Chapter 602

White Paper Xiancheng.

South of the city.

The giant paper figure statue, a secret formation space.

Unlike Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged in mid-air, holding the Crossroads Treasure Lantern in both hands, having already refined it to eighty percent.

In the corner, the portrait clone of Wen Wen Ruanyu closely monitored Unlike Ning Zhuo; if the latter made any move to abscond with the treasure, she would certainly react.

At this very moment, Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes were slightly closed, and he appeared quite calm, but his heart was surging with great waves!

This was all because, through the eighty percent connection with the Crossroads Lantern, he had caught a glimpse of the scene in the Underworld.

In a dark cavern, large swaths of paper soldiers were densely arranged. Their armor, thin as cicada wings, rustled in the ghostly wind, and each scale was adorned with stars painted in cinnabar.

Their faces looked as if they were wearing makeup; their slanted eyebrows reached into their hairlines, and the two patches of rouge on their cheeks looked like aged bloodstains. Their lip lines were drawn extremely thin, pursed into fine slits.

In the front row were a large number of paper ox cavalry.

The paper cavalry held eighteen-foot paper spears, and every one of them was tall and burly.

The hooves of the paper oxen were wrapped in silver horseshoes made of tin foil. In the eye sockets of these beasts, glass beads were embedded, flickering with a ghostly light in the dark wind. At the folds of the oxen's necks, traces of bamboo strips used for binding remained.

When the ghostly wind swept over the oxen's backs, the paper skin rippled, revealing the intertwined locust wood skeletons inside, upon which were layers of soul-binding talismans.

Behind the cavalry were the spear-and-shield infantry.

These paper soldiers were the most numerous, each equipped with standard paper-talisman spears and large paper-talisman shields.

Behind the spear-and-shield infantry were eight hundred crossbow-wielding paper puppets. The taut ox-tendon strings of the crossbows

held paper arrows, the arrowheads dipped in corpse wax, and the fletching made of fragments of grave-marker paper banners.

In the center area, there were thirty-six four-horse chariots. Sitting on the chariot shafts were three paper-crafted deities, all with three heads and six arms, each holding a cloud gong, a wind flag, and a rain banner. The copper bells hanging from the four corners of the chariot canopies were wrapped in white linen, remaining silent.

At the very center of the chariot formation stood the main army's battle flag.

The ninety-nine-foot-tall plain silk banner fluttered and rolled; the flag surface was not embroidered with dragons or tigers, but was instead covered in rebirth mantras cut from gold foil. The top of the flagpole was not a spearhead, but a paper-pasted soul-guiding banner. Where the seven-layered banner tails hung down, tens of thousands of paper coins were knotted into tassels, each copper coin having a hair-thin red thread passed through its square hole.

And beneath the battle flag stood a paper marshal, standing proudly.

He carried three battle flags on his back, his hands empty, without weapons. He wore brilliant, colorful paper armor, his eyes pitch black, as if he hadn't opened them, closing his eyes in a feigned slumber, waiting only for the order to launch a fierce conquest!

This was a paper-crafted army of several thousand, with cavalry, chariots, heavy crossbows, fierce soldiers, and even a main army commander!

It was not just the variety of troop types that moved Unlike Ning Zhuo, but the military bearing. It was truly a case of "the golden clappers are silent, the swords and halberds are like a forest, the armor is somber, and the tiger-like troops are gathered like clouds."

"My mother actually buried an army of paper figures in the Underworld!"

Although this was the first time Unlike Ning Zhuo had seen such an army, his experiences in the Two-Pill Nation, combined with his connection to the Crossroads Lantern, told him that this paper army was extremely elite, far surpassing his own mechanical army, and even exceeding the Three Generals Camp; it could even be compared to the Red Flower Camp.

"This is a massive undertaking. If I were to use this army, at the right moment, it could potentially overturn the situation in the city."

"Oh, I almost forgot, my military rank is gone."

Not long after Unlike Ning Zhuo left the Two-Pill Nation, he discovered that his military advisor seal and other items had become ineffective.

Although this was within his expectations, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed when he discovered it.

This astonishing discovery left Unlike Ning Zhuo with even more questions: "Although White Paper Xiancheng

has a city guard, it has no formal organization. Even if the manufactured army is powerful, without an organization, how can it employ military strategy and unleash the true power of an army?"

After speaking with the White Paper City Lord's clone, Unlike Ning Zhuo learned many things about White Paper Xiancheng.

Although the White Paper Xiancheng's guards were powerful, they did not form an army and did not enjoy the benefits of a formal organization.

Therefore, they relied entirely on the city's protective formation for defensive battles, struggling to resist the waves of ghosts time and again, with no ability to counterattack.

Building an army is not an easy task.

Even White Paper Xiancheng, a hegemon-level city entrenched in the Ghost Tide Black Swamp, obtaining the most resources, had not achieved this as far as he could see.

Now the problem arose: without an army organization, this paper army had no way to unleash its true power; calling it "all show and no substance" would not be an exaggeration.

"There's more?!"

The subsequent discovery left Unlike Ning Zhuo even more suspicious and shocked.

It turned out there wasn't just one such paper army; in various hidden corners of the Underworld, some underground and some in valleys, there were other paper armies hidden away.

The military appearance of these armies was much the same, and their numbers were basically similar.

"This shouldn't be my mother's doing." Unlike Ning Zhuo reached a new judgment.

"Although my mother was a true disciple of a super sect with Jin Dan cultivation, her financial resources were not enough to support such a massive undertaking."

In this regard, although Unlike Ning Zhuo was a layman, he had a general judgment.

Let's put it this way: based on his current vast wealth, creating even one-tenth of a paper-crafted army would be quite a struggle!

Normally, the lifelong wealth of a Nascent Soul cultivator would be far from enough.

According to Unlike Ning Zhuo's observations, once the commanders in each paper army were activated, they would have Nascent Soul-level combat power!

Unlike Ning Zhuo had already discovered four such armies.

As he continued to refine and deepen his connection with the Crossroads Lantern, there might be more armies appearing later.

His guess was soon verified.

When Unlike Ning Zhuo completely refined the Crossroads Lantern, he had discovered a total of seven paper armies. Among them, the last army was still missing a small portion in scale.

"Hmm?" Unlike Ning Zhuo observed carefully and found that in the seventh army, soldiers were being accumulated.

The bamboo skeletons had already been built, and a pale talisman paper was produced out of thin air, drifting onto the bamboo bones. The imprint of a talisman appeared on the paper, very slowly; at this speed, it wouldn't be able to draw a single talisman character in half a day.

It was as if an invisible hand was silently crafting the paper figures.

Although the entire process was slow, it revealed a sense of determination and forbearance.

Unlike Ning Zhuo calmed his heart and sensed carefully, his heart shaking again: "This is the power of White Paper Xiancheng itself!"

It was this immortal city, in the Underworld, silently weaving one paper army after another.

At this speed, it would take at least several decades to create such an army.

Seven paper armies...

This was the silent accumulation of years and years!

"So, who established White Paper Xiancheng in the first place? What could their purpose possibly be?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo had discovered the core secret of White Paper Xiancheng!

"Does the contemporary White Paper City Lord know about this secret?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo thought about it and felt the possibility was low.

The reason was simple.

Back then, when his mother arrived at White Paper Xiancheng, the city was on the verge of being destroyed by a ghost tide. If the White Paper City Lord had known about such a trump card, how could they have sought help from the Myriad Phenomena Sect?

Did they really think such help came without a price?

Look at Wen Wen Ruanyu now; as a representative of the Myriad Phenomena Sect, hasn't she been stationed in this city all along, as a high-level official of White Paper Xiancheng?

It is conceivable that every year, White Paper Xiancheng transports a large amount of revenue to the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

And here, it wasn't just the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

There were also major demonic sects like the Soul-Devouring Sect that had set up a branch here. Otherwise, Unlike Ning Zhuo wouldn't still be acting under the identity of Jiao Ma until now.

"After my mother made arrangements here, did she inform the White Paper City Lord?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo couldn't help but frown even tighter.

This situation was much more complicated.

Because to consider this question, one had to consider Meng Meng Meng Yaoyin's true stance.

"My mother was kind and tolerant, sparing no effort to protect the city even at the cost of her own lifespan; she was a model of the righteous path. But she was also a Jin Dan true disciple of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. What was her relationship with the Myriad Phenomena Sect?"

If Meng Meng Meng Yaoyin had reported this matter directly to the sect back then, it would have been easier to judge.

The key was that back then, Meng Meng Meng Yaoyin would rather report to the sect that she had lost the palace lantern and fail to be selected at the Flying Cloud Assembly than reveal this matter. What was it all for?

Clouds of suspicion!

Unlike Ning Zhuo couldn't figure it out for a moment, prompting Sun Sun Lingtong to ask with concern: "Little Zhuo, are you having trouble with the refining? I have theft techniques; perhaps I can help you think of a way."

Unlike Ning Zhuo shook his head and told him the details.

Sun Sun Lingtong was first surprised: "This Crossroads Lantern is a magic treasure-level item. To think you could refine it so quickly, Little Zhuo; I thought it would take at least three days and three nights."

Unlike Ning Zhuo realized belatedly: "Mechanical creations are not a single entity; the difficulty of refining them has always been much easier than that of ordinary magic treasures."

"However, even so, I did refine it quite fast!"

"Perhaps it's because I have my mother's blood flowing in me, and there's that reason?"

Sun Sun Lingtong: "That's not the point right now."

"Little Zhuo, you've made such a big discovery; you're so lucky!"

"See if you can extract these paper armies and hide them on ourselves?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head: "Harder than ascending to heaven!"

The paper armies were being operated by White Paper Xiancheng itself; to steal them back, one would have to trigger the restrictions of the city itself, and also overcome the reality of being separated by the barrier between the living and the dead.

Even though Unlike Ning Zhuo had refined the Crossroads Lantern, he could only perceive them, not steal them.

"Ah, this is such a pity, such a pity." Inside the Myriad-Mile Wandering Dragon, Sun Sun Lingtong held his head and lamented.

This feeling was too unbearable for him; it was like walking into a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed!

"No, no!"

"I don't believe it. Little Zhuo!"

Sun Sun Lingtong's temperament flared up, and he called out: "Besides sensing these armies, are there no other means to influence them?"

"That's not exactly true..." Unlike Ning Zhuo hesitated immediately.

Sun Sun Lingtong knew Unlike Ning Zhuo so well; his eyes immediately burst with brilliance, and he huffed twice in anger: "I knew it! Your mother was amazing, Little Zhuo, no less than my master. How could she only have such shallow arrangements?"

"Speak quickly, stop hiding it from me!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo then said: "After I completely refine the Crossroads Lantern, I can use this lantern to send my soul out and directly possess a paper figure to activate it. Boss, you..."

Sun Sun Lingtong waved his hand, interrupting Unlike Ning Zhuo, and then looked up and laughed loudly: "I'm going!"

Just as Sun Sun Lingtong understood Unlike Ning Zhuo, Unlike Ning Zhuo also knew Sun Sun Lingtong inside and out.

The reason Unlike Ning Zhuo had hidden it was because he was worried that Sun Sun Lingtong would get carried away and take risks again.

Unlike Ning Zhuo naturally wouldn't lie to Sun Sun Lingtong, but keeping it to himself was possible.

Now that Sun Sun Lingtong had discovered this, it was just as Unlike Ning Zhuo had thought; he was too unwilling to let it go and was determined to take the risk, impossible to hold back.

"Boss, this situation is not like the past."

"In Fire Persimmon Xiancheng, if you were thrown into a cell, I could still pull strings and get you out. Now you want to send your soul into the Underworld; if you get trapped, I won't be able to do anything."

Sun Sun Lingtong chuckled at Unlike Ning Zhuo's reminder: "Little Zhuo, you know me; if I don't go this time, I'll be clawing at my own heart."

He strongly persuaded him, first saying that Unlike Ning Zhuo's mechanical ring hadn't given any warning, then saying that there was a "Life-Thread" between him and Unlike Ning Zhuo, so even if he were trapped, Unlike Ning Zhuo could rescue him once he became stronger in the future, and also saying that if they could steal a paper marshal, wouldn't they have Nascent Soul-level combat power?

"I'll just ask you, aren't you curious about the arrangements of White Paper Xiancheng?"

"If you just watch from the world of the living and don't explore, how can you know more secrets?"

"Don't worry, I know the gravity of the situation. I have a strong feeling that this trip will surely yield major gains!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo wanted to roll his eyes: "Boss, you say that every time."

He rubbed the mechanical ring, and seeing that it still had no reaction, he had to give in: "Fine, fine."

"I'll secretly send you down."

"We'll agree on a time; when the time is up, you come back. Don't be too reckless, or I'll go save you myself."

What can you say? They were brothers who had lived back-to-back in Fire Persimmon Xiancheng for so many years; what else could he do?

Sun Sun Lingtong, hearing Unlike Ning Zhuo say he would save him, immediately turned serious. He didn't doubt Unlike Ning Zhuo's determination at all, knowing that the other would surely spare no risk to send his soul out of his body to the Underworld to save him.

Sun Sun Lingtong didn't spare himself, but he cherished Unlike Ning Zhuo, immediately reminding himself to be cautious this time and not implicate his good brother.

"The seven armies are in seven locations. Boss, which one are you going to?"

Sun Sun Lingtong didn't hesitate: "The farthest one, the farthest one."

The farthest army was the seventh one, which was not yet complete.

Unlike Ning Zhuo continued to pretend to be refining the Crossroads Lantern, but secretly sent Sun Sun Lingtong's soul to the Underworld.

Sun Sun Lingtong's soul left his body and was immediately teleported.

The feeling of teleportation was very unpleasant; he felt like he had been rolled into a ball and stuffed into a tunnel, constantly tumbling and sliding, bumping and bruising in the process, swallowing dirt and dust.

Sun Sun Lingtong's soul appeared out of thin air and fell onto the dark soil.

He was still in the form of a small child.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Sun Sun Lingtong stood up, patted himself, and dispersed the earthy aura from his body.

"Boss, can you hear me?" Unlike Ning Zhuo secretly activated the "Life-Thread" divine ability and, with the help of the palace lantern, sent a divine sense message.

Sun Sun Lingtong's soul chuckled and immediately replied in secret: "Good brother, I can hear you, I can hear you!"

"Watch how your boss becomes a Nascent Soul marshal!"

As he spoke, he excitedly ran into the paper army, heading straight for the center area.

The paper soldiers stood silently in place, as if expecting some kind of change.