“See that? Your Earth God is actually a monster! Why don’t you run?!”
Wu Ming dismounted swiftly and quickly said to Zhao Zhu and the other officer, “The two of you have done enough work getting here. Now it’s more important to lead the townspeople to escape for their lives!”
Saying that, he handed the reins to Zhao Zhu and the other officer.
Wang Er hesitantly took the reins, and together with Zhao Zhu, both mounted their horses and led the townspeople in a desperate escape.
“What is this…?”
Shan Lan watched as the townspeople first froze in confusion, then scattered in chaos. Meanwhile, the rat demon the size of an ox was flashing black and white light from its body, shrieking in agony, prompting her to contemplate deeply.
“The position of Earth God is formed from the faith of the people. Virtuous gods receive worship, while evil gods obtain sustenance through fear and reverence, which is still acceptable… but now, it’s like removing firewood from under the pot…”
Lin Qizhi and others, seeing Zhao Zhu and Wang Er riding horses and leading the townspeople, all had epiphanies: “Now, by attacking the Earth God in front of the townspeople, burning down the temple, greatly damaging its reputation, and then dispersing the townspeople and driving them elsewhere, it’s truly like removing firewood from under the pot!”
After all, whether it’s respect or fear, it requires people to exist.
Now, with the entire Heishui Town emptied out, what can be done?
But by doing this, they are certainly sowing great calamity. Perhaps all the townspeople will hold a grudge, and if they file a joint complaint, Wu Ming’s group won’t escape unscathed.
Seeing this, Wu Ming smiled and said to the rat demon, “You now bear the divine position with deficiencies in heaven and earth, carrying resentment, yet without the support of incense offerings and prayers to suppress it. Do you still think you can refine and assimilate the godhood?”
At this moment, the giant rat could be seen shrieking continuously, its body flashing black and white light, with black gradually spreading like spots, overpowering the white.
“Take advantage of this backlash to eliminate this demon!”
Wu Ming shouted and, together with Shan Lan and Ling Guhong, rushed forward.
Dealing with the Earth God of Heishui Town was just that simple!
But it also depends on who does it.
Even Zhang Zhengyi, the county magistrate of Heitai, couldn’t relocate all the residents of a town… This would mean at least arranging ten thousand mu of good farmland for settlement and spending one hundred thousand taels of silver! Otherwise, there would be resentment, even backlash. How could the county possibly have such a large sum of money? Even if they did, they wouldn’t be willing to pay such a price.
But Wu Ming was different. Unrestrained and fearless, he had the courage to turn the world upside down and rebuild everything from scratch.
If it weren’t for the lack of manpower and insufficient control capabilities, he might have burned down the entire Heishui Town in one go, which would have been the ultimate solution. It might even have caught others in the crossfire, capturing Zheng Qian and his men all at once, which would have been even better.
“Of course, if Wu Hong knew how I’ve acted, he’d probably regret it deeply!”
What would Zhang Zhengyi’s expression be like when thousands of refugees are driven to the county?
If he had known beforehand that Wu Ming was such a brazen person, he probably would have arrested him immediately, thrown him in jail, and executed him.
“Attention… don’t let it escape!”
With a flick of Wu Ming’s hand, an iron chain shot through the air like a coiling fierce dragon, imbued with true energy, hissing as it flew.
The key to this battle was still killing the Black Wind General!
Killing him would ensure Heishui Town’s safety, allowing the townspeople to be relocated back and restoring peace.
But if it escaped, there would truly be no peace ever again, and the main quest would become uncertain.
Not to mention, this rat demon represented a full one thousand minor merits!
Whoosh!
In a flash of cold light, a sword beam like thunderbolt suddenly appeared, beating Wu Ming to the strike.
It was Ling Guhong!
This was the first time Wu Ming had seen this person, who always kept his treasured sword close, finally drawing it, instantly feeling a wave of cold light coming his way.
Within the three feet of blue light, the sword appeared ancient, with a coiled snake hilt, its blade dim and mysterious, inscribed with magical patterns and a blood groove.
“Monster, die!”
Ling Guhong merged his body with the sword, his long sword twisting and turning gracefully, inch by inch radiating brilliance, directly aiming for the rat demon’s throat.
Zhi la!
However, the rat demon moved like the wind. Although still under backlash, it lowered its head, and Ling Guhong’s sword scraped across its back, sparking, creating a long gash from which blood splattered!
“Mortals! I swear I will kill you all, flay your skins and draw out your tendons to relieve my hatred!”
The rat demon roared, finally the black light completely overpowering the white. Suddenly it let out a scream, and a white light was expelled from its body, falling to the ground.
But at this moment, neither Wu Ming, Shan Lan, nor Ling Guhong could examine it closely.
For in that very moment the white radiance was expelled, the demonic aura of the rat fiend suddenly solidified, and a putrid stench of腥风, interwoven with black miasma, came surging toward them.
“You mortals have ruined my godhood and killed my descendants. If I do not avenge this, I vow I will not survive!”
The giant rat grew even larger, standing upright on its hind legs, its fur patchy and scorched black, its eyes glowing with cruel and malicious light.
Swish!
In an instant, the giant rat transformed into a black shadow, accompanied by fierce gales, rushing to attack in a flash.
Wu Ming shook his iron chain, instantly sensing an overwhelming force that compelled him to retreat with a grim expression: “This speed and strength are at least on par with an outer-gang martial artist…”
Beside him came a scream from Shan Lan, who clutched her shoulder, bleeding profusely.
Although Ling Guhong had the highest martial skill, he also became the special target of the Black Wind General. He retreated three steps, his face pale, looking at his sword with a pained expression: “My ‘Golden Wind’…”
Wu Ming noticed the two obvious tooth marks on the sword blade, his expression darkening further.
“Jiejie… It seems this is indeed a spiritual sword; otherwise, it couldn’t have retained its form after encountering my general’s teeth!”
The Black Wind General laughed maniacally, its sharp teeth gleaming coldly.
“Ahh!”
Again at this moment, a scream came from the side.
Wu Ming was startled and saw the scholar Lin Qizhi lying in a pool of blood, still holding an object glowing with white light in his hand.
Tu Yanghao and Zheng Qian stepped out with sinister grins, picking up the object: “What an audacious young man, daring to covet divine treasures. He deserves to die!”
“You actually went this far. You nearly made us fail!”
Zheng Qian’s face was dark as he produced a small black banner from his hand. As he waved it, a thick black mist immediately emerged, spreading over ten zhang. Within it, the sound of iron armor dragging on the ground could be faintly heard, and many ghostly shadows appeared, their faces pale and their eyes like fire.
“Tu Yanghao and Zheng Qian are indeed here. This is truly the worst-case scenario…”
Shan Lan and Wu Ming, Ling Guhong drew closer, exchanging bitter smiles.
Shan Lan first glanced at Zheng Qian’s side, then looked at the two beside him, whispering quietly: “Now we’re on the same boat, so I’ll speak plainly. My hidden card is a thunder talisman. If I can buy some time, I can severely wound this demon!”
“I have a secret technique that can enhance my combat power by thirty percent at the cost of my essence!” Ling Guhong also said.
“As for me…”
Wu Ming smiled faintly, and colorful talismans appeared on his hand.
“Vajra Talisman!”
“Evil-Repelling Talisman!”
“Evil-Dispelling Talisman!”
…
Layer upon layer of beneficial light floated onto the three of them, even dispersing the surrounding black mist.
“So many talismans? Could it be that you, Wu Ming, are actually a Taoist specialized in talisman techniques?”
Shan Lan’s pupils slightly contracted, and even Zheng Qian and the others on the opposite side couldn’t help changing their expressions.
“Please, Brother Ling and Sister Shan Lan, deal with the rat demon. These two will be left to me!”
Wu Ming raised the ghost-repelling pill in his arm, brandishing his peachwood sword as he stepped forward to face Zheng Qian and Tu Yanghao.
Zheng Qian’s eyelid twitched instantly: “I never expected… you to possess so many evil-warding artifacts. But how can you possibly contend with my ghost army?”
“I didn’t expect either that the configuration originally prepared to deal with the Earth God’s ghost army would end up being used on you…”
Wu Ming chuckled lightly: “Shouldn’t this be called… your fate has run out?”
“It’s you whose fate has run out!”
Zheng Qian shouted loudly, waving his small banner. Layer upon layer of ghost soldiers rushed forward, fierce and menacing.
Peng!
Golden light burst from Wu Ming’s body, sending two ghost soldiers flying. At the same time, he infused true energy into his peachwood sword, slicing through several malevolent ghosts with a few strokes.
“Hey! Take this palm strike!”
In an instant, from among the ghostly crowd, a dark shadow lunged forward again. Tu Yanghao’s face was cold as he slashed downward with a single palm, sending a vicious wind.
“Iron Sand Palm? Old Tu, your skills have deteriorated!”
Wu Ming laughed loudly, simultaneously striking back with his palm. When their energies collided, Tu Yanghao was forced to retreat three steps, his face changing dramatically: “Innate realm?!”
“After defeating you last time, I gained some insights!”
Wu Ming seized the moment to point out Tu Yanghao’s weakness, suddenly flying upward like a hawk swooping down on a lamb, his hands forming claws, continuously striking: “Thirteen Strikes of the Sky Hawk!”
Tu Yanghao had previously been defeated by this move. Although he had been thinking of countermeasures, Wu Ming had already advanced to the Innate realm, making it completely different this time. Tu Yanghao felt a tremendous force attacking him, the clawing wind in his face causing him to recall the shadow of his previous defeat.
“Shock!”
At the same time, a talisman on Wu Ming’s body ignited, emitting a golden flash. Amid the tremors, the surrounding ghost soldiers all hesitated momentarily.
Tu Yanghao’s eyes similarly showed a momentary daze, and then he saw two fingers rapidly approaching.
“Not good!”
This was the only thought in his mind before he screamed in pain, pierced through the head by Wu Ming’s two fingers, dying beyond any hope of recovery.
“With Tu Yanghao dead, it’s now your turn!”
Wu Ming, his hands smeared with blood and brains, fixed his gaze on Zheng Qian, suddenly smiling.
“Damn it! A waste is still a waste, despite all those spiritual pills I gave him…”
Zheng Qian inwardly cursed, glancing sideways to see Shan Lan and Ling Guhong working together, barely holding out under the Black Wind General’s relentless attacks, his heart steadying slightly: “…how many talismans do you have left?”
“That’s none of your concern!”
Wu Ming coldly snorted, suddenly flicking his hand. The sachet containing the ghost-repelling pill flew out and exploded mid-air, instantly dispersing the black mist, causing many ghostly entities to shriek and retreat.
Taking this opportunity, he rushed forward swiftly, directly targeting Zheng Qian.
“Haha… has the donkey from Guizhou exhausted all its tricks?”
Seeing this scene, Zheng Qian believed it was a sign that Wu Ming had exhausted his resources and used up all his talismans, his heart immediately calmed, chanting incantations aloud.
The ghosts roared, black qi emerging from their bodies, transforming into weapons while their eyes became even more frenzied.
At the same time, several seeds on the ground sprouted, rapidly growing into dark green vines covered in thorns, twisting like venomous snakes toward their target.
“Now!”
Wu Ming’s eyes flashed with a cold glint. Suddenly, he lunged forward, another ghost-repelling pill flying out and exploding.
The explosion from the two ghost-repelling pills instantly caused even the fiercest ghosts to retreat.
Wu Ming soared through the air, covering two zhang in a single leap, arriving before Zheng Qian, and thrusting his sword directly at Zheng Qian’s throat.
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