Fighting the Ghost Spirit

009 Ghost Battle

Ming Shu carefully read the instruction manual for the [Demonic Spirit: Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King] in the Fate Book and immediately exited.

His recent injuries felt as if they had vanished. With the Demonic Spirit possessing him, his physical strength, recovery skills, and resistances were enhanced, making him feel capable again.

Taking advantage of the green light he had just unleashed, he had already eliminated more than half of the low-level Ghost Spirits around him – those amorphous, formless masses of spirits.

The Ghost Spirits that, despite their blurry appearances, had formed limbs, were slightly stronger in their resistance to the green light.

Moreover, the green light wasn't a targeted attack.

After the Demonic Spirit possessed him, Ming Shu had thoroughly reviewed the contents of the manual. He had indeed automatically acquired a vast amount of practical combat techniques for spears and clubs.

He didn't even need to control his body to fight.

Just as he was about to use the Demonic Spirit's power to conjure a spear or club in his hand, Ren Yuan, who had rushed over, stopped him.

Ren Yuan, wielding a short knife, handed the club he was carrying on his back to Ming Shu. "Here, use this for now."

"I don't know the specific abilities of the Demonic Spirit possessing you, but whatever you do, don't use its power to conjure weapons. The consumption is too high. You've only just started using this kind of power, so you might not be able to sustain it for long."

This was truly invaluable experience.

Ming Shu immediately heeded his advice. Furthermore, he now understood more clearly why Chong Li and Ren Yuan hadn't used the power of their Demonic Spirits in the battle so far.

The most important thing was one's own strength. Demonic Spirits and Ghost Spirits were merely borrowed external forces.

He no longer feared the close-range attacks of this swarm of minor spirits.

Under Ren Yuan's guidance, Ming Shu used the club to fight his way back towards the carriage.

Ming Shu channeled a sliver of Demonic Spirit power into his club and swept it, scattering several Ghost Spirits behind him.

These were just appetizers, a mere probe. As these formless minor spirits were mostly eliminated, more Ghost Spirits with formed limbs surrounded them.

Ming Shu had also returned to the vicinity of the carriage with Ren Yuan, and the four of them defended it together. Ming Shu, who was supposed to be inside the carriage awaiting rescue, had become a main combatant.

It was certain that the stone pagoda in his hand was of high quality, and the Demonic Spirit within it was of a very high level.

Granting four abilities right from the start showed the sincerity of this beginner's set.

And since it had already recognized him as its master, there was no question of returning it. Chong Li probably wouldn't dare to ask for it back.

Chong Li called the Ghost Spirits with formed limbs "Level 2 Ghost Spirits," while the formless masses were "Level 1 Ghost Spirits."

Ming Shu had also seen several "Level 3 Ghost Spirits." They possessed facial features, their eyes glinted with cold light, and they had higher intelligence, allowing them to act independently.

Level 1 and Level 2 Ghost Spirits required control from a Ghost Cultivator.

A Ghost Cultivator was the term used by the Sky-Toppling Observatory and Demon Hunters for cultivators who hid in the shadows, primarily raising ghosts and borrowing the power of Ghost Spirits.

Level 1 and Level 2 Ghost Spirits could not exist long-term unless there were multiple secret locations nearby specifically for raising ghosts, allowing them to survive for extended periods.

And they had stockpiled such a massive quantity.

These Ghost Spirits were undoubtedly the souls of people from the surrounding area who had died, their souls captured and gathered.

This work had likely been going on for many years.

These were merely Chong Li's speculations based on the number of Ghost Spirits, requiring further in-depth investigation of Qing Shui County, its surroundings, and even the nearby Zhuo Shui County.

For Level 2 Ghost Spirits, Ming Shu needed to strike them several times. Old Zhao, channeling his internal energy, also needed two or three hits.

Ren Yuan and Chong Li had an easier time. They had rich combat experience with Ghost Spirits and knew how to strike efficiently, defeating one with a single move.

Little Zhao hid inside the carriage, too afraid to come out, not even daring to look.

"Just try to hold out until dawn," Chong Li had told them.

And calculating the time, there were still about two or three hours left.

The difficulty was immense.

Ming Shu's combat experience gradually increased. He tried using the skill "Spear Stab to Break the Enemy," and with one thrust, he pierced through three Level 2 Ghost Spirits.

He felt he had still wasted a significant amount of power, not having precise control.

However, it also gave Ming Shu greater confidence. This move of his should be able to contend directly with Level 3 Ghost Spirits.

Coupled with the skill "Pagoda Protection," it could save his life at critical moments.

The four of them continued to fight for an hour, eliminating a large number of Ghost Spirits. The cannon fodder Level 1 Ghost Spirits were almost all gone.

However, the number of Level 2 and Level 3 Ghost Spirits increased.

Ming Shu and the others hadn't expected that they would become bait for Second Senior Brother, helping him lure out such a large group of Ghost Spirits.

Just as Ming Shu began to feel exhausted, and Old Zhao was so tired he had to retreat into the carriage.

Ren Yuan and Chong Li still hadn't used their Demonic Spirits. Only Ming Shu had been borrowing the power of his Demonic Spirit to fight.

Activating the Demonic Spirit's power proved they were Demon Hunters. The Ghost Spirits continued to pour in, surrounding them tightly, leaving no chance for breakout.

Chong Li was certain that the distress signal she had sent out earlier had been received by Second Senior Brother. Yet, Second Senior Brother had waited for over an hour before slowly making his way over.

The club Ren Yuan had given Ming Shu, after being used multiple times with the skill "Spear Stab to Break the Enemy" to kill several Level 3 Ghost Spirits, was completely ruined.

had to urgently retreat back inside the carriage.

At this moment, that Second Senior Brother finally arrived, albeit late.

Demon Hunters were all around, and although they weren't professional Ghost Exorcists, each of them had ways to deal with Ghost Spirits, and their strength was considerable.

Ming Shu could only listen to their battle; he didn't have time to watch.

He was currently immersed in the Fate Book, seeing fragments of obsessions left behind after some Ghost Spirits dissipated.

He learned of several forbidden areas where Ghost Spirits were held captive. Some older Ghost Spirits had already been tormented or refined there for ten years.

The other party might not have foreseen the current situation ten years ago, but this piece, slowly accumulated over ten years of meticulous effort, had become a powerful move.

If it weren't used against the Sky-Toppling Observatory and the Demon Hunters, it would truly be overkill to use it against the Scholars from the Academy, especially those who only knew infighting.

He estimated that with a slight deployment, it could bring down several high-ranking local officials, and even the big shots of prefectures and counties would be implicated.

It was a shame, though. The Sky-Toppling Observatory also loved to stir up trouble in secret. This time, they had gathered a large number of Demon Hunters, and even a strong individual like Second Senior Brother was dispatched.

Before he could even make a move, the Ghost Spirits, this ultimate move, were cleared out by the Demon Hunters.

The subsequent operation within Qing Shui County should be much easier.

If these Ghost Spirits had erupted within the city, it was estimated that many people would have died overnight.

The final battle seemed very violent. Ming Shu didn't see it and didn't dare to go out and look. Only Ren Yuan and Chong Li remained guarding the side of the carriage.

In the end, several Level 4 Ghost Spirits seemed to have appeared. One of them even reached the side of the carriage, and it was only then that Chong Li and Ren Yuan simultaneously used the power of their Demonic Spirits to block it.

Regardless, before dawn, Second Senior Brother appeared. He didn't make a move, merely observing, and the Ghost Spirits were cleaned up.