Chapter 106: A Life-or-Death Battle

Even Zhong Kui was left speechless, shoving aside the notebook Ox Head handed over.

"Alright, I don't blame you either—why go to such lengths?"

"Actually I can understand you guys, after all nobody likes someone who welches on debts."

Zhong Kui spoke with righteous vigor.

The System Sister beside them was a bit confused— isn't Zhong Kui the one who welched?

"How could I feel guilty?"

"To settle this once and for all, I've decided—let's have another match tonight!"

Zhong Kui waved his hand and actually produced a deck of poker cards,

"Mahjong is too complicated; I just learned poker."

"Let's play Landlord!"

"One round decides the winner!"

"..."

In the cozy room,

Zhang Cheng sat on the sofa,

Helplessly watching Ox Head, Horse Face, and other summoned creatures play Landlord on his bed,

Zhang Cheng, helpless: "Sometimes I really want to curse."

Damn it!

Playing cards in the middle of the night is bad enough.

What the hell are you doing running onto my bed!

We absolutely have to decide the winner tonight!

It's just plain boredom.

"All right, all right, don't be mad—I'll give you a lollipop."

The System Sister smiled as she peeled a lollipop and held it to Zhang Cheng's mouth.

Zhang Cheng bit down: "Damn, it's mustard-flavored."

Soon,

The tense, exciting game of Landlord began.

Zhong Kui drew cards and became the landlord.

He led the first play.

Zhong Kui: "Single, three!"

Ox Head: "Rocket!"

"???"

"Go on." Zhong Kui thought Ox Head didn't understand the rules at all.

Ox Head: "Four twos!"

Zhong Kui smiled faintly: "Go on."

Ox Head: "Four aces!"

Zhong Kui laughed loudly: "Keep going, keep going!"

Ox Head: "Four kings!"

Zhong Kui laughed so hard he couldn't close his mouth: "Haha, you really don't know how to play—keep going!"

Ox Head: "Three queens, that's it."

Zhong Kui's smile froze.

He was no longer happy.

"Holy crap! All the good cards ended up in your hands!"

Ox Head spread his hands smugly: "Just good luck, can't help it."

"No way! One more round!" Zhong Kui was hooked.

Ox Head: "Hehe, I'm not playing anymore."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ox Head vanished in a puff of smoke into the Chinese Horror Classic.

Zhong Kui: "..."

That Ox Head guy is utterly hateful!

He now regrets it a little.

Had I known I'd lose, I shouldn't have started the game at all.

Zhang Cheng watched from the side as Zhong Kui flushed with anger, unable to help but smirk and shake his head.

He never imagined that the revered, demon‑slaying, righteous and fearless Holy Lord Zhong Kui, whose killing aura reaches the heavens, would also have such a down‑to‑earth side.

Just then,

a slip of paper drifted down from the ceiling,

landing in Zhong Kui's hand.

Upon seeing it, Zhong Kui's face turned ashen.

【Holy Lord Zhong Kui owes the Ox Head underworld official four strings of spirit money—small business, do not welch.】

——IOU

Hehe.

"..."

Night fell.

The territory of the Victory Alliance, York City was immersed in darkness.

But this did not stop people's steps toward survival.

Although it was already 1:30 a. m., the streets remained extraordinarily bustling; people carrying big and small bags rushed out of the city.

Today, it was unknown whether a news leak had occurred or people's sixth sense was sounding a warning.

The residents of York City almost all mobilized, without warning, like a contagious panic spreading tenfold, then a hundredfold.

"Director Steve, we have found the cause."

"On social media, a blogger with tens of millions of followers posted a video foreshadowing crisis."

A staff member displayed the phone screen to Steve.

The video was well-produced, with chilling music.

The title read: "The battle that will decide the Victory Alliance's survival—how will the high command respond?"

In the video.

That blogger gave a detailed analysis of the situation's origins and development.

He clearly pointed out the predicament facing the Victory Alliance.

Moreover,

He also predicted that to win this showdown, the Victory Alliance must summon the powerful Thousand Ghost City.

Even the conditions required for the summoning were stated clearly.

The video garnered over a hundred million views and tens of millions of likes.

Nearly every resident of York City had watched this video.

To survive.

They had no time to discern the video's truthfulness.

They could only flee York City en masse to avoid becoming sacrifices.

"The conditions for summoning the Thousand Ghost City are top secret—how did this blogger come to know them?"

"It seems there is a traitor among us."

Steve scanned the experienced staff present.

If it weren't for the urgent time,

he would, even at great cost, ferret out this insider.

"We can't delay any longer—the sacrificial ritual begins now!"

Steve said, glancing at the white-clad man beside him.

That man was tall and slender, his hair neatly combed back, arms crossed, his gaze contemptuous,

as if he were the city's ruler, exuding arrogance.

But his complexion was unnaturally pale.

He bore bruise marks.

Dark circles underscored his eyes; he looked sickly and listless.

"If I weren't suffering from a terminal illness, I would never agree to summon the Thousand Ghost City!"

Edward's face was bloodless, his tone calm,

"As agreed, the Thousand Ghost City is not under my control."

"Once summoned, any consequences are none of my concern."

"Furthermore, summoning the Thousand Ghost City means my only fate is death; I hope you remember your promise."

Steve nodded, saying, "Rest assured, I remember."

"If we prevail, I will give the remaining fifty billion to your family and confer upon them the highest noble honor medal."

"At that time, your family will become the most respected family in the alliance."

"Of course, if we fail……"

"Don't even think about failure."

Edward raised a hand to interrupt Steve, "This battle, wagering our lives, I will absolutely not allow defeat!"

"Although the Dragon Nation's Summoned Creatures are strong, I have confidence in the Thousand Ghost City!"

The words fell.

Edward's eyes changed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His originally azure pupils were rapidly filled with darkness, turning completely black.

Then.

He raised his hand toward York City.

His skin resembled burnt paper, peeling away in flakes at a light breath.

Revealing a black arm, crimson veins coursing across it, steadily conveying power.

Next.

In his palm coalesced a black hole.

It frenziedly poured energy into York City.

The modern city was instantly turned upside down.

Cracks madly sprouted from the buildings' bases until each structure split apart.

The ground began to tremble, splitting open countless bottomless pits; those fleeing who weren't careful would fall in and vanish without trace.

"Thousand Ghost City, reveal yourself!"

Edward let out a long breath.

His body floated up, arms wrapped around his knees, curled into a ball.

Crimson light spilled from his body and rapidly expanded; Edward, originally human-shaped, instantly transformed into a scarlet sphere of flesh.

Ascending toward the sky above York City.

Continuously **.

Ultimately transforming into a scarlet moon.

The instant the scarlet moon appeared, the life force of York City's residents was rapidly drained, and the city's appearance regressed to the Middle Ages.

Blood overflowed through the streets, coagulating into a viscous syrup-like substance.

The air was suffused with a strange and unsettling aura.

Steve watched all these changes, his eyes trembling.

"City of a Thousand Ghosts — with this, we should be able to defeat Dragon Nation!"

"Reporting, sir — per your orders, one thousand Summoners have entered York City."

As the staff member finished reporting.

Waves of wailing immediately resounded through York City.

Civilians, the wealthy, and Summoners alike — at this moment, all became sacrifices to the City of a Thousand Ghosts.

This city had countless ghost legends, filling people's hearts with dread.

City of a Thousand Ghosts.

Awakened once more!

Not only that.

Millions of dead souls turned into ghosts, lingering through the streets and alleys.

Those thousand powerful ghosts, meanwhile, concealed themselves in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment!

"The level of the City of a Thousand Ghosts has already surpassed Super SSS-Rank."

"I'm afraid it is on par with Dragon Nation's Summoned Creature."

"It's just…"

A cold smile curled at the corner of Steve's mouth.

In a defensive battle.

They were the guardians, holding the advantage of terrain.

When the opposing sides were of comparable level, falling into the opponent's trap meant being at a disadvantage.

"By the way, sir — Dragon Nation has issued a global announcement, officially defining Super SSS-Rank Summoned Creatures as X-Rank," the staff member continued.

X-Rank?

"Hmph!"

"Dragon Nation sure is full of bluster."

"In the past, setting Summoned Creature Levels always required consultation among nations."

"Are they now so arrogant that they disregard other nations' positions?"

Steve clenched his fists, his eyes full of killing intent.

But he shifted his tone,

"Still… X-Rank does sound much more pleasing to the ear than SSSS-Rank."

Steve looked down at the City of a Thousand Ghosts, like a hell on earth, then gazed at the divine-and-demonic battle arena in the sky,