying energy in all directions, and the Soundless Ghost Monk's aura also peaked.

The Buddhist Wheel spun rapidly, its emanating Buddha light shaping the battlefield, distorting space, and instantly forming a towering, indistinct, desolate Buddha illusion.

The Nirvanic Buddha!

The charge of the seven Profound Netherwater Dragons was blocked by the Buddha illusion, unable to advance an inch!

The Lord of Oblivion River's expression changed.

He knew this was the most crucial moment of the confrontation.

He could not retreat, nor could he afford to.

At this critical juncture!

The Lord of Oblivion River summoned a seal.

This seal was entirely black, neither metal nor jade, and possessed an ancient, heavy form. Its knob was a coiled nether dragon, and its four sides were carved with countless intricate, endlessly circulating netherworld runes—it was the symbol of supreme authority over the Oblivion River Underworld and the control of the long Oblivion River: the Lord of Oblivion River's Seal!

This was a National Artifact!

The Lord of Oblivion River held nothing back, pouring his lifelong cultivation into the seal and forcefully hurling it towards the Buddha illusion!

The National Artifact struck head-on, causing the Buddha illusion to suddenly contract.

The National Artifact hovered in the air, suppressing the battlefield.

The seven Profound Netherwater Dragons regained their might, climbing onto the Buddha illusion and tightly entangling it.

The Profound Netherwater Dragons roared, their powers echoing each other, ultimately linking head to tail to form a lock, sealing the Buddha illusion layer by layer.

The Lord of Oblivion River's Seal was also encompassed within.

Finally, a massive silver-grey sphere formed. On its surface, seven Profound Netherwater Dragons were embossed.

The Soundless Ghost Monk quietly gazed at the Lord of Oblivion River, his tattered monastic robes fluttering without wind, his emaciated body, like a mirage, began to turn transparent and ethereal.

Finally, he took a step back, and the space beneath his feet rippled like water. His figure merged into the dark sky and vanished without a trace.

"Quite decisive, indeed," the Lord of Oblivion River scoffed.

Although he had triumphed and sealed his great enemy's natal Buddhist Wheel, his heart was heavy.

This was because his own Lord's Seal had also been encompassed within it.

If not for that, how could he have suppressed the enemy's Nirvanic Buddhist Wheel?

"This might be a ploy to further weaken my combat strength!" The Lord of Oblivion River detected the scent of a conspiracy.

But he had no choice; he was forced to react step by step.

What was lost was not just his Lord's Seal, but also his demonic subordinates.

Of the original five Nascent Soul cultivators, only two remained, and sixty percent of the thirty thousand forbidden troops were lost in the annihilation.

"Go," the Lord of Oblivion River commanded softly, pushing with both palms to guide the Oblivion River soul current, moving both the Black Sphere of Returning to the Void and the Profound Nether Silver Sphere away from the altar, where they vanished into the dense Yin clouds.

"Go!" Inside the Paper Golem, Ning Zhuo, left with no alternative, brought out his mechanical puppets.

The enemy's momentum was fierce, so cautiously, he deployed all his significant combat units.

Heavy-Armored Blood Ape, Great Victory.

Phantom Blade, Night Tiger.

Underworld Envoy, Qi Bai.

Buddhist Physician, Meng Yao'yin!

Holding a scythe, the Buddhist Physician, upon appearing, showed a slight change in expression and actively raised her head to survey her surroundings.

Ning Zhuo: "Mother?!"