Chapter 1827: Chapter 1044: Showdown (Part 2)
An arm in exchange for a puppet from the Ninja Team General, Wang Yue Qianxun felt it was a worthwhile trade.
"What a foolish woman!" Yang Xiao stopped wasting words, injecting spiritual power into the Ghost Lantern, enveloping the corpse-spotted arm in green light, the scene before Wang Yue Qianxun made her eyes widen in shock.
The speed of those repulsive spots greatly slowed down, and within a few blinks, they completely stopped, with the nearest spot halting at her neck, never climbing up to her delicate face.
"For now, take care of yourself. I need to save my strength to deal with this fellow, and once he’s handled, I’ll help you dispel the corpse spots." Yang Xiao patted Wang Yue Qianxun’s head, then turned, leaving her a reassuring back.
All three puppets resolved, the Ninja Team General hidden in the mist was finally exposed, and an unwilling voice emerged from the fog: "I underestimated you; I didn’t expect I would have to personally handle a mere junior. Among the young generation, you are impressive."
"But...it doesn’t matter now. Meeting me means even with great skills, you won’t escape my grasp. I’m curious whether a puppet formed from your body would be exceptionally useful."
"You’re quite good, for a short time transforming a living person into a puppet. If my guess is correct, these puppets not only wield your magical artifacts but also shield you from backlash. Honestly, this is a technique I’ve never seen before," Yang Xiao said.
"Impressive, quite impressive!" As the fog cleared, the Kah Party Ninja Team General revealed himself, "Few young ones have such insight. It’s a pity you’ll die here today."
"Since you see through my methods, you should know manipulating a few puppets doesn’t show my true power. Using them shields me from backlash. Yet, you force me to appear personally, so...I must punish you."
"You have many treasures. Even our Sect Leader lacks the fine artifacts you possess."
"But rest assured, I’ll seize all your fine artifacts, and your physique will become my most faithful puppet." The Ninja Team General’s voice was raspy, like air leaking from a broken bellows.
"Let’s make a deal; I won’t run away. Today, we fight well. I won’t use this puppet, and you won’t sneak attack the girl. Let’s duel one-on-one," Yang Xiao proposed.
Unexpectedly, the Ninja Team General laughed hoarsely, "Alright, I accept! I’ll reserve your body for puppet crafting. I wasn’t planning to kill the girl; she dared to resist. Such a beauty; a shame to kill her, her body will serve another purpose tonight."
"Old thief, are you not afraid my Ju Mountain Family elders will tear you to shreds!" Wang Yue Qianxun cursed.
The next second, a hand covered her mouth; it was the Mirror Ghost standing by Wang Yue Qianxun’s side, guarding her.
Yang Xiao smiled upon hearing this, grasping the Ghost Bamboo Stick tightly, "Bullying an injured girl, what skill is that? I have time tonight; I’ll play with you, old thing!"
The following moment, Yang Xiao advanced, swinging the Ghost Bamboo Stick towards the silhouette in the mist. Instantly, the surrounding fog, seemingly controlled by some force, rushed at Yang Xiao but was swiftly dispelled by an explosively bursting green light.
Indeed, Yang Xiao detonated the Ghost Lantern, seizing the opportunity to approach the opponent; facing Yang Xiao’s assault, the Ninja Team General did not regard it at all, facing such opponents to hide would be an insult to oneself.
He was also curious how much more surprise this young Patrol Defense Office East Japan Department envoy would bring before dying.
The Ghost Lantern dispelled much of the fog but failed to clear the mist before the Ninja Team General. As Yang Xiao charged, the Ninja General countered with his drawn bayonet; within moments, they exchanged six or seven blows in probing. Yang Xiao sought the opponent’s flaws, while the Ninja General explored how many secrets Yang Xiao might hold.
He observed many fine artifacts on Yang Xiao, realizing the best require mastery. Once Yang Xiao is dead, learning their usage would be impossible; he needed Yang Xiao to reveal them fully.
Through the bout, Yang Xiao understood the true strength of this fellow, stronger than imagined, nearly Half-step Nether Realm but not quite there.
The Kah Party surely boasts masters; no wonder they dare to trouble the Jiu Mountain Family as the Ghost Sect’s vanguard. The Shadow Gate Five Escape Clans carry weight indeed.
In terms of spiritual power intensity, this fellow isn’t far behind the Magic Teaching City Lord Demon Sect Vajra.
Seizing a moment of Yang Xiao’s unpreparedness, the Ninja Army General suddenly attacked, his left arm wielding a knife, while his empty right hand lunged at Yang Xiao, covered in corpse spots.
In a split-second dilemma, Yang Xiao decisively abandoned the entangled Ghost Bamboo Stick with the bayonet, caught the Human Bone Staff, targeting the Ninja General’s head.
Donning the Hundred Demons Coffin Clothes, Yang Xiao trusted the sister’s protection, knowing even struck by a corpse-spotted arm wouldn’t be fatal, preparing to teach the old fellow a lesson.
From the rushing short staff, the Ninja Army General didn’t dodge; the conical hat on his head also served as a Protective Magical Artifact. This artifact wasn’t ordinary; it generated the Ghost Fog.
In this Ghost Fog was his domain; his physique could partially ghost-fogify, and even more impressively, attacks on his ghost-fogified body rebounded; achieving retaliation with opponent’s impact—a skill lauded by the Sect Leader, his Ninja Team Air General’s trump card in martial arts.
"Boom!"
"Slap!"
Yang Xiao viciously struck the Ninja Team General’s head with the staff, yet Yang Xiao, slapped by the opponent, was sent flying effortlessly.
The corpse-spotted arm corroded Yang Xiao’s outer clothing, exposing the Hundred Demons Coffin Clothes beneath.
The corpse spots didn’t erode Yang Xiao’s body, but the force from the slap was hard to bear; his chest boiled with blood, barely suppressed.
Seconds later, Yang Xiao eyed the mist where the Ninja Team General stood more cautiously; that fellow’s strength was frighteningly unreal.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiao wasn’t alone in shock; the seemingly untouched Ninja Team General felt discomfort too; his head ringing. Unanticipatedly, Yang Xiao’s strike wasn’t physical; it was spiritual attack. His rebound abilities failed against spiritual attacks, essentially letting Yang Xiao hit his head foolishly.
The Ninja Team General internally feared the opponent’s spiritual power wasn’t strong enough; with a comparable opponent, that previous moment could have spelled his end.
"A magic artifact directly attacking the spirit..." The Ninja Team General’s eyes burned, realizing he’d found a treasure today; that fellow seemed like a mobile humanoid artifact treasure trove of first availability.
"No more nonsense; now you can die." Worrying delay might cause change, the Ninja General decided to swiftly resolve the battle.
Around Yang Xiao, the Ghost Fog thickened, sharply restricting his vision; using the Ghost Lantern for defense, barely seeing five meters about, while he needed focus on protecting Wang Yue Qianxun, unsure whether the old man might break his promise.
Holding the Human Bone Staff, Yang Xiao sensed the opponent’s might keenly, yet peculiarly, he felt the Ninja General wasn’t wholly "human."
The reason wasn’t clear; that fellow felt more akin to a ghost, or...a special puppet resembling a ghost.
That fellow lacked human aura, overwhelmed by ghostly essence.
