Chen Xi thrust both hands through the chest of the contracted ghost, tearing it in half. He consumed one half of the ghost.
Seeing this, Chu Xing followed suit, devouring the other half.
Deprived of his contracted ghost, Cao Minglang was rendered no different from an ordinary man. His face turned ashen, terror seizing him.
"Two contracted ghosts?""This Vice Minister is truly monstrous...""How astonishingly powerful.""Two nightmare-level contracted ghosts... utterly absurd.""No wonder he's so domineering.""With these two nightmare-level ghosts, I now believe he truly is the Vice Minister.""Big Brother Zhonghai made the right choice after all.""With someone like him leading us, our Ghost-Control Society may rise once more."
Mo Lin showcased his might, conquering the respect of everyone present. His strength matched his position, earning the admiration of all.
"Seize him. We'll deal with him once Zhonghai returns," Mo Lin commanded.
At his order, men moved to restrain Cao Minglang, binding him tightly. His loyalists were also apprehended.
Mo Lin had demonstrated enough power to command the room. The hesitant onlookers now fell in line, choosing to follow his orders.
Cao Minglang was captured and imprisoned.
Aside from the Ghost Controllers out on missions, there were over three hundred present at the scene. The majority of them were third-level Ghost Controllers, with a fair number of fourth-level ones as well. In terms of quality, these individuals far outstripped those from Yun Chuan.
"Is this all the strength the Ghost-Control Society possesses?" Mo Lin asked, turning to Zheng Nan.
"We once had several fifth-level Ghost Controllers, but unfortunately, those powerful members perished alongside the former Vice Minister," Zheng Nan replied somberly. "As of now, this is the extent of our forces."
The Ghost-Control Society was not weak, but the untimely deaths of its strongest members had left it greatly diminished.
"Let's go. We need to save them," Mo Lin ordered.
And so, they set off for Sanxiang Port.
They traveled by car, with Mo Lin and Zheng Nan sharing a vehicle, during which Zheng Nan explained the situation at Sanxiang Port.
"Sanxiang Port used to be a small, quiet place, where occasionally low-level ghosts would appear—nothing too dangerous, just some everyday spirits. We never bothered with them. But then nightmare-level ghosts began showing up. They slaughtered anyone they encountered, leaving chaos in their wake. We sent three teams to deal with them, but all three were wiped out. Since then, Sanxiang Port has gained a reputation as the most dangerous place."
Mo Lin now had a clearer understanding of the situation.
Sanxiang Port.
"What's going on? Why are there so many ghosts?" Lin Xi whispered, staring at the countless specters before them.
"We might have been set up," Feng Mingyu speculated.
"This is too sinister... I'll text Mo Lin," Lin Xi said, pulling out her phone, but there was no signal—not a trace of reception.
"Find a way to survive," Feng Mingyu urged.
At that moment, Yun Ling and Zhonghai were fighting fiercely against the oncoming ghosts. They had already slain a nightmare-level ghost together.
Thanks to Zhonghai being a fifth-level Ghost Controller, his nightmare-level ghost allowed them to hold off over a hundred approaching spirits.
Yun Ling and Feng Mingyu were both fourth-level Ghost Controllers. Before coming here, their contracted ghosts had leveled up.
Lin Xi was also a fourth-level Ghost Controller. The group summoned their ghosts to counter the incoming tide of spirits, which seemed to be following some command, charging at them recklessly.
Zhonghai's contracted ghost was formidable, holding off ten or more of the lower-level ghosts. These were weak spirits, no match for Zhonghai's powerful ghost.
For hours, Zhonghai fought tirelessly. Meanwhile, Lin Xi and the others continued to struggle, not wasting a moment in combat.
After more than two hours, the lower-level ghosts were finally all slain, but the group appeared visibly exhausted from the prolonged battle.
"We need to leave," Zhonghai suggested, ready to lead the others away from the area.
But just then, a nightmare-level ghost emerged slowly.
The specter was surrounded by swirling black smoke, its red eyes glowing with a murderous intent that sent chills down their spines.
Zhonghai stepped forward. "I'll hold off this ghost. You all find a way to escape."
Lin Xi and the others didn't protest. Zhonghai's plan was sound—it was their best option.
"Big Brother Zhonghai, you must hold on! We'll go to the Ghost-Control Society headquarters for backup," Lin Xi said, her voice filled with determination.
With that, Lin Xi, Feng Mingyu, and the others prepared to leave. But before they could take more than a few steps, they saw Feng Mingyu's face drain of color.
"Forget it... we can't escape. None of us will make it out."
A second nightmare-level ghost appeared, blocking their path.
With two of these terrifying beings now in their way, it was clear: no one would escape.
"Then we fight!" Feng Mingyu gritted her teeth, drawing her ghost weapon in a desperate bid to survive.
At the same time, Yun Ling and Lin Xi also readied their ghost weapons.
Zhonghai faced off with one nightmare-level ghost, while Lin Xi, Feng Mingyu, and Yun Ling teamed up to battle the other.
The battle erupted.
The clash of weapons rang through the air. Zhonghai's ghost fought fiercely against its adversary, but it was clear the fight was evenly matched.
Lin Xi's group, however, was in a much more precarious position. Despite their combined strength, the nightmare-level ghost pressed them back, forcing them into a defensive stance with no clear advantage.
There was a sense of impending defeat.
Lin Xi swung her long sword at the nightmare-level ghost, channeling her ghost weapon to release a blast of sword energy that severed the ghost's arm.
Before Lin Xi could even feel a moment of triumph, the ghost's arm regenerated, growing back even stronger. Without hesitation, the nightmare-level specter lunged at her, striking her sharply in the abdomen.
A searing pain shot through Lin Xi as a deep wound opened up, blood flowing freely. She crumpled to the ground, incapacitated and unable to continue fighting.
Yun Ling summoned her two contracted ghosts to attack the nightmare-level spirit.
Feng Mingyu, too, wielded her ghost weapon to join the fray.
But despite their efforts, the situation was dire. With Lin Xi gravely injured, their chances of victory were slipping away.
"We need to move faster!" Lin Xi heard someone shout, and from the distance, a group of people appeared, rushing toward them.
The newcomers summoned their own contracted ghosts to fight against the nightmare-level specters.
Then, Mo Lin's figure emerged at the forefront. He held a thunder talisman between his fingers, and with a swift motion, lightning struck the nightmare-level ghost.
"Boom!"
The thunderous explosion shook the ground, and the nightmare-level ghost was torn apart, its form disintegrating in the wake of the devastating strike.
4o