Chapter 152: The Shadow Temple's Ghostly Lair

Form a line and raise your shields! Keep your spears steady!

Hold the formation steady; the flanks must not charge recklessly!

Inside the training ground of the East Dao Prefecture's army, new recruits are being trained.

Left three, right four, charge!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Three in front, four behind! Raise shields!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

After waking, Mu Yi was led into the training ground; seeing the drills underway, he did not rush but watched the training attentively.

These new recruits were terribly clumsy in changing formations; the tiny "Heaven‑Earth‑Man Small Three Talent" drill was like a rusted machine, a makeshift contraption cobbled together in a hurry.

Mu Yi shook his head. No wonder they sought assistance; indeed, there was no one available!

"Rest for fifteen minutes! Then resume training!" the training Colonel shouted, halting the drills.

Lin Xuan exuded a hard‑edged officer's demeanor, acting swiftly; in a few words he finished briefing the news.

"General, also going to the Shadow Temple?" the scruffy old man asked lazily.

Lin Xuan handed Mu Yi a token and, clasping his fists, said:

"Greetings, Colonel!"

"Flying zombie... that will be troublesome!"

The child spoke calmly; Mu Yi nodded. The child must be a staff member of the local City God Temple, surrounded by the scent of incense.

Mu Yi gladly accepted the order—he had come for this, so he bore no complaint. After taking the token, he went to find the assistant Lin Xuan mentioned.

"This is the Colonel's token; with it you have the same authority as me within the East Dao Prefecture. I entrust everything to you!"

Reaching this point essentially means stepping into the Transcendent realm—roughly equivalent to level 10–15 in lay terms.

The Shadow Temple's lewd worship offerings may be for ancestral spirits or for earth‑and‑sky spirits; some are even giant demonic beasts. Besides incense offerings, they also require blood‑and‑flesh sacrifices.

If it is the enemy's strategy of luring the tiger from the mountain, the East Dao Prefecture could be devastated; the foe would time their sabotage with the southern advance of the barbarian demons, leaving no room for careless caution.

Ordinary zombies are roughly divided into eight grades: Purple Zombie, White Zombie, Green Zombie, Hairy Zombie, Flying Zombie, Wandering Corpse, Lying Corpse, and Unrotted Bones.

"The garrison must hold position; if this is a feint, we would bear the blame for countless deaths!" Lin Xuan's expression darkened. He possessed the power to destroy the Shadow Temple, yet he could not leave the East Dao Prefecture.

The few people, each of varied appearance, instantly restrained themselves a bit.

The East Dao Prefecture is a Military Strategist's domain; seeking livelihood here and offending a Military Strategist's Colonel is certainly a poor choice.

"Tell me!" Mu Yi came over to greet, hoping to learn more about the Shadow Temple. Lin Xuan's briefing was concise, but intelligence is better the more one knows.

"Colonel Mu, do you know the specifics of the Shadow Temple?" the assistant who looked like a child asked.

Heavenly deities and earth spirits attach to mountain‑water ley lines, enjoy state incense offerings, can untangle the cosmic veins, and bring blessings to the region.

When it reaches the Hairy Zombie stage, the corpse sprouts hair; it is famed for copper skin and iron bones. The higher its cultivation, the sturdier the body, the more agile—leaping onto roofs, climbing trees, bounding like a bird, eventually fearing neither ordinary fire nor even sunlight.

Seeing the assistant, Mu Yi was puzzled: what kind of monsters and demons were these?

Mu Yi felt a headache; zombies are ranked in tiers. The notorious ones—General Minister, Imperial Concubine, Drought Demon, Ying Gou—are said to be the progenitors of zombies, even surpassing ordinary immortals.

But the Shadow Temple's lewd worship is different; if the world were in chaos, it might be understandable, yet now, with external foes gone, the nation is peaceful.

"I've recruited some folk from the populace; when the time comes, you can set out together, so there will be support!"

From a certain perspective, all these people are a special crowd—perhaps even folk marvels.

"I've personally surveyed the Shadow Temple outside the city and researched records in the City God Temple. It appears to be a remnant of the previous dynasty, about four to five hundred years old. The Shadow Temple's worship likely involves zombies... now it may have reached the Flying Zombie stage!"

"I am Lin Xuan, acting Colonel of the East Dao Prefecture's army. I've received news from the Military Strategist elders; as you saw, the only help I can offer you are these new recruits; I cannot draw any other personnel!"

Those who diligently and honestly accumulate merit also have a chance to be enlisted and ennobled; after all, demand creates a market. Such benevolent spirits being recruited is a cause for celebration, benefiting both sides.

"You all are the assistants Lin Xuan summoned? I'm the newly arrived Colonel!" Mu Yi brandished the token, waving it before the group.

From Lin Xuan's words, Mu Yi learned exactly what this mission's target was.

People of the East Dao Prefecture discovered a Shadow Temple within the mountains.

Mu Yi did not forget that this is a real world, implying variables and unpredictability; thorough preparation is the best strategy.

Lin Xuan's strength is solid; by Mu Yi's estimate, he is at least on par with Cao Ming, so the assistants he selects should be able to contribute.

A so‑called Shadow Temple is one not recognized by the Heavenly Court nor the dynasty, privately using blood sacrifices for lewd worship.

Purple and White Zombies are manageable; they have various flaws, and an ordinary strong man might be able to handle them.

Before Mu Yi could speak, the woman among the five abruptly stood, stared at Mu Yi, then sat down a moment later, her thoughts unreadable.

This clearly aims to plunge the world into chaos; worse, the opponent uses live‑human blood sacrifices, a crime of ten unforgivable sins.

"My surname is Mu, given name Yi; today we'll rest briefly, tomorrow we can leave the city. Do any of you object?" Mu Yi, not one to linger, nevertheless understood the consequences of recklessness.

A scruffy old man, a monk, a Daoist, a woman, and a child.

Green Zombies are only a bit trickier, still not a serious threat.

Yet the East Dao Prefecture's elite have been deployed; the remaining garrison can only defend the city to maintain overall stability. Eradicating the Shadow Temple is beyond their capacity, so they expand the army while seeking aid.

Moreover, letting the opponent persist, no one knows what great chaos might arise.

Flying Zombies are millennial zombies who have fully cultivated; building on the Hairy Zombie base, they also master spells and can fly, ranking roughly level 15–20 by comprehensive standards.

If it truly is a Flying Zombie, the outcome would be a fifty‑fifty split.

"If it hasn't reached the Flying Zombie stage, the previous dynasty's reign was brief—under a hundred years. Continuous worship over the years would be understandable, but no chaos has arisen in all that time; it certainly hasn't reached the Flying Zombie realm!"

The Daoist waved his hand, dismissing the child's speculation. The child bowed his head, thought briefly, and nodded: worship can accelerate power growth, but no such reports have surfaced over the years; even secret worship would be ineffective.

"Aside from the enemies within the Shadow Temple, do you have any information about the rebels?" Mu Yi asked thoughtfully.

Hairy Zombies are still within our handling scope; Flying Zombies are truly beyond our reach.

This time there is no large army accompanying us; the fight will be rather tricky.

"It should be the barbarian remnants that slipped in from beyond the passes. It's said that when the previous dynasty fell, remnants fled beyond the passes and allied with the barbarians; now they're likely inseparable!" the scruffy old man said casually, recounting the former dynasty's secrets.

Everyone couldn't help but look at him with some surprise; to be able to speak of such ancient matters offhand, either he had read widely, or he came from a long history—no one knew what kind of old man this was.

After exchanging pleasantries, they could be considered acquainted, barely reaching a consensus to take Mu Yi as their leader.

The next morning, the group swiftly left the city and rushed straight toward the direction of the Yin Temple.

Whenever it involves Yin evil or the like, daytime is far better than darkness.

Under the high noon sun, no matter what kind of opponent, they always gain some advantage.

The group were not ordinary people; their legs were extremely fast, and before long they arrived at the place of the Yin Temple.

"Looks like there really is an insider in the city leaking news!"

Mu Yi and the six of them stood on the mountain cliff, gazing at the location of the Yin Temple; at this moment the Yin Temple lay hidden in clouds and mist, and a single glance was enough to tell that it was no natural phenomenon.

The Daoist's expression grew solemn as a talisman appeared in his hand; he activated the talisman, turning it into firelight that emitted green smoke, which lingered as it probed into the clouds and mist.

Soon the green smoke dissipated, and the Daoist's face grew even more solemn.

"It has already become a ghostly domain; they probably set up an altar inside. I can't discern the specifics, so I can only proceed step by step!"

"Let me try!" the woman frowned slightly, three incense sticks appeared in her hand, igniting without wind, sending up drifting green smoke, while the fingers holding the incense moved continuously.

"The Five Immortals have an incense hall; the hall enshrines the Five Immortals. Seventeenth-generation disciple Su Meiniang, I respectfully invite Elder Sister Su to possess me!"

Having said that, he slowly closed his eyes.

On the mountain cliff, a negative wind suddenly rose; when Su Meiniang opened her eyes again, her pupils had become almond-shaped.

It was as if she had instantly become another person; though her build was the same, her waist twisted softly bonelessly, exuding a languid, alluring charm.

"Little Meiniang, you always order people around..."

Saying that, he turned his head to look at Mu Yi, his face showing a doubtful expression.

"How do I smell the scent of our kin? Is this a blood feud? I haven't heard of any blood feud occurring these years. Moreover, it smells so unfamiliar—wild Jia Xian?"

Mu Yi also understood why Su Meiniang had hesitated when she first saw him; they were old acquaintances, a Horse Immortal.

Although they were not from the same world, his hands were inevitably stained with the blood of these Jia Xian, so it was normal to be sensed.

Speaking of which, it's strange that the Six Paths of Reincarnation can digest the blessings and curses of myriad gods, yet it completely ignores the other things hanging on him—the blood feud of the Jia Xian of the White Lotus World still clings to him.

After puzzling over it for a while, Su Erjie also, urged by Su Meiniang, gave up investigating and pressed her doubts deep down.

This East Dao Prefecture is the territory of the Military Strategists; dare to cause trouble at this critical juncture, and those barbarian Militarists might roll up their sleeves and possibly overturn the entire Five Immortals Hall—these guys are notorious for being unreasonable.

Even the most short-tempered weasel clan wouldn't dare provoke these mad dogs; their foul temper ignites at the slightest provocation, and once they mobilize, they'll dig three feet deep, flatten a thousand li, and won't rest until they've rooted out every blade of grass.

Don't think the monster barbarians are fierce with their occasional southern raids; the fiercest in this world are actually these Militarist barbarians, whose status was truly founded on mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The East Dao Prefecture was originally built on the corpses of three million demons—a ghastly place; moved elsewhere it would suffice to create a dead land, yet even now it is not calm.

To be frank, they were also curious about how the Yin Temple had been preserved; logically, the surroundings of the East Dao Prefecture should have been swept clean.

When the great army rolled over, even flying zombies wouldn't suffice, let alone wandering corpses.

"The aura of yin spirits is strong, and the bloody resentment shoots up to the sky; I fear a blood sacrifice was just carried out last night, and the number is not small!"

Su Erjie twitched her nose, then yawned, and upon opening her eyes she had already returned to normal.

"Let's go check it out; over there they're probably trying to buy time, and we can't afford to delay!" the unkempt old man's face grew solemn, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Who!"

The old man concentrated his sword fingers with both hands; a bolt of silk shot straight through his body and slashed toward the smoke and mist.

He turned out to be a sword cultivator, which Mu Yi hadn't expected.

"Ah!" a shrill wail rang out, like a vengeful ghost's lament; anyone hearing it would get a headache and feel vexed, with layers of illusions, yet everyone present was no ordinary mortal, so they directly ignored the sound‑wave attack.

"Give chase and see!" Mu Yi said, then took the lead and leapt down from the mountain cliff.

Mu Yi had just jumped into the valley when yin winds rose all around and ghostly shadows flitted about… as if the heavens and earth had suddenly changed.

Mu Yi's brow twitched; this method was a bit like an independent belief zone… but it was too crude!

At a glance you could tell the foundation wasn't solid!

Xiao Meiniang and the others jumped down, discovering Mu Yi drawing his bow and nocking an arrow, as if he had already locked onto the enemy's position; yet when they looked ahead, they could only see faint human shapes flickering in the dimness.

In the clouds and mist, a white‑bearded old man missing a hand laughed harshly.

"Heh heh heh, you idiots, actually daring to rush into this ghostly domain—it's not in vain that I paid this price!"

The white‑bearded old man looked at his severed hand, his eyes full of killing intent; he had only wanted to lure everyone into the formation, but he hadn't expected that after just one encounter his hand would be cut off.

"I will crush these wretched things into ten thousand pieces, only then will my hatred be appeased!"

"Old ghost, don't rush; don't forget what the lord ordered," the gloomy youth beside him hurriedly interjected, lest they delay the lord's affairs and end up unable to get by.

The white‑bearded old man's face grew dark, but the mere thought of that gloomy gaze made him shudder instantly.

"Yeah, old ghost, don't act on your own!" the withered old woman on the other side also urged,

"First set up the formation, capture them alive, deliver them to the lord's hands—they will surely be tortured to death, and then you, old ghost, can vent your spite!"

After hearing their pleas, the white‑bearded old man gritted his teeth and fell silent; these companions feared the lord's methods, and how could he not be afraid himself?

"Set up the formation, trap them to death, and our mission will be finished!"

Having said that, the five people present all sat cross‑legged on the altar that had been prepared in advance.