Chapter 596: Heavenly Bestowed Talisman |
Luo Si relied on the guidance of the Gray Bone Elder, cultivating continuously and gradually rising to prominence. Now he had become the foremost general under the Prefecture Lord of the River of Forgetfulness.
Despite holding great authority and status, he felt no attachment or pride in it. As his strength increased, his desire for revenge only grew more intense, tormenting him to the brink of madness.
Whenever that happened, he would come to the banks of the River of Forgetfulness to fish, using the river’s waters to wash away the revenge that clogged his chest.
When he learned from the Gray Bone Elder that he would suffer a calamity, he instead became excited and thrilled. This meant he was finally one step closer to his revenge.
The so-called calamity itself was not his focus. What he longed for was revenge—revenge!
Thus, at the time, he immediately sent a reply letter, asking the Gray Bone Elder for details, and inquired how he should treat the fated person and how he could ensure a good karmic connection.
The Gray Bone Elder replied that he only needed to interact as he normally would. If he acted even slightly affected or artificial, it would surely be seen through, which would only make matters worse and yield half the result with twice the effort.
Luo Si therefore followed the elder’s instructions. He had already been fishing by the River of Forgetfulness for three days and three nights, quietly waiting the entire time.
Strangely enough, under normal circumstances two or three ghosts would pass by the riverside. Yet during these three days, not a single figure appeared.
When he first saw Sun Lingtong, he secretly pondered, “This person only has Foundation Establishment cultivation. Could he really be my destined lord? No… the Gray Bone Elder said I would encounter the lord of my life. This person may simply be an intermediary.”
From the very beginning, Luo Si treated Sun Lingtong differently.
Although Sun Lingtong was only at the Foundation Establishment stage and still young, his life experiences were extremely rich. Especially recently in the Thousand Peaks Forest of Liangzhu Kingdom, he had nearly personally participated in clashes involving Soul Formation–level beings and witnessed them with his own eyes. To someone like Luo Si—a mere Nascent Soul cultivator—such things had already become commonplace.
On the battlefield of Thousand Peaks Forest, it was not as if Nascent Soul cultivators had never fallen.
Seeing that Sun Lingtong, despite being merely Foundation Establishment, remained calm and unservile toward him and behaved with open composure, Luo Si formed his own judgment.
He strictly followed the Gray Bone Elder’s instructions, maintaining a normal attitude and continuing his cultivation just as usual.
Later, when his memory faded and he came to in a daze, he saw the river waves receding. When he noticed that his spare fishing rod was already in Sun Lingtong’s hands, he found it even more strange and became increasingly convinced of Sun Lingtong’s identity.
When Sun Lingtong mentioned wanting to go to the mortal world—to the Yin Tide Black Marsh Wetlands—Luo Si could not help but think, “Could it be that the person behind him is also interested in the Lord of White Paper Immortal City in the mortal world? Since he covets the mortal realm so much… that would be a great thing. If I never intervene in the mortal world, how could I achieve my revenge?”
Thus, Luo Si opened every convenience for Sun Lingtong.
However, these inner truths did not need to be spoken. The Gray Bone Elder had reminded him in his letter that many divination results would lose their accuracy once spoken aloud, creating additional variables. In most cases, the divination would have to be redone.
Yet he could not avoid mentioning the matter entirely; otherwise there would be no favor owed in the future. At most, he could vaguely mention resolving a calamity.
Sure enough, when Sun Ning and the other heard this, both became greatly interested.
It was their first time encountering such a matter.
“Gray Bone Elder?” The two of them silently memorized this name.
At the same time, they became extremely vigilant, wondering whether this mysterious divination cultivator might have calculated their true backgrounds.
Among the hundred cultivation arts, divination had always been an extremely secretive branch, something ordinary cultivators rarely encountered.
Sun Lingtong looked at Luo Si. “You mean I can help you resolve your calamity? How come I don’t know I have such ability? I’m only a small Foundation Establishment cultivator. Senior, you may be overestimating me.”
Undoubtedly, this was a test.
Luo Si shook his head with a smile. “I only followed the Gray Bone Elder’s instructions and stayed here for three days and three nights, cultivating normally. Today is already the third day. You are the only person I have encountered. If no one else appears afterward, then it must be you.”
“As for your question, I also have no clue. In my view, the higher one’s cultivation, the better.”
“However, judging from our conversation just now, it seems my calamity will likely occur in White Paper Immortal City.”
At this point Luo Si sighed softly. “Generals die after a hundred battles. In the Underworld of the River of Forgetfulness, I have neither relatives nor friends. Yet my rise has been smooth all the way, without obstacles, constantly promoted in rank. That is very rare. Most likely the established forces of the Underworld—being local powers—already know about the upcoming battle at White Paper Immortal City and are unwilling to take the lead. So they pushed me into this position to fill the pit.”
Sun Ning and the other were both stirred by this.
Sun Lingtong asked, “If that’s the case, will Senior Luo Si still serve the Underworld of the River of Forgetfulness?”
Luo Si nodded and said solemnly, “Of course! First, although White Paper Immortal City is dangerous, it doesn’t mean I cannot conquer it. I must at least try. Second, since I enjoy this authority and status, I naturally must shoulder the responsibility. That is also my nature.”
Sun Lingtong walked in circles on the spot, his face full of amusement. “Interesting. Very interesting.”
His curiosity was greatly stirred.
He looked at Luo Si. “What if I suddenly change my mind and decide not to go to the mortal world to have a look?”
Luo Si thought inwardly, “Just ‘have a look’? More likely you carry an important mission and must go to the mortal world to investigate the situation.”
He had originally wanted to say it didn’t matter, but remembering the Gray Bone Elder’s instructions, he instead spoke honestly.
“I think you should go. The reason you changed your mind is simply because you heard what I said. By speaking these words aloud, I increased the variables and altered the predetermined trajectory.”
“For the sake of resolving my calamity, I will forcefully send you there!”
“With your mere Foundation Establishment cultivation, you cannot resist my methods.”
Sun Lingtong burst into laughter and secretly communicated with Ning Zhuo.
“Little Zhuo, this doesn’t look good. I’m not entirely free now, but in my heart I also want to enter the situation personally and test the mysteries of divination.”
“Whether I can help Luo Si resolve his calamity is secondary. If I participate myself, perhaps I can help you in this way.”
Ning Zhuo nodded secretly. “I also want to see what kind of mystery lies behind divination and prophecy.”
Having reached an agreement, Sun Lingtong said to Luo Si, “No need for Senior to force me. I am willing to go.”
“However, since this concerns helping Senior resolve a calamity, the journey will likely be extremely dangerous. I wonder if Senior has anything to give me?”
“Even an emperor doesn’t send starving soldiers to war.”
Luo Si nodded strongly in agreement. “Before the army moves, provisions must go first—this is an absolute truth. Tell me, what do you want?”
After thinking for a moment, Sun Lingtong said, “If Senior could grant me a military post so I can command troops in battle, perhaps it would increase the chances of helping you resolve your calamity. I’d also like to experience being a general.”
“Good suggestion, boss!” Ning Zhuo praised inwardly.
If Sun Lingtong obtained a corresponding military post, Ning Zhuo could replicate what he had done during the great battle in Thousand Peaks Forest, leveraging greater combat strength.
Back in Thousand Peaks Forest, his combat power had been limited to the peak Golden Core level and could not break through.
But things were different now.
Since leaving Liangzhu Kingdom, Ning Zhuo had spent many days traveling in seclusion.
During this time his strength had continued to soar, especially his cultivation, which had advanced two levels. If he could borrow a military position and military arts, he might be able to leverage combat power at the Nascent Soul level.
However, Luo Si immediately shook his head without hesitation.
“Your background is unknown. How could I casually grant you a military post? Wouldn’t that betray my responsibility as a general?”
On the one hand, Luo Si’s nature would not allow such behavior. On the other hand, since the person before him might be connected to his future lord, he had to leave a good impression.
If he rashly granted a military position to an outsider, what would that lord think of him? Would he still be entrusted with important responsibilities in the future?
Luo Si felt a bit regretful for asking Sun Lingtong what he wanted. Worried the latter might make another request he could not fulfill, he decisively changed strategy and took out a talisman from his robe.
“How about this.”
“I will give you this Heavenly Bestowed Talisman. For you, it will be extremely beneficial.”
“Once you use it, you will immediately understand—it is more powerful than any spirit pill or medicine you have ever taken.”
Without waiting for Sun Lingtong to refuse, Luo Si stuffed the talisman into his hand.
Sun Lingtong examined it carefully.
The talisman was about three inches and seven tenths long, entirely made of black jade, with dark golden light flowing across its surface. At the center was a complete Four-Directions Seal of Yama, while eighteen hell diagrams encircled the edges of the talisman.
Each diagram appeared vividly alive. For example, the Ice Mountain Hell emitted faint cold mist, and the sinners burning in karmic flames even gave off the smell of scorched flesh.
On the back of the jade talisman was inscribed the complete Vermilion Script of the “Thirteen Chapters of Yin Law,” the characters faintly radiating a blood-red glow.
“Heavenly Bestowed Talisman?” Sun Lingtong looked at Luo Si again with confusion.
Luo Si nodded. “Many people came here for the Black Snow, which can increase cultivation and foundation. But where does the Black Snow come from?”
“It originates from the Heavenly Ghost Transformation Calamity Offering Ritual personally presided over by the Prefecture Lord.”
“This ritual takes Yang to supplement Yin, so the heavens of the Underworld grant rewards. It can increase one’s foundation without any drawbacks.”
“The Black Snow is merely the most insignificant residue of the heavens’ reward. But cultivators who possess a Heavenly Bestowed Talisman can enjoy the most refined essence of the ritual in advance.”
“I can’t use it myself, but Little Zhuo can!” Sun Lingtong thought. He quickly thanked Luo Si and accepted the Heavenly Bestowed Talisman.
After thinking for a moment, Luo Si still reminded him.
“The siege will mainly be divided into two routes. One will advance directly to attack the city walls. The other will conduct an internal assault to cause chaos inside the city, seeking a situation where the city can be attacked from both inside and outside.”
“If you go to the mortal world, do not participate in the internal assault. If you want to experience the battlefield, just go attack the city walls.”
Sun Lingtong’s heart stirred, but he pretended not to understand and asked, “Senior Luo Si, what do you mean?”
Luo Si hesitated before giving a brief explanation.
“The current situation is still unclear. The timing to conquer White Paper Immortal City from the inside has not yet arrived.”
“For example, in this internal chaos team, although six Golden Core Ghost Generals have gathered and will concentrate their attack on the South Gate, I still believe they will not succeed.”
Sun Lingtong widened his eyes deliberately. “Even six Golden Core attackers cannot cause chaos?”
“Is it because the Lord of White Paper Immortal City will personally act? But I heard her condition is very poor and that she has been in a state of self-sealing.”
Luo Si replied, “Even if we ignore the Lord of White Paper Immortal City’s Paper Puppet Incarnation, the depths of White Paper Immortal City run deep. The person who built this immortal city was the Soul Formation–level great cultivator Profound Simplicity Scholar. White Paper Immortal City was his proudest work. There must still be many hidden secrets yet to be discovered.”
Sun Lingtong nodded. “I see. If you attack the outer city walls, you can still retreat. But once you infiltrate inside and get discovered, there’s no escape.”
“But if that’s the case, isn’t the internal assault team basically sending themselves to die?”
“And this time they’re sending six Golden Core Ghost Generals all at once?”
Luo Si shook his head. “First, compassion does not command an army. Their sacrifice has value—they can probe more of the enemy’s secrets. Once we grasp such intelligence, we will be prepared and prevent the main force from falling into a trap.”
“Second, among the Ghost Generals this time is a Silent Ghost General who possesses the innate ability Silent and Soundless. With such a method protecting them, the chances of surprise attack and retreat are greatly increased.”
Sun Lingtong immediately reminded, “Little Zhuo, did you hear that?”
“I heard it.” Ning Zhuo became alert.
He had heard of this innate talent. A child born with it could speak without making any sound. Even when moving clumsily, they would still make far less noise than ordinary people. It was practically the perfect talent for an assassin.
Since they now knew about it, countering it would be much easier.
Ning Zhuo immediately began planning to secretly arrange another defensive formation.
Luo Si continued, “Calculating the time, there isn’t much left. You should go join the main army and head to the mortal world with them.”
Sun Lingtong asked, “How should I go?”
Luo Si replied, “Someone will lead you there. However, the army’s main routes cannot be leaked, so I will take action and deliberately erase this part of your memory. I hope you understand.”
Sun Lingtong said, “Wait… where is this?”
He felt only a brief moment of dizziness before realizing the surroundings had completely changed.
The Yin Tide surged all around, and he was sitting inside a war chariot.
The chariot moved forward slowly, surrounded by countless Yin Soldiers and infantry.
Sun Lingtong shook his head and quickly realized what had happened: he had already been brought into the attacking army, and Luo Si’s method had taken effect on him, making him forget everything related to the military path.
“Hehehe.” Seeing Sun Lingtong’s foolish expression, the Golden Core ghost cultivators in the chariot burst into laughter.
“Lord Luo Si erased your memory. Looks like your relationship with him isn’t that good after all.”
“You waved a token around and boasted loudly before—now you’ve been exposed.”
“How ridiculous, how pathetic…”
The ghost cultivators mocked him freely.
Sun Lingtong froze for a moment, puzzled inwardly.
“Why are they so hostile toward me? What happened? During the time I lost my memory, what exactly did I do?”
He decided it would be better to observe and gather information first. With a cold snort, he did not argue and simply sat down.
Almost every Golden Core ghost cultivator in the chariot mocked him. Only the Golden Core ghost cultivator sitting beside him remained completely silent.
Sun Lingtong therefore asked him a question.
But the moment he spoke, another wave of laughter erupted.
“That’s too ironic!”
“You’re actually asking Lord Silent for advice. Hahaha—if you’d known earlier, why act so arrogantly?”
“This is hilarious, hahaha!”
