Chapter 575: Lone Wild Goose, Guest Star
In this way, Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong secretly discussed matters and revised their earlier plan, deciding to follow this group of cultivators toward White Paper City.
Within the Yin Soul Black Marsh, waterways were abundant, forming a dense network of water routes.
The three Redwood Warships carried many people and strong forces. Moreover, they were all locals familiar with the terrain, so they navigated smoothly and passed an entire day without incident.
Ning Zhuo did not manage to learn the Ghostfolk leader’s full name. He only heard others mention that his surname was Qing. Considering his pale green skin, the name seemed quite fitting.
Since the Ghostfolk Golden Core leader had said so, he truly arranged for Ning Zhuo to remain by his side.
He asked Ning Zhuo to use the Spine-Piercing Crocodile Stomach Pouch, while he himself would guard him during the process.
Ning Zhuo certainly did not want to do that.
Because of his Theft Technique, his appearance and physique could be disguised, but his soul could not. Yet using the Spine-Piercing Crocodile Stomach Pouch required extracting one’s soul and entering the pouch.
If he truly did that, his disguise would immediately be exposed. Moreover, leaving his physical body outside while separating soul and body was extremely dangerous.
Such a small difficulty could not trouble Ning Zhuo.
He simply stiffened his face and addressed the Ghostfolk Golden Core leader by surname, displaying the attitude of someone reluctantly submitting to a stronger cultivator while secretly harboring resentment.
“Commander Qing, when I arrive at White Paper City, I will naturally use this pouch to cultivate. There is no need for you to trouble yourself too much.”
Unexpectedly, the Ghostfolk Golden Core felt reassured instead.
“Jiao Ma, do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? You still have thoughts about my daughter. You’re afraid of owing me a favor and not being able to refuse later.”
“Hmph.”
“You are Human, while my daughter is Ghostfolk. If the two of you get together, you won’t find happiness.”
“And what’s wrong with becoming a Male Consort? If you become the man of the White Paper City Lord, wealth and glory will be yours for the taking.”
The Ghostfolk Golden Core did not forget to persuade Ning Zhuo.
Beside them, Sun Lingtong secretly suppressed his laughter and chimed in, “That’s right, Young Master Jiao Ma. Becoming a Male Consort is such a wonderful opportunity. Many people would want it but never obtain it.”
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly and pointed at Sun Lingtong.
“And who are you? Even though you saved me, when Commander Qing and I are speaking, who allowed you to interrupt? You deserve a slap!”
Sun Lingtong froze on the spot.
Although the Ghostfolk population in the Yin Soul Black Marsh was larger than that of Humans, their status was lower.
Looking across the entire cultivation world, the Human race was the unquestioned hegemon. Ghostfolk were few in number; they were only relatively numerous within this marshland.
Therefore, for Ning Zhuo, a Human, to order a Ghostfolk Foundation Establishment cultivator to slap himself fit the local customs and did not appear strange.
Commander Qing’s gaze flickered slightly, but he said nothing.
For a moment, more than a dozen gazes fell upon Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong gritted his teeth and glared at Ning Zhuo. Just as he was about to slap himself, he heard Ning Zhuo wave his hand.
“But who am I?”
“I am Jiao Ma—generous and broad-minded. Unlike certain people who always hold prejudice between Humans and Ghostfolk.”
Commander Qing chuckled. He knew Ning Zhuo was mocking him, but thinking of the latter pursuing his daughter, he did not react.
Ning Zhuo pointed at Sun Lingtong.
“Since you saved me, I will try to forgive you this once.”
“How about this—looking at you, short and dark-skinned like a lump of iron, why not change your name? From now on you shall be called Iron Lump.”
“I will take you as my slave. From now on, follow me and work under my command!”
Sun Lingtong resisted the intense urge to roll his eyes.
“So this is how you want to play, huh?”
He obediently knelt halfway to the ground, clasped his fists, and addressed Ning Zhuo as master.
Ning Zhuo burst into laughter and beckoned him.
“Come. Stand beside me and await my commands at any time.”
“Yes, Master.” Sun Lingtong’s teeth itched with anger.
He had never expected Ning Zhuo to have such audacity—to actually make him acknowledge him as master. This was completely turning the world upside down!
“The old Ning Zhuo would never have done this. Sigh… after traveling outside, his heart has grown wild. Participating in that great battle has made him reckless!” Sun Lingtong mocked inwardly, only to end up trapping himself and suffering a silent loss. Yet for the moment he could not resist.
Because he knew Ning Zhuo was simply using the opportunity to keep him nearby, making it easier for the two of them to act together later.
Commander Qing saw that Ning Zhuo had subdued a Ghostfolk and extended his spiritual sense, scanning Sun Lingtong from head to toe.
“A mid–Foundation Establishment Ghostfolk serving as your servant is acceptable,” Commander Qing nodded slightly. “Just a bit poor.”
With that, he took out two magical instruments from his storage bag and tossed them to Sun Lingtong.
“I used these when I was younger. You can have them. One is the Flying Bone Shield, and the other is the Fiend Soul Blade. One offense, one defense—perfect for you.”
“Refine them first. I will then teach you some tricks for using them.”
Since Ning Zhuo would not accept his goodwill, Commander Qing took a roundabout approach by strengthening Ning Zhuo’s “servant,” Iron Lump.
Sun Lingtong froze for a moment, inwardly sighing.
“That guy Ning Zhuo understands people’s hearts better than I do.”
He quickly caught the two magical instruments and loudly expressed his thanks.
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly, showing hesitation on his face, but ultimately did not object.
While the others sailed onward, Commander Qing cooperated with Sun Lingtong, helping him quickly refine the two magical instruments and teaching him their use.
Sun Lingtong was intelligent and perceptive. He had wide experience with magical instruments. After all, theft was his greatest hobby, which meant he possessed many magical instruments.
These two were clearly Ghost Dao instruments, and Sun Lingtong mastered them quickly, using them quite skillfully.
Such performance caused Commander Qing to reassess him.
“You ugly little dwarf actually have hidden talent. In the future, follow your young master properly, understand?”
“Understood,” Sun Lingtong replied sullenly.
“Lord Qing Yan, I, Yang, come from outside this region, yet I have taken up one of your village’s nomination spots and been selected as a Male Consort.” A man suddenly spoke. “Lord Qing Yan should reward me a little as well, shouldn’t he?”
Everyone turned their gaze toward him.
They saw a middle-aged man with a tall build, a lion-like mouth and broad nose, a thick beard, and an exposed chest covered with dense black hair. His masculine aura was extremely strong.
Only then did Ning Zhuo learn that Commander Qing’s full name was Qing Yan.
Qing Yan sized up the man who had spoken and laughed without offense.
“You are an outsider. Even though you volunteered to become a Male Consort, you have indeed contributed to my village. Tell me what you want, and I’ll consider it.”
The middle-aged man’s full name was Yang Weida. He was a body cultivator from Flying Cloud Country and worked as a traveling merchant.
After hearing about the recruitment of Male Consorts, he judged his own cultivation method and talent to be excellent and hoped to climb a higher branch. He had survived an earlier attack through his own abilities. Seeing Qing Yan favor Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, his merchant instincts stirred, and he gathered his courage to ask for a reward.
Although Yang Weida appeared simple and rough, he was actually quite shrewd. He immediately requested a Spine-Piercing Crocodile Stomach Pouch like Ning Zhuo’s.
Commander Qing sneered.
“Your appetite is too large. A Golden Core–level pouch cannot be given away casually. Ask for something more realistic.”
Yang Weida said, “In that case, please reward me with a few Soul-Ferrying Lamp Wicks.”
Commander Qing took out six artifact-grade Soul-Ferrying Lamp Wicks from his storage bag and tossed them to Yang Weida.
“Heh.”
A cold laugh suddenly sounded.
“A few lamp wicks like that are enough to make an outsider sell his life. Qing Yan, you should be the traveling merchant—you made quite a profitable deal!”
“Who’s there?!” Qing Yan immediately stood and shouted.
Everyone else’s expressions changed as they prepared themselves.
The river water bulged upward before exploding violently. Within the surging waves appeared a Golden Core–level Spine-Piercing Crocodile.
On the crocodile’s back “sat” a human cultivator with a body as massive as an elephant.
This male cultivator was wrapped in a layer of bone armor. His gaze was icy as he stared at the cultivators aboard the three warships.
“The White Paper City Lord requires vast quantities of Yuan Yang. Recruiting Male Consorts is merely to use Dual Cultivation methods to provide her with enormous amounts of Yuan Yang for her cultivation.”
“So anyone who becomes her Male Consort will soon be drained of too much Yuan Yang and lose their life.”
“You people chosen as Male Consorts are still feeling proud? Hmph. How ridiculous. You are simply seeking death.”
Many cultivators’ expressions changed again.
Ning Zhuo’s gaze deepened, while Yang Weida’s face shifted slightly. Rolling his eyes, he said, “I don’t believe it. If that were true, the White Paper City Lord would have long provoked universal outrage and been overthrown. Even if she couldn’t be overthrown, people would have fled long ago. But the truth is that she has held many rounds of Male Consort selection.”
His argument was reasonable and well supported, causing both Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong to take another look at him.
Qing Yan snorted coldly.
“Bone Crocodile Demon, the crocodile swarm that attacked my village earlier—was that your doing?”
The Bone Crocodile Demon admitted it directly.
“Of course it was! I can’t stand you greedy idiots.”
“The White Paper City Lord rules over us and does as she pleases. Why should she?”
“It’s because fools like you willingly provide her with massive amounts of Yuan Yang to cultivate that White Paper City stands firm and unshaken!”
“We of the City-Overthrowing Alliance will intercept and kill scum like you, making the Black Marsh Wetlands freer and purer!”
As soon as he finished speaking, large numbers of Spine-Piercing Crocodiles surfaced from the depths of the river and attacked the three Redwood Warships.
The warships immediately shone with light as their defensive formations activated.
The cultivators aboard all took action, unleashing layers of spells and launching fierce attacks against the crocodile swarm and the Bone Crocodile Demon.
Under the barrage of spells, the crocodile swarm quickly suffered heavy casualties.
Some slammed directly into the warships, while others opened their mouths to spray corrosive venom.
The Bone Crocodile Demon burst into laughter.
Bathed in countless spells, his heavy bone armor protected him firmly, leaving him unharmed.
“With attacks like these, how are they any different from scratching an itch?” he mocked.
“Is that so?” Qing Yan sneered as he suddenly made his move.
He summoned a gigantic soul blade. Its blade aura surged and expanded to the size of a warship before slashing fiercely down from the sky toward the Bone Crocodile Demon.
Boom!
The Bone Crocodile Demon tried to block but could not withstand the overwhelming force. He was smashed into the river, sending water columns several zhang high into the air.
From beneath the water, he launched a counterattack.
Qing Yan was extremely aggressive, his attacks bold and powerful, firmly suppressing the Bone Crocodile Demon.
Meanwhile, under the combined assault of the other cultivators, numerous Spine-Piercing Crocodiles became floating corpses in the water.
Although the Bone Crocodile Demon was a Golden Core cultivator, he clearly followed the Beast-Taming Path. While his forces were large, he himself was pinned down by Qing Yan and could only defend.
The crocodile swarm should have held the advantage against the other cultivators, but these three Redwood Warships were among the best in the village. Their defenses were outstanding, like mobile water fortresses, making the crocodiles’ attacks almost ineffective.
As the battle entered its later stages, Qing Yan let out a sharp whistle and dove directly into the water to fight the Bone Crocodile Demon.
Those aboard the ships saw the water surface repeatedly explode, sending up towering columns of water.
The Bone Crocodile Demon’s furious voice echoed out.
“Qing Yan, you foolish loyal dog! What has the White Paper City Lord given you to make you so loyal?!”
Qing Yan replied, “You people of the City-Overthrowing Alliance are all short-sighted!”
“If the White Paper City Lord did not guard the Immortal City and act as the main force against the annual Ghost Tide, how could we live peacefully here?”
“Protecting the White Paper City Lord protects our present and preserves the order of the entire Yin Soul Black Marsh!”
The Bone Crocodile Demon sneered.
“You speak nicely, but it’s only for your own benefit.”
“Have you ever thought about those chosen as Male Consorts? They all become cultivation sacrifices for the White Paper City Lord!”
Qing Yan roared angrily.
“Stop sowing discord!”
“Those who become Male Consorts obtain wealth and glory. How could the White Paper City Lord harm the innocent?”
“Being a Male Consort is indeed difficult, but if one cannot provide Yuan Yang, they may simply leave. The White Paper City Lord has never restrained them!”
“You people of the City-Overthrowing Alliance are ambitious, seeking to overthrow the order here and proclaim yourselves kings. But do you have the strength to resist the Ghost Tide?”
“Your abilities are mediocre. It seems the entire City-Overthrowing Alliance is nothing special!”
The Bone Crocodile Demon flew into a rage.
“Damn you! Qing Yan, today I will tear you into pieces so you know the might of your Grandfather Crocodile Demon!”
The underwater explosions became even more frequent and powerful.
But after another round of fierce combat, the explosions clearly lessened.
Qing Yan’s voice sounded again.
“Crocodile Demon, what other tricks do you have? Use them all.”
“Damn it!” the Crocodile Demon snarled.
Clearly, Qing Yan still held the upper hand.
The Crocodile Demon sneered.
“Qing Yan, you don’t know the White Paper City Lord’s condition. Let me tell you the truth—she’s finished.”
“This time, even if she takes new Male Consorts, their Yuan Yang won’t be enough to balance her.”
“She has ruled White Paper City for far too long. The Yin energy accumulated within her is far too heavy. How could mere Yuan Yang balance it?”
“This time you will surely lose! Surely lose!!”
Black Water Mountain, White Paper City.
Inside the Listening Pavilion, bamboo shadows swayed gently. Only the Funeral Music Nether Performer was present.
She sat cross-legged, her expression solemn. On the jade-green table before her lay several treasures arranged in an orderly fashion.
A bronze lamp, seven yellow jade bells, and a charred-tail ghost-patterned zither placed horizontally.
The Funeral Music Nether Performer extended her hand and used the bronze lamp’s flame to light a long incense stick.
Green smoke rose upward, curling endlessly in the air.
Using her spiritual sense to control objects, the Nether Performer plucked the charred-tail zither.
The zither’s melody lingered, causing the rising smoke to undergo countless transformations. When the seven bells floated into the air and began to vibrate, their ringing tones joined the process, pushing the divination to its most difficult stage.
After a long time, the sorrowful music gradually faded. The smoke descended onto the table, turning into a thin layer of gray ash.
The faint ash outlined a Prophetic Poem.
The Funeral Music Nether Performer breathed lightly, concentrating on the table as she softly recited the poem aloud.
“The Ghost Tide surges—White Paper in peril.
A lone wild goose bears a candle, tearing open Heaven’s veil.
A guest star shall shine north of the Literary Pivot.
When the Lamp of Myriad Phenomena burns bright, the calamity will crumble.”
She formed hand seals, interpreting it in greater detail.
Moments later, her aura grew even weaker, yet her eyes shone brighter.
“So the turning point lies in the north. The lone wild goose and guest star both represent outsiders.”
“An outsider carrying a candle will light the Lamp of Myriad Phenomena. That will be the key for us to pass through this crisis!”
“Myriad Phenomena… does it refer to a lamp, or the Myriad Phenomena Sect?”
The Funeral Music Nether Performer pondered briefly. Suddenly inspiration struck. She released a flying message.
“Wen Ruanyu, you are a disciple of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. You must also be a crucial figure in this prophecy. Go north and receive a guest.”
“Remember—he carries some kind of candle, or perhaps candle flame, or candlelight.”