Chapter 148 - A Divine Archer Never Misses
Alex immediately went back to report his findings.
"I think the ghost king might be in...the clouds," Alex proclaimed with a straight face.
Hou Yi glared at him and replied, "Of course he is."
Hermes and Zhong Kui also stared at him incredulously and the latter asked, "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"I found an area with a high concentration of yin qi, but it seemed to move westwards, and the only movement in that direction was in the cloud cover," Alex realized that this was strange, but he tried his best to explain his reasoning.
"Hou Yi, let's go on the dragon to verify this, we aren't losing anything, are we?"
"Other than my time and patience, no, you're not losing anything," Hou Yi ultimately gave them the benefit of the doubt once again.
The group of 4 climbed onto the dragon's back, and Alex was the one taking care of the riding this time.
Those specific clouds must have moved more west than earlier, yet that actually provided them with a good lead.
The dragon followed that direction and flew right underneath the thick clouds.
Soon enough, Alex perceived a similar cloud formation to the one from earlier.
"Dragon, fly above the clouds, please!"
The dragon followed his orders and pierced through the white mass of water vapor.
Now, they were over the clouds.
Putting aside the ghost king, they all appreciated the ethereal scenery.
The area below them was a dense congregation of white clouds, while the sky above them was the clearest they could ever see it.
However, in the midst of this idyllic location, lightning bolts suddenly zigzagged through the pearly clouds.
"Doesn't the air feel more humid than bef-
A blinding lightning bolt made its way for Hou Yi.
However, Alex redirected the bolt using Prometheus, and only felt a small brunt of the impact.
Hou Yi stared at him with a bittersweet expression and said, "Thank you."
"I think you have your proof, Hou Yi!" Zhong Kui pointed below them.
From the clouds, humanoid water creatures flew towards them.
Hou Yi harrumphed and took out an arrow from his quiver.
"We'll talk later, now, I'll show you the might of the greatest archer."
"But, Artemis isn't here...." Hermes mockingly stated before he also got ready for battle.
Only Alex understood his reference and burst out into laughter.
Meanwhile, Hou Yi drew out his bowstring and swiftly placed an arrow on there.
Strangely, the arrow gradually turned into a red color and began emitting vapor.
"Observe the prowess of the archer who vanquished the fire demon!"
The searing arrow pierced through the water ghosts and vaporized them.
"Nice work," Alex praised his strength.
"Wait, it's not over," Hou Yi slanted his eyes.
The water vapor that escaped from the ghost slowly gathered again and formed into a gaseous form.
The gas ghost flew at a breakneck speed towards them, and specifically towards Hou Yi.
However, a spear was smoothly inserted into the gas body and when the red ruby of the spear touched the gas, the gas turned into black smoke that floated away.
"What a strong weapon...." Hou Yi's eyes glued themselves to Prometheus.
"Show me the might of an archer with my own weapon!" Alex smiled and passed him the weapon.
Hou Yi did not understand, but as soon as his hands touched the spear, it began morphing again.
The weapon of the god of humanity was an adaptive one, and in the grasp of an archer, it turned into a gorgeous curved longbow.
"It's beautiful..." Hou Yi felt emotional.
Somehow, this was the weapon he always wanted to ask the forgers of the heavenly court to make for him.
It felt like a piece of his own existence imprinted itself on the bow.
With the bow, came a single arrow.
The arrow had the characteristic red ruby in its tip and shined with a threatening light.
Hou Yi comfortably stretched out the bowstring and skillfully placed the arrow in its place.
Then...
*Whoosh*
At a speed, unlike any other arrow he had launched before, this one reached the water ghosts in less than a second, and...
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
A weapon was important, but the skills of the wielder were even more important.
A single arrow easily pierced through seven water ghosts and immediately turned them into a cloud of black smoke that disappeared into nothingness.
Suddenly, the arrow returned to his hands.
"Your weapon is a spectacular one."
"No, you're a good archer."
Hou Yi appreciated the praise, and his smile stretched out from ear to ear.
"With this bow, I'll defeat this ghost king!"
As he said that, all of the clouds around them started gathering at one point as if a black hole sucked them in.
When the scenery below them was entirely visible and distinct, the aforementioned clouds formed a humanoid figure.
"I can't believe it, three immortals and...Zhong Kui of the Underworld armies?!" The humanoid figure exclaimed.
"That's me."
"I see what's going on, you should be the people Guidi warned me about..."
"You already went through the life-giving one and the traitor from the heavenly court?"
At the mention of that last person, Hou Yi's body jerked.
He turned to Alex, and said, "I'm sorry for doubting such great men as yourselves, as an apology, let me take care of this guy while you relax here!"
Alex shrugged and said, "Do as you wish."
"You think you can defeat me that easily?"
A burst of high-pressure air flew towards them at hypersonic speed.
However, a single arrow.
A single arrow was all it took.
The arrow shined a bright red color, and when Hou Yi released it, it passed through the jet of air with ease.
The ghost king felt the threat and put up a water barrier around him.
However, a divine archer was one that never missed, and the arrow pierced through all of the water, and into the body of the ghost king.
Suddenly, an earth-shattering explosion took place.
The dragon roared in pain and flew back, whereas the group plugged their ears because the noise was too loud.
All of the clouds that gathered to form the ghost king earlier expanded outwards in all directions.
To the mortals, it seemed like it was raining again, yet, the rain was a deadly omen to the ones that escaped the floods.
"That was my very full strength, I am now...exhausted," Hou Yi laid down on the dragon's back.