Chapter 57: Prisoner Among the Vengeful Spirits

Mao Tao, despite clearly understanding, wore the same bewildered expression as the others. The boy was no fool.

“I don't know much Baling script, so it's a bit difficult to read. However, Taobo requested that whoever digs up the manual send it to Baling, promising a generous reward. Also, it seems he mentioned that judging from this illusion, some deity has indeed fallen.”

He Lingchuan’s heart stirred. “Mitian?”

It appeared Baling Kingdom knew more inside information. This was only natural, as they were a belligerent nation in that war.

“I can’t read those specific characters,” Mao Tao said with a wry smile. “Also, the Grand Cauldron might not be movable.”

He Lingchuan’s expression changed. “Are you sure?”

They had gone through immense hardship and risk to come here just to retrieve the Grand Cauldron. If it couldn't be taken, wouldn't his journey have been in vain? And what about the battle at Woling Pass? This question, as soon as it arose, startled He Lingchuan himself. Since when had he become so concerned about the Yiran Kingdom’s war?

“I wasn’t quite sure, which is why I hesitated to say anything,” Mao Tao stammered. “I only attended school for three years. If I had known, I wouldn’t have slept in class.” He regretted not studying more when it counted.

“Anything else?” He Lingchuan stroked his chin. Grand Master Sun must have seen those words too, but he remained silent. Did the old man have a plan to retrieve the Grand Cauldron, or did he have other intentions?

“Also, Taobo believed there was a powerful presence in this place,” Mao Tao admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I can’t understand most of the other words, so I shouldn’t make wild guesses.”

A powerful presence? “Do you mean the peeping tom hiding somewhere?”

Mao Tao shrugged. How would he know? “Brother Chuan, why didn’t the Grand Master mention it?”

“Perhaps he thinks we don’t need to know,” He Lingchuan said, changing the subject. “How long have we been setting fires?”

“Uh, over an hour?”

“It’s time to go back.”

“But the north side…”

He Lingchuan cut him off. “The north side might not be important.”

Where did the young master get the idea that the north side was unimportant? “The houses in the north haven’t been burned. I’m afraid the Grand Master will hold me accountable.” Outside, Mao Tao would certainly follow He Lingchuan's lead without question, but here...

“Young Master, you can’t put me in a bind.”

“We’ll go back first. If the illusion hasn’t broken, I’ll definitely go north with you,” He Lingchuan said with a laugh. “Are you afraid they’ll eat you?”

That hit home for Mao Tao, and he couldn’t help but shiver. Among the four, he was the weakest, and if he didn’t want to be the first one eaten, he needed to secure an ally.

By then, the fuel and charcoal they had brought were used up. Mao Tao no longer objected, so they abandoned the cart and turned south towards the gate.

“Young Master, why don't we just go straight?” Mao Tao asked. Why take a detour, almost hugging the eastern city wall?

“Just follow me, and less chatter,” He Lingchuan replied. He couldn’t explain why, but the further south they went, the heavier and more uncomfortable his heart felt. It was as if disaster was imminent. That was why he chose this route, as the tall buildings and dense network of rivers on the east side made it easier to hide. Now, both the east and west sides of the city were ablaze, giving off an apocalyptic aura.

***

Outside the Lightning Array, a dense mass of heroic spirits stretched as far as the eye could see. Ordinary vengeful spirits had long been pushed aside; only the Great Wind Army surrounded them, disciplined and still as an abyss. The savage appearance they had upon emerging from the well was gone. Alive or dead, they were formidable troops.

What immense pressure it was for the living to be silently stared at by tens of thousands of dead? The Blackwater City soldiers felt their scalps prickle, unsure if it was from fear or the electric current. Faced with so many military souls, could the array still protect them? He Chunhua often had to shout encouragement to his men: “Do not worry, do not fear! The heavenly lightning is enough to keep us safe! Standing firm here, we are fighting for our nation!”

The runic array on the ground indeed pulsed with lightning snakes, subtly warning both friend and foe of its latent power. An earlier incident, where a small team leader’s hurled spear was disintegrated by the heavenly lightning without harming anyone inside the array, had reassured everyone. But who would have thought these spirits were not only capable of thought and assessing the situation, but also knew to send their troops to find reinforcements?

Now, the vast army outside the array didn't seem to be there just to watch. If they gathered in sufficient numbers, they would likely launch an attack. This was everyone's greatest fear: The heavenly lightning array was formidable, but it was still activated by human effort, like a lever. If the heavenly lightning had ten parts of power, they had to supply at least one part themselves, right? Could the morale of these hundred-odd men, combined with the Governor’s command token, hold out until the Grand Master emerged?

Even He Chunhua felt a knot in his stomach.

The heroic army was assembling, intending to overwhelm their opponents through sheer intimidation. As the saying goes, "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." Therefore, they must have a follow-up strategy.

Additionally, He Chunhua was particularly worried about his eldest son inside the well. Nian and Sun harbored ill intentions towards the He father and son. Would his son, alone inside, suffer a great disadvantage? Although he had sent Zeng Feixiong and others in, how many dangerous traps lay within, and could He Lingchuan handle them? He Chunhua silently reassured himself that his eldest son was destined for good fortune and would surely turn danger into safety, yet he couldn't stop worrying. If He Lingchuan met with misfortune, then afterwards…

“What’s going on?”

“Are there prisoners among the vengeful spirits too?” A stir among his subordinates interrupted He Chunhua’s thoughts. He looked up, equally surprised.

The Great Wind Army parted, opening a path, and from behind them pushed forward several hundred vengeful spirits. These were the first souls to emerge from the well, some human-shaped, others bizarre, and more than half were dressed in military uniforms, appearing to be soldiers from other factions.

“Allied forces, they are the army souls of the Immortal-Baling allied forces.” Indeed, the war on the Panlong Wasteland had been deadlocked for thirty-two years, and this meat grinder had claimed not only the lives of Xiluo citizens but also a large number of allied soldiers. They, too, lay in eternal sleep on that blood-soaked land, only to be collected by the Grand Cauldron and denied peace even after death.

These vengeful spirits, who usually wailed with resentment, were now driven by the Great Wind Army and appeared agitated, with the lightning from the runic array ahead making them sense their bane. He Chunhua’s expression changed: “The Great Wind Army intends to drive them to charge the array!”

No sooner had he spoken than the Great Wind Army let out a command that shook the four fields. True to his word, blades and spears were raised, forcing the vengeful spirits forward. Driven on, these hundreds of spirits turned in circles with bloodshot eyes, and finally, defying the heavenly might, they charged forward. The array was immediately activated; as soon as they hit the lightning barrier, they were obliterated. Even so, the vengeful spirits continued to charge, one after another.

The living saw the array flash and thunder boom, while the Great Wind Army outside remained poised, causing them to feel uneasy. In military battles or sieges, sometimes captives were pushed to the front as human shields. If the opponent was unwilling to attack them, the attacking side would gain the initiative. This method was cruel but effective, and never absent from wars throughout history.