CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 244: FINISH WORK AND GO HOME

At that moment, as Lu Zheng entered the hidden space within the mountain, he immediately noticed the corpse-controlling banner stuck in the altar.

It was too conspicuous, and its energy was connected to the 3,000 Iron Corpses, preventing Lu Zheng from taking the banner beyond three feet of the altar.

Therefore, the zombie was unperturbed, not even bothering to glance around as it attempted to activate the corpse-controlling banner.

However...

The Jade Seal was still quite powerful, as Lu Zheng seized the banner and decisively crossed into the modern world.

The banner was thus brought into his modern-day rental apartment, with the energy linking it to the 3,000 Iron Corpses severed instantly, transforming it into an ordinary banner.

Consequently, the zombie died...

...

For Daoist Mingzhang, Daoist Jiu Zhen, and their companions, aside from having a formidable opponent, this was merely an ordinary demon-suppression journey, with Daoist Mingzhang even gaining some iron corpses for labor.

But for Lu Zheng, acquiring nearly 300 strands of the Light of Fortune was an unparalleled reward, further validating a hypothesis.

For instance...

If in future magical combat someone were to use remote Dharma artifacts against him, he might just be able to claim them!

...

Exiting the mountain’s belly, Lu Zheng found the nine boys still unconscious.

Guangyue approached one of the boys, True Qi flowing into his body, and nodded, "Luckily, though his Primordial Qi was injured, they’re young, and with good care, they’ll recover."

"Let’s take them back to Pingtan County first," suggested Daoist Mingzhang.

Each person carried two children, and upon exiting the Secret Realm, they realized it was already dawn the next day.

The battle within the Secret Realm had lasted nearly a whole day and night.

Once they reached Pingtan County, they handed the children over to the County Government Office. Lu Zheng left a prescription behind, and they found a nearby eatery, ordered a vegetarian meal, and chatted while eating.

"I just checked; the True Spirit and Divine Soul of these iron corpses have long been wiped out, their Corpse Qi locked within by a Secret Technique, fully dependent on the corpse-controlling banner to command," said Daoist Mingzhang.

"This allows them to be preserved for extended periods; even after 600 years, they remain unspoiled. By my estimation, another 600 years is feasible.

Our White Cloud Temple doesn’t require so many Daoist soldiers, so we’ll leave these iron corpses here. Whether Fengyang Mountain or Rizhao Temple has a need, they can come here to retrieve them."

Daoist Jiu Zhen and Guangyue both nodded in agreement.

Seeing Lu Zheng’s curiosity, Daoist Mingzhang provided a brief explanation to him.

Within the Daoist Sect, there is a branch known as the Corpse-Driving Sect. Their work isn’t about praying for blessings or avoiding disasters, nor about rituals and ceremonies, but about guiding souls to rest and sending corpses away.

The spells of this sect are designed to counteract various ghost corpses, including methods to disperse the True Spirit of ghost corpses and techniques to refine Daoist soldiers from them. Naturally, the more profound techniques are secret transmissions, but in daily interactions, various Daoist sects have acquired some common refining techniques.

White Cloud Temple and Fengyang Mountain both possess such techniques.

The Buddhist Sect similarly has comparable spells.

"The Secret Techniques of the Corpse-Driving Sect can even make refined ghost corpses resemble real humans without diminishing their power. However, we typically only refine a corpse puppet for labor, to guard the home and transport items. While termed Daoist soldiers, they’re essentially servants, absorbing Yin Qi at night and helping during the day. This grade of iron corpse can serve well for ten years."

Lu Zheng nodded, maintaining a serious demeanor, inwardly noting how sinister it all sounded!

...

After breakfast, apart from Guangyue staying at Jiming Temple, the rest of the group departed together.

Daoist Mingzhang herded ten iron corpses, crossing mountains and forests back to White Cloud Temple, while Daoist Jiu Zhen needed to return to Tonglin County to fetch his apprentice.

As for Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia, they naturally headed home together.

"Lu Xiaoyou, I see that although you’re an Outer Disciple of White Cloud Temple, your studies are quite diverse," Daoist Jiu Zhen remarked with surprise.

In the recent battle with the zombie, Lu Zheng had not only employed various spells from the "Cloud Walking Technique" but also used Martial Dao, a flying sword, and Earth Travel Technique, and none of them were weak.

This surprised Daoist Jiu Zhen greatly, as Lu Zheng was so young yet mastered so many Cultivation Techniques.

"I used to be so poor that whenever I encountered a Technique, I wanted to learn it. Fortunately, my comprehension is decent, so I could learn each one, though I’m not proficient in any, which makes me a laughingstock to you, senior," Lu Zheng replied modestly.

Daoist Jiu Zhen blinked, naturally believing Lu Zheng’s story; after all, there was no other explanation, right?

"You’re already doing quite well,"

Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded, and although Daoist Mingzhang had likely mentioned this before, out of concern for the younger generation, he still advised, "Your Martial Dao and flying sword, while not as potent as True Qi cultivation, are stronger than most. However, as you advance, be sure to prioritize, so as not to compromise your foundational cultivation."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, senior!" Lu Zheng replied with a courteous bow, not arguing further.

Of course, Daoist Mingzhang had previously advised Lu Zheng similarly, though seeing Lu Zheng dual-cultivate Martial Dao and flying sword, and surpassing Yuan Jing in True Qi, he no longer mentioned it.

Oh, and he mentioned something about heading back to the annual Dharma Assembly at White Cloud Temple next spring in Jizhou to be entered into the main Daoist registry.

Yan Hongxia pursed her lips; she’d heard numerous tales of Lu Zheng from Liu Qingyan and knew he was merely humoring Daoist Jiu Zhen.

However... what’s it to her... better to think about what delicious treats she could take away tomorrow...

Sigh! She had thought they could stay another five or six days in Tonglin County, never expecting they’d eliminate that zombie the very next day.

However, Yan Hongxia felt some lingering fear. Had they encountered this zombie on their return from Taohua Village to Tonglin County, they might have been in grave danger.

.....

With nothing more to say, the three swiftly returned to Tonglin County. Daoist Jiu Zhen had initially worried about Liu Ning being alone, only to find him brought next door by Liu Qingyan, chicken leg in one hand, drumstick in the other, eating delightfully.

Daoist Jiu Zhen, "..."

"Master!"

Upon seeing Daoist Jiu Zhen arrive, Liu Ning put down his chicken leg and drumstick, hopping off his chair and running towards Daoist Jiu Zhen.

Stopping abruptly, he bowed, "Master!"

Daoist Jiu Zhen nodded in satisfaction and then addressed the Liu Family, "My apprentice is naughty, I hope he hasn’t troubled you."

"Not at all!" Elder Liu and his wife hurriedly waved their hands.

Liu Qingyan stepped forward, taking out a brocade handkerchief to gently clean Liu Ning’s hands before greeting Daoist Jiu Zhen.

"Qingyan, we’ve returned, you wouldn’t believe how formidable that zombie was. Even with Daoist Mingzhang and Daoist Jiu Zhen intervening, we battled for an entire day and night to finally wear it down!" Yan Hongxia exclaimed, pulling Liu Qingyan close.

"Really!" Liu Qingyan couldn’t help but glance at Lu Zheng, only to see Lu Zheng raise his right hand and gently flip it down.

"Chffff—"

This smile was as if a hundred flowers bloomed, washing away the fatigue from everyone present.