Chapter 1828: Chapter 1045: Meticulous Scheming
Caught off guard, the Ninja Team General suffered a covert loss, completely igniting his killing intent. To be made a fool of by a junior was utterly humiliating for him.
"You’re quite impressive, but this is where it ends. I will take good care of the puppet made from your body, for this is your destiny."
As his voice faded, the mist around the Ninja Team General thickened until his figure was completely obscured.
The Ghost Fog started corroding the barrier Yang Xiao’s Ghost Lantern had erected at a visible pace. In just a few blinks of the eye, the protective light circle was riddled with holes—a pure crush at the level of spiritual power.
Realizing the old guy intended to bully with might, truly getting serious, Yang Xiao understood that in his current state, he was not an opponent, especially while carrying the burden of Wang Yue Qianxun. Reluctantly, he pulled out a blood-red pill from his chest.
This elixir was incredibly precious, given to him by Dean Sheng during his time in the Esoteric Sect, its value immeasurable by money. Its ability could suppress the power of the Opera Robe Ghost and temporarily seize her power.
Despite facing many dangers before, Yang Xiao had been reluctant to use it. It was an important trump card intended for top-level enemies like the Yu Yuan Sect’s young Sect Master or the Master of Bone Pavilion. Unexpectedly... it would be wasted here.
"Damn it, you old bastard got lucky!" Yang Xiao angrily prepared to take the pill. However, this wasn’t done yet; Yang Xiao never engaged in losing trades. After catching this old guy, he must reclaim his debt.
First, he’d strip him of all his gear and finally send him to the Esoteric Sect as alchemy materials.
Just as Yang Xiao painfully put the elixir into his mouth, ready to swallow, an unexpected event occurred. A scream from the Ninja Team General came out of the mist, and immediately, the previously dense fog rapidly vanished. Within just over ten seconds, the mist around them disappeared without a trace.
"What’s going on?" Yang Xiao, wary of a trap, didn’t act impulsively and continued sheltering himself and Wang Yue Qianxun with the green light of the Ghost Lantern, maintaining high vigilance.
However, he spat the pill out, holding it in his hand because its taste was unbearable, with a heavy bloody and overly human-like flavor.
When the mist cleared, a lone figure stood about ten meters away by the roadside. The conical hat was still on his head, but his head hung slightly, motionless, as if asleep.
More terrifying was that there wasn’t a trace of spiritual power emanating from this person, as if... as if it was a shell drained of its soul!
"Hmph, even as a senior, concealing yourself like this in front of two juniors, aren’t you afraid of tarnishing the Kah Party’s reputation?" Yang Xiao snorted coldly. "Come out. I’ve already discovered you!"
"Where is he?" Wang Yue Qianxun, half-kneeling on the ground, also anxiously searched for the Ninja Army General, placing all her hopes on Yang Xiao, whom she trusted as the emissary of the Patrol Defense Office. His combat and perception power were exceptional among his peers.
Facing Wang Yue Qianxun’s question, Yang Xiao wished he could cover her mouth—who knew where the old guy was hiding? He was clearly bluffing.
The Human Bone Staff also became ineffective at this moment; the surroundings were quiet and "clean."
But Yang Xiao couldn’t believe the old guy would suddenly flee; it didn’t make sense.
Suddenly, there was feedback from the Human Bone Staff. Yang Xiao abruptly turned, looking to the other side of the road. In the dark, a presence was gradually approaching from afar.
The newcomer made no attempt to conceal their power, startling Yang Xiao as their spiritual power was even more intense than that of the Ninja Team General—it was a bona fide half-step Netherworld Envoy.
Not knowing who the newcomer was, Yang Xiao’s first instinct was to run. But immediately, Wang Yue Qianxun’s delighted shout pulled him back to reality, "It’s Teacher Temple Tail!"
"You know him?" Yang Xiao halted his steps suddenly, suspecting the newcomer to be reinforcements.
But he didn’t expect the reinforcements to arrive so quickly, which made him suspicious.
"Yes, it’s one of ours!" Supported by the Mirror Ghost, Wang Yue Qianxun stood and waved excitedly at the newcomer, explaining to Yang Xiao, "This is my former illusion techniques teacher, Teacher Temple Tail. He’s also a section chief of the Dark Department, has surpassed the half-step Netherworld Realm in strength, and is one of the strongmen of our Dark Department."
As she spoke, the middle-aged man in a black leather coat arrived at their side. Though his steps seemed slow, the speed was incredibly fast, exerting intense pressure on Yang Xiao, similar to what he felt from Wu Qingcang—indeed, this guy was a master.
"Envoy, are you unharmed?" The newcomer spoke with relative politeness.
"I’m fine, but unfortunately, that guy got away; he must have sensed your approach," Yang Xiao commented reluctantly, glancing at the other side of the road.
"Is this who you’re referring to?" the middle-aged man in the black coat asked, then reached behind to throw a dwarf’s corpse onto the ground.
The dwarf had a short, stout build, wearing an old-fashioned kimono, with skin exposed like a baby’s but an aged face, creased, with eyes bulging red and eerily protuberant. His neck was broken, evidently dead beyond dead.
"Is he... the Ninja Team General?" Yang Xiao stared at the dwarf’s corpse for a few seconds, then lifted his head, looking at the "shell" standing not far away, suddenly grasping the situation.
"He is one of the Air Generals among the Shadow Gate Five Escape Five Generals of the Kah Party, adept at the Void Puppetry Skill. The one who engaged you was his Lifebound Puppet."
