Chapter 145: Captains Join Forces, Storm Da Dong City

The upheaval in Da Dong City attracted the attention of countless people.

And the Headquarters holding a captain meeting only made countless people start to watch and wait.

As Supernatural Incidents increase, recent times have been far from peaceful, with both domestic and foreign situations showing a vague trend toward losing control.

"Is this Da Dong City? I've seen it in photos before, but actually coming near this city inevitably makes me feel surprised."

Outside Da Dong City, a man with a common appearance, looking very ordinary, his body exuding a cold aura, stood at the entrance of the city's street.

"That's why I asked everyone to come first to participate in this Supernatural Incident."

"This Ghost's Ghost's Growth ability is far from trivial, and it also possesses intelligence; letting it run wild could cause unknown trouble next."

Yang Jian stood not far behind the man, his eyes glowing red as he looked at the city filled with apprehension.

"I didn't expect you to come in person; hasn't this Ghost been restraining your Ghost Domain?"

Li Leping turned around and said to Yang Jian behind him.

"I previously thought you would choose to let other captains participate and not come yourself."

"I did have that plan, but if you all fail, I alone lack the ability to resist this Ghost." Yang Jian did not deny this.

"Although my Combat Power is somewhat reduced when facing this Ghost, I still have other means."

"Moreover, to deal with this Ghost, I have indeed brought in assistance."

While the two were speaking, on the distant Road, one by one, people with dry, flat skin, their complexion paper-like, walked over.

"Yang Jian and Li Leping?"

One of the Paper Persons stepped forward, nodded at Yang Jian, then, with some suspicion, spoke to Li Leping.

"It's me." Li Leping was already accustomed to this.

Although they had just finished the captain meeting at Headquarters a few days ago, the situation of Li Leping being forgotten happened again in the blink of an eye.

The Forgetting Ghost Li Leping commands is extremely unique; this Ghost makes people instinctively overlook its existence.

If someone lacks strength, they may even directly forget any memory of it.

In other words, the Supernatural powers on these captains are strong enough; although they also overlook Li Leping, when they do see him they retain an impression.

"What about the others? I didn't expect I arrived this early this time."

Liu San looked around but did not spot any other captains.

"They're here."

Accompanied by a gust of wind, a person appeared on the Road.

This is Cao Yang; after Fang Shiming's death, Cao Yang commanded a portion of the Fierce Ghosts left by Fang Shiming, and together with his own original Fierce Ghosts, he is also a not-weak captain.

"I'm here too."

At the end of the Road, a woman wearing an old black sweater also walked over.

He Yiner, the Fourth Generation Soul Summoner of Taiping Ancient Town.

Originally, He Liansheng, taking advantage of Zhang Hao's command of Ghost Lake, entered the Lake Water and hauled her up.

And using the Soul Summoner's unique methods, He Yiner was revived.

"I brought some old artifacts left by Taiping Ancient Town before; they should help in this battle."

He Yiner's eyes held hatred; the Red and White Double Evil destroyed the Fierce Ghost of Taiping Ancient Town, and she dreams of imprisoning that Ghost.

Because the resurrection method of a Soul Summoner is rather special, He Yiner now, although similar to an Abnormal, has not lost much emotion.

Compared with other captains who use special means to make Fierce Ghosts mistake them for humans.

He Yiner now actually commands the Fierce Ghost as a Wraith, only that this Wraith has existed in reality for a relatively long time.

"What about Li Jun and Han Mo? Those two guys should be about to arrive, right?"

"In the past, when everyone gathered for a Supernatural Incident, they were always the earliest to arrive."

Liu San, after seeing He Yiner, looked around.

A few minutes later, a young man quickly walked over from a side path.

"You're a bit slow this time," Liu San said dissatisfiedly.

"Sorry, but it shouldn't have delayed anything, right?" Han Mo looked up toward the surroundings and saw Li Jun had not arrived.

"These feet are somewhat special; I can only walk here on foot, which takes longer."

Everyone looked at Han Mo's feet; they were a pair of pitch-black dead feet, and with his steps, the Ground left a series of marks.

"These are feet that cannot be shifted by Ghost Domain and can step on Ghost Domain," Yang Jian said, having made a judgment.

These feet can prevent other Fierce Ghosts from shifting his position, and when facing Fierce Ghosts with Ghost Domain, they work very well.

But likewise they also restrict him from using abilities like Ghost Domain.

"Let's keep waiting; Li Jun hasn't arrived yet. If after half an hour he still hasn't come, we won't wait any longer."

Yang Jian checked the time; there were still two minutes left before the agreed time.

According to Li Jun's character, if he has nothing else now, he should have already arrived early.

"Could it be that some accident occurred?" Yang Jian stared at the distant direction, pondering silently.

To ensure success, Yang Jian informed Li Jun about the Ghost Furnace Fire.

After learning of its existence, Li Jun immediately expressed his intention to try it.

Li Jun entered Caesar Grand Hotel more than two days ago; if everything is normal, he should have already emerged.

Time kept flowing.

Half an hour passed quickly.

When the group was about to stop waiting, a faint greenish glow finally appeared on the distant horizon.

"Sorry for being late; I found something in Caesar Grand Hotel and it took some time."

Li Jun's hollow eye sockets burned with eerie green Ghost Fire, extremely unsettling.

Upon close inspection, deep within the eerie green ghost fire, there were specks of golden flame standing in the center of the ghost fire like pupils.

Seeing that everyone remained silent, Li Jun also knew they were waiting for his explanation.

After all, if it weren't an important discovery, he would have no need to waste time there.

"The Ghost Newspaper Agency seems related to the Caesar Grand Hotel; I found many newspapers in a seemingly endless long corridor deep within the hotel."

"Moreover, recalling that the newspaper ghost had also been to the Caesar Grand Hotel, and the newspaper ghost later disappeared, so I spent some time."

Hearing that, the others finally nodded; if it concerns news about the Ghost Newspaper Agency, it indeed warrants spending some time.

After all, this Supernatural Incident's harm and impact on reality are considerable, and no one has yet discovered how this thing delivers newspapers.

"The Ghost Newspaper Agency matter can be discussed later; now we should enter Da Dong City."

Yang Jian raised his hand; the immediate priority is to deal with the Red and White Double Evil, not to handle the Ghost Newspaper Agency.

"By the way, where is your assistant?" Li Leping asked.

Hearing this, Yang Jian looked into the distance, where a red‑clad woman in a Cheongsam had, at some unknown time, already been standing.

When the others looked at her, the woman in the Cheongsam returned a seductive, charming smile.

"Just call her Hong Jie; she can be considered a Republic Era Ghost Tamer," Yang Jian said calmly.

"Hey, don't say that, as if I'm that old," Hong Jie said, displeased.

"I'm only in my twenties, okay?"

Hearing that, Yang Jian sneered. "In her twenties? That's Liu Qingqing's age, right?"

"Isn't that the same?" Hong Jie shrugged, acting indifferent.

"Make it clear, I am your assistant; it's one thing if you don't flatter me, but you actually insult me."

Hearing that, Yang Jian gave no reply, merely gave a cold glance at the other, and then headed toward Da Dong City.

The other captains, seeing this, exchanged glances and all followed Yang Jian.

"Hey, what a clueless man," Hong Jie sighed, and also followed.

"There's no helping it; after all, I also want to deal with this ghost."

The group of eight walked into Da Dong City.

A Supernatural Incident mobilized seven captains and one unknown external aid.

As soon as this news was released, it completely alarmed the entire Ley Line Circle. There are only twelve captains in total; excluding the offline ones, the headquarters now has only two captains remaining out in the field.

If we win this time it's fine; if we lose, the headquarters would truly have to rely on those two captains to eke out a living.

"Indeed, the Red and White Double Evil have become even more bizarre."

Just after entering the city, hearing occasional cries from within, Yang Jian frowned and took out a Hong Bai Shuang Sha Ghost Candle to light.

The Hong Bai Shuang Sha Ghost Candle, once lit, burned fiercely; at this rate it would be exhausted in about three minutes.

And they are now only in the outskirts of Da Dong City; as they move deeper into the city center, the Ghost Candle's burn rate will surely increase again.

"We haven't encountered the Source Ghost yet, and yet the wandering supernatural phenomena throughout the city have already reached this level?" Cao Yang said with a somewhat solemn expression.

Although for them the Ghost Candle can hardly make a major contribution in a Supernatural Incident, its effect is still significant.

At least when investigating a Supernatural Incident, lighting a Ghost Candle gives them the ability to assess the current situation.

And when the lit Ghost Candle is instantly extinguished, it also provides the captains a moment to react.

Even when facing those terrifying Spiritual Realms, the Hong Bai Shuang Sha Ghost Candle can prevent them from depleting their own condition before encountering the Source Ghost.

However, even though they haven't yet seen the Red and White Double Evil, merely stepping into the Ghost Domain, the Ghost Candle's burn rate is already this fast; it's hard to imagine the situation when confronting a real Fierce Ghost.

"Your candle is just some kind of single‑use consumable, right? I recall a place that has a candle workshop, but it's hard for me alone to obtain one."

Hong Jie, looking at the burning Ghost Candle, said, "After we resolve this matter, Yang Jian, you drive for me once, and I'll take you to get it, how about that?"

Upon hearing that, Yang Jian's expression shifted slightly.

The Hong Bai Shuang Sha candle? Is it a Fierce Ghost with an effect similar to a Ghost Candle? The current Ghost Candle indeed lags behind his pace; if that candle workshop can produce stronger Ghost Candles, it would indeed be very helpful to him.

Bang bang bang!

As the group advanced, a muffled crashing sound came from a nearby street, drawing everyone's attention.

Everyone, including Hong Jie who was still speaking, became alert at that moment and fell silent.

All present in the party were individuals with extensive experience in Supernatural Incidents; otherwise they wouldn't have survived to now.

In such a dangerous place, the instant they heard the sound, they already began to act.

Liu San controlled the Paper Person to forge ahead, and Li Leping walked behind the Paper Person.

Although Yang Jian's Ghost Eye was closed at this moment, a pool of water appeared at his feet, and he drew a golden Long Spear from it.

As the group moved through this empty city, they finally discovered the source of the sound.

On a colorless square ahead, people dressed in Funeral Clothes stood there, continuously kneeling before the tallest building in the city.

The number must be over a hundred.

"Bang!" Accompanying Li Leping's advance, a terrifying supernatural force began to corrupt one of the kneeling individuals in Funeral Clothes.

Soon, the person's movements stopped, the whole body collapsed to the ground, and their body began undergoing a bizarre transformation.

Beneath that person's body, a strange cold pool of water appeared, and the person's body slowly became transparent, as if being corroded by some supernatural force.

Moments later, the person Li Leping had attacked had completely vanished, leaving only a water‑soaked Funeral Clothes on the ground.

"Ghost Slave?"

Cao Yang looked at the pallid figures on the square, somewhat surprised.

These kneeling things each emitted a terrifying aura, comparable to a real Fierce Ghost; unexpectedly, they were merely Ghost Slaves.

"Be careful; although we don't know the condition of these Ghost Slaves, if a large number of Funeral‑clad Ghost Slaves surround us, I'm afraid even a single captain would be drained to death here."

Yang Jian's already heavy mood grew even heavier after witnessing the state of these Ghost Slaves.

The situation of these Ghost Slaves is very similar to the ghost infants encountered earlier in Dachang City, except these are not ghost infants but another strange entity.

Although it can still be killed by paranormal forces and thus isn't a true Fierce Ghost, it is far more terrifying than ordinary Ghost Slaves.

Calling it a Ghost Slave may no longer be appropriate; it is a product that exists within the concept of funeral rites.

Perhaps calling it a Funeral Clothes Ghost is more fitting.

Killing the first Ghost Slave seemed to draw the attention of the other Funeral Clothes Ghost Slaves on the Square.

At that moment, those Funeral Clothes Ghosts kneeling toward the city center looked in the direction of Yang Jian and the others.

Accompanied by the gaze of those Funeral Clothes Ghosts, the Ghost Candle in Yang Jian's hand flared up violently.

"Bang bang bang!"

At the moment the Ghost Candle burned out completely, the sound of skulls striking the Ground rang out one after another.

A strange Crying echoed across the Square, seemingly stirring something within the Black and White Ghost Domain, while the surrounding trees of black‑and‑white hue rustled with a susurrus.

Deep within the city, at an unknown time, a strange Crying was being transmitted here.

"Bad! If these Ghost Slaves launch an attack, they will trigger other paranormal phenomena in this Black and White Ghost Domain. Deal with them quickly."

Li Jun startled, and the Ghost Fire on his body ignited the entire Square in an instant.

Logically, when dealing with such a non‑true Fierce Ghost product, Li Jun's Ghost Fire should easily burn them to ash.

However, when the Fierce Ghost's Ghost Fire covered these Funeral Clothes Ghosts, it seemed to be blocked by a layer of clothing soaked as if in tears.

The Ghost Fire that just ignited the bodies of the Funeral Clothes Ghosts immediately fell to the Ground together with the corpse water dripping from the Fierce Ghosts.

It was as if a thin membrane lay on the Fierce Ghosts, preventing the Ghost Fire from adhering to the Funeral Clothes Ghosts at all.

After the Ghost Fire hit the Ground, these Funeral Clothes Ghosts stepped directly onto it, moved to an open area, and began kneeling again.

"This is—Lake Water!"

Yang Jian noticed the scene, startled. "Li Jun, be careful."

"Understood."

Li Jun nodded; his Ghost Fire had once been submerged in the lake bottom, and after Yang Jian's reminder he quickly realized why his Ghost Fire could not ignite these Funeral Clothes Ghosts.

The Lake Water, together with those Funeral Clothes, protects the Funeral Clothes Ghosts at the moment they are ignited, preventing immediate suppression.

Moreover, the Lake Water possesses a paranormal effect that causes everything to sink; upon contact with this water, the Ghost Fire naturally fell off the Funeral Clothes Ghosts.

"It cannot ignite everything instantly, but what if I only deal with a portion?"

Li Jun looked at the few Funeral Clothes Ghosts near him and narrowed the area ignited by his Ghost Fire.

Each Funeral Clothes Ghost is not terrifying alone, but when so many gather, their combined paranormal influence is enough to repel most paranormal attacks.

If one concentrates attacks on a small subset of the Funeral Clothes Ghosts, this situation can be avoided.

Although the lake water on those ghosts can cause the paranormal effect to detach from them, it cannot affect the Ghost Fire until enough paranormal influence has accumulated.

Li Jun's approach is the same as that of the other captains.

Facing so many Funeral Clothes Ghosts, eliminating them all at once is extremely difficult.

A cold, corpse‑smelling wind blew from Cao Yang, lifting a portion of the kneeling Mourning Funeral Clothes Ghosts.

Unable to kneel, the paranormal energy on those Funeral Clothes Ghosts was already reduced by more than half, and Cao Yang easily dealt with that portion.

Liu San has no Ghost Domain, but his attacks are not weak either.

Especially with human‑sea tactics and the like, when facing these Funeral Clothes Ghosts, Paper Persons emerged one by one around Liu San, each attacking the Funeral Clothes Ghosts.

And on Yang Jian's side, it was even simpler and more direct.

The Coffin Nail and hatchet in his hand are a formidable killing weapon.

As the Coffin Nail repeatedly drove into the bodies of the Funeral Clothes Ghosts, they were swiftly killed by Yang Jian.

At the same time, a pool of cold stagnant water appeared at Yang Jian's feet.

Although he cannot currently use a Ghost Domain, the Ghost Lake counts as half a Ghost Domain.

In the stagnant water, the phantom silhouette of a Da Lang Gou was reflected.

As the Da Lang Gou repeatedly leapt from the puddles to pounce on the Funeral Clothes Ghosts, each one collapsed, its skin turning translucent.

However, Yang Jian did not notice.

Some of the Funeral Clothes Ghosts, after being killed, had their bodies lose color and become completely illusory, vanishing.

But the damp Funeral Clothes did not disappear; instead they fell onto the ground and came into contact with the stagnant water.

Some Funeral Clothes even fell directly into the puddles; the already water‑soaked garments became even more damp, floating atop the water.

(End of Chapter)