That guy manipulating the Oni Samurai from behind the scenes never showed his face. He was using a human-wave tactic to whittle down the strength of the Shirofuku Miko's guards.

Those Oni Samurai were immortal and indestructible. Under normal circumstances, there were no means to restrain them. However many people they sent would be doomed.

Unfortunately, they encountered Suren, the Weird Puppet Master, who was also skilled in human-wave tactics.

The Oni Samurai were immortal, and the puppets were equally unafraid of death.

With Suren's few hundred puppets appearing, the numerical disadvantage was instantly reversed.

The grotesque Eight-Armed Spider Spear appeared behind him, and the vast bamboo forest became his puppet theater. He controlled the Weird Puppets to form formations and charge into battle, instantly engaging the Oni Samurai legion.

Many of the Mechanical Alchemist's abilities came from external objects. Suren had previously placed so many energy crystal cores in the bamboo forest in advance so that he could wear down these monsters.

He didn't believe that the Oni Samurai's resurrection didn't require energy.

Even if it was a head-on hard work...

As for the Oni Samurai commander wearing the "Iron Crimson Scale Coated Five-Piece Cuirass," Suren had the [Great School-level Ship-Slaying Type-9 Mechanical Armor].

He could exhaust it.

You think your armor is impenetrable?

Then come and face off against the mechanical armor head-on!

Let's see if your armor is harder or if this hunk of metal has superior defense.

Another advantage of technology is that it can utilize energy more efficiently. The Mafa military's ingenious design of steam-powered boilers and magic-powered boilers are definitely top-notch in energy utilization in this era. At the same energy level, it's definitely not comparable to the natural consumption of manpower (or yokai).

This armor, even if it can't kill the Oni Samurai commander, can at least restrict its ferocity for a short time.

As for the other Weird Puppets, if they get damaged, there are many spares.

In theory, as long as there was enough energy, Suren's puppet legion could wear down that person's Oni Samurai legion until the end of time.

However, Suren didn't plan to waste time like that. He didn't have that much money to burn.

Besides, he had already located the controller's position!

.......

The appearance of the puppet legion caused a surge of emotions in the eyes of the Shirofuku Miko and her ninja guards.

Suren single-handedly took over the battle.

The puppets replaced their fighting positions, and everyone seemed to have nothing to do.

These exaggerated few hundred puppets gave them a full sense of security.

"This..."

The perilous situation in which their lives had hung by a thread just a moment ago had been dramatically reversed. The guard captain who had spoken earlier was dumbfounded and speechless.

The Shirofuku Miko's pretty face was also filled with disbelief. She looked again at the back figure controlling the Eight-Armed Spider Spear and realized that this calm and unhurried demeanor concealed such strength. She clearly sensed that his main body's strength wasn't too strong. Outside of Yamagakure, he probably had a third-tier strength, but she never expected that his move would be so powerful!

The puppets blocked the Oni Samurai legion, giving everyone time to breathe. The injured ninja guards took the opportunity to clean their wounds and take some medicinal powder to restore their physical strength.

Chijo also sheathed her sword, panting. With her hands sealed, the high-intensity battle had also taken a toll on her.

She walked to the Miko's side and looked at this Yamagakure princess who was standing there in a daze, raising an eyebrow and saying, "We'll leave the rest to him."

"Miss Chijo, how could that... Mr. Suren..."

The Shirofuku Miko couldn't express the stormy thoughts in her heart at this moment.

She thought it was almost a certain death situation, but now it had been reversed so easily. This... it was simply like a dream.

Chijo had never doubted Suren's ability, so she wasn't surprised at all. "Yeah... that kid always gives people surprises. Just watch, there's more good stuff to come."

The combat power of the puppet legion was truly astonishing. The grim atmosphere suddenly disappeared, and everyone's faces showed a relieved expression.

Lollota also came over, with a little fangirl look on her face, and exclaimed, "Wow... Mr. Suren is really amazing. Even if it's not the first time I've seen his technique, it's still so shocking."

This scene was like the time when they were surrounded by three pirate groups at sea in Blizzard City. Mr. Suren turned the tide. It brought too much shock to that young girl's heart.

After a pause, the little girl looked at Chijo playfully and said, "I knew it, when teacher is in trouble, Mr. Suren will definitely come to help!"

Chijo heard the cunningness in her words and gave the girl a flick on the forehead. "You praise 'Mr. Suren' so much, how about I send you to him?"

Lollota shook her head like a rattle drum. "No, I want to learn kendo from teacher!"

After a pause, she secretly glanced at Chijo again and whispered in a very black-bellied voice, "Anyway, teacher, you and Mr. Suren have such a good relationship, it's the same whether you send me or not."

Hearing these words, Chijo rolled her eyes at her and ignored her.

.......

Suren had previously observed the characteristics of the Oni Samurai almost completely, so the battle would not have any surprises, and everything was roughly as expected.

However, his thoughts were not just that.

Before dealing with the controller, he was still thinking about whether these yokai could be used as puppets.

The previous Oni Samurai's relentless pressure was also in line with Suren's intentions. The monsters were clustered together, almost all in the puppet theater, making them easier to control.

Just after blocking the Oni Samurai's offensive, Suren's sorcerer's seal changed again, "Plant Equipment Release!"

He released the third-tier [Mental Tentacles], and that huge mental power spread out along countless threads.

Without stopping, Suren's Eight-Armed Spider Spear frequently manipulated, and he whispered in his heart: "Let's also try my newly mastered secret technique..."

"String Control Secret Technique - Spider Cocoon Hundred Binding Technique!"

Suren's eyes sharpened, and countless witch's strands suddenly condensed into reality in the air.

In a very short time, the crystal-clear and tough threads wrapped around hundreds of Oni Samurai, wrapping and weaving them like a spider catching its prey, instantly binding them into spider cocoons.

But seeing this scene, the Miko in the distance not only didn't show joy, but also showed worry. She couldn't help but shout anxiously, "Mr. Suren, be careful! The Oni Samurai are incredibly strong and can become ethereal. They can't be controlled at all..."

They had tried many methods to deal with these Oni Samurai before, and naturally they had also used physical control, but they would inexplicably become ethereal, rendering all physical control useless.

However, she had just finished speaking, and she thought she would see those spider cocoons wither in an instant, but she never expected that nearly a hundred Oni Samurai, including the Oni Samurai commander, would actually stand there dumbfounded.

They were really being controlled?

How did he do it?

A white light flashed in the Miko's eyes, and she suddenly saw something. It turned out that in the countless threads wrapping each Oni Samurai, there was a powerful mental force flowing!

"What kind of illusion is this?"

It was the first time she had seen this kind of sorcerer. The Miko didn't quite understand it and guessed in her heart, "Could it be that the threads have a special effect?"

In the Yamagakure's cultivation system, illusions (mental secret techniques) are a large category in ninjutsu and Shinto systems, and it is not uncommon for people to know them. She herself was proficient in it.

But the Oni Samurai are immune to mental secret techniques!

She had tried it herself before, but it had no effect. Why was this technique in front of her working?

The Miko didn't know that most mental techniques were spell attacks, while Suren's mental tentacles were physical attacks.

The principle was to use the understanding of human anatomy to forcibly disrupt and block the transmission of nerve signals with threads, thereby achieving the purpose of control.

The two seemed to achieve the same goal, but there was an essential difference in reality.

Illusions focused on "technique", requiring the construction of a mental force field world that made the target have hallucinations; mental tentacles focused on "reason", directly using physical control.

This was a technique that alchemists who had thoroughly studied life techniques could master.

This was also why Suren had not been in a hurry to attack, waiting to find the mastermind behind the scenes.

Because once these methods were exposed and known by the enemy, the probability of success for secondary use would be greatly reduced.

.......

In the eyes of others, the resurrection of the Oni Samurai was very mysterious.

But under Suren's All-Knowing Eye, as long as he saw it once, there would be almost no secrets.

He also discovered that the Oni Samurai would only become ethereal into an elemental state and resurrect after death. Once they were controlled, they could also become ethereal, which was essentially equivalent to "self-destructing" once.

But self-destruction also required energy flow. The Oni Samurai used their own death energy to rush backwards, thereby achieving what appeared to be an elemental ethereal ability.

But this kind of energy flow also passed through the meridians.

Therefore, as long as normal signals were cut off, they would not be able to complete the self-destruction.

Suren had previously studied the anatomical notes of Gerald, the former leader of the Umbrella organization, thoroughly, so he naturally saw through the truth of the self-destruction at a glance.

Even the Oni Samurai leader wearing crimson armor only used a few more threads.

"Miko, please help me seal these Oni Samurai!"

Suren shouted softly and rushed towards the monster group.

He had specifically asked before that Shinto priestesses were good at sealing ghost mist.

Don't underestimate Suren's mental tentacles' ability to control monsters in groups, but it wouldn't last long.

The more mental threads he divided, the weaker the control ability would be.

He knew that his move had caught the mastermind behind the scenes off guard. When that guy reacted, there would probably be other changes. He didn't want these "Oni Samurai Puppets" that he had obtained to be taken back by someone else.

Therefore, it was better to strike first.

The Miko heard this, and the thought of her distrust earlier made her feel guilty. Her expression immediately brightened slightly, as if being needed on the battlefield made her feel less stupid. "Okay!"

......

The Yamagakure's secret techniques were endless. He had almost suffered a loss when dealing with the mysterious female ninja in the Sword Casting Village, so Suren didn't dare to be careless.

He called out, and suddenly blue cold flames rose from his body, quickly condensing a flame giant wearing armor behind him. Looking again, some "paper dolls" drawn with ghost symbols were immediately burned out around the flames.

The paper dolls were burned, as if people heard the painful wails of the evil spirits being burned.

Suren's eyes sharpened, this was a method he hadn't even noticed!

Just as the [Mu Samurai] shadow appeared, others didn't think much of it, but an incredible look appeared in the eyes of the Shirofuku Miko behind Suren. She thought, "The Amaterasu Secret Technique! No, it's an alchemy technique that has been spread out..."

Suren didn't care about others. Since he made a move, he must kill the opponent with thunderous momentum.

He suddenly took out a black and white chessboard and shot a beam of light towards the dark bamboo forest.

Although that guy was hiding very well, using ghost energy to perfectly conceal his tracks, he was clearly aware of it in his soul perception.

The surrounding scenery changed instantly, suddenly turning into a black and white chessboard space.

Suren looked again, and a white-faced man wearing a tall eboshi hat and white cloud-patterned hunting clothes appeared opposite him.

Seeing this man's attire, Suren's eyes narrowed slightly, "An Onmyoji?"

It wasn't surprising.

It was not strange to be an Onmyoji to be able to control the Oni Samurai.

Knowing how to control ghosts, knowing astronomy and geography, and understanding the art of the Jia-style escape... This was a Shinto priest of Yamagakure.

The guy in front of him was frighteningly pale, with peach blossom eyes, giving people a very demonic feeling.

Suren immediately guessed who this person was, the chief Shinto priest of the imperial family, known as the "Yokai" by outsiders, Abe Taiwa.

This guy was also followed by a white giant dog shadow several meters tall. After appraisal, it turned out to be a very rare Onmyoji shikigami [Inugami].

No wonder he could chase all the way here.

Abe Taiwa looked at himself trapped in the chessboard space, and there was nothing unusual on his face, still calm. On the contrary, when he saw Suren, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he seemed to mutter something in a low voice that was inaudible. (Could it be that guy, hey, what a coincidence... Well, it's good to try.)

He seemed to recognize something and became interested. He raised his hand, and as he opened his five fingers, he saw the palm lines in the center of his palm crack open, turning into a blood-colored human eye. Looking closely, there were magatama in the eyes, which turned out to be the yokai [Eye of the Hand].

This yokai seemed to be locking onto the target, and perhaps had other evil abilities?

Suren didn't dare to be careless. The rune black umbrella opened with a flap, and the vengeful spirits protected him. The sorcerer's seal in his hand quickly condensed.

Although the soul fire of the Onmyoji in front of him was not too exaggerated, this kind of Shinto priest profession was somewhat similar to puppeteers. Combat power could not be discussed in terms of the main body's rank. The most terrifying thing was their ghost control technique.

The puppet theater was used again. In this closed space, Suren had an absolute advantage. He pinched the sorcerer's seal, and the [Night Domain] of the rune black umbrella unfolded, preparing to use a tactic of first depriving his vision, and then focusing fire to kill him.

But the demonic guy on the opposite side looked at the wailing vengeful spirits and shook his head disapprovingly without being affected. "It is indeed a very powerful alchemy... It's a pity that the ghost path secret technique is useless to me."

He was not as ignorant and ignorant as other people from Yamagakure, but knew a lot about alchemy. As he spoke, he raised his hand again and shook out a scroll from his wide sleeves. He made a sword with his right index and middle fingers and shouted softly, "Hundred Ghost Night Parade - Wind Mystery Technique - Kamaitachi, Hurry!"

Just as this order came out, the yokai pattern of a weasel on the scroll exploded with a "bang".

A stream of light flashed in Suren's left eye, and he clearly saw something窜出来. A rapidly moving spirit body appeared in his soul perception.

That scroll was also a good thing, the [Hundred Ghost Night Parade Scroll], which sealed the existence of many ghosts.

He was not polite, and pinched the sorcerer's seal. His eyes widened, "Flesh Alchemy - Vajra!"

Looking again, his whole body flowed with a metallic luster like gold paint. The [Vajra] secret technique understood by the fifth-tier law was not so easy to break!

"Ding"

"Ding"

"Ding"

"..."

Almost at the moment when Suren's sorcerer was condensing, a strange whirlwind襲来. Sparks flew from his skin, and the yokai caused hundreds of attacks in an extreme amount of time. The sharp sound like the collision of swords and swords rang densely in his ears.

"The Wind Yokai [Kamaitachi] can kill people invisibly. As expected, the legend is true."

Suren's expression was slightly dignified. Even though he had the Vajra to protect him, the high-frequency cutting damage made him feel his skin gradually heating up. If he continued to resist, he might not be able to hold on.

Moreover, there was more than one kind of yokai sealed in that [Hundred Ghost Night Parade Scroll].

This "Yokai" Abe Taiwa's strength was unfathomable.

In just one encounter, Suren knew that this was a tricky opponent.

He became extremely vigilant in his heart.

.......

At the same time, Abe Taiwa, as the opponent, was also shocked.

He thought that releasing the yokai [Kamaitachi] would easily subdue him. That speed would make people unable to defend against it, and it was more than enough to deal with most so-called fourth-tier and fifth-tier alchemists. He didn't expect that it wouldn't work?

A puppeteer, whose body is so strong?

Moreover, when he released the yokai, the other party was obviously not idle.

Just at that moment, he found dense threads suddenly appearing around his body. These threads, wrapped with pale blue wind elements, made him see a sharpness with his naked eyes.

Suren in the distance grabbed his hands in the void and tore them violently, "Controlling the Dead Secret Technique - Bird in a Cage!"

Abe Taiwa also twitched his eyes, and made a sword formula with his index and middle fingers and shouted in front of his mouth: "Substitute!"

Looking again, the threads cut his body into dozens of pieces smoothly. Big Wind Novel

But as the light and shadow swept past, there was no scene of blood splashing around. The figure actually turned into a piece of paper that was slowly falling.

"What a strange Shinto technique..."

Seeing this, Suren's eyes narrowed slightly, and he once again captured the soul fluctuations dozens of meters away.

The soul fire was clearly still there, so how could it suddenly turn into a paper doll?

There were no spatial fluctuations, no physical displacement, and it wasn't the [Flash Step] in ninjutsu...

He didn't understand the principle of this "Paper Doll Secret Technique" for a while.

Alchemists had an instinctive persistence for the unknown.

Although he was still wondering in his heart, Suren's actions were not slow. His eyes suddenly became bloodshot, and he clapped his hands, "Flesh Alchemy - Hormone Outbreak!"

Whether it was the Black Scythe, the threads, or the puppets, they were of limited use against this guy.

Suren was already thinking about other things in his heart.

He wanted to kill this guy before, but now the goal was to try to find out the other party's roots as much as possible.

Shinto sorcerers, like most magic-based professions, had a shortcoming, that was, their bodies were weak.

So Suren chose close-range hand-to-hand combat.

This allowed him to better perceive the mystery of the "Paper Doll Technique", and that guy wouldn't be able to run away so easily.

.......

"Pa!"

"Pa!"

"Pa!"

"..."

Stepping on the air, a series of explosions echoed in the air.

Looking at the figure in front of him suddenly increasing his speed several times and rushing towards him, Abe Taiwa was also greatly surprised in his heart: "Isn't this guy supposed to be a puppeteer, how come his methods are so evil..."

Seeing this trend of hand-to-hand combat, he didn't understand what the other party wanted to do, and he didn't dare to reveal his cards casually.

At this level of close combat, he couldn't be careless.

Abe Taiwa shouted again, his whole body's yokai spirit power surged, and he shouted fiercely: "Tunjia Technique - Open!"

Looking again, his robe moved without wind, and his muscles visibly swelled a circle.

In the next moment, Suren's fists and feet had already

In this way, the two sorcerers who relied on manipulating external objects actually started fighting hand-to-hand.

Both were secret techniques that suppressed the potential of the body, and a good physical foundation would inevitably have an advantage. Suren had a body modified by "X Serum", and his recovery, toughness, and strength were all absolutely advantageous compared to ordinary people. Therefore, as long as he didn't risk his life, Suren would inevitably have an absolute advantage.

The two sides fought fiercely in the chessboard space, and Suren manipulated the threads and puppet dimensions from time to time.

Abe Taiwa's expression became more and more strange.

He knew that if he continued to fight, he would definitely not be able to gain any advantage without using his true means.

But he didn't intend to fight to the death.

Although he had the opportunity to kill the other party by releasing the yokai from the Hundred Ghost Scroll, when he arrived at the [Flash] space secret technique, he knew that he had no chance of leaving Suren behind.

Continuing to fight would be meaningless other than exposing his cards.

Finally, after touching each other and pulling away, Abe Taiwa once again took out the [Hundred Ghost Night Parade Scroll], pinched a formula and patted it, and a huge red [Wooden Fish Daruma] appeared in the space.

Suren watched helplessly as this guy jumped into the yokai's mouth, and then the yokai aura exploded, disappearing together in the chessboard space.

He also wondered that this guy clearly had other means, but it seemed that he had no intention of fighting to the death from beginning to end?

Could it be that he was acting on orders, and when he saw that things were impossible, he ran away?

Compared with his previous attitude of chasing after Miko's group all the way, it seemed too perfunctory.

Suren pursed his lips, slightly puzzled.

Anyway, he didn't have the certainty to kill the other party, so if he ran away, he ran away.

The thought flashed through his mind, and he unlocked the chessboard space and walked out.

ps. There are very few authors who code the New Year's Eve without any manuscripts. I also wish the book friends who are following the update a happy new year~ Thank you for your support! !!