Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1462 - 1455: Summoning the Immortal Ceremony

Chapter 1462: Chapter 1455: Summoning the Immortal Ceremony

At this moment, the battle in the village had largely concluded. In the brightly lit village, the guards of the Ghost Race were intently staring into the pitch-black jungle, vigilant against another enemy attack.

Meanwhile, the villagers of the Ghost Race who had just participated in the fight were now clearing the battlefield. Although they bravely resisted, there were still casualties. Cries of grief could be heard at the scene, presumably from families who lost loved ones in the attack.

Soon, the three saw Miss Zisu hurriedly moving around the village accompanied by several guards of the Ghost Race. Upon seeing from afar that the trio was unharmed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and then walked towards them.

"Miss Zisu, sorry to have worried you." Seeing Zisu approach, Cheng Ziang apologized before she could even speak.

"No, there’s no need to apologize, I’m just relieved to see everyone is okay," Zisu waved her hand and said with a look of relief, "If something had happened to you, I wouldn’t even know how to explain it to Luo’er."

"Hehe, we may not have many skills, but self-preservation is certainly something we can handle. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked us to protect you to Aximiya Island," Cheng Ziang said with a cheerful laugh.

"That’s true, but I still underestimated you a bit," Zisu said, her eyes revealing a meaningful look.

"What’s the background of these attackers?" After exchanging pleasantries, Cheng Ziang looked in the direction where the bodies of foreign strongmen lay on the ground and couldn’t help but ask curiously.

"Oh, these people are the Faceless," Zisu also glanced at the bodies and then explained.

"Faceless?" Cheng Ziang and Baiyue exchanged looks, feeling like they had come across another new term.

"Faceless literally means without faces, meaning that these people do not wear masks," Zisu shrugged and explained.

"Oh, do the people of the Ghost Race call everyone who doesn’t wear masks Faceless?" Cheng Ziang nodded and asked.

"No, not really," Zisu corrected his view, then explained, "The outsiders aren’t concerned with this, they are called as usual. Only those who live on the island and don’t wear masks are referred to as the Faceless."

As she spoke, Zisu seemed to recall something interesting and smiled gently to herself, then looked up and said, "It’s quite interesting when you think about it. We refer to them as the Ghost Race, the people of Kyushu call them Wuman. And the Ghost Race refers to these Faceless as Faceless Ghosts or Faceless Barbarians, which is also a derogatory term, forming a sort of discrimination chain."

Hearing Zisu’s jest, Cheng Ziang and Baiyue chuckled, then exchanged glances. Cheng Ziang continued, "As you said before, in the tradition of the Ghost Race, not wearing a mask is akin to being naked. Imagine being surrounded by people like yourself who don’t like to wear clothes. You probably wouldn’t have a good impression either."

"Yes, it’s pretty much the same idea," Zisu shrugged again and then said, "But the Faceless are indeed barbarians. They attacked the village to abduct women to increase their population, and also for cannibalism. Yes, the Ghost Race is also on their menu."

"My goodness, no wonder the entire village took up arms," Cheng Ziang paused, feeling somewhat scared afterwards.

"But you are quite capable, at least you avoided being turned into a dish," Zisu smiled and teased in a jesting tone.

As their conversation gradually fell silent, Baiyue seized the opportunity to fill the gap. Pointing to a prominent witch doctor in the distance, she asked curiously, "Do you know what sorcery that witch doctor was using just now?"

"Oh, are you talking about the ritual that drove away the Faceless just now?" Zisu followed her pointing and then turned around to ask.

"Do you know?" Cheng Ziang asked eagerly.

"I actually do know," Zisu smiled and said, "I’ve been here a few times before and have experienced Faceless attacks on the village..."

As she was speaking, Zisu suddenly paused, seemingly reminiscing about the past. Cheng Ziang, somewhat impatient, quickly asked, "And then what?"

"Well," Zisu thought for a moment, raised her face to look at them, and said seriously, "The ritual used by that witch doctor is called the Summoning the Immortal Ceremony, meant to invoke deities to expel the foreign barbarians."

"You mean, those human-shaped figures that just popped up are immortals?" Cheng Ziang and Baiyue both showed looks of surprise.

"In Aximiya Island, we treat their traditions with a bit of courtesy. Though we are speaking the language of the Demon Clan, there are still quite a few of the Ghost Race who can understand it." Zisu didn’t answer right away, but instead issued a cautionary warning.

"Okay, but I still find it unbelievable." Taking a deep breath, Cheng Ziang exchanged glances with Baiyue again.

"Well, how should I explain this," Zisu pondered before speaking, "It is said that after the elders of the Ghost Race pass away naturally, they not only can remove their masks, but their souls will also be enshrined and summoned by the chief shaman under special circumstances to protect their descendants from foreign enemies."

"That’s the concept of a ghost then." Baiyue immediately recognized the similarities.

"Hmm... It’s okay to call them the Ghost Race, they have no objections. But do not say that their ancestors’ souls are ghosts, as that would offend them." Zisu added.

"I understand." Baiyue nodded, yet her thoughts were completely taken up by Zisu’s earlier comment, sinking into a deep contemplation.

Seeing Baiyue deep in silence, Cheng Ziang took over the conversation, continuing to inquire: "Those... once summoned, do they know how to differentiate between friend and foe?"

"That’s why I’m worried about you all. The immortals summoned by the Ghost Race only distinguish between their own people and outsiders. Unless there is protection from their own people, these immortals will kill all foreigners, sparing only their own." Zisu explained.

"No wonder." Cheng Ziang immediately thought of Liseya and her confrontation with those immortals, and nodded in understanding.

"You all are also capable, to actually survive the Summoning the Immortal Ceremony." Zisu said, her eyes reflecting a hint of suspicion.

"Those immortals seem to have a poor sense of sight, they don’t notice us as long as we stay quiet." Cheng Ziang spread his hands, replying nonchalantly.

"Is that so?" Zisu seemed a bit surprised upon hearing his words.

"Yes, we were so scared we couldn’t even speak, and just like that, they ignored us." Cheng Ziang asserted confidently.

"Anyway, it’s good that all of you are safe." Zisu sighed in relief once again, unable to suppress her emotions.

At this moment, the village cleaning was nearly complete, and the deceased villagers were being moved onto stretchers. Villagers carrying torches were searching every corner of the village, seemingly worried that enemies might still be hiding.

Cheng Ziang turned around and saw Feng squatting on the ground, examining the Faceless broadsword she had severed under the light of the torch, so he asked with concern, "Found anything?"

"Oh." Hearing his voice, Feng quickly stood up and handed the broken sword to Cheng Ziang.

As Cheng Ziang took the broken sword, he instantly felt the weight was somewhat off. Upon closer inspection, he realized that the blade, fashioned in the shape of a sword, was made of wood, yet the edge was quite sharp.

"This is made of wood." Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

"Ah," noticing his astonishment, Zisu looked at it and said nonchalantly, "Oh, this is made of Iron Heart Tree wood. The Ghost Race also often uses this type of wood for making weapons."

"Iron Heart Tree?" Cheng Ziang looked at Zisu, seeking confirmation.

"It’s a type of tree that grows deep in the dense forests of Aximiya Island. Its main feature is that its bark is relatively soft, but the heart of the tree is extremely hard, almost comparable to metal, hence the name Iron Heart Tree. The Ghost Race often uses it to make tools or weapons, and it’s almost as effective as stone or metal weapons." Zisu explained.

"But it still broke with one strike." Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but remark.

"I wonder what kind of swords you all have. The Ghost Race once used these weapons to battle the Kyushu Empire, and even the well-equipped Kyushu Empire couldn’t withstand them." Zisu said, her curiosity piqued as she looked towards the sword on Cheng Ziang’s back.