Chapter 836: Chapter 283: Choices_2
Li Xiangshang: …
He didn’t expect that what truly troubled Qing Chi was actually this.
But upon thinking it over, Li Xiangshang also found it very reasonable.
This Demon Cultivator sighed deeply, “Let me tell you another piece of bad news. Ever since the military formation started, I have been maintaining my Innate Talent. But my strength is difficult to sustain all the way, at most, I have to stop within half a month.”
“Once that happens, failure is almost certain.”
Qing Chi was shocked, “Ah, how could this be?”
“I mentioned before, we are just forming a temporary army.” Li Xiangshang spread his hands, looking somewhat apologetic, “Fortunately, even midway, our temporary army can still employ Military Art, albeit less effective than a regular army.”
Qing Chi shook her head, “That’s not what I mean. I want to ask, how much the price you paid to maintain your Innate Talent, Li Senior? If the cost is too high, we should stop now.”
“I wish to reclaim Jiao Ma, that’s true with all my heart, but it’s my personal matter.”
“However, I don’t want to see friends and family suffering because of my selfish desires!”
“Hahaha, silly girl.” Li Xiangshang felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
He sincerely suggested, “My Innate Talent can only be maintained for a short time, something the White Paper City Lord doesn’t know. So, I advise you to proceed cautiously and let the White Paper Immortal City take over.”
“During this time, seize the opportunity, express your clear intentions to the White Paper City Lord, and try to have him release the Jiao Family kid first.”
Qing Chi shook her head, hesitating, “Can I bring this up? I’m not quite daring. Isn’t this like competing with the City Lord for a man? Jiao Ma is so good, the City Lord probably won’t let go easily!”
Li Xiangshang: …
After pondering for a while, he said, “I think you can boldly make this request!”
“We have reported on the military morale issue a while ago. By now, the White Paper City Lord must have investigated you in advance.”
“She must know that you have a close relationship with Jiao Ma and have privately made a lifelong commitment.”
“Taking advantage of such a good opportunity for military trade, you propose this requirement, and I feel the City Lord is very likely to agree.”
Qing Chi’s eyes brightened instantly, “Is it really so?”
She shook her head slightly again, “This matter is significant, I fear if I take Jiao Ma away, the City Lord might suppress our family. I still need to discuss with my father.”
The two conversed secretly using Divine Sense while returning to their temporary garrison in the city, only to learn that Ning Zhuo was visiting.
Qing Chi immediately felt cheerful, casting off her worries, quickly crossed the threshold, “What? Xiao Ma came on his own? Where is he? Take me to him quickly.”
But Li Xiangshang said, “Not good!”
Then, he reached out to stop Qing Chi. The latter turned around, puzzled, looking at Li Xiangshang.
Li Xiangshang sighed, “The City Lord’s clever means have indeed shown.”
“She knows how much influence the Jiao Family kid has on you, so she sent him to act as a lobbyist, hoping to persuade you to agree to this deal.”
Qing Chi: “Is that true?”
Li Xiangshang nodded affirmatively, “Nine out of ten!”
A moment later.
Jiao Ma (Ning Zhuo) shook his head, “I came here purely for personal reasons.”
Qing Chi immediately showed a joyful expression, “Xiao Ma, you came specifically to find me, didn’t you?”
Ning Zhuo nodded, “Indeed, I came to find you.”
“You guys are trying to form new military forces, I’m afraid the cost is very high.”
“Seeking help from White Paper Immortal City may lead to subjugation to them.”
“Tell me the specific needs, perhaps I can help!”
Qing Chi shook her head and sighed, “Xiao Ma, you don’t know that the costs of cultivating new military forces are so high that it’s frightening to say out loud!”
She disclosed the specific costs and the terms proposed by the White Paper City Lord completely.
Qing Yan nodded, but without much surprise.
“Cultivating new military forces by ourselves is not feasible.”
“Belonging to White Paper Immortal City is actually inevitable. If I were the City Lord, I would make the same demand. After all, we are just the Ghost Clan, not even the Human Clan, let alone the City’s close confidants.”
“If we truly held a military force independently, there would be a second voice regarding the future Yin Tide Black Swamp.”
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangshang suddenly realized, “So that’s it.”
He was merely a devoted cultivator, not dumb, and had gained wisdom several times during this training.
“A second voice? What do you mean?” Qing Chi looked bewildered.
After a brief explanation by Qing Yan, Qing Chi immediately waved her hand, “We are already citizens of White Paper Immortal City, thanks to the city for protecting our village, ensuring its peace. How could we go against the White Paper City Lord?”
“That’s hard to say.” Li Xiangshang thought to himself, unconsciously looking at Ning Zhuo sitting beside him.
Qing Yan frowned slightly, gritting his teeth, “We can accept that the military belongs to White Paper Immortal City. But the choice of military forces is crucial; we must opt for the Yin Talisman Suppressing Evil Guards!”
Qing Chi let out another “ah”, feeling any of the three military force directions were irrelevant.
Qing Chi did not expect Qing Yan would be so insistent on such a detail.
Qing Yan sighed and explained to her daughter, “The Weeping Ghost Sealing Gate Warriors are those who set up an array on the soldiers, sealing various ghosts within it, essentially closing them off.”
“On one hand, it can be used on the battlefield to temporarily imprison some troublesome ghosts. On the other hand, soldiers can by various means like arrays, train and discipline ghosts, forging Pet Beast Contracts.”
“Choosing this military type, White Paper Immortal City could have two to three times the fighting power.”
“So many ghosts have been imprisoned in White Paper Immortal City over the years.”
“But maintaining these ghosts requires vast resources. The upkeep of the Weeping Ghost Sealing Gate troops is at least dozens of times that of the other two military types!”
“This just makes us more subjected to others.”
“There is another point.”
“Sealing ghosts in one’s body, it’s an extremely unpleasant feeling. Even though every Ghost Clan has abundant Yin Qi in their bodies, more suitable than Human Clan Cultivators for this task.”
“Ghosts are ultimately alien, cultivating alongside them is very difficult and painful. At that time, many of our elders will suffer!”
Upon hearing this, Qing Chi decisively shook her head, “Then let’s not choose this direction.”
She displayed a determined expression.
The cultivators around her were all relatives connected to the Qing Family. Indeed, some were uncles, some were uncles by marriage. These people recognized Qing Chi, supporting her, forming the basic conditions for military cohesion.
The Ghost Clan girl certainly didn’t want her elders to suffer.
Li Xiangshang: “Since we don’t choose the Weeping Ghost Sealing Gate Warriors, we can only choose from the remaining two.”
Qing Yan nodded, “We choose the Yin Talisman Suppressing Evil Guards!”
“We already have the ‘Troops Bearing Evil Art’, choosing this direction saves more for the future, raising war with war, the maintenance cost is the lowest.”
“But each soldier has Evil Qi suppressing them, strongly countering ghosts.”
“Even if our army formation fails in the future, the Evil Qi will still exist, as a benefit we gain for our relatives and friends.”
“Moreover, choosing this requires the shortest time, just three days and nights of culturing.”
Qing Chi nodded, “That’s good, let’s choose it.”
“Cough, cough, cough.” Ning Zhuo feigned coughing three times, then interjected, “No, you should choose the Paper Money Netherworld Troops.”
Qing Chi looked at Ning Zhuo, “Xiao Ma, what’s your reason?”
Ning Zhuo looked towards Qing Yan, “Before I was interrupted, I intended to clarify my purpose. I came this time wanting to invest, to help us form a new army.”
“One of the conditions is we must choose the Paper Money Netherworld Troops.”
Li Xiangshang expressed confusion, “The Paper Money Netherworld Troops take the longest time, twenty-seven days, and the most resources to form, with the weakest fighting power among the three. Its outstanding feature is allowing the whole army to freely traverse between the two realms of Yin Yang, offering more functionalities.”
Qing Yan also frowned deeply, staring at Ning Zhuo, “Our opponent is Lord of Wangchuan, establishing such troops, is it to charge into the Netherworld, the enemy’s den?”
“This is simply seeking death!”
Ning Zhuo opened his mouth, about to explain.
Qing Chi: “Okay, Xiao Ma, I’ll listen to you!”
Everyone: …