Studying the Scripture, Taking a Disciple, Entering the City

In the dead of night, Luo Chen sat alone inside the green thatched cottage. In his hands rested a brand-new roll of bamboo slips—the Foundation Establishment congratulatory gift Li Yixian had given him. The *Yimu Medicine King Scripture*. It had clearly been transcribed anew for the occasion, and second-tier Purple Mist Bamboo had even been selected as the material for the slips. Luo Chen had paid no small price for this cultivation method. Five thousand low-grade spirit stones. On top of that, he had agreed to let the Li family join the alliance between the Luotian Association, the Nangong family, and the Great River Gang. The Li family would not interfere in the medicinal pill business. They sought only an official standing to avoid facing a sudden, murderous strike from the three major factions in the future. This was by no means groundless anxiety! Anyone could see that after Luo Chen reached Foundation Establishment, the Luotian Association—once the weakest—had leaped forward to become the strongest local power in Dahe Market! Beneath him was an expert like Wang Yuan, capable of battling Foundation Establishment cultivators. There was also an enslaved second-tier explosive ape, providing a Foundation Establishment–level asset. Furthermore, he commanded a cadre of Qi Refinement experts who were battle-hardened veterans tempered through rounds of blood and fire. Such strength was formidable! Even if they could not match the sheer numbers of the old Mountain Breaker Gang, their cohesion was far superior. If Luo Chen ever set his mind on making a move against the Li family, then driven by shared interests, the Nangong family and the Great River Gang would almost certainly participate. If that happened, would it not be a repetition of the Mountain Breaker Gang's past fate? "That woman sees things quite clearly!" Murmuring to himself, Luo Chen unrolled the *Yimu Medicine King Scripture*. He read through it once, then checked through the system to see if he could initiate it. Only after receiving an affirmative answer was he certain that the method contained no hidden traps or tampering. He closed the system. Luo Chen did not plan to use the system for initiation. Although advancing to Foundation Establishment aligned him with second-tier cultivation methods, and the achievement points required to initiate a second-tier method had returned to normal levels, he only had three points left after initiating Emperor's Flowing Syrup. He simply lacked enough points! Even so, he was not worried. With the foundation of his Great Perfection Eternal Spring Art, he could seamlessly transition into the Yimu Medicine King Scripture. "Though Yi Wood is soft, it can butcher sheep and dismember oxen. Embracing Ding and holding Bing, it straddles the phoenix and rides the monkey. "In watery, damp soil, even riding a horse brings worry. With vines clutching the armor, it thrives in spring and autumn..." ... A night passed! Luo Chen slowly awoke from his quiet cultivation. Looking at the cultivation method column on his attribute panel, the entry for the Great Perfection Eternal Spring Art had long vanished. In its place was: [Cultivation Methods: Yimu Medicine King Scripture Beginner 2/100, Spirit Cleansing Evil Breaking Perfect 351/500, Myriad Beasts Scripture 10/100] "As expected, my judgment was correct." "If I had switched to the *Nether Spring Dark Fire*, it would have taken at least several months just to barely initiate it. Subsequent cultivation would have brought countless inconveniences as well." "Transitioning seamlessly into the higher-grade technique of the Eternal Spring Art, on the other hand, allowed me to master the basics in no time." "Moreover, the results are even more outstanding!" Luo Chen could sense that the special effects from the Great Perfection Eternal Spring Art had not disappeared. Traits like automatic breath recovery and spiritual power purification were still actively functioning. If that were all, it would already be impressive enough. Yet he could also clearly feel that his proficiency in the *Yimu Medicine King Scripture* was advancing steadily. The rate of improvement far surpassed that of other cultivation methods! In just one night, his proficiency had surged to 2 instead of sitting at the initial entry level of 1. The greatest credit for this went to his original Great Perfection in the Eternal Spring Art. "It won't take long before I can push this scripture to Minor Accomplishment, or even Great Accomplishment!" Luo Chen had that confidence. However, it was still difficult to evaluate the precise effects of the *Yimu Medicine King Scripture*. Because he had only just initiated it, he could not gather concrete figures. Furthermore, a massive amount of medicinal efficacy remained accumulated in his body, still waiting to be thoroughly refined. That also skewed his judgment. "A prolonged secluded cultivation is imperative!" "However..." Luo Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Before entering seclusion, there was still one matter he needed to handle. Rising to his feet with an easy grace, he closed the small door of the thatched cottage. Treading upon a white cloud, Luo Chen descended the mountain peak. ... Pill Hall, Pill Palace! This structure had been rebuilt by workers Sima Huiniang sent, using the foundation of the Duan family's Artifact Tower. It was not meant for pill concoction, but served as a short-term resting place for Luo Chen after refining pills. Yet since yesterday's Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony, the Pill Palace had remained tightly shut. Outside the hall, the visibly aging Qu Hancheng wore an anxious expression, pacing back and forth on the walkway. The pale, delicate Mili stood by the palace entrance. "Uncle Qu, don't worry." Qu Hancheng halted his footsteps and let out a long sigh. "How can I not worry? Lingjun has been kneeling inside the Pill Palace all night. I don't know how the Association Master will punish him." Concocting pills privately without Luo Chen's permission was a major taboo! In the Luotian Association today, Luo Chen's word was law. As for the Pill Hall, he had built it with his own hands; no one dared go against his instructions. By refining pills without authorization, Qu Lingjun had already committed a grave violation. Mili bit her lip and said softly, "Perhaps it won't be a punishment?" Qu Hancheng froze... While he was still dazed, a gentle breeze swept past. Luo Chen appeared before the two of them, accompanied by Sima Huiniang and Murong Qinglian. "Association Master..." Luo Chen glanced at Qu Hancheng, and the old man swallowed back the rest of his words. "Wait outside, all of you." Leaving behind this single sentence, Luo Chen walked toward the Pill Palace. The massive bronze doors slowly swung open. Gentle light streamed inside, outlining a figure kneeling on the ground with a straight, unyielding spine. As Luo Chen's tall frame stepped inside, the bronze doors shut once more. "President, the Association Master won't punish Lingjun, will he?" Qu Hancheng ultimately could not resist asking Sima Huiniang. Sima Huiniang offered a faint smile. "Rest assured, it's a good thing." Seeing that Qu Hancheng remained puzzled, she shook her head and chuckled. "With Lingjun's talent for alchemy, who could bear to punish such fine timber?" Qu Lingjun's alchemy talent. Was it high? Others might not know, but to Luo Chen, it was beyond doubt! Looking at the youth kneeling below, Luo Chen felt a momentary trance. The toddler who had once burst into terrified tears when Tang Quan carried him flying through the sky... The little boy who had flushed red with anxiety under his tests... In the blink of an eye, he was now a handsome youth with red lips and white teeth. The edges of his brows and the bridge of his nose bore an uncanny resemblance to old Qu Hancheng. Yet the curiosity about everything shining in his eyes, alongside the resolute firmness of his tightly set mouth, shared a distinct similarity with Luo Chen's own past self. Such a lad truly mirrored him in several ways. The same poor aptitude, and the same extraordinary passion for alchemy. The only difference was that Luo Chen possessed the cheat of a system, whereas this boy had genuine alchemy talent that would astonish the world! He was someone capable of producing a first-tier, low-grade pill in under a hundred attempts. If such talent were publicized, while one could not speak for great sects, numerous smaller factions would surely fight tooth and nail over him! Of course, what fate awaited him in their hands was another question entirely. Even with Luo Chen's myriad schemes, he had still faced suppression one after another under Mi Shuhua and Miao Wen. How far could Qu Lingjun's frail, tender shoulders carry him on the immortal path? An unspoken silence drifted through the great hall. After a long time, Luo Chen finally spoke softly. "Qu Lingjun, do you know why I made you kneel here for the night?" *Huu...* Hearing Luo Chen's question, the youth actually exhaled a long breath first. His entire body relaxed. He broke into a grin. "Whatever the Association Master has me do, it is certainly for my own good." *Uh...* Luo Chen nearly lost his composure. What happened to the solemn question-and-answer, conversing back and forth before approaching the main subject? Dammit, he couldn't keep up the act. With an impatient flick of his sleeve, three objects descended before Qu Lingjun. Seeing the three items floating in midair, Qu Lingjun's eyes instantly lit up. "From this day forth, you are my disciple!" "Lingjun greets Master!" Without the slightest hesitation, Qu Lingjun prostrated himself, knocking his forehead against the floor three times in succession. This was the formal etiquette toward a master. A piece of jade pendant drifted out from Luo Chen's hand. His gaze turned profound as he looked at Qu Lingjun. "Entering my tutelage, there are not many rules." "First, you must not betray your master or rebel against your superiors!" "Second, you must not commit evil or villainy; in all conduct, you must uphold principles." "Third, you must not..." "Do you remember?" Suppressing the excitement in his chest, Qu Lingjun nodded heavily. "I remember." "If so, then swear an oath to this jade pendant!" Without a second thought, Qu Lingjun raised his palm and uttered an earnest, pure oath. As he swore the vow, spiritual light trembled faintly across the jade pendant. When he finished, the pendant actually snapped in two down the middle. One half fell into Luo Chen's palm, while the other drifted before Qu Lingjun. "From now on, the relationship of master and disciple exists between us. To the outside world, you may declare yourself a disciple of Danchenzi!" Luo Chen put the half-pendant away. This was an ingenious application of the Soul Anchor Oath. Unlike Wang Yuan's Great Dao Oath, which anchored the heart against outside temptations, this relied on the jade pendant: until Qu Lingjun surpassed Luo Chen's cultivation level, he could never disobey him. Should he ever commit an act of betraying his master, the backlash would cause his entire cultivation to go down the drain. Of course, he would also enjoy the benefits. Holding the other half of the jade pendant, if he ever encountered danger, Luo Chen would vaguely sense it no matter the distance. All in all, this method bordered somewhat on the sinister. Within great sects, soul lamps or life seeds were commonly used instead. Luo Chen currently lacked such means, so he could only make do, using the Soul Anchor Oath and the jade pendant as vessels to establish the formal bond. In fact, if Qu Lingjun ever reached Foundation Establishment himself, the oath's effectiveness would be drastically reduced. Yet who knew how long that would take? Time would ultimately prove everything. Right as the words "disciple of Danchenzi" faded, the three items floating in the air settled before Qu Lingjun. "The first is the Jasper Saber, the dharma artifact your master used most in his early years. Though only mid-grade, it is a matched set divided into seven mother-and-child sabers. When formed into an array, its power is not inferior to an upper-grade artifact." Qu Lingjun was filled with joy. After all these years, he was currently at the third layer of Qi Refinement, not far from the fourth layer. This dharma artifact was perfectly suited for his future use. "The remaining two are your master's alchemy insights accumulated over the years, and a Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace." "Thank you for the bestowal, Master!" Qu Lingjun gathered the three items and sincerely kowtowed to Luo Chen once more. Luo Chen nodded in satisfaction. He had always been fond of this child, which was why he had nurtured him early on. Even when he had nearly left Dahe Market for the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, he had entrusted Zhou Yuanli to look after him. Now that the boy had demonstrated extraordinary talent in alchemy, he was well-suited to inherit his mantle. "Do not neglect your cultivation. It is what your very life relies upon. Without longevity, all things are mere vanity!" Qu Lingjun hesitated. "But Master, with my four-spirit-root aptitude, can I truly hope to attain the Great Dao?" Luo Chen chuckled. "Could it be you don't know your master possesses five spirit roots?" "How could Lingjun dare compare himself to Master?" Luo Chen shook his head. "Do not belittle yourself. The number of the Great Expansion is fifty, of which forty-nine are used. Heaven and Earth leave a sliver of hope for all things." "And our lineage enters the Dao through pills." "If you master alchemy well, you will never have to worry about cultivation resources!" Qu Lingjun looked bewildered at first. Only when he looked down at the alchemy manual inscribed with *Danchen's True Explanations* did a thoughtful look dawn on him. His gaze shifted to the Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace. Finally, he nodded heavily. "Disciple will remember!" Luo Chen gave an acknowledging hum and waved his broad hand. The bronze doors of the Pill Palace slowly opened. Sima Huiniang and Murong Qinglian stepped inside together. "Sister-in-law, enter Qu Lingjun into the registry. From now on, he is my direct disciple." Murong Qinglian acknowledged with an assent. "Huiniang, raise Qu Lingjun's resource allotment to that of a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator. Every month, grant him one bottle of upper-grade Jade Marrow Pills and one portion of Essence Cultivating Spirit Liquid." "Do not give other pills in excess; it can easily affect his cultivation." Sima Huiniang nodded at once, a hint of envy surfacing in her eyes as she looked at the youth. Back when they were weak, they had never had such good fortune. To be taken directly as a personal disciple by a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator... Even within the current Luotian Association, Qu Lingjun's treatment would be one of a kind! After all, he carried the title of Luo Chen's sole personal disciple. Having arranged these matters, Luo Chen stood up briskly. "Matters here are settled. I will enter secluded cultivation for a time." "I leave all affairs within the association to you, Huiniang, with full authority." "If an irresistible outside enemy appears, seek Hall Master Wang Yuan." "Postpone the Jade Marrow Pill business with the various factions for now. As for Fasting Pills, let Mili take the lead in everything. Furthermore, if Qu Lingjun wishes to refine pills, the Pill Hall and Medicine Hall must fully support him." His voice was still echoing through the grand hall, but Luo Chen's figure had already vanished without a trace. Only Qu Hancheng's aged weeping of sheer joy remained conspicuously audible. ... Three days later. The inner city of Dahe Market. No, it should properly be called the Ghost City! A figure clad in a Fengdu Dharma Robe, carrying a glowing green lantern, walked in solitary isolation. If any acquaintance were present, they would surely discover with shock: was this not Danchenzi, the Association Master of the Luotian Association? He had only just reached Foundation Establishment. Instead of properly consolidating his realm, why had he ventured into the perilous Ghost City? One had to understand that over the span of just a few years, this Dahe Ghost City had grown increasingly dangerous—terrifying, even. The entities at the ghost general level had multiplied from a single one at the start to nine full generals! A ghost general corresponded to a second-tier demon beast among the demon race, or a Foundation Establishment cultivator among humans. A genuine second-tier combat power! Even if their minds were muddled, the terrain advantage of the ghost domain allowed them to unleash power far surpassing an ordinary human Foundation Establishment cultivator. Thus, over the past few years, none of the major factions dared explore Dahe Ghost City anymore. They could only turn a blind eye and pretend it did not exist. It was an ostrich-like approach. On one hand, everyone worried about the hidden peril of the Ghost City. On the other hand, they were reluctant to abandon the rich resources near Dahe Market. Luo Chen understood their mindset, especially after conversing with the three fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators, which gave him a clearer comprehension of the Ghost City's dangers. Among the three Foundation Establishment elders, Wang Haichao's Great River Gang had explored it the most times. Yet the one who had delved the deepest was actually Li Yixian, that female Foundation Establishment cultivator. Practicing the Huai Yin Art, she was naturally adept with yin qi. She had previously explored the Ghost City alone and reaped substantial benefits. The reason she stopped coming later was that she had been besieged by two ghost generals and forced to flee. Under such circumstances, why did Luo Chen stubbornly insist on forsaking the consolidation of his realm to explore Dahe Ghost City? This inevitably traced back to the result of him casually peering toward the Ghost City with his Spirit Eye Art some time ago. With that single glance, he had distinctly noticed an exceptionally resilient wave of spiritual energy in the deepest recesses of the Ghost City, standing aloof amidst the gloomy ghostly qi! *That is the fluctuation of a second-tier spirit vein; I definitely didn't see wrong!* Pacing slowly along the warped, half-ruined streets, Luo Chen felt a slight stir in his heart as he recalled that scene. He had no choice but to come! The most suitable cultivation site for a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator was a second-tier spirit vein. Such places were extremely hard to find both inside and outside Dahe Market. Generally speaking, few Foundation Establishment cultivators would linger in a first-tier spirit vein land without moving on. Unless they were family-bound cultivators like Mi Shuhua, Nangong Jin, or Li Yixian. Tied down by their clans and reluctant to give up the abundant local resources, they stayed behind. Or perhaps they were sect cultivators dispatched to a remote market on a term-limited assignment to manage sect properties. Even without a second-tier spiritual land, these Foundation Establishment cultivators often had secret arts to aid their cultivation. For instance, Mi Shuhua used a spirit-gathering array to convert a patch into second-tier land. Or Duan Qiankun, who stimulated the Ice-Fire Spiritual Spring to briefly create a second-tier spiritual land. Yet doing so inevitably incurred tremendous costs. Therefore, they relied far more heavily on medicinal pills in their day-to-day cultivation. After advancing to Foundation Establishment, Luo Chen was forced to face the exact same predicament. To break through to Foundation Establishment, he had repeatedly stimulated the Ice-Fire Spiritual Spring. In the end, he had succeeded. However, the mid-grade spirit stones he had hoarded over the years were nearly exhausted. The Luotian Association held a fair amount of circulating spirit stones, but they were all low-grade. Consequently, he was left without a second-tier spiritual land. Nor did he possess suitable second-tier spirit pills or miraculous herbs for cultivation. The only viable option, Emperor's Flowing Syrup, could not be used regularly due to the scarcity of its main ingredients, the extreme difficulty of concoction, and the exorbitant cost. He couldn't very well slaughter Little Red—the ape he had enslaved with great difficulty—just to make pills! Ultimately, Luo Chen could only pin his hopes on Dahe Ghost City. "Mount Luofeng!" "If I didn't see wrong, that second-tier spirit vein is situated squarely inside Mount Luofeng." Luo Chen recalled a few offhand remarks Sima Xian had made in the past. A Nascent Soul sect possessed secret arts to condense spiritual energy and elevate a spirit vein's grade. Tianlan Immortal City had been established upon such a foundation. Dahe Market possessed that same potential! The spirit vein concealed beneath this region was colossal. Even after so many years, the vicinity of Dahe Market remained a land rich in spiritual energy. If one accounted for the numerous scattered tributary veins, the sheer scale of the Dahe spirit vein became even more apparent. With such a profound foundation for a large-scale first-tier spirit vein, it was no wonder it had been slated as the bedrock for an immortal city. "Pang Renxiong, that Golden Core Master, stayed in Dahe Market for nearly a year!" "There is no way he didn't cultivate!" "And the only place suitable for his cultivation would be a third-tier spirit vein." "Therefore, it is highly likely that he deployed the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's secret art in advance to elevate Mount Luofeng's spirit vein on a small scale." "That should be the origin of the resilient wave of spiritual energy I saw." Luo Chen pressed his lips together and walked firmly toward Mount Luofeng. Meanwhile, the aura on his body gradually ceased to resemble that of a living human. This was the wonderful utility of the Great Perfection Breath Concealing Spirit Formula! Luo Chen had mastered it long ago. It could mimic the aura of others. In the past, he had used it to mimic a demon wolf's aura without being detected by a second-tier elder demon wolf. Entering the Ghost City now, he naturally had means to rely on. Aside from the two artifacts tailored against ghostly creatures—the Fengdu Dharma Robe and the Green Firefly Lantern—his cultivation base and his mastery of numerous spells were his greatest support! When another dense, solidified ghost drifted blankly past him, Luo Chen felt completely reassured! Sure enough, ordinary ghosts could not detect him at all, treating him as one of their own. In fact, due to the natural realm pressure radiating from his recent breakthrough, these low-tier ghosts vaguely regarded him as a ghost general. "Revisiting an old haunt... to think the south-city Rogue Cultivator Market has fallen into such ruin." Looking at the broad street lined with faded signboards and littered with skeletal remains, Luo Chen could not help sighing. That great upheaval had truly overturned the fortunes of far too many people. Suddenly! Luo Chen's footsteps halted. His spiritual eyes turned somberly toward a dilapidated house not far away. A figure sat cross-legged inside the building, a banner planted beside him, his expression savage and contorted. "It's him!" ... Luo Chen had not expected to run into this person at such a time and in such a place. Li Da! One of the Great River Gang's few ninth-layer Qi Refinement experts. If that were all, it would hardly matter. Yet a certain encounter of Li Da's intrigued Luo Chen greatly. Together with Gao Tingyuan, Li Da had once led his subordinates to explore the cave abode of Gu Yue, the Loose Cultivator Soul Refiner. Both had reaped abundant harvests from that expedition. Gao Tingyuan had even obtained the fragmented *True Soul Refining Art*. Though incomplete, it had offered him another path to Foundation Establishment after his dantian was shattered by outside force. Regrettably, before he could walk that path to the end, he had crossed paths with Luo Chen. "Even Li Yixian doesn't dare enter the Ghost City now, yet this Li Da dared to venture in alone. He's quite bold." Luo Chen had no intention of disturbing him. His objective on this trip was to enter the spiritual land of Mount Luofeng to consolidate his cultivation; courting unnecessary complications was ill-advised. Yet just as he prepared to leave, a sudden thought struck him. *That dharma artifact...* His feet moved. Footsteps sounded from outside the house. With a contorted grimace, Li Da snapped his eyes open. "Scram!" With a low bark, he flicked his wrist, abruptly unleashing three silver needles. Yet in the next breath, the three silver needles floated eerily in midair. "How is that possible..." Li Da's face changed drastically. He instinctively tried to stand up. Yet a crushing pressure forced him to remain seated on the ground, unable to move an inch. At the doorway, Luo Chen gave a gentle beckoning motion, and the three silver needles flew into his grasp. With a casual sweep of his sleeve, the spiritual energy imprints upon them were erased completely. Witnessing this, Li Da's heart trembled. This move again! Back then, when Luo Chen had effortlessly neutralized Wang Haichao's attack, he had used what seemed to be this very same spell. Now, at merely the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, Li Da stood even less of a chance against it. "What dharma artifact is this?" Luo Chen's voice carried a tone of curiosity. Li Da spoke in a dry, hoarse voice, "Ghost Mother Needles, first-tier upper-grade." Ghost Mother Needles? Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, vaguely sensing that the three needles in his hand were not as simple as they appeared. "Also from Gu Yue, the Loose Cultivator Soul Refiner?" "Yes." Li Da's body shuddered. Black qi suddenly flickered across his face, and he gritted his teeth. "Senior Danchenzi, I believe I have never offended you. Could you spare me?" "Never offended me? You attacked me just now; that wasn't very polite, was it?" Luo Chen chuckled. He spoke the truth. Very few Qi Refinement cultivators dared strike at a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. The last one to do so was the very man standing before him. Could Li Da replicate that past feat? What a joke in the cultivation world! Li Da's face drained of color in an instant. Clinging to a shred of luck, he said, "As an apology, this junior will gift that set of Ghost Mother Needles to you, venerable Senior!" *Venerable Senior, indeed!* The shifting generational titles of the cultivation world were truly hard to get used to. Luo Chen smiled faintly, his eyes settling on the banner planted before Li Da. "Still not enough. Unless you sell me that dharma artifact and leave the city immediately." "No!" Instinctively, the refusal burst from Li Da's mouth. Yet the moment the word left his lips, he realized the blunder. Before Luo Chen could react, Li Da leaped into the air. The banner whipped around with a rustling whirl, releasing ten resentful souls that surged toward Luo Chen. Meanwhile, wrapped in the banner, Li Da transformed into a gust of black wind, shooting toward the rooftop. Luo Chen watched calmly. Facing the ten incoming souls, he waved his sleeve. A wave of pure, refined spiritual power swept outward. Everywhere it passed, the ten resentful souls dissipated into nothingness. Up in the air, Li Da watched the scene with utter terror. What kind of spell was that? Spells were useless against it, dharma artifacts were useless against it, and even resentful souls could not offer the slightest resistance. Yet surrendering without a fight was absolutely out of the question. That banner held the key to his chance at Foundation Establishment. *Flee!* *In this Ghost City, he won't dare give chase with grand fanfare.* Just as Li Da thought he had a chance of escaping with his life, his expression contorted in absolute horror. Hundreds of vines erupted from the ground like serpents and pythons, sweeping toward him. More than that, countless verdant vines spread from every direction, forming a cage in the blink of an eye. Looking back, he saw Luo Chen making a distant grasping motion toward him. "No!" A shrill howl vanished in an instant inside the cage of lush green vines. A faint splash of crimson burst forth. "A Great Perfection Entanglement Technique does indeed have its merits." Seeing this, Luo Chen nodded. Then a single vine crawled back, wrapping a large bundle of items. Grabbing the bundle with one hand, Luo Chen departed the spot without hesitation. The commotion just now would inevitably draw various ghost-soldier-level spirits; it was best to leave promptly. Sure enough, not long after Luo Chen left, countless spirits wandered in from all directions. They gathered around the area, but finding no enemy, they drifted about in confusion. Only when a tall, imposing ghost general arrived did they slowly disperse.