Chapter 487 - 219: Deserted Village

Chapter 487: Chapter 219: Deserted Village

The morning sun rose, its golden rays piercing the clouds and casting a solemn, gilded edge upon Baichuan Plaza.

A dead silence hung over the plaza.

The crisp, cold morning breeze could not stir the rows of bodies in the center of the plaza, each covered by a simple white cloth.

One hundred and thirty-seven in all.

The white cloths seemed particularly stark in the morning light, their edges rippling faintly in the wind, outlining the young, sometimes broken, sometimes whole figures beneath. They were arranged in neat rows, heads facing east.

Around the plaza, a dense, dark crowd of disciples, Stewards, and even some Elders of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect had gathered.

Everyone was dressed in plain or dark-colored attire, with black armbands and solemn expressions.

Qin Fang stood at the very front of the disciples who had participated in the battle, also dressed in black with a black armband.

His posture was as straight as a pine, his expression calm, but his eyes seemed exceptionally deep in the morning light.

Yue Shan stood beside him, also in a black robe with a black armband.

But Yun Guanyu was nowhere to be seen today... ’Perhaps it’s due to his special condition.’

Several Elders from the Hall of Discipline and Steward Hall stood on a low platform before the rows of the deceased, their expressions grave and their gazes somber.

When the shadow of the sundial pointed to a specific mark.

DONG—!

A deep, resonant bell toll rang out from the bell tower deep within the Sect, echoing across every corner of Baichuan Plaza.

Everyone present, regardless of status, subconsciously straightened their backs, their expressions growing even more solemn.

Yue Shan suddenly took a step forward and spoke in a deep voice.

"May your souls return to the sea of stars, your spirits protect our lands."

"The Dao lives in our hearts, our swords point to the demonic."

"Fellow disciples, may your journey... be peaceful!"

As his voice fell.

"May your journey be peaceful!"

Thousands in the plaza repeated in a low shout, their voices merging into a deep and solemn torrent that rushed toward the heavens.

Following that, several steward disciples in white ceremonial robes, holding long-handled Bronze Dharma Bells, walked slowly between the rows of the deceased.

Their steps were steady, their expressions dignified. The bells in their hands swayed gently with their pace, emitting a crisp and ethereal "CHIME... CHIME..." sound.

Then, another group of disciples brought in specially prepared soil—a mixture of Spiritual Soil, Purifying Incense, and Soul Calming Grass—and began the symbolic "earth-covering" ritual for each of the fallen—

Using special wooden spoons, they gently sprinkled a pinch of the yellow earth onto the white cloth covering each body, symbolizing a return to dust and the soul’s peaceful rest.

The entire process was quiet, slow, and solemn.

There was only the clear chiming of the Dharma Bells, the faint rustle of earth being scattered, and the suppressed, occasional sound of soft sobbing.

Qin Fang watched in silence.

The disciples who had surrounded him just yesterday, excitedly asking about the battle, now all stood behind him with faces full of grief.

...Now, the excitement and anticipation they felt right after the great battle was gone.

All that remained was sorrow.

...They now understood that war was not a game.

People really died.

When the last of the fallen had been sprinkled with earth, the sound of the Dharma Bells gradually ceased.

"To the Heroic Spirit Mausoleum!"

At Yue Shan’s command, a number of disciples with calm expressions walked onto Baichuan Plaza. In pairs, they lifted the bodies from the ground and carried them up the mountain path, heading deeper into the Sect’s grounds.

Everyone followed quietly behind the procession.

They walked all the way to the back mountain of the Sect. There, beneath a green hill, burial pits had already been dug, with coffins placed beside them.

The bodies of the disciples who died in battle were placed into the coffins, the lids were closed, and the coffins were lowered into the graves.

"The heroic spirits have found their home; their noble aura will last forever."

"The loyal souls rest here, with the green mountains as their neighbors."

"Their loyal blood stains the earth, their devoted hearts reflect the stars."

"Swords sing in the empty mountains; the soughing pines tell their tale."

"Their spirits return to the Purple Mansion, their souls protect the Sect’s lands."

"The torch is passed, their heroic names are forged for eternity."

"Though your bodies have perished, your Spirit is eternal."

"We humbly offer these sacrifices, O souls, come home!"

Yue Shan solemnly recited the eulogy, his voice echoing between heaven and earth. All the disciples of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect who had come to pay their respects stood in silence.

"Inter them!"

As Yue Shan’s final word fell, the disciples began to fill the graves with soil.

Only those who had made immense contributions to the Sect were qualified to be buried in this Heroic Spirit Mausoleum and receive the Sect’s eternal incense offerings.

These disciples, who fought for the Sect and died defending the righteous path against demons, naturally had this right!

Soon after, all the disciples who had died in battle were laid to rest.

When everything was done, Yue Shan let out a soft breath and said, "Return to Baichuan Plaza. It is time to reward merits based on contribution."

A stir went through the disciples. The crowd gradually dispersed, then re-gathered at Baichuan Plaza.

The rewarding of merits began.

This time, every disciple who participated in the battle received 10,000 contribution points.

Those with especially outstanding performance received more.

Yun Guanyu... as a key figure in this battle who repeatedly thwarted the Divine Soul attacks from the Path of Non-Birth, received a full 50,000 contribution points.

Yue Shan, as the disciples’ main fighting force who single-handedly faced the giant Flesh Puppet and emerged victorious, ultimately crushing the Path of Non-Birth, also received 50,000 contribution points.

And Qin Fang’s performance in this battle was also outstanding.

...He had likely killed the most Cultists.

At the same time, it was he who had frozen a large number of Flesh Puppets, saving many of his fellow disciples.

...He also received 50,000 contribution points!

The three of them, the True Inheritance disciples from the three halls, received the most contribution points.

But no one objected... Their performance and role in this battle were, it could be said, irreplaceable and clear for all to see.

Gaze after gaze fell upon Qin Fang and Yue Shan.

In truth, it was one thing for Yue Shan. After all, he had been famous for a long time—even Qian Ruhai had known of Yue Shan’s prestige back in the day. The disciples were mentally prepared for him to perform so well.