Chapter 74: Ambush Upon Ambush

The Soldier Soul frowned and said angrily, "What, is this Zhang Cheng who sells his services to the Japanese pirates very formidable?"

That monster shook its head quickly and said, "I take it you are a soldier who died in battle recently? You don't know Daoist Zhang Cheng? He is a thorn in the side of the Japanese pirates right now!"

The Soldier Soul's angry expression turned somewhat awkward, and he asked with suspicion, "Ah? I really don't know him; perhaps I died in battle too quickly. But hearing you say that, he should be a patriot, so why did he take in a Japanese pirate monster?"

That monster rolled its eyes and said, "Sigh, don't mention it. I heard this Kappa was originally a shikigami of an Onmyoji, but it ended up defecting to Daoist Zhang Cheng, and now it shows no mercy when attacking the Japanese pirates."

The Soldier Soul grumbled, "Damn it, what a sensible bootlicker. Since he has already abandoned darkness for light, I won't cause him any trouble."

Mitaro had heard the Soldier Soul's words long ago, but seeing that these Soldier Souls hadn't made a move, he hadn't stirred.

He remembered Zhang Cheng muttering something about the Five-Fiend Soldiers and Horses, and in order to earn merit, he immediately called out to that group of Soldier Souls, "Brothers, if you have nowhere to go, you can come serve under my master as Five-Fiend Soldiers and Horses."

The leading Soldier Soul was a Second Lieutenant; he looked at the hundred or so Soldier Souls behind him and asked, "Brothers, what do you think?"

"Officer, as long as we can fight the Japanese pirates, anything is fine."

"Right, I've been looking to take revenge on the Japanese pirates anyway!"

"Damn it, what a great opportunity, can't miss it!"

The crowd of Soldier Souls clamored that they must take revenge on the Japanese pirates.

Mitaro patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, brothers, when the time comes, I'll lead the charge against the Japanese pirates!"

"Hahaha..."

The crowd of Soldier Souls only found it funny and burst into laughter.

Seeing that everyone didn't object, Mitaro thought his merit was secure and laughed along.

Under the leadership of the Second Lieutenant, the group of Soldier Souls agreed to become Five-Fiend Soldiers and Horses. Mitaro was overjoyed; with his mission of recruiting soldiers and buying horses complete, he immediately said, "Alright then, brothers, follow me back."

Mitaro led the way immediately, using the Thousand-Mile Mountains and Rivers Map to take those spirits and monsters inside, and hurried toward the city.

Seeing Shanghai City from afar, Mitaro felt quite happy; having earned merit this time, perhaps he could obtain another magic treasure.

The next second.

A massive amount of golden light appeared, locking him directly within an array.

Mitaro said in a great rage, "Who!"

Li Feng appeared with a few people and said, "You Kappa, don't think about struggling, just obediently accept your death!"

Mitaro was somewhat panicked and quickly activated a talisman paper to call for help.

He stalled for time, saying, "Heh, a tiny little array wants to trap me?"

Having said that, he drew his sword and slashed; the magic array shook, and Mitaro's face showed joy as he laughed loudly, "Hahaha, inferior goods!"

Li Feng secretly thought that he was indeed a capable officer under Zhang Cheng and truly had some skills. He immediately said, "Friends, don't hold back, suppress him!"

The magic array was strengthened again, and Mitaro clearly felt the pressure. He was greatly surprised and immediately pulled out a magic arrow and stuck it into the ground, resisting the pressure of the array, but the arrow shaft was trembling slightly, and the amplitude increased with time.

Just as Mitaro was resisting the enemy's array, Zhang Cheng had already received Mitaro's distress signal. He immediately rushed out of the villa and vaulted over walls and roofs on the high buildings.

After running for several hundred meters, he discovered something unusual about the building a few hundred meters ahead. He approached rapidly, pinching a hand seal in his hand.

As soon as he got close, a large number of fireballs appeared from all directions to surround and attack him.

Zhang Cheng was greatly alarmed and shouted, "Nine Chrysanthemums Sect!"

"Hurry as if by law!"

Bolts of thunder fell, striking countless fire stones.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

As soon as Zhang Cheng landed, he saw over a hundred members of the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect appear, more than half of whom were women.

Leading them was Takanashi Anko; as for Fukada Miko, she had not appeared, as she was nearby guarding against Zhang Cheng's master, Perfected Jinbao.

Takanashi Anko stared at Zhang Cheng, licked her lips, and said, "Zhang Cheng, you have been surrounded by our Nine Chrysanthemums School. If you defect to us now, you can still keep your life."

Zhang Cheng didn't waste words and directly took out Five-Thunder Spirit Talismans and threw them in all directions.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

More than a dozen Nine Chrysanthemums members nearby were injured.

Takanashi Anko was not angry; instead, she was very excited and said, "As expected of the man I admire, he truly has spirit. Take him!"

A Nine Chrysanthemums member asked, "Senior Sister, do you want him alive?"

Takanashi Anko had an adoring expression on her face and said softly, "This is the man I like, life or death does not matter."

The Nine Chrysanthemums female member's eyelid twitched; she really hadn't expected this reversal.

She immediately said loudly, "Senior Sister has ordered, life or death does not matter!"

Over a hundred Nine Chrysanthemums members swarmed forward immediately; puppets, fire stones, and evil winds rushed toward Zhang Cheng from all directions.

Zhang Cheng widened his eyes, let out a roar, and unleashed the Seven-Star Copper Sword, immediately flying into the high sky on the sword. Following that, he directly cast the Giant Wood Curse, and countless pieces of wood fell from the sky, smashing toward the Nine Chrysanthemums members below.

Takanashi Anko trembled all over with excitement and shouted, "He can really fly on a sword, how amazing! It makes me so excited!"

An abnormal flush had already appeared on her face.

Seeing that her disciples were likely unable to stop the sword-flying Zhang Cheng, Fukada Miko immediately rushed out, a gust of violent wind charging toward Zhang Cheng.

The violent wind blew, and Zhang Cheng, high in the sky, was blown swaying left and right, nearly falling down.

Seeing Fukada Miko in the distance, he felt wary in his heart. He immediately used the Five-Thunder Command, and a bolt of heavenly thunder struck toward Fukada Miko; she immediately used both hands to cast magic to withstand the heavenly thunder.

Zhang Cheng was overjoyed and immediately turned the sword to fly back.

Fukada Miko was greatly alarmed; her entire body's magic power surged, and she quickly neutralized that bolt of heavenly thunder.

"Chase!"

Fukada Miko shouted and hurriedly gave chase.

Hearing Fukada Miko's angry shout, Zhang Cheng immediately increased his speed.

But Fukada Miko was getting closer and closer as she chased.

"Damn it, the Japanese pirates have really gone to great pains to kill me!"

He immediately took out the Sha-Refining Treasure Gourd to release wisps of Qi, and then immediately took out the Fire Crow Pot.

He noticed Yoshiko Fukada entering the range and immediately released the fire crow; a ball of fire resembling a crow flew out, simultaneously igniting those wisps of Qi, instantly setting a large fire all around Yoshiko Fukada.

"Damn it!"

Yoshiko Fukada hurriedly cast a spell to resist the fire crow.

The heat of that fire crow made her magic power evaporate rapidly as if it were water, and she cried out in alarm: "This fire demon is powerful, quickly lend me a hand!"

The Nine Chrysanthemum Society members below immediately jumped onto the high building to come help, but some Nine Chrysanthemum Society members with weak magic power were directly scorched by the heat wave.

The rest were shocked and dared not approach.

Yoshiko Fukada gave a delicate shout and could only summon her own puppet to block in front, then quickly retreated.

"Boom!"

The puppet was directly blown to pieces by the fire crow.

Seeing her master suffer a loss, Anko Takanashi's eyes gleamed with strange light. She walked to Yoshiko Fukada and said: "Master, are you alright?"

Yoshiko Fukada's face was ashen as she said: "This Zhang Cheng has so many magic treasures on him! Just how many magic treasures did Perfected One Jinbao give him! Even I almost fell for it; it seems Maruko and the others were likely killed by this Zhang Cheng."

(End of this chapter)