As the great formation was completed, Xu Qing left one of the two Array Master's yellow flags, handing the other to the Red-tailed Monkey.
"If the tides of spiritual energy surge and the turbid river waters overflow, the Hou Immortal Family can use the magic power of the Prison Dragon Cudgel as a treasure to calm the river, subduing it underwater."
"When I return to the mortal world, I will retrieve this cudgel for the Hou Immortal Family."
Though the Prison Dragon Cudgel cannot compare to the Sea-stabilizing Divine Needle, it was acquired by the Red-tailed Monkey in the Little Water Curtain Heavenly Cave. The entire cudgel weighs four thousand five hundred pounds, and even in the Upper Realm, it is considered a fine divine weapon.
It may not be sufficient to calm the seas, but to quell the might of a river is not a difficult matter.
It's just that this will be arduous for the monkey...
At this moment, the Red-tailed Monkey was still unaware of the gravity of the situation. It beat its rib-like chest with a nonchalant air and said:
"Rest assured, Sect Leader, if I so much as falter, you may take my monkey brain as appetizer for your drink!"
Xu Qing raised an eyebrow and looked towards Bai Gentleman.
The latter immediately understood: "The Courtyard will fully assist the Hou Immortal Family and record the meritorious deeds here. Upon returning to the Immortal Hall, we shall share this success with all immortals present."
The Red-tailed Monkey, upon hearing this, was even more motivated, completely oblivious to the deeper meaning behind Bai Gentleman's words.
"..."
Xu Qing kept a straight face. Before heading to the Ancient Yin River, he handed numerous pills for restoring magical power, strengthening oneself, and a Ten Thousand Spirits Pill capable of countering extraordinary situations and resisting negative harm to the Red-tailed Monkey.
At this juncture, the monkey finally sensed something amiss. Clearly, it was the Sect Leader who was bound for the Ancient Yin River, so why did it feel as if it was itself heading to the battlefield?
...
Within the Central Province Realm, Ancient Yin River Dao.
Xu Qing had just entered the Ancient Yin River when he saw dense corpse qi lingering among the misty hills and tombstones in the distance.
Apart from corpse qi, he also detected a formidable magical barrier unlike the Yin Evil Qi.
"What a blessed cave heaven!"
Xu Qing clicked his tongue in admiration. As a Zombie, though he hadn't yet entered the heart of the Celestial Lord General's domain, he already felt the freedom akin to a fish in the ocean, a tiger back in the mountains!
Indeed, this is a paradise for demons, a haven exclusively for Corpse Monsters.
Xu Qing proceeded forward. Along the way, there were scattered Corpse Troops wandering about, and he readily escorted and took in these homeless single Corpse Soldiers!
Upon nearing the Celestial Lord General's domain, the Corpse Soldiers surrounding were no longer stragglers, but organized and sizable Corpse Troop contingents.
Xu Qing licked the corner of his mouth, suppressing his excitement. When he heard a patrol corpse general bearing the Human Lord General's banner emerge from the Tomb Mountain, a scheme began to form in his mind.
"Flag, transform!"
Xu Qing took out the only red pennant and, with a breath of corpse qi, turned the similarly designed red pennant into a patrol flag of the Human Lord General.
Having transformed the flag, Xu Qing further used the Seventy-two Earthly Transformations to change his female demon robe into armor form.
As for the corpse hair and corpse qi, he didn't need to deliberately alter them.
"Hey you up ahead! Where'd you come from, patrol officer? I've never seen you before."
Xu Qing had transcended single Corpse Soldiers, and knowing the title of patrol corpse general, he took charge with a question of his own.
The corpse general emerging from the Tomb Mountain looked at Xu Qing with suspicion, then emitted an unintelligible corpse howl.
Xu Qing immediately understood — indeed! Corpse Monsters are mostly ignorant, and while those Corpse Soldiers cannot speak, these corpse generals could only negotiate in Corpse Monster language.
For most people, it would be a dead giveaway at this point, but not Xu Qing.
Corpse Monster language was his mother tongue; having died, he naturally comprehended it, making communication completely smooth.
"Ugh-huh-huh... kra-ka... gurgle-gurgle... hiss... hiss..."
The corpse general, initially bewildered by Xu Qing speaking human speech, instantly dispelled its doubts upon hearing him speak fluent corpse language.
The two corpses chatted amicably, with Xu Qing unconsciously putting his hand on the other's shoulder, walking arm in arm.
But as they strayed from the main Corpse Troops and entered a forest of steles, the corpse general that Xu Qing had put his arm around suddenly let out an alarmed cry.
Yet it was just a flash, and the cry abruptly ceased.
The Corpse Troops waiting in place only saw a head emerge from the forest of steles, their original leader, while the fellow who had been going shoulder to shoulder with their leader went unaccounted for.
Perhaps it had returned to its own jurisdiction for patrol.
Outside the Tomb Mountain, Xu Qing, having usurped the position as the patrol officer here, led a group of Corpse Troops and turned towards the Human Lord General's temple.
...
At the site of the great grave, a grand temple of the general was located inside.
The temple housed three statues: the one in the middle, a gold-armored clay sculpture with three heads and six arms, was the Celestial Lord General; the statue on the left, clad in a scholarly robe and jade belt, holding a scroll and wearing a smile, was the Human Lord General; while the statue on the right, with a green face and sharp fangs, wielding a mace and glaring angrily, was the Earth Lord General...
Currently, only the Earth Lord General was stationed alone inside the temple. Clad in full armor, he sat on a divine platform, even though already dead and transformed into a demon, he still caressed his mace and spoke: "Han's legacy will fall, and the ambitions of us brothers will surely be realized one day..."
This was a Corpse Demon, ensnared by excessive obsession, engulfed in demonic influence, unaware of the current year, not even aware of his own death, and solely intent on completing his unfulfilled endeavors in life!
While the Earth Lord General was muttering to himself, a report came from a corpse soldier saying a patrol officer under Marshal Liu had a treasure to present.
The Earth Lord General set aside the great mace, permitting the patrol officer to enter and present himself in the temple.
Outside the Taiping Temple, Xu Qing, disguised as a corpse general, stepped into the temple.
This Taiping Temple, referred to as a temple, is in fact just a half-open grand grave, with the tomb gates ajar, above which a plaque hangs — thereby making it a temple.
Xu Qing didn't find it odd. Once a person dies, they subconsciously gravitate towards 'down-to-earth' architectural styles. No matter how much they avoided it in life, their post-mortem aesthetic inevitably gravitates toward underworld designs.
"What treasure do you have?"
Upon entering the grand hall and looking up at the stately statue akin to the Leshan Giant Buddha, the Earth Lord General with a fierce demeanor suddenly questioned.
"While patrolling the mountains, this subordinate unexpectedly found a unique treasure, dare not hoard it, and specifically come to present it to the Celestial Lord General!"
Xu Qing spoke in corpse language and ghost dialect, and upon hearing this, the Earth Lord General ordered, "The Celestial Lord is not here; you may present the treasure for me to view."
However, just as Xu Qing was about to hand over the restored red pennant, it suddenly lightened in his hand, as if the Earth Lord General had drawn the pennant towards himself from afar.
Xu Qing remained composed. Fortunately, he had another pennant. Without this flag, approaching this Corpse Demon quietly would be as challenging as ascending to the heavens.
"This flag seems peculiar."
The Earth Lord General brought the pennant closer, intending to examine it carefully, yet suddenly noticed it radiating a crimson glow as the patrol officer beneath unexpectedly vanished from his spot!
Just as the Earth Lord General realized, he suddenly found someone in his embrace.
Despite being a millennium-old Corpse Demon, the Earth Lord General reacted swiftly, bellowing angrily, intending to send the person in front of him flying!
However, Xu Qing moved faster, displaying his magical form, gripping the statue's wrist forcefully.
The Sutra of Salvation unfurled rapidly in his mind, with its countless verses echoing through the divine temple like a mighty bell!
The Earth Lord General's eyes widened, exclaiming: "You!"
Yet before his words fully landed, the clay statue of the Earth Lord General shattered with a roar, with a surge of demonic corpse qi bursting through the temple, spreading instantly!
Xu Qing sensed two immensely powerful auras rapidly approaching from afar. He bared his teeth in a grin, nonchalantly seating himself on the divine platform, drawing the Ghost-slaying Treasure Sword bestowed by the Demon Exorcism True Monarch, and stabbed it into the ground, awaiting their arrival!
"Sutra of Salvation". The pages rustled, verses boomed like thunder: "You are hopelessly obsessed, in a demon corpse form, how to speak of the world!" The sound shook the temple, Zhang Bao's eyes went vacant, the clay statue shattered with a crack, and a surge of corpse demon qi burst forth, black mist spread like night wails. Xu Qing grinned, flipped onto the divine platform, drew the Ghost-slaying Treasure Sword gifted by the Demon Exorcism True Monarch, and "clank," stabbed it into the brick floor. In the distance, an eerie wind suddenly rose, two fierce auras rapidly approached, Xu Qing sat cross-legged, sword pointing forward: "Perfect timing, I've been waiting for you!"