Mercy doesn't lead troops, emotions don't resolve matters, righteousness doesn't manage wealth, and kindness doesn't govern.
The Eight Banner Marshal never claimed to be merciful, nor exceptionally kind or righteous; loyalty and righteousness were the closest traits one could associate with him.
Xu Qing arrived at the Bone Temple, and the Demon Exorcism True Monarch looked curiously at the paper-made coffin being carried in:
"This coffin is?"
Xu Qing snapped his fingers, and the paper coffin spontaneously ignited, revealing the massive skeleton within, sitting with its head bowed.
"Is this the Marshal from the mortal world? It seems a new era is about to dawn upon the secular world."
Having resided by the Ancient Yin River Dao for millennia, the Demon Exorcism True Monarch seemed accustomed to such events; the changing of world regimes was probably no different to him than the alternation of day and night.
Xu Qing laughed, "If one day True Monarch departs, I can offer a special deal and provide a grand burial for free, with the arrangements befitting sixty-four pallbearers, giving True Monarch a glorious send-off."
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch looked at Xu Qing, who wore an expression as if making a great bargain, pondering if he should even thank him.
"In life, I was solitary, and in death, all I have is this carcass; no matter how grand the farewell, it ultimately returns to dust. From emptiness it comes, and to emptiness it shall return."
Life and death are of no great consequence; the Demon Exorcism True Monarch feared not even death, naturally seeing things more clearly than most.
Xu Qing smiled faintly, perhaps this was why the King Yama favored him.
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch gazed at the Eight Banner Marshal's skeleton for a moment and said, "This skeleton could serve as a good meditation stake; it would be a pity to bury it without use."
"Meditation stake?" Xu Qing raised an eyebrow.
The red-robed man pondered briefly, then took out a scroll from his sleeve and said:
"This is the Ghost Catching Diagram of Zhong Kui, created by the Emperor Dezong's order and burnt in offering to the heavens, which then came into my possession."
"This painting is an excellent Visualization Map; you can use it to meditate with the White Bone Meditation, and if successful, your spirit will remain eternally strong."
Xu Qing accepted the Dao Xuan artifact, glanced at it, and found it truly lifelike. Even he, a skilled painter and high-level artist, could not create such a masterpiece.
A painting saint of a generation indeed lives up to his reputation!
"This painting carries spiritual energy. I have carried it for years, refining it methodically. If obtained by the common folk, neither ghosts nor evil spirits will invade; if hung in a residence, it will repel monsters, bringing peace to the household."
Xu Qing unintentionally curled his lips; he wanted a Haunted House. If the house wasn't haunted, he would not enjoy living in it!
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch, observant as always, noticed Xu Qing's disdainful gesture, which made him even more frustrated.
This Ghost Catching Diagram was desired by countless people, yet he had given it willingly, only to meet with disdain!
The True Monarch recalled the time at the Yin-Yang Realm Tombstone, where Xu Qing had treated his Ghost-slaying Treasure Sword as a ball to kick around.
"If you don't want it, I'll seek someone else destined to receive it." The True Monarch was somewhat annoyed.
"Of course I want it. How could I refuse the True Monarch's kind gesture, even if it seems light..."
Xu Qing promptly placed the Ghost Catching scroll into his pocket.
Do you call this a light gift?
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch, whose complexion was already dark, turned even darker.
If not for his grand plan against ghosts, he would have been tempted to fry the young man in hot oil to see if he was light or heavy!
...
Underground Ghost Den.
Back at the three-way intersection, this time Xu Qing chose the burial chamber of the Rakshasa Ghost.
The Yin Qi and Evil Qi in the tomb chamber of the Five Epidemic Spirits had been cleansed thoroughly, but the evil aura in the left-hand passage remained.
In some way, Xu Qing saw himself as a cleaner, going where filth was found, systematically purifying the malign spirits in each area he visited.
"Ghost Catching Diagram, observing the white bone..."
Inside the burial chamber, Xu Qing took out the Ghost Catching Diagram of Zhong Kui, meditating on it for several days, eventually deriving a meditation method from it.
"In life, guessing human hearts; in death, observing white bones—this is the divine ghost method 'White Bone Meditation.'"
Xu Qing looked towards the Eight Banner Marshal's skeleton.
Humans, without their skin, are nothing but two hundred and six bones, with flesh and viscera as filth; yet dressed in clothes, they possess eighteen thousand traits.
Thus, a lotus-like face is nothing but a blood-stained skull, and glamorous makeup conceals murder and deadly intent.
Xu Qing gazed upon the white bones, comprehending spirits, perceiving the inner traits from the outside, seeing the Eight Banner Marshal's vigorous energy and robust texture in life, and then marveling at the glowing white bones which now shone like white jade.
No ego, no human, no beings, no lifespan...
Having collected countless bones along the Ancient Yin River Dao, Xu Qing's progress in the White Bone Meditation far surpassed ordinary people's!
Even for extraordinary talents, transitioning from the Imperfect Meditation to the White Bone Meditation required years, and reaching the White Bone Living Flesh stage would require at least a decade, with the Great Completion state of White Bone Glimmering being unattainable except to those with transcendental insight!
Hailing from the mortuary, accustomed to life and death, Xu Qing achieved the seamless state of White Bone Glimmering in just a matter of days.
"Bone integration: indeed, the Demon Exorcism True Monarch's gift is substantial."
Xu Qing pursued perfection, dedicating himself to refining all two hundred and six bones in his body, achieving the Undying Bone state; yet the integration of spirit and body had eluded him from reaching seamless unity.
In simple terms, his mastery of the Undying Bone had outpaced his Mind Control capabilities, failing to achieve harmony.
Now, with mind and spirit in perfect harmony, Xu Qing had unified his Undying Bone, achieving complete integration.
"So this is the feeling of perfection."
Xu Qing sensed the opportunity to advance beyond the Flying Corpse, anchoring into Kui Ba.
Kui Ba, a being transformed from the depletion of Celestial Divine Power, born to become a Ba.
For instance, the female Ba originates from the Celestial Woman's return to the void, with red hair and blue garments, leaving barren lands in her wake.