The abandoned cannon fodder girl's path to immortality

Chapter 292 Ancient Battlefield

"call out!"

Under Chen Jinshu's control, the Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle transformed into a streak of emerald light, tearing through the perpetual dark green poisonous miasma above the Blackwater Marsh, and sped westward.

"Master, the blood rainbow is getting closer and closer, three hundred miles behind us!" Qingheng transformed into a jade hairpin and stuck it in Chen Jinshu's hair, her voice urgent.

"His aura... is at least at the early Nascent Soul stage!"

Chen Jinshu pursed her lips, offering no response. How could she not know? The oppressive force contained within that crimson light, even from such a distance, felt like a thorn in her back, causing the circulation of spiritual energy within her golden core to become somewhat sluggish.

Jiang Yi huddled in the corner of the shuttle, his hands tightly gripping the Xuan Turtle Shell Talisman that had developed fine cracks.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just lowered his head even further, his eyes filled with self-blame and fear.

If it weren't for my own actions, my predecessors might have already fled far away.

"The Nascent Soul of the Blood Fiend Sect..." Chen Jinshu's mind raced.

"Is it because of the Poisonous Miasma Pearl, or because of what happened with those disciples earlier? Or perhaps both?"

"Now is not the time to delve into this." She composed herself and focused all her energy on activating the shuttle.

The Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle is a fourth-tier magic weapon, and its speed when fully unleashed is comparable to the escape light of an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, Chen Jinshu was only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, and maintaining the maximum speed for a long time consumed a great deal of spiritual energy.

Within half a day, fine beads of sweat had appeared on her forehead, and the spiritual energy in her dantian had visibly decreased.

"Master, the terrain ahead looks strange!" Qingheng suddenly warned.

Chen Jinshu stared intently. He saw that the originally rolling hills suddenly stopped, and the earth in front of him seemed to have been cleaved open by a giant axe, revealing a huge, bottomless rift valley.

The rock walls on both sides of the rift are dark red, like dried blood scabs. The valley is filled with grayish-white mist. Even if one were to probe with a Golden Core spiritual sense, one could only go a hundred feet before being bounced back by an invisible force.

Moreover, there was not a trace of poisonous miasma above the rift valley, but rather a heavy, oppressive aura.

"This place is filled with a chilling aura and the smell of death; it seems to be the ruins of an ancient battlefield."

She quickly recalled the records in "Tales of the Southern Frontier".

The Southern Frontier has been a battleground since ancient times, with countless battlefield relics left behind by the conflicts between humans and demons, the demonic path and the righteous path, and even ancient sects.

Some of these ancient battlefields, steeped in history and heavy with bloodshed, have become natural forbidden zones due to lingering resentment and condensed malevolent energy, making them unapproachable for living beings.

Behind him, the crimson light had closed to within a hundred miles, and a cold snort filled with anger could be faintly heard piercing through the clouds: "Junior, leave behind the Poisonous Miasma Pearl, and I may spare your whole corpse!"

Chen Jinshu, with his powerful spiritual sense, was unharmed. However, Jiang Yi let out a muffled groan upon hearing this, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his internal organs directly injured by the pressure of the Nascent Soul.

Chen Jinshu's eyes sharpened, and he no longer hesitated.

"Enter the Rift Valley!"

The Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle suddenly changed direction, transforming into a streak of emerald meteor as it plunged headlong into the abyss shrouded in gray-white mist!

"You're courting death!" came an angry shout from the blood rainbow behind, but the speed noticeably slowed down, as if the person was quite wary of the rift valley.

Upon entering the rift valley, Chen Jinshu felt a sudden heaviness around him.

The grayish-white mist was not ordinary water vapor, but a dense, almost impenetrable aura of death and malevolence.

The divine sense was greatly suppressed here, and could only extend to a radius of ten feet around the body.

When the protective aura outside the shuttle came into contact with the death energy, it emitted a "sizzling" corrosive sound, and the consumption of spiritual power suddenly accelerated.

She had to descend and fly close to the rugged ground at the bottom of the rift valley.

Everywhere you look, there are broken armor and decaying bones.

There were human skeletons, as well as the skeletons of enormous demonic beasts; some bones even gleamed with a metallic sheen, clearly belonging to some ancient, exotic species.

The rock face is covered with marks from chiseling, cleaving, and magical attacks; though weathered by time, it remains sharp and menacing.

"How many people died here back then?" Jiang Yi's face was pale and his voice trembled.

Although he was a cultivator, he had never seen such a devastating battlefield. The pervasive aura of death almost made it hard for him to breathe.

Chen Jinshu did not answer. At this moment, all her attention was focused on controlling the shuttle to avoid the huge pile of bones that suddenly appeared on the ground, the broken weapon peaks, and the gray shadows formed by death energy that occasionally rushed out of the mist.

Those gray shadows had no fixed shape; sometimes they resembled soldiers wielding spears, and sometimes they were like roaring monsters, howling as they pounced on the flying shuttle.

Although the protective aura was shattered, each impact caused the shuttle to shake violently, and the aura dimmed slightly.

"Master, this can't go on!" Qingheng said anxiously.

"The deathly aura is too dense; the shuttle won't last long! And I sense... something even more terrifying is awakening down below!"

The next instant, a deep and long horn sound suddenly came from the depths of the rift valley.

"Whoosh—Buzz—"

The mournful and tragic sound of the horn pierced through the mist and echoed throughout the entire rift valley.

As the horn sounded, the white bones on the ground began to tremble slightly, and the death energy between the rock walls gathered wildly, transforming into solid, gray-black figures.

These figures were much clearer than the previous gray shadows; they were all humanoid, clad in tattered armor, wielding rusted weapons, and with eerie green soul fire flickering in their eye sockets.

They silently arrayed themselves, their steps perfectly synchronized as they surrounded the flying shuttle, their numbers stretching as far as the eye could see!

"The spirit of the border guards!" Chen Jinshu gasped.

The "Tales of the Southern Frontier" briefly mentions that in ancient times, the human dynasty established the "Demon Suppression Border Army" in the southern frontier to resist the invasion of the demon race.

The border soldiers fought demons year after year, and their lingering attachments after death combined with the evil energy of the battlefield to become military spirits, wandering the old lands and fighting for eternity.

These individual military spirits may not be strong, but when they form a battle formation, their baleful aura is linked together, and their power is multiplied. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to escape if he were caught in it!

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Jiang Yi exclaimed in alarm.

Upon seeing this, Chen Jinshu narrowed his eyes and then controlled the Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle to not only not retreat, but instead rush towards the densest part of the military soul formation.

"Senior!!!" Jiang Yi was horrified, his face turning deathly pale.

“The Nascent Soul cultivators of the Blood Fiend Sect are already at the edge of the rift. If we retreat now, we will surely die!” Chen Jinshu’s voice was frighteningly calm.

"Only by going deeper might there be a glimmer of hope!"

Like an arrow released from a bow, the shuttle hurtled into the ranks of the military spirit!

"kill--!"

Countless military spirits roared in unison, their murderous aura surging forth like a tidal wave.

The protective aura of the flying shuttle flickered violently, emitting a "crackling" sound as it struggled to bear the strain.

Chen Jinshu's hands moved with lightning speed, constantly channeling spiritual energy to keep the shuttle's light burning.

"The spirit of a soldier is formed from obsession and malevolent energy, and ordinary spells cannot harm it. It requires the power of extreme yang and strength, or a magical artifact specifically designed to subdue yin spirits..."

Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she probed the space of the Mysterious Female Treasure Furnace with her divine sense.

"The Gap!"

Inside the spirit plant space, the ghost child Youxi, who was squatting beside the Bone-Corroding Orchid and carefully combing through the Yin energy, trembled and raised his head, his ghostly green flames flickering:

"Master?"

"A large number of military forces are surrounding us from the outside. Can you handle it?"

Youxi blinked its empty eye sockets, looking somewhat lost.

"Military spirit? Is it... is it the ghosts of those soldiers who died in battle?"

"Exactly."

Youxi tilted her head, seemingly trying to recall: "I...I seem to have eaten a few wandering souls, who were border soldiers in their past lives. In their memories...they were terrified of a certain sound, like...war drums? Or bugles? I can't remember..."

"That's right! What they fear most is 'soul scattering,' which is a spell specifically designed to disperse the soul! And... there's also extremely pure yin energy that can temporarily calm them down!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jinshu's eyes flickered slightly. She did possess spells that were extremely yang and powerful, but they consumed too much energy and might not be able to instantly clear out such a large number of military souls.

She looked at the crevice: "You are a Xuan Yin Ghost Body, with pure primordial ghost energy. Could you use your Yin energy to soothe the souls of the soldiers?"

Youxi shrank back and whispered, "I... I'll try... but Master, my ghost body hasn't fully recovered yet, so... I might not be able to hold on for long."

"It's alright, just do your best." With a thought, Chen Jinshu summoned the Nether Rift from the treasure furnace space.

A small figure appeared on the shuttle through the gap, immediately attracting Jiang Yi's attention.

Although he knew that Chen Jinshu had subdued a ghost child, seeing the pale-faced, ghostly-green creature with ghostly green flames still sent chills down his spine.

The Ghostly Rift paid no heed to Jiang Yi. It perched on the shuttle's porthole, gazing at the dense array of military spirits outside. Its ghostly flames flickered violently, a mixture of fear and a hint of…desire?

"So much 'food'..."

It muttered to itself and licked lips that weren't actually there.

Chen Jinshu coughed lightly.

Youxi shuddered and quickly said in a serious tone:

"Master, I'm ready!"

"Go."

Chen Jinshu opened a small exit formation on the side of the shuttle.

The crevice transformed into a wisp of black smoke and drifted away.

As soon as they left the protective aura of the flying shuttle, a dense aura of death surged forth.

But Youxi, being a Xuan Yin Ghost Body, was not afraid at all. Instead, she felt right at home and comfortably stretched her arms and legs.

It hovered in mid-air, facing the surging tide of military spirits, took a deep breath, and then opened its mouth.

No sound was emitted.

But a stream of extremely pure, pitch-black yin energy spewed out from its mouth, spreading out like ripples.

Wherever the Yin energy passed, the warrior spirits, who had been charging wildly, all froze.

The eerie green flames in their eye sockets flickered more slowly, the rusty weapons in their hands drooped slightly, and a hint of confusion appeared on their ferocious faces.

"It...works?" Jiang Yi's eyes widened.

Chen Jinshu, however, saw it more clearly. The yin energy emanating from the rift was not ordinary ghost energy, but contained a trace of profound yin essence. This essence had a natural attraction and calming effect on military spirits, which were formed from malevolent energy and obsession. Just like a hungry beast smelling meat, it would instinctively stop its attack.

However, there were simply too many military spirits, and the yin energy in the rift could only cover a few dozen feet in front of them.

Further away, the military spirits continued to advance, their malevolent auras intertwined, gradually negating the calming effect of the yin energy.

Youxi's face was tense, and the ghostly flames flickered erratically, clearly indicating that she had exhausted herself greatly.

It turned to look at the shuttle, its eyes pleading for help.

Without further hesitation, Chen Jinshu formed hand seals and uttered a low shout: "The Mysterious Female is the furnace, creation and life arise!"

The blue lotus mark between her brows lit up, and the phantom of the Mysterious Female Furnace flashed behind her.

A gentle, transformative force of creation flowed into Youxi's body from a distance.

Youxi's spirits lifted, and his ghostly form solidified at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It opened its mouth again, and this time the yin energy it spewed out covered a wider area, was deeper in color, and even had mysterious runes flowing within it.

The military spirit formation came to a complete standstill.

The soldiers at the very front even slowly knelt on one knee, lowering their heads as if paying homage to a king.

Although the soldiers in the rear did not kneel, they also stopped advancing. They simply stood quietly, their soul flames flickering, as if recalling the distant past.

The shuttle was able to slowly pass through the gaps in the military spirit array.

Chen Jinshu dared not relax, carefully maneuvering the shuttle forward while maintaining the flow of spiritual energy into the rift.

Jiang Yi nervously watched his surroundings, fearing that the military spirit might suddenly erupt.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the fog ahead gradually thinned, revealing a relatively open valley.

In the center of the valley, a dilapidated stone platform stands prominently.

The platform was about three zhang square, its surface covered with cracks and dark green moss. On the platform, a broken flag was stuck at an angle.

The flag was reduced to half a flagpole, its surface tattered and faded, barely revealing that it had once been a dark red.

The pattern embroidered on the flag has become blurred, and only half of a black eagle with outstretched wings can be discerned.

But this half-tattered flag exudes a chilling and murderous aura!

It seemed as if countless battles, bloodshed, and smoke of war were gathered within it.

"That is..." Chen Jinshu's expression showed a hint of interest upon seeing this.

Suddenly, Youxi became agitated, pointing at the tattered flag, its will-o'-the-wisps leaping wildly: "Master! That flag... that flag is calling me!"

Before Chen Jinshu could respond, it transformed into a plume of black smoke and hurtled towards the high platform.

Chen Jinshu's heart tightened, and he quickly steered the shuttle to catch up.

The creature landed on the edge of the high platform, looking up at the half-tattered flag, its small body trembling slightly.

It stretched out its little black paws, wanting to touch the flagpole, but it was also a little timid.

Just then, the tattered flag moved on its own without any wind.

"Splash—"

The remaining flag fluttered gently, spreading an atmosphere of desolation and tragedy.

Around the high platform, countless phantom images of military spirits appeared. They were no longer ferocious, but instead appeared solemn and dignified, all facing the tattered flag and kneeling on one knee.

A blurry, tall, grotesque figure clad in tattered armor slowly emerged from the flagpole.

It looked down into the crevice, its empty eye sockets seemingly filled with emotion.

“Mysterious Yin… Ghost Body…” the phantom uttered a low, hoarse voice, like rusty iron rubbing together.

“I am… a captain in the 7th Battalion of the Border Garrison…”

It raised its illusory hand, pointing to the crevice: "Would you...inherit...the Military Soul Banner?"

Youxi blinked blankly and turned to look at Chen Jinshu.

Chen Jinshu had already put away the shuttle and landed below the high platform with Jiang Yi.

She looked up at the phantom of the military captain, her mind racing.

The Soul Banner of the Frontier? Could this tattered banner be the "Soul Banner of the Frontier Guard," a magical artifact forged by the ancient border guards?

Legend has it that this banner can collect the souls of soldiers, command ghost soldiers, and wage war with boundless power. But the one before us is clearly broken and its spiritual essence greatly diminished.

"Senior, this thing exudes too much malevolent energy; it's probably not a benevolent being," Jiang Yi warned in a low voice, his eyes filled with apprehension.

Chen Jinshu, however, had even more in mind. Youxi was a Xuan Yin ghost, and if it could be nurtured by this banner, it might grow faster and become a great help to him. Moreover, the Military Soul Banner was specifically designed to counter Yin spirits and ghosts, and if he encountered opponents like the Yin Sha Sect or the Blood Sha Sect who were skilled in exorcising ghosts and controlling souls in the future, it might be able to achieve a surprising victory.

She looked into the crevice and transmitted her voice, saying, "This banner may be of benefit to you. However, the military spirit within it is deeply entrenched. If you inherit it, you will have to bear its consequences or be affected by it. The choice is yours."

Youxi tilted her head and thought for a moment, then asked, "If I inherit it, will I become stronger? Will I be able to help my master fight?"

"Perhaps."

"Then... will we be able to eat our fill?" Youxi pointed to the surrounding military spirits, their ghostly flames filled with longing.

Chen Jinshu's lips twitched slightly: "...If you can refine this banner, you may be able to control these military spirits. At that time, you should be able to absorb some of their remaining soul power."

Youxi's eyes suddenly lit up, his ghostly pupils bulging: "I want to inherit!"

It turned to the illusory figure of the Military Soul Captain, puffed out its small chest, and tried to look serious: "I, Youxi, am willing to inherit the Military Soul Banner!"

The illusory figure of the Military Soul Captain remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

With a wave of its hand, the half-tattered flag fell from the flagpole and drifted into the crevice.

In an instant, countless phantom images of military spirits around the high platform turned into wisps of gray mist, flowing into the tattered flag like rivers flowing into the sea.

The tattered flag fell into Youxi's hands, instantly blazing with black light! (End of Chapter)