I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality

The days continued to pass one by one. However, compared to before, Xu Qing had taken on another task, which was to visit the Ancient Yin River Dao every few days to record the changes in this barren land.

Forewarned is forearmed. The Ghost King Mausoleum is an entrance to the Yin River situated in the Jin Sect. While Xu Qing paid attention to changes in the mortal world, he also kept a close watch on the dynamics of the various forces in the Yin River.

Xu Qing had no adventurous spirit. The example of the Emperor Wen Chang's demise was still fresh in his mind, so he was unwilling to venture deep into the Yin River to investigate.

But this did not mean he had no other means of obtaining information about the Yin River.

The desolate Ancient Yin River Dao, with its sandstorms, was as bone-chilling as ever.

Xu Qing stood in front of a tomb, gazing into the thick mist and sandstorm in the distance.

This mist was not the ordinary fog formed by water vapor but a ghostly mist produced by the evil qi of the Yin. If a mortal mistakenly wandered into it and got trapped by the mist, calling to heaven would yield no response, and even if they managed to escape by some chance, the mist would linger inside them, causing a severe illness if not death.

Just as Xu Qing was gazing, the sound of hooves shattering bones suddenly resounded from the thick mist. A troop of skeletal cavalry, clad in battered armor, emerged from the mist. The leader's saddle was adorned with ferocious beast patterns, and their hollow eye sockets burned with a ghostly green flame. They were the Eight Banner Marshals who controlled the armies under the Dayong Kingdom at its founding.

Xu Qing had extensive connections, and in the past two years, he had interacted with this Marshal quite a bit in the Yin River.

He had obtained a title from the Dayong, and he was aware of the rise and fall of the dynasties in the mortal world. Whatever he spoke of was greatly enticing to the Eight Banner Marshal.

As a founding father, the Eight Banner Marshal was deeply concerned about the state of the Dayong. Xu Qing catered to his interests, and through mutual understanding, Xu Qing brought news of Dayong to the Marshal, and in exchange, the Marshal informed him of sights deeper within the Ancient Yin River Dao.

Xu Qing was tactful. Whenever the Marshal's cavalry appeared, he would prepare Spirit Incense offerings and a variety of wines.

After numerous interactions, even the Ghost Soldiers and Ghost Generals became accustomed to Xu Qing's presence as a 'human'.

A group of Ghost Soldiers casually gathered in threes and twos, drinking and smoking Spirit Incense, their military discipline showing signs of slackness.

Xu Qing felt that within a few years, the very obsession sustaining this ghostly army might be entirely eroded by him, turning into nothing more than a particle of historical dust within the Ancient Yin River Dao.

The ghost army existed due to obsession. Once that obsession disappeared, no matter how powerful the iron flood, it would crumble.

"Rumor has it that the power of the frontier territories in the north had been unified by one person, who is the only son of King Changting. King Changting was loyal to Dayong, taking his own life at the mouth of Baishui River to prove his loyalty. Following the death of Emperor Longping, Emperor Jingxing ascended the throne and pursued King Changting's Crown Prince with the intent to eradicate him.

The Crown Prince of King Changting, deeply resenting Emperor Longping for pushing him too far, traveled north and, like a fish in the sea, disappeared without a trace. But no one expected that he would rise with the times, rebel against the Northern Frontier Army, and point his sword at Dayong's nation…"

Xu Qing narrated the events concerning the Northern Frontier Army truthfully. Before the Eight Banner Marshal could finish listening, the porcelain wine cup in his hand shattered.

Was it possible that the Dayong's reign would end here?

The Eight Banner Marshal's chest heaved like a bellows, and within a short moment, the evil qi on his body intensified once more.

"..."

Xu Qing was slightly taken aback. He merely recited a few words based on facts, not expecting to provoke such a reaction from the Ghost Marshal.

It seemed that it wouldn't be long before the strength of this Eight Banner Marshal would surge once again.

Indeed, the more harsh the reality, the more incompetent Dayong's descendants seemed, which only fueled the ancients' resentment!

However...

Xu Qing's gaze shifted from the Ghost Marshal to the wine cup in his hand.

Once Dayong truly fell, the Eight Banner Marshal would surely perceive it. At that time, regardless of how strong this ghostly army was or how powerful the Ghost Marshal became, they would transform into mere bones and sand, disappearing completely in this barren place.

Grass has roots, and water has sources. The Eight Banner Marshals existed partially because of Dayong's destiny and their obsession with Dayong. If Dayong were to perish, they would truly become like rootless floaters, losing their 'Dao'.

Simply put, the lifespan of the Dayong Dynasty was the lifespan of this ghostly army. If Dayong did not perish, they would not perish, firmly making them an immortal legion.

Xu Qing could fully foresee that as Dayong neared its downfall, this ghostly army would be at its strongest.

They had no power over the fortunes of the mortal dynasty, but they could burn their last remnants in the Ancient Yin River Dao.

Xu Qing was very relieved that he hadn't become enemies with this army so strongly tied to Dayong. At a time like this, anyone who attracted the Eight Banner Marshal's hatred would likely not meet a pleasant end.

Indeed, in the next moment, Xu Qing heard the Eight Banner Marshal say, "Where Dayong's iron hoof stamps, all shall be the king's land. Though I am the king's minister, I cannot battle in the mortal world, so I should sacrifice this body to cleanse the remnants in the Yin River for my King!"

"The Yin-Eroding Great Witch and I were arch-enemies in the mortal world. Even if Dayong reaches the moment of life and death, I shall strike him down in the Ancient Yin River Dao, fulfilling the last Emperor's grand hope!"

Xu Qing silently wished the Yin-Eroding Great Witch well. Though he had never met this Witch, judging by his ability to contend with the Eight Banner Marshal for centuries without falling behind, he was certainly formidable!

Keep in mind, the Ghost Marshal had the entire destiny of Dayong supporting him. The fact that the Yin-Eroding Great Witch could continue eluding capture in the Ancient Yin River Dao was a feat beyond the capability of general Ghost Kings.

"I've heard the Marshal mention the Yin-Eroding Great Witch several times. Who exactly is this person?"

The Ghost Marshal's dark blue cloak fluttered ominously as he turned his gaze southwards, his voice hoarse and filled with hatred: "At the base of Yin Mountain, in the land of Nan Cuo, the kings and witches of those barbarian witch soldiers, the Great Witch Yinshi Bona, and the Auxiliary Great Witch."