After quite some time, we finally figured out how to use the Chaoswood and what effects it could have. With this thing in hand, all of us felt a huge weight lifted from our hearts.
It was a huge help for our secret infiltration this time. Miles Mao, Dalton Fang, Mason Yu, and I got a piece of Chaoswood. Mason Yu used the Celestial Chord Sword to cut the Chaoswood into several pieces, each about the size of an arm—eight in total. At that moment, I noticed that Justin Huang was missing.
"Wait, where's Justin Huang?" I suddenly asked.
Miles Mao gave me a resentful look.
"He went to take care of something for a bit."
I let out a surprised sound. Ever since I arrived here, I hadn’t seen any sign of Justin Huang.
Back in the cave, I saw that the female ghost, Wendy Wood, had been released and was staring at us angrily.
"I'm not going."
"No, you have to lead the way for us. We don’t have time to waste." Hugh Thompson spoke as I saw Wendy Wood’s hands were still tied up.
"If you don’t go, I’ll kill every ghost we capture, one by one, right in front of you."
For a moment, I really disliked Hugh Thompson’s approach. After that, Wendy Wood quieted down. We left the cave, and everyone looked north, as if waiting for something.
"What exactly did Justin Huang go to do?"
Just as I finished speaking, I saw a huge cloud of dust rising at the foot of the mountain in the distance. Everyone broke into delighted smiles. As it got closer, I saw Justin Huang running toward us, carrying an old green Jeep overhead, his arms raised as he dashed over.
I stared in surprise at Justin Huang, drenched in sweat as he ran toward us.
With a bang, Justin Huang dropped the Jeep right in front of us.
"What’s this?"
"I asked around with these ghosts. On the north side of Trickster Ridge, there’s a small town. The wealthier ghosts all drive cars—burned down to them by people from the living world. So, I had Justin Huang get us a vehicle that could cross the desert. We can’t just walk, right?"
I made a sound of acknowledgment. It was obvious the Jeep didn’t have enough space for all of us. Rufina Howard and Wendy Wood sat in the front passenger seat. I saw Justin Huang climb onto the roof, and I followed him up.
Hugh Thompson drove. My cousin and three members of the Ghost Burial Squad’s 17th team squeezed into the back.
"Heh, it’s just like the ones in the world of the living. The only difference is, it runs without gasoline."
Hugh Thompson drove the Jeep, and we headed north.
The lord of Circle City is a Blue Wraith named Quinn Lee, whose power is immense. He controls all the territory around Circle City, and it’s said his strength surpasses even Lord Wraith.
As long as we reach Circle City and head out its northern gate, we can enter the Graveyard Desert.
"Qingyuan, you could squeeze in below. You don’t have to climb up—it's windy up here. Our bodies aren’t quite the same, you know."
Justin Huang said, and I smiled.
"By the way, how did you get this car back here?"
"Haha, when I got to the town, I saw lots of ghosts driving cars. But I noticed this one had no windows and nobody was using it, so I just took it. I was going to take it for a spin, but if I crashed it, that would’ve been a problem."
I patted Justin Huang’s shoulder helplessly.
"When we get back, I’ll teach you how to drive."
After about half an hour, we approached the small town Justin Huang mentioned. The town was tiny, only half the size of Midway Town. Hugh Thompson drove around the edge of the town, heading west. The north was blocked by a mountain range—if we wanted to keep going north, we’d have to reach Circle City first.
Not long after leaving the town, we stopped the car and started eating.
"Hey, have something to eat."
"No, I won’t eat. The things you humans eat, how could we ghosts consume them? Hmph..." Wendy Wood sat in the car, while my cousin held out some food, looking reluctant.
"Alright, miss, tell me your birth date and eight characters. I’ll set up a temporary altar and offer the food as tribute. Then you’ll be able to eat it."
"No need, I’m not hungry. It’s not far from here to Circle City. You can go ahead and let me go, right?"
"Not just yet," Hugh Thompson said with a smile.
"We’ll let you go when we’re out of Circle City. At the very least, you should spend some time there, shouldn’t you?"
According to Wendy Wood, Circle City is round on the outside and square on the inside. It’s called Circle City because the square part is like a palace—where Quinn Lee and his followers live. The outer part is home to ordinary ghosts.
After eating, we drove on. Sure enough, soon we saw a circular city wall and a large gate, with vehicles and horses coming and going.
We drove into the city, where ghosts armed with sharp blades guarded the entrance.
It was night now, and the night market was bustling. Ghosts moved through the streets—most didn’t look terrifying, but occasionally there were some with truly menacing appearances.
"Alright, just head north and you’ll be out of the city. Can I leave now?" Wendy Wood looked anxious. Ever since entering Circle City, she’d been tense, constantly glancing around.
My cousin cheerfully stuck his head out and started chatting up some beautiful female ghosts passing by on the street.
I stretched out my leg and kicked my cousin in the forehead.
"Damn it, cousin, behave yourself."
"Let me go, please? I promise I won’t tell any other ghosts about you. Just go past here, turn right, and you’ll find a main road. Follow it and you’ll be out of the city."
Wendy Wood started to struggle.
With a screech, Hugh Thompson stopped the car.
"Alright, let her go."
With a click, the car door opened. Rufina Howard untied Wendy Wood, and as soon as she was free, Wendy Wood jumped out of the car, looking like she was about to run.
"Aren’t you going to take your altar? What about your followers?" Mason Yu called out.
"Everyone, be careful."
Suddenly, Justin Huang shouted. With a crunch, one hand embedded itself in the car, gripping it and tossing it aside. Before I could react, a tremendous pressure descended from above.
The moment I looked up, I saw a mass of green light pressing down on Justin Huang.
With a bang, our car crashed into a nearby shop.
It was a ghost who looked about forty or fifty, with graying temples, dressed in white, and quite elegant—definitely a Blue Wraith. Justin Huang was crouched on the ground, struggling to hold on, while the ghost floated above his head.
A scream rang out. I turned to see Wendy Wood clutching her aching head, held tight by a female Blue Wraith glowing with green light.
"Let go, let go!"
Without hesitation, killing energy surged from my body.
"Qingyuan, you guys run first. I'll hold him down. Ah..."
Justin Huang shouted, his bones creaking. With a boom, the ground caved in beneath him. He strained to lift himself, clenched his fists, and punched upward at the Blue Wraith pressing down on him.
With a bang, the force from his punch sent many of the watching ghosts tumbling.
The Blue Wraith above lightly tapped Justin Huang’s fist with one foot, then gently slid past it, finally pressing a single finger against Justin’s fist.
With a muffled thud, the Blue Wraith’s white robes fluttered, but with just one finger, he blocked Justin’s powerful punch.
"Try to support me."
I shouted, holding a pair of Deathbane Broken Swords in my hands, and charged at the Blue Wraith.
"Thunder in hand, Purple Thunder Art..."
With a bang, a peachwood sword flew over my head, crackling with energy.
"Courting death."
The Blue Wraith drew a soft sword from his waist, which flashed with green light. With a bang, he sliced Mason Yu’s peachwood sword in two, sending the pieces flying over my head.
Two strings of Buddhist beads flew toward the ghost from different directions. I quickly spun, slashing twice, and the beads thrown by my cousin and Dalton Fang scattered across the ground.
"Northern Sea gods, all my divine power, arise..."
With a rumble, the street began to distort and a wall rose up—Rufina Howard’s doing. Without hesitation, the Blue Wraith slashed the wall apart with a sword.
Justin Huang had already charged in, and I rushed at the Blue Wraith as well.
"Qingyuan..."
Justin Huang called out, and I understood his meaning. I stopped and jumped, landing on his palms. He threw me at the Blue Wraith with all his strength.
"Ah..." I shouted, killing energy bursting from my body, stabbing at the Blue Wraith with energy spikes.
Suddenly, the Blue Wraith turned, glaring coldly at me. Green light surged around him, dissolving my killing energy spikes instantly. Then, he swung his soft sword at my head with incredible speed. As my energy faded, the sword was already upon me.
Something grabbed my feet, and I barely escaped, dodging the sword. Behind me came a thunderous roar and a chorus of screams.
"Run! The city lord is furious!"
A voice rang out, and all the ghosts around scattered, fleeing in panic.
I turned and saw behind me that it was as if a giant blade had split everything—many houses and streets were cleaved in two. The ghosts caught in the destruction lay on the ground, groaning; some had already turned to ashes.