Twilight Boundary-Chapter 570 - 561: Slaying the Human Demon

"Sect Hierarch, Sect Hierarch indeed has great skill..."

As they gazed at the Red Lantern from afar, the Food Protection Army, whose leader was from the Red Lantern Society, felt their morale soar. Even the disciples of the One Coin Sect, who pledged to "not eat beef," were greatly pleased.

They knew the noble had already arrived at the edge of the battlefield. Though they didn’t dare shout loudly, the exchange of glances among them showed a shared spirit of rejuvenation. *"The Sect Hierarch said he would suppress the hungry ghosts, and indeed, the ghosts were suppressed. He said he would resolve the altar in the city, and indeed, it was resolved..."*

*"Could this be the Sect Hierarch’s skill, accurately predicting the reactions of that foolish young master from the Ten Surnames family?"*

*"Now it’s time for us to showcase our skills..."*

Amidst loud laughter, each of them displayed their abilities. Under the illumination of the Red Lantern, they steadied the battlefield. Abruptly, with a fierce shout, he ordered his men to unfurl six large flags.

Blue, yellow, black, white, dark, and purple lined up in a row. He loosened his hair, took up a sword, and began casting Magic.

"Wind, arise!"

Seeing the battle formations, he pointed with his sword, and the yellow flag beside him stirred. A fierce wind gusted, carrying sand and rocks, sweeping from behind the Food Protection Army to the horde of hungry ghosts, blinding them and scattering their spirits.

This was the Big Wind Flag.

Observing the battlefield, he saw a battalion trapped and struggling against the hungry ghosts. He then performed the Gang Step, loudly chanting, and again pointed his sword forward.

WHOOSH!

The black flag behind him fluttered. The soldiers’ weapons seemed sharper, their armor heavier, and their blood boiled. Yet, their courage was invisibly fortified, allowing them to hold on.

This was the Fierce Soldier Flag.

Four other flags were temporarily unused. One was the Plague Flag; if Magic was performed and it was blown into the enemy formation, it could worsen the enemy’s wounded with an incurable curse, making small injuries turn into large ones that were difficult to treat, slowing their advance.

Another was the Unripe Flag, which could prevent the enemy from cooking, forcing their troops to eat raw grains.

The Ghost Cry Flag could be used to make the enemy hear endless ghost cries at night, disturbing their rest.

Another was the Rain Summoning Flag, which could call torrential rain to hinder the enemy’s march.

Of course, the hungry ghosts had their advantages. Though this Iron Mouth Think Tank had six flags, the latter four were nearly useless against the hungry ghosts. For now, they stood merely as a display of prestige, temporarily unnecessary.

But even using just two flags, the ghost qi of the hungry ghost army was suppressed, and even the Mana summoned by the city’s Magic Altar was greatly dispersed. In such a stalemate, it was time for his Strange Skill to shine.

In no time, the Food Protection Army fought with increasing valor, driving back the hungry ghosts. Some of them, feeling shame and fear as their human emotions returned, were already reaching the brink of collapse.

"Attack..."

At the same time, within the hungry ghost army, some battalions appeared even more ferocious. This was the Heavenly Destiny General riding a Red Fire Bull, along with the Human Demon Generals at various positions, all displaying utmost ferocity and growing more ruthless amidst the battle.

This Heavenly Destiny General counted as one. His twelve Human Demon Generals had been trapped by the One Coin Sect’s abnormal magic; one had been burned to death, while four others, subdued by the Magic Altar in a hidden part of Mingzhou, had been killed by various spirits.

Seven remained by this Heavenly Destiny General’s side, all displaying ferocity. The Food Protection Army, though courageous, clearly could not match them in battle proficiency.

If this were an ordinary battle, their bravery might have changed the battlefield’s tide.

But just then, amidst the night, heavy hoofbeats suddenly sounded from all sides like rolling thunder, shaking hearts. To everyone’s amazement, several great flags suddenly charged out from the darkness, each leading troops.

In their ears, they heard powerful voices: "The White Armor Army of Shima Town, Iron Bridge Sun San, has come to aid the Food Protection Army!"

"Great Shanbao old altar master Tang Huaiyi, here to assist the Food Protection Army!"

"Top Altar Master Bai Shan’er of the One Coin Sect, by order of the Supreme Sect Master, here to assist the Food Protection Army!"

"..."

"What?"

In the panic, those quick-witted enough had even started preparing to turn and flee. Suddenly hearing these loud shouts sent shivers down their spines.

Delighted, they looked ahead and saw various troops galloping under flags raised in the night.

Yang Gong, originally by his horse, holding a knife and guarding the formation’s front, was overjoyed at the noise. Hastily turning to the Iron Mouth Think Tank beside him, he asked, "Sir, this... this is?"

"Heh, heh, the General’s reputation for protecting the people’s food has spread, drawing the support of righteous men from all sides."

This Iron Mouth, a disciple of the One Coin Sect, merely chuckled at this, not revealing more of the One Coin Sect’s arrangements. Yet this simple sentence greatly excited Yang Gong, filling him with the thought, I have not failed the people, and the people will not fail me...

"My brother didn’t lie to me!"

"..."

The White Armor Army, famous for their Paper Armor that seemed ineffective at first but proved highly effective against the hungry ghosts, played a crucial role at this critical moment.

Especially since the White Armor Army included figures like Old Master Sun and Great Shanbao Altar Master Tang, who were Shousui of the Entering the Mansion stage. They led the charge, and each immediately took on one of the Human Demon Generals within the formation.

However, this was not the end. Seeing the battle grow bloodier, Yang Gong, unable to restrain himself, was about to step forward to face a Human Demon General but was pulled back by the One Coin Think Tank, Iron Mouth. As commander, he couldn’t throw his life away.

This brief delay allowed him to hear more hoofbeats from behind in the night wind. Emerging from the direction of Old Yin Mountain came more troops, each contingent small in number, led by figures with peculiar appearances.

One was broad and tall, with arms nearly touching the ground. Another was as skinny as a monkey, their eyes sparkling with intelligence.

They dismounted at the battlefield’s edge, bowing towards the dimly visible iron coffin in the night where the noble from the Hu Family sat, then charged laughing into the fray:

"Hearing the Food Protection General’s name, we have come on the orders of the Great Master Zhensui to assist!"

"Slaying hungry ghosts is everyone’s duty. Though we have no intention of enlisting, we must lend a hand!"

"..."

Without greeting Yang Gong, they rushed into the battle, each targeting a Human Demon General, bravely meeting them in combat and holding their own.

"Huh?"

Seeing more formidable characters arriving, Yang Gong and the others were naturally delighted. Yet Hu Ma, sitting behind on the iron coffin, raised an eyebrow in surprise: The mountain lord is joining the fun too?

The White Armor Army’s arrival was no surprise. Immortal Miaoshan had arranged it long ago; they were a large army, hence slower in coming.

However, the four fierce generals coming swiftly from the direction of Old Yin Mountain afterward stood out to him. They were clearly not human—either transformed spirits or spirits possessing humans, borrowing human forms to join the army.

Though he had given orders in Mingzhou, many spirits caused trouble far and wide, but few dared venture into this army. These few spirits joining Yang Gong’s Food Protection Army to fight indicated their cultivation was not ordinarily deep.

Such deep cultivation, and coming from Old Yin Mountain, made their allegiance clear.

As these individuals charged into the battle, the situation changed. Watching this made even him feel eager, seeing that not all of the Human Demon Generals had been engaged yet. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a bell-like laugh erupted from one corner of the battlefield, refreshing everyone’s spirits:

"Red Lantern Society’s White Belt little Worship, sworn good sister of the Left Protector, Elder Grandmother from Lu’s Rice Store of Wutong County, Shanyin City, Gunzhou..."

"...here to assist!"

"..."

"Huh?"

Hu Ma, hearing this commotion, was taken aback, dazedly turning to see Gua Shao riding a horse, apparently stolen from somewhere, clattering onto the battlefield accompanied by a group of yin wind little ghosts, shouting loudly.

However, the little ghosts with her couldn’t withstand the battlefield’s living aura of blood and qi, fleeing after a few steps. The horse also didn’t obey, and upon reaching the battlefield, it bucked and leaped, directly throwing her off.

She fell face-first, landing right in front of a Human Demon General.

The blood-crazed Human Demon General paused, stunned by this unexpected figure who had appeared from nowhere. He raised his great spear, about to pin this person to the ground.

But unexpectedly, this disoriented woman, her hairpins and dress in disarray, suddenly raised her head. She pulled an object from her sleeve—a piece of beef gallstone, looking like neither stone nor bone.

Aiming at the Human Demon General, she blew towards his face. Instantly, a yin wind manifested over the beef gallstone. In the ghostly atmosphere, the ethereal form of a yellow ox could be seen appearing silently, charging straight at this Human Demon General’s face.

The shadow, though illusory, wasn’t enough to knock the Human Demon General from his mount, but it left him dizzy, his ears ringing, his spirit adrift and uncontrollable.

During the chaos in Mingzhou involving the Five Evil, Gua Shao had obtained two treasures. The Golden Carp Evil had been released and not yet retrieved. This, however, was a treasure of misfortune. It was usable even on the battlefield. She blew it into the Human Demon General’s orifices, rendering his Divine Soul unstable.

With a howl, Gua Shao leaped onto the General’s back, drawing a short knife from her sleeve and stabbing fiercely into the soul gate acupoint beside the ninth segment of his spine.

One stab, two stabs, three stabs, and then another, leaving a messy smear of blood.

This was the weak point of the Human Demon Generals, discovered by the Grass Heart Hall in the city, and word had long been sent out. But amidst the murky chaos of the battlefield, with soldiers flustered and horses in disarray, it wasn’t like jianghu combat where one could aim precisely. Yet, she had managed to land a solid hit.

Not even the Human Demon General imagined he would die at the hands of such a feeble-seeming wealthy lady. As he tumbled from his horse, his face still showed utter resentment.

Gua Shao, however, extracted her knife, gazing at it excitedly and exclaiming, "A prime evil soul in hand! I shall be Entering the Mansion too..."

...

This display left Hu Ma momentarily speechless, inwardly exclaiming, Damn!