Ghost Hunting

After looking at the Phantom Beast Knights, the Phantom Beasts, and admiring his four Spirit Worms, Russell concluded his secret meeting with the Little Dream Dragon.

There were no pearl-bearing river mussels by the river, nor were there any Spirit Worms in the process of gestation in the surrounding flowerbeds.

Unless he camped outside the manor's outer courtyard, it would be difficult for Russell to gain anything through his golden finger again.

"Good morning, Young Master Russell."

"Good morning, Sir Chris."

Sunlight streamed through the window as Russell and Chris leisurely enjoyed their breakfast. At that moment, Butler Morris approached.

"Master, the Glimmering River has risen. The warm season has truly arrived!"

"Excellent. The arrival of the warm season signifies the revival of all things. I hope the manor will have a good harvest this year."

In the morning, Russell continued to cultivate the Radiant Sword Technique in the courtyard to guide his Battle Qi, open up his meridians, and experience the flow of Battle Qi.

Afterward, Charles acted as his opponent, sparring with him in swordsmanship.

Sir Chris, dressed in casual clothes, occasionally offered Russell guidance from the side, helping him improve his practical combat skills.

Time flew by, and it was noon.

Before lunch even began, Knight Retainer Jack galloped back on his warhorse: "My Lord, Snow Ghosts are invading! Knight Captain Eric is holding them off!"

Russell said sternly, "Sir Chris!"

"Always ready, Young Master Russell." Chris had already brought out his contracted Phantom Beast—the Nightmare Ghost Horse.

The servant William struggled to carry the silver armor, helping Chris put it on.

The personal servant Ram also carried a set of dark gold armor, helping Russell don it. This was the dark gold ceramic armor gifted by the Baron, made of inlaid metal and ceramic. It wasn't too heavy and could withstand attacks from Phantom Beast Knights.

"Master, your sword." Another servant, Fox, carried a silver-gray longsword with a brilliantly shining emerald embedded in its hilt.

This was Russell's sword, the Green Ceramic Sword.

As the son of a Baron, even a second son, Russell possessed a complete set of excellent equipment, truly starting ahead of the pack.

Donning the dark gold ceramic armor, equipping the Green Ceramic Sword, and mounting his black warhorse, Russell quickly transformed from a gentle and refined noble gentleman into a valiant Armored Knight.

"Jack, lead the way!"

"Yes, my Lord!"

The Knight Retainer led the way, with Russell and Chris following side-by-side. Behind them was Charles, a middle-aged Knight. Charles was also an Armored Knight, but having failed to open his meridians for many years, he had no hope of becoming a Great Knight.

The clatter of hooves faded into the distance.

In less than a moment, they arrived at the southeastern border of the Wuyou Snake Manor, where a clear geographical divide was evident.

To the north, the soil was moist, and new green grass had sprouted.

To the south, the snow was slow to melt, and the further south they went, the thicker the snow became, presenting a vast, undulating snowfield.

Here and there on the snowfield were clusters or patches of trees covered in ice and snow; apart from that, there was no other scenery.

"Over there!" Chris pointed casually.

Not far ahead, in a place where mud and snow mixed, Eric and three Knight Retainers were fighting a group of strange monsters.

These monsters were humanoid, wielding weapons like ice sculptures, and even wore tattered clothes.

However, their skin was a dull blue-green, their heads were bald, they had fangs like vampires, and their ears were very long and slender.

One of the Snow Ghosts was a full three meters tall.

The other Snow Ghosts were generally taller than Eric and the other Knights. They were agile and swift in combat, their ice sculpture weapons wielded with skill, though they lacked coordination among themselves, and were being held back by Eric and his group forming a defensive formation.

"There are only twelve Snow Ghosts, not a single Ghost Beast. And only one leader, a Great Snow Ghost."

Chris, mounted on his Nightmare Ghost Horse, clearly saw the number of invading Snow Ghosts and immediately chuckled, "Young Master Russell, how about you get some practice?"

"Alright!" Russell, without wasting words, joined the battlefield.

Charles looked around, especially sneaking a few glances at the calm Sir Chris, then gritted his teeth and charged into the fray.

"Eric!" Russell roared.

The Green Ceramic Sword didn't have any fancy attacks; it was a single, well-honed chop and thrust aimed at a blue-green Snow Ghost with its back turned.

Just as it was about to strike the Snow Ghost's neck, the Snow Ghost seemed to have eyes in its back. It abruptly raised its ice sculpture spear.

Clang!

The ice sculpture spear completely withstood the powerful chop and thrust, not shattering, only shedding a few ice shards.

Eric roared in response, "Form up, my Lord!"

He and the three Knight Retainers repelled the surrounding Snow Ghosts, opening a gap in their formation to let Russell, Jack, and Charles in.

Then, seven Knights and seven warhorses, centered around Eric, a Great Knight, formed a common Knight squad charge formation. They continuously attacked under the siege of the twelve Snow Ghosts, attempting to separate them and defeat them one by one.

However, these Snow Ghosts always clustered around the leading Great Snow Ghost, making it difficult to truly separate them.

"My Lord, capture the leader first, kill the Great Snow Ghost!" Eric quickly changed tactics. "Everyone, attack the Great Snow Ghost!"

"Understood!"

Under Eric's lead charge, the seven-person knight squad quickly turned their direction and charged towards the tallest Great Snow Ghost. The knight captain's spear and the knight captain's sword attacked the Great Snow Ghost in turns.

The Great Snow Ghost feared no death.

Or rather, it was already a dead thing. Wielding a giant ice club longer than its height, it swung again and again, clashing head-on with the knight squad's weapons.

Puchi!

The Battle Qi sword energy Eric unleashed cut into the Great Snow Ghost, only shattering its armor-like tattered icy clothes and leaving a snowy white sword mark on its blue-green skin. It didn't bleed; the wounds were like those on dead wood.

The strength of a single Snow Ghost might not be as great as a Knight's, but the effect of its immortal body was truly terrifying.

"Again, build up your strength, and focus your attacks to kill the Great Snow Ghost!" Eric charged in a round, quickly turned his horse's head, and charged again, brandishing his longsword.

Round after round of charges, round after round of focused attacks.

Dozens of wounds, deep enough to see bone but without any blood flowing out, were left on the Great Snow Ghost. This only made the Great Snow Ghost's movements slightly inconvenient.

"Hiss!" The Great Snow Ghost opened its fanged maw and roared at the charging knight squad.

The eleven Snow Ghosts behind it, one after another, mimicked it, opening their fanged maws and letting out hoarse, low roars like venomous snakes.

"Charge!" Eric roared.

Within the knight squad, Russell could feel the Battle Qi between the knights entering a state of resonance.

Everyone's Battle Qi circulation was on the same frequency, then operated in sync. The Battle Qi seemed to surge several times over invisibly, making Russell feel incredibly powerful for an instant, as if he could cleave through anything with a single sword strike.

"Charge!" he shouted along with Eric.

"Charge!"

"Charge!"

Charles and the Knight Retainers joined in, releasing their resonant Battle Qi through shouts, concentrating this power entirely into their knight longswords and knight spears.

They charged towards the Great Snow Ghost!