Refining corpse puppets, a sense of relief

Yandang City, General’s Mansion.

After everything was settled, Shen Fan and Yannan City sat as equals.

"After this departure, I don't know when we will meet again!"

Shen Fan said reluctantly, "The Great Li Kingdom's royal family is in a power struggle, and you will likely face significant trouble. Yandang City is the gateway to the Northwest; once it falls, the Great Li Kingdom will suffer immensely."

"Whether facing the deception of the royal family or the charge of the Western Liang Northern Barbarians' cavalry, you must protect yourself!"

"This Swift Wind Bird is my spiritual pet. I gave him our blood-sworn wine; he can assist you on the battlefield and allow us to communicate."

"Remember, if you encounter any danger, send me a message immediately!"

"Never think of fearing to implicate me. Remember, I am a cultivator and your brother. If you die, I won't be able to live well for the rest of my life!"

Looking at this brother who wholeheartedly thought of him, Yannan City knew that his life had not been lived in vain.

"Don't worry, brother, I'll be careful!"

"Also…"

Shen Fan said with some difficulty, "I have a method that can serve as your life-saving trump card, but it requires discussion with all the city's common people. This method goes against the Heavenly Dao, but to protect Yandang City, I don't know if they will be willing!"

Yannan City said, "As long as it can protect Yandang City, they will definitely be willing! Previously, I asked them all to move out of Yandang City, but they would rather die here. If it can protect Yandang City, they will not hesitate!"

"Brother, I mean no disrespect to the deceased. I have a secret technique that, although it goes against the Heavenly Dao, possesses unfathomable power. In this war, countless Yandang City warriors have died. I want to refine them into Corpse Kuis so they can continue to guard their homeland!"

Shen Fan expressed his idea.

"Yandang City is their homeland. They would certainly be willing to guard their homeland even after death, but I also need to obtain the consent of their families!"

"If they agree, we can still bury them beneath the land within Yandang City. If a military upheaval occurs here, you can completely summon them to become an army of the dead and continue to protect Yandang City!"

"Is that true?"

Upon hearing this, Yannan City immediately became excited.

"Yes! So, if their families are willing, I can help you create this protective Talisman!"

"You are right; they would certainly be willing to protect their homeland even after death. I will contact their families now!"

Yannan City said, then sent people to discuss the matter.

Half a day later, Yannan City sent back word: without exception, everyone agreed.

Subsequently, Shen Fan had Yannan City find an extremely yin place within the city to construct a tomb chamber to store the Corpse Kuis.

This would allow the Corpse Kuis to continue growing.

When bodies, already dressed in burial shrouds and prepared for burial, were brought before Shen Fan, his heart was still somewhat shaken.

In life, they guarded this land.

In death, they still guarded it.

They were merely Mortal bodies and had not yet decayed, so no medicinal materials were needed for preservation.

Subsequently, Shen Fan directly infused Spiritual Qi using the Nine Netherworld Corpse Refining Art and began the refining process.

As time passed, Corpse Kuis continuously took shape.

Shen Fan stayed in Yandang City for a full three days.

And during these three days, the Western Liang Northern Barbarians' cavalry miraculously did not continue their charge.

Even the enemy forces that had attempted to flank them were encircled by reinforcements and Yannan City, then directly annihilated.

"This is…"

Just then, Shen Fan was suddenly astonished by the scene before him.

Looking closer, he saw faint, visible threads of Qi floating from the bodies of the refined Corpse Kuis.

Shen Fan was not unfamiliar with these threads.

When Old Duan was refined into a Corpse Kui, Shen Fan discovered these threads within Old Duan’s body after killing Bai Qianyu.

Shen Fan named this “Qi of Release,” and its source was the fulfillment of the deceased's last wishes.

These threads had no offensive power but could be used for Realm Breakthroughs.

Moreover, they were unfailingly effective.

"So many?"

Shen Fan watched the threads float up unconsciously.

And every single body had them.

Seeing this, Shen Fan immediately began collecting them.

Before long, threads of Qi of Release were collected by Shen Fan and then stored in his Dantian.

However, the Qi of Release collected from these Mortal bodies was much finer than what was collected from Old Duan previously.

This should be the difference between a common person and a cultivator, Shen Fan thought to himself.

Subsequently, Shen Fan used Old Duan’s Qi of Release as the main thread, then wove it into a rope.

With a total of over three thousand threads, the resulting Qi of Release rope surprisingly looked as thick as a finger.

"With this, there should be no more obstacles to Realm Breakthroughs!"

Shen Fan had not expected that his peculiar idea would lead to such a gain.

However, on second thought, these deceased warriors were originally residents of Yandang City.

To protect their homeland, they even picked up household farm tools as weapons to fight.

After death, it was Shen Fan who brought their bodies back to rest in their native soil.

Finally, Shen Fan had a sudden idea to let them fight for their homeland even after death.

Thus, these people naturally produced this Qi of Release within their bodies.

Feeling the Spiritual Qi within his body, Shen Fan felt that as long as his Spiritual Qi was sufficient, he could easily achieve a Breakthrough without the aid of any Medicinal Pills.

Looking at the time, Shen Fan stood up and then had people bury all the Corpse Kuis in the constructed tomb chambers.

Of course, before that, Shen Fan also used the Corpse Control method of the Nine Underworld Corpse Kui Sect to condense a Talisman.

He had specialized in studying at Seal Script Peak.

Drawing a Talisman used to control Corpse Kuis was simply effortless.

Looking at the Talisman carved from a Spirit Stone in his hand, Shen Fan prepared to give it to Yannan City.

A Talisman carved from a Spirit Stone could retain its Spiritual Qi for decades without dissipating.

Meanwhile, inside the City Lord’s Mansion, chaos had erupted.

Reinforcements for Yandang City had arrived, but they were the people of the Third Prince, who intended to seize the throne.

"Yannan City, your Northwest Zhentian Army has all fallen in battle. You no longer have the strength to defend the city. Immediately hand over Yandang City to me!"

A general under the Third Prince, General Lu Feng, shouted sternly.

General Lu Feng was the new Martial Arts Champion, well-versed in various military texts, and had reached the pinnacle of martial Dao, possessing personal strength no less than Yannan City’s. He was highly favored by the Third Prince.

The Third Prince had even married his princess to General Lu Feng to win him over.

"General Lu Feng, you have no practical combat experience and only know how to talk on paper. This is a battlefield, not a classroom!"

Yannan City stood firm against the pressure from the reinforcing general.

"I am the new Martial Arts Champion, with the same peak martial Dao strength as you. You say I only know how to talk on paper? If it weren't for my support, do you think you would still be standing here?"