Chapter 247: Acting as Ghost Soldiers

There were still many Yin Souls like Ding Dalang and Zhang Erwa; they stayed on their spirit tablets, watching their loved ones mourn them, and hearing that Meng Yifan was taking good care of their families, which made them feel that their deaths had been worth it.

Men shed blood and sacrificed their lives, fighting desperately for what? Wasn't it just so their families could have enough to eat and grow up healthy? Although they were dead, their families were living well, and they were very content with that.

As the common folk offered their sacrifices, strands of Faith Wish Power merged into the spirit tablets, nourishing the Yin Souls within alongside the omnipresent Yin energy, causing their soul bodies to condense and slowly undergo some mysterious changes.

That evening, after the people who had come to pay their respects had left, Meng Yifan's Spiritual Power appeared in the special space of the Soul-Nurturing Jar; the more than five hundred soldier Yin Souls were all incredibly excited to see Meng Yifan's figure.

Everyone formed neat, straight rows and columns, then stood at attention, and with a *swish*, saluted Meng Yifan, thanking him for his care for their families.

Meng Yifan also stood at attention and returned the salute; these soldiers were all good troops, not a single one was a coward, and Meng Yifan felt very proud to be their commander.

"I have a battalion of ghost soldiers under my command that patrols the city's security every night; the constables and yamen runners handle the day, while the ghost soldiers and ghost generals handle the night. There are currently twelve vacancies; who among you is willing to sign up?" Meng Yifan said.

Yin Souls like Ding Dalang and Zhang Erwa were all incredibly excited when they heard this; they had been Meng Yifan's soldiers while alive, and even after death, they were willing to continue serving as Meng Yifan's ghost soldiers.

Moreover, once they became ghost soldiers, they could go out on patrol at night, and when passing by their homes, they could also go to see their families; to them, this was a dream come true.

Especially Ding Dalang, whose wife was still pregnant with his child; of course, he wanted to go see how his wife and child were doing every day.

"Lord Meng, I am willing to join the ghost soldiers," Ding Dalang was the first to say loudly.

"Lord Meng, I am also willing to join the ghost soldiers," Zhang Erwa also shouted loudly.

"Lord Meng, I am also willing to be a ghost soldier."

Other soldier Yin Souls also shouted one after another, willing to be ghost soldiers; the Soul-Nurturing Jar was very suitable for Yin Souls to live in, but the space was limited after all, just like being in prison.

These Yin Souls all possessed intelligence and had needs similar to the living; they also wanted a chance to go out for a spin, just to get some air, and could also visit their relatives along the way.

Seeing the soldiers' Yin Souls eagerly signing up, Meng Yifan felt very gratified; he had gone to great lengths to set up the Soul-Nurturing Jar space, treating them as ghost soldier reserves, ready to fill vacancies at any time.

"You are all meritorious subjects; in the Soul-Nurturing Jar, you can enjoy the wish power of the masses and the Dynasty Luck, just consider it enjoying your twilight years."

"If you go to be ghost soldiers, you must participate in battles and may face the risk of your souls scattering at any time. Are you still willing to be ghost soldiers?"

Meng Yifan explained the dangers of being a ghost soldier, letting these soldier Yin Souls choose for themselves.

"Lord Meng, I am willing to be a ghost soldier and continue fighting by your side until my soul scatters," said Zhang Erwa; he had died while clutching a satchel charge to perish together with a Level 2 Demon Beast, and since he had already died once, if he became a ghost soldier, the worst that could happen was dying again.

"Lord Meng, rest assured, as long as you give the order, I, Ding Dalang, will never hesitate; even if it means climbing a mountain of blades or descending into a sea of fire, I will not even frown."

Ding Dalang also scrambled to express his determination; he was a smart man and understood that there were four or five hundred Yin Souls present, but Meng Yifan was only recruiting twelve people. The spots were limited, and if he didn't act quickly and enthusiastically, the spots would be snatched up by others.

Other ghost soldiers also spoke up one after another, saying they were not afraid of danger and were willing to participate in battle again.

Meng Yifan raised his hand, and the soldier Yin Souls stopped making noise, listening to Meng Yifan's arrangements.

"You are all good men, but the spots are limited; I can only select the twelve of you with the most solidified soul bodies. I will read the names of those who should step forward."

"Zhang Erwa."

"Present!" Zhang Erwa shouted loudly, then stepped out of the formation.

"Wang Yong."

"Present!"

…………

One by one, the soldiers' names were called, but Ding Dalang's name was not among them, which made him very nervous, fearing he hadn't been selected. Just as he was becoming anxious and uncomfortable all over, he heard Meng Yifan call out: "Ding Dalang."

"Present!" Ding Dalang was incredibly excited and stepped out of the formation.

Soon the twelve spots were all filled; they stood in the front row, enduring the envious gazes of the soldier Yin Souls behind them. Meng Yifan waved his right hand, and a huge stone slab appeared in the middle of the Soul-Nurturing Jar space.

"On this is a Ghost Cultivation Method; you can practice according to the methods on it, absorb Yin energy, and temper your soul bodies. I hope that even though you have become Yin Souls, you will not slack off and will persist in practicing every day. Ghost Cultivation is also a type of Immortal Cultivator path; all roads lead to the same destination, and if you cultivate to the extreme, you can also attain the Dao and become an immortal," Meng Yifan said.

Those soldier Yin Souls who hadn't been selected were originally very disappointed, but their eyes lit up when they saw the Ghost Cultivation Technique on the stone slab.

They knew that there were mysterious and unfathomable Immortal Cultivators in this world; they hadn't had any Immortal Fate while alive, and they hadn't expected to obtain a cultivation technique after death.

According to Meng Yifan, by practicing the Ghost Cultivation Method, there was hope of attaining the Dao and becoming an immortal in the end; this was truly wonderful.

Ding Dalang, Zhang Erwa, and the other twelve ghost soldiers also wanted to go see the technique on the stone slab. Meng Yifan smiled and said, "Rest assured, there are copies in the barracks too."

The ghost soldiers in the Soul-Nurturing Jar could not wait to start practicing. Meng Yifan flicked his body, took Ding Dalang and the other twelve ghost soldiers out of the Soul-Nurturing Jar, arrived at the barracks inside the Ghost Head Blade, and handed Ding Dalang and the others over to Zhang Butou and Liu Sheng.

Ding Dalang, Zhang Erwa, and the other twelve new ghost soldiers were dispersed into the ghost soldier ranks. To facilitate combat command, Meng Yifan's one hundred ghost soldiers were also organized into companies, platoons, and squads.

Zhang Butou was the company commander, and Liu Sheng was the deputy company commander; when there were no combat missions, they organized the ghost soldiers for training.

Ding Dalang and Zhang Erwa were both assigned to the first squad of the first platoon, becoming comrades-in-arms once again; their Squad Leader was the original squad leader, Fang Cheng.

"Haha, welcome new brothers. Come, collect your equipment," Fang Cheng said.

Ding Dalang and Zhang Erwa were both a bit excited, wondering what equipment they would receive after becoming ghost soldiers. When they saw Fang Cheng hand each of them an Embroidered Needle, they were a bit dumbfounded. Where was the promised equipment? Why just give them an Embroidered Needle? Were they supposed to change professions and become tailors?

"In our daily training, besides practicing the technique and condensing our soul bodies, we use Yin Power to drive the Embroidered Needle. I will demonstrate it for you once; watch closely."

After Fang Cheng finished speaking, Yin Power surged through his soul body and gathered on the needle, then with a *whoosh*, the needle flew thirty meters away and accurately struck the crotch of the human-shaped target.