Xu Qing usually enshrouds people in silk and cotton robes for burial.
Even for the offerings burned during the four-season ceremonies, the clothes and accessories are made from five-colored paper.
This is the typical practice for ordinary people; however, for the soldiers of the Ancient Yin River Dao, conventional methods cannot be applied.
The armor of the generals must use gold foil paper and reed frames, and even the armor of common soldiers must be crafted from silver foil paper.
On this day, in the dark and lightless Ancient Yin River Dao, the ghostly fire ignited the paper armor bonfire, enveloping the entire military camp in a layer of crimson clouds.
Once the smoke and fire cleared, the armor on the generals was as good as new.
Looking around, tens of thousands of ornate armors were arrayed in formation, truly intimidating!
In front of the central army tent, the Eight Banner Marshals wore shining golden helmets and armor.
He clapped his hands in praise, "Truly, this is the majesty of heavenly soldiers!"
Xu Qing shook his head and said, "Although the paper crafts are beautiful, they cannot withstand weapons. These are just tricks that only allow the soldiers to don new clothes and celebrate a holiday in style."
The Marshal glanced sideways at Xu Qing, ghost fire flickering in his eyes, and said meaningfully, "Lord Xu, there's no need to underestimate yourself. Your kindness is something this Marshal can never repay. If allowing these soldiers to gloriously head to the battlefield is the greatest gift, then so be it."
Xu Qing was suddenly stunned.
He initially thought the Eight Banner Marshals, involved in the situation, were ensnared by obsessions, unable to perceive the crumbling state of Dayong and their own impending demise. But now it seems that the Marshal may have long been aware of the changes in Dayong.
Moreover, what the Eight Banner Marshals wanted was not real armor to withstand weapons, but just for these soldiers to depart this world with dignity and honor.
"Lord Xu."
"Please, Marshal, speak your mind."
"General Zuo does not belong here. This Marshal has tried several times to have him leave, but he has refused outright."
The Marshal said with a far-reaching gaze, "If possible, Lord Xu, when you encounter General Zuo, I hope you can persuade him to leave the Yin River."
Xu Qing remained silent.
The Marshal suddenly smiled and said, "If Lord Xu can agree to this request, no matter what Lord Xu wishes to obtain from this Marshal afterward, I'm willing to assist."
Xu Qing replied disdainfully, "What could I look upon the Marshal for? Besides this skeleton frame, could the Marshal have any other treasures?"
The Marshal said in a melancholy tone, "Lord Xu is not wrong. This Marshal lacks possessions of note; the most valuable thing might be this sturdy skeleton."
"Unfortunately, since the founding of Dayong, sturdy backbones like mine have become fewer and fewer."
Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, gaining a new perspective on the Marshal before him.
Indeed, the founding heroes, the commanders of the three armies, could hardly be mere mediocrities.
Xu Qing pondered and said, "Very well, I promise the Marshal that if I meet General Zuo, I will persuade him to leave the Yin River."
"Thank you, Lord Xu."
...
Not far from the Ghost King Mausoleum, Xu Qing took out the sword gifted by Zuo Zixiong and was about to divine the opponent's position when he saw several Ghost Generals escorting a group of walking corpses back to the mausoleum.
Xu Qing frowned slightly; those walking corpses seemed familiar to him.
The armor style was clearly that of the Divine Strategy Camp soldiers.
Why were Zuo Zixiong's troops being escorted here by the subordinates of the Dreaded Ghost King?
With doubt, Xu Qing took out the Fierce Flag, commanding dozens of Fierce Generals to capture all the Ghost Generals of the Ghost King Mausoleum.
Subsequently, the paperman funeral procession came out to collect the remains, carried coffins back—a skillful process that made anyone believe they were seasoned offenders.
The Golden Simurgh watched Xu Qing kill ghosts like slaughtering chickens, with such a mature, assembly line-like process, and it silently resolved that no matter what conditions the other offered or what temptations they proposed, it would never fall for it!
Living with the Xu family was simply too nerve-wracking; it was far more comfortable at the Five Elders Temple.
Yet, as it looked at the hauntingly familiar scenery of the Ancient Yin River Dao, the Golden Simurgh wavered.
It was certain this was its first time following Xu Qing to the Yin River.
But if it had indeed been here before, who brought it, and why couldn't it recall the scattered fragments in its mind...?
While the Golden Simurgh was lost in wild thoughts, suspicious and paranoid, Xu Qing had already liberated all the ghost generals and soldiers.
Simultaneously, Xu Qing understood the reason the Ghost General of the Ghost King Mausoleum gathered Zuo Zixiong's soldiers' remains.
Three days ago, the Celestial Heart Sect's dual Absolute Envoys suddenly visited the Dreaded Ghost King.
The Celestial Heart Sect venerates historic Holy Masters, revering them as the Maitreya incarnate, the Unmoving Bright King in the world; disciples are divided into four ranks: 'Sheng, Miao, Luo, Jue.'
The Sheng and Miao ranks are subordinate within the Celestial Heart Sect, holding low status. Above, most of the Five Luo Guardians have died or disappeared, some even without finding their corpses, truly vanished without a trace in life and death.
Beyond the Five Luo Guardians, the rank just below the Holy Master is the 'Dual Absolute Envoy.'
Bing Absolute Qiu Yunlong is known for wielding a pair of cleaving golden claws, specialized in countering weapons, rumored to be crafted by a True Cultivator using secret methods, exceedingly vicious.
Fa Absolute Wang Faping, who was born with a body fat as a pig, was later enlightened by a miraculous person, acquiring a unique skill 'Great Non-Phase Power.' Any fist, weapon, or blade that struck him caused no harm; instead, the opponent's force was entirely returned, marvelously sinister.
The Dual Absolute Evoys serve solely for the Holy Master. In the martial world, only rumors of the two exist.
And those who witnessed their might mostly ended up as solitary wandering ghosts.
The Dual Absolute Envoys visited the Dreaded Ghost King, seeking cooperation with the Ghost King to restrain the Eight Banner Marshals, so they could seize Zuo Zixiong opportunely.
And the reward would be Zuo Zixiong's soldiers.
The Celestial Heart Sect claims to possess talismanic secret techniques capable of sealing the souls of fallen soldiers. If supported by the Dreaded Ghost King, they could send all slain soldiers of the Yin River to the Ghost King, so they might become part of the Ghost King's troops, expanding the mausoleum's power.