Chapter 593: Paper Puppet Army
White Paper Immortal City.
Southern district of the city.
Within the secret formation space of the giant paper puppet statue.
Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged in midair, both hands holding the Field-Path Treasure Lamp, having already refined eighty percent of it.
In a corner, Wen Ruanyu’s portrait incarnation closely watched Ning Zhuo. If the latter showed any movement of fleeing with the treasure, it would immediately react.
At this moment, Ning Zhuo’s eyes were closed. On the surface he appeared calm, yet great waves surged within his heart!
This was because, through his eighty-percent connection with the Field-Path Lamp, he had glimpsed scenes of the Underworld.
Inside a Yin cavern, vast ranks of paper puppet soldiers stood in tight formation. Their armor, thin as cicada wings, rustled in the Yin wind, each scale of armor decorated with cinnabar-painted star patterns.
Their faces looked as though they wore makeup. Their slanted brows stretched upward toward the temples, and two patches of rouge on their cheeks resembled dried blood. Their lips were drawn extremely thin, pressed into narrow seams.
At the very front stood a large number of paper ox cavalry.
Each paper puppet rider held a long paper spear, every one of them tall and imposing.
The hooves of the paper oxen were wrapped in silver horseshoes made from tin foil. Within their eye sockets were embedded glass beads, faintly glowing in the Yin wind. At the folds of their necks were traces left from bamboo strips used in their construction.
When the Yin wind swept across the oxen’s backs, ripples spread through the paper skin, revealing the locust-wood skeleton within. Upon the skeleton were wrapped numerous soul-binding talismans.
Behind the cavalry came the spear-and-shield infantry.
These paper puppet soldiers were the most numerous, each equipped with a talisman paper spear and a large talisman paper shield.
Behind the infantry stood eight hundred crossbow-bearing paper puppets. On their crossbows, tightly drawn ox sinew strings held paper arrows. The arrowheads had been soaked in corpse wax, while the feathers at the tail were fragments torn from graveyard funeral banners.
At the center area were thirty-six four-horse war chariots. Seated upon the chariot shafts were three paper-crafted deities, each with three heads and six arms, holding cloud gongs, wind banners, and rain pennants. The bronze bells hanging from the four corners of the canopy were wrapped in white hemp cloth, leaving them utterly silent.
At the very center surrounded by the chariots stood the central army battle flag.
The nine-zhang-nine-chi plain silk banner whipped fiercely in the wind. Instead of dragons or tigers embroidered upon it, the surface was covered with golden foil cut into rebirth mantra characters. At the top of the flagpole was not a spear tip but a paper soul-guiding banner. From its seven layers of hanging streamers fell tens of thousands of paper coins forming tassels, and through the square holes of each coin ran a thread of hair-thin red string.
Beneath the battle flag stood proudly a paper puppet marshal.
Three battle banners were strapped to his back. His hands were empty, holding no weapon. He wore brilliantly colored paper armor. His eyes were pitch black, as though unopened, as if he were resting with eyes closed—merely waiting for a command to suddenly begin a campaign of conquest!
This was a paper-crafted army numbering in the thousands: cavalry, war chariots, powerful crossbows, fierce soldiers, and even a central commanding general!
Not only were the troop types diverse, but the army’s formation deeply moved Ning Zhuo. It was orderly and disciplined—war drums silent yet imposing, halberds like a forest, armor bristling, elite troops gathered like clouds.
“My mother actually buried a paper puppet army in the Underworld!”
Although this was the first time Ning Zhuo had seen such an army, from his experiences in Liangzhu Kingdom, combined with his connection to the Field-Path Lamp, he knew that this paper puppet army was extremely elite—far surpassing his mechanical army and even stronger than the Three Generals Camp, comparable to the Red Flower Camp.
“This scale is far too massive. If I could use this army at the right moment, it might even overturn the situation within the city.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. I no longer hold a military post.”
Not long after leaving Liangzhu Kingdom, Ning Zhuo had discovered that his military strategist seal and similar items had all become ineffective.
Although he had expected this, he still felt a trace of disappointment when he discovered it.
The shocking discovery gave rise to even more doubts in Ning Zhuo’s mind.
“White Paper Immortal City has city guard soldiers, yet it lacks military roster slots. Even if such a powerful army is created, without roster slots how can military arts be applied? How could the army’s true power be unleashed?”
After conversing with the Lord of White Paper Immortal City’s incarnation, Ning Zhuo had learned many things about the city.
Although the city guard soldiers of White Paper Immortal City were strong, they had not formed a true army and therefore did not enjoy the benefits of military roster slots.
Thus, when they fought, they relied entirely on the City-Protection Grand Formation of White Paper Immortal City, conducting defensive battles and barely resisting each Ghost Tide Assault on the City, with no ability to counterattack.
Building a true army was not easy.
Even White Paper Immortal City, the overlord-level city occupying the Yin Tide Black Marsh Wetlands and obtaining the greatest share of resources, had not yet accomplished this.
Now a question arose. Without military roster slots, this paper puppet army could not unleash its true strength. To say it merely looked impressive on the surface would not be excessive.
“There’s more?!”
The next discovery made Ning Zhuo even more astonished.
It turned out there was not just one such paper puppet army. In hidden corners throughout the Underworld—some underground, some in valleys—more paper puppet armies were concealed.
Their formations were nearly identical, and their numbers were roughly the same.
“This probably isn’t my mother’s arrangement,” Ning Zhuo formed a new judgment.
“Although my mother was a True Inheritor of the Myriad Phenomena Sect and a Golden Core cultivator, her financial resources were not enough to support something of this scale.”
Though Ning Zhuo was no expert in this matter, he could still make a rough judgment.
To put it simply, even with his current immense wealth, creating even one-tenth of a single paper puppet army would already be extremely difficult.
Normally, even the lifetime wealth of a Nascent Soul cultivator would be far from enough.
From Ning Zhuo’s observation, once activated, each army’s commanding general would possess combat strength at the Nascent Soul level.
He had already discovered four such armies.
As he continued refining and deepening his connection with the Field-Path Lamp, more armies might appear.
His guess soon proved correct.
When Ning Zhuo completely refined the Field-Path Lamp, he discovered a total of seven paper puppet armies. The final army was still incomplete, lacking nearly half its forces.
“Hm?” Ning Zhuo observed carefully and discovered that within the seventh army, soldiers were still being accumulated.
The bamboo skeletons had already been constructed. A pale talisman paper was produced out of thin air, drifting down onto the bamboo frame. Talisman markings slowly appeared upon the paper. At such a speed, even half a day would not complete a single character.
It was as though invisible hands were silently crafting paper puppets.
The entire process was slow, yet it carried an unyielding persistence.
Ning Zhuo calmed his mind and carefully sensed it, his heart trembling again.
“This is the power of White Paper Immortal City itself!”
The immortal city itself was quietly weaving these paper puppet armies within the Underworld.
At this rate, producing a single army would take at least several decades.
Seven paper puppet armies…
This was the result of accumulation over countless years!
“So who originally built White Paper Immortal City? What exactly was their purpose?”
Ning Zhuo had discovered the core secret of White Paper Immortal City!
“Does the current Lord of White Paper Immortal City know this secret?”
After thinking about it, Ning Zhuo believed the possibility was low.
The reason was simple.
When his mother had first arrived at White Paper Immortal City, the city had nearly been destroyed by a Ghost Tide Assault on the City. If the City Lord had known about such a trump card, why would he have sought help from the Myriad Phenomena Sect?
Did people think such assistance came without a price?
Look at Wen Ruanyu now. As the representative of the Myriad Phenomena Sect, she had long been stationed in the city and was part of its upper ranks.
It was easy to imagine that every year White Paper Immortal City had to deliver enormous profits to the Myriad Phenomena Sect.
And not only the Myriad Phenomena Sect was present here.
Even demonic sects like the Soul-Devouring Sect had established branches here. Otherwise, Ning Zhuo would not still be acting under the identity of Jiao Ma even now.
“After Mother made her arrangements here, did she inform the Lord of White Paper Immortal City?”
Ning Zhuo’s brows furrowed even deeper.
This question was far more complicated.
Because considering it meant considering Meng Yaoyin’s true stance.
“My mother was benevolent and compassionate. She sacrificed her own lifespan to protect the city and was a model of the righteous path. Yet at the same time she was a Golden Core True Inheritor of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. What exactly was her relationship with the sect?”
If Meng Yaoyin had directly reported this matter to the sect back then, it would have been easier to judge.
The key point was that she had rather report to the sect that she had lost the palace lantern and been eliminated at the Flying Cloud Assembly than reveal this matter.
Why exactly?
Mysteries piled upon mysteries.
For a moment Ning Zhuo could not figure it out. Sun Lingtong noticed and asked with concern, “Little Zhuo, did you run into difficulty refining it? I have theft techniques—perhaps I can think of a way to help.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head and explained the situation.
Sun Lingtong first reacted with delight.
“This Field-Path Lamp is a Magical Treasure–level item, yet you refined it so quickly. I thought it would take at least three days and nights.”
Only then did Ning Zhuo realize.
“Mechanical constructs are not integrated as a single entity. Their refining difficulty is usually lower than ordinary magical treasures.”
“Even so, I still refined it unusually fast!”
“Perhaps the bloodline of my mother flows within me—maybe that’s the reason?”
Sun Lingtong waved dismissively.
“That’s not our focus right now.”
“Little Zhuo, discovering something like this means you’re incredibly lucky!”
“See if you can extract these paper puppet armies and hide them with us.”
Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head.
“That would be harder than ascending the heavens!”
The paper puppet armies were created by White Paper Immortal City itself. To steal them would require triggering the city’s own restrictions and overcoming the separation between Yin and Yang.
Even though Ning Zhuo had refined the Field-Path Lamp, he could only sense them—he could not steal them.
“Ah! What a pity, what a pity!” Inside the Wanli Dragon, Sun Lingtong clutched his head and lamented.
For him, this feeling was unbearable. It was like walking into a mountain of treasure yet returning empty-handed!
“No, no!”
“I refuse to believe it. Little Zhuo!”
Sun Lingtong’s temper flared as he shouted.
“Besides sensing these armies, is there really no other way to influence them?”
“Well… not exactly…” Ning Zhuo hesitated.
Sun Lingtong knew Ning Zhuo extremely well. His eyes immediately shone as he snorted twice.
“I knew it! Little Zhuo, your mother is formidable. She’s no worse than my master. How could she leave only such a shallow arrangement?”
“Hurry up and tell me—don’t hide it anymore!”
Ning Zhuo finally said, “Once the Field-Path Lamp is fully refined, I can use it to send out a soul and directly pour it into a paper puppet, activating it. Big Brother, you…”
Sun Lingtong waved his hand, cutting him off, then threw his head back and laughed loudly.
“I’m going!”
Just as Sun Lingtong understood Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo also knew Sun Lingtong thoroughly.
The reason Ning Zhuo had hidden this was precisely because he feared Sun Lingtong would get excited and rush into danger again.
Ning Zhuo would never lie to Sun Lingtong, but he could temporarily hold back information.
Now that Sun Lingtong had discovered it, just as Ning Zhuo expected, he could not accept leaving such a treasure untouched. He insisted on taking the risk.
“Big Brother, this situation is not like before.”
“In Huoshi Immortal City, if you were thrown into prison, I could still arrange things and get you out. But if your soul goes to the Underworld and gets trapped, I won’t be able to help.”
Sun Lingtong grinned.
“Little Zhuo, you know me. If I don’t go this time, my heart will itch like a hundred claws scratching it.”
He vigorously persuaded Ning Zhuo. He said the Mechanical Ring had given no warning. He reminded him that the two were linked by the Divine Ability—Life Hanging by a Thread. Even if he were trapped, once Ning Zhuo grew stronger he could rescue him. He even suggested that if he could steal a paper puppet general, they would gain Nascent Soul–level combat power.
“Let me ask you this—aren’t you curious about White Paper Immortal City’s arrangement?”
“If you just watch from the world of the living and don’t explore, how will you uncover more secrets?”
“Relax. I know my limits. I have a strong feeling this trip will yield great gains!”
Ning Zhuo almost rolled his eyes.
“Big Brother, you say that every time.”
He rubbed the Mechanical Ring and saw that it remained unresponsive. At last he relented.
“Fine, fine.”
“I’ll secretly send you down.”
“We’ll set a time limit. When the time’s up, you return. Don’t get reckless—or I’ll personally come rescue you.”
After all, they had grown up together in Huoshi Immortal City for many years. What else could he do?
But when Sun Lingtong heard Ning Zhuo say he would come rescue him, his expression suddenly became serious.
He had no doubt about Ning Zhuo’s determination. If necessary, Ning Zhuo would risk everything, sending his soul into the Underworld to save him.
Sun Lingtong might not care about his own safety, but he cherished Ning Zhuo deeply. He immediately reminded himself to act cautiously in the Underworld and not drag his good brother into danger.
“There are seven armies in seven directions. Big Brother, which one will you go to?”
Sun Lingtong answered without hesitation.
“The farthest one. The farthest one.”
The farthest army was the seventh one—the incomplete army.
Ning Zhuo continued pretending to refine the Field-Path Lamp while secretly sending Sun Lingtong’s soul into the Underworld.
Once Sun Lingtong’s soul left his body, it was immediately teleported.
The sensation was unpleasant. It felt as though his entire body had been rolled into a ball and stuffed into a tunnel, constantly tumbling and sliding downward, bumping into things and swallowing dust along the way.
His soul manifested in midair and fell onto the Yin soil.
Still appearing as a small child.
“Pah, pah, pah!” Sun Lingtong stood up and dusted himself off, dispersing the Yin dirt clinging to him.
“Big Brother, can you hear me?” Ning Zhuo quietly activated the Divine Ability—Life Hanging by a Thread and transmitted his thoughts through the palace lamp.
Sun Lingtong’s soul grinned.
“Good brother, I hear you, I hear you!”
“Just watch how your Big Brother becomes a Nascent Soul general!”
As he spoke, he excitedly ran into the paper puppet army, heading straight toward the center.
The paper puppet soldiers stood silently in place, as if awaiting some transformation.