Chapter 137: My Lord, your general has arrived!

Qi Bai glared furiously, frantically shaking his soul-shaking rattle drum while calling upon his magical treasure seal.

Summoning Art—Ox-headed Ghost Soldier!

A clone of the ghost deity Ox-head manifested, crashing heavily onto the ground to join the battlefield.

With an ox head and a human body, it was robust and majestic, standing over a zhang tall. At this moment, lowering its head and pointing its horns like a section of city wall, it charged straight toward the Tree Martial Combat Ape.

Ning Zhuo hurriedly manipulated the mechanical ape, dodging with extreme difficulty.

Just as they brushed past the ox-headed ghost soldier, it suddenly reached out behind itself and grabbed the tail of the Tree Martial Combat Ape.

Such flexibility, paired with its massive physique, felt exceptionally jarring.

Ning Zhuo, controlling the mechanical ape, was unable to retract the mechanical tail in time.

Whoosh!

The next moment, the mechanical ape was grabbed by its tail and forcefully flung away by the ox-headed ghost soldier.

The brute force generated a fierce gale that instantly scattered all the lingering dust and debris from the previously collapsed buildings.

Qi Bai slowly stood up, concealing himself behind the ox-headed ghost soldier.

He stared fixedly at Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, his gaze focusing intently on the Pale Iron Heavy Armor.

"A puppet automaton? A pair of cowering rats hiding your tails!"

Deep-seated hatred filled Qi Bai's eyes.

With every breath he took, his injuries healed by a fraction.

By the time he finished speaking, his condition had drastically improved, transitioning from severe injuries to minor ones.

He had pulled through.

That crucial breath, fought for with every ounce of his strength, had finally been regained.

"I was so close—so close to perishing!"

A lingering sense of terror filled his heart.

The extreme stimulation caused his heartbeat to accelerate violently, reaching an unprecedented speed.

Anguish, fury, hatred, and relief intertwined, ultimately causing Qi Bai's lips to split into a grim, chilling sneer. "Heh, heh, heh, heh. Very good, very well indeed. Two Foundation Establishment rats actually came genuinely close to taking my life."

"You've done well—brrilliant, yet regrettable!"

"Having earned my praise, now go and die!"

The next moment, the ox-headed ghost soldier and Qi Bai split into two paths, flanking left and right as they launched their assault.

"There's no chance left. Xiao Zhuo, you run, I'll cover the rear!"

Sun Lingtong transmitted his voice urgently.

"Missed by a single move, how hateful!"

Ning Zhuo clenched his fists tightly, biting down on his teeth as turbulence roiled within his heart. He struggled to maintain his composure.

Qi Bai's past strength was formidable, placing his combat prowess clearly in another tier entirely.

Relying on the immortal city's environment, Ning Zhuo fought on home turf, taking advantage of the terrain.

With the immortal city's grand array active, even external Golden Core cultivators suffered severe suppression.

In the early stages of the battle, Ning Zhuo could turn the conflict into a game of pursuit, utilizing the vast network of underground bases to buy time and exhaust Qi Bai's combat strength.

However, although the traps detonated successfully, their practical effect was minimal.

Against a Foundation Establishment cultivator, there would have been nothing left of them.

An ordinary Golden Core cultivator would have been battered into a daze, left in a wretched state.

Yet Qi Bai's combat strength remained perfectly intact, and even his protective golden Qi barrier had not broken.

Seeing this, Ning Zhuo immediately understood that sacrificing the remaining underground bases for attrition would yield little result.

He decisively shifted the battle to the surface.

Engaging Qi Bai head-on with all his might, nearly exhausting over a decade of accumulated mechanical creations, he managed only to stabilize the frontlines and maintain a stalemate.

And this was built upon the premise that Qi Bai, obsessed by the aura of fortune, was single-mindedly determined to capture Sun and Ning alive, intending to torture and kill them in front of each other for amusement.

Qi Bai's true combat prowess had never been fully unleashed.

Realizing the situation was turning perilous, Ning Zhuo had no choice but to trigger the immortal array, activating its passive defense.

Against the overwhelming majority of Golden Core cultivators, such a force would have already suppressed them.

Instead, Qi Bai displayed terrifying battle prowess, single-handedly shaking the immortal city's grand array and genuinely wearing away its array patterns.

However, this also provoked Meng Kui to make a move.

The appearance of the External Peach Fate Core aligned with Ning Zhuo's expectations.

This was what truly caused the battle to pivot for the first time.

Qi Bai was severely injured and disoriented.

Ning Zhuo's Willow-Crested Guest Hanging Whip lashed against him, yet failed to pierce the golden Qi barrier. It was only when Ning Zhuo went all out, driving the Pale Iron Heavy Armor to its absolute limit, that the protective golden light was gradually beaten away.

However, once Qi Bai snapped back to awareness, the time left for Ning Zhuo was minuscule.

Despite giving it everything he had, Ning Zhuo was stalled by Qi Bai's endless array of magical tools and treasures, allowing him to catch his breath.

When Qi Bai summoned the ghost deity clone of the ox-headed ghost soldier, he firmly regained his footing once more.

In merely a few breaths, his severe injuries were reduced to minor ones. k

Qi Bai's healing capabilities were astonishing.

As expected of a true successor of the Soul Devouring Sect, sent by his sect to take charge of this region, his combat strength was robust and entirely capable of standing alone.

A wisp of despair began to creep into the hearts of both Sun and Ning.

With an unprecedented expression, Sun Lingtong transmitted, "There is a mark planted on me by Qi Bai; I simply cannot escape."

"I'll hold the rear!"

"Xiao Zhuo, give me all your mechanical puppets!"

"You run!"

"No!"

Ning Zhuo refused outright, manipulating the Tree Martial Combat Ape to block the ox-headed ghost soldier.

His left hand formed an open palm, where a thunder talisman flashed to life.

Boom!

A palm thunder blasted outward, striking Qi Bai squarely as he closed in.

Qi Bai allowed the palm thunder to hit him, letting out a sinister smile.

The next moment, his entire body transformed into a mass of ghostly fog, plunging downward to shroud both Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong.

Both men let out a simultaneous cold groan, pain piercing deep into their souls.

The ghostly fog acted like a deadly poison, seeping into the automatons and their physical bodies, directly contacting their souls to inflict violent corrosion.

Ning Zhuo was heavily affected, rendering him unable to control the Tree Martial Combat Ape. Its movements grew sluggish, and it was immediately swept aside by the ox-headed ghost soldier.

The ox-headed ghost soldier roared, charging directly into the ghostly fog.

With fists the size of millstones, it slammed heavily onto the Pale Iron Heavy Armor.

The Pale Iron Heavy Armor flew backward like a cannonball, smashing through a dozen houses along the way before finally embedding itself deep into a wall.

The Pale Iron Heavy Armor was severely damaged; Ning Zhuo's forearm was almost entirely exposed, a large chunk of the armor's chest was missing, and the helmet was covered in cracks.

It would come as no surprise if it completely disintegrated the next second.

"Boss!"

Ignoring his own injuries, Ning Zhuo immediately searched for Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong lay in the building ruins ahead, struggling desperately, but his body was powerless, pinned beneath a fallen pillar and heavy roof beams, unable to break free.

Driving the Pale Iron Heavy Armor, Ning Zhuo rushed over.

He leaned down, preparing to shove aside the obstacles and drag Sun Lingtong out.

Yet the next instant, Sun Lingtong's expression suddenly twisted savagely. His five fingers formed claws like blades, sliding through a massive gap in the heavy armor to plunge deep into Ning Zhuo's abdomen.

"B-Boss!"

Caught completely off guard, Ning Zhuo suffered a devastating blow.

Sun Lingtong's expression flickered, alternating between ferocity and sorrowful rage.

"I—I've been possessed by a malevolent ghost! Go, run!"

He screamed.

Standing upon the shoulder of the ox-headed ghost soldier, Qi Bai arrived before Ning Zhuo, looking down upon the two men from above. "How is it? How does it feel to be betrayed by your brother?"

"Willow-Crested Guest, you excel at mechanism arts, while I excel at ghost-taming arts. Your brother has already been controlled by me. Hurry up and kill him, or else you'll be killed by him instead. Hahaha."

Ning Zhuo's mind shook violently.

The next moment, the toxic ghostly fog rose once more, enveloping Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong.

Excruciating pain struck again.

Qi Bai retrieved his soul-shaking rattle drum, beating it continuously—thud, thud, thud.

This caused both Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong to spit blood from all seven facial orifices, compounding their misery and stripping them of any ability to resist.

"Ghost Soldier, go and claim their lives!"
Qi Bai called out softly.

The ox-headed ghost soldier let out a low roar, charging forward like a shooting star with astonishing momentum.

A millstone-sized fist smashed down fiercely. Such a blow would undoubtedly cause both Ning and Sun to perish on the spot.

Too strong.

Once Qi Bai stabilized his footing and regained his sanity, he demonstrated exceptional tactical proficiency.

The ox-headed ghost soldier applied frontal pressure, the toxic ghostly fog targeted the Pale Iron Heavy Armor, and the covert ghost possession placed Ning Zhuo in an inescapable dilemma.

His verbal threats were not out of a desire for further torture, but merely a layer of cover to smoothly execute his methods and create an opportunity for a fatal strike by the ox-headed ghost soldier.

The towering shadow of the ox-headed ghost soldier cast an aura of death, completely enveloping both Ning and Sun.

For the two of them, simply standing upright was already a challenge, let alone parrying or dodging.

In Ning Zhuo's perception, time suddenly slowed to a crawl.

This intense premonition of death was not his first.

Once, during a street battle in the black market, he had been too young, committing a grave error of carelessness amidst the chaos. Trapped in a dangerous situation, he had nearly been killed on the spot.

It was Sun Lingtong who had flashed forward, using his own body to block the blade for Ning Zhuo in a moment of crisis.

"Boss!"

The younger Ning Zhuo had cried out in alarm, his face pale with panic.

Sun Lingtong had waved his hand, pulling the dagger out of his chest as blood instantly soaked his robes. "Small matter."

"Boss!"

Filled with immense guilt and self-blame, Ning Zhuo thought that if not for his own carelessness, Sun Lingtong would never have suffered such severe injuries.

Sun Lingtong had tapped a finger repeatedly to stem the blood flow, grinning. "Heh, heh, heh, Xiao Zhuo, don't be sad. Since you call me boss, what does it matter if a boss blocks a blade for his brother?"

Presently, Sun Lingtong's hand-blade was deeply embedded in Ning Zhuo's abdomen.

Sun Lingtong glared furiously, tears of blood streaming from his spiritual eyes, wishing he could commit suicide on the spot.

The giant fist came crashing down, cold winds howled, and the terrifying murderous intent suffocated them.

Ning Zhuo raised his head, staring fixedly at the ox-headed ghost soldier.

Bang!

The attack of the ox-headed ghost soldier was abruptly blocked.

Suddenly, a figure standing as tall as a hill materialized in front of Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo's eyes widened gradually as he looked at the figure before him, calling out in disbelief within his heart: "Yuan Dasheng?"

The mechanical ape intercepting the ox-headed ghost soldier stood tall and proud, its eyes radiating bright green light. Powerful spirituality overflowed in all directions, carrying an oppressive majesty that brooked no violation.

It was precisely—

*Though betrayed, the will remains unyielding; righteous bones are golden and strong, spirits hard to quell. Having passed through life and death, true spirituality endures; returning solely to fulfill a righteous vow.*

Yuan Dasheng turned its head slightly, suddenly speaking in a low, powerful voice: "My Lord,"

"Your subordinate has arrived!"

It was as though it had traversed an entire lifetime, crossing the boundary between life and death. At the crucial moment, Yuan Dasheng was reborn, its spirituality fully restored as it offered timely assistance.

"Yuan Dasheng can speak?"

Ning Zhuo was profoundly shocked.

At this moment, he felt that there was no longer any barrier between himself and Yuan Dasheng; his control over the automaton was even clearer and more delicate than before.

Without a doubt, this was a qualitative transformation.

In a flash, Ning Zhuo understood: it was his desperate action to save Sun Lingtong, risking his own life without hesitation, that had profoundly aligned with Yuan Dasheng's spirituality.

"Yet why can it suddenly speak?"

Yuan Dasheng spoke again: "My Lord, what are your orders?"

Suppressing his confusion, Ning Zhuo pointed at Qi Bai. "Take him down."

"Subordinate obeys!"

Yuan Dasheng launched into a charge.

The ox-headed ghost soldier roared, moving to block its path.

Boom!

Yuan Dasheng flipped the ox-headed ghost soldier over with a single motion, its momentum violently explosive.

"What on earth is this mechanical puppet?!"

A deep sense of foreboding gripped Qi Bai, and he retreated frantically!

Toxic ghostly fog spewed all the way, attempting to interfere with Yuan Dasheng.

Pressing forward relentlessly, Yuan Dasheng ignored the fog and continued its charge.

Qi Bai frantically shook his soul-shaking rattle drum.

Yuan Dasheng remained completely unfazed.

Qi Bai's heart skipped a beat, his mouth drying up.

He executed his innate divine ability, Nether-Seer Death Eyes.

To his shock, he discovered that Yuan Dasheng possessed—no soul.

"Without a soul inhabiting it, how can it possess such high intelligence?"

Unable to comprehend this, Qi Bai watched as Yuan Dasheng closed the distance. Qi Bai frantically drove numerous magical tools and treasures to strike at Yuan Dasheng.

Surging blood qi emanated from Yuan Dasheng's entire body—those were the blood oil flasks Ning Zhuo had previously installed.

Employing exquisite martial arts, it parried and deflected, forcibly enduring the barrage of magical tools and treasures to slaughter its way right up to Qi Bai.

Attacking fiercely and relentlessly, it disregarded its own survival entirely.

"The problem is, it's just a mechanical creation; what kind of life does it even have to speak of?"

Qi Bai was pummeled once again.

Yet this time was different from before.

His sanity was fully intact.

Though his combat strength was suppressed, he could still exert it up to his current upper limit.

However, even in life, Yuan Dasheng could tear apart Golden Core-level stray fire snakes.

Right now, its mechanical body was even stronger than it had been in life, coupled with abundant blood qi that allowed it to unleash the Demonic Blood Tendon Art to the fullest.

Yuan Dasheng possessed Golden Core combat prowess, and the suppression it suffered from the array was far less than what Qi Bai endured.

Qi Bai was driven back step by step, utterly routed.

"Damn it!"

His golden-threaded robe shattered, no longer capable of providing protection.

"Why is this mechanical puppet even more ferocious than those Golden Core body-cultivators?"

The rhythm of the battle was firmly grasped by Yuan Dasheng, and its advantage gradually crystallized into certain victory.

Qi Bai spat blood, suffering severe injuries once more!

He desperately wanted to shake off Yuan Dasheng, but it was impossible.

The immortal city grand array had been triggered, prohibiting all spatial escape talismans.

Most of Qi Bai's magical tools, treasures, and spells targeted souls, which proved deeply awkward when applied against Yuan Dasheng.

"Brother, did you rig up this mechanical ape?"

Sun Lingtong watched with his jaw dropped in utter astonishment.

Ning Zhuo himself found it hard to believe: "It would seem so."

He had never anticipated that Yuan Dasheng's true combat power would reach such heights.

Ning Zhuo thought to himself: "It seems this isn't just about awakening its spirituality; it has entered an even higher realm! Yuan Dasheng's execution of martial arts is more agile and natural than before, as if it had never died!"

Swinging its fist, Yuan Dasheng flattened Qi Bai's forehead.

Clinging to Qi Bai's body, it executed a swift twist, forcibly snapping Qi Bai's left arm backward.

Yuan Dasheng whipped its mechanical tail around to throw Qi Bai off balance, then extended a leg to kick outward, directly shattering Qi Bai's knee joint.

Meanwhile, Qi Bai's magical tools and treasures hammered into Yuan Dasheng, riddling it with countless holes.

The mutual exchange of blows was exceptionally brutal.

The problem, however, was that Qi Bai possessed a flesh-and-blood body, whereas Yuan Dasheng was merely a mechanical shell.

In such a war of attrition, Qi Bai was taking a catastrophic loss.

He desperately wanted to widen the distance, trying every conceivable method, but all his efforts ended in failure.

Qi Bai excelled at commanding nether-soul ghost generals while launching ranged attacks with spells and magical tools.

This was his primary mode of combat.

He was not a body-cultivator, and his main defense relied upon his golden-threaded robe.

Yet after multiple rounds of attrition by Ning Zhuo, that robe was already shattered.

When facing Sun and Ning, Qi Bai had no obvious weaknesses.

But against Yuan Dasheng, his shortcomings were instantly exposed.

"At this rate, I will die!"

Qi Bai never expected the situation to plummet into such a tailspin.

Pushed to the edge of a cliff, he had no choice but to stake everything on a desperate struggle.

Nether Fire Burning Body!

Pale blue nether flames ignited across his entire body—flames of extreme chill capable of reducing everything to ash.

Qi Bai frantically drove his Nether-Seer Death Eyes while casting the Yellow Springs Encircling spell.

Under the scorching of the nether flames, the yellow springs water hissed, generating massive plumes of steam that temporarily shielded Qi Bai.

Yuan Dasheng enjoyed no such protection; the materials comprising its entire body rapidly disintegrated under the nether flames.

Oh no.

Sun Lingtong cried out in alarm, his expression tense.

Yuan Dasheng's combat power was affected, dropping rapidly.

If Qi Bai were allowed to catch his breath once more, the previous scenario would inevitably repeat itself.

Instead, Yuan Dasheng let out a roar toward the heavens, and its entire skeleton suddenly radiated brilliantly, bursting forth with blinding golden light.

Under the protection of the golden radiance, Yuan Dasheng was burned down until almost only its skeleton remained.

Yet it still moved with complete freedom.

Xian-grade trait—Righteous Bones Golden and Strong.

This was the first time Ning Zhuo had ever witnessed Yuan Dasheng unleash its Xian-grade trait.

"Why can Yuan Dasheng manifest an Xian-grade trait even within this new mechanical body?"

Questions arose instantly in Ning Zhuo's mind.

Even the terrifying nether flames could not consume Yuan Dasheng.

It rushed before Qi Bai once more, their faces almost touching.

Yuan Dasheng brazenly executed its signature martial arts technique, thrusting forward fiercely.

With his vital point targeted, Qi Bai was struck with utter terror, a bone-chilling cold erupting from the depths of his soul.

"Wait—"

Shattering Sun Palm!

Throughout its life, Yuan Dasheng had countless times bitterly practiced crushing wooden balls, stone balls, and iron balls.

Now, it was crushing a human ball!

So what if he was a Golden Core cultivator?

Even immortals would have to cover their groins.

Besides, Qi Bai was not a body-cultivator.

Qi Bai's eyes bulged from their sockets, his face turning deathly pale as he let out a piercing, involuntary howl: *Oooooh...*

Had he been like Han Ming, concurrently practicing the Immortal Corpse Transformation Technique, things might have been different.

But right now—

Pain, excruciating pain, agonizing beyond measure, worse than death.

He passed out cold on the spot!