Chapter 609: Recruitment and Harmony Outline

In the prison, the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar took a branding iron.

The front half of the branding iron was in the charcoal stove, roasted red, and the very front was carved with a character.

Unlike Ning Zhuo looked closely and found that it was the character "Benevolence" (Ren).

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar held this "Benevolence" branding iron and walked in front of the Silent Ghost General.

The Silent Ghost General was tied up and could not move, only staring at the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar with calm eyes.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar did not hesitate at all; he directly pressed the branding iron onto the Silent Ghost General's forehead between his eyebrows.

Sss...

The red-hot branding iron burned a series of black smoke in the ghost general's brow.

For a time, a burnt smell arose.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar pressed for a full five breaths before slowly pulling the Benevolence branding iron back and putting it back into the charcoal stove.

The Silent Ghost General lowered his head weakly, his breathing becoming very rough.

Seeing Unlike Ning Zhuo somewhat surprised, Wen Ruanyu explained at the right time: "Our Confucian cultivation has the Five Constants, which are Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust."

"Benevolence is loving people, which is the foundation of Confucianism."

"If you want to establish yourself, establish others; if you want to reach yourself, reach others."

"The benevolent heart is kind, and virtue is like a mountain. Being able to bestow grace, giving people tolerance, accumulating goodness as the foundation, holding the heart to treat things..."

Unlike Ning Zhuo listened attentively.

Whether it was the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar Zheng Shoumo or the Myriad Phenomena true disciple Wen Ruanyu, they were both Confucian cultivators.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was not familiar with Confucian cultivators, so hearing experts explain it this time, he naturally pricked up his ears and learned actively.

Seeing the Silent Ghost General only gasping, the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar took another branding iron from the charcoal stove.

This branding iron was different from before; the front was the character "Righteousness" (Yi).

Puchi.

Zheng Shoumo poked the branding iron onto the Silent Ghost General's left shoulder, emitting a burnt smell again.

The excruciating pain made the Silent Ghost General look up suddenly, staring at the ceiling, but his expression remained flat, and his eyes remained calm.

Seeing his performance, the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar also had thoughts: "Good, this look is not bad, I hope you still have this spirit in the next two."

Unlike Ning Zhuo:...

Wen Ruanyu explained again: "Righteousness is what is appropriate, the connection of the right path."

"A gentleman takes righteousness as the priority, establishing himself and walking the path."

"Righteousness is not in strength, but in the heart; even if one encounters adversity, one should still guard one's integrity and not change one's original intention..."

"Righteousness is acting according to justice, not moved by private interests; righteous spirit is awe-inspiring, with no distractions in the heart."

Unlike Ning Zhuo secretly memorized these.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar put down the Righteousness branding iron and took out the third branding iron, which was the character "Propriety" (Li).

He followed the same pattern, branding the Propriety character onto the Silent Ghost General's left shoulder. The Silent Ghost General closed his lips tightly, biting his teeth,

still not making a sound.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar looked him up and down, praising from the bottom of his heart: "Truly a tough guy!"

Wen Ruanyu explained to Unlike Ning Zhuo again: "Propriety is respect, the norm of human behavior."

"It is also said: Propriety is reason, the classic of heaven and earth, and a major event of the country."

"It is also said: 'Propriety is the heart of respecting people, the method of treating things. Acting with propriety is like the wind, keeping respect in the heart, behaving with dignity, and everything is in harmony...'"

Wen Ruanyu seemed to have studied this aspect the most deeply.

He also specifically added some of his own understanding: "Etiquette is not hypocrisy, but the unity of inner respect and outer expression, following heaven's reason and human path, knowing when to advance and retreat, observing lightness and weight, and distinguishing right from wrong..."

Unlike Ning Zhuo gained a lot and hurriedly saluted to thank him.

He thought of the time when he saw Wen Ruanyu fighting at the Mingjiao River; his attainments in propriety were indeed profound, and at that time, he made many Water Ghosts and Yin soldiers put down their butcher knives and talk about etiquette, thus being slaughtered at will.

"Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Trust... Benevolence, Righteousness, and Propriety have appeared; next, only Wisdom and Trust remain."

Unlike Ning Zhuo saw the pattern and had long discovered that there were many branding irons inserted in the charcoal stove, just that the characters at the very front were inserted deep into the charcoal stove and could not be seen.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar put the branding iron back but did not immediately take out the fourth one.

He turned to Wen Ruanyu: "Senior Wen, this enemy general is indeed the toughest guy I have ever seen in my life. I applied three characters, and he didn't even frown slightly, nor did he let out a groan of pain. I fear the next two characters won't be able to pry his mouth open either."

"Ashamed."

"I boasted earlier, but now I've been slapped in the face."

"It is the old man who underestimated the heroes of the world."

Wen Ruanyu frowned: "What to do then?"

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar said: "I have another method, which can use this person's toughness to torture out more intelligence."

A moment later, the Green-Faced Ghost General, Bone-Club Ghost General, Peanut Ghost General, and Tusk Ghost General were all brought to this prison cell.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar said: "Your leader is indeed a tough guy; I applied three characters, and he didn't make a sound."

"You all watch carefully, and I hope you can also maintain such toughness later!"

Saying this, the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar took out the Wisdom (Zhi) branding iron and gave the Silent Ghost General a fierce one on his thigh.

The Silent Ghost General trembled with pain, but still did not make a sound.

And the other four ghost generals who saw this scene changed their expressions drastically; some struggled hard and made muffled sounds, but they were always bound and could not be free.

Wen Ruanyu explained to Unlike Ning Zhuo again, but this time, he used spiritual sense transmission: "Wisdom is the ability to know and act, the wisdom of thorough understanding."

"Knowing it is not as good as liking it, liking it is not as good as enjoying it..."

"Wisdom is a clear heart and bright eyes, knowing the changes of the times, seeing the subtle and knowing the obvious, considering things thoroughly, and acting decisively..."

Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded secretly, feeling happy in his heart: "Learned it, learned it."

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar could not help but give a thumbs up to the Silent Ghost General: "Good, you are the prisoner with the hardest bones I have ever seen in my life."

"I have never seen anyone who could survive five characters in a row; I hope you can break this record."

Puchi.

The next moment, the Trust (Xin) branding iron was also printed on the Silent Ghost General's right thigh, branding a Trust character on it.

Wen Ruanyu said: "Trust is the virtue of keeping one's word and being loyal to promises."

"Words must be followed, actions must bear fruit, keeping promises and fulfilling contracts, being loyal and unswerving, winning the hearts of the people, only then is its virtue displayed."

"A gentleman focuses on the foundation, and when the foundation is established, the path is born. Virtue is not lonely, it must have neighbors. Trust brings peace to people's hearts, and if a country has trust, the people's hearts will return. It is both the high standard of morality and the great vessel for establishing oneself."

Just as he finished explaining, the Silent Ghost General finally could not hold on, closed his eyes, and fainted on the spot.

"Pity, pity." The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar was very regretful and sorry.

He turned around, untied the Green-Faced Ghost General's restraints, and allowed the latter to speak.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar said gently and elegantly: "I remember you also received one character, but fainted halfway through. I hope you can have a better performance this time."

That Green-Faced Ghost General was a veteran of the battlefield, a ghost who licked blood from the edge of a blade. Hearing Zheng Shoumo's words, he struggled even more violently, shouting: "I've already said everything, I've told you everything I know!"

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar smiled and nodded: "Wait a moment, please bring out the City Lord's 'Plain Question Dissecting Heart Scroll', I hope you are telling the truth."

The old Confucian scholar resealed the Green-Faced Ghost General and then successively untied the restrictions of the other three generals, allowing them to speak.

The three generals had witnessed how the Silent Ghost General fainted, and they had also tasted the pain of the branding iron punishment. This kind of pain was not a physical experience, but a pain that reached the bottom of the soul, truly heart-wrenching and unbearable!

This time, the old Confucian scholar interrogated them one by one, and they all revealed military intelligence they had not spat out before, and their attitudes became quite upright.

Only when it came to the Peanut Ghost General, this ghost general trembled and said: "May the adults forgive me, the Silent Boss was not resisting to the end; he had long wanted to abandon darkness for light, but his innate talent and cultivation method made his expression always flat, and he was unable to make a sound."

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar:...

Unlike Ning Zhuo, Wen Ruanyu:...

The silent scene was once somewhat awkward.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar waved his hand and had the other four generals taken back.

He bowed to Wen Ruanyu and asked for permission to cast a spell.

Wen Ruanyu did not hesitate and nodded in agreement.

Thus, the next moment, the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar cast a Confucian spell—Recruitment and Harmony Outline.

The old Confucian scholar agitated his magic power, consuming it rapidly, while chanting words in his mouth, as if reciting a masterpiece.

Body seal, mouth seal, heart seal—these were the main techniques for casting spells.

Confucian cultivators casting spells pay special attention to the mouth seal.

Along with the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar's chanting, small silver-white characters condensed out of thin air, gathering together to form a brilliant masterpiece.

These silver-white characters surged toward the Silent Ghost General like flowing water.

The five imprints on the Silent Ghost General's body were injected with silver-white characters and began to emit warm white light.

These white lights spread rapidly from the five major sources, converging on the ghost general's body surface, forming vertical and horizontal lines.

If one looked closely at these silver-white lines, one would find that they were composed of extremely tiny characters. And looking at them as a whole, these lines were like being tied up with five flowers, completely binding the Silent Ghost General.

The radiance of the silver lines gradually converged until it was gone.

After another dozen breaths, the silver lines themselves also disappeared without a trace.

Finally, the big Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust characters branded on the Silent Ghost General's body also converged until they were gone. Observed with the naked eye, there was no difference from before.

"Good, success in one go, not bad." Wen Ruanyu clapped his hands and praised, "Brother Zheng's insights into the 'Recruitment and Harmony Outline' are far deeper than mine. If I were to cast it, I would never have such an effect."

Unlike Ning Zhuo was slightly surprised: "Master Zheng is at the late Foundation Establishment stage, while Senior Wen is at the Golden Core cultivation; would it also be like this?"

Wen Ruanyu nodded: "Naturally. Looking at the long river of history, we Confucian cultivators are latecomers, and the reason we were able to catch up from behind and occupy a wall of the world is that our cultivation methods are mixed with the hundred arts of cultivation."

"For example, the scholar's traditional four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and the gentleman's six arts of propriety, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. These can all cross boundaries and pry more power."

"It is precisely because of combining these cultivation techniques that Confucian cultivators do not simply judge high and low by cultivation level. Sometimes, some Confucian cultivators have deep knowledge of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and of various works, and can also do things that high-cultivation Confucian cultivators cannot."

Unlike Ning Zhuo thought of himself, having the experience of using military strategy on the battlefield to directly soar his combat strength, and his understanding deepened.

The Silent Ghost General woke up leisurely, still looking indifferent.

The Ink Pool old Confucian scholar directly released his restraints, allowing him to regain his freedom.

This move was quite bold, but Wen Ruanyu did not stop it in the slightest.

The Silent Ghost General stared at the three and looked them over, then silver-white radiance reflected on his body. He knelt on one knee to the three, using the most direct action to express his attitude of submission.

Sun Lingtong saw this scene and could not help but exclaim: "Is this 'Recruitment and Harmony Outline' too easy to use? It's almost the same as your life-thread divine ability, Little Zhuo."

"But divine abilities are too difficult to control. Yet 'Recruitment and Harmony Outline' is just a Confucian spell, and this old man can learn it!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo had a different view, secretly communicating: "There are still differences."

"My divine ability, regardless of whether the enemy is willing or not, as long as it is planted, can forcibly control their body and actions, and can be achieved in an instant."

"But 'Recruitment and Harmony Outline' requires a lot of preliminary layout. Cultivating this method probably has other difficulties. Otherwise, Wen Ruanyu, a dignified true disciple Golden Core, wouldn't have stepped down and let Zheng Shoumo, a Foundation Establishment, handle it."

"I do have a lot of interest in Confucian cultivators; I really hope I can have time in the future to learn more."

Sun Lingtong laughed: "Little Zhuo, which school or technique are you not interested in?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo was stunned for a moment: "Learning more is always good."

The two saw Confucian cultivators this time, increasing their horizons, and also found that they were different from what they had imagined.

The Silent Ghost General was recruited, but the other four generals could not support the branding iron, so they could only brand one character every interval, so although the Peanut Ghost General had expressed his surrender, he was still locked up.

Wen Ruanyu and the others interrogated the Silent Ghost General but did not gain any clues.

Regarding this, the Ink Pool old Confucian scholar analyzed: "Being dispatched to the inner city to fight to the death, the Wangchuan Prefecture Lord would not tell them important intelligence."

"But from this point, the Golden Core ghost generals dispatched are also not valued."

"Precisely because of this, there is more possibility of recruitment."

For the Silent Ghost General, Unlike Ning Zhuo felt secretly sorry.

He still hoped to burn him and extract the spirituality with innate talent.

However, since he had already surrendered, naturally, his value to the White Paper Immortal City was greater at present.

"At present, the ghost tide is constantly assaulting the city, and there must be a great battle."

"Let the Silent Ghost General continue to contribute, and if he dies on the battlefield in the future, I can take over; no need to rush for a moment."

Without clues, Unlike Ning Zhuo decisively paused the investigation and stayed in the Hidden Yang Mansion to cultivate all day.

He had the four soul cultivation treasures in his hands and used them one after another, causing his soul foundation to soar time and time again.

From a ten-thousand-person soul, he broke through to a hundred-thousand-person soul, and from a hundred-thousand-person soul, he continued to advance, with his speed not slowing down in the slightest.

On the other hand, Unlike Ning Zhuo was also maintaining the cultivation of the Three Sects' Upper Methods, but unfortunately, progress in the "Demon-Dyed Blood Tendon Art" was still not fast.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had the aptitude, and with the support of his early-wisdom innate talent, his understanding of the "Demon-Dyed Blood Tendon Art" had already exceeded most people.

But everything is afraid of comparison.

From his perspective, the progress of the Demon-Dyed Blood Tendon Art was too slow! It could not compare to physical cultivation at all, and physical cultivation could not catch up to soul cultivation.

"Jiao Ma, Jiao Ma, your family has come to visit you." When Unlike Ning Zhuo's soul foundation reached thirty thousand people, he received a report from the paper doll puppet.

The visitor was the head of the Jiao family, who scolded Unlike Ning Zhuo as soon as he saw him: "Ma'er, what are you doing? Why didn't you enter the Yang-Strengthening Courtyard and are still in the Hidden Yang Mansion?"

"Speak!"

"Are you still thinking about Qing Yan's daughter?" ===== CHAPTER 610 =====