At the time of sunset, Huangfu Yi followed Mr. Feng Sr. out of the camp. Along the way, other vassal soldiers assigned to the night patrol tonight joined them. Counting them, there were fourteen men in the squad, and they all exited through the South Gate, while the city's iron gate slowly closed behind them.

This group of soldiers appeared unimpressive, resembling lazy, experienced soldiers, with their gray Lingwu Army great cloaks sloppily draped on them as if they had just woken up and wrapped themselves in dirty bed sheets.

However, upon closer inspection, although these military ruffians were dressed slovenly, resembling shepherds in felt and fur, they were all tall, sturdy warriors, wearing full armor from head to foot. Their bodies were covered with pieces of chain armor and iron plates from head to shoulder to limbs. They carried crossbows, halberds, spears, knives, hammers, axes, and swords, fully equipped and ready for battle. Regardless of where they got these mixed pieces from someone's heirlooms from years past, the point was that they were indeed iron-made.

The vassal soldiers, naturally very familiar with each other, came to a consensus with much chatter. They planned to first take advantage of the early evening to quickly check the seal of the ancient battlefield, Chaotic Tomb Ridge, to prevent being surrounded by zombies and wild ghosts. Then they could take a half-circle stroll around the West City and North City, return to camp, and report. They could then rush into Fireworks Alley, which had just opened, for a good time.

Huangfu Yi, having hailed from a family of military scholars, naturally understood that those who could become Eagle Scouts were the elite among the Lingwu Army. However, to land such a tough job, they likely had some minor issues or personality traits that didn't please their superiors, which is why they couldn't enjoy authority in the personal soldiers' camp but had to suffer night patrol duty.

Hence, Huangfu Yi did not cause trouble and simply adhered to Mr. Feng Sr.'s instructions. He carried his bow and drew his sword, marching at the end of the line. After all, he was destined to travel south to seek the Immortals and learn the Dao. He naturally took the opportunity to memorize the terrain along the way.

Just as Mr. Feng Sr. said, in these times of chaos and rampant demons, in the middle of the night, there was hardly a soul within a hundred li. If not for instructions from the old Daoist and pressure from higher-ups, these soldiers would rather hide in the city, drinking and feasting than bother with nightly patrols.

Thus, no one paid attention to Huangfu Yi, the newbie. The sentries hurried along, eager to finish their task quickly.

Huangfu Yi, having trained in the icy wilderness and beast tides of the Demon Cave, knew how perilous the world was. He constantly remained vigilant, observing his surroundings with all senses. With a talisman arrow he drew earlier with True Breath, he nocked it on the bow, always on guard against both visible and invisible demons.

Unfortunately, although he was skilled with the bow, ordinary arrowheads could not harm demons. He needed to use the Sword Talisman Dao Technique, comprehended from the Immortal Sword Formation, to enhance his attacks.

However, the breathing skill of the Huangfu family, passed down through the military gate, was meant for strengthening muscles and bones with power exertion, not authentic Mystic Sect Qi Gong. Therefore, despite having practiced breathing since he was six years old, accumulating ten years of arduous training, he could only breathe out three True Breaths. If exhausted, he would need two hours to replenish them; overusing would damage his lungs.

And the talisman paper he stored through days and months depleted during the War Wolf Demon encounter. Just moments ago, Huangfu Yi could only prepare two talisman arrows and one sword talisman. Once used up, he would be defenseless, naturally requiring extra caution, focusing on Qi Replenishment and Breathing Control, fearing being ambushed by demons again.

As feared, trouble soon came. While the Night Patrol Soldiers marched with torches under starry skies and just passed through the chaotic graves, finding the stone sealing the Skull Ghost King, they saw a flickering light in the distance. A figure already stood before the giant stone.

Gazing intently, the figure turned out to be a man in red clothes and a golden headdress, with a playful smile. He held a skull, seemingly examining it. There was a fresh hole in the ground nearby, clearly just dug up.

The soldiers weren't fools; in the pitch dark, no normal person would be standing among tombs playing with a skull. Without orders, they raised swords, bows, and crossbows, cursing as they surrounded him.

"What demon dares to rob graves! State your name!"

"Can't you see, wearing red! Definitely from the Demon Sect!"

"Nonsense! If it's Demon Sect, we're as good as dead!"

"Don't panic! You're scaring yourselves. Maybe this guy just likes red!"

"Wait, isn't it green...?"

The man ignored them altogether, clearly dismissing these ragtag soldiers. Holding the skull, he turned to leave.

"Is that the Ghost King?"

Hearing Huangfu Yi's question, Mr. Feng Sr. glanced at the giant stone's talismans, torn away, already grim-faced, and shouted sternly,

"Send a signal to the True Man!"

"Boom!" "Whoosh——!"

Instantly, a samurai opened his bow and released an arrow, a signal arrow that pierced the clouds! Its whistle shrilled like an eagle's cry, shooting into the sky, bursting into a brilliant golden talisman!

"Ah!!"

But at that moment, the man in red suddenly screamed. The soldiers turned, seeing an arrow had struck the man's hand!

It turned out that Huangfu Yi, seizing the moment when his comrades fired their bow, stealthily shot an arrow! The signal arrow's sound masked it, and his shot pierced the man's hand, striking the skull's forehead! With a "boom," the skull ignited into a fireball; the Dao Fire had been lit!

"Ah ah ow!!"

The man in red, burned and pained, frantically shook his hand, pulled out the arrow, and threw away the skull. He turned to face the soldiers, and suddenly his face darkened with rage, his facial muscles spasming and twisting, his skin bursting like a balloon! He tore off his red robe!

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