After signing an alliance with the White Paper City Lord, the entire Qingjiao Army breathed a sigh of relief.
Their situation was actually quite bad.
In the Netherworld, this army was detested by Yin Heaven, making it impossible to stay. Returning to the Mortal World, staying in the Yin Tide Black Swamp was the best option.
Firstly, this was originally the homeland of the Qingjiao Army, providing a solid foundation for survival. Secondly, the Qing Family in the Qingjiao Army belonged to the ghost clan, living truly under sunlight would be uncomfortable for them. They preferred and adapted to environments like the Yin Tide Black Swamp.
The signing of the Divine Contract allowed the Qingjiao Army to gain the White Paper City Lord’s acknowledgment, clearing hidden dangers and enabling them to stay here peacefully to continue their lives and cultivation.
Ning Zhuo summoned Jiao Ma’s biological father and the current leader suggested by the Qing Family, appointing them to arrange for the rest of their respective families.
The Qingjiao Army also included a large number of ghost species.
These ghost species were directly turned on the battlefield by Qing Chi through Money Ghost military art, losing them was a pity, and killing them was wasteful.
Fortunately, Luo Si, the Nascent Soul-Level Ghost General, had joined, so Ning Zhuo assigned the task of reorganizing the ghost species to him.
Qing Chi was still in a coma.
Ning Zhuo, Luo Si, and Sun Lingtong discussed without result; none of them were skilled in medicine, but they all suspected it to be related to the Netherworld Flood Dragon Scissors, a national treasure.
Ning Zhuo possessed the Wangchuan Prefect Seal, but had not refined it.
The Netherworld Flood Dragon Scissors, also a national treasure, had been refined by Qing Chi for her own use. Such powerful dominance from the Green Flame made Ning Zhuo and others secretly marvel.
Qing Chi was merely at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level, and forcefully refining such a national treasure naturally bore a heavy burden.
The blood within her burned, transforming into raging Green Flames, scorching the Netherworld Flood Dragon Scissors.
The Netherworld Flood Dragon Scissors had only been initially refined, still far from being completely conquered.
If it were a normal Human Clan, Qing Chi would have died long ago. But within the ghost clan, vitality and death energy were equally balanced; Green Flame could both heal and harm, a force of life and death unity.
Her current state was like a python swallowing an elephant, lying on the ground unable to move, fully digesting the giant object within her belly.
Ning Zhuo used his Divine Sense to investigate thoroughly, finding Qing Chi’s state improving, though very slowly.
After all, the Netherworld Flood Dragon Scissors had no support left; the longer time passed, the weaker it became.
What Ning Zhuo needed to do was periodically check on Qing Chi, providing her body and soul with nourishment to support the size and heat of the Green Flame within her.
Now, with the environment stabilized, achieving this was not difficult at all.
Despite being injured, Ning Zhuo began to contemplate the Water Burial Peace and Virtue Scripture.
"Superior goodness resembles water, benefiting all without contention. Burial is not an art of destruction, but truly a pivot of peace and harmony, correcting deviations and restoring balance through water as medium, blending Yin and Yang, transforming impurity to purity, circulating endlessly, virtues accumulating like rivers conjoining the sea, consistent and natural..."
"The four virtues of water: first, softness, bending and straightening, winding around stones, pervading mounts, unhindered and unimpeded; second, containment, discerning turbid from clear, floating and sinking without alarm, neither rejecting nor inviting; third, constancy, dripping persistently through rock, streams flowing into valleys, diligent as if existing; fourth, purification, cleansing dust to reflect, reverting to original clarity, revealing the heart of heaven..."
Ning Zhuo’s brow tightened, thoughts in the Divine Sea shattering like foam. Occasionally, lightning-like ideas flashed across the sky of the Divine Ocean Dantian.
Immersed in this Taoist Scripture, he forgot time, awakening from his immersion only after a day and a night.
Ning Zhuo, exhausted, hastily consumed some Spirit Food and then fell asleep.
After a restful sleep, he consumed some healing Elixir Pills and continued to delve into the Water Burial Peace and Virtue Scripture.
This scripture was only a few hundred words, akin in depth to the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra, both containing profound insights and principles.
With his advanced Water Element Realm, Ning Zhuo progressed swiftly through the early stage.
By the third day of contemplation, he felt confident he could successfully perform this Taoist Scripture.
He adjusted his state slightly and ordered arrangements in the festival camp to gather ghost species corpses into a pile.
Ning Zhuo approached the heap of ghost corpses, formed finger techniques, and performed the Water Burial Peace and Virtue Scripture.
Mist formed out of thin air, swiftly spreading to cover the entire pile of ghost corpses. Then, droplets of dew condensed, some slowly descending, others appearing within and on the surface of the ghost corpses.
Ning Zhuo waved his arms, tracing Taiji patterns with his fingers before him.
Simultaneously, he amplified Mana infusion, causing the mist to boil, dissolving the ghost corpses continuously.
The pile of ghost corpses gradually diminished.
During this process, points of merit light, akin to weak fireflies, floated out, entering Ning Zhuo’s body.
The entire process took half an hour to cleanly process the pile of ghost corpses before him.
Luo Si and Sun Lingtong observed throughout.
Sun Lingtong curiously asked, "How does it feel to have merit enter your body?"
Ning Zhuo shook his head, indicating no sensation at all.
Luo Si remarked, "This was the legacy left by the Grey Bone Elder and specially taught to Ning Zhuo, certainly extraordinary. This was just the first time, with continued practice, it will surely bring significant benefits over time."
Ning Zhuo furrowed his brow slightly: "But to water-bury Grey Bone Elder, this level is likely insufficient."
Sun Lingtong reassured gently: "Little Zhuo, be at ease. Since your mother left a message in the Jade Slip advising you to first handle these ghost species as a trial before proceeding to the Wangchuan River to water-bury Grey Bone Elder, the arrangement must be feasible!"