The magical artifact in Liu Buli's hand could indeed change their positions rapidly. However, it could only alter the positions of others, not the caster's own.
This meant that while he could send Lu Wuming and the others away, he couldn't send himself.
Lu Wuming was well aware of the artifact's limitations. Thus, as he watched Liu Buli pick up the artifact again, his expression immediately changed.
Snatching the artifact from Liu Buli's grasp, Lu Wuming formed a hand seal. A dark water dragon materialized out of thin air and charged towards the sword energy.
Under normal circumstances, when faced with such danger, Lu Wuming would have opted to use his Ghost Claws directly. His spiritual energy wasn't exceptionally strong, and in a direct confrontation, he would likely be at a disadvantage. The fact that he resorted to this method could only mean that his injuries prevented him from using his Ghost Claws.
Sensing this, and knowing that the other party was unwilling to be a sacrificial lamb, Liu Buli gritted his teeth. He drew his sword and, alongside Lu Wuming, did his best to block the sword energy.
The outcome was better than they had expected.
Liu Buli's spiritual energy manifested as a fire shield, placed between their flying swords and the shambling corpse. Neither Lu Wuming's water dragon nor his shield could fully stop the sword energy. However, with the impetus from Liu Buli's shield, the sword energy acted as a boost, propelling their flying swords forward by a considerable distance. Seeing the shambling corpse disappear from their sight, Liu Buli clenched his teeth tightly, swallowing the blood that had risen to his throat.
They were not too far from Ghost City now. The group worked together to control their flying swords. Although they couldn't significantly increase their speed, as long as they could maintain a certain distance from the shambling corpse and prevent it from catching up too quickly, they would be content.
Upon seeing them re-enter the bounds of Ghost City, the ghost tribesmen guarding the city gates looked on with surprise.
The few at the front gathered together and muttered in confusion:
"What's going on? Didn't they run out? Why are they back?"
"Isn't it obvious? That guy who got the divine sword forced them back! Didn't he foolishly chase after them earlier? I never expected him to actually succeed. I'm so envious."
"I wish I had such good luck. I haven't eaten fewer people than him, so why didn't the divine sword choose me?"
"Don't be ridiculous. As if I'm weaker than you. The divine sword didn't choose me either."
"If this brat really succeeds, won't he become our leader in the future? Just thinking about it makes me sick. He was in a lower position than me before, how could he get such dog-like luck?"
"Seriously, it's so annoying..."
The group of ghost tribesmen chattered amongst themselves. At least from their conversation, it seemed no one believed Liu Buli and the others could deal with the ghost tribe member who had obtained the divine sword.
After all, they had returned to throw themselves into a trap.
And since this was that guy's achievement, to avoid him getting angry and testing his might on them for supposedly stealing his credit, the gatekeeping ghost tribesmen made no move to stop them when they saw Liu Buli's flying swords approaching. Instead, they parted to the sides, creating a path and allowing Liu Buli and the others to maintain their speed as they rapidly entered Ghost City.
The moment they entered the city, Liu Buli and the others felt a sense of disbelief.
Even though their actions were akin to walking into a trap, the complete lack of obstruction felt rather odd.
Liu Buli subconsciously glanced back and said in a low voice, "It seems these ghost tribesmen are not as united as we imagined."
"They were never united. Not eating their own kind is the lowest baseline. Other than that, they don't seem to have any other virtues," Lu Wuming snorted, offering his assessment.
He had never held any good feelings towards the ghost tribesmen, so it was impossible to elicit any praise for them from his lips.
Liu Buli offered a somewhat helpless smile.
He then withdrew his focus and continued to look ahead. If the ghost tribesmen inside the city didn't bother them, they might actually be able to use this opportunity to quickly reach the gate that connected the two worlds.
Unlike their thoughts, the ghost tribesmen's sole reaction to their entry was that they were seeking their own demise.
For once they were in Ghost City, everything was under the control of the Ghost King. The one who had taken the divine sword would also return soon. With him, and their other minor leaders, perhaps the Ghost King wouldn't even need to act. These damnable humans would be reduced to ashes.
Everyone's thoughts aligned.
And indeed, as they had anticipated, they didn't have to wait long before they sensed the aura of the divine sword approaching the city.
See, the humans' doom had arrived.
As for the disobedient young master, he would surely be brought before the King this time.
Everyone harbored the same thought.
However, when they saw that the one wielding the divine sword was merely a headless corpse, the faces of all the ghost tribesmen at the city gates turned grim.
They didn't even know if this entity was friend or foe.
Staring blankly as the headless corpse approached, some ghost tribesman finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly, "I... I remember that if that guy's head was cut off, he should die, right?"
"Most ghost tribesmen die when their heads are severed. He's not a special case, so he shouldn't be an exception."
"Then, since he's already dead, why is he still walking towards us? And he's still holding the divine sword. What exactly is he..."
Before the latter part of his sentence could be uttered, the corpse holding the divine sword began to move.
Blood instantly stained the blade. The once clear sword, after continuously absorbing blood and souls, also acquired a dark, inky hue.
The divine sword, through pure instinctual slaughter, was gradually becoming demonized.