Uncle Nine: Scattering beans to create soldiers? I'm using plants and trees to create soldiers.

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping Aoki Town.

In the backyard of the Zhang family residence, the altar had already been set up.

A bright yellow octagonal tablecloth was spread out on a long sandalwood table, with two bronze candlesticks on either side.

The Three Pure Ones Dharma Bell, the Peach Wood Sword, and the Thunder Pattern Talisman were arranged in order on the table.

In the center of the desktop, four grass-head soldiers stand side by side.

Lin Xuan sat cross-legged in front of the altar, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and deep, like a stone statue in deep meditation.

The Dao Qi within the body circulates slowly like the tide, gradually returning to its full state.

At the foot of the wall, Boss Zhang and his steward, along with seven or eight of the bolder servants, huddled together at a distance.

Everyone hunched their shoulders, their backs pressed tightly against the wall, their faces filled with tension.

"Master...it's almost midnight, isn't it? That...that ghostly thing should be showing itself soon, right?!"

The butler lowered his voice and whispered in Boss Zhang's ear.

Zhang Nan didn't speak, but subconsciously looked up at the moon in the sky.

The moon had been obscured by a thin layer of clouds, leaving only a hazy white light.

The light in the courtyard dimmed, and the outline of the well became blurred, resembling a dark, gaping mouth.

"It should be... soon."

Zhang Nan's voice was a little dry.

He clenched his sleeves, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the figure sitting cross-legged in front of the altar.

The Taoist priest, Xiaolin, had maintained this posture since nightfall, without moving an inch.

Even though the atmosphere around him was becoming increasingly oppressive and cold, he still exuded a reassuring and calm aura.

It was as if—no matter what happened tonight, everything was under his control.

Thinking of this, Zhang Nan felt a little relieved.

But this sense of security didn't last long.

Because the temperature is dropping rapidly!

A cool sensation seeped in from the soles of my feet!

The blue brick floor seemed to have turned into a block of ice, and the cold air seeped through the soles of my shoes, climbing up my ankles and calves.

Several servants began unconsciously rubbing their hands and stamping their feet, their teeth making a soft "crunching" sound.

The butler's face visibly paled. His lips trembled as he tried to say something, but he found that his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Just then—

Lin Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.

Those eyes, which were originally calm and still, suddenly became as sharp as two drawn swords.

"They're here!"

Two seemingly casual words sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

Everyone's eyes turned to the well without prior arrangement, and their hearts began to race!

Whoosh!

Splash...

The sound of water coming from deep within the well!

Then it grew larger and faster, as if something was surging up from the bottom of the well.

At the same time, a strong odor wafted from the wellhead.

That taste...

Zhang Nan's stomach suddenly clenched.

It's the smell of a corpse.

The stench of the corpse was more than ten times stronger than what I smelled during the day!

Several servants immediately began to gag, covering their mouths and desperately trying to hold it in.

The butler's face had turned an unhealthy bluish-gray.

"child……"

A voice rang out.

The voice came from the bottom of the well, faint and sobbing, as if it were speaking through several layers of coffin lids.

"My child..."

How tragic!

sad!

The sound had a penetrating power that sent chills down your spine, penetrating through your ears and reaching straight to your brain!

"A ghost!! The ghost has appeared!!"

The youngest servant was so frightened that his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground, his face drained of all color.

Zhang Nan's body was also trembling violently, but he clenched his teeth tightly to keep himself from making a sound.

His eyes widened in fear as he stared at the well.

It's been three days.

For three consecutive days, he could hear this sound every midnight.

But before, he had only heard it from his bedroom in the front yard, behind several courtyard walls.

He was so frightened that he couldn't sleep at night.

And now...

He was standing in the backyard, no more than twenty steps from the well!

The sound was right next to me!

It was so clear it was as if the thing was right next to his ear!

Just when everyone was terrified, Lin Xuan, who was standing in front of the altar, made a move.

He flicked his finger, and a golden light entered the bronze candlestick.

puff--!

In an instant, the candles on the two bronze candlesticks on the altar suddenly lit up!

The flames rose, emitting a warm and bright light that illuminated the entire backyard!

Immediately afterwards, the incense on the altar spontaneously combusted without a flame.

Wisps of smoke rose and swirled in the night sky, releasing a calming and peaceful sandalwood scent.

The sandalwood scent collided head-on with the stench of corpses permeating the courtyard, actually suppressing most of the nauseating, putrid smell!

Lin Xuan stood up from the futon.

The hem of the Taoist robe moved automatically without wind, fluttering and billowing.

His slender figure was stretched extremely long in the candlelight, making him appear to everyone like a god descended to earth.

He flipped his right hand, and the hand seals changed.

The Three Pure Ones' Dharma Bell rose from the altar and landed steadily in his palm.

jingle--!

Lin Xuan flicked his wrist, and the magic bell rang for the first time.

The sound was clear and melodious, like the clash of metal and stone, or like the sound of a morning bell and evening drum!

The moment the bell rang, a pale yellow halo, visible to the naked eye, emanated from the bell!

Like ripples on the water, they spread outwards in concentric circles.

Wherever the yellow light passed, the lingering chill in the air instantly vanished.

Zhang Nan felt that the chilling cold he had felt earlier vanished the moment the yellow light swept across his body!

Instead, there is a gentle warmth, like standing under the warm sun.

"It's warmer..." the butler whispered incredulously, "It's not cold anymore!"

Several servants also showed expressions of relief, slumping against the wall and panting heavily.

jingle--!

The bell rang a second time.

The yellow light spread again!

This time, as the halo spread to the backyard wall, it acted like an invisible light curtain, enveloping the entire backyard.

The altar is now open!

This is the core function of the Maoshan altar—based on the power of the patriarchs, with the Daoist Qi as its framework, and incense and candles as its medium, to construct a realm similar to a small Daoist temple within a small space.

Within this realm, the power of Taoist magic is amplified, and the power of evil spirits is suppressed.

jingle--!

The third bell rang, its sound like thunder in spring!

The yellow light reached the well and swept across the water's surface!

The well water, which was originally churning, seemed to be frozen in place, and its ripples were instantly suppressed, making it look like stagnant water!

The underground river passage at the bottom of the well was sealed off by the power of the altar!

The vengeful ghost had no way to escape through the underground culvert!

However, that thing was also completely enraged at this moment.

"My child—give me back my child!!"

The voice suddenly rose in pitch, transforming from a sob into a shrill cry!

Whoosh—!

A pair of withered hands reached out from the well opening!

Immediately afterwards, a figure leaped out of the well!

The moment it landed heavily, the blue bricks in the courtyard made a muffled thud from the impact, and black water dripped down its clothes.

That was a woman's corpse!

Or rather, it was a desiccated corpse, its skin and flesh shriveled and taut!

The cold, damp air had drawn away most of the moisture from its body, turning its skin into a dull, ashen yellow.

Skin and bone are tightly attached, outlining a skeletal silhouette.

But the abdomen of this mummified corpse was abnormally swollen, creating a strange contrast with its thin limbs, like an inflated balloon stuffed into a skeleton.

The skin on the woman's abdomen was taut and shiny, and black currents could be vaguely seen moving beneath it.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

The moment they saw the woman's corpse, several servants behind them screamed in terror, and some even fainted on the spot.

Zhang Nan and the housekeeper were trembling like leaves. They wanted to run, but their legs were too weak to move.

The moment the female corpse appeared, Lin Xuan sensed her presence!

Warlock is now at max level!

Moreover, the corpse energy within his body is extremely dense! It's even more powerful than that of a typical perfected sorcerer!

But then, Lin Xuan's brows furrowed.

Something's not right!

Lin Xuan's gaze moved quickly across the corpse, finally settling on the woman's abdomen.

There was an unusual aura surging there!

Eerie, chilling, and sinister!

Each time that aura surged, the corpse energy around the dried corpse would fluctuate violently.

Sorcerer at Perfected Level — Taoist at Initial Level — Sorcerer at Perfected Level —

"Could it be... a 'mother-child affliction'?"

Lin Xuan's pupils contracted slightly.

The "Mother-Child Curse" is an extremely insidious and evil technique.

The practitioner uses a special method to combine the unformed fetus with the mother's body; the mother's corpse is called the "mother's evil spirit," and the fetus is called the "child's evil spirit."

The offspring spirit resides within the womb of the mother spirit, nourished by the resentment of the mother's corpse, and continues to grow stronger.

Once the offspring is fully mature, it can turn against the mother body, forcibly raising its aura by a whole realm!

If it truly is a mother-child affliction...

There must be someone pulling the strings behind this dried-up corpse!

"By the Supreme Lord's decree, the Dharma lineage shall be proclaimed—"

"Disciple Lin Xuan, by the grace of his master Lin Jiuxin, temporarily commands the protective troops of this altar. All generals, please obey my orders!"

Lin Xuan made a hand seal with his left hand, shook the Three Pure Ones Dharma Bell with his right hand, and chanted the incantation to summon the Dharma lineage's soldiers.

clang!clang!clang!

Three sharp rings rang out in quick succession!

At the same time, the documents and talismans in the brazier were ignited and quickly turned into ashes!

The incense on the altar suddenly burst into flames!

The wisps of smoke that were rising suddenly became thicker, as if they were being drawn by some invisible force!

Four plumes of smoke split off from the top of the incense sticks and shot straight toward the four grass-headed soldiers on the altar table!

The smoke entered the seven orifices of the straw figure.

Om-!

The red light in the eyes of the four grass-root soldiers suddenly shone brightly!

It made a sound, twisted, and stood up like a puppet.

Lin Xuan pointed his sword forward with his right hand and said in a deep voice:

"Divine soldiers in grass armor, heed my command! Form ranks and vanquish the evil!"

The moment the words were spoken, four straw figures were simultaneously launched from the altar!

During the flight, an amazing change occurred to the straw man!

The layers of grass that were wrapped around the trunk unfurled, like scales scattered by the wind!

But the blades of grass rearranged themselves under the guidance of a pale yellow light.

Grass leaves transformed into armor, covering the illusory form.

Inside each straw doll, a pale yellow light shone in the shape of a human—the illusory form of the Dharma lineage's soldiers!

The blades of grass, like armor, adhered one by one to the ethereal light and shadow, outlining the figures of four soldiers clad in grass armor and wielding grass blades!

"What...what is this?!"

Zhang Nan's eyes widened, and her mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg.

Although he did not understand Taoist magic, the visual impact of the scene before him was far beyond his comprehension.

Four straw figures...have come to life?!

Is this the Taoist magic?

The remaining Zhang family servants who were still conscious felt their hearts race and their eyes widen at the sight before them.

Just then, four plant soldiers launched an attack!

They emanated a pale yellow aura and held short blades formed from grass leaves in their hands. Like four well-trained elite soldiers, they pounced on the dried corpse from four directions at the same time!

"Holy crap—!!"

The dried corpse let out a hoarse, shrill cry, and its withered arms swung out violently!

boom!

The first grass-armored soldier was slapped away by the dried corpse and crashed into the courtyard wall, scattering grass blades everywhere.

But just a breath later, the scattered blades of grass seemed to be summoned and regrouped, the grass armor soldiers took shape again, and rushed back unharmed!

At the same time, three other grass-armored soldiers had already gotten close to the dried corpse's body.

One blade cut in from the left, slicing across the mummy's ribs and leaving a scorch mark that emitted white smoke!

One of them circled around from the right, wrapped their arms around the body, and tightly gripped the waist of the dried corpse!

The third one leaped directly onto the top of the dried corpse's head, looked down at it, and pressed the dried corpse's shoulders down with both hands!

The mummified corpse struggled violently, and its joints made a series of creaking sounds.

Its power was indeed formidable; every struggle carried the savage force of a warlock at the pinnacle of cultivation.

However, the four armored soldiers cooperated well, surrounding and attacking from all sides, keeping the dried corpse trapped in the encirclement.

Just as the four armored soldiers were about to completely suppress the dried corpse, a sudden change occurred!

The mummified corpse's abdomen suddenly swelled up!

Beneath that dry, taut skin, something was writhing violently, like a live snake trapped in a skin bag, struggling desperately.

Immediately afterwards, an even stronger aura of Yin energy, more intense than before, gushed out from the dried corpse's abdomen!

boom--!

The shockwave is spreading!

The four grass-armored soldiers were simultaneously knocked back several steps, and obvious cracks appeared on their grass-leaf armor.

The aura of the dried corpse surged dramatically in that instant!

The barrier of the sorcerer's perfection was suddenly shattered, and a fierce aura belonging to the early stage of the Taoist priest soared into the sky!