When Lu Zheng entered the mountain core space, he immediately spotted the Corpse Control Flag on the altar.
It was too conspicuous, its qi linked to the three thousand iron corpses. Under this connection, Lu Zheng couldn’t move the flag more than three feet from the altar.
That’s why the zombie was so confident, not even glancing at it before trying to activate the flag upon entering.
But…
The jade seal was formidable. Lu Zheng grabbed the flag and decisively crossed into the modern world.
The flag was taken to his modern rental apartment, instantly severing its qi connection to the three thousand iron corpses, turning it into an ordinary flag.
And so, the zombie met its end…
…
For Daoist Mingzhang, Daoist Jiuzhen, and the others, apart from facing a tough opponent, this was just another routine demon-slaying mission. Daoist Mingzhang even gained some iron corpses as labour.
For Lu Zheng, nearly three hundred strands of fate light was a top-tier reward, and it unexpectedly confirmed a theory.
For instance…
If he fought someone using remote magical artifacts in the future, he might be able to seize them!
…
Emerging from the mountain core, Lu Zheng found the nine boys still unconscious.
Guangyue stepped forward, grasping one boy, channeling true qi into him, and nodded, “They’re fine. Though their vitality is weakened, they’re young and will recover with proper care.”
“Let’s take them back to Pingtan County,” Daoist Mingzhang said.
Each carrying two children, they exited the secret realm, only to find it was already the next morning.
The battle in the secret realm had lasted nearly a day and a night.
They arrived in Pingtan County, handed the children to the county office, and Lu Zheng left a prescription. Then, they found a nearby eatery, ordered a table of vegetarian dishes, and chatted while eating.
“I just checked. The true spirits and souls of those iron corpses have long dissipated. Their corpse qi is locked in by secret methods, controlled solely by the Corpse Control Flag,” Daoist Mingzhang said. “This way, they can be preserved for a long time. Six hundred years later, they’re still intact, and I reckon they could last another six hundred years.
Baiyun Monastery doesn’t need so many for refining spirit soldiers. These iron corpses can stay here. If Fengyang Mountain or Rizhao Temple needs them, they can come and take some.”
Daoist Jiuzhen and Guangyue nodded.
Seeing Lu Zheng’s curiosity, Daoist Mingzhang gave a brief explanation.
In the Taoist sect, there’s a corpse-driving faction, not focused on blessings or rituals but on guiding souls and transporting corpses.
Their spells are designed to counter ghosts and corpses, including methods to disperse their true spirits and refine them into spirit soldiers. Advanced techniques are closely guarded, but through exchanges, most Taoist sects have acquired some general refining methods.
Both Baiyun Monastery and Fengyang Mountain possess such techniques.
Buddhism has similar spells.
“The corpse-driving faction’s secret arts can refine corpses to act like living people, retaining their strength. But we usually just make corpse puppets for labour, guarding, or menial tasks. They’re called spirit soldiers but are really just servants, absorbing yin qi at night and working by day. These iron corpses can last a decade,” Daoist Mingzhang explained.
Lu Zheng nodded, outwardly serious but inwardly thinking how ruthless it was!
…
After breakfast, except for Guangyue, who stayed at Jiming Temple, the others left together.
Daoist Mingzhang, driving ten iron corpses, crossed mountains and forests back to Baiyun Monastery. Daoist Jiuzhen needed to return to Tonglin County to fetch his disciple.
As for Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia, they naturally headed home together.
“Friend Lu, though you’re an outer layman of Baiyun Monastery, your skills are quite diverse,” Daoist Jiuzhen said, surprised.
During the battle with the zombie, Lu Zheng had used not only the spells from the Cloud-Walking Method but also martial arts, flying swords, and the Earth Travel Technique, all proficiently.
This astonished Daoist Jiuzhen. How could someone so young master so many cultivation methods?
“I was afraid of poverty before, so I wanted to learn every method I came across. Luckily, my comprehension is decent, so I picked them up, though I’m not proficient in any. I must seem laughable to you, senior,” Lu Zheng said humbly.
Daoist Jiuzhen blinked, naturally believing Lu Zheng’s excuse, as there was no other explanation, right?
“That’s already impressive.”
Daoist Jiuzhen nodded. Though he knew Daoist Mingzhang had likely said it before, out of care for the younger generation, he added, “Your martial arts and flying swords, while not as strong as your true qi cultivation, are beyond most people. It’s fine now, but in the future, you must prioritize to avoid harming your cultivation foundation.”
“Yes, thank you for your guidance, senior!” Lu Zheng bowed, not arguing.
Daoist Mingzhang had indeed said this before, but after seeing Lu Zheng’s martial arts and flying swords, and his true qi surpassing Yuanjing’s, he stopped mentioning it.
Oh, and he did say one thing: at next spring’s Jizhou Baiyun Monastery festival, Lu Zheng should return to be officially registered in the main monastery records.
Yan Hongxia pursed her lips. Having heard many of Lu Zheng’s exploits from Liu Qingyan, she knew he was brushing off Daoist Jiuzhen.
But… what did that have to do with her? She’d rather think about what tasty treats to bring when leaving tomorrow…
Sigh! She’d thought she could stay in Tonglin County for five or six more days, but they’d defeated the zombie on the second day.
Still, Yan Hongxia felt some lingering fear. If they’d encountered this zombie directly on their way back from Peach Blossom Village to Tonglin County, it could’ve been dangerous.
…
The journey back was uneventful, and the three soon reached Tonglin County. Daoist Jiuzhen had worried Liu Ning might feel out of place alone, only to find him at the neighbour’s, happily eating a chicken leg in one hand and a piece of pork elbow in the other.
Daoist Jiuzhen, “…”
“Master!”
Seeing Daoist Jiuzhen, Liu Ning put down the chicken leg and pork, jumped off the chair, and rushed toward him.
He skidded to a stop, bowing respectfully, “Master!”
Daoist Jiuzhen nodded, satisfied, and looked at the Liu family, “My disciple is mischievous. Sorry for the trouble.”
“No, no!” The Liu couple quickly waved their hands.
Liu Qingyan stepped forward, took out a silk handkerchief, and gently wiped Liu Ning’s hands clean before greeting Daoist Jiuzhen.
“Qingyan, we’re back! You didn’t see, that zombie was really tough. With Daoist Mingzhang and Daoist Jiuzhen, we fought a whole day and night to wear it down!” Yan Hongxia grabbed Liu Qingyan, chattering.
“Really?” Liu Qingyan glanced at Lu Zheng, who raised his right hand and gave a slight wave.
“Chuckle—”
Her smile bloomed like a hundred flowers, washing away their fatigue.
