Uncle Nine: Scattering beans to create soldiers? I'm using plants and trees to create soldiers.

Lin Xuan stared intently, and a semi-transparent text panel appeared in his field of vision.

【Huaguang Emperor Mask】

Grade: White

[Description: This Huaguang Emperor mask, carved from peach wood, has absorbed a trace of his aura through years of incense offerings. Displaying it can deter evil spirits, and wearing it can help exorcise evil by harnessing his power.]

[Entry: Exorcising Evil Spirits, Manifesting Divine Light]

……

Looking at the information on the panel in front of him, Lin Xuan's heart stirred!

This Huaguang Emperor mask, why does it look a bit like a deity mask?

To put it bluntly, they all use specific vessels to impersonate gods, thereby leveraging power that does not belong to them!

However, the mask in the hands of the opera troupe only gained a slight power by chance through the troupe's years of offerings of incense.

What if I were to do it myself?

The mask can be refined into a true protective artifact, with intricate Daoist patterns engraved on it, a spirit-gathering array added, and then nourished day and night with the profound scriptures and Dharma intent within the body!

When the masks are made, they can be kept for ourselves, distributed to Qiusheng and Wencai for self-defense, or even put directly on the faces of the bean soldiers and grass horses!

Especially the straw dolls I've been hoarding!

Once the scarecrow has a powerful body, and is equipped with a mask containing divine power, its combat strength will definitely increase exponentially!

As for the base material for making the mask, ordinary century-old peach wood can certainly be used, but wouldn't it be even more domineering if it were replaced with the Xuanwu Xuanjia Vine's molted Xuanwu Heavy Turtle Armor?!

Unfortunately, I am currently lacking a truly systematic method of weapon crafting!

In Lin Xuan's mind, what he valued most were the special refining inscriptions attached to the magic weapons of the Yuan Dun Sect!

However, since leaving the mortuary three days ago, the master and apprentice have been searching northwards, and along the way they have also helped to deliver seven or eight ignorant and wandering ghosts, as well as eliminate several of the Li family's outer strongholds.

As for the remnants of the Yuan Dun sect, not even a trace has been found to this day!

I wonder if I'll run into those guys on this trip. If I do, that would be perfect!

After all, the growth rate of the pure yang peach tree in the backyard had long been capped!

As long as you can get your hands on a magic weapon from the Yuan Dun Sect, take it back and use scriptures to cleanse it of its evil energy, you can immediately use it to enlighten a pure yang peach tree, harvest a top-notch weapon-refining Dao Fruit, and forge a handy natal magic weapon!

Thinking of this, Lin Xuan slowly gathered his thoughts.

At this moment, Uncle Sheng, along with Abiao and the bruised and battered Agui, quickly ran down from the stage and surrounded Lin Xuan with gratitude on their faces.

Uncle Sheng clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Lin Xuan.

"Thank you so much, young Taoist priest, for saving us! Otherwise, our entire opera troupe would have been in deep trouble tonight!"

"Yes, Daoist Master, you are truly a living deity descended to earth!"

Ah Gui covered his sunken nose and thanked him in a muffled voice.

Lin Xuan waved his hand, his expression indifferent, "You're too kind, everyone. It's our duty as Taoist priests to eliminate evil in this world."

Hearing this, Uncle Sheng and the others felt even greater respect for Lin Xuan.

While everyone was exchanging pleasantries, the Chaozhou ghost, who was huddled in the corner of the stage, was so frightened by the sight of the fierce white-clothed evil ghost being blasted into ashes with a single punch that he was trembling all over!

While Lin Xuan was talking to the opera troupe, Chaozhou Ghost's eyes darted around, and he crouched down, trying to slip away into the nearby dark woods.

"stop!"

Lin Xuan didn't even turn his head; his cold voice instantly froze Chaozhou Ghost in place.

The Chaozhou ghost turned around with a mournful face, then knelt on the ground with a thud. "Taoist priest, spare my life! I really didn't mean to run away!"

Lin Xuan turned his head and looked down at him. "Tell me, where are your remains and the remains of that white-clad ghost buried?"

"In reply to the Taoist priest, the bones of me and that bully are all buried under the weeds in the southeast corner of the stage!" the Chaozhou ghost replied repeatedly.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan nodded slightly and glanced at him.

"I don't see that you have a deep-seated resentment about you, and you probably haven't done many evil deeds that have harmed people."

"After your remains are unearthed, do you want me to chant sutras to help you pass on to the next life and enter the cycle of reincarnation, or would you be willing to become a servant of mine?"

Upon hearing this, the Chaozhou ghost paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked up. "Rampaging soldiers under the altar?"

But when his gaze met Lin Xuan's deep eyes, and he recalled the azure lightning from just now, Chaozhou Ghost trembled all over and respectfully kowtowed to the ground!

"Master, your magical powers are boundless! I am willing to serve you as my loyal servant, following you faithfully for eternity!"

Lin Xuan nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, get up and lead the way."

"Master, if you need to dig for bones, our troupe has shovels and hoes ready. Let a few of us help you dig!" Uncle Sheng quickly stepped forward and volunteered.

"Then thank you very much, Master." Lin Xuan did not refuse.

Soon, Uncle Sheng called on Abiao and several brave young martial arts actors, who, carrying shovels, followed the Chaozhou ghost to the wasteland in the southeast corner of the stage.

Several men wielded shovels and busied themselves with the work. Amidst the flying dirt, in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, they unearthed two sets of skeletons buried underground.

Lin Xuan stepped forward and looked down to examine him.

The corpse of the Chaozhou ghost was dusty and of very low quality, only of ordinary white grade.

Bones of this caliber, once taken back and purified with scriptures, can be crushed and scattered into the spiritual field as fertilizer!

But when Lin Xuan's gaze shifted to the skeleton of the white-robed evil spirit beside him, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes!

The skeleton was a dark bluish-black color, with fine, interwoven lightning patterns on the surface of the bones, clearly reaching the quality of a genuine green material!

With a slight thought, Lin Xuan opened the system panel.

【Earthly Fiend Thunder Bone】

Grade: Green

[Description: The remains of an evil person, long buried in a feng shui formation of Yin Thunder and Earthly Fiends, have been transformed by the Yin Thunder and Earthly Fiends, and contain violent Yin Thunder and Earthly Fiend energy.]

[Entries: Yin Thunder Earthly Fiend, Thunder Fiend Bone Forging, Gathering Qi to Attract Thunder]

……

Looking at the descriptions on the panel, Lin Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

The lightning attribute essence contained in this set of Earthly Fiend Thunder Bone is practically tailor-made to enlighten the lightning-struck jujube wood in my home!

However, after carefully sensing the energy fluctuations within his bones, Lin Xuan frowned slightly again.

The energy of this green lightning bone alone seems insufficient to support the lightning-struck jujube wood in completing its cross-level initiation!

It seems I'll need to find another lightning-struck wooden artifact as a supplementary material. Only with both materials combined will the energy required for the initiation be truly complete!

Suppressing his thoughts, Lin Xuan flipped his wrist and put away the two skeletons in front of everyone, then took out a blank soul-collecting talisman.

With a flick of his fingertips, the Chaozhou ghost transformed into a wisp of green smoke and entered the talisman.

After putting away the talisman, Lin Xuan turned to Zhang Yan, who seemed hesitant to speak, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Senior Brother Zhang Yan, now that this matter is settled, my master is still waiting ahead, so I'll take my leave."

"Ah? Leaving so soon?" Zhang Yan snapped out of his daze and quickly returned the greeting with clasped hands. "Then I won't keep Fellow Daoist Lin from carrying out his business any longer. Farewell!"

Just as Lin Xuan turned to leave, Uncle Sheng hurriedly pulled out a bulging money bag from his pocket and quickly caught up with him.

"Young Taoist priest, please wait! This small amount of money is a token of our troupe's appreciation; you absolutely must accept it!"

"Master, there's no need for that." Lin Xuan pushed the money bag back. "It's not easy for you to make a living by performing on stage. Keep this money for Brother A-Gui to get medicine and treat his injuries."

After saying that, Lin Xuan didn't linger. He turned around and strode away, disappearing into the darkness at the end of the mountain path in a few flashes.

Beside the stage, Zhang Yan stared blankly at Lin Xuan's departing figure, his eyes filled with deep envy!

Several times just now, he almost couldn't help but want to ask Lin Xuan how he cultivated!

We are all disciples of the orthodox Xuanmen sect, so how come some people can leap several realms in just over a month like they are on a rocket, and can kill a late-stage mage ghost with a single punch?

But Zhang Yan couldn't bring himself to ask the question.

On the other side, Lin Xuan traveled quickly along the mountain path for several miles and soon met up with Uncle Jiu, who was waiting at the crossroads.

Without delay, the master and apprentice continued their search northward under the cover of night.

However, even as dawn broke, they still found no trace of the Li family's remnants along the way.

Seeing that Lin Xuan was tired from traveling for several days, Uncle Jiu took him to an inn in a roadside town and they had a good night's sleep.

After resting for a whole morning, until their energy and spirits were fully restored, the master and apprentice checked out of the room, had lunch, and continued their journey north.

That very evening, as the two ventured deep into a mountainous region, the yellow jade gourd at Lin Xuan's waist suddenly began to tremble slightly!

The long-sought-after trail of the Li family has finally appeared!