Deep within the underground tomb, Xu Qing glanced at a burial chamber not far from the Twin Coffin, where an Ageless Coffin lay quietly.
Xu Qing pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly.
Currently, the outside world was still under the rule of Dayong, and the general inside the Ageless Coffin was an officer from the previous dynasty. If he were to open the coffin and awaken him now...
It's likely the first thing he would do is seek out the remnants of the Dayong royal family to engage in activities to overthrow Yan and restore Yong!
Tsk, luckily, he only promised that Yin River Marshal to spare his life, but never said when he would set him free.
Alright, you can just stay there and sleep for now!
When the heavens are new and the earth is changed, we can talk about letting you out.
...
At the Yin-Yang Boundary Stele, by the True Monarch's Bone Temple.
Xu Qing, carrying a jar of monkey wine and a sack of popcorn, sought out the Demon Exorcism True Monarch.
"Didn't you say it wasn't time for that matter yet, why have you come again?"
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch, who watched over the empty temple, seemed somewhat pleased. For a thousand years, no one had sought him out for drinking and chatting, and in the past twenty years, only Xu Qing came by occasionally.
"True Monarch, you've been in cultivation and unaware of the years; the mortal world just celebrated the New Year, and I'm here to pay my respects to you for it!"
The True Monarch raised an eyebrow, tilted his head back, drinking a bowl of fine wine, and said, "You never show up here without a reason. So, what's your business this time? If it's within my power, I won't refuse."
Xu Qing smiled warmly, filling the red-robed giant's cup, whose charm didn't lose out to a buried bird, and said, "It's nothing major, just some casual chat between us brothers."
The two of them snacked while chatting idly. At one point, Xu Qing suddenly asked, "A few nights ago, I dreamt of a temple within the Yin River realm, and it enshrined a wild deity calling himself the Celestial Lord General..."
"Just a corpse demon, what kind of Celestial is that?"
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch sneered, "You must be talking about the eighth seat of the Twelve Gatekeepers, the one who turned himself into a corpse demon using the techniques of the Movement Gate."
Xu Qing was intrigued, "What is the Movement Gate technique, and what can you tell me about corpse demons?"
"The so-called Movement Gate technique involves absorbing yin to replenish yang, drawing bows and stepping on crossbows, pill refining, mercury alchemy, talisman crafting, and artifact forging... or even firing kilns and striking cauldrons, using talismans and potions for healing, advancing red lead, consuming female milk, none of which is a True Skill!"
The red-robed giant expressed disdain, "In life, that corpse demon failed to achieve great deeds, so he had his subordinates, following his instructions, use the evil technique of kiln firing to open the Nether Path, borrowing from the power of the magical corpse, forcibly transforming himself into a neither-human-nor-ghost corpse demon."
"That corpse demon is similar to a zombie, yet different."
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch explained, "Zombies have no innate intelligence, while corpse demons have their obsessions from before death. The former, if fortunate, might cultivate and achieve the state of Kui Ba, but that is a remote possibility. At least, as far as I've existed, I haven't seen any other Kui Bas aside from Madame Ba."
"Corpse demons, on the other hand, resemble evil things that are inherently fallen. They don't distinguish between good and evil, right or wrong, only obsessively fulfilling their obsessions from before death at any cost!"
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch spoke with some apprehension, "I had an encounter with that Celestial Lord General. After the Heaven-Reaching Road was severed, he claimed that the heavens were dead and wanted me to join him in creating a new sky."
"I refused outright. He said a wise minister he can't have will eventually become his enemy. Because of that, I battled with him for ten years."
"Ten years?" Xu Qing was puzzled, judging by the True Monarch's abilities, his magical power wasn't enough to last ten years without depletion, especially in a place like the Yin River, fighting against a gatekeeper-level demon.
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch stammered for a long time, finally blushing, "I've been scheming against Ghost Law for a thousand years. Compared to Ghost Law, the Celestial Lord General is far less significant. If I am to fight, it will be against the strongest demons. My crossing paths with the Celestial Lord General was just unfortunate; would I delay my grand plan of destroying Ghost Law because of him?"
"So... so the True Monarch just avoided the confrontation and hid for ten years in this temple, not daring to show his face?"
"..."
What nonsense! The Demon Exorcism True Monarch was extremely embarrassed, his already red face turning the color of a pig's liver.
His drunkenness surged, veins bulging on his forehead as he argued, "How can a temporary strategy be called running away... tactical retreat, yes, tactical retreat! I would not fear death, and yet would I flee?"
What followed were some phrases Xu Qing found difficult to understand, like "A great man can bend and stretch," and "For the greater good, only tackle the high-level matters," and so on.
Xu Qing held back his laughter because he could see that the True Monarch genuinely saw this matter as a humiliation.
"Brother Demon Exorcist, may I ask if you know where the temple of that corpse demon general is located?"
Brother Demon Exorcist? What do you mean by that? Are you mocking me?
The red-robed giant slammed the table, about to argue with Xu Qing, but suddenly frowned and said, "Why do you ask?"
Xu Qing replied with amusement, "Don't worry about it; just as mortals offer incense and sacrifices to immortals for peace of mind, I've made an offering to Brother Demon Exorcist, so naturally, you should give me a peace of mind too."
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch looked Xu Qing up and down, full of suspicion.
This kid, whoever he inquires about, is guaranteed to get into trouble!
Years ago, Xu Qing asked about the Many Tribulations Ghost King, and soon the Ghost King Mausoleum was no more. Later, he inquired about the Yin Biting Dharma King and the Eight Banner Marshals; can you still find traces of those two ghost commanders in the Yin River now?
The last time, Xu Qing inquired about the Yin Corpse Sect...
If the Demon Exorcism True Monarch didn't know who was involved in those events, he would think this kid had a crow's mouth, bringing bad luck to whoever he mentioned!
"Have you heard of the Five Immortals?" The red-robed giant suddenly changed the topic.