NOVEL NEXT Ch. 98
Chapter 98: 5090
Pei Zhen had immersed himself in the art of refining implements for many years.
Precisely because of that.
Under his remelting, the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner not only had its yin-malevolence completely dispelled, but it also looked radiant with treasure-like light, its righteous aura severe and imposing!
"In truth, he was worthy to be Master."
Xu Zhengyang said this as he extended his divine sense deep into 5090, attempting to refine and assimilate it.
……
The Green-Faced Ghost had arranged the environment inside 5090 as a scene of purgatory so that the vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts within would constantly harbor rancor, ready to flare up and devour anyone the moment they were released.
Precisely because of that.
Just after Xu Zhengyang had started to refine 5090 and probed its inner spatial scene with his divine sense,
he saw the nine ghost enforcers — those nine figures that had been standing guard around the Green-Faced Ghost and were noticeably taller than ordinary fierce souls — using all manner of torture instruments inside 5090 to torment the ordinary fierce souls.
"Fools who know not their place, how dare you damage my computational unit?!"
Xu Zhengyang sneered, and with a thought nine chains appeared from thin air, binding those nine towering fierce souls and suspending them in midair.
Immediately after.
Xu Zhengyang pressed one hand to the ground and began to remodel 5090’s inner scene.
In only a few breaths.
He had the interior transform dramatically, shifting from the previous purgatory into a modern office building.
In the blink of an eye.
Using 5090’s management permissions, Xu Zhengyang gathered all the fierce souls and ghosts into a large conference room.
Only then did he say to them, "I have removed the restriction talisman that suppressed your minds within the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner.
You should all be lucid now, yes?"
The gathered fierce souls looked at one another in bewilderment.
Yet the pressure radiating from Xu Zhengyang that made their hearts quake told them clearly that this person was the new master they must submit to.
At that moment.
A quick-witted-looking youth immediately seized the chance, stepped forward and knelt before Xu Zhengyang.
Bowing his head, he said, "Reporting to the master, I have awakened. Thank you for your mercy. Please do not use those torture instruments on us poor souls any longer!"
Kou Xudong’s words instantly reminded the other fierce souls.
The remaining fierce souls hurriedly knelt as well, showering Xu Zhengyang with the scantest of flattery.
They feared that if Xu Zhengyang displeased them, he might again subject them to torture.
"Enough, enough, rise up."
Xu Zhengyang said, then introduced himself to the fierce souls, "My name is Xu Zhengyang, a true-transmission disciple of Divine Mechanism Peak of the True Essence Sect.
The Green-Faced Ghost who harmed you and imprisoned your souls within the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner has been exterminated by my True Essence Sect!
You have now regained your freedom!"
As he spoke.
His gaze swept across the ordinary fierce souls, who showed hesitation, and then he added, "Now.
You have two paths to choose from!"
As he spoke.
Xu Zhengyang waved his large hand, and two zones — one red and one blue — appeared on the conference room floor.
After doing that, Xu Zhengyang continued, "One is freedom; the other is to serve me!
After the incense stick has burned down one time.
Those who want to leave, stand on the blue circle;
Those who wish to stay, stand on the red circle.
Understood?"
No sooner had Xu Zhengyang finished speaking than an incense stick suddenly appeared before the fierce souls, emitting thin curling smoke.
Then.
The fierce souls showed surprise and suspicion, but none dared to move.
When the incense had burned halfway down.
A youth dressed as a servant suddenly stepped forward, knelt before Xu Zhengyang, and kowtowed, "I am Kou Xudong, from Hongye County, Qingzhou.
May I ask, Sir…
If I remain to serve you, will you, like the previous master… will you, like that Green-Faced Ghost, use torture instruments on me?
Will you send me out to harm people?"
Xu Zhengyang smiled upon hearing this, "Our True Essence Sect is a reputable orthodox school; how could we stoop to such base deeds?
If you remain to serve me,
you only need to perform some simple tasks within the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner for me, and I will grant you blood-vigor according to your workload as reward."
Having said this.
Xu Zhengyang tossed an ordinary Tier-1 Blood Pill into 5090, then used 5090 to distribute the pill’s blood-vigor among every fierce soul present.
Enjoying the pure blood-vigor, free of rancor, each fierce soul present displayed an expression of ecstasy.
Kou Xudong reacted first at the sight.
He immediately rushed into the red circle and shouted his loyalty to Xu Zhengyang, "I am willing to remain and serve the master!"
With Kou Xudong taking the lead.
The hundred or so fierce souls present all entered the red circle!
After all, they were mere roaming souls, without even the cultivation methods of ghost cultivators; once they left the protection of the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner,
let alone the sun, even a strong gust of wind could scatter them to pieces…
Xu Zhengyang nodded in satisfaction at the sight.
He waved his hand.
He moved the nine tall ghost enforcers to stand before the fierce souls.
Those fierce souls had been thoroughly tormented by the enforcers; upon seeing them now, they trembled, their soul-forms shrinking into a huddled mass.
"Do not be afraid. I will not tolerate such wicked doers; today shall be their death day!"
Xu Zhengyang declared, clapped his hands, and shattered those nine fierce souls!
Immediately after.
He used the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner to equally divide those nine enforcers’ yin-energy among the fierce souls before him, then said, "From this moment on, this Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner will be officially renamed 5090; you must remember that!
Thereafter.
I will train you and assign you new tasks.
If you serve me faithfully, not only blood-vigor and yin-energy, but even ghost-cultivation techniques might be granted to you!"
No sooner had Xu Zhengyang finished speaking than Kou Xudong knelt and shouted loudly before him, "The master is merciful!
I will brave fire and water for the master!"
After Kou Xudong spoke.
The remaining fierce souls finally recovered and quickly raised their voices in unison, fearing to anger Xu Zhengyang:
"Willing to brave fire and water for the master!"
"Willing to brave fire and water for the master!"
……
After subduing these fierce souls.
Xu Zhengyang used 5090 without hindrance to fully refine them, leaving his divine-soul imprint in the cores of those fierce souls so that they could never betray him!
In an instant.
With Xu Zhengyang’s actions, the resentment and malevolence in 5090’s inner scene were washed away, and the previous demonic atmosphere vanished!
Following that.
Xu Zhengyang assigned numbers to each fierce soul, then established a rewards-and-punishments system, set up a management layer, gathered them together, and began training them…
Xu Zhengyang had been busying back and forth for a full two hours before he finally opened his eyes and exited 5090’s inner scene.
Though fatigue was written across his face, the corners of his mouth had lifted slightly into a faint, satisfied smile.
After a brief rest.
He sat up and said, "Although these fierce souls were mostly ordinary humans, after training,
they will have no problem performing tasks like manipulating different flames, controlling puppets, and maintaining formations.
If I can in the future recruit more willing workers into 5090, assign them unified numbers, compose computation units, and finally organize and interconnect them according to a matrix structure…"