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Chapter 568: Red Lantern Suppresses the Hungry Ghost
Chapter 568: Red Lantern Suppresses the Hungry Ghost
"The robe, I've brought it for you."
At the camp of Heaven's Mandate General Zhong Benyi, the Elder Sister of the Hu Clan from the Starving Ghost Army arrived. The general sat there in a daze, his eyes devoid of spirit.
Seeing his state, it seemed he too was deeply affected by the news, his face filled with defeat. The continuous stream of messages was more than he could bear.
The forces he had sent out were expected to achieve remarkable results, but not a sound was heard, and they were buried in various places across Mingzhou. Instead, they had inadvertently stirred up the fighting spirit of Mingzhou, adding to the momentum of the Grain Protection Army across the way, leaving people astonished.
"How could this happen? Is this the might of the Ten Surnames' disciples? My five brothers and one thousand followers didn't die in the disaster of Official Province, but they perished in Mingzhou, and not even a ripple was made?"
"..."
He, too, had once been proud, but now with the altar rising in Mingzhou, suppressing the aura of the hungry ghosts, he felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
The Elder Sister of the Hu Clan looked at him, seemingly unable to bear it herself. She wanted to persuade him:
"Not all the disciples of the Ten Surnames are like this. What that cousin did, even we didn't anticipate. He's one of the most unreasonable and unruly among the Ten Surnames..."
But in the end, she too felt exhausted. With so many things she couldn't understand herself, how could she convince others? So, she could only sigh and say, "You need to admit that you lost this battle."
"If you had listened to us from the start and gathered your troops here to defeat the grain bandits, it wouldn't have been so easy for them to suppress you in Mingzhou. But you insisted on causing chaos in Mingzhou, and instead, you delivered yourself into their hands..."
"..."
As he listened to her words, Heaven's Mandate General's eyebrows furrowed tightly. Suddenly, he clenched his teeth and glared at her, saying, "I will wear that robe, and I remember the promise I made to you."
"But give me food. I want to lead my brothers and formally confront them, and personally avenge my brothers."
"But I want to let them have a full meal before we go!"
"..."
Hu Xi remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, her voice low, "It's not that we're unwilling to give you this meal. You're also part of the sect, and you should understand that your Hungry Ghost Army is different. Once they're full, they'll have less strength to fight."
Heaven's Mandate General became furious and shouted, "Does that mean our brothers are destined to starve to death?"
"They don't have to die."
Hu Xi sighed softly and said, "You still have enough men. As long as we win this battle, they can survive. As long as we win, I guarantee there will be enough food and supplies for them to live well."
As she spoke, her attendant brought over an object, surprisingly a food box. She looked at Heaven's Mandate General with complex emotions and said softly, "The things in this box..."
"No need."
Heaven's Mandate General waved his hand dismissively, not looking at her, but glancing at the food box in her hand. "There's too little inside, not enough for our brothers."
"Okay."
After a long silence, Hu Xi ordered her attendant to bring over a tray.
On the tray was an extremely peculiar garment, neither armor nor silk, with traces of bloodstains inside. It looked bizarre and had a malevolent aura, making people dare not look directly at it.
Heaven's Mandate General didn't want to pay attention to them, but upon seeing the garment, he could only accept it with both hands. His expression was respectful, but beneath the reverence, there was also a hint of fear and sorrow.
Hu Xi placed the food box next to the sedan chair and immediately ordered someone to return, saying, "I'll go to the city to meet with Third Uncle and the others, but..."
Heaven's Mandate General kept a cold face and didn't look at her. In the end, she sighed softly, "Wait for my news."
She left, and half an hour later, Heaven's Mandate General kept looking up at the tightly closed city gate and the high walls. He wanted to get angry several times but remained silent. He hadn't eaten all day and hadn't even glanced at the food box.
An hour later, there was still no sign of grain, but suddenly, a command flag rose high in the sky above Mingzhou City. Immediately, thick incense smoke billowed, blowing out of the city walls and towards the Hungry Ghost Army camp.
From within, there were cries of wailing mixed with a cold voice shouting, "What are you still thinking about food for? The time has come. Let's go!"
"Remember what you said. Whether Official Province can still have this last bit of destiny depends on you!"
"..."
At this moment, Heaven's Mandate General closed his eyes tightly. After a long while, he said softly, "I knew it. I knew they wouldn't even give us this last meal..."
No one knew what he was thinking at that moment, but eventually, he stood up, put on the garment, and then picked up the meteor hammer, which was already broken. He threw it aside, grabbed a spear, and walked out of the tent.
"Brothers, we fight for our lives on the battlefield. If we want to live, follow me and fight this last battle!"
"..."
"..."
"These evil ghosts are here..."
Meanwhile, in the Grain Protection Army, various forces and extraordinary individuals were joining, making their momentum even stronger. Just as they were about to take advantage of Mingzhou's rising destiny and forcefully enter the city, they heard that the hungry ghosts were on the move. Not only were they unafraid, but they also rallied their troops and marched forward to meet them.
"Kill!"
After several days of probing, both sides had a good understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. With a wave of their banners, they charged towards each other, and countless troops clashed, creating a chaotic mess of blood and flesh.
Currently, the entire Starving Ghost Army had their Hungry Ghost Aura suppressed by the Mingzhou Altar, no longer exuding the same malevolent aura as before. The Grain Protection Army, with their overwhelming force and surging blood aura, also possessed the power to vanquish evil. Surprisingly, the battle raged on with neither side gaining the upper hand.
Just then, within Mingzhou City, a mysterious incense smoke suddenly appeared behind the Starving Ghost Army, billowing forward.
The Grain Protection Army had numerous exceptional individuals, each leading their troops in a fierce battle against the starving ghosts. Just as they were suppressing the enemy's fierce onslaught, they were caught off guard. The Starving Ghost Army seemed to transform before their eyes, becoming more ferocious and aggressive, charging forward with a rolling dark wind.
In their panic, they could see a tall and noble figure with cold eyes amidst the blood aura surrounding the Starving Ghost Army. With a sweep of his sleeve, a fierce wind arose within the Grain Protection Army.
"This is bad..."
The Iron Mouth Strategist of the Grain Protection Army, carrying six large banners on his back, was about to unleash his unique technique to aid the army. But in an instant, he was buffeted by the howling wind, unable to move. The various leaders within the army also felt the wailing of fierce ghosts in their ears, as if their souls were being blown away by the wind.
Not only now, but even the spirits and demons playing and causing chaos in various parts of Mingzhou, along with the scattered altars, were affected by the wind, causing the candles to flicker wildly, threatening to extinguish.
If they hadn't taken action, this move alone would have startled all of Mingzhou. The might of a provincial god was channeled through the Starving Ghost Army, transforming them into a sweeping force. Wherever they passed, they crushed their opponents, leaving the Grain Protection Army unable to even lift their heads.
"He is indeed ruthless and daring, and his actions are never simple. He makes people both angry and annoyed."
In the main altar of Mingzhou City, the Third Uncle of the Hu Clan stood before the altar, holding a decree flag, and muttered, "It's a pity he doesn't even understand the simplest of things. In the wandering ghosts' spell battle, it's not just about whose altar is higher or bigger, but also about the power of what they invite..."
"The spirits of Mingzhou are indeed troublesome, but who can withstand the fierce might of the Governor God? Unless he intends to invite the Mountain Lord from Old Yin Mountain to intervene?"
"Or perhaps, we can only bring out the Pacifying Evil Office..."
"...Or..."
"...Yes, Second Uncle's words make sense..."
At the same time, in Red Gate Town, Hu Ma witnessed the evil wind and confirmed his suspicions. He sighed, "When distant relatives visit, it's about what they bring..."
"These distant relatives have gone to great lengths, specifically choosing this Governor God and forcing me to deal with him..."
"It's a pity they lack grandeur, and what they've prepared is not up to par!"
"...Indeed..."
As he spoke, his expression darkened, and he glared at the temple of the Red Lantern Lady in Red Gate Town. "Why haven't you gone yet?"
The Red Lantern Lady had already been instructed by Hu Ma to retrieve the Governor God, and her red glow dimmed in fear. She would rather watch over children than face this task, but she had no choice. Reluctantly, her red light gradually brightened.
Hu Ma maintained a stern expression, but inwardly, he wanted to laugh. Seeing her hesitation, he held the Evil Suppression Golden Mace in his hand, silently preparing for what was to come.
Outside the city, the Starving Ghost Army, empowered by the Governor God, became an unstoppable force. In an instant, they overwhelmed the Grain Protection Army, causing chaos and leaving some soldiers scrambling to protect Yang Gong.
However, Yang Gong gritted his teeth and held his ground, refusing to retreat. He glared at the Governor God's shadow above the Starving Ghost Army with hatred. But at that moment, behind the Grain Protection Army, a blood-red light suddenly filled the entire sky.
Everyone was startled, and as they looked up, they saw a scarlet lantern soaring high into the sky, bathing everything in a crimson glow. Accompanying it were over a hundred lively lanterns, dancing like playful children.
As the red light shone, the rolling evil wind from the Starving Ghost Army gradually retreated. The Grain Protection Army felt their spirits rejuvenated, and they even heard a faint nursery rhyme in the distance:
"Worship at Stone Horse, hang the red lantern, and summon ghost soldiers with a copper coin."
"Summon millions of ghost soldiers, reclaim the food offerings for our ancestors..."
"...A countless number of children's voices echoed on the battlefield, seemingly suppressing the dark winds and murderous aura, leaving everyone stunned and momentarily forgetting the battle. All they could hear was the crisp, playful noise and the strange nursery rhyme.
"How is this possible?"
In Mingzhou City, the leader of the main altar, with a cold gaze, paid no heed to the Grain Protection Army. But when the red light illuminated the sky, he trembled, "This small Altar God actually..."
"An Altar God?"
In Red Gate Town, Hu Ma smiled, gently tapping the ground with the Evil Suppression Golden Mace, and whispered, "I think it's the Guardian Deity..."
(End of Chapter)
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