Chapter 57: Prisoner Among the Grudgeful Souls

However, Mao Tao clearly understood it yet maintained a look of bewilderment just like the others; the boy wasn't stupid.

"I don't know much of the Bali language, so it's a bit difficult to read. However, Tao Bo mentioned that whoever requests to dig up the notebook and sends it to the Kingdom of Bali will receive a generous reward. Additionally, he seemed to say that, judging by this illusion, a certain deity has indeed perished."

He Lingchuan's heart stirred: "Mitian?"

It seemed the Kingdom of Bali knew more of the inside story. But that was only natural, after all, they were a participating nation in the war back then.

"I can't read those few characters," Mao Tao said with a bitter smile. "Also, the Great Square Pot might not be movable."

He Lingchuan's expression changed: "Are you sure?"

They had come here to take such great risks just to retrieve the Great Square Pot. If the pot couldn't be taken, wouldn't their journey have been in vain?

Furthermore, what about the Battle of Woling Pass?

As soon as this question surfaced, even He Lingchuan startled himself.

Since when had he started paying such close attention to the war situation of the State of Yuan?

"I'm just not quite sure, which is why I hesitated to say it," Mao Tao murmured. "I only attended school for three years. If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn't have slept during class." One only regrets the lack of knowledge when the time comes to use it.

"Anything else?" He Lingchuan rubbed his chin. State Master Sun had surely seen these words as well, yet he remained silent.

Did the old man have confidence in retrieving the Great Square Pot, or did he have other plans in mind?

"Also, Tao Bo believes there is a powerful existence within this realm," Mao Tao said, feeling ashamed. "I can't understand the other words, so it's hard to make wild guesses."

A powerful existence? "Do you mean some voyeur hiding in some corner?"

Mao Tao shrugged; he had no answers. "Brother Chuan, why didn't the State Master mention it?"

"Perhaps he thinks there's no need for us to know." He Lingchuan shifted the topic. "How long have we been letting the fires burn?"

"Uh, over an hour?"

"It's time to head back."

"But the north is still..."

He Lingchuan interrupted him: "The north might not be important."

Where did the young master see that the north wasn't important? "The houses in the north haven't burned; I'm afraid the State Master will hold us accountable." In any other situation, Mao Tao would follow He Lingchuan blindly, but here...

"Young Master, you can't lead me into trouble."

"Let's head back first. If the illusion doesn't break, I'll definitely accompany you north," He Lingchuan smiled. "Are you afraid those two will eat you?"

This hit Mao Tao's inner thoughts, and he couldn't help but shudder. Among the four, he was the weakest; if he didn't want to be the first one eaten, he had to win someone over.

By now, the oil and charcoal they had replenished on the road were exhausted. Mao Tao no longer objected, so he abandoned the cart and turned toward the south gate.

"Young Master, are we going straight there?" Why take a detour, almost hugging the eastern city wall as they slipped past?

"Follow me and stop talking nonsense." He Lingchuan couldn't quite explain it himself, but the further south they went, the heavier and more uncomfortable his heart felt.

It was as if a great disaster were imminent.

Thus, he chose this route because the buildings to the east were tall and the river network was dense, making it easier to conceal their presence.

Currently, the east and west of the city were ablaze, carrying the scent of an approaching apocalypse.

***

Outside the Thunder-Summoning Array, a dark mass of heroic spirits stretched out, so vast that no end could be seen within sight.

Ordinary vengeful spirits had long since been squeezed away; only the Great Wind Army surrounded this place. Their formation was disciplined, standing as still as an abyss, the violent appearance they had when first emerging from Chi Jing having vanished.

Whether in life or death, they were fierce warriors.

To be stared at silently by tens of thousands of dead souls—how much pressure did that place on the living?

The scalp of the Black Water City soldiers felt numb; they couldn't tell if it was from fear or the static electricity. In the presence of so many military souls, could the array still protect them? He Chunhua frequently shouted to encourage his men: "Do not worry or fear! The heavenly thunder is enough to protect us! By standing firm here, we fight for the nation!"

Indeed, lightning snakes coursed through the talisman array on the ground, reminding both friend and foe that its power was latent and ready.

Earlier, a squad leader had thrown a long spear, only for it to be disintegrated by the heavenly thunder. It didn't harm the living inside the array, which helped steady everyone's hearts. Little did they know that the array was not only capable of "thinking" and assessing the situation, but it even knew how to send subordinates to seek reinforcements.

The massive army gathered outside the array now did not look like they were merely spectators. As long as they gathered in sufficient numbers, they would likely launch an attack. This was everyone's greatest concern

The Thunder Array was indeed formidable, but it was ultimately triggered by human effort, much like a lever. If the thunder had ten parts of power, the side using it would have to expend at least one part, right? Could the morale of these hundred or so men, combined with the Governor's Decree of State, hold out until the State Master emerged?

Even He Chunhua felt uneasy.

The gathering of the heroic spirit army was intended to overwhelm the opponent through sheer momentum. As the saying goes, the highest form of warfare is to strike the enemy's strategy, subduing them without fighting. Therefore, they must have a follow-up move.

Additionally, He Chunhua was exceptionally worried about his eldest son inside Chi Jing.

Nian and Sun harbored ill intentions toward the He father and son; would his son suffer greatly being alone inside? Although he had sent Zeng Feixiong and others in, how many traps and dangers lay within, and could He Lingchuan handle them?

While He Chunhua muttered to himself that his eldest son was a lucky charm who would surely turn danger into safety, he could not stop his worry. If He Lingchuan met with misfortune, then in the future...

"What is happening?"

"Are there prisoners among the vengeful spirits?" A commotion among the subordinates interrupted He Chunhua's thoughts. He looked up and was also astonished.

The Great Wind Army parted, making way for hundreds of vengeful spirits to be pushed out from behind.

These were the first soul bodies to emerge from Chi Jing—some had human shapes, some were bizarre and grotesque, and more than half were wearing military uniforms, appearing to be soldiers from other factions.

"The Allied Forces... they are the military souls of the Xianba Allied Forces." That was right; the war on the Panlong Wasteland had been deadlocked for thirty-two years. This meat grinder had harvested not only the lives of the Xiluo people but also a vast number of Allied soldiers.

They too slept eternally in this blood-soaked land, eventually collected by the Great Square Pot, finding no peace even in death.

These vengeful spirits, which had originally been wailing and hissing in resentment, actually appeared panicked as they were driven by the Great Wind Army; the heavenly thunder coursing through the talisman array ahead allowed them to sense their nemesis.

He Chunhua's expression changed: "The Great Wind Army is driving them to charge the array!"

As soon as the words fell, a command from the Great Wind Army shook the surroundings. Indeed, blades and spears were thrust forward, forcing the vengeful spirits to charge ahead. Driven by the command, these hundreds of vengeful spirits had eyes turning red, spinning in place before finally charging forward against the heavenly might.

The array was immediately activated; they were blown into nothingness the moment they struck the thunder barrier.

Even so, the vengeful spirits continued to fall one after another.

The living only saw the array flashing and heard the booming thunder, while the Great Wind Army outside remained in strict formation, their hearts filled with trepidation.

In military engagements or sieges, sometimes prisoners of war are pushed to the front lines to serve as human shields; if the opponent is unwilling to attack them, the side using them gains the initiative. This method is cruel but effective, and it has never been absent from the history of warfare.

(End of Chapter)