Chapter 159: Chapter 158 Pursuit
Chen Mu looked dissatisfied at the twelve Heavenly Generals, "Everything's gone, and you're just standing there like a post, hurry up and go find it!"
"With underlings of this level, Chao Tianwang, I truly feel sorry for you," Chen Mu lamented deeply.
But no matter how much Chen Mu prayed, the twelve Heavenly Generals still hugged the Soul-Calming Stake and stood motionless in their original spot.
It was precisely because these people stood in place that the formation remained active.
If he wanted to conceal himself using Ghosts, he wouldn't be able to escape the encircling trap of the Yin Spirit Strategy.
"Just wait a moment," Chen Mu sighed. He controlled his Ghost to drift to a corner and quietly watched Tu Shan frantically tear through the place.
"Perhaps it's not a person," Chao Fang was the first to regain his composure.
The fervent Tu Shan abruptly appeared before Chao Fang and asked calmly, "What do you mean?"
"There might still be a Ghost within the formation," Chao Fang thought of the black smoke he had seen just now, clearly in the shape of a Ghost.
"Continue to increase the transmission of Vital Energy," Chao Fang's eyes lit up.
The twelve Heavenly Generals began chanting in unison.
"But why can't I feel any loss of Vital Energy?" Chao Fang stared at the Yin Spirit Strategy, puzzled.
"I'll go demolish it!" Tu Shan said gruffly and jumped into the encirclement of the Yin Spirit Strategy with a boom.
Covered in Soul Strength, he was like a mighty beast forged of iron, rampaging within the circle in an attempt to force the hiding Ghost to show itself.
"That's fierce," Chen Mu, hiding not far from Cheng Yi, clicked his tongue in amazement.
But as long as there was no Perceptive observation of the Ghost's techniques, Chen Mu, hiding beside the Heavenly General, could not possibly be discovered.
"Let's see who can outlast the other!"
And so the ruckus continued on until the sun set and darkness fell.
Only then did Tu Shan and Chao Fang leave Qingshan County with faces full of reluctance as they dismantled the formation.
Chen Mu forcefully suppressed the urge to take off running.
He still let the Ghost carry him, slowly drifting towards the East of the City.
If Chao Fang and Tu Shan were to double back, he'd be done for.
"Better safe than sorry!"
...
It was only when he left the East City Gate and arrived at the banks of the Bailang River that Chen Mu finally took a deep breath.
"It's safe now..."
Looking at the luminescent green gourd in the Five Ghosts Bag, a look of joy appeared on Chen Mu's face.
After nearly half a year of plotting, he had finally gotten the Thousand Mechanism Token.
An immense feeling of satisfaction instantly filled his heart.
It felt just as if he had leveled a Skill to its peak.
"It's a shame we're not in Nanyang Prefecture City, or I'd definitely visit Chunfeng Tower no matter what," he thought.
"I haven't seen Yu Tao for a long time; I really miss her."
Chen Mu merrily floated toward the Tangshan Army station.
"Jie Jia, that money-grubber, isn't here either; otherwise, I would've shown him the Thousand Mechanism Token no matter what."
"It's worth a good sum! He'd be drooling with envy!"
"Haha..."
"I do feel a bit sorry for Chao Tianwang," Chen Mu reflected on Chao Fang's unwilling expression.
He couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Recalling his encounters with Chao Tianwang, Chen Mu felt a sense of exclamation.
The Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique with boundless potential came from Chao Tianwang.
The Soul-Calming Stake that could dispel Ghosts came from Chao Tianwang.
The Thousand Mechanism Token critical to the future of Martial Dao also came from Chao Tianwang.
"Lucky star," he thought.
"From now on, we're friends, the tightest kind! Haha!" Chen Mu chuckled to himself.
"No, I need to catch a few fish. On such a joyous day, I must celebrate," Chen Mu turned around and started walking upstream along the Bailang River.
The Logistics Army guys probably scared witless since I didn't return in the afternoon. If I'm to celebrate, they deserve some rewards and consolation too.
Humming a tune, Chen Mu reached a secluded river bend. He was just about to take out his drunken bait when he lifted his head and saw his so-called 'tight' friend.
At that moment, the other person was standing quietly at the bank of the Bailang River, diagonally facing Chen Mu.
The moonlight shone on his side, revealing a warm and resolute square face.
"Friend, I've been waiting for you for a long time," he said, then turned his head to glance at Chen Mu.
Chen Mu: "..."
Are you kidding me?
He quietly controlled the Ghost to drift half a step to the side.
Then he saw the other person's eyeballs move, the gaze tracking his steps.
Chen Mu's scalp tingled instantly.
Had it not been said that no one in Chao Tianwang's team could see ghosts?
"Cui Cui has misled me!"
...
"Is it a ghost symbiosis? Or is it a special magic artifact?" Chao Fang stared at Chen Mu, speaking slowly and methodically.
"Ghosts only coexist with Daoist bones."
"It seems to be a special magic artifact." Chao Fang declared with certainty.
"How about joining my ranks? We can work together and rob the Tangshan Army." Chao Fang turned his head to glance at the distant camp.
"You're hiding here, also looking to rob the Tangshan Army, right?"
Chen Mu's heart went cold.
"Our paths are indeed fated." Chao Fang smiled, "Is the Soul-Calming Stake useful?"
Chen Mu suddenly realized.
He should have thought of it earlier. The Wuding Ring was able to sense it from a close distance. The Soul-Calming Stake would surely be detected as well.
What he had not anticipated was that, after so long, Chao Tianwang had still not cancelled the lock on the Soul-Calming Stake.
"You probably don't know the effect of the Yin Spirit Strategy."
"If I can't detect ghosts, how am I to nurture them?" Chao Fang stared in Chen Mu's direction, "Moreover, you're holding my Soul-Calming Stake."
Chen Mu slowly put away the Autumn character paper man, revealing his shape, and calmly looked at Chao Fang.
"Hand it over." Chao Fang retracted his smile and said flatly.
Chen Mu's eyes narrowed involuntarily.
Chao Fang, who could control twelve Shell Souls to work for him, must be extremely powerful.
But having waited so long just to obtain the Thousand Mechanism Token, how could he possibly hand it over so easily,
Chen Mu pondered for a moment and said earnestly, "Didn't you want to recruit me? I agree. How about using this item as my Salary Silver?"
Chao Fang fell silent for a long while, "I've changed my mind."
Chen Mu: "..."
"Heh..." Chao Fang chuckled lightly, slowly waving his right hand. A chill air suddenly permeated the atmosphere.
Chen Mu's heart skipped a beat.
This aura, ghosts?!
To command ghosts? Yin Spirit Strategy!
Chao Fang sighed, "People are often blinded by greed."
Hum!
Suddenly, clusters of cold white mist appeared in the air.
That was the river mist suddenly condensing upon encountering a cold object.
Chen Mu looked at over ten invisible objects dragging white mist behind them and suddenly got goosebumps all over.
Over ten ghosts?!
Chao Fang slightly lowered his head, his lips curving into a low chuckle, "Actually, I should thank you."
"If you hadn't stolen it, how would I have had the chance to make it my own?"
"You want to monopolize it? Aren't you afraid that burly man will come after you?!" Chen Mu said gravely.
"Tu Shan?"
"Heh... In a desolate wilderness, where no one is around. If I kill you, who else could bother me, huh."
Chao Fang surveyed his surroundings, nodding with a mocking smile, "You've chosen a good place. Being buried here might just let you Ascend to Immortality."
"Huff..." Chen Mu let out a long breath, "If it pleases you."
Chao Fang was taken aback, suddenly feeling that something was amiss.
"It would have been so good if you had agreed to cooperate." Chen Mu sighed.
Helping Chao Fang find a new Thousand Mechanism Token would also have been a win-win cooperation.
It's a pity that what Chao Fang had in mind was to secretly possess it without Tu Shan's knowledge.
"Then there's no other way." Chen Mu raised his head and stared intently at Chao Fang.
Ever since he came to this world, he had always felt oppressed.
Dangers lurked everywhere, and a slight misstep could mean the loss of his life.
He constantly pushed himself without a moment's rest, working hard to improve his Proficiency. All to take control of his own fate.
Jet Black Soul Strength slowly surfaced, muscles across his body rapidly bulging.
In the blink of an eye, he had transformed from a frail youth of one meter seventy-five to a muscular giant of one meter ninety.
Chen Mu glared fiercely at Chao Fang, as if staring down a world full of malicious intent.
"Come, let me kill you!"