Battle

"See that? Your Land God is actually a monster! Why aren't you running?!"

Wu Ming flipped down from his horse and hurriedly said to Zhao Zhu and the other constable, "You two have done enough here. From here on, you'd better take the townspeople and run for your lives!"

As he spoke, he thrust the reins into Zhao Zhu's hands.

Wang Er accepted them in a daze. He and Zhao Zhu mounted their horses and led the townspeople in a desperate flight.

"What's this...?"

Shan Lan watched the townspeople freeze for a moment before scattering in every direction. The rat demon, as large as a yellow ox, flickered between black and white light and shrieked in agony. She couldn't help but ponder what it meant.

"The Land God position is gathered from the faith of the people. A God of Fortune and Virtue receives the devotion of the faithful, while an evil god gets blood food from their fear. Either way, it's still something... But now, they've cut off the source entirely..."

When Lin Qizhi and the others saw Zhao Zhu and Wang Er riding off and driving the townspeople away, they seemed to understand as well. "So this is it... They're attacking the Land God and burning down the temple in front of the townspeople, greatly damaging his authority. Then they disperse the townspeople and send them elsewhere. It's like pulling the firewood from beneath the cauldron!"

After all, whether people revered or feared him, there had to be people for him to affect.

Now Black Water Town was completely empty. What could the Land God do about that?

But this would surely sow a deep grudge. Perhaps every single townsman would resent them. If they joined together to lodge a complaint, Wu Ming and his group would be in serious trouble.

Wu Ming smiled at the rat demon. "You hold a divine office, yet you've offended Heaven and Earth and carry the force of resentment on you. With no Incense Wish Power to replenish and suppress it, you still think you can refine the divine seat?"

The giant rat shrieked without end. Black and white light flickered across its body, and the black gradually devoured the white like spreading spots, overwhelming it.

"While the backlash has it weakened, let's finish off this beast!"

Wu Ming shouted and rushed forward with Shan Lan and Ling Guhong.

Taking down the Land God of Black Water Town was that simple!

But only if you had the right person for the job.

Even Black Platform County Magistrate Zhang Zhengyi couldn't relocate a whole town. That would mean finding at least ten thousand mu of good farmland to settle everyone, and spending a hundred thousand taels of silver! Without that, resentment would build and could even turn into a backlash. How could the county possibly have that much money? Even if it did, no one would be willing to pay such a price.

But Wu Ming was different. He had no scruples, and the courage to change the world—to smash everything apart and start anew.

If he hadn't lacked manpower and the means to keep his subordinates in line, he could have simply set Black Water Town ablaze and settled everything once and for all. He might even have caught Zheng Qian and the others in the crossfire and wiped them all out. What a boon that would have been.

Of course, if Wu Hong knew I was doing this, he'd probably die of regret!

What expression would Zhang Zhengyi wear when more than a thousand refugees arrived at the county seat?

If he'd known Wu Ming was so recklessly bold, he probably would have arrested him on the spot, thrown him in prison, and executed him to be done with it.

"Careful... Don't let it get away!"

Wu Ming flicked his wrist. An iron chain shot through the air like an Evil Flood Dragon coiling through the sky, True Qi pouring into it with a sharp hiss.

The key to this battle was killing Great General Black Wind!

Kill him, and Black Water Town would be safe. Afterward, the townspeople could return and peace would be restored.

But if he got away, there would never be another day of peace, and the Main Quest would be in jeopardy.

Not to mention, this rat demon was worth a full thousand minor merits!

Whoosh!

A cold gleam flashed. A streak of sword light burst forth like lightning, darting ahead of Wu Ming.

It was Ling Guhong!

Wu Ming had never before seen the man draw the sword he kept so close and treasured so dearly. The instant it left its sheath, a biting chill rushed toward him.

The three-foot blade gleamed blue-green. It had an antique appearance, a Soaring Serpent carved around the hilt, and a dimly shining edge, with Magic patterns and a blood groove running down the middle.

"Monster, die!"

Ling Guhong moved with his sword as one. The blade in his hand flashed and wheeled through the air, glimmers of light blooming along its length as he thrust for the rat demon's throat.

Krrr!

Who could have guessed that the rat demon would move like the wind? Though still suffering from the backlash, it lowered its head. Ling Guhong's sword scraped across its back, sparking against its hide and opening a long gash. Blood sprayed everywhere!

"Mortal! I swear I'll kill every one of you, peel off your skin and rip out your tendons—that's the only way to sate my hatred!"

The rat demon roared. Black light finally overwhelmed the rest, and with a sudden shriek, a streak of white light was forced out of its body and fell to the ground.

But Wu Ming, Shan Lan, and Ling Guhong had no time to look closely.

The instant the white light was expelled, the rat demon's aura suddenly stabilized. A foul wind wrapped in black Qi swept toward them.

"You ruined my divine seat and killed my descendants! I swear I'll never rest until I've avenged them!"

The Giant rat grew even larger, swelling by a third. It rose onto its hind legs, its fur patchy and scorched black, its eyes shining with vicious, venomous light.

Swish!

In an instant, the Giant rat became a black blur, pouncing toward them with a fierce blast of External Gang.

Wu Ming flicked his iron chain, but a tremendous force surged through it. He was forced to let go and retreat, his expression grim. "That speed and strength... It's at least on par with an External Gang martial artist..."

A cry of pain came from beside him. Shan Lan clutched her shoulder, blood streaming down her arm.

Ling Guhong had the highest martial skill, but Great General Black Wind had singled him out. He stumbled back three steps, his face pale. Looking at the sword in his hand, he wore a heartbroken expression. "My Golden Wind..."

Wu Ming noticed two distinct tooth marks on the blade, and his expression shifted several times.

"Ke ke ke... So it is a spirit sword. Otherwise, it couldn't have kept its shape after my teeth got through!"

Great General Black Wind laughed wildly, its fangs glinting with a cold light.

"Ah!"

Just then, a scream came from nearby.

Wu Ming jolted. The scholar Lin Qizhi lay in a pool of blood, still holding something that shone with white light.

Tu Yanghao and Zheng Qian stepped out with sinister grins and picked up the object. "You've got a lot of nerve, boy, spying on a Divine object! You got what you deserved!"

"You even managed to pull this off. We nearly got turned over!"

Zheng Qian's expression darkened. A Small black banner appeared in his hand. He shook it, and a thick black fog spread out for more than a dozen zhang. From within came the faint sound of iron armor dragging across the ground. Numerous shadowy figures appeared, their faces pallid and their eyes like flames.

"Tu Yanghao and Zheng Qian really are here. This is the worst-case scenario..."

Shan Lan drew close to Wu Ming and Ling Guhong, and they exchanged rueful smiles.

Shan Lan first glanced at Zheng Qian and the others, then at the two men beside her, and whispered, "We're all in the same boat now, so I'll be blunt. My trump card is a lightning talisman. If we can buy some time, I can heavily wound this monster!"

"I have a secret art that can raise my fighting strength by thirty percent, at the cost of my vital essence!" Ling Guhong added.

"As for me..."

Wu Ming smiled faintly. Colorful talismans appeared in his hand.

"Vajra Talisman!"

"Demon Breaking Talisman!"

"Sha Expelling Talisman!"

Layer upon layer of strengthening light appeared around the three of them, even driving away the black fog around them.

"So many talismans? Nameless, are you a Daoist who specializes in the Art of Talismans?"

Shan Lan's pupils contracted slightly, and even the two men across from them, Zheng Qian and Tu Yanghao, looked unsettled.

"Brother Ling and Sister Shan Lan, take on the rat demon. I'll handle these two!"

Wu Ming slung Ghost Dispelling Pill from his arm, revealed his Peach wood sword, and stepped toward Zheng Qian and Tu Yanghao.

Zheng Qian's eyelid twitched. "I never expected... you'd exchanged for so many Evil-warding items. But how could you possibly stand against my ghost soldiers?"

"I never expected this either. I prepared these to deal with the Land God's ghost army, but now they'll be used on you..."

Wu Ming chuckled. "Should I say that your fate has run out?"

"Your fate is the one that's run out!"

Zheng Qian shouted and shook the banner. Wave after wave of Ghost soldiers surged forward, their faces fierce and murderous.

Boom!

Golden light burst around Wu Ming, sending two ghost soldiers flying. At the same time, he channeled True Qi into his Peach wood sword and cut several times, scattering more fierce ghosts.

"Ha! Take a palm strike!"

In an instant, another shadow lunged from the crowd of ghosts. Tu Yanghao's face was cold as he brought down his single palm, a vicious gust of wind rushing toward Wu Ming.

"Iron Sand Palm? Old Tu, your skills have slipped!"

Wu Ming laughed and struck with a palm of his own. Their True Qi collided. Tu Yanghao staggered back three steps, his expression changing dramatically. "Innate?!"

"After I beat you last time, I gained a little insight!"

Wu Ming pressed his advantage, striking straight at Tu Yanghao's openings. Suddenly, he leaped forward like a Flying Eagle Pounces on Sheep, both hands forming claws as he struck again and again. "Thirteen Eagle Claw Strikes!"

Tu Yanghao had already lost to this move once. Though he had racked his brains for a way to counter it, Wu Ming had since broken through to Innate, and things were different now. A tremendous force assailed him, claw wind rushing toward his face and bringing back the shadow of their last encounter.

"Stun!"

At the same time, a talisman on Wu Ming's body burned. Golden light flashed, and with a tremor, the Ghost soldiers around them all froze.

A brief daze appeared in Tu Yanghao's eyes too. Then he saw two fingers drawing closer and closer.

"Not good!"

That was his only thought. The next instant, he screamed as Wu Ming's two fingers pierced his skull. He was dead beyond any doubt.

"Now that Tu Yanghao is dead, you're next!"

Wu Ming's hands were smeared with blood and brain matter. He stared at Zheng Qian, then suddenly smiled.

"Damn it! A useless wretch is a useless wretch! All those Spirit pills I wasted on him..."

Zheng Qian seethed. From the corner of his eye, he saw Shan Lan and Ling Guhong barely holding out against Great General Black Wind's furious assault, and felt a little more at ease. "...How many talismans do you have left?"

"That's none of your concern!"

Wu Ming gave a cold snort and suddenly tossed the pouch containing Ghost Dispelling Pill into the air. It burst open, and the black fog dispersed at once. The many ghosts shrieked and retreated.

Seizing the chance, he rushed forward to attack Zheng Qian.

"Haha... You're at your wits' end, aren't you?"

In Zheng Qian's eyes, this was proof that Wu Ming had run out of resources and used up all his talismans. His heart settled, and he began chanting a spell.

The ghosts roared. Black Qi rose from their bodies and took the shape of weapons, while their eyes grew even more crazed.

At the same time, several seeds on the ground broke through the soil and quickly became dark green vines, covered in thorns and winding toward him like poisonous snakes.

"Now!"

A glint of cold light flashed in Wu Ming's eyes. He suddenly lunged, hurling another Ghost Dispelling Pill, which exploded in the air.

The force of two exploding Ghost Dispelling Pills drove back even the most vicious ghosts.

Wu Ming shot through the air, covering two zhang in a single leap. Reaching Zheng Qian, he thrust his sword straight for his throat.