Chapter Three: Conquest
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(It seems like the new chapter will be released tomorrow… How many updates would be appropriate then?)
They looked around and saw towering mountains all around, lush with thick vegetation, the valleys deep and obscure, never touched by daylight throughout the year.
Within that valley, wild grass grew densely, and mist frequently billowed forth.
Outside this valley, the sun barely shone for more than two hours a day, let alone inside that deep, narrow chasm!
The leader of the seven-section Taoist envoys smiled faintly and said, “It shouldn’t just be here—it must be here! The yin energy here is so thick, not even birds dare to live.”
Hearing this, everyone’s spirits lifted; it seemed they had finally found the right place.
Without further words, they all sat down to rest and drink water.
As the sun began to set and darkness crept in, the leader of the seven-section Taoist envoys finally settled cross-legged, planting his vine staff before him.
He formed hand seals and murmured incantations. In an instant, the vine staff began to grow in a strange manner—countless roots plunged deep into the soil.
But the staff did not grow upward; it grew downward.
In the blink of an eye, those roots sprouted branches and buds, transforming into trunks that rapidly burrowed deep into the earth.
No one knew how far they had drilled when suddenly the surroundings darkened completely, revealing a shadowy, profound space!
A faint, eerie light suddenly emerged from the vine wood, illuminating the entire space.
Rustling noises followed, soon joined by the clanking of armor plates, echoing continuously.
Within the dim light, countless warriors, as if awakened from slumber, gradually stirred and came to consciousness.
“Who dares disturb our slumber?”
A deep, powerful voice filled with authority resounded.
“Slumber?”
The seven-section envoy emerged from the glow radiating from the vine wood, a nearly mocking smile curling his lips. “You call this slumber? Look at your own state.”
Suddenly, the light emanating from the vine intensified, revealing the ghastly conditions of these ghost soldiers.
Countless soldiers let out pitiful cries upon seeing themselves.
They were submerged in a filthy sea of blood, their bodies rotted, many showing stark white bones.
Swarming maggots crawled in and out of their decaying flesh.
Their armor and weapons were also corroded beyond recognition, as were their bodies.
“Ahhhhh…”
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Countless ghost soldiers screamed upon seeing their own appearances clearly.
“You were long ago defeated and slain. Even your souls have been cursed and suppressed in this blood pool.
Yet your enemies have already established an empire and now rule the world.
You living are sinners; dead, you are cursed ghosts!”
With these words from the seven-section envoy, the flames of anger and resentment within the ghost soldiers were stoked, causing the entire blood pool to churn violently.
They wanted to break free, to take revenge!
Why should their enemies brand them as cursed ghosts, condemning them to endless torment without release?
“I can help you. I will save you from this suffering. But from now on, you must obey the orders of my Great Heavenly Way.
From this day forth, you will become my Great Heavenly Way’s divine soldiers, following me to overthrow the Celestial Court and establish a new heaven!
Now, I ask you, do you accept?”
The seven-section envoy asked solemnly.
That deep voice resounded again, and a general slowly stepped forward. Though his body was rotted and soaked in blood, he still radiated an unexplainable majesty.
At this moment, he said, “We accept!”
The Great Heavenly Way envoy laughed heartily; his laughter echoed throughout the space, shaking the prison cage.
The vine wood grew rapidly, penetrating into the blood pool and devouring its waters.
The blood level visibly dropped before their eyes.
The ghost soldiers showed expressions of excitement.
The vine wood emitted a warm light, as comforting as the autumn and winter sunlight they had felt in life!
Gradually, the soldiers’ decay began to reverse—their armor and weapons restored to pristine condition, all as they had been during their prime in life!
The ghost soldiers became even more exhilarated, shouting loudly once more.
The seven-section envoy showed slight signs of exhaustion—saving these cursed ghosts was no easy feat and consumed vast amounts of magical power!
Once their excitement subsided somewhat, he said, “From now on, you are my Great Heavenly Way’s Azure Sun Divine Soldiers.
The current emperor is unjust, and the great era of five hundred years is ending. Soon, you will have your revenge!”
Rays of light shot forth, branding arcane seals upon the soldiers’ foreheads.
The ghost soldiers did not resist; they allowed the marks to be imprinted upon them…
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Upon hearing these words, the ghost soldiers cheered again, “Revenge! Revenge!”
Outside the valley, several Great Heavenly Way envoys guarding the seven-section envoy saw the thick yin energy rising from the valley and all showed expressions of delight.
“It seems Envoy Zhang has tamed these ghost soldiers…”
“The great plague in Yuzhou claimed countless lives. The great era of the empire is ending—it is a time for heaven and earth to change.
The malevolent energies, cursed ghosts, and evil spirits once suppressed by imperial fate will now emerge. The saying ‘when a nation is doomed, monsters appear’ truly reflects this!
Yet, if the empire were not on the brink of collapse, why would its emperor cooperate with our Way?”
“That’s true… These blood-feeding shaman gods usurp heaven and earth. The time for our immortal Way’s rise has arrived!”
The Great Heavenly Way envoys spoke excitedly among themselves.
…
Almost at the same time, a thousand miles away in Danling County, Wang Zhenling, burdened with heavy thoughts, was about to leave the city.
Just as Wang Zhenling’s carriage neared the city gate, a messenger on horseback suddenly caught up and brought him back to the county office.
Inside the county office, all officials wore grave expressions. Only County Captain Chen Bushi was absent.
Upon seeing Wang Zhenling, the county magistrate confronted him bluntly, “You’re aware of the plague situation. These are perilous times.
County Captain Chen Bushi is about to be promoted and return to the capital; his position cannot be left unattended. Are you willing to serve as acting county captain and oversee county security?”
Wang Zhenling was slightly taken aback—why him?
Hadn’t the magistrate been wary of him before, even subtly trying to remove him from the county captain’s affairs?
Why now was he being asked to act as county captain temporarily?
He glanced around and saw the county officials avoiding his gaze, heads bowed.
Wang Zhenling’s surprise deepened; he guessed something and asked, “Is the county captain going out of the city to manage affairs in the rural areas?”
The magistrate did not conceal anything and said directly, “Exactly!”