“The Great Si Ming Flute and Zenggu Drum are ancient treasures contested for army control. The Flute for the sovereign, the Drum the general’s reliance—like two halves of a tiger tally. United, they command all Ghost Clan; divided, they check each other.
“Ultimately, the Great Si Ming Flute still reigns over the Zenggu Drum. Mr. Liu is of the Demon Race; at full power, with his strength, I was still inferior.
“But Mr. Liu cannot control you.
“You possess half human blood, the chess piece I planted in years past. The slumbering Forbidden Army was prepared precisely for you, awaiting the day you came to the Western Regions, to heed your awakening.”
The second “thud” rang out, followed by incessant “thud thud thud thud” from the Rattle Drum.
The Giant Ape roared, “Lord Xiao! It is too late!”
Chaosheng activated the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Map. The earth surged upward as mounds of soil and stone erupted, forming a massive wall to block the approaching War Dead Corpse Ghost army. However, the enemies were far too numerous, blanketing the sky and overwhelming the high wall like crashing waves as they charged toward them. Wu Yingzong let out a great roar and continuously retreated.
In the instant of close-quarters combat, something deep within the earth awakened.
The ground cracked open, and more corpses burst forth from the soil. At the outermost edge were skeletal soldiers clad in tattered Han armor. These soldiers had just awakened from the earth when they were struck, but even more War Dead Corpse Ghosts crawled out from their graves, surging toward the enemies first and holding back Mr. Liu’s army.
The earthen walls collapsed with a thunderous crash. In the graveyard beneath the Tianshan Mountains, the aura of death had reached its peak, even suppressing Chaosheng’s Azure Wood Power. Beneath the pitch-black sky, more and more Corpse Ghosts charged out explosively, overtaking Xiao Kun and the others as they rushed toward Mr. Liu and collided with his forces.
Limbs flew apart, rusted halberds clashed against swords and spears, and the battlefield where the War Dead Corpse Ghost army charged had devolved into utter chaos. A flute’s melody echoed from deep within the canyon. The Zenggu Drum and Great Si Ming Flute unleashed their Magical Power at full strength, forming two domains that collided with each other. The power of the Zenggu Drum was slowly being suppressed by the Great Si Ming Flute.
If it had been an ordinary War Dead Corpse Ghost general, the drum bearer would have completely abandoned their Magic Treasure the moment the Great Si Ming Flute began to play and surrendered with head bowed. But Xiao Kun’s body contained the bloodline of the Human Race. Even as half of the War Dead Corpse Ghost inheritance continuously urged him to bow his head and kneel, the will of the Human Race still supported him, compelling him to go all out and drive the Zenggu Drum!
The two domains collided and slowly merged. The battlefield descended into chaos as soldiers from both sides turned on each other. By the end of the slaughter, it was impossible to tell who were allies and who were enemies. Mr. Liu’s eyes widened as Demonic Qi surged around him, intending to use his own Cultivation Base to suppress Xiao Kun.
Xiao Kun knew this was his only chance. He drew his Tang Dao and shouted, “Chaosheng! Old Wu! Cover me—!”
Xiao Kun held the Zenggu Drum in his left hand and shook out the Senluo Blade in his right. It transformed into a streak of verdant green light in the air, and he swung a circular arc of blade light to protect himself as he shot toward the enemy’s central formation. Meanwhile, Chaosheng went all out, activating the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Map. The earth and stone rose up like ocean waves, pushing toward the enemy cavalry.
Mr. Liu withdrew his hand and ascended into the air. His helmet opened, the flute at his lips, and the music suddenly climbed higher. Sound waves spread outward, causing all the participating troops’ movements to slow.
Xiao Kun, mid-air, suddenly felt dizzy and nearly lost his grip on the Tang Dao. As the sound waves swept through, the battle formation of nearly a hundred thousand War Dead Corpse Ghost soldiers scattered.
But in the next moment, Xiao Kun’s mind cleared. He urged the Zenggu Drum once more.
With a “dong,” the sound waves from the Zenggu Drum spread out, clashing ferociously against the power of the Horizontal Flute like a sharp blade piercing through its domain.
Mr. Liu’s eyes suddenly widened.
“You’re finished.” Xiao Kun’s voice rang out as he streaked forward like lightning, arriving before Mr. Liu. Mr. Liu had no time to stow his flute and drew his sword to block, but Xiao Kun followed up with a dashing backhand slash.
Their figures froze in mid-air. The Tang Dao unleashed a massive blade light nearly a hundred zhang long, which bloomed forth!
The battle formation shattered. Mr. Liu turned into black Qi and fled toward the depths of the canyon. Without the Horizontal Flute’s command, the War Dead Corpse Ghost army began to rout. Xiao Kun’s side’s tens of thousands of troops charged forward, successfully suppressing them and pushing the front line into the canyon.
Xiao Kun flipped in the air and landed with a bow. Mud and water splashed from the ground. The moment he raised his head, the thick dark clouds parted, revealing the magnificent full vista of Kuqa Canyon before them.
