: Water Burial for Virtue Accumulation

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2025-08-20

After signing the alliance pact with the Lord of White Paper City, the entire Green Charcoal Army breathed a sigh of relief.

Their situation was actually quite precarious.

In the underworld, this army was detested by the gloomy heavens and couldn't stay there at all. Returning to the mortal realm, the best place for them was the dark, damp, black swamp.

Firstly, this was originally the home of the Green Charcoal Army, with a solid foundation for survival. Secondly, the Green family within the Green Charcoal Army belonged to the ghost race; living under direct sunlight was extremely uncomfortable for them. They preferred and were adapted to environments like the dark, damp, black swamp.

With the divine contract signed, the Green Charcoal Army gained the recognition of the Lord of White Paper City, eliminating hidden dangers, and could now rest assured to stay here, continuing their life and cultivation.

Ning Zhuo summoned Jiao Ma's father and the currently elected leader of the Green family, tasking them with arranging the recuperation of their respective clans.

The Green Charcoal Army also included a large number of ghosts.

These ghosts were all persuaded to defect on the battlefield by Qing Chi using the military strategy "Money Moves Ghosts." Discarding them would be a great pity, and killing them would be a waste.

Just then, Luo Si, a ghost general at the Nascent Soul level, had joined them. Ning Zhuo assigned him the task of reorganizing these ghosts.

Qing Chi remained unconscious.

Ning Zhuo, Luo Si, and Sun Lingtong discussed the matter but found no solution. None of the three were skilled in medicine, but they all suspected it was likely related to the national artifact, the Nether Dragon Shears.

Ning Zhuo possessed the Seal of the Forgotten River Prefect but had not refined it.

The Nether Dragon Shears, also a national artifact, had been refined by Qing Chi for her own use. The overwhelming power of the green flames made Ning Zhuo and the others secretly gasp in astonishment.

Qing Chi was only at the Foundation Establishment level. Forcibly refining a national artifact like the Nether Dragon Shears naturally came with a tremendous burden.

Her blood burned within her, turning into raging green flames that scorched the Nether Dragon Shears.

The Nether Dragon Shears were only initially forcibly refined; there was still a long way to go before they were completely subdued.

If she were a normal human, Qing Chi would have died long ago. But the ghost race's bodies are half filled with life energy and half with death energy. The green flames could both heal and harm, representing a power that unified life and death.

Her current state was like a python that had swallowed an elephant, lying on the ground unable to move, exerting all its effort to digest the massive creature in its belly.

Ning Zhuo carefully examined her with his spiritual sense and found that Qing Chi's condition was improving, albeit very slowly.

After all, the Nether Dragon Shears no longer had any support; the longer time passed, the weaker they would be worn down.

What Ning Zhuo needed to do was to check on Qing Chi periodically, replenishing nutrients for her body and soul to sustain the scale and heat of the green flames within her.

With the environment now stable, accomplishing this was not difficult at all.

Despite still being injured, Ning Zhuo began contemplating the "Scripture of Water Burial, Harmony, and Virtue Accumulation."

"The highest goodness is like water, benefiting all without contention. Burial is not an act of termination but the pivot of harmony, guiding deviation and correcting excess, returning to the middle path. Using water as a medium, it connects negative and positive, bearing turbidity and transforming it into purity, circulating endlessly. Thus, virtue accumulates like rivers flowing into the sea, continuously and naturally forming..."

"Water possesses four virtues: First, softness—yielding to circumvent obstacles, flowing around rocks and through hills, unimpeded and smooth. Second, tolerance—distinguishing turbid from clear, undisturbed by floating or sinking, neither rejecting nor welcoming. Third, persistence—dripping through caves and rocks, streams flowing to valleys, diligent and ever-present. Fourth, purity—cleansing dust and reflecting images, returning to original clarity, naturally revealing the heart of heaven..."

Ning Zhuo's frown deepened, thoughts in his divine sea bursting like bubbles. Occasionally, lightning-like insights flashed across the sky of his divine sea and dantian.

He immersed himself in this Daoist scripture, losing track of time. It was only after a day and a night that he seemed to awaken, emerging from his immersed state.

Exhausted, Ning Zhuo hastily ate some spiritual food and fell asleep.

After a full sleep, he took some healing pills and once again buried himself in studying the "Scripture of Water Burial, Harmony, and Virtue Accumulation."

The entire scripture consisted of only a few hundred words, similar to the "Fire Burial Prajna Liberation Sutra," both concise yet profound in meaning, containing the principles of the Dao.

Relying on his advanced understanding of water element principles, Ning Zhuo made rapid progress in the early stages.

By the third day of contemplation, he was confident he could successfully execute the techniques described in this Daoist scripture.

After adjusting his state slightly, he had people set up an area in the ceremonial military camp, piling up some ghost corpses.

Ning Zhuo stood before the pile of ghost corpses, forming hand seals and activating the Scripture of Water Burial, Harmony, and Virtue Accumulation.

Mist appeared out of thin air, quickly spreading and covering the entire pile of ghost corpses. Then, dewdrops began to condense, some slowly drifting down from the mist, others appearing inside and on the surface of the ghost corpses.

Ning Zhuo moved his arms, drawing a taiji diagram in the air with his fingers.

At the same time, he increased the infusion of his magical power, causing the mist to boil and continuously dissolve the ghost corpses.

The pile of ghost corpses gradually diminished.

During this process, points of virtue light, like faint fireflies, scattered out and flowed into Ning Zhuo's body.

The entire process lasted half an hour before Ning Zhuo completely disposed of the pile of ghost corpses before him.

Luo Si and Sun Lingtong observed the entire process.

Sun Lingtong curiously asked: How does it feel to have virtue enter your body?

Ning Zhuo shook his head, indicating he felt nothing at all.

Luo Si remarked that since this was left by Elder Grey Bone and specifically taught to Ning Zhuo, it must be extraordinary. This was only the first attempt; accumulating over time would surely bring great benefits.

Ning Zhuo frowned slightly: "But to perform a water burial for Elder Grey Bone, I'm afraid my current level is insufficient."

Sun Lingtong comforted him in a low voice: "Xiao Zhuo, don't worry. Since your mother specifically mentioned in the jade slip for you to first request these ghosts to practice before going to the banks of the Forgotten River in the underworld to perform the water burial for Elder Grey Bone, this arrangement must be feasible!"

"From now on, you'll learn by doing, continuously practicing and deepening your understanding."

"I'll help you too."

This was a task specifically assigned by the Buddhist Physician, Meng Yaoyin, and Ning Zhuo needed to accomplish it as soon as possible.

After completing the water burial for Elder Grey Bone, Ning Zhuo would need to immediately head to the main mountain gate of the Myriad Forms Sect.

Although there was still some time before the Flying Cloud Assembly officially began, the Buddhist Physician, Meng Yaoyin, had left a message for Ning Zhuo, telling him that the earlier he went, the better.

It's best to "raise clouds" before "flying clouds."

Ning Zhuo was an obedient child and naturally listened to his mother.

He returned to the commander's tent, sat cross-legged with closed eyes, carefully contemplating. He had many mysterious sensations but couldn't grasp them firmly.

So, Ning Zhuo continued to study the "Scripture of Water Burial, Harmony, and Virtue Accumulation," indeed feeling somewhat clearer than before.

"Ah, if only the Hidden Willow were here." Ning Zhuo began to miss his treasured artifact.

Unfortunately, returning to Southern Bean Country now would be too far a journey.

Making a round trip would likely cause him to miss most of the Flying Cloud Assembly.

Ning Zhuo learned while practicing, his insights deepening.

Sun Lingtong also helped him contemplate, exchanging ideas with Ning Zhuo in secret.

"...'Burial is not burying the form, but returning qi to the great void; harmony is not confrontation, but blending light with dust. Dew evaporates, the mirror clears; empty brightness reflects itself; virtue is like clouds and water, passing over peaks without trace...'"

When the two discussed this passage, Sun Lingtong shared her understanding: "This is the essence of harmony and balance, lying in being unintentional and unattached: forced burial harms harmony, forced accumulation damages truth."

Ning Zhuo suddenly felt enlightened. Sun Lingtong's words triggered a series of inspirations in him; he understood immediately, and his comprehension of the Scripture of Water Burial, Harmony, and Virtue Accumulation suddenly deepened by several levels.

Two days later, he stood before a pile of ghost corpses and once again activated the Scripture of Water Burial, Harmony, and Virtue Accumulation.

This time, mist quickly spread, and dewdrops condensed into rain. Under the drizzle, the pile of ghost corpses completely disappeared in just the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Virtue, like wisps of smoke, intermittently flowed into Ning Zhuo's body.

Witnessing this, Luo Si praised Ning Zhuo for his rapid progress.

Ning Zhuo also complimented him, noting that his recent training of the ghost soldiers had shown immediate results.

This was no easy feat!

After all, these ghosts were survivors, the strongest remaining after several major battles. Especially among them were many ghost kings painstakingly raised and cultivated by the Hundred Ghosts' Old Mother.

Another two days passed.

A group of ghosts, tightly bound together, were restrained in a cluster.

Ning Zhuo stood before them, his fingers together like swords, drawing a taiji diagram in front of his chest.

As soon as he activated the Scripture of Water Burial, Harmony, and Virtue Accumulation, clouds and mist immediately rose into the sky, forming heavy rain clouds. Then, a torrential downpour poured down, dissolving countless ghosts.

The rainwater gradually formed puddles on the ground. Ripples constantly spread across the water's surface; where it was deeper, it took on the appearance of small waves.

These ghosts were all alive, yet they were water-buried alive, the process taking only the time of one cup of tea.

A large amount of virtue, like numerous threads, converged into Ning Zhuo's body. But Ning Zhuo used his spiritual sense to divert the thread-like virtue, directing it to Sun Lingtong and Luo Si.

A moment later, Ning Zhuo let out a soft sigh, his sleeves fluttering as he slowly withdrew his stance.

He turned to look at Sun Lingtong and Luo Si, who were observing, and said to them, "It's time to return to the underworld."

Ning Zhuo summoned Jiao Ma's father and the representative of the Green family, instructing them to guard the camp well, not to venture out arbitrarily, and to wait peacefully for their return.

The three traveled light, diving deep into the Nether Dragon River and entering the underworld once again.

As soon as they entered, they encountered underwater vortices. The three struggled for a while before breaking free.

Knowing they were detested by the gloomy heavens, they hurried towards the nearest Forgotten River without delay after leaving the Nether Dragon River.

Along the way, they encountered disasters one after another.

By the time they reached the Forgotten River, two days had passed, and each of them was covered in dust and looking disheveled.

The Forgotten River's waters surged, the sound of waves seemingly mixed with the wails of billions of dead souls.

With a solemn expression, Ning Zhuo took out Elder Grey Bone's remains and pushed them into the river.

Ning Zhuo formed hand seals with his fingers, mist swirling from his sleeves, accumulating in mid-air to form rain clouds. A downpour fell on the river surface, dissolving Elder Grey Bone's remains.

A sinister wind suddenly rose from the river, bone-chilling and fiercely blowing towards Ning Zhuo.

Luo Si and Sun Lingtong, already prepared, immediately acted, dispersing this gust of sinister wind.

After the sinister wind, rolling dark clouds appeared, with bolts of thunder crashing down.

Sun Lingtong shrank back, leaving Luo Si to handle it. He inwardly gasped: Performing the water burial for Elder Grey Bone seemed to provoke even deeper and greater hatred from the gloomy heavens; the disasters unleashed were much stronger than those encountered during the Green Charcoal Army's retreat!

Ning Zhuo moved his hands, tracing the paths of the yin-yang fish. The rain intensified the water flow, forming wave after wave.

Countless waves covered Elder Grey Bone, drastically increasing the rate of dissolution.

Clusters of virtue, like carp, flew towards Ning Zhuo but then directly dissipated.

Using his spiritual sense, Ning Zhuo diverted sixty percent of the carp-like virtue away from himself, directing it to Luo Si and Sun Lingtong. It merged into them but, like filling a hole, did not accumulate and instead vanished without a trace.

Elder Grey Bone's skeleton crumbled inch by inch, wisps of green smoke gracefully rising, undiminished by the rain.

Finally, Elder Grey Bone completely disappeared; the water burial was successfully accomplished, and the virtue was complete!

Ning Zhuo slightly closed his eyes, standing by the banks of the Forgotten River, fully pursuing the flash of insight in his mind.

After a long while, he suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of sharp light like electricity briefly appearing in his gaze.

This water burial of Elder Grey Bone had given him great gains.

He turned to Luo Si and Sun Lingtong: "I have realized Elder Grey Bone's intention."

"He was the mastermind behind the plot, one of the culprits who disrupted the Forgotten River Prefect's century-long plan. Therefore, like us, he was also detested by the heavens of the underworld."

"Now, by performing his water burial here, I am carrying out heaven's will, gaining the recognition of the underworld's heavens and the virtue of the underworld."

"Thus, the detestation upon us is offset by this virtue."

"In the future, the more virtue we accumulate, the less detestation we will have. Eventually, it will turn from negative to positive, and we may even gain the favor of the gloomy heavens!"

This good news made Luo Si cherish the memory of Elder Grey Bone even more.

He sighed deeply, gazing at the surging river: "Even before his death, Elder Grey Bone was still taking care of us. He did not hesitate to use his own corpse, making it serve its greatest value to help us!"

The three simultaneously bowed deeply towards the river surface.

The return journey was much easier than before; the frequency of accidents and disasters was less than thirty percent of the previous trip.

Luo Si pondered: "It seems from now on, we need to do some things for the gloomy heavens to atone for our crimes and earn merit."

Both Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo nodded in agreement.

This was very necessary.

The Buddhist Physician, Meng Yaoyin, had already made arrangements for the Green Charcoal Army in her jade slip message.

For the Green Charcoal Army to continue developing, besides expanding their forces, they needed to go to the underworld for training!

Although entering through the Nether Dragon River directly led to the territory of their mortal enemy, the Forgotten River Prefect, in the coming period, the Forgotten River underworld would inevitably focus all its efforts on resisting the fierce attacks from the Ghost Fire underworld, making it difficult to spare strength to exterminate this small army.

Moreover, the Green Charcoal Army's base was located at the hiding place of the seventh paper army.

This was a location arranged by the Mysterious Plain Scholar, very well concealed.

As soon as they returned to the ceremonial military camp, Ning Zhuo received good news—Qing Chi had awakened!

"But..." The Green family cultivator showed a sorrowful expression, slowly shaking his head.

Knowing Qing Chi's condition, Ning Zhuo hurriedly asked: "What does she still remember?"

The Green family cultivator shook his head again, his tone heavy: "The clan leader remembers nothing."

Ning Zhuo fell silent.

In silence, the three went to the tent. Lifting the tent flap, they saw the young girl Qing Chi leaning against a corner, using a wooden stick as a sword, fiercely slashing and loudly shouting, driving away anyone who dared approach her.

The surrounding cultivators were trying to calm her down, but the ghost race girl was very stubborn, giving everyone a headache.

The headache-inducing young man appeared.

Qing Chi's expression changed immediately. She gazed dazedly at Ning Zhuo, showing an unprecedented gentle expression: "You... who are you? Why do you feel so familiar to me?"

A sense of guilt lingered in Ning Zhuo's heart. He sighed deeply, looked at Qing Chi, and said gently: "Don't be afraid, it's me."

Ning Zhuo slightly opened his mouth, wanting to introduce himself, but found it difficult to speak.

For a moment, he wanted to tell Qing Chi that his name was Jiao Ma.

But in the end, he gritted his teeth and faced Qing Chi directly: "Hello, Qing Chi."

"I am—Ning Zhuo."

(End of )