Chapter 7, The Serpent

I am Lü Bu of the Three Kingdoms, I am invincible under heaven, I wonder which petty person dares to obstruct my path and conspire against me

Moreover, it is indiscriminate towards both humans and animals, regardless of whether it is cooked or raw, and is somewhat particular in taste; it is likely that only a few countries overseas have had the opportunity to taste it

In the face of Kang Mingyu's desperate counterattack, the Heavenly Serpent opened its massive mouth and unleashed a stream of black gas, striking Kang Mingyu's Azure Flame Blade Qi with remarkable precision. The collision of the two forces instantly erupted into thousands of azure flames and countless black clouds. The power reverberated across the sky for dozens of miles, accompanied by a thunderous roar

The malevolent power of the Eighty Thousand Ghost Army is indeed formidable. Kang Mingyu's strike with the Azure Flame Yin Thunder Blade rivals the might of Xiang Yu in his prime. Although it does not possess the same level of mastery as Xiang Yu's seventy-two forms of Earthly Fiend Qi, the power of the Azure Flame Yin Thunder Blade is capable of reaching the heavens and penetrating the earth. With full force, the Azure Flame Yin Thunder unleashed at least forty to fifty bursts, resulting in an unprecedented surge of Azure Flame Blade Qi. Fueled by Kang Mingyu's desperation and the fury of a cornered rat attacking a cat, he swung the blade towards the top of the serpent demon's head.

The unparalleled and powerful suction created a vortex around his body, as the eighty thousand ghostly soldiers, with their eerie cries, surged forward one after another, transforming into a rolling black smoke that was drawn into the vortex

Kang Mingyu heard a loud, hearty laugh, and a chilling current of energy, distinct from the other spirits, forcefully surged into his dantian. At that moment, he recalled that there was still the presence of that fellow Lü Bu outside.

Kang Mingyu, although unaware of what abilities he possessed that could attract the attention of such a god-like general, knew that this matter was not something to be easily agreed to. Not wanting to provoke the other party, Kang Mingyu could only silently accumulate wealth, not uttering a single word.

Although the sword energy of Qingya protected Kang Mingyu's body, the tens of thousands of ghost soldiers outside still refused to leave. Not all souls can retain the wisdom they had in life; without the suppression of formidable ghost generals like Lü Bu, these ghost soldiers are merely vengeful spirits acting on instinct.

Suddenly, Kang Mingyu felt a chill run down his back, as if something had penetrated his body, causing him to be greatly alarmed. In his flustered state, the Bi Yan Yin Lei Dao he wielded revealed even greater flaws. A wave of coldness surged through his Tianling, left rib, chest, and even the soles of his feet. Having experience in absorbing Yin souls, Kang Mingyu immediately understood what was happening. The entry of a wandering soul into the body is not a trivial matter. With no other choice, he fully unleashed the Spirit Control and Ghost Suppression technique, striving to suppress the Yin souls within him. Having experience in absorbing Yin souls, Kang Mingyu immediately understood what was happening. The entry of a wandering soul into the body is not a trivial matter. With no other choice, he fully unleashed the Spirit Control and Ghost Suppression technique, striving to suppress the Yin souls within him.

After much effort in subduing the battle spirit within, Kang Mingyu had just shifted his consciousness to the outside world, and he was genuinely frightened. The azure sword energy, without a master to urge it, had already pressed the multitude of ghosts down to less than half a foot. What Kang Mingyu saw before his eyes were countless distorted faces and the frantically grasping dark green ghostly hands.

Lü Bu let out a loud shout, causing Kang Mingyu to tremble violently once again. His originally heavy body unexpectedly defied the laws of the world and slowly began to rise from the ground. Kang Mingyu's cultivation had not even reached the level of a true person, nor had he ever entered the realm of a Daoist, yet he experienced such a phenomenon. The power of Lü Bu's extraordinary divine skill, "Ghostly Deity Limit," was indeed astonishing.

Fortunately, the Daoist robe that had just arrived along with the books indeed possesses boundless uses. A faint mist was stirred, and a flexible force spiraled out, helping Kang Mingyu to dissipate about seventy to eighty percent of the energy. Just as this moment was delayed, Kang Mingyu had already reacted, letting out a loud shout, with black energy swirling around him. He once again summoned the battle spirit of Xiang Yu.

Faced with such a terrifying snake demon, Kang Mingyu did not hesitate and decided to flee for his life. Silently contemplating the operation of his true energy from earlier, Kang Mingyu urgently invoked the "Ghostly Deity Limit" technique, hoping to emulate his master, Dong Yizi, by controlling the energy to soar through the air, feeling the wind beneath his feet

The first powerful soul he subdued was not human, but a unicorn serpent that had cultivated for a thousand years. That black-armored battle soul was merely a transformation of the serpent beast's primordial spirit

Although he was no longer a living person, the two glowing green flames in his eyes gave Kang Mingyu an overwhelming sense of being exposed and vulnerable. Despite the other party speaking in a very gentle manner, Kang Mingyu did not dare to relax even a little; every muscle in his body was tensed, ready to spring into action

Suddenly recalling that there was this evil-subduing flying sword within him, Kang Mingyu wished he could kowtow to his master, Dong Yizi, a hundred or eighty more times. This ancient green iron sword evidently had the effect of pacifying malevolent energies. Once the sword's aura was activated, the restless yin spirits within him gradually calmed down, being contained within the major acupoints throughout his body

Haha! Hahaha! Young friend, your cultivation skills are indeed quite complex; this technique of controlling spirits and commanding ghosts is rather peculiar

As for that iron plate, it is the essence of the "Soul Seal Book." If it can be obtained, Kang Mingyu will be able to subdue the eighty thousand ghost soldiers. With such power in hand, it would undoubtedly bring immense benefits

The vastly different natures of dozens of energies, the interplay of hot and cold, the yin and yang, and the fluctuating internal forces made it exceedingly difficult for Kang Mingyu to endure

The Bone Daoist, having cultivated to the point of going astray, collected the bones of birds and beasts from the mountains, shaping them into a form. However, there were always some inappropriate aspects. In order to solidify his primordial spirit and recreate a physical body, the Bone Daoist contemplated using these countless yin souls to forcibly condense them into a battle soul for his own use. This would allow him to have a substitute during future cultivation, enabling him to transfer his primordial spirit to the battle soul at any time.

Although Kang Mingyu received the assistance of the war spirit Xiang Yu, resulting in a significant increase in his power, these ghost generals are almost all seasoned veterans of the battlefield, skilled in martial arts. Among them, the martial prowess of the ghostly deity Lü Bu is likely even superior to that of Xiang Yu

Kang Mingyu remained still, which was acceptable; however, the moment he moved, it immediately attracted the attention of the serpent demon. With its massive mouth wide open, it turned from the clouds and lunged towards Kang Mingyu. Before the serpent demon's enormous mouth even drew near, an extremely foul and nauseating odor had already made Kang Mingyu feel dizzy and overwhelmed, rendering him unable to endure it.

Kang Mingyu's actions resemble a gourd painting a ladle, indeed a breeze arises from beneath the ribs, floating and drifting. However, the entire body is surrounded by lingering shadows, with gusts of dark wind, not resembling an immortal riding the clouds, but rather akin to a monster riding the wind, which detracts from the overall beauty

He, however, did not realize that the souls of the dead are ultimately different from the living. Although Lü Bu could utilize his memories and employ the technique of Spirit Control and Ghost Command, he could not, like an ordinary person, sense abnormalities in the body. Under Lü Bu's urging, the technique of Spirit Control and Ghost Command broke through its own limits, absorbing tens of thousands of souls. With so much yin energy entering his body, it immediately diluted Lü Bu's control over Kang Mingyu's body. Despite Lü Bu's bravery, he ultimately could not contend against an army of millions of ghosts with just one person's strength. Under Lü Bu's urging, the technique of Spirit Control and Ghost Command broke through its own limits, absorbing tens of thousands of souls. With so much yin energy entering his body, it immediately diluted Lü Bu's control over Kang Mingyu's body. Despite Lü Bu's bravery, he ultimately could not contend against an army of millions of ghosts with just one person's strength

Kang Mingyu, however, was unaware that this dark art itself was a method of absorbing souls and refining them. This created a force of attraction around Kang Mingyu's body, drawing in countless wandering souls like a tide.

Before Kang Mingyu could think of how to refuse, Lü Bu had already whistled, and more than ten ghostly generals appeared fiercely. Kang Mingyu only felt a strong wind rushing at the tip of his nose, as Lü Bu's halberd was already pressing directly against his brow.

Kang Mingyu possesses an exceptionally strong yang energy, akin to the brilliant light that attracts wandering spirits.

Lü Bu smiled faintly, the strange expression on his face causing Kang Mingyu's ten fingers to radiate with a surge of sword energy. Even before making a move, he exuded such an imposing aura, truly deserving of the title of a super general known as a deity.

No matter how dull Kang Mingyu may be, he can always discern the deep resentment harbored by the ghostly figure of Lü Bu. The grudges accumulated over a thousand years cannot be washed away, even if one were to drain the waters of the four seas.

The souls of animals, although incredibly powerful, ultimately lack the knowledge of humans, making the possibility of backlash relatively small. Therefore, the Hundred Bones Daoist was unwilling to give up this opportunity for cultivation under any circumstances

Compared to the Scarlet Flame Sword Technique, the Azure Flame Yin Thunder Blade is more advantageous in battlefield confrontations. Although it lacks the power to slay demons and eliminate evil, Kang Mingyu is well aware that against a thousand-year ghost general like Lü Bu, his pure Yang true fire is still insufficient to handle the situation. Thus, the Azure Flame Yin Thunder Blade is more practical.

With a surge of the serpent's yin energy, Kang Mingyu suddenly felt his body regain the ability to move. With a wave directed at the countless wandering souls around him, Kang Mingyu unleashed his vital energy, soaring several dozen zhang into the air.

A surge of azure energy rose from the core of Kang Mingyu, fluctuating unpredictably. It not only expelled the incessant malevolent spirits that rushed towards Kang Mingyu, but also guided the vast and righteous energy drawn from the heavens and the earth into Kang Mingyu's body

Kang Mingyu's expression changed dramatically upon hearing Lü Bu's words. How could he casually give his body to someone else? Xiang Yu's spirit had been wandering for hundreds of years, and it seemed to have undergone little change, not affecting his own thought processes in the slightest. However, Lü Bu was entirely different; not only was his mind as sharp as ever, but he was also very clear-headed. If he were to take over his body, it would likely not bode well.

The original spirit of Xiang Yu could not be summoned no matter what. A greenish-blue aura suddenly erupted from the center of Kang Mingyu's brow, enveloping his entire body in an instant. A voice within him laughed heartily, saying: "Remember carefully, the pathways of true energy flowing within you now are my lifelong ultimate skill, 'Limit of Ghosts and Gods.' Even if ghosts and gods encounter me, it is still their time of great peril"

Just a moment ago, Lü Bu, who could almost defeat Kang Mingyu with a single strike, transformed from an unfathomable figure akin to a ghost or deity into a formidable opponent after summoning his battle spirit. Kang Mingyu wielded the Azure Flame and Shadow Thunder Blade, engaging in a fierce and lively duel with this ghostly general in the blink of an eye

After more than ten exchanges, Kang Mingyu was already covered in wounds. This time was different from the last; previously, several ghost generals had not fought with all their might, and Lü Bu had merely watched from the sidelines. This time, not only were there more ghost generals attacking, but also the greatest warrior of the late Han and Three Kingdoms period was involved. The fact that Kang Mingyu had managed to hold on for this long was already quite remarkable

Green copper! It is green copper!

Am I supposed to rebel, or become some kind of ghostly cult leader?

Upon this thought, Kang Mingyu truly felt a flutter of excitement in her heart

These restless spirits inadvertently stirred something within Kang Mingyu

Upon encountering strangers, one must pounce, which is indeed the inherent nature of a ghostly spirit

It seems that in response to the anomalies on Kang Mingyu's side, the dark energy from the southwest has been growing increasingly intense, pressing down faintly from the clouds. It is moving towards Kang Mingyu. When Kang Mingyu saw that enormous snake head, he finally realized what he was witnessing

Originally a distance of dozens of steps, in the blink of an eye it was reduced to a single step. Lü Bu's martial arts not only astonished the spirits but were also terrifyingly inhuman. At this moment, Kang Mingyu unleashed the Red Flame Sword Technique, creating layers of defense with hundreds of sword lights in front of him. However, Lü Bu seemed uninterested in a direct confrontation; with a shift in his steps, he had already vanished from sight. Such a miraculous and wondrous movement technique is truly extraordinary. Yet Lü Bu appeared to have no intention of engaging directly, and with another shift in his steps, he was again nowhere to be found. This kind of magical and intricate movement technique is indeed remarkable.

Haha! Hahaha! How amusing. I originally thought I would never be able to break through the 'Demon God Limit' of the 'Demon God Realm' in my lifetime. Unexpectedly, after death, I have made further progress in martial arts. I truly died well! If it weren't for you, Lord Xuande, burying me in such an excellent feng shui location, how could I have achieved today!

What a close call! I was almost controlled by these malevolent spirits

After being possessed by numerous ghost generals, Kang Mingyu had no choice but to exert all his strength to perform the Spirit Capture and Ghost Control technique. This time was markedly different from the last time he absorbed Xiang Yu. Previously, most of the souls were unanchored and, apart from Xiang Yu, the rest were significantly weaker, and there was also the Great Sun Dharma King to help suppress them. However, this time, the numerous ghost generals forcibly possessed him, causing turmoil within his body, refusing to grant him a moment's peace.

In a state of fluctuating emotions, the light of the Qingya sword dimmed further. Kang Mingyu had already spotted a ghostly army, which was now less than an inch from his nose. Feeling a surge of fear, Kang Mingyu frantically urged his true energy, and the emerald flames and dark thunder erupted violently, displaying an unprecedented ferocity

Moreover, I have come to understand the secret of the Battle Soul refined by the Hundred Bones Daoist

Kang Mingyu strengthened his resolve and cleared his mind of the various thoughts that had just arisen. Although the eighty thousand ghostly troops were formidable, what use was it for a single Taoist? Kang Mingyu was aware that he was neither a person who coveted power nor did he need to employ such a multitude of ghostly soldiers for any purpose.

Lü Bu stepped out of the battle formation slowly, and Kang Mingyu couldn't help but secretly praise him. During the late Han and Three Kingdoms period, when it comes to the ranking of military generals, the name that stands out is Lü Bu, also known as Lü Fengxian. The praise "Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, the Red Hare" is renowned throughout the world. Lü Bu is exceptionally tall, standing over 1.8 meters. Despite his towering stature, he gives an impression of agility, grace, and harmony. His handsome face could make most men shy away.

With each rotation of the Fangtian Huaji, the trajectory of the spearhead moves in an extraordinarily mysterious manner. This leaves Kang Mingyu at a loss, forced to rely on the Biyan Yinlei Dao to engage in a hard-fought battle.

Mother! Isn't this ghostly sorcerer claiming to possess boundless magical powers? How could he let this great serpent monster chase and bite me?

The narrowest part of the entire body measures about ten zhang, enough for several people to embrace. The scales are as large as washbasins, extending straight from the ground into the clouds, with the serpent's head probing down from mid-air, its eyes shining brightly, dazzling like stars. Kang Mingyu roughly estimated that with one bite, this giant snake could consume enough to satisfy half the population of a city. If it were to have three meals a day, plus late-night snacks, in just a few years, it could feast from the southern to the northern rivers, all the way to the grasslands beyond the borders.

Such a sinister and overwhelming aura caused a tremor even in the heavens above. The originally clear and sunny sky suddenly darkened, with thunder and lightning clashing, and a torrential rain fell without any warning.

As so many malevolent spirits surged into his body, Kang Mingyu felt his meridians swell, and his entire body felt as if his muscles and bones were about to burst. Yet, when he wished to alleviate the discomfort, he found that he could not move even a single finger.

Kang Mingyu had not yet understood what Lü Bu meant when he suddenly felt a change in the true energy within his body. His uncontrollable body forcibly operated the Spirit Capturing and Ghost Controlling Technique. Kang Mingyu was horrified to discover that his body, manipulated by Lü Bu, was actually increasing in power, again and again, with the might of the Spirit Capturing and Ghost Controlling Technique having long surpassed its limits

It seems that under the strong pull of such an aura, a mass of black clouds has also risen in the direction of the ancient tomb in the southwest. The straight black mist pierces the sky. Kang Mingyu is unaware of what is happening over there, wondering how his master, Dong Yizi, and the seven great masters of the Daoist sect are faring against the Great Sun Dharma King and the Hundred Bones Daoist.

However, upon reflection, having just found a wise master, with diligent practice and hard work in the future, it will not be difficult to achieve success. With the bright moon high above the ridge, the clear breeze playing the zither, and the companionship of pine and crane, how carefree and leisurely it is. The daily hustle and bustle is indeed too mundane.

As Kang Mingyu's true energy circulated, the suppressed soul of Lü Bu suddenly surged violently. A wave of dark energy traveled along Kang Mingyu's extraordinary meridians and the twelve primary channels, absorbing and assimilating the lurking soul one by one, growing increasingly powerful. Breaking through barriers all the way up, Kang Mingyu felt a chill in his mind and lost control over his body.

However, the current situation of Kang Mingyu is somewhat special. He is now able to manipulate qi to empty himself and ascend into the air, unlike the seven great masters of the Daoist sect, who rely on the cultivation of their true self. Instead, he depends on the malevolent power of the eighty thousand ghostly troops and the yin energy. Therefore, as he moves, he appears clumsy and awkward, stumbling and stiff. Before he could fly more than a hundred zhang, he was caught up by the snake demon, which opened its mouth wide to swallow him and bit down.

Dozens of azure flame shadow thunder orbs erupted from Kang Mingyu's body. Once the battle spirit of Xiang Yu was summoned, Kang Mingyu's senses became more than a hundred times sharper. The body's reactions also quickened significantly, with the true energy flowing vigorously, increasing by more than eight times.

Kang Mingyu was about to refuse when Lü Bu smiled faintly and said: "With 80,000 ghost soldiers here, we naturally cannot rely solely on your body, my young friend. As long as you can seize the black iron token from that Taoist priest, we can utilize the power of that token to lift the restrictions of this spell, and everyone can disperse freely."

Fortunately, after the soul of Lü Bu entered, it settled firmly in the dantian and did not move again. Meanwhile, within his brow, the soul of Xiang Yu lay in ambush, repelling any ghostly generals attempting to control Kang Mingyu's mind with its overwhelming and tyrannical power. This allowed Kang Mingyu to maintain a clear state of mind.

A force of internal energy, which was completely different from the true energy circulation route of Kang Mingyu, surged rapidly within him. Kang Mingyu felt as if his body was light and airy, almost wanting to soar with the wind. A sharp aura enveloped the battlefield, and the previously chaotic ghost army gradually calmed under the pressure of this momentum

Although Kang Mingyu knew from the memories of Lü Bu's ghostly generals that the Bone Daoist had refined the millennium unicorn serpent into a battle soul, he never expected that this millennium unicorn serpent would be so large

At the critical moment of life and death, Kang Mingyu could not speak of respecting teachers and valuing the Way, as he repeatedly murmured the names of the seven great masters of the Daoist sect in his heart. He knew that at this moment, only by struggling with all his might could he preserve his life. True energy surged forth, with countless clusters of azure flames and yin thunder swirling around his body. Having absorbed a significant number of yin souls, Kang Mingyu, feeling his body swell like a ball, found that this strike of azure flame and yin thunder blade possessed a power far beyond the past, reaching an unprecedented realm.

Various thoughts surged in his mind, rising and falling like waves. Kang Mingyu suddenly bit his tongue hard; the piercing pain instantly brought him back to his senses

We are trapped by that Taoist's spell and cannot leave this area of fifty miles. Moreover, we could be absorbed by that monster at any moment, ceasing to exist and having our souls scattered. Last time I saw my young friend, you were able to accommodate the heroic spirit of Xiang Yu without being affected by that Taoist's spell. Today, I wish to borrow your body and possess it.

Although "Demon God Limit" is Lü Bu's ultimate skill throughout his life, it does not enable one to control air or fly through the heavens. The essence of this divine skill lies in enhancing the limits of human physical constitution and breaking through innate restrictions. Once successfully cultivated, one will inevitably act a hundred times faster than ordinary people, possess boundless strength, and have sensory perception that surpasses that of others. The resilience of the body is truly comparable to that of demons and gods

Kang Mingyu had not yet had the chance to marvel at the astonishing martial skills of the divine warrior Lü Bu when a sharp spear light had already sliced through his water cloud robe at his left rib

Having absorbed so many malevolent spirits, Kang Mingyu's face had turned ashen, resembling that of a vengeful ghost. Moreover, the Spirit Capturing and Ghost Controlling Technique could extract the memories of these spirits, and in a mere instant, Kang Mingyu had already understood why the Hundred Bones Daoist sought to cultivate the Secret Spell of the Mother of Battles.

The tearing roar of the heavens caused the numerous ghostly armies to tremble in unease. The Great Art of Controlling Spirits and Ghosts had completely lost control. Kang Mingyu could only watch as he slowly floated into the air, dense ghostly energy forming a black cloud that reached from the heavens to the earth

I will not hide it from you; I have a request to make. I hope that you, my young friend, can assist us with this matter concerning the 80,000 ghost soldiers