Chapter 640

"What?!" Scarlet Ghost General, who arrived moments later, could hardly believe her eyes.

Among the six Ghost Generals who invaded the Immortal City, Long-Axe Ghost General was one of the strongest. Yet, he couldn't block a single move and was instantly killed!

Terrifying!

Just a moment ago, Scarlet Ghost General, like Long-Axe Ghost General before his demise, was filled with murderous intent and grand ambitions.

Now, her heart was filled with terror, her soul nearly fled, and she turned to run.

The next moment, she was gone.

Scarlet Ghost General was killed.

"Mother!" Ning Zhuo cried out urgently.

He reached out and grasped the free hand of Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin, his face filled with worry.

He knew well that Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin’s state was not good; such a "waking" posture caused a severe drain on her spiritual essence.

Ning Zhuo would rather fight a bitter battle himself than see his mother's spiritual essence damaged.

As if knowing his worries, Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin smiled brightly and proactively comforted him, "This paper giant statue was originally created by me, and I had arrangements here. That's why it triggered and 'woke' me."

"This state cannot last. I still need to 'slumber' to immerse myself in the cultivation of the unorthodox path."

Ning Zhuo asked curiously, "Mother, are you cultivating an unorthodox path?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin nodded. "Precisely. Only by mastering this path can I heal the Dao injuries. The spiritual essence within me is much more abundant than I remember."

"I guess it must be the *Cremation Prajna Spirit-Unraveling Scripture*, right? Did you learn it from the Lava Immortal Palace?"

Ning Zhuo nodded. "Mother, you guessed it right in one go! Although I haven't truly gained control of the Lava Immortal Palace yet, I already have a plan. I haven't disgraced you!"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin smiled gently. "Good child, it's all thanks to you."

"As your mother, I have never given up striving either."

Ning Zhuo's eyes were red-rimmed, and he choked with emotion, almost shedding tears. "Mother, I'm doing well. For you, I can do anything!"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin nodded again. "My recent use of the scythe was an application of the unorthodox path."

"This path is indeed extremely difficult to cultivate, but I've gained some insights."

"Child, I do need you to collect spiritual essence for me. The main area of my activities during my lifetime was Feiyun Kingdom."

"The Myriad Manifestation Sect is my sect. It would be excellent if you could join it."

Ning Zhuo suddenly recalled something crucial, frowned, and revealed a murderous intent. "Mother, I encountered the Chaotic Fate Gate! Did they harm you? I want to avenge you!"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin replied, "There is indeed an enemy of mine within the Chaotic Fate Gate, and I perished due to one of their schemes."

"I cannot tell you this person's name. The time is not yet right; you are still too weak with only a Foundation Establishment cultivation."

"Learning it prematurely would only alert that person, which would be highly disadvantageous!"

"Furthermore, you must try to stay away from anything related to the Chaotic Fate Gate and avoid contact."

Ning Zhuo asked, "Mother, when will I be strong enough to avenge you? When will I be able to actively get involved with matters related to the Chaotic Fate Gate?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin first frowned, then calculated with her fingers, finally revealing a mysterious smile. "That time will come much sooner than you imagine."

"At that time, it will temper you once more, leading to a significant breakthrough in your mental fortitude."

Ning Zhuo immediately widened his eyes. "Mother, you also know the Dao of Providence? How did I never know? Can you teach me?"

Ning Zhuo tilted his head back, his clear black-and-white eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin chuckled upon seeing Ning Zhuo's eager anticipation. "Do you know that not everyone can master the Dao of Providence?"

"Xiao Zhuo, your destiny is very special, and it has some reservations about the Dao of Providence."

Ning Zhuo, not understanding, asked, "What reservations? Do *I* have reservations about providence?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin gently patted Ning Zhuo's head again. "More accurately, providence has reservations about *you*. The providence of the vast heavens and profound earth has its own arrangements and will not allow you to access or learn about it, otherwise, it would lead to terrifying consequences."

Ning Zhuo's eyes widened. "Huh?!"

He then thought to himself, "But I really want to learn it. Why can't I? Hmph, at worst, I'll be like the Nether River Lord and occasionally defy heaven and fate. What's learned is gained!"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin laughed heartily. "Good ambition, truly my child. You're right, always going with the flow of heaven and fate, even if life is smooth sailing, it would be boringly peaceful."

"Go ahead and try. I believe that with persistence over time, you will eventually get what you wish for."

Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly. "Mmm-hmm!"

He had so much he wanted to pour out to his mother, but when it came down to it, his thoughts became a tangled mess, and he didn't know what to say. His heart was completely overwhelmed with joy, and he even forgot that they were on a battlefield!

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin, however, had been closely monitoring the outside and spoke up proactively. "Xiao Zhuo, this is not the time for us mother and son to chat."

"This incident concerns the Nether River Lord's century-long scheme. If he succeeds, countless lives will be ruined, and the entire Dark Tide Blackmarsh will fall."

"Give me control of the main formation. I'll first kill those two troublesome Dead Bone Golems outside."

Ning Zhuo immediately yielded his position. "Okay, Mother, I'll guard you!"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin sighed with emotion. "You've truly grown up; your mother can rely on you now. However, while you're guarding me, try to prepare the *Cremation Prajna Spirit-Unraveling Scripture*. When the opportunity arises, you'll need to burn this paper giant statue."

Ning Zhuo exclaimed, "Huh?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin offered no further explanation. Instead, with a serious expression, she slowly closed her eyes and began to concentrate fully on controlling the paper giant statue.

From within the paper giant statue, numerous paper puppets emerged.

Under Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin's control, these puppets astonishingly began to cooperatively repair the formations within.

Ning Zhuo's divine sense detected this sight, and his heart immediately pounded.

This was incredibly difficult!

If Ning Zhuo were to do it himself, even with full effort, he couldn't even comprehend these formations, let alone repair them.

Of course, this paper giant statue was originally arranged by Meng Yaoyin during her lifetime, so she naturally understood these formations thoroughly. But she could simultaneously control hundreds of paper puppets to repair the formations at the same time.

The difficulty of such an operation, the mental energy consumed, and the depth of her formation mastery tested were all immense!

"Even if I understood the mysteries of these formations, I could at most control two paper puppets for repairs!"

"Mother's mechanism control level is actually this high? It's simply terrifying."

Ning Zhuo was filled with awe.

At the same time, many new worries arose in his heart—Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin performing such astonishing control must entail a massive drain on her spiritual essence!

"Mother, is doing this all worth it?" From the bottom of his heart, he didn't want his mother to toil so hard.

The formations within the paper giant statue were quickly repaired.

On one hand, Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin displayed astonishing mastery of mechanisms and formations. On the other hand, it was also thanks to Long-Axe and Scarlet Ghost Generals' single-minded focus on breaking through and capturing the leader first, rather than concentrating on destroying the formations.

The formations roared to life, activating in unison.

On the battlefield, the paper giant statue struggled to its feet, puffed out its chest, and stood tall once more!

Its entire body glowed with a faint white light, and its previous holes were rapidly repaired until it was perfectly intact.

This sight immediately caught the attention of the Yin Army!

Inside Luo Si's tent.

"This is bad!" Xie Sichao's expression changed dramatically. "The names of Generals Long-Axe and Scarlet have been struck from the military roster."

The two generals had fallen in battle.

Luo Si immediately ordered, "Deploy the Dead Bone Golems to deal with the paper giant statue. Have the Vanguard General and others focus their full efforts on it!"

The remaining two Dead Bone Golems were busy destroying the surroundings, waiting for Long-Axe and Scarlet Generals to dismantle the paper giant statue from within.

They hadn't expected the two generals to fall in an instant, catching the Yin Army off guard.

After all, in their view, even if the paper giant statue's internal defenses were strong and Long-Axe and Scarlet Generals were at a disadvantage, they could simply send reinforcements later.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin's sudden awakening and explosive combat power, instantly killing the two generals, put the Yin Army on the defensive at this crucial moment.

Luo Si's order was impeccable and very timely.

The two Dead Bone Golems strode forward, their steps shaking the ground with thudding sounds, attacking the paper giant statue from left and right.

At the same time, enemies of the Nascent Soul stage, such as the Vanguard General, also rushed over.

"Not good!" Ironbone Zheng's eyes widened in fury, but there was no one he could deploy.

The City Lord's Paper Clone had been forcing the four Ghost Generals into retreat. She glanced at the paper giant statue behind her, then immediately turned back, unleashing her full power to seize the opportunity and slay Mournful Music You Ling!

Qing Chi, leading the Green Scorching Army, was locked in a fierce, inextricable battle with the Headless Ghost Riders. Seeing the danger befalling the paper giant statue, he was filled with shock and rage, rushing fearlessly to provide support. But ultimately, distant water couldn't quench a nearby fire.

The paper giant statue was once again in crisis, and Ning Zhuo couldn't help but hold his breath.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin's divine sense transmitted a message: "Xiao Zhuo, pay close attention now. This move is called Cloud Loath Shroud."

The next moment, the white radiance emanating from the paper giant statue intensified sharply, a pillar of white light soaring into the sky, triggering changes in the celestial phenomena.

Clouds spontaneously formed in the air, swirling back and surging around the paper giant statue.

Then, they quickly transformed into a layer of cloud clothing.

This white cloud clothing was neither gauze nor mist; it was transparent like ice silk yet shimmered with sharp points like needles.

As the paper giant statue moved, the cloud clothing flowed with it, possessing both the softness of flowing clouds and the sharpness of needle points!

At this moment, the paper giant statue's aura surged, and its combat power skyrocketed!

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin secretly imparted to Ning Zhuo, "This is the Cloud Loath Shroud: pure clouds as silk, malevolent energy as profound needles; when soft, it's like a cascading heavenly river; when enraged, fierce malevolence covers the sky!"

"To cultivate this method, two key points must be understood."

"First is the Nine Transformations of Cloud Sea: Gather, Disperse, Surge, Fall, Flow, Solidify, Split, Burn, and Annihilate. Transform cloud intent into your meridians, making the shroud like living clouds that breathe in and out with heaven and earth. When struck, it's like cotton deflecting immense force; when counterattacking, it's like a raging river destroying enemy souls."

"The second key point is to wield malevolence. Draw any type of malevolent energy and temper it into the cloud network. Each stream of malevolence can condense into a profound needle, exceptionally sharp, like a hedgehog, combining offense and defense."

"Xiao Zhuo, when you enter the Myriad Manifestation Sect in the future, you can choose to study *Cloud Scroll* and *Condensing Robe Art*, and then utilize malevolent energy."

"*Cloud Scroll* states: 'Riding the righteous flowing clouds of the nine heavens, clouds without constant form transform into three thousand aspects...'"

"A poem in *Condensing Robe Art* says: 'With soul as shuttle, drawing heavenly winds; extracting thunderous malevolence for warp and weft; a single thought births clouds to cover golden palaces; a thousand tribulations of malevolence guard the spirit platform.' Therefore, the Cloud Loath Shroud is not essentially a spell, but a divine art! It merely uses malevolent energy, making its external appearance seem like a spell."

"Most importantly, the Cloud Loath Grand Principle was left by the Myriad Manifestation Sect's ancient sage, Daoist Cloud Malevolence. He said: 'Cloud Loath is not a net, but a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao's compassion; Malevolent Shroud is not a robe, but the transformation of the universe's inverse scale!' This single sentence already reveals the core secret of the Cloud Loath Shroud!"

Ning Zhuo subconsciously pricked up his ears, listening intently and memorizing every single word.

During the instruction, the Dead Bone Golems had already charged close.

Under Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin's control, the paper giant statue first moved to engage the enemy on its left.

It made no attempt to dodge, meeting attack with attack!

The Dead Bone Golem's massive fist smashed onto the Cloud Loath Shroud, immediately triggering layers of flowing clouds to expand and contract, guiding, deflecting, and dissolving the enemy's immense force. Ultimately, only ten percent of the force reached the paper giant statue's main body, but it was distributed throughout its entire form.

On the paper giant statue's fist, the Cloud Loath Shroud, however, concentrated a large number of malevolent energy profound needles.

Two punches landed on the Dead Bone Golem, devastating it with overwhelming force. The profound needles easily pierced its massive bones, and the subsequent immense power directly pulverized its skeleton.

Both punches pierced through the Dead Bone Golem's body, causing it to stumble and fall, critically wounded.

A strong wind gusted from behind.

The paper giant statue turned to dodge, then seized the opportunity to counterattack.

With a sweeping arm, the malevolent needles almost instantly shifted to its arm, like a guillotine blade, slicing the Dead Bone Golem in half at the waist!

The Vanguard General and the other Nascent Soul cultivators who witnessed this scene were all dumbfounded!

The change in the paper giant statue's combat power before and after was simply too enormous!

What exactly was going on?

The paper giant statue stepped back with one foot, crushing the head of the Dead Bone Golem it had previously knocked down into dust.

The Cloud Loath Shroud billowed around it, pure white flowing clouds endlessly circling its body.

For a moment, both enemy and ally turned their gazes to it.

"Good!" Ironbone Zheng was overjoyed.

Yang Sanyan also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Xiao Zhuo, as expected!"

"My Jiao Ma is the best!"

Sun Lingtong and Qing Chi were beaming with delight, no longer harboring any worries.

The Paper Clone's eyes flashed with sharp light, causing the four Ghost Generals to sweat profusely as they desperately resisted, facing perilous situations.

The Paper Clone seized an opening, forced one of the generals back, and finally charged in, intending to deliver a fatal blow to the motionless Mournful Music You Ling.

A Nascent Soul-tier Ghost General intervened, blocking the Paper Clone at the last moment.

The Paper Clone was enraged!

She knew well that the previous moment had been a prime opportunity, and missing it would likely make things difficult.

Indeed, the Vanguard General's side also reacted, immediately dispatching a portion of their forces to support Mournful Music You Ling.

Ning Zhuo's gaze also shifted, and he said, "Mother, we should quickly kill that ghost cultivator holding the candle to cut off the enemy's teleportation path!"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin replied, "I need to conserve some strength, Xiao Zhuo."

"The enemy has already been deterred."

"If I use my full power recklessly, my waking time will be drastically shortened."

"Don't worry about that; the City Lord's main body will surely act!"

"You can start preparing your spell; get ready to burn this paper giant statue."

Ning Zhuo asked, "Ah, so soon?"

The next moment, the entire city vibrated, vast waves surged, the Ink River roared, and the dark tide churned wildly!

The South City Gate suddenly closed, and White Paper Immortal City began to ascend!