Chapter 135: A Bloody Struggle (Please Vote with Monthly and Recommendation Tickets)

The two rows of ghost soldiers leading the way were startled when a huge monstrous creature suddenly appeared before them. Once their eyes adjusted and they recognized it as the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King, they immediately brandished their strange weapons and lunged at it, wildly slashing and stabbing.

The Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King, seeing the ghost soldiers attacking recklessly, did not dodge. Instead, it stood upright and let out a roar. After fending them off with a series of strikes, it suddenly rammed its head into several approaching soldiers, sending them flying like ragdolls before they plunged into the river.

Then the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King let out several more roars, stood firmly on its hind legs, and struck left and right with its front paws like a bow shooting arrows. Every ghost soldier it hit screamed in agony, then was flung dozens of meters away into the dark river, vanishing without a trace.

In less time than it took to drink a mouthful of water, the twenty or thirty ghost soldiers in front were all knocked away and disappeared.

Seeing the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King’s ferocity, Wei Xiaoping immediately spoke to the two Netherworld Hounds that had just arrived beside him: “Old Ma, Bull Flower, flank the Wolf-Lion Beast King from both sides to distract it. I’ll attack from the front. Remember, be ruthless—do whatever it takes to kill it quickly!”

“Yes, master! To rid the underworld of this menace and ensure your safe return to the living world, we will wipe out this most hated creature of the Black River prison!” the two hounds said in unison. They each leapt toward the Wolf-Lion Beast King from opposite sides, lunging at its legs with three snarling mouths biting fiercely.

As Wei Xiaoping jumped toward the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King, he thought to himself: “It’s no small feat for it to have grown this large. Now, seeing how mercilessly it attacks my brother Gao Yang’s ghost soldiers, and recalling how it said it consumed countless underworld spirits over decades to absorb their essence and strengthen its powers—aiming to one day break the King of Hell’s sealing curse—it’s no wonder it’s so massive compared to its kin. I wonder how many spirits have perished at its hands. It must not be allowed to harm any more!”

The Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King, bending down to strike the ghost soldiers on both sides, suddenly noticed two monstrous three-headed dogs approaching from the corners of its eyes. Recognizing them as Wei Xiaoping’s companions, also possessing the magic to evade the King of Hell’s sealing spells, it turned sharply and bent down, aiming to capture Bull Flower on the left.

Seeing the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King bend to the left, Old Ma on the right leapt onto its back, sinking his three sharp-toothed mouths into its flesh and biting down hard, gripping the skin firmly and shaking it in three directions.

However, the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King, having long fed on various ghostly corpses from the living world and absorbed their essence to increase its power, had skin so tough and flexible it could not be torn, despite Old Ma’s razor-sharp teeth clamping down tightly.

Though it couldn’t tear the skin, the bite still caused pain. The Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King turned its head to snap at Old Ma behind it, reaching out to grab him.

At that moment, Bull Flower leapt to its left front leg, biting its left elbow, upper arm, and side with three mouths, claws digging in tightly, pulling back with all its strength.

As the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King tried to stretch its front paws to catch Old Ma on its back, it was restrained by Bull Flower’s grip, forced to turn around and howl in rage.

Seeing the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King trapped by the two hounds, the ghost soldiers in front immediately charged forward, slashing and stabbing with their blades and spears. Yet their weapons were useless against the beast’s invulnerable skin, as if it were merely being tickled.

Meanwhile, after fending off other attacking Wolf-Lion Beasts, Wei Xiaoping saw the two hounds biting the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King and leapt onto its back. Grabbing its fur with his left hand and wielding the Demon-Slaying Sword in his right, he plunged the blade fiercely into its back.

Gao Yang Ghost King, having repelled several entangling Wolf-Lion Beasts, followed and jumped onto the beast’s head, seizing its scalp and hacking mercilessly with his sword.

As he struck, Gao Yang Ghost King urged Wei Xiaoping, “Brother, hurry and take your Netherworld Hounds ashore. Leave the task of blocking the Wolf-Lion Beasts to us!”

Having spoken, he called to Wang Jiming ahead, “Wang Jiming, gather all the brothers and surround the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King. Don’t let it escape a single step, so Wei Xiaoping and the others can get away!” Then he called to the ghost soldiers opening the path eastward, “Brothers, come quickly and help trap this Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King. Leave a few to clear the way for General Wei.”

Hearing Gao Yang’s orders, some ghost soldiers hurried over to encircle the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King.

Meanwhile, Wang Jiming responded with a “Yes,” though inwardly he thought: “Wei Xiaoping is returning to the living world, forever separated from us. I don’t understand why Gao Yang King is helping him open a path back.” Though dissatisfied with Gao Yang’s orders, he could only obey since Gao Yang was their leader.

Reluctantly, he directed other ghost soldiers to attack toward the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King.

Seeing most ghost soldiers rushing toward them, Wei Xiaoping said to Gao Yang, “Brother Gao, then we’ll return to the living world first. We leave the task of blocking the Wolf-Lion Beasts to you! When I’m back, please send me dreams often to tell me how things are—don’t let me worry!”

“Go quickly, no more delays! Remember my words: once back in the living world, do more good for humanity and all living beings!” Gao Yang shouted.

“We must hurry, Old Ma, Bull Flower, don’t make Gao Yang Brother worry for us!” Wei Xiaoping stabbed the Wolf-Lion Beast’s back hard once more, then leapt toward the two rows of ghost soldiers to the east.

The two Netherworld Hounds, hearing his call, tore fiercely at the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King before leaping after Wei Xiaoping’s retreating form.