Chapter 609: Ning Zhuo’s Scalp Tingled
When she heard Li Xiangshang say that he could help her create a temporary army, Qing Chi was greatly astonished.
She asked, “There’s actually such an aptitude in this world? That’s far too powerful. Is it a superior aptitude?”
Li Xiangshang rubbed the smooth back of his head and spoke honestly, “It’s only an inferior aptitude.”
Qing Chi immediately grew suspicious. “An inferior aptitude can create an army? I’m not a three-year-old child. I know how difficult it is to build an army. Every step is a hurdle, and the further you go, the harder it becomes.”
“With just an inferior aptitude, you can create an army?”
Li Xiangshang could only add, “It’s temporary—a temporary army.”
“Then what kind of aptitude is it exactly?” Qing Chi pressed.
At this moment, however, Li Xiangshang did not answer directly. “Even if it’s only temporary, building an army is still a major matter. We should discuss it with others first.”
“How about we go see your father first?”
Over the past few days, Qing Chi had come many times to the Strength-Nourishing Institute to look for Jiao Ma (Ning Zhuo), but she had failed every single time.
She had also encountered Li Xiangshang several times.
Therefore, Li Xiangshang knew quite a lot about her situation.
Very soon, he found Qing Yan.
When Qing Yan heard that Li Xiangshang wanted to support Qing Chi in forming an army, his face was full of shock.
However, he did not ask about Li Xiangshang’s aptitude. Instead, he asked about his motives.
“How did my daughter gain Lord Li’s favor?”
Li Xiangshang rubbed the smooth back of his head again. “I was sent to White Paper Immortal City because my Dragon Lord wants to help it survive this Ghost Tide Calamity. Therefore, solving the White Paper City Lord’s predicament is the key.”
“This time I brought the Golden Nest Demon Seed. It can help a person gain the Golden Swallow Bloodline. Then, with the help of the Spirit Contract Treasure Refining Formation, refining the Golden Swallow Fork will be almost certain.”
“I examined the list of the Strength-Nourishing Institute and found that only one person was most suitable—Sun Tiesheng.”
“I selected him and personally offered him the Golden Nest Demon Seed, but he refused.”
“So I sought advice from President Zheng. The president told me to visit the Sun Family in the city and let Sun Tiesheng’s family pressure him.”
“I went.”
“But the Sun Family actually protected Sun Tiesheng instead.”
“Sigh, after all, they are still family.”
At this point, Li Xiangshang spread his hands. “Sun Tiesheng is the most suitable candidate. I reviewed the list many times and confirmed that no one is more suitable than him.”
“I had no choice but to seek President Zheng’s advice again. He told me that the Sun Family had likely calculated my situation and were confident, so he suggested that I deliberately choose someone else to provoke the Sun Family and Sun Tiesheng. He doesn’t believe the Sun Family would arrange for Sun Tiesheng to enter the Strength-Nourishing Institute and remain indifferent to the ownership of the Golden Swallow Fork.”
Qing Yan listened for a long time but still did not understand. He frowned slightly.
“What does that have to do with helping my daughter build an army?”
Li Xiangshang chuckled. “Let me explain.”
“I know that Miss Qing Chi likes a young man named Jiao Ma. He cultivates the Jiao Family’s technique and possesses abundant Yang Energy. Although his cultivation is currently weak, in the future he will certainly catch up with Sun Tiesheng—or at least stand on equal footing.”
“Thanks to Miss Qing Chi coming repeatedly to the Strength-Nourishing Institute, I learned that this Jiao Ma is quite quick-witted. He cleared himself of wrongdoing and even gained the favor of the White Paper City Lord.”
“So I thought of using Jiao Ma to provoke the Sun Family and Sun Tiesheng.”
At this point, Li Xiangshang looked at Qing Chi again.
“But I already told Miss Qing Chi beforehand that I would not truly select Jiao Ma.”
“I like helping lovers fulfill their wishes. That’s simply my nature. Watching Miss Qing Chi come here again and again full of hope, only to leave disappointed each time—it didn’t feel good to me.”
“So on one hand, helping Miss Qing Chi build an army will make it more likely that she wins the man she loves. On the other hand, since Qing Chi and Jiao Ma are so close, Jiao Ma’s reputation will certainly rise.”
“When the time comes, I will spread the news that I have selected Jiao Ma. The Sun Family will definitely feel threatened and provoked. In the end, they will agree to cooperate with me.”
After hearing this explanation, Qing Yan fell silent.
After thinking for a moment, he looked at Li Xiangshang with a complicated expression.
“You really are warm-hearted.”
Then he looked at his daughter and saw Qing Chi gazing at him with hopeful eyes.
The old father sighed deeply.
“I’ve always been pessimistic about their future. After all, one is human and the other is a Ghost Race cultivator.”
Qing Chi immediately retorted, “In our village there are plenty of couples like that—marriages between the two races.”
Qing Yan glared. “Those are ordinary people! Our family and the Jiao Family are not the same.”
Qing Yan grumbled angrily. “The old saying is absolutely right—once a daughter grows up, she can’t be kept at home. Now that you’ve grown wings, you think you’re strong enough…”
Qing Chi interrupted, “Father, I decide my own life!”
“You—!” Qing Yan was furious, but she was still his daughter. What could he do?
He knew that if the conversation continued like this, it would inevitably turn into a quarrel. So he deliberately returned to the original topic.
“I know that if I don’t let you try, you’ll never be satisfied.”
“Fine. This time, I will agree and fully support you!”
Qing Chi’s eyes immediately lit up. She had never expected her father to agree so quickly. She had thought there would be a long argument.
“Father!” Qing Chi excitedly threw her arms around Qing Yan.
Qing Yan sighed again and gently patted her shoulder.
“Your father is already old. I only hope you can find a good home.”
“I’ve always believed that Jiao Ma is not the right match for you. Even though I agreed to help you, that view has never changed.”
“And the main reason I agreed this time is because it will greatly benefit you.”
“Even if it’s only a temporary army, if you achieve merit and enter the sight of the upper ranks of the Immortal City, it will be extremely beneficial for your cultivation for the rest of your life.”
“In the end, people must rely on themselves.”
“If you cultivate successfully and reach the Nascent Soul stage, I absolutely won’t interfere with you.”
Qing Chi pouted. “Father, I don’t even have any immortal aptitude. At my age, how could I reach Nascent Soul cultivation? My current cultivation is already very good, alright?”
Qing Yan shook his head helplessly.
He then looked at Li Xiangshang and carefully asked what needed to be done next to build the army.
Li Xiangshang was very satisfied with Qing Yan’s decisive attitude.
“Even if it’s only a temporary army, the steps of building an army remain the same.”
“The first step is to unite the army’s morale.”
“The Three Armies Military Mirror says: ‘The three armies are the vessel; the army’s morale is the spirit.’ In other words, the entire army is treated as a spiritual treasure, and the army’s morale is its artifact spirit.”
“Like the finishing touch that brings a dragon painting to life—only with spirit can the three armies truly unite and cooperate.”
Li Xiangshang shifted his gaze to Qing Chi.
“I see that Miss Qing Chi has recently distinguished herself in battle and her reputation is rising. She is the perfect vessel for the army’s morale.”
“We should apply the military art ‘Military Art—Rally the Army’s Heart’ to guide the army’s morale into unity and attach it to her.”
Qing Yan, a Golden Core commander with considerable insight, said, “The step and the military art are both correct. But if an army could truly be created so easily, White Paper Immortal City would already have one instead of its current City Guard Army that only looks impressive on the surface.”
“The military art ‘Military Art—Rally the Army’s Heart’ isn’t difficult to learn.”
“But using it to truly condense army morale is extremely difficult. Countless factions are stuck at this very first step.”
Li Xiangshang had already anticipated this.
“That’s why my aptitude will be used at this moment.”
“With my aptitude assisting, condensing army morale should not be difficult.”
Qing Yan finally heard the key point and quickly asked, “May I ask what Lord Li’s aptitude is called?”
Li Xiangshang scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“The name isn’t very nice… it’s called ‘Inferior Fish Filling the Numbers.’”
Qing Yan and Qing Chi looked at each other.
A long moment passed.
Outside White Paper Immortal City.
Qing Yan and the others led a squad once again to battle the outer scouting cavalry of the Yin Soldiers.
Green Flames wrapped around Qing Chi as she danced across the dark battlefield, light yet blazing.
Under the fierce assault of the green flames, the Yin Soldier cavalry immediately suffered casualties.
The ghosts let out miserable screams as the flames burned them. Their bodies dissolved like mist into the air.
The cavalry unit rapidly dwindled and was completely annihilated shortly after.
But the end of battle did not mean rest.
Qing Chi walked across the devastated battlefield. As she moved, the green flames spread outward, attaching themselves to every injured soldier.
The wounds on the cultivators’ bodies quickly healed, and their expressions filled with astonishment.
Many of them were Ghost Race cultivators. Their bodies contained not only vitality but also death energy.
This was very different from the human race.
Yet these green flames were clearly full of life force, capable of stimulating their vitality without interfering with their death energy.
“Who would have thought that Qing Chi’s green flames have such profound mysteries!”
“She really makes people look at her in a new light.”
“But why didn’t she use this earlier? We’ve fought so many battles already—this would have saved a lot of healing pills.”
Amid the amazement, there was also confusion.
Qing Chi publicly complained, “Uncles and elders, it’s not that I didn’t want to show off. My father forbade me from doing so!”
Everyone burst into laughter, and some jokingly scolded Qing Yan.
Most of them were related by blood to Qing Yan and Qing Chi.
So even though many were only Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, they still dared to point fingers at Qing Yan, a Golden Core cultivator.
Qing Yan endured the “criticism” and admitted frankly, “Qing Chi is my daughter. There’s an old saying: the beam that sticks out rots first. I didn’t want her to attract too much attention, so I suppressed her a little.”
“As for why I’m letting her reveal this now—there is a reason.”
He immediately explained the matter of forming a temporary army.
The cultivators slapped their thighs in excitement.
“An army? That’s great!”
“Doesn’t that mean we can finally challenge the main Yin Army?”
“Is building an army really that easy? Sounds unreliable. Commander Qing Yan, don’t let someone trick you.”
Qing Yan waved his hand.
“Whether it’s a trick or not, everyone will witness it next.”
“The first step of building an army is condensing army morale.”
“This step alone has stopped countless factions.”
“If army morale condenses on Qing Chi, everyone will see it clearly.”
One experienced Foundation Establishment cultivator immediately said, “If army morale is to condense, it should naturally be on you, Commander Qing Yan.”
“You’re Golden Core, the strongest here. If the army morale is attached to Qing Chi and she dies in battle, what then? That’s too risky.”
Qing Chi immediately protested.
“I can do it!”
She looked anxiously at her father.
Qing Yan waved his hand again.
“That won’t do. I’m old. My cultivation will never exceed Golden Core.”
“What I want most is for my daughter to rise above others and achieve great merit.”
“That’s my selfish wish. Will you accept it?”
Everyone laughed loudly.
“Commander, your selfishness is huge!”
“Alright, we understand. Recognizing Qing Chi as the next commander isn’t a problem.”
“Little Qing Chi, your father expects so much from you. Don’t disappoint him. I heard you’ve been chasing after that human lover recently—that’s not right!”
Qing Chi exploded immediately.
“My private matters are none of your business!”
The crowd burst into laughter again.
Although Qing Chi looked furious, she secretly felt grateful.
Condensing army morale had to be publicly acknowledged to proceed. Its political meaning was also extraordinary—it essentially confirmed Qing Chi as the next successor.
No one opposed it.
Qing Yan’s prestige and control among his kin were clearly visible.
Most importantly, they were tightly bound by blood relations.
They were truly family.
And family spoke easily.
Ning Zhuo walked out of the Complete Book Tower.
White Paper Immortal City was the largest cultivator stronghold in the Yin Soul Black Marsh Wetlands. Superpowers such as the Myriad Phenomena Sect and the Soul-Devouring Sect all had branches here, so naturally the Complete Book Tower also existed here.
“Honored guest, please take care on your way.” The tower master personally escorted Ning Zhuo out.
This time, Ning Zhuo had entered the Complete Book Tower mainly to purchase a military art called Bearing Soldiers and Carrying Killing Aura Art. It cost him quite a sum.
Military arts often sold for higher prices than other spells.
On one hand, when used in practice, military arts could unleash powerful effects that many other techniques could not match.
On the other hand, those who purchased military arts were usually powerful people with authority. Those without rank or power would rarely consider them.
Ning Zhuo did not return to the Strength-Nourishing Institute.
He had learned that Qing Chi frequently went there looking for him, which annoyed him greatly.
Recently, Ning Zhuo had been cultivating while hidden inside the Giant Paper Puppet Statue.
On one hand, by controlling the Qianmo Lamp, he could maintain constant contact with Sun Lingtong.
On the other hand, the Giant Paper Puppet Statue was something his mother had left behind. Being there gave him a deep sense of inner peace.
But this time, something unexpected happened.
Just as Ning Zhuo was about to enter the Giant Paper Puppet Statue, Qing Chi suddenly appeared.
She said excitedly, “Haha, Little Ma! So you were here! I finally caught you!”
Ning Zhuo frowned immediately, his expression cold.
“Miss Qing Chi, I already explained in the message bird that my identity has changed. It’s over between us.”
Li Xiangshang stood behind Qing Chi.
“Human youth, do you know how much effort Miss Qing Chi put in just to see you?”
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly.
“You’re quite fond of meddling in other people’s affairs.”
He already knew of Li Xiangshang’s existence, as such information was easy to gather.
“You can leave now. Don’t disturb my cultivation.”
Ning Zhuo flicked his sleeve and tried to send them away.
Qing Chi laughed proudly and raised her chin.
“Little Ma, look at this!”
She revealed a token bearing the seal of the White Paper City Lord.
Ning Zhuo frowned in confusion.
Qing Chi said, “I have a pass token. I can come and go as I please. You can’t stop me!”
Ning Zhuo said, “How is that possible?”
Qing Chi puffed out her chest and activated the embryonic form of army morale.
“I’m currently condensing army morale! See?”
Li Xiangshang added, “We’ve already reported this to the City Lord and received her approval and appointment. Miss Qing Chi is now the Deputy Commander of the City Guard Army.”
Ning Zhuo stared fixedly at Qing Chi, his gaze seeming to pierce through the Ghost Race girl before him.
He suddenly spoke.
“The first step of building an army is condensing army morale… That is extremely difficult.”
Qing Chi wiped her nose proudly.
“For me, it’s child’s play.”
She clenched her fist and confessed to Ning Zhuo.
“Little Ma, the City Lord values me greatly now! Just watch—one day I’ll take you back!”
Ning Zhuo: …
He thought to himself, “So that’s how it is?”
Then he thought of the technique he had just purchased and felt his scalp tingle.
Seeing him silent, Qing Chi assumed he was shocked and became even more pleased.
“Little Ma, I only came here to tell you this.”
“I don’t want to disturb your cultivation. I’m happy that you didn’t participate in that Spirit Contract Treasure Refining Formation.”
“I’m leaving now. Cultivate well.”
“Wait.” Ning Zhuo suddenly interrupted.
“You don’t have to condense army morale on the battlefield. There is still plenty of Military Killing Aura left here. This used to be a place of fierce battle.”
“I have a copy of Bearing Soldiers and Carrying Killing Aura Art. It can help you gather military killing aura and condense army morale even off the battlefield.”
Li Xiangshang exclaimed, “Bearing Soldiers and Carrying Killing Aura Art? This technique is extremely rare. That’s wonderful! With it, Miss Qing Chi’s speed of condensing army morale will at least triple!”
Qing Chi stared deeply at Ning Zhuo, tears almost falling.
“Little Ma… I knew you hadn’t forgotten me!”
At that moment, Ning Zhuo’s scalp tingled even more.