Chapter 1812: The Five Paths God's Plan (Part 2)

“Now I’m just a lone commander.”

Li Yan suddenly remembered something: “Didn’t you gather any wandering ghosts along the road?”

Since ancient times, traveling in the human world has been difficult, and the roads have never lacked Wandering Ghosts.

“They died.” The Five Dao General’s tone was indifferent, “As soon as chaos erupted in the world, all kinds of ghosts and demons emerged from lurking. There are thousand-year-old Corpse Kings crawling out of ancient tombs, Xiao Spirits emerging from deep mountains and forests, and fierce demons suppressed at the riverbed from unknown dynasties—their targets are not the mountain entrances of Mystical Sects; instead, they attack wild temples and roadside shrines.”

“The most powerful little ghost under my command is just a ‘Road-blocking Ghost’ that’s been cultivating for a hundred years. On regular days, they’re good for scaring merchant caravans and collecting tolls, but when they encounter something tough…”

He kicked the beast head by his foot, “Just like this, even its soul was ground to pieces.”

“What about your injury?”

“Seven days ago, at Black Wind Gorge on the Jin and Yu border.” The Five Dao General glanced down, “Ran into a gang of ‘Skinning Ghosts,’ specialized in ambushing escort vehicles. The leader was a highwayman who was flayed alive, his resentment condensed over three hundred years, nearly becoming a demon.”

“Previously, the Heavenly Court held these things in check, they dared not show themselves, and the Mystical Sect couldn’t penetrate hundreds of meters underground. I had to destroy three Incense Fire Avatars to root out their entire gang.”

He looked up, somewhat helpless: “It’s not that I can’t defeat them, it’s that I can’t get there in time.”

“My foundation lies in the ‘roads.’ As long as there’s a road walked by people and a temple with incense offerings to me, I can use these ‘roads’ to shuttle—traveling from a temple here to a shrine elsewhere in a mere thought. This is my most fundamental Divine Skill.”

“But if evil manifests on a road, harming travelers, destroying merchant teams, and I fail to arrive in time to suppress it… Once or twice, those merchants may consider it a coincidence.”

“Three times, four times, they’ll take another route, or worship other Wild Gods. Once no one walks the road, the temple’s incense will be cut off.”

He stood up, his long spear planted on the ground: “Once incense is cut off, Divine Power declines, making it even harder to arrive in time. It’s a vicious cycle. So this past month, I’ve been running from Ji Bei to Lingnan, then rushing from West Sichuan to Jiang Zuo. Whenever a temple priest urgently burns incense, I must depart immediately.”

Li Yan was silent.

Suddenly, he understood why the Five Dao General was appearing with his true face this time.

It’s not that he didn’t want to disguise, but he simply didn’t have the energy.

In the past, when incense was abundant and Yin Bureau orderly, he could spare countless Incense Fire Avatars, using different faces for different affairs while his true self remained deep within the Divine Domain, maintaining mystery and authority.

But now, all avatars have been exhausted, leaving only the true self to journey.

So why bother with pretentious solemnity?

“Then you’ve sought me out…” Li Yan cautiously probed.

The Five Dao General suddenly smiled.

“Still have your Astral Orders?” the Five Dao General inquired.

Li Yan nodded at hearing this, eight remain.

As a living Yin messenger, he earns one Astral Order for every mission assigned by the Yin Bureau he completes.

By consuming Astral Orders, he can summon Yin Bureau Soldiers to aid in battle.

The more Astral Orders used, the stronger and more numerous the summoned soldiers.

This was one of the biggest sources of reliance during his early excursions in the pugilistic world, where, at several life-threatening moments, Yin soldiers summoned by Astral Orders carved a bloody path.

But since returning from Japan, he hasn’t used them.

One reason is his cultivation growing, handling many troubles with the blade and thunder in his palm.

Another reason is to accumulate more Astral Orders for when he faces a truly great tribulation.

“Eight, not bad.” The Five Dao General glanced, “Do you know why I asked this?”

Li Yan vaguely guessed but still shook his head.

“The Yin Bureau Soldiers can’t be mobilized, but the Evil Qi within the Astral Order, that’s genuine.” The Five Dao General chuckled: “Judge Cui also mentioned a method.”

“The Astral Order can’t summon soldiers, but it can ‘raise soldiers.’

The Five Dao General fixed his gaze on him, “Do you remember how you got that Five Directions Luo Feng Flag?”

Li Yan certainly remembered.

This was awarded after targeting a group of yin criminals and being mobilized by the Five Dao General.

It’s considered the second Daluo Magical Artifact besides the Soul-hooking Thunder Rope.

“The Five Directions Luo Feng Flag is an instrument meant for training soldiers.” The Five Dao General continued, “Offer it at my temple here, use the Astral Order to nurture and elevate it, and it can gather Yin soldiers, relying on the Yin Bureau’s Evil Qi for nurturing.”

Li Yan’s breath caught.

“These Yin soldiers are not governed by the Yin Bureau,” the Five Dao General emphasized, “They only heed the Flag Master’s orders, controlled by both you and me. When we need them, I can use the ‘roads’ here to deliver them to your location at any time, just like…”

Li Yan’s heart raced.

He knew too well what a train of soldiers meant.

Why does the Mystical Sect make the court wary?

The Five-Colored Rice Daoist Soldiers of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Golden Armor Corpse Soldiers of Maoshan, Yellow Turban Warriors of Luofu Mountain…

These are not challengable by just a few masters.

The Japan battle saw various sects launch far-reaching expeditions overseas, relying on these soldiers forming battle arrays and directly crushing Japan’s Ghost God Army.

He was also fully aware of the troubles of raising a troop.

To subdue yin souls and ghost entities, you must first overpower them, and then use talismans to bind their souls, offering incense daily and periodically conducting ritual ceremonies to purify the negative energies. Finally, you must marshal troops and drill strategies.

The entire process? At least three or five years to form an army.

The incense and spiritual materials consumed during this? Astronomical numbers.

That’s why even the lone masters of the pugilistic world hesitate to touch “raising troops.” It’s not due to disinterest, but lack of resources and management capacity.

But now, the Five Dao General says he can help him raise them.

“Why would the General…” Li Yan, suppressing his excitement, asked cautiously.

“Why help you?” the Five Dao General continued and laughed, “Firstly, you’re now one of my biggest incense tributes. If you grow stronger, you’ll have greater ability to handle affairs for me, hence stabilizing my temple further. Secondly, raising troops requires a base, and my Divine Domain is empty now, perfectly suitable for training troops—more Yin soldiers can also guard various roads, making it a win-win deal. Thirdly…”

He paused, voice lowering a bit: “Currently, with the world’s upheaval, both the Heavenly Court and Yin Bureau are avoiding tribulation, a new order yet to be established. It’s both calamity and opportunity. Some want to seize power amidst chaos, some want to fish in troubled waters, and for those of us who aren’t considered Immortals above nor humans below… We need to hold onto something tangible ourselves.”

Li Yan grasped the implication in his words.

He remained silent for a moment before suddenly asking: “Did you deliberately let me choose the Five Directions Luo Feng Flag because you had anticipated today all along?”

The Five Dao General frankly nodded: “It was a spare chess move. At that time, the Daluo Law Realm hadn’t fractured, the Yin Bureau still functioned normally, I was merely considering that a living Yin messenger like you should have some Yin Bureau equipment for future convenience. Who knew it would come in handy so quickly.”

Saying that, his expression turned grave: “Moreover, Immortal Master Erlang is now in retreat in the Taishan Secret Realm. Taishan is one of the most stable passages from the human world to the Daluo Law Realm, despite being abandoned since Ancient Times, its foundation remains. Once the Immortal exits retreat and reopens the Taishan Secret Realm, we must have troops stationed there.”

“If successful, amidst this calamity, we’ll have firm footing!”

Li Yan, hearing this, felt an immediate joy inside.

Although the Twelve Primordial Spirits have considerable fame, true strength isn’t just personal combat ability. Even the Ten Grandmasters painstakingly manage their interests. They must choose to cooperate with various forces, inevitably becoming chess pieces, beyond personal control.

Yet, if this matter succeeds, it leads to a different scenario.

No wonder he was previously pushed to explore the Taishan Secret Realm and assist Immortal Master Erlang to seize the position of Lord.

It turns out all was for this occurrence.

Judge Cui inside likely contributed much as well.

These fellows have truly kept this well under wraps.

At this thought, Li Yan refrained from further inquiry and spoke of the Nine Gates Yin Ruins.

The Nine Gates Yin Ruins is a notorious secret realm where only souls can enter.

If escorted by the Five Dao General secretly, it would be much safer. Moreover, the Nine Gates Yin Ruins is known for spatial chaos, and the Five Dao General’s specialty is spatial powers, allowing escape at least in times of need.

The Five Dao General, upon hearing, pondered: “I’ve been to that place. Back then, when meeting you at the Yin Market, I relied on the chaotic aura there to conceal the Heavenly Mechanism and evade the Heavenly Court’s patrols.”

“At that time, could not linger long, lest the Heavenly Court discovered…”

The Five Dao General raised the long spear in his hand, “Now with the world in disarray, we can freely act.”

Li Yan perceived the implication: “Does the General mean…”

“Absolutely must go!”

The Five Dao General looked towards the empty Divine Domain, “Such a place as the Nine Gates Yin Ruins, has who knows how many Ancient War Souls, Fierce Ghosts, and Evil Spirits trapped inside. Ordinary cultivators entering are courting death.”

“Yet for us, it’s the best source of soldiers!”