Far Northern Land, Bitter Cold City:
Ying Jiaren sat upright on her Cloud of Auspiciousness, overlooking all of Bitter Cold City.
Her Cloud of Auspiciousness was formed from gathered incense offerings. Sitting within it, she received their blessing, which could ward off evil, repel malice, repel water, and more.
At that moment, she cast spells atop the cloud of incense smoke:
"Ee-ee, ya-ya!"
"Mm-mm, ji-ji!"
When her spellcasting ended, flames soared from the city's ten Fire Mulberry Trees. Like great dragons, they spiraled upward and plunged into the incense cloud beneath Ying Jiaren.
The incense cloud turned red, and countless flames became tiny figures fighting within it.
Some flames became banners, others horns, cowhide drums, golden bells, and all manner of other things.
The many tiny flame figures waved banners and shouted, forming ten armies that fought one another.
The casualties gathered at the highest point within the incense cloud.
Crow Spirit Monsters were sealed there.
After the corpses of the tiny flame figures burrowed into the crow Spirit Monsters, the crows' feathers turned crimson. They then spread their wings, emerged from the incense cloud, and followed the great flame dragons down to the Fire Mulberry Trees.
These crow Spirit Monsters breathed flames in and out, until flames rose from their bodies as well.
They flew among the Fire Mulberry Trees, shining in concert with the many flames. Even as they complemented one another, they also fought one another.
The many crow spirits fought for the highest points of the Fire Mulberry Trees, for the flames born there were the strongest and purest.
Breathing those flames in and out brought the fastest improvement.
At the same time:
Dao Soldier methods circulated within their bodies.
Under the influence of the Dao Soldier methods, they sometimes fought one another and sometimes unconsciously