Chapter 644

The Underworld.

Ning Zhuo slowly descended from mid-air.

Beside him was Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin, flanked by Shadow Blade Ye Hu and Heavy-Armored Blood Ape Da Sheng.

As for Nether Emissary Qi Bai, Ning Zhuo had put him away again due to his insufficient sentience.

Ning Zhuo's mother had already awakened, diminishing the value of the combat power provided by Nether Emissary Qi Bai.

"Xiao Ma, are you alright?" Qing Chi shouted, then commanded, "Qing Jiao Army, annihilate these underworld cavalry!"

She rode a black-blood paper horse, her entire body wreathed in blue flames, showing extreme concern for Ning Zhuo.

Knowing Qing Chi's misunderstanding, Ning Zhuo quickly sent a mental message to explain: "He's one of us, my informant. He provided a lot of information before."

Qing Chi's eyes widened as she stared at Sun Lingtong's ox cavalry.

Trusting Ning Zhuo implicitly, she changed her military order without a second thought.

Sun Lingtong, whose soul was currently residing in a paper puppet, led a dozen ox cavalrymen galloping towards them.

He was part of the third wave to enter, thus positioning himself behind the Qing Jiao Army.

Seeing the Qing Jiao Army's agitation, he quickly reined in his ox, reduced speed, and temporarily halted his approach. This small gesture alone showcased his rapidly improving horsemanship and his ability to command a cavalry squad.

After all, Sun Lingtong had been mostly hidden within the vast army of underworld soldiers during this period.

Previously, in Liangzhu Kingdom, Sun Lingtong mostly hid inside the Mechanical Roaming Dragon, not participating directly. This time, he not only joined the army but also had to constantly lead an ox cavalry squad, which led to significant insights and daily growth in his military talents.

Seeing the Qing Jiao Army lower its guard, Sun Lingtong then accelerated and successfully rendezvoused with Ning Zhuo and the Qing Jiao Army.

They stood with their backs to the stationary paper army, facing the approaching reinforcements.

The first wave consisted of several Golden Core-level ghost generals, the second wave was a large number of headless ghost cavalry, and the third wave was just one person: Bone Tomb Daoist, who was heavily injured.

Sun Lingtong, Qing Chi, and the others stood ready for battle, but Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin spoke up: "I'll handle this. Save your strength and conserve your energy; there are more important things for you to do."

Qing Chi noticed the mechanical puppet beside Jiao Ma (Ning Zhuo) and asked curiously, "Oh? Xiao Ma, where did you get this mechanical puppet? It can actually talk like this? It's just like a real person."

Sun Lingtong, however, cupped his fists and said, "Junior bows to Auntie!"

Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo were closer than blood brothers, and being privy to the situation, he naturally didn't dare to be presumptuous upon seeing Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin awaken.

Moreover, whenever Sun Lingtong saw Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin, he inexplicably felt his own insignificance, and the back of his head would throb faintly. He didn't know why.

Qing Chi became even more curious, seeing someone address a mechanical puppet in such a manner.

"Xiao Ma, who is he again? How do you two know each other? You're hiding so much from me," Qing Chi said.

Ning Zhuo coughed twice and brushed her off, "The enemy is upon us. I'll explain everything later."

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin chuckled meaningfully, "Afterward, you won't need to explain."

At this moment, the ghost generals had charged closer.

The giant paper effigy had already been incinerated, and although this place had many strange aspects, it was ultimately not White Paper Immortal City.

The ghost generals' rattled minds were once again filled with killing intent, and their morale had largely recovered.

"Attack together, kill them all!"

"This is the Underworld, our home turf!"

"No, leave a few alive. They seem to know a lot about this place."

Several Golden Core-level ghost generals conversed loudly, intentionally speaking out. On the surface, it was communication, but in reality, it was an attempt to exert psychological pressure on Ning Zhuo and his companions.

Seeing the formidable approach of the enemies, Qing Chi gritted her teeth and softly commanded, "All troops, heed my order..."

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin extended a hand to stop her. "Little girl, be obedient."

The next moment, she gently raised the long-handled scythe in her hand towards the Golden Core ghost generals.

The ghost generals continued their charge.

But soon, they sensed something was wrong.

"Those running legs up ahead seem a bit familiar?"

"Strange, why is my vision getting wider and wider?"

"Why has the world suddenly turned upside down?!"

Their ghost bodies, like fragile porcelain, were either split into two halves, severed at the waist, or had their heads fall directly to the ground.

Without even a single cry of agony, all these Golden Core-level ghost generals perished, their ghost bodies dissipating, leaving only their Golden Cores floating in mid-air.

A sharp intake of breath.

Countless people, in that instant, made the same gesture—drawing a sharp breath.

How was that even possible?!

Beneath the surprise and doubt, lay sheer terror.

Countless gazes focused on Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin, intense emotions of shock, fanaticism, adoration, and curiosity, among others, clearly evident.

The headless cavalry charging behind the ghost generals fell into disarray.

Even for these headless ghost riders, the scene was far too terrifying!

So many ghost generals, gone in an instant.

What was utterly horrifying was that these ghost generals, despite their intimidating momentum, didn't even last a single round. With a mere flick of her hand, the enemy had completely annihilated them.

What's the point of fighting anymore?

How can we even fight this?!

Although the headless ghost cavalry lacked heads, they all possessed sentience and were capable of thought.

Thus, the next moment, the cavalrymen, halfway through their charge, collapsed in a rout, scattering and fleeing in all directions.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin's formidable might was overwhelming; a single move had terrified most of the headless ghost riders into retreating.

Of course, a small number of stubborn ones were still on their way, charging forward.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin whispered softly, "It would be more convenient if they all came together to die."

"Now, it's a bit troublesome."

She changed her posture, no longer standing upright, but slightly crouching down.

She rotated her wrist, holding the Great Serpent Scythe horizontally across her chest, its long handle parallel to the ground.

Her expression was serene, her eyes devoid of joy or sorrow. Then, under the gaze of countless eyes, she made an extremely light and gentle motion—as if brushing dust from a scripture table—drawing the strange scythe horizontally.

Strange Path — Compassionate Slash.

Silently.

Where the scythe blade passed, space did not tear, and there was no sound, light, or air disturbance.

But the ghost riders who were still charging and closest to her suddenly froze, both rider and horse. The next instant, their bodies, both human and horse, disintegrated into powder, fluttering softly in the air and scattering with the wind.

Then, this phenomenon rapidly spread, encompassing the entire ghost cavalry.

No matter how dispersed they were, where they ran, or what protective measures they employed, they all met the same end.

The entire field fell into deathly silence!

Bone Tomb Daoist's pupils contracted to pinpricks.

"This, this, where did this peerless fiend come from?!"

"Why was there no mention of this in the military intelligence reports?"

"With such an existence, what's the point of talking about capturing White Paper Immortal City?!"

Run, run, run!

Bone Tomb Daoist was the farthest away. He had initially followed behind, seeing his side's overwhelming strength, hoping to gain an advantage by relying on his allies to clean up.

However, the situation changed far too quickly!

With just one gentle sweep, the vast cavalry disappeared. The previously formidable ghost generals were now just their ghostly Golden Cores floating in the air.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin, with her individual combat prowess, directly overturned the entire battlefield!

Bone Tomb Daoist, already injured, turned and fled.

In fact, even if he were at full strength, he would never dare to confront Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin.

"So strong, so incredibly strong! Mother's combat power is definitely at the Nascent Soul level, perhaps even beyond what ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators can withstand."

"No wonder..."

Ning Zhuo was greatly shocked.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin stood upright again, holding the Great Serpent Scythe vertically, her gaze fixed on Bone Tomb Daoist in the distance.

Bone Tomb Daoist's speed was incredibly fast!

In the eyes of Ning Zhuo and Qing Chi, he had almost shrunk into a tiny speck on the horizon.

It was truly impressive how fast he could flee, even while dragging his injured body!

In fact, even Bone Tomb Daoist himself was astonished—he never knew he could flee so decisively!

Just as everyone thought Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin was beyond reach, and Bone Tomb Daoist's heart had somewhat settled, she subtly raised her arm, lifting the Great Serpent Scythe slightly, then tapped its hilt's end on the ground.

Silently.

But the rapidly fleeing Bone Tomb Daoist, as if struck hard on the back of his head, took a massive bludgeon hit, his eyes rolled back, and he tumbled down, instantly falling unconscious.

His speed was so immense that he skidded for hundreds of paces across the underworld ground, rolling incessantly like a broken doll before finally coming to a stop after a vigorous struggle.

Everyone was speechless.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin said softly, "Alright, go pick up that Daoist."

"Y-yes, understood," Qing Chi stammered. With a single glance, one of her subordinates spurred his black horse and galloped off.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin sent a mental message, her voice gentle, "Xiao Zhuo, I deliberately spared this Daoist's life for your use."

"You have some karmic tribulations related to the Soul Devouring Sect."

"This is a super sect; they possess artifacts that suppress destiny, so you mustn't be careless. The sooner you resolve this, the better."

"Otherwise, if your destinies clash and drain each other, the losses will be astonishing and very subtle."

Ning Zhuo quickly replied, "Mother, did you foresee this? The Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts of the Soul Devouring Sect indeed hold a great grudge against me."

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin nodded slightly, continuing her private conversation with Ning Zhuo, "Use this captive to negotiate with the Soul Devouring Sect. Tell them that if they don't let this matter go, you will send this Daoist to the Myriad Forms Sect."

"This time, the Soul Devouring Sect collaborating with Lord of Oblivion River to scheme against White Paper Immortal City and Myriad Forms Sect already constitutes a significant friction between super sects."

"The Soul Devouring Sect might not fear you, but they will be wary of the Myriad Forms Sect. And this time, they truly broke the rules."

"If Bone Tomb Daoist falls into the hands of the Myriad Forms Sect, there will be both human and material evidence, which would be extremely disadvantageous to the Soul Devouring Sect."

"Therefore, this is a very important matter for the Soul Devouring Sect."

"You leverage this chip to fully negotiate with the Soul Devouring Sect. As for what you can gain and how much you profit, that will depend on you."

Ning Zhuo's spirits lifted significantly. "Understood!"

Immediately after, he stroked his chin, musing, "So there's a hidden mutual drain between destinies."

"Super sects endure because they possess powerful treasures that suppress destiny."

"In the future, I'll try my best to avoid forming karmic ties with them."

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin shook her head slightly. "This is the true significance of being kind to others."

"However, you don't need to worry too much. The Buddha's Inner Demon Seal on you also possesses the marvelous ability to suppress destiny."

"Take these."

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin, having communicated this far via mental message, handed over some miscellaneous treasures to Ning Zhuo.

These were all treasures, but rather disorganized.

They were items scattered earlier by the Primordial Dispersing Ruler.

The giant paper effigy had casually gathered them before leaping into the black hole pathway.

"Before leaving, I had a flash of insight and realized there were items among these that would be crucial for you."

"But exactly what they are, I cannot fully divine," Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin cautioned.

Ning Zhuo quickly took them, nodding vigorously like a well-behaved child. "Mother, I'll definitely keep them safe."

Their private conversation ended. Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin looked up, her voice soft yet carrying throughout the entire field: "Alright, from now on, everyone will follow my command."

No one raised an objection.

The entire field was silent.

Hadn't they seen Ning Zhuo obediently nod?

Primarily, it was due to the overwhelmingly powerful combat strength displayed by Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin.

Everyone listened quietly to Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin's instructions.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin, however, lowered her head and looked at her left hand.

She constantly performed divinations with her fingers, and soon, she made her arrangements.

Everyone present would be divided into two paths.

One path, led by her commanding the paper army and accompanied by Sun Lingtong, would head to Oblivion River Immortal City.

The other path, primarily consisting of the Qing Jiao Army and Ning Zhuo, would charge towards the sacrificial altar.

"This arrangement has been brewing for many years, utilizing the power of Scholar Xuansu," Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin said, glancing at the paper army behind her.

She sighed, "If this attempt fails, Lord of Oblivion River's power will inevitably surge, and he will certainly invade White Paper Immortal City again."

"At that time, the mortal immortal cities will surely suffer immense devastation."

"I have divined that although that sacrificial altar is far from Oblivion River Immortal City, their hidden connection is extremely close."

"To thwart Lord of Oblivion River's grand scheme, we must adopt a two-pronged approach! And our coordination must be timely."

She conveyed this telepathically, speaking only to Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong.

Ning Zhuo worried, "Mother, according to your arrangements, we're splitting up?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin nodded. "Trust me, this is the best arrangement."

Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth and looked at Sun Lingtong. "Boss, I'm entrusting my mother to your care!"

Sun Lingtong rolled his eyes. "Me, taking care of Auntie? With my abilities?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin reassured him, "No need to worry. I've absorbed the spirituality from the giant paper effigy and a great deal of military malevolence, which is enough to ensure victory in this great battle."

"I just divined that there's a secret way for the two of you to communicate. What is it?"

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong exchanged a glance. The former said, "Mother, are you referring to the divine ability, Human Fate Threads?"

After his explanation, Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin said with satisfaction, "Very good, Xiao Zhuo'er, you've actually mastered this divine ability."

"Furthermore, you've deliberately restrained yourself and haven't abused it. This is particularly excellent; it shows my son has an excellent disposition."

She performed another quick divination with her fingers, then suddenly became serious. "You must maintain this good habit!"

"This habit will be of crucial importance to you in the future."

Praised by his mother, Ning Zhuo immediately felt genuine joy. "Mother, whenever I use the Human Fate Threads divine ability, I try to use it and retract it immediately."

Buddhist Physician Meng Yao-yin cast her gaze towards Qing Chi. "Especially with her, you must adhere to this point even more."