Chapter 174: Duel at the River Bottom

By the banks of the Jingshui River.

The Water Ghost scourge had only been plaguing the area for a few days, but the once-bustling scenes at the ferry crossing and along the riverbanks were already gone.

Numerous boats were all moored by the shore, rocking back and forth with the waves.

A few broken baskets and several tangled-up old fishing nets were scattered across the muddy bank. The fishing families had left in a hurry, with no time to clean up.

Many of the wooden fishing huts built by the water had their doors and windows shut tight.

An eerie silence permeated the area around the Jingshui River.

Quite a few people had come to watch the spectacle, but most stood watching from a distance, not daring to approach the riverbank.

"Ma’am, Brother He, everyone, please stop here."

Lu Bai turned, cupped his fists slightly, and said, "I can go on my own."

Mo Tang said, "We’ll accompany you to the bank. If the Evil Extermination Bureau is this timid, we’ll become a laughingstock."

The group from the Evil Extermination Bureau escorted Lu Bai to the river’s edge.

Lu Bai looked down at Ah Ming and the Black Dog. "You two stay here," he said.

Ah Ming stood there dumbstruck, showing no reaction.

Even if Lu Bai hadn’t said anything, it couldn’t have gone into the water anyway.

The Black Dog rubbed against Lu Bai’s calf, its dark eyes glowing faintly.

Lu Bai took a deep breath, finished his preparations, and boarded a black-canopied boat on the bank. He untied the rope and began rowing toward the depths of the Jingshui River.

THUMP!

The black-canopied boat dipped slightly.

Lu Bai looked back to see that the Black Dog had also jumped aboard behind him.

"Ah Mo, you..."

Lu Bai was just about to speak.

The Black Dog took another plunge into the river and vanished from sight.

A moment later, it had already reached deeper waters. Its head broke the surface, and it looked over toward Lu Bai.

Judging by the Black Dog’s swimming ability, it was a much better swimmer than he was.

With the Black Dog’s help, Lu Bai felt much more confident, his certainty growing.

After pulling the Black Dog back onto the boat, Lu Bai observed his surroundings as he rowed.

The Jingshui River was unusually calm today.

Lu Bai rowed the black-canopied boat in several circles on the river’s surface, but still, nothing happened.

Just as he was wondering whether he should get in the water, a strange white mist gradually rose from the surface and drifted toward him.

A moment later, it completely enveloped Lu Bai’s black-canopied boat.

"Here it comes!"

Seeing this, everyone on the banks of the Jingshui River thought the same thing.

As they watched, the white mist spread across the Jingshui River, and Lu Bai’s figure quickly disappeared from view.

"These Water Ghosts are so fierce. There are so many of us on the bank, yet they still dare to come out and harm someone."

"Who’s that Evil Exterminator Guard? I’ve never heard of him before."

"I hear he’s from Bluestone City. His name’s Lu Bai, and he has quite the reputation. They call him Black Hand Yama."

"Heh! Well, isn’t this great. Now he’s about to meet Yama himself."

Discussions broke out among the crowd.

"Young Master Lu?"

Just then, a group from Danding Temple walked over. Hearing the surrounding chatter, Li Yue’er let out a soft sound of surprise.

"Yue’er, you know this person?"

True Master Dan Ding asked, glancing to the side.

"I do."

Li Yue’er nodded quickly and said, "Observatory Master, he’s the Young Master Lu I told you about last time, the one who helped avenge Senior Brother Yu."

"If it weren’t for him, I would have been killed by that Little Ghost in Liuxi Town long ago. I can’t believe it’s only been two months, and Young Master Lu has already joined the Evil Extermination Bureau."

True Master Dan Ding nodded. "It seems this man is indeed quite capable."

Mo Tang caught sight of the Danding Temple group out of the corner of her eye. An idea struck her, and she walked over. After the two parties met, they exchanged greetings.

Mo Tang got straight to the point. "I wonder if True Master Dan Ding knows any Magic that can subdue these Water Ghosts?" she asked. "If that Evil Exterminator Guard runs into danger, would the True Master be able to lend a hand in rescuing him? I would be eternally grateful."

"On land, it might be possible."

True Master Dan Ding shook his head. "But underwater, I’m powerless to help."

Mo Tang nodded, then turned back to look at the vast white mist over the river, her heart filled with worry.

Normally, within this mist, Lu Bai would fall into the various Illusion Realms created by the Water Ghosts.

She wasn’t worried about that, however.

Lu Bai had the Yin-Yang Eye; that kind of Illusion Realm shouldn’t affect him much.

But once he entered the water, there were too many variables!

SPLASH! SPLASH!

Just then, two splashes echoed from within the mist on the river.

The hearts of everyone from the Evil Extermination Bureau sank, and they stared intently at the spot.

The white mist on the river’s surface rapidly dispersed, revealing the black-canopied boat to be empty.

With no one to steer it, the boat drifted lazily downstream with the current.

-----------------

When the white mist rolled in, neither Lu Bai nor the Black Dog was affected at all.

Using his Eye of Illusion, Lu Bai peered through the water’s surface and faintly saw ghostly figures emerging from the depths. They wore coir raincoats, exactly like the Water Ghost he had run into that night!

However, these Water Ghosts hadn’t yet manifested bamboo hats.

Lu Bai’s eyes lit up. He took a deep breath, drew his Cyan Cloud Sword with a reverse grip, and plunged headfirst into the Jingshui River.

The Black Dog followed close behind, leaping into the river after him.

As soon as Lu Bai entered the water, he activated the Turtle Breath Technique to extend the air in his lungs for as long as possible.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The ghostly figures swarmed toward him.

"Just what I was waiting for!"

Lu Bai swung his sword. The Five Blood Prohibition’s power erupted from the blade, bursting into five layers of a blood-red halo that illuminated the dim riverbed as if it were day!

Setting aside the sharpness of the blade itself, just the glow of the Blood Prohibition Light was enough to make plumes of green smoke rise from the coir raincoats of the charging Water Ghosts.

Without the protection of these raincoats, the Blood Prohibition Light from the Cyan Cloud Sword alone could have riddled the Water Ghosts with countless holes!

Seeing this, Lu Bai’s spirits soared, and he swung his sword to strike!

Suddenly!

A fierce undercurrent surged from the riverbed. Strands of vibrant green seaweed suddenly emerged from below, quickly wrapping around Lu Bai’s legs.

The seaweed possessed immense strength. It tugged sharply, trying to drag him down to the riverbed!

"Hm?"

Lu Bai’s expression changed. He quickly altered his Sword Stance, intending to sever the seaweed at his feet.

But performing the Red Ming Celestial Patrol on land was one thing; underwater, the resistance from the current was bound to distort his Swordsmanship and slow it down considerably.

Before the Cyan Cloud Sword could cut through the seaweed, even more of it sprouted from the river’s depths, entangling Lu Bai’s arms!

In the blink of an eye, Lu Bai’s limbs were bound. No matter how powerful the Cyan Cloud Sword was, it was now useless.

He couldn’t use his Five Emperors Coins or the Dragon Elephant Suppression Stele.

Lu Bai was inwardly alarmed. ’Good heavens, there really is a Fierce Ghost!’

He had just glanced down and seen a figure deep on the riverbed, clad in a coir raincoat and a bamboo hat.

This seaweed was the Fierce Ghost’s doing!

In these waters, this Fierce Ghost’s power was even greater than the one he had encountered in the coffin!

Lu Bai circulated his Blood Qi and remained calm, allowing the seaweed to drag his body downward.

’As long as I can take care of this Fierce Ghost, the other Great Ghosts are nothing to fear!’

The Black Dog was also diving deeper, its eyes fixed on the Fierce Ghost. It kicked its legs, moving even faster than Lu Bai.

Strands of seaweed snaked toward the Black Dog as well.

A moment later, they had it ensnared.

The Black Dog struggled ceaselessly underwater.

Seeing this, Lu Bai knew he couldn’t wait. He decisively channeled his Blood Qi and activated the Ancient Mirror!

WHOOSH!

In an instant, a massive dark vortex appeared on Lu Bai’s chest, bursting forth with a sinister glow!