Stone Pagoda

Stone Pagoda

Taking advantage of the deep night, when the moonlight was hidden beneath vast swaths of thick cloud, the torches extinguished, Chong Li cast a spell to mask some of the sounds of their movements.

The horses all had bits in their mouths, and their hooves were wrapped in thick cloth. They wound along the mountain paths.

The Demon Hunters had set up two bases in the mountain woods beside the main roads near the eastern and western exits of Qing Shui County.

Chong Li led Ming Shu and the others to the western base first.

Because the atmosphere in the city had already grown heavy and eerie, Second Senior Brother had them approach cautiously, ready to withdraw at any time.

If there was a trap ahead, only those with sufficient strength and experience should enter. For everyone else, the danger would be too great.

Sure enough, caution had been necessary. Ming Shu climbed down from the carriage and followed everyone on foot over the mountain.

Sometimes, they even had to help push the carriage.

In the dim, moonless depths of night, hazy clusters of blurry light seemed to flicker through the woods.

Several times, Ming Shu thought he was imagining things.

However, he also noticed that Ren Yuan and Chong Li's expressions were growing increasingly grave. Their footsteps were slowing as well.

Only Little Zhao noticed nothing at all. Old Zhao had not seen anything either, but with the keen instincts honed over many years, he sensed danger drawing near.

Chong Li watched the left side and the path ahead. Ren Yuan stood at the very front, passing the reins he had been holding to Old Zhao.

Ming Shu was on the right. He suddenly turned to look behind him. Behind Little Zhao, a spirit glowing with a cold, pale radiance was silently closing in.

"Watch out behind you!" Ming Shu could not help warning him in a low voice.

Little Zhao looked back but saw nothing, his face full of bewilderment.

Only Chong Li reacted in time. She darted over and struck with one palm, scattering the spirit.

"What was that?" Ming Shu asked Chong Li while cautiously scanning the surroundings several times.

"Just a few lowest-level [Ghost Spirits]. Any adult with a little more yang energy can make them retreat."

In other words, they could only target the injured Ming Shu and the crippled Little Zhao.

Old Zhao's deep internal cultivation meant that he was surely someone who possessed an unyielding spirit despite his bodily impairments. He was not afraid of Ghost Spirits drawing near.

"You can see Ghost Spirits?" Chong Li asked.

"From the moment we entered this path until now, I've seen them several times. I just didn't know they were called Ghost Spirits." Ming Shu answered honestly.

He believed that the Life Book inside his body definitely could not be allowed to become known to them in advance. Still, the fact that he had eaten a discarded Immortal Pill and survived, together with Supervisor's schemes and arrangements concerning him, surely meant there was something special about him.

After spending more than ten days together, Ming Shu also knew how deeply Old Zhao, Ren Yuan, and Chong Li revered Supervisor.

It was practically blind worship. As though the old man could calculate five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future. In reality, he certainly could not do that.

Otherwise, the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty would not have entered its countdown.

It was rotten from the roots, top to bottom.

Chong Li seemed deep in thought. After hesitating for a moment, she took a green stone from her bundle and tossed it into Ming Shu's hands.

Ming Shu hurriedly caught it and examined it closely. He found that it was a small green Stone Pagoda, not particularly finely crafted.

"Borrow this for now. Return it to me later," Chong Li said flatly.

"Okay, thank you."

"Th-that... what about me?" Little Zhao did not know what had just happened, but from the expressions and conversation of the others, he could also guess that danger had arrived.

And he might well be the one in the greatest danger.

Chong Li reluctantly looked away and continued keeping watch. Then she pulled two sheets of yellow Talisman Paper from her bundle with one hand and stuffed them into Little Zhao's hands. "Use them sparingly. Try not to use them casually."

The meaning was: The talismans are more valuable than you are. Endure with your own body first, and only use them when you truly cannot take it anymore. She had merely put it more tactfully.

Ming Shu might not have understood that meaning, but Little Zhao had spent many years at the bottom of the imperial palace. He grasped it at once.

Still grinning, he nodded and agreed while thanking her. "Okay, no problem."

Even if I die, the talismans will still be there. Holding them is just for peace of mind.

Old Zhao soothed all three horses at once. Little Zhao did not dare remain at the rear any longer and went over to help as well.

Ming Shu and Chong Li took one side each. Ming Shu had suddenly been entrusted with a major responsibility. It was only after everyone had rearranged their positions that he realized it belatedly.

Looks like what she gave me really is a treasure. Just one little Stone Pagoda, and I get to stand in the same position as Chong Li. However, judging by Old Zhao's position, he was also ready to protect Ming Shu at any time.

I can't say protect me anymore. I should say provide support.

Ren Yuan continued walking at the very front.

At the same time, three Ghost Spirits floated out from behind a tree. Ren Yuan scattered them all with a single punch.

From behind the trees all around them, one Ghost Spirit after another drifted out.

Although Little Zhao could not see them, he could still feel a chilly coldness seeping toward him.

His body hair stood on end in an instant.

Ming Shu, who could see them clearly, was even more terrified. He gripped the little Stone Pagoda tightly in his palm, praying that it would lend him a bit of supernatural power.

"Get in the carriage." As Chong Li spoke, she took out several sheets of Talisman Paper and pasted one on each of the carriage's upper, lower, left, and right sides. She also had Old Zhao undo the reins.

Those without combat power could only enter the carriage if they wanted any chance of survival.

Although most of the Ghost Spirits were the lowest level, the sort that died upon seeing light, they did not even possess complete forms. Most were merely clusters drifting about.

Even a mortal body could not withstand such numbers.

Old Zhao threw Little Zhao inside. He was temporarily safe, though he would probably have to hold out until dawn before he could truly be considered safe.

As Old Zhao undid the reins of the second horse, the horse had already begun to grow restless and prepare to flee.

Ren Yuan also came over to restrain the last horse.

Chong Li was still sticking up Talisman Paper.

Ming Shu was a little slow to react. Only then did he realize that he should get into the carriage as quickly as possible.

In his panic, several Ghost Spirits caught up with him.

Ming Shu struck out with the hand gripping the Stone Pagoda, scattering two or three Ghost Spirits on the spot.

It doesn't seem that dangerous!

Ming Shu breathed a sigh of relief and was just preparing to fight.

A humanoid Ghost Spirit slammed into his shoulder from the side, sending him flying.

He was knocked far away from the carriage.

The moment he landed and scrambled up, another Ghost Spirit crashed violently into his back.

The Stone Pagoda in his hand nearly flew out.

Ming Shu was so frightened that when he fell, he did not dare reach out to brace himself against the ground. Instead, he clutched the Stone Pagoda with both hands.

All the reins had been undone, and the three horses had each fled for their lives.

Old Zhao and Chong Li surrounded the carriage, attacking the Ghost Spirits.

Old Zhao originally could not see Ghost Spirits and could only fight by feel.

Ming Shu did not know what spell Chong Li had used on him or what pill she had given him, but it had temporarily allowed him to see the hazy clusters of Ghost Spirits.

This increased his combat damage.

Only Ren Yuan had rushed over to rescue Ming Shu at the first opportunity.

However, judging from the situation, none of them seemed particularly anxious.

There was no sign of Chong Li unleashing a powerful move, and Ren Yuan had not used the power of the Demonic Spirit either.

Can they really withstand this group of Ghost Spirits with their bodies? Ming Shu was deeply puzzled.

Although the Ghost Spirits posed little actual threat to him, their collisions sent him crashing into trees, earth, and stones, leaving the corner of his mouth split and bleeding.

He was covered in bruises.

"Ow, my nose is bleeding."

He coughed and spat blood.

Ming Shu could not hold it in any longer. He coughed, and blood flowed from both his mouth and nose. His body curled up on the ground, and he did not dare get back to his feet.

He wanted to cover his coughing mouth with both hands.

The Stone Pagoda became stained with his blood.

It radiated dazzling Green Light.

The Ghost Spirits touched by the light automatically dissipated.

Only then did Chong Li, still fighting, finally notice Ming Shu's condition. She opened her small mouth in surprise. "It recognized its master?"

She had carried and used it for so many years, yet it had refused to acknowledge her as its master. She had merely looked away for a few moments, and it had recognized someone else?

Ming Shu also saw a new page appear in the Life Book—

[Demonic Spirit: Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King]

Combat ability: Excellent Spear and Staff Mastery. Skill One: Piercing Spear to Defeat Enemies;

Skill Two: Pagoda Protection. Activates a shield that can withstand spell attacks and physical attacks;

Skill Three: Aura. Draws upon righteous spirit to inspire allies' morale and courage, providing auxiliary support and a certain increase in combat power;

Skill Four: Formation Borrowing Strength. The more allies nearby, the greater the increase in strength obtained.

These were all advantages of the Life Book. Ming Shu believed that other people did not have anything this convenient. They could only rely on others' instruction and guidance, or slowly fumble their way forward on their own.