Cao Yanbing's voice echoed through the midnight Japanese courtyard.
Nakao stood frozen, his gaze fixed on Yu Jin, who exuded a powerful aura. His heart pounded wildly.
He knew.
He had stumbled upon a formidable opponent today.
If not for the paper of the Crow Tengu Shikigami in his hand, burning fiercely and turning to ash as it drifted away with the night breeze, Nakao would have felt as if he were dreaming. He was actually fighting the descendant of Cao Cao, and what's more, the descendant had one of Cao Cao's generals.
Nakao's calm demeanor vanished, replaced by a grave expression as he looked at Cao Yanbing.
"I never expected you to be a descendant of Cao Cao. I misjudged you. If this were before you killed my Crow Tengu, I might have sought a truce, as I don't wish for mutual destruction. But since you killed my Crow Tengu, this matter is destined to end only in death."
As he spoke, he produced a black Shikigami paper, different from the white ones before. Intricate runes coiled around it, bearing the characters for Shikigami. As he chanted, he declared:
"Don't think you have the upper hand just because you have Yu Jin."
With his words, the black Shikigami paper in his hand ignited. Instantly, piercing shrieks erupted, like the wails of ghosts and the cries of countless infants, chilling to the bone.
The next moment.
The burning Shikigami paper transformed into black flames, and a ghost exuding a terrifying, chilling aura appeared.
"A Ghost King-level vengeful spirit!"
Fuka Miko's face changed drastically. Even from a distance, she could feel the bone-chilling demonic energy, the aura of a Ghost King.
"This is bad, Xiao Qi! Quickly notify Mr. Cao Yanbing. That's a Ghost King-level vengeful spirit, empowered by an Onmyoji. Such vengeful spirits are incredibly powerful. Even Mr. Cao Yanbing with Yu Jin might not be able to handle it. Oh heavens, two of them..."
She trailed off, her pupils constricting as she realized that after the first Ghost King emerged from the black flames, the flames had not dissipated. They continued to churn like a sea of fire, and close behind, a more robust yet tender hand emerged.
It was a ghost infant, larger than an adult, exuding a terrifying Ghost King-level aura.
"A mother-child type Ghost King Shikigami?!"
Fuka Miko recognized the newcomer and could no longer remain calm.
"Two Ghost Kings, and a twin mother-child pair. It's over, Mr. Cao Yanbing is in danger. This is even more dangerous than the Crow Tengu's clones. Not to mention the Ghost King-level strength, which already surpasses the Crow Tengu, but these are also mother-child Ghost Kings. Killing just one of them is useless; they must be killed simultaneously."
Growing increasingly anxious, Fuka Miko made to turn and help.
Right now, only Cao Yanbing and his single Shikigami, Yu Jin, were in the field. Dealing with one Ghost King was difficult, let alone two. And Nakao had said it was a fight to the death, meaning he would surely attack Cao Yanbing. After all, Onmyoji were typically weak in close combat.
However, as she turned, a hand stopped her.
"Xiao Qi, why are you stopping me? Mr. Cao Yanbing is in danger."
"Miko, wait. Don't worry, Cao Yanbing will be fine."
Xiao Qi held Fuka Miko's arm, gesturing for her to look.
Fuka Miko paused, but then patiently looked towards the courtyard. Her face instantly filled with astonishment.
At the same moment.
Within the Japanese courtyard.
Seeing the mother-child Ghost Kings summoned, Nakao said gravely:
"If I had encountered you a few days ago, I would have fled or surrendered. After all, with my strength, I am no match for your Shikigami Yu Jin. But now it's different. This is what I worked tirelessly to obtain a few days ago: the Mother-Child Ghost Kings."
As he spoke, Nakao did not hold back and summoned three more Shikigami. Although not as powerful as the Crow Tengu or the Mother-Child Ghost Kings, they were all at the level of Great Nyudo.
His opponent was a descendant of Cao Cao, so he dared not be careless. He intended to use all his might to kill him here and seize his Shikigami, Yu Jin. With Yu Jin as a Shikigami, his overall strength would skyrocket. With proper cultivation, Yu Jin would become his main force, allowing him to ascend among the top Onmyoji... Wait! Something is wrong!
Just as he summoned all his Shikigami and ordered the Mother-Child Ghost Kings to engage Yu Jin, while another took the opportunity to kill Cao Yanbing.
He noticed Cao Yanbing's expression... there was no trace of panic.
On the other side.
Cao Yanbing, seeing that his opponent had revealed all his Shikigami, finally reacted.
"You've played all your cards, haven't you? Is that ghost your final trump card?"
"Hmm? What do you mean by that?" Nakao's expression darkened.
"Of course, I'll make my move after you've revealed your trump card. Speaking of which, is this your final trump card..."
Cao Yanbing slightly raised his head, his gaze finally settling on the Mother-Child Ghost Kings.
"You don't think you can win just because you have this ghost, do you? Then you might be disappointed."
"Because Yu Jin is not the only Guardian Spirit I have. In other words, my Guardian Spirits are getting impatient. Right... Xu Chu."
As his last word fell.
Boom!!
Intense light erupted behind Cao Yanbing, rising from the ground. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't light at all, but a colossal warrior clad in fiery red armor, as imposing as Mount Tai.
He was immensely tall, radiating a fierce light, rising from the ground and standing there, awe-inspiring.
Sensing the aura of the colossal warrior and hearing the name Cao Yanbing uttered,
Nakao was utterly stunned. He stared at the colossal warrior as if he had seen a ghost, muttering in disbelief.
"No, it can't be."
Xu Chu?!
Wasn't that the name of a famous general from the Three Kingdoms, the commander of Cao Cao's Tiger Guards?
As if realizing something, Nakao's gaze snapped to Yu Jin, then to the colossal warrior named Xu Chu...
At this moment.
The fiery light that enveloped the colossal warrior dissipated, revealing his majestic full form. He turned to Cao Yanbing and said:
"My Lord, what are your orders?"
As his voice echoed, Cao Yanbing, whose robes fluttered in the aura emanating from Xu Chu, spoke in a deep voice:
"Shatter it."
"As you command!"
Xu Chu responded without hesitation. He extended his hand to the side, grasping a massive, thousand-pound pole hammer, and brought it down with a roar towards the Mother-Child Ghost Kings.
The Mother-Child Ghost Kings shrieked in terror and turned to flee.
As Ghost King-level vengeful spirits, they could feel the terrifying aura emanating from Xu Chu, an aura they could not possibly contend with.
Alas.
Although they reacted swiftly, Xu Chu's descending hammer was even faster, closing the distance in an instant.
"Ah!!!!"
The larger of the Mother-Child Ghost Kings, the ghost infant, which was as massive as Xu Chu, raised both hands to try and block, but the hammer smashed it, hands and all, into a pulp of flesh.
[Ding! Mother-Child Ghost Kings are so terrified they want to curse. Nakao, you motherfucker, do you even know how to pick opponents!]
[Host gains System Points +200]
Fortunately, the other mother ghost king was quick enough to escape as the ghost infant was being hammered. It also managed to revive the ghost infant due to their mother-child characteristic, as it was not dead.
However, even with the revival, their terror did not diminish in the slightest.
[Ding! Mother-Child Ghost Kings want to cry. Their first battle as Shikigami, and they encounter someone from over 1700 years ago. How can they even fight?]
[Host gains System Points +220]
On the other side.
Nakao was also terrified. He stared in horror at the newly revived ghost infant, his proud Mother-Child Ghost King Shikigami had been instantly defeated once?!
At this moment.
His face could no longer maintain its composure or gravity. It was filled with horror, and he just wanted to escape before the Mother-Child Ghost Kings were completely smashed. Otherwise, if Yu Jin and Xu Chu joined forces, his Mother-Child Ghost Kings would be finished.
However, as soon as the thought formed.
A voice drifted from Cao Yanbing's side.
"Yes, that's the expression you should have."
He looked at Nakao's expression, holding his Ten Halls of Yama weapon, which resembled a massive club, and said slowly.
"Also, let me tell you a secret. Listen carefully. I have seven Guardian Spirits like this."
...