The ceremony continued until noon.
When the coffin lid was opened again, Er Ha looked over.
The expression on the last friendly soldier’s face was still peaceful, and a faint smile of happiness lingered on his lips.
But he had completely stopped breathing.
“Brother Ha, this person is, as expected, thoroughly dead,” Xian He confirmed.
“These friendly soldiers were very unlucky,” Er Ha said mournfully. “First… they are completely gone…”
Er Ha was in a bad mood.
Watching his comrades die one by one, this feeling of powerlessness made him very uncomfortable.
Er Ha lay down beside the coffin and silently mourned.
Xiao Hu Li and the other spirit beasts followed suit, remaining silent.
After a long while.
“Brother Ha, humans believe in resting in peace after burial,” Xiao Hu Li suggested. “Should we bury them?”
“Sister Hu Li, you are absolutely right!” Er Ha nodded affirmatively. “We should give our friendly soldiers a grand burial!”
“Brother Ha, it seems humans are carried to the grave in coffins before burial,” the peacock, who had been imitating the suona earlier, suggested. “But we only have one coffin now?”
Er Ha glanced at the coffin, then at the cultivators lying on the ground.
These bipedal beasts were a bit large, and his precious box couldn’t fit them all at once.
If they were stacked, it wouldn’t look very good…
“Brother Ha, I think we can burn them!” a rooster stretched its neck. “Many of our kin were burned after they died.”
Although it hadn’t experienced it, it had heard its grandfather tell the story several times.
Many of their kin had died and were then burned by humans.
And to ensure their kin died completely, humans even seemed to add a terrible poison called seasoning!
Er Ha’s expression lit up!
That’s right!
If they were burned, they wouldn’t take up space!
Since these friendly soldiers had come together, they should leave together, all neat and tidy!
Soon, the leader’s body was placed back into the coffin.
Several fire-element spirit beasts emerged and began spitting fire around the coffin.
The flames were not large, but they were effective.
After a few breaths, the leader’s body turned completely to ash.
That’s right, ash, not bone ash.
The kind that left not a single trace of bone.
“Next!” Er Ha calmly commanded.
The five disciples busied themselves placing more bodies into the coffin.
The rooster who had made the suggestion earlier somehow produced some star anise and Sichuan peppercorns, throwing them into the coffin from time to time.
At the same time.
At the Purple Cloud Sect’s plaza.
All the disciples stood below the stage, respectfully looking at the Purple Cloud True Person on the stage.
And…
Li Tian Gou and the former Great Elder of the Xian Yin Sect beside the Purple Cloud True Person.
Many disciples had witnessed Li Tian Gou coming to apologize that day.
Even those who hadn’t seen it had heard the story several times afterward.
My goodness!
These two were both Nascent Soul realm powerhouses!
And they had actually joined the Purple Cloud Sect obediently?
Thinking about their sect gaining two more formidable powerhouses, the disciples’ sense of security immediately soared!
“From now on, these two fellow Daoists will be members of our Purple Cloud Sect,” Purple Cloud True Person introduced with a smile. “This is fellow Daoist Tian Gou.”
“From now on, I, Li, will do my utmost for the development of the sect until my dying breath,” Li Tian Gou stated with a smile.
“Welcome, fellow Daoist Tian Gou, to our sect,” Purple Cloud True Person led the applause.
“Clap, clap, clap!” A wave of applause erupted from below the stage.
“And this one is…” When it came to introducing the Great Elder, Purple Cloud True Person paused.
Because she suddenly realized she didn’t know the other party’s name…
The Great Elder had said something when he offered his soul oath, but she had forgotten it…
The Great Elder had already put on a benevolent smile and even thought about what to say to pledge his loyalty.
But Purple Cloud True Person’s pause caused the smile on his face to freeze…
Tens of thousands of eyes below the stage were all looking expectantly.
The atmosphere became strangely awkward…
“Sect Leader, you can just call me Ah Da…” The Great Elder finally couldn’t bear the awkward atmosphere and spoke up.
“Let us welcome fellow Daoist Ah Da to the sect,” Purple Cloud True Person quickly picked up the conversation.
It was so embarrassing, it almost made this fairy blush…
“From now on, the two fellow Daoists will be specifically responsible for the safety of the disciples during their training,” Purple Cloud True Person continued after the applause died down.
It wasn’t that she didn’t dare to entrust them with important roles, but because this was what Li Tian Gou and the Great Elder had proposed themselves.
Li Tian Gou’s actions also had his own considerations.
With their strength, they could indeed be made Elders.
But the problem was, they were ultimately captives.
Therefore, he decided to start from the bottom.
Firstly, it would show Purple Cloud True Person their sincere intention to surrender. Secondly, it would be a process of familiarizing themselves with the Purple Cloud Sect.
In any case, within a year or so, he would still be able to obtain a position commensurate with his strength.
The disciples below the stage immediately got excited upon hearing this!
What the heck?
Nascent Soul realm bodyguards?
This is awesome?
“Don’t get too excited,” Purple Cloud True Person poured cold water. “The two fellow Daoists will only protect you from being bullied by other sects. They will not intervene in your training matters!”
Purple Cloud True Person’s actions were indeed sensible.
Otherwise, these disciples would be completely ruined.
Just as Purple Cloud True Person was about to say something else, a chilling suona melody suddenly drifted over.
“Woooooooo! Woooooo! Woooooo!”
Everyone instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.
About a hundred feet to the rear left, a strange procession was slowly approaching.
A young disciple led the way.
His hands were clasped loosely, and he made strange gestures as he walked.
The four disciples behind him advanced with peculiar steps.
Three steps forward, two steps back.
Three steps left, two steps right…
On their shoulders, they carried a brightly polished, large coffin…
Standing on the coffin were a dog and a small fox with sorrowful expressions.
Behind them, a peacock stood on the back of a white horse.
The chilling suona music emanated from its beak.
After the white horse came a vast army of spirit beasts…
This was not the first time they had seen this strange combination. Even Purple Cloud True Person and the Elders were used to it.
In the past, they had only found it a bit odd, but nothing more.
However, today…
For some reason, as soon as they looked at it, they felt a chill run down their spines…
They were certain that the spirit beasts were not emitting any hostile pressure or signals.
They looked exactly the same as usual, yet there was a chill that penetrated to their bones.
And the chilling suona melody from the peacock’s beak amplified this chill countless times…
Before, everyone in the Purple Cloud Sect had only thought of this spiritual pet army as a funeral procession.
Now, looking at the scene, it seemed they could remove the word "like."
Li Tian Gou and Ah Da were also bewildered.
Was this how the Purple Cloud Sect welcomed new members?
Was this welcoming ceremony a bit too bizarre?
Before long, the spirit beast procession arrived in front of everyone.
Er Ha cast a deep look at everyone.
His gaze was filled with utter contempt!
So many friendly soldiers had unfortunately died, yet you were all laughing so happily just now!
Pah!
A bunch of heartless and unrighteous bipedal beasts!
The crowd hadn’t noticed from afar.
Now that Er Ha was close, they felt that some strange elements had crept into the horrifying scene.
From the terrifying coffin, there seemed to be a faint smell of seasoning emanating…
“Beep, beep, beep!”
At that moment, Purple Cloud True Person’s communication jade rang again.