Chapter 615: Opportunity to Build an Army

Underworld.

Outside the Water Burial Valley.

Sun Lingtong's small cavalry squad was surrounded by layers of enemies, and the situation was critical.

The leader's cultivation was as high as Golden Core, and the yin soldiers under his command were all elites, at least at the Foundation Establishment level.

Sun Lingtong could still feel that there were many more ambushers hidden in the vicinity. At least a dozen Golden Core auras were intentionally leaked to threaten him.

The ox-cavalrymen subconsciously gathered around Sun Lingtong, waiting only for his order to sacrifice their lives to cover his retreat and protect him as he broke through.

But breaking through was absolutely impossible to survive.

Although Sun Lingtong had only entered the underworld with his soul, it was still a part of his life and being. These ghost generals in the underworld were all skilled in ghost arts,

and their methods for dealing with souls were as vast as mountains and seas, emerging one after another.

Therefore, once Sun Lingtong's soul was captured, his fate would be worrying.

"Boss!" Unlike Ning Zhuo was secretly anxious in the mortal world.

Sun Lingtong, however, had quick wit; at this life-and-death moment, he didn't forget to comfort Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Don't worry, little brother, watch me."

After secretly exchanging this, he put on a fawning smile: "This military officer, we are not outsiders."

"You can see this; it is enough to prove it."

Sun Lingtong took out a token and showed it to the other party.

The Golden Core ghost general was stunned when he saw this token: "What is your relationship with General Luo Si?"

This token was precisely given by Luo Si to facilitate Sun Lingtong's enlistment and entry into the mortal world.

Sun Lingtong deliberately said mysteriously: "Naturally, the relationship is extremely close; otherwise, Lord Luo could not have bestowed this token upon me, could he?"

The Golden Core ghost general fell into silence.

Luo Si is the main general, with boundless prestige; it is not advisable to offend him.

The Underworld also has cultivation kingdoms, which are even more focused on order than the world of the living; ghosts that violate these rules often have to suffer the tortures of the Eighteen Levels of Hell.

The Golden Core ghost general first took the token, examined it carefully, and after confirming it was genuine, tossed it to Sun Lingtong: "Go, go, go; I won't arrest you this time."

"Don't hang around here near Water Burial Valley!"

"Consider yourself lucky this time; if you come again, I'll arrest you on the spot, regardless of who you know."

Sun Lingtong gritted his teeth and tentatively transmitted his voice via spiritual sense: "But I have a task to complete; I wonder if you could make things convenient for me? Any price can be negotiated."

"How bold! You dare to bribe this general!!" The Golden Core ghost general immediately glared and shouted via spiritual sense transmission, "My lord has personally issued strict orders; for you to bribe me is to seek my life!"

Seeing that there was no possibility of bribery, Sun Lingtong hurriedly apologized, knowing when to quit while he was ahead, and turned to leave.

He led the ox cavalry to put some distance between them, but he did not truly retreat; instead, he circled Water Burial Valley slowly, racking his brains for a way to break the deadlock.

"We must see the Gray Bone Elder, otherwise how can we accomplish our goal?"

"Damn it! This Prefect of the River of Oblivion is worthy of being the master of this place; he actually acts with such meticulousness."

"What should we do, Little Zhuo?"

Sun Lingtong racked his brains but could not think of a solution, so he sought help from Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Unlike Ning Zhuo also furrowed his brows, finding himself at a loss for a moment: "It is not advisable to risk sneaking in; since the Prefect of the River of Oblivion has dispatched his personal guards, he must have also set up many formations."

"Boss, if it really doesn't work, you should come back."

"To be honest, the crisis in White Paper Xiancheng was not caused by us; at worst, if things go wrong, we can just help some of the city's residents retreat."

Unlike Ning Zhuo had been startled just now when Sun Lingtong was being given a hard time.

This was not like being in Fire Persimmon Xiancheng; at Fire Persimmon Mountain, Unlike Ning Zhuo could still go to the prison to fish Sun Lingtong out.

But in the Underworld, he could not fish him out.

Therefore, compared to his mother's arrangements or her dying wish, he was even less willing to see Sun Lingtong get into trouble.

Just as Sun Lingtong was sighing, black snow began to fall from the sky.

Looking closely, every single snowflake was paper ash.

The Heaven-Bestowed Talisman pressed against Sun Lingtong's chest was stimulated, emitting a warm current that continuously permeated Sun Lingtong's soul, causing his foundation to climb steadily.

Sun Lingtong was initially somewhat guarded.

Because every time a black snow fell, it would trigger a surge of ghosts, scrambling for it.

However, he waited for a long time without seeing a single ghost appear.

"Strange, no, not strange!" Sun Lingtong realized, suddenly turning his head to look in the direction of Water Burial Valley.

"These people must have cleared out all the ghosts in the vicinity!"

In an instant, a chill was born in the depths of Sun Lingtong's heart.

The other party acted with such meticulousness and coldness; letting Sun Lingtong go just now could truly be considered escaping with his life.

"This place is truly not suitable for staying long; Boss, come back." Unlike Ning Zhuo also thought of this layer and immediately reminded him.

Sun Lingtong sighed, and just as he was about to leave, he suddenly pulled hard on the reins, stopping the ox's hooves.

"Wait!" His eyes shot out sharp rays of light, making it impossible for others to look directly at him for a moment.

"Eh?" Unlike Ning Zhuo was also astonished.

Both Sun and Ning discovered that on the mountain rocks in front of Sun Lingtong, some black snow had fallen and was floating in mid-air, condensing into a rough, human-shaped ash figure.

Two ghost fires suddenly lit up in the hollow eye sockets of the human-shaped ash, and it turned its head to look at Sun Lingtong: "Are you the change in the heavenly numbers of the living world this time?"

"Hmm—so it's just the soul entering the Underworld."

Just at a glance, the human-shaped ash had seen through Sun Lingtong's foundation.

Sun Lingtong's face was full of vigilance: "Who are you?"

The human-shaped ash chuckled: "You must have some guesses; that's right, I am exactly the Gray Bone Elder you are looking for."

Sun Lingtong remained vigilant: "How can I prove it?"

The Gray Bone Elder's ash figure raised a finger and said only three words, which completely convinced both Sun and Ning.

"Meng Yaoyin." He directly stated the name of Unlike Ning Zhuo's mother.

Sun Lingtong's expression softened slightly: "Since that is the case, please provide your guidance!"

The Gray Bone Elder's ash clone was also very straightforward, directly transmitting via spiritual sense: "The Prefect of the River of Oblivion has been plotting for nearly a hundred years; it is not easy to destroy his grand plan."

"Fortunately, we have also prepared for many years; it is not a hasty action."

"When the Heavenly Ghost Incarnation Offering Tribulation Ceremony concludes, that is when the Heavenly Ghost skull will be completely refined. We need to, before it concludes,"

"destroy this grand ceremony of offering to heaven."

"And to break into the altar of the Heavenly Ghost Incarnation Offering Tribulation Ceremony at the final moment, three conditions must be met. I will explain them in detail first."

"First, a soul foundation of at least one million human souls."

"Second, there must be sufficient baleful qi for suppression."

"Third, one must have a sufficient fate to withstand the heavenly condemnation!"

Sun Lingtong stared, hearing this information from the Gray Bone Elder himself, which differed from what Meng Yaoyin had left behind.

He decisively asked: "Wait a minute!"

"To break into the final altar, wouldn't that mean finally facing the Prefect of the River of Oblivion?"

"Also, what is this about withstanding heavenly condemnation? We are destroying this conspiracy and scheme; aren't we doing a good deed? Why do we still have to withstand heavenly condemnation?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo interjected: "Boss, first ask him why he wants to help us deal with the Prefect of the River of Oblivion."

Sun Lingtong nodded secretly and immediately added: "Also, Senior Gray Bone, this junior is also unclear why you want to deal with a Prefect of a region? Do you have a grudge against him?"

The ash clone laughed and shook his head, continuing to transmit via spiritual sense: "No grudge, no hatred."

"But I have an even more sufficient reason to do so!"

"This reason is that I am a cultivator of divination; I follow the Dao of divination, advocating for following heaven and responding to the earth, studying the secrets of fate."

"The Heavenly Ghost has long since perished, yet now it wants to reverse-refine and reincarnate; even if it is only a part, it is going against heaven. This is the first point. The Prefect of the River of Oblivion himself possesses powerful natural talent; as a king of this region, he still feels it is not enough, his greed is insatiable, and he wants to go a step further, which violates the upper limit of the king's mandate. This is the second point."

"In order to refine the Heavenly Ghost skull, the Prefect of the River of Oblivion is holding the Heavenly Ghost Incarnation Offering Tribulation Ceremony, intending to bribe the Underworld's heaven, sacrificing things from the living world's heaven, and wanting to blood-sacrifice the entire White Paper Xiancheng; such behavior is truly the demonic path, greatly violating the harmony of heaven. This is the third point."

"He previously used human sentiment to threaten me, and then personally entered the valley, forcibly ordering me to obscure the heavenly secrets of White Paper Xiancheng; now he is even placing me under house arrest in Water Burial Valley in a disguised form. This is the fourth point."

"These four points are already enough for me to go all out to deal with him."

"In the end, the Prefect of the River of Oblivion and I are not people on the same path."

"I want to follow heaven and obey fate, while he wants to defy heaven and change fate; this is a divergence in the path, and even more so, a struggle of the Dao!"

Sun Lingtong: "A struggle of the Dao—"

Unlike Ning Zhuo, elsewhere, chewed on these two words, feeling for the first time the cultivation landscape of high-level cultivators.

The Gray Bone Elder observed his words and expressions, and seeing that he had initially gained Sun Lingtong's trust, he continued: "Let me answer your previous two questions."

"You indeed have the possibility of facing the Prefect of the River of Oblivion directly!"

"At the final moment of the grand ceremony of offering to heaven, the Prefect will inevitably be sitting at the altar, but this is not absolute."

"At that time, we can split into two paths: one path heads to the Prefect's office to attack his lair and lure him back to rescue it. The second path leads the army to attack the altar directly."

"Regardless of whether the Prefect is lured away by us, his combat power will be weakened to the extreme because he has to maintain this grand ceremony of offering to heaven!"

Hearing this answer, Sun Lingtong frowned tightly and directly pursued the most critical point: "To what level will the Prefect of the River of Oblivion be weakened? This answer is of vital importance!"

Gray Bone Elder: "I can be certain that he will by no means be at the full-strength Soul Transformation level, but at least at the Nascent Soul level."

"Nascent Soul level, relying on us alone?" Sun Lingtong felt exceptionally troubled.

Gray Bone Elder: "The pressure on the Prefect of the River of Oblivion is much greater than you imagine."

"His actions this time are huge; the surrounding Prefects will not watch him ascend with folded arms."

"Therefore, he has made multiple preparations."

"Among them is one item: to break into the altar, one must withstand the testing of the grand ceremony of offering to heaven."

"Those who do not satisfy the three items of soul, baleful qi, and fate cannot even ascend the altar."

"However, rest assured; since you are the savior of the change in the living world's heavenly numbers, you are naturally the star of calamity for the Prefect of the River of Oblivion, and satisfying these three points is quite easy."

"Look, the Heaven-Bestowed Talisman in your bosom can allow you to rapidly increase your foundation and reach one million human souls."

"As for the baleful qi, it is even simpler; just use military baleful qi. You don't have it now, but you can go to White Paper Xiancheng to plot for it."

"As for the fate, hmm?"

Speaking of this, the Gray Bone Elder's ash clone pinched his fingers to calculate, and his expression could not help but change.

He stared at Sun Lingtong: "Your fate—you are not the savior this time!"

Sun Lingtong shrugged: "Of course not. I am just here under orders; I will report back truthfully, so you can rest assured about this, Senior."

The Gray Bone Elder, however, stared at Sun Lingtong's Heaven-Bestowed Talisman: "This talisman, however, was something I plotted for a long time and set up for the savior."

Sun Lingtong: "Sigh, I'll tell you the truth, Senior; our savior lord already has one million human souls."

"If you want to talk about military baleful qi, he even participated in a major national war before. Perhaps he has already satisfied that as well."

The Gray Bone Elder first nodded: "As the saying goes, man proposes, heaven disposes; the result of my plotting had an error, but as long as it is not critical, it is no matter."

Then, he shook his head again: "No, there is more to the baleful qi."

"You must kill your way into the altar in the end, and you must have the corresponding baleful qi, otherwise you will not be acknowledged. Therefore, it is best to gather baleful qi in White Paper Xiancheng."

"The Prefect of the River of Oblivion wants to blood-sacrifice White Paper Xiancheng to satisfy his own selfish desires, which is equivalent to actively handing his weakness to the heaven of the living world. Every drink and every peck is the mystery of fate!"

"If you condense military baleful qi, you can further increase the power of military tactics. At that time, lead an army, kill your way into the Underworld, protect the savior as he rushes onto the altar, and shatter the Prefect's hundred-year plot."

Sun Lingtong waved his hand: "You're talking about an army again. Senior Gray Bone, where are we supposed to get an army? Even if it's an army of paper people, they have no military rank or organization, and cannot withstand military tactics."

The Gray Bone Elder, however, seemed to have full confidence: "Creating an army is indeed quite difficult. But rest assured, the heavenly numbers of the living world will inevitably actively deliver the opportunity to you."

Sun Lingtong: "Then, Senior, can you calculate a thing or two?"

The Gray Bone Elder waved his hand incessantly: "No, no. My fate has already fallen quite severely; previously, the Prefect of the River of Oblivion wanting me to repay his favor was itself consuming my fate, preventing me from being used by others."

"Rest assured, when the time comes, there will naturally be an army."

After saying this, the ash clone dissipated on the spot.

Sun Lingtong stared blankly: "Hey, don't go, Senior!"

The call had no result.

Sun Lingtong said to Unlike Ning Zhuo in a discouraged manner: "Why does it feel like talking to the Gray Bone Elder or not talking to him is about the same?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo: "No, there are still major gains. At least we know how to act now."

Sun Lingtong had some worries: "But aren't you afraid that he is deceiving us?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo smiled: "At least my ring has no reaction."

Sun Lingtong also laughed: "Forget it, this is something you want to do, Little Zhuo, so let's do it!"

The two reached an agreement.

White Paper Xiancheng.

Li Xiangshang's heart sank: "The Sun family actually has such an attitude? They don't want to influence Sun Tiesheng, but instead are secretly backing him?"

"What should be done about this?"

Dean Zheng had an awkward expression: "Sun Tiesheng is so firm in his path, and the Sun family's reaction is also understandable."

Li Xiangshang was facing difficulties.

Sun Tiesheng was almost the only suitable candidate; if he refused, how would Li Xiangshang complete the task entrusted by the Dragon King?

Li Xiangshang asked Dean Zheng, and the latter pondered: "The Sun family's attitude is nothing more than feeling that right now, besides Sun Tiesheng, there are no other competing candidates."

"If Shen Bing and Chen Sui were still here, they would definitely have hurriedly and forcibly ordered Sun Tiesheng to accept the demon seed."

"Why not pretend to choose someone else, make a show of force, and stimulate their sense of urgency?"

Li Xiangshang pondered: "That's a good idea. Then who should I choose?"

Dean Zheng shook his head, indicating that Li Xiangshang needed to make the decision himself.

Carrying this question, Li Xiangshang walked out of the Yang-Strengthening Courtyard and bumped into Qing Chi head-on.

In an instant, the answer flashed in Li Xiangshang's heart: "Good, I'll choose Jiao Ma!"

He came to Qing Chi: "Miss Qing, you have repeatedly failed to see Jiao Ma; I can help you. As long as your strength is strong and you influence the overall situation, White Paper Xiancheng will stand on your side."

Qing Chi: "My strength is already strong enough; in a short period of time, it is difficult to improve my cultivation base."

Li Xiangshang smiled: "Improving cultivation is difficult, but combat power is different. I happen to have a talent that can help you create a temporary army."