Infinite Professions

Half a month later, Jinyang Prefecture, Northern Pass of Jinyang.

North of Jinyang lies Jinling, and between the two prefectures, there is a county called Guobei. Originally a peaceful land, but it is unknown in which year or month, a Ghost King descended upon the world, slaughtered a Buddhist temple within the county and took over its grounds, transforming this place into the Senluo Ghost Realm.

The Ghostly Realm, centered on the Lanruo Ancient Temple, covers Guobei and the surrounding thousands of miles of territory. Inside, not only do ghosts wander, but there are also many monsters, evil cultivators, and some bandits coerced by ghosts occupying the area, building fortresses and camps, gathering in the mountains and forests, occasionally riding out to raid the surrounding areas.

Several decades ago, a battle in Jinyang took place. Xiao Ye’s troops split into two paths, three thousand Flying Tiger Guard sneaked into Guobei with the assistance of the Jinling Prefect, launching a surprise attack on Jinyang. Although it didn’t succeed in the end, it pointed out the hidden dangers of this place.

To ensure the safety of Jinyang and suppress Lanruo Ghost Realm, Li Mubai brought in a large number of artisans, spending years constructing a formidable pass and stationed heavy troops there—this is the Northern Gate of Jinyang.

The pass is built along the mountains, extremely perilous and majestic. Though called a pass, it is actually a city, containing tens of thousands of sharp troops who train daily, ready for battle at all times.

Now, the majestic pass stands tall, like a tiger crouching and a dragon coiling.

It is the sign of impending battle.

At this moment, outside the pass, a sudden eerie wind arises.

"Whoo!!!"

The eerie wind howls, dark mist surges, outside the Northern Gate, on the long-abandoned official road, shadows suddenly appear, dressed in red, carrying a bridal sedan, resembling a wedding procession, but mixed with many wearing mourning clothes. The red and white, joy and mourning, mixed and chaotic, extraordinarily strange.

The procession advances, arriving before the pass, from the sedan emerges a hand with bright red fingernails and deathly pale skin, lifting the sedan curtain, looking forward. They see dazzling golden light, like a great sun, covering the mighty Northern Gate, making ghosts like her feel like dissolving just by looking at it.

"Boom!!!"

Perhaps feeling her gaze, an instant divine light emerges from within the pass, transforming into a mighty Divine General clad in golden armor and red robes, holding a golden whip, standing on wind and fire: "What fiend dares to trespass my Northern Gate?"

In the midst of words, ready to act, to slay the ghosts.

"General, please wait!"

The visitor hastily calls out: "I come on behalf of my king for sincere request to meet the Jinyang Prefect!"

"Hmm!?"

The gatekeeper Divine General’s eyes cold: "You demonish ghosts, why seek the Prefect?"

"I come for matters regarding Jinling."

From the sedan, voice speaks eerily, with a gust of eerie wind lifting the sedan curtain, from which an item flies out, landing before the Divine General.

"Hmm!?"

The Divine General’s cold eyes glance, seeing a wooden box, contents unknown within.

The person in the sedan speaks timely: "This is a gift from my king to the Prefect, inside are the Seven Volumes of the Three Caves True Scripture, along with the Daoist Scripture Collection, twelve miscellaneous scriptures from various departments. Please pass them to the Prefect, showing our sincerity."

Yet the Divine General’s cold eyes remain unmoved: "What plots do you have, daring to flaunt tricks here?"

The person in the sedan sees this, helpless, can only reveal their purpose.

"The Prefect, trapped by the Jinling and Weishui Gods, cannot leave Jinyang Land, thus is forced to aim military power towards Lanruo Temple, unaware it’s the scheme of the Jinling and Weishui Gods, letting us two tigers fight, for them to reap benefits."

"Therefore, my king sent me to agree with the Prefect to turn swords into satin, to unite forces against Jinling and break this impasse together."

"This is our intent, please relay it to the general..."

"Presumptuous!"

Words cut off abruptly by the Divine General’s angry shout: "My lord is a True God, how can he collude with ghosts like you, death shall be upon you!"

Speaking, he raised the golden whip, striking angrily at the ghost procession.

"Alas..."

The opposing side sees this, also helpless, only sighs deeply, as the phantasms dissipate instantly.

The eerie wind disperses, shadows vanish, leaving only a box on the ground.

The Divine General sees this, does not chase, only calls upon two Yellow Turban Warriors to carry the wooden box into the city gate.

Thus, three days later.

"Boom boom boom!"

At dawn, the Northern Gate opens majestically.

A military force marches out, led by the Jinyang Prefect.

Li Mubai, mounted ahead, clad in Bright Armor, despite no longer bearing his youthful vigor, exudes greater authority and steadiness, as the head of a prefecture and a Veteran General, with a star above his head radiating brilliant light, wielding a Heaven-Swaying Halberd, shaking the four corners.

Behind him, three thousand elite cavalry follow, each man and horse armored, like forged from steel, accompanied by thirty thousand infantry, similarly armored, with spears and shields dense and stout, march with earth-shaking clamor, displaying the grandeur of military power.

Generally speaking, an army on the move wouldn’t march armored, as it exhausts too much energy, unsuitable for long distances. The proper approach is to travel lightly, armor carried by steed and carriage, put on when facing battle.

This is why, in history, many legendary surprise battles achieved victory with thousands or even hundreds of elites against tens of thousands of hosts.

The aim is the element of surprise, striking fiercely clad cavalry against camping, unarmored enemies, to achieve a hundredfold advantage, gaining magnificent victory.

But now, this Jinyang Prefecture Army, marches armored, surpassing mortal limits in manpower and horsepower.

Now the military display, glorious in the Mortal World.

But look to the Underworld...

"Boom boom boom!"

Drums of war beat, thunderous explosions, in the Underworld, also marches a great army.

The front army composed of Six Departments scout horses, led by Night and Day Traveling God, with Black and White Impermanence, Ox Head and Horse Face, and Shackled General closely following behind.

The central army consists of Four Daoist Divine Soldiers, Dou Division and Thunder Division, commanding wind and thunder, hovering above; Water Division and Fire Division, controlling water and fire, guarding the flanks.