Gaoling, Borrowing the Road of Yin Soldiers

"Dad, I've told you so many times, call me by my title when I'm working."

Anyone else would have been trembling or at least extremely anxious if spoken to like that by the Grand Commander of the Forbidden Army.

But the girl didn't care at all.

She walked forward with a frown, picked up the ashtray on the desk, and asked, "You've been smoking again?"

Jiang Chong flinched instinctively. "Just one… Hey, hey, hey, kid, don't take them all away… Just one, leave me one!"

"What kid, I've told you so many times, call me by my title when I'm working!"

Jiang Chong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He, the Grand Commander of the Forbidden Army, was no less prominent than the head of state of a nation, yet he was completely helpless against his youngest daughter.

"Alright, alright, Dad was wrong, Dad shouldn't have said that just now." Jiang Chong smiled. "Seeing you so happy, do you have some good news?"

"It's about my brother!"

Jiang Shaoxu said excitedly, "I just received news that someone saw my brother at the ancient ruins of Jiayuguan. Dad, give me another team, and I'll definitely be able to find him!"

Jiang Chong looked at his happy daughter, opened his mouth, and hesitated. "Kid… Dad can't give you people this time."

Jiang Shaoxu's smile froze.

"Why?"

Jiang Chong steeled himself. "Ah Jun… he's been missing for two years. We've sent countless search teams, but they all came back with nothing… You need to accept reality."

Jiang Shaojun was Jiang Shaoxu's older brother and Jiang Chong's son.

He had dispatched elite troops from the Forbidden Army despite public opinion and criticism. He had even asked Old Man Hua and Old Man Ai to search every inch of land outside the demon-restricted areas.

Yet, while they found many traces, the person seemed to have vanished into thin air.

He knew very well that his pride and joy of a son was likely already in grave danger.

But Jiang Shaoxu absolutely refused to accept this reality. She took two steps back. "I don't accept it! If you don't give me people, I'll go by myself!"

"Jiang Shaoxu!"

Jiang Chong's low shout made Jiang Shaoxu freeze. Tears welled up in her big eyes.

Seeing his daughter like this, Jiang Chong's heart softened. Even if he wanted to say something harsh, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Suddenly, he had an idea.

"Dad isn't saying you can't look for him. Dad means that your current strength isn't enough, and going alone is too dangerous. You also don't have teammates to watch your back.

How about this: once you find teammates you can trust, train well with them, and reach the Intermediate level, I promise I won't stop you. I'll give you whatever you want!"

Jiang Shaoxu fell silent. She wasn't stupid; of course, she could tell that Jiang Chong was just looking for an excuse to keep her here.

But she was determined not to let that happen!

"Is it a deal? You won't go back on your word?"

Jiang Chong quickly said, "I won't go back on my word!"

"Good." Jiang Shaoxu turned and left. She was going to train hard and use her solid strength to leave her father speechless!

Night fell.

Lintong Military Region, Third Company Barracks.

"Quick, quick, quick, assemble!"

"Stop sleeping, this is the battlefield, we're going to fight the Terracotta Army!"

"Are we getting any bombs today?"

Following the urgent whistle, the Military Mages assembled and climbed onto the city wall.

Xu Fang stood among the crowd, fully prepared for the day. His military uniform was crisp, and his Star Seed was hidden in his sleeve.

In his Spiritual World, the Star Seeds shone with golden light.

"I've already strengthened six Star Seeds."

Xu Fang stared at one Star Seed that was clearly dimmer than the others, intending to resolve this matter today.

Mo Fan's little mudfish could synthesize a Spirit Essence from seven Remnant Souls to strengthen a Star Seed.

But he didn't have such a divine artifact and could only absorb complete Spirit Essences.

During the day, Fei Jiao had called to personally inform Xu Fang of his reward decision, including the freedom to choose when to go to the Wild Goose Pagoda.

Xu Fang planned to strengthen all his Star Seeds before heading there, aiming to break through to the Intermediate level in one go.

But plans never kept up with changes.

When he stood on the city wall, looking down from a height, the scene before him completely stunned him.

The Terracotta Army was gone.

Only a few stragglers were slowly approaching, and before he could even make a move, they were shattered by others' magic.

"Without the Centurions and Captains, the army in this pit can't form a significant force for now."

Qi Lao San stood beside Xu Fang, a wide smile on his face.

The combat power of the Terracotta Army far surpassed that of ordinary undead, but they also had a fatal flaw: they were extremely reliant on the commands of higher-ranking individuals of their own kind.

Just like today, without high-ranking Terracotta Army figures and the charging horns, most of the Terracotta Army remained hidden underground.

This situation would last for at least half a month, and they would only make a comeback once new General Figurines were born.

The students of Gudu Second Middle School were overjoyed. The brutal battle yesterday had left them trembling with fear. They had braced themselves to climb the city walls today, only to find so few enemies.

"Why be polite, then? Brothers, let's go shoulder to shoulder!"

Throughout the entire night, Xu Fang had only obtained two Remnant Souls. Compared to his depleted Demonic Energy, it was a huge loss!

The next day.

"You're saying you want to leave?" Li Yi looked at the young man before him, unable to believe his ears. "Just because there are too few Terracotta Army?"

"Yes, I hope you, the instructor, can understand," Xu Fang said.

Understand? Understand my ass!

I've led so many student soldiers, and someone as eccentric as you only appears once every few years!

Li Yi really wanted to point to the door and tell Xu Fang to go wherever it's cool and stay there, to stop being a show-off in front of him. But then he remembered the earnest instructions of the chief instructor, Fei Jiao...

"The company commander is absent..." Li Yi tried to stall.

"The company commander is absent, but you, the instructor, are in charge."

"...You still need time to report, right?"

"Take your time." Xu Fang left the office. Li Yi sighed heavily and picked up the phone on his desk, feeling that in front of a genius like this, he, the instructor, was too insignificant.

That noon, just as Xu Fang woke up from his nap, he received a notification to report to Gaoling Military Region, west of Lintong Military Region.

On the way, Xu Fang flipped through the strategy guide previously written by [A Pot of Old Wine], which mentioned Gaoling Military Region.

The undead in this area were mainly "Yin Soldiers." Unlike the Terracotta Army that could corrode city walls, Yin Soldiers existed as ghosts and were immune to physical attacks caused by elements like Wind and Water.

When gathered in groups, they could also inflict damage on opponents through psychic intimidation and illusions.

Often, after a battle, a Mage who was hit wouldn't die but would become an imbecile, drooling and giggling foolishly.

Therefore, the most popular types of Mages in Gaoling Military Region were three: Light Element Mages who specialized in countering the undead, Lightning Element Mages who cleansed evil spirits, and Mind Element Mages who could be used as medical personnel.

[According to historical records, the use of Yin Soldiers originated in the late Tang Dynasty, when the land was engulfed in war and most homes were deserted.

Gaoling once experienced a great battle that lasted for three days and three nights. Huang Chao, a Curse Element Mage, used the Forbidden Curse "Asura Purgatory" over half a month.

The cursed army, even in death, their souls could not find release and were eternally imprisoned here.

It was the Song and Yuan dynasties again when riots broke out in Gudu, and the Afang Magic Palace went out of control. The Yin Soldiers collectively advanced under the illumination of the Netherlight.]

After advancing, they transformed from beings that only scared children on rainy days into the terrifying appearance they had today.

Xu Fang read through the familiar yet unfamiliar history. Each section led to an unexpected place, yet it all felt so logical...

Lintong and Gaoling were not far apart. While he was looking at the information, Xu Fang had already arrived at his destination.