Chapter 125: Ghost General

Wang Mingzhan and his companions either deployed spirit artifacts or activated spirit talismans to attack the charging ghostly creatures.

A chorus of screams erupted as a dozen or so ghostly creatures were completely annihilated, transforming into pea-sized black beads that scattered across the ground.

For some unknown reason, Wang Changsheng suddenly felt a surge of unease. He quickly ordered, "Leave here immediately; don't bother with the Yin Beads."

Before the two turtle puppets could crawl much further, a chilling wind suddenly swept through the narrow valley. One skeletal corpse after another then burrowed out of the ground, numbering in the dozens. Most of these skeletal corpses were wolf-shaped, while a few were humanoid, effectively blocking the path of Wang Changsheng and his companions both ahead and behind. Furthermore, a large number of black specters flew out from the stone walls on both sides of the valley.

The black specters and skeletal corpses, as if guided by an unseen force, all surged towards Wang Changsheng and his group. Wang Changsheng cursed inwardly, knowing from experience that these ghostly entities were certainly backed by a Ghost General-level creature. The Yin energy in the Ghost Abyss was excessively dense, providing ample cover for ghostly creatures. In places with particularly heavy Yin energy, it was impossible to detect their presence.

"We need to act fast," Wang Changsheng commanded. "Deploy the puppet beasts and fight our way out!" He gave the order and was the first to deploy four second-tier puppet beasts. The Crow Puppet and the Giant Python Puppet cleared the path ahead, while the Black Bear Puppet and the Spider Puppet guarded the rear.

The Giant Python Puppet spewed a thick stream of crimson flames, engulfing several skeletal corpses. After a chorus of screams, several spirit bones were left on the ground. The Crow Puppet unleashed a dozen crimson fire blades that pierced through the bodies of a dozen black specters, turning them into pea-sized black beads. The Black Bear Puppet swung its mace, smashing a humanoid skeletal corpse into smithereens, leaving a pile of scattered bones on the ground. Several wolf-shaped skeletal corpses lunged forward, savagely biting the Black Bear Puppet's legs, yet only leaving faint white marks. The Black Bear Puppet swung its mace, crushing these wolf-shaped skeletal corpses to pieces. The Spider Puppet wielded its sharp claws, slicing several skeletal corpses into piles of bones.

Wang Mingzhan and his companions, in turn, either deployed spirit talismans or spirit artifacts to attack the ghostly creatures and skeletal corpses. For a moment, explosions continuously rang out, accompanied by the miserable cries of the ghostly creatures. Under the escort of the four second-tier puppet beasts, the two turtle puppets quickly crawled back the way they came.

The skeletal corpses seemed endless, continuously emerging from underground, while black specters flew from the stone walls on both sides. Wang Mingzhan and his companions' spiritual power rapidly drained, and their faces grew pale. The second-tier puppet beasts possessed strong defenses, but under the siege of numerous skeletal corpses, small scratches still appeared on their surfaces. Fortunately, this did not impede their movement.

Wang Changsheng's expression was grim. The Ghost General remained hidden, most likely intending to use these low-level ghostly creatures to exhaust their spiritual power.

"Changsheng, we can't keep this up!" Wang Mingzhan exclaimed, his brows furrowed. "I think we should use flying puppets to escape! These skeletal corpses and ghostly creatures seem endless, and they're all low-level. The Ghost General behind them still hasn't appeared; it seems to be trying to exhaust our spiritual power."

Wang Changsheng nodded, but just as he was about to speak, several screams erupted from behind them. Wang Changsheng inwardly cursed and spun his head to look behind them.

The two turtle puppets were moving in single file. Wang Changsheng had initially been on the rear puppet, but after they changed direction, he found himself on the front one.

A ghostly creature covered in green fur appeared behind Wang Changge and his companions. Its form was strikingly similar to an ape, except it wasn't a skeleton but appeared to be a corporeal entity with a pair of black horns on its head. Judging by the strong Yin energy fluctuations emanating from its body, it was clearly a Ghost General.

Its two hands had pierced through the bodies of Wang clan members, one of whom was Wang Changge. "Ninth Brother, Sixth Uncle, help..." Wang Changge extended his right hand, looking towards Wang Changsheng. Before Wang Changsheng could intervene to save them, the bodies of the two clan members rapidly withered into desiccated corpses.

Wang Changsheng's face was utterly grim. He had kept his divine sense spread out, but the Yin energy here was so dense that it severely hampered his perception; otherwise, he would have detected the Ghost General much earlier. He hastily commanded two second-tier puppet beasts to attack the Ghost General.

The Black Bear Puppet suddenly turned and swung its mace towards the Ghost General. The Spider Puppet opened its mouth and spat out a large white net, instantly ensnaring the Ghost General.

"Minghao, come over quickly!" Wang Mingzhan urgently shouted, his face etched with anxiety. To better look after Wang Changhui, he was on the same turtle puppet as Wang Changsheng, while Wang Changge and four other clan members were on the other puppet. The three, including Wang Minghao, dared not delay. They hastily leaped off the turtle puppet's back and rushed towards Wang Changsheng and his group.

The Ghost General's body was ensnared by the large white net. When the mace struck it, a dull thud echoed. It let out a strange roar. A thin black thread shot out, piercing like lightning through the protective spiritual shields of Wang Minghao and the other two, then through their heads. Before they could even rendezvous with Wang Changsheng, their bodies rapidly withered into desiccated corpses.

"Minghao!" Wang Mingzhan cried out, his face etched with profound sorrow.

"Sixth Uncle," Wang Changsheng instructed, "use the talisman soldiers to leave first. I'll hold them off for a moment, but be quick!" Wang Changsheng gave the order, then took out the Profound Ice Flag. He shook it from side to side, and a vast expanse of bone-chilling white mist swept forth from its surface, surging towards the Ghost General.

Wang Mingzhan suppressed his grief and deployed a palm-sized paper crane, which grew in size as it met the wind. He first placed Wang Changhui onto the paper crane's back, then climbed on himself. Wang Mingxiao, Wang Mingli, and Wang Changliang quickly followed. Dozens of black specters flew out from the stone walls, intending to attack them, but the Crow Puppet shot out dozens of crimson fire blades, and the Giant Python Puppet spewed a thick stream of crimson flames, incinerating dozens of specters to ashes, leaving dozens of pea-sized Yin Beads on the ground.

As soon as the white chilling mist touched the Ghost General, its body rapidly froze. However, a layer of black flames soon appeared on its body, and the ice quickly melted away. Wang Changsheng vigorously shook the Profound Ice Flag in his hand, sending a barrage of tiny ice needles flying out. They struck the ape-like Ghost General, producing a series of dull thuds.

"Changsheng, don't linger in battle, leave quickly!" Wang Mingzhan shouted.

Wang Changsheng sighed deeply. The Ghost General's power far exceeded his; it was not something he could contend with. Five clan members had died at the hands of this Ghost General, and the inability to personally avenge them left Wang Changsheng feeling a pang of reluctance. He no longer hesitated, putting away the Profound Ice Flag and the Giant Python Puppet.

Seeing Wang Changsheng attempting to flee, the Ghost General let out a strange roar, and dozens of skeletal corpses lunged towards him. Wang Changsheng swept his hand backward, and several egg-sized red orbs shot out, exploding into a vast expanse of crimson flames. The Ghost General patted its chest and lunged towards Wang Changsheng.

Just then, a thin white thread shot out, rapidly entangling its body. It was the Spider Puppet. The Black Bear Puppet quickly strode forward and embraced the Ghost General's body with its thick, powerful hands. Seizing this opportunity, Wang Changsheng leaped onto the Crow Puppet's back. The Crow Puppet spread its wings and carried him into the air.

"Roar!" With a strange roar, a large expanse of black flames erupted on the Ghost General's body. The Black Bear Puppet, exposed to these black flames, ignited fiercely and was swiftly reduced to ashes. The spiritual energy of the spirit stones within the two second-tier puppet beasts had been depleted. Wang Changsheng was unable to recall them and could only painfully abandon them.

A short while later, the paper crane and the Crow Puppet landed on a small hillside. The Crow Puppet's internal spirit stone had simply run out of spiritual energy.