: Paper Army

White Paper Immortal City.

South of the city.

Inside the hidden formation space of the colossal paper statue.

Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged mid-air, gripping the Crossroads Treasure Lantern with both hands, having already refined eighty percent of it.

In a corner, Wen Ruanyu's portrait doppelganger kept a close watch on Ning Zhuo. Should the latter attempt to flee with the treasure, a reaction was guaranteed.

At this moment, Ning Zhuo's eyes were lightly closed, his surface calm, but his mind was in turmoil!

This was because, through his eighty percent connection to the Crossroads Lantern, he had glimpsed scenes from the Netherworld.

In a certain Yin cave, vast ranks of paper soldier troops stood tightly packed. Armor thin as cicada wings rustled in the Yin wind, each scale dotted with cinnabar-painted stars.

Their faces looked made up, with sharply upturned eyebrows slanting into their temples, and two circles of rouge on their cheeks like aged bloodstains. Their lip lines were drawn extremely thin, pressed into fine seams.

The front lines consisted of large numbers of paper ox cavalry.

The paper riders held paper spears eighteen feet long, every one of them tall and burly.

The paper oxen had hooves wrapped in silver foil horseshoes. The beasts' eye sockets were embedded with glass beads that shimmered faintly in the Yin wind. The folds of their ox necks still showed traces of being bound with bamboo strips.

When the Yin wind swept over their backs, the paper skin rippled finely, revealing the intertwined locust wood skeletons within, each bone marked with soul-binding talismans.

Behind the cavalry were spear-and-shield infantry.

These paper soldiers were the most numerous, each standardly equipped with talisman paper long spears and large shields.

After the spear-and-shield infantry came eight hundred paper crossbow puppets. The crossbows' taut sinew strings were loaded with paper arrows, the arrowheads dipped in corpse wax, the fletching made from fragments of grave paper banners.

In the central area stood thirty-six chariots drawn by four horses. On the chariot shafts sat paper effigies of three deities, each with three heads and six arms, holding cloud gongs, wind flags, and rain banners. The bronze bells hanging from the four corners of the chariot covers were wrapped in white hemp, silent.

At the very center, surrounded by the chariots, stood the central army's battle standard.

A nine-zhang, nine-chi plain silk banner fluttered and rolled. Instead of dragons or tigers, the banner was densely adorned with gold foil-cut rebirth mantra texts. The top of the flagpole wasn't a spearhead but a paper spirit-attracting banner. Where its seven-layered tassels hung, tens of thousands of paper coins formed a fringe, each coin's square hole threaded with hair-thin red strings.

And beneath the battle standard stood proudly a paper marshal.

He carried three battle flags on his back, his hands empty, holding no weapons. Dressed in bright colored paper armor, his eyes were pitch black, as if unopened, feigning sleep, waiting only for the command to launch a fierce campaign!

This was a paper army several thousand strong, with cavalry, chariots, powerful crossbows, fierce soldiers, and a central commander!

Not only was the variety of troops impressive, but their military bearing also moved Ning Zhuo. It was a scene of silent readiness, forests of spears and halberds, grim armor, and elite troops gathered like clouds.

"My mother actually hid a paper army in the Netherworld!"

Although this was Ning Zhuo's first time seeing such an army, his experiences in Liang Zhu Kingdom, combined with his connection to the Crossroads Lantern, told him that this paper army was exceptionally elite, far surpassing his own mechanical forces and even the Three Generals Camp, comparable to the Red Flower Camp.

"This is too grand a scheme. If I could use this army at the right moment, it might even overturn the situation in the city."

"Oh, I almost forgot, my military rank is gone."

Not long after leaving Liang Zhu Kingdom, Ning Zhuo discovered that his military advisor seal and such had all lost effect.

Though he had expected it, he still felt a bit失落 upon discovery.

This astonishing find brought Ning Zhuo more doubts: "Although White Paper Immortal City has city guards, they have no formal organization. Even if the created army is powerful, without proper organization, how can they employ military tactics and unleash the army's true might?"

After speaking with the White Paper City Lord's doppelganger, Ning Zhuo learned much about White Paper Immortal City.

Although the city guards of White Paper Immortal City were strong, they weren't formed into a proper army and didn't benefit from organized structures.

Thus, their battles relied on the city's protective grand formation for defense, barely resisting wave after wave of ghost tide attacks, without any capacity for counterattack.

Forming a proper army wasn't that easy.

Even White Paper Immortal City, a霸主级 city dominating the Yin Tide Black Marsh wetlands, gathering the most resources, hadn't managed it yet, as far as could be seen.

Now the question arose: without proper military organization, this paper army couldn't unleash its true power. Calling it an empty shell wouldn't be an exaggeration.

"And there's more?!"

The next discovery shocked and puzzled Ning Zhuo even further.

It turned out there wasn't just one such paper army. In various hidden corners of the Netherworld—some underground, some in valleys—were concealed multiple paper armies.

These armies had similar military bearing and roughly comparable numbers.

"This probably isn't my mother's doing." Ning Zhuo formed a new judgment.

"Although my mother was a true disciple of a super sect, with Golden Core cultivation, her financial resources wouldn't support such a grand scale."

In this regard, Ning Zhuo, though an outsider, had a general idea.

To put it simply, even with his current substantial wealth, creating just ten percent of one paper army would be quite a stretch!

Normally, the lifetime wealth of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator wouldn't come close.

Based on Ning Zhuo's observation, the generals in each paper army, once activated, would possess combat power at the Nascent Soul level!

Ning Zhuo had already discovered four such armies.

As he continued refining and deepening his connection to the Crossroads Lantern, more armies might appear later.

His speculation was soon confirmed.

When Ning Zhuo fully refined the Crossroads Lantern, he had discovered a total of seven paper armies. The last one was still slightly incomplete in size.

"Hmm?" Ning Zhuo仔细观察 and found that in the seventh army, soldiers were still accumulating.

Bamboo strip skeletons were already constructed. A pale talisman paper materialized out of thin air, floating down onto the bamboo frame. Talisman markings slowly appeared on the paper surface; at this rate, it would take half a day to inscribe a single talisman character.

It was as if an invisible hand was silently crafting the paper figures.

The entire process, though slow, exuded a sense of determination and patience.

Ning Zhuo calmed his mind, carefully感知, and his heart shook again: "This is the power of White Paper Immortal City itself!"

It was this immortal city, silently weaving paper armies in the Netherworld.

At its current speed, creating such an army would take at least several decades.

Seven paper armies...

This was the accumulation of years upon years of silent work!

"So, who originally established White Paper Immortal City? What was their true purpose?"

Ning Zhuo had discovered the core secret of White Paper Immortal City!

"Does the current White Paper City Lord know about this secret?"

Ning Zhuo thought it over and found it unlikely.

The reason was simple.

Back when his mother arrived at White Paper Immortal City, the city was nearly destroyed by a ghost tide. If the White Paper City Lord had known about such a trump card, why would they have sought help from the Myriad Forms Sect?

Did they think such help came without a price?

Just look at Wen Ruanyu, as the representative of the Myriad Forms Sect, stationed right here in the city, holding a high position.

It was conceivable that White Paper Immortal City sent a large portion of its earnings to the Myriad Forms Sect every year.

And it wasn't just the Myriad Forms Sect here.

There were also major demonic sects like the Soul Devourer Sect, which had established branches. Otherwise, Ning Zhuo wouldn't still be operating under the identity of Jiao Ma.

"After mother made her arrangements here, did she inform the White Paper City Lord?"

Ning Zhuo's frown deepened.

This situation was much more complicated.

Considering this required thinking about Meng Yaozhen's true stance.

"Mother is benevolent and tolerant, willing to sacrifice her own lifespan to protect the city, a model of righteousness. But she was also a Golden Core true disciple of the Myriad Forms Sect. What was her relationship with the sect?"

If Meng Yaozhen had directly reported this matter to her sect back then, it would be easier to judge.

The key point was that当年, Meng Yaozhen preferred to report to her sect that she had lost the palace lantern and failed selection at the Feiyun Assembly, rather than reveal the truth. Why?

Mysteries piled upon mysteries!

Ning Zhuo couldn't figure it out immediately, prompting Sun Lingtong's concerned inquiry: "Xiao Zhuo, are you having trouble refining? I have theft techniques; maybe I can help think of something."

Ning Zhuo shook his head and explained the details.

Sun Lingtong was first delighted: "The Crossroads Lantern is a treasure-level artifact, and you're refining it so quickly? I thought it would take at least three days and three nights."

Ning Zhuo realized belatedly: "Mechanical constructs aren't monolithic; refining them is usually easier than typical treasures."

"Even so, my speed is indeed fast!"

"Perhaps it's because I share my mother's bloodline?"

Sun Lingtong: "That's not the main point right now."

"Xiao Zhuo, such a big discovery is incredibly lucky!"

"See if you can extract these paper armies and hide them on us?"

Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head: "Harder than climbing to heaven!"

The paper armies were being created by White Paper Immortal City itself. Stealing them would require bypassing the city's own restrictions and overcoming the physical barrier between Yin and Yang worlds.

Even though Ning Zhuo had refined the Crossroads Lantern, he could only perceive, not steal.

"Ah, what a pity, such a pity!" Inside the Ten Thousand Miles Wandering Dragon, Sun Lingtong clutched his head and lamented.

This feeling was terrible for him—like entering a treasure mountain empty-handed!

"No, no way!"

"I refuse to believe it. Xiao Zhuo!"

Sun Lingtong's temper flared: "Besides sensing these armies, are there no other ways to influence them?"

"Well, not exactly..." Ning Zhuo hesitated.

Sun Lingtong knew Ning Zhuo too well. His eyes immediately gleamed, and he snorted twice in mock anger: "I knew it! Your mother was amazing,不比 my master差. How could her arrangements be so superficial?"

"Out with it, don't hide anything from me!"

Ning Zhuo then said: "After fully refining the Crossroads Lantern, I can use it to project my soul, directly infusing it into a specific paper soldier to activate it. Boss, you..."

Sun Lingtong waved a hand, cutting Ning Zhuo off, then threw his head back and laughed heartily: "I'm going!"

Just as Sun Lingtong understood Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo knew Sun Lingtong inside out.

Ning Zhuo had held back precisely because he worried Sun Lingtong's adventurous spirit would kick in, wanting to take risks again.

Ning Zhuo wouldn't lie to Sun Lingtong, but omitting details was possible.

Now that Sun Lingtong had discovered this point, it happened exactly as Ning Zhuo feared—he was too不甘心 and insisted on冒险, impossible to restrain.

"Boss, the situation is different from before."

"In Fire Persimmon Immortal City, if you got jailed, I could pull strings to get you out. But if your soul goes to the Netherworld and gets trapped, I won't be able to help."

Reminded by Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong grinned: "Xiao Zhuo, you know me. If I don't go this time, I'll be itching all over."

He pleaded vigorously, first noting that Ning Zhuo's mechanical ring hadn't given any warning, then mentioning the Life Thread connecting them—even if he got trapped, Ning Zhuo could rescue him later when stronger. He also argued that if they could steal a paper general, they'd have Nascent Soul level combat power.

"Aren't you curious about White Paper Immortal City's arrangements too?"

"Just watching from the Yang world, without exploring, how can you learn more secrets?"

"Don't worry, I know the stakes. I have a strong feeling this trip will bring major rewards!"

Ning Zhuo wanted to roll his eyes: "Boss, you say that every time."

He rubbed his mechanical ring. Seeing it remained inactive, he reluctantly relented: "Fine, fine."

"I'll sneak you down."

"Let's set a time. When it's up, you come back. Don't go too wild, or I'll have to come save you myself."

What could he say? They were brothers, had lived back-to-back in Fire Persimmon Immortal City for years. What else could he do?

Sun Lingtong, hearing Ning Zhuo say he'd rescue him, immediately turned serious. He didn't doubt Ning Zhuo's resolve, knowing his brother would risk soul projection into the Netherworld to save him.

Sun Lingtong didn't fear for himself, but he cared for Ning Zhuo. He promptly reminded himself to act cautiously this time and not implicate his good brother.

"The seven armies are in seven locations. Boss, which one do you want to go to?"

Sun Lingtong didn't hesitate: "The farthest one, the farthest."

The farthest army was the seventh, still incomplete.

Ning Zhuo continued pretending to refine the lantern while secretly sending Sun Lingtong's soul to the Netherworld.

Once Sun Lingtong's soul left his body, he was instantly transported.

The sensation was unpleasant—like being rolled into a ball, shoved down a tunnel, tumbling and sliding, bumping along the way, swallowing dirt and dust.

Sun Lingtong's soul materialized out of thin air, landing on the Netherworld soil.

He still appeared as a small boy.

"Ptooey! Ptooey!" Sun Lingtong stood up, brushed himself off, dispersing the earthy aura.

"Boss, can you hear me?" Ning Zhuo quietly activated the Life Thread神通, using the palace lantern to send a mental message.

Sun Lingtong's soul grinned, immediately replying covertly: "Good brother, loud and clear!"

"Watch your boss become a Nascent Soul general!"

As he spoke, he excitedly ran into the paper army, heading straight for the central area.

The paper soldiers stood silently in place, as if awaiting some change.

(End of )