Chapter 57: Captives Among the Resentful Spirits

However, Mao Tao was clearly able to understand it, yet he wore the same blank expression as them; the kid wasn't stupid. "I don't know many Baling characters, so it's a bit of a struggle to read. But Tao Bo requested that whoever dug up the manuscript send it to the Baling Kingdom, and he promised a generous reward. Besides, he seemed to mention that, judging by this illusion, some god has indeed fallen."

He Lingchuan’s heart stirred: "Mitian?"

It seems the Baling Kingdom knows more inside information. But that is also normal, after all, they were a participating nation back then.

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

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

They had gone through so much hardship to come here and take risks, all just to take the Great Square Pot back. If the pot couldn't be taken away, hadn't he come for nothing?

Also, what about the battle at Woling Pass? This question just popped up, and it startled He Lingchuan himself.

Since when did he start paying such close attention to the war situation of the Yuan Kingdom?

"I’m just not sure, that’s why I hadn't decided whether to say it," Mao Tao stammered. "I only attended school for three years; if I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have slept in class." One only regrets having too little knowledge when the time comes to use it.

"Anything else?" He Lingchuan stroked his chin. Master Sun must have seen these few sentences too, yet he didn't make a sound.

Does the old man have the confidence to take the Great Square Pot, or does he have other plans in mind? "Also, Tao Bo believes there is a powerful existence in this world," Mao Tao said, looking ashamed. "I can't really understand the other text, so it's not good to guess wildly."

A powerful existence? "Do you mean the peeping tom hiding in some corner?"

Mao Tao shrugged; how would he have the answer? "Brother Chuan, why didn't the Master mention it?"

"Perhaps he thinks there's no need for us to know," He Lingchuan changed the subject. "How long have we been setting fires?"

"Uh, over two hours?"

"It's time to head back."

"The north side is still..."

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

Where did the Young Master see that the north side wasn't important? "The houses in the north haven't been burned; I'm afraid the Master will hold me accountable." Outside, Mao Tao would certainly follow He Lingchuan’s lead, but here...

"Young Master, you can't get me killed."

"We’ll go back first. If the illusion hasn't broken, I will definitely accompany you to the north," He Lingchuan laughed. "Are you afraid those two will eat you?"

This hit the nail on the head regarding Mao Tao’s worries, and he couldn't help but shiver. Among the four, he was the weakest; if he didn't want to be the first one eaten, he had to win someone over.

At this point, the oil and firewood the two had collected along the way were all used up, and Mao Tao no longer objected, so they abandoned the handcart and turned toward the South Gate.

"Young Master, we’re going straight there?" Why take a detour and slip past almost hugging the east city wall?

"Follow me, less nonsense." He Lingchuan couldn't say why either, but the further south they went, the heavier and more uncomfortable his heart felt.

It was as if a great disaster were imminent.

That was why he chose this route, because the buildings in the east were tall and the river network was dense, making it easy to hide their figures.

Now, both the east and west of the city were ablaze with fire, already smelling of the coming apocalypse.

￥￥￥￥￥

Outside the Thunder-Summoning Array, a dense mass of heroic spirits filled the view; one couldn't see the end of them within the field of vision.

Ordinary resentful spirits had long since been squeezed out to who knows where, and only the Great Wind Army surrounded this place tightly. Their military formation was strict, standing silently like an abyss; the frantic appearance they had when first emerging from the well was already gone.

In life and in death, they were a fierce brigade.

Being stared at by tens of thousands of dead people without a sound—how much pressure did this put on the living? The military leaders of Heishuicheng felt their scalps tingle, and they couldn't tell if it was from fear or from the electricity. In front of so many military spirits, could the array still protect them? He Chunhua often had to raise his voice to encourage his men: "Do not worry or fear, the heavenly thunder is enough to protect us! We stand here with peace of mind, and that is fighting for the country!"

Thunder snakes did indeed slither across the talisman array on the ground, reminding both friend and foe that its power was hidden but not yet unleashed.

The previous squad leader had thrown a long spear, only for it to be disintegrated by the heavenly thunder without harming the living inside the array, which had also settled everyone's hearts. Who knew that it could not only use its brain and weigh the situation, but actually knew how to send subordinates to find reinforcements?

Now, the massive army outside the array didn't look like they were here to watch the fun. Once their numbers gathered, they would likely launch an attack. This was what everyone worried about most: the heavenly thunder array was indeed powerful, but it was driven by human effort, just like a lever. If the heavenly thunder had ten parts of power, their side had to contribute at least one, right? Could the morale of these hundred men, plus the County Magistrate’s State Decree, hold out until the Master came out?

Even He Chunhua felt his heart drumming.

The assembly of the heroic spirit army was intended to overwhelm the opponent with sheer momentum. This is what they call "the best military strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, and the next best is to force them to surrender without fighting." Then, they must have a follow-up plan.

Additionally, He Chunhua was particularly worried about his eldest son inside the well.

Nian and Sun had ill intentions toward the He father and son; would his son suffer a great loss alone inside? Although he had sent Ceng Feixiong and the others in, how many traps and dangers were inside, and could He Lingchuan handle them? He Chunhua silently recited that his eldest son was a lucky general who would surely turn danger into safety, but on the other hand, he couldn't stop worrying. If He Lingchuan met with misfortune, then in the future...

"What is going on?"

"Are there captives among the resentful spirits too?" A commotion among his men interrupted He Chunhua’s train of thought. He looked up and was also surprised.

The Great Wind Army parted from the middle, clearing a path, and pushed out hundreds of resentful spirits from behind.

These were the soul bodies that had come out first from the well; some were humanoid, others were strange and bizarre, and more than half were even wearing military uniforms, looking like soldiers from other factions.

"Allied forces, they are the military spirits of the Immortal-Baling Allied Forces." That was it; the war on the Panlong Wasteland had been deadlocked for thirty-two years, and this meat grinder had harvested not only the lives of the Xiluo people but also a vast number of allied soldiers.

They, too, slept forever on this blood-stained land, only to be collected by the Great Square Pot in the end, unable to find peace even after death.

These resentful spirits, which had originally been wailing and hissing, were driven by the Great Wind Army and actually appeared panicked and uneasy; the heavenly thunder slithering in the talisman array ahead made them smell the scent of their nemesis.

He Chunhua’s expression changed: "The Great Wind Army wants to drive them to charge the array!"

No sooner had he spoken than the Great Wind Army gave an order that shook the wilderness, and sure enough, they drew their blades and spears, forcing the resentful spirits to charge forward. These hundreds of resentful spirits were driven until their eyes turned red, spinning in place, and finally, they charged forward against the heavenly might.

The array was immediately activated, and as soon as they hit the heavenly thunder barrier, they were blasted into oblivion.

Even so, the resentful spirits continued to charge one after another.

The living could only see the array flashing and thunder roaring, while the Great Wind Army outside the array remained in battle formation, and they couldn't help but feel anxious.

When armies engage or lay siege to a city, they sometimes push prisoners of war to the front row as meat shields; if the opponent cannot bear to attack, their own side gains the upper hand. This method is cruel but effective, and it has never been absent in the history of warfare.

(End of chapter)