Undead Mage: I Have a Skeleton Clone-Chapter 386 - 295: The Army in Mourning, Human Saint!

Instructor Su Xinyan, standing by, tugged on Fang Zhou’s sleeve and whispered, "This is General Ning Feihu’s descendant, General Ning Danxin. She is also the youngest Glory General in the history of the Longxia Federation."

Fang Zhou nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on Ning Danxin, who was dressed in mourning white. She was extremely tall, nearly two meters, and far more robust than the average female Professional. Although she wore spotless white mourning attire, it failed to conceal the unyielding and resilient aura she exuded. Her cold features held a trace of barely perceptible madness, and the space between her brows was etched with the frost of time and the glory of battle. Her exposed skin—on her face, neck, and arms—bore scars, both deep and shallow. Some of them were evidently freshly healed.

From her fearsome aura alone, Fang Zhou could conclude that her hands must have claimed the resentful souls of hundreds, if not thousands, of high-level Demons.

As the procession of pallbearers slowly advanced along the north-south main road of the Hall of Glory, an indescribable solemnity and reverence enveloped the entire space. The pallbearers’ steps were steady yet light. Each step seemed to tread upon the dust of history, guiding the Heroic Spirits to their eternal resting place. On both sides of the street, members of the Longxia Federation’s military who had come to pay their respects had long since lined up in neat rows. They either stood as straight as pines or bowed their heads in silent mourning, their faces filled with admiration and remembrance for the hero.

As the translucent, faintly glowing Crystal Coffin slowly passed by, everyone’s gaze was irresistibly drawn to it. General Ning Feihu’s visage appeared even more majestic against its backdrop. Seeing the General’s face, still seething with rage even in death, and then seeing General Ning Danxin leading the way for the Heroic Spirit at the very front, they suddenly felt the power of a stirring legacy.

The flame is passed on, civilization endures. The Ning Clan was but a microcosm of the millions of soldiers and civilians of the Human Alliance who had fought fiercely for the survival of humanity on Blue Star. During the decades of the Era of Myth, how many of their own relatives and friends had sacrificed themselves on the Human-Demon Battlefield? Where were their Heroic Spirits now?

As the Crystal Coffin continued its advance, the spectators’ emotions began to spiral out of control. The initial silence was broken, replaced by the sound of low sobs. These sounds began as sporadic murmurs but soon converged into a torrent that swept through the entire Hall of Glory. At this moment, all grievances and hatred vanished, leaving only reverence for life and admiration for a hero.

The people of Blue Star had managed to survive a crushing defeat decades ago. The fundamental reason for this was heroes like General Ning Feihu, who sacrificed themselves one after another, pressing onward through the darkness. What an indomitable spirit! They had used their own lives to win precious breathing room for humanity, allowing them to rise again on this land invaded by the Abyssal Demons.

Listening to the sincere cries around him, Fang Zhou seemed to grasp certain truths in that moment. The hatred in his heart for the Abyssal Demons deepened another layer. Even his skill, [Soul Enemy: Abyssal Demon], which was already at Perfection-level proficiency, imperceptibly ticked up a notch.

BWOOOM—

BWOOOM... BWOOOM—

BWOOOM... BWOOOM... BWOOOM—

Accompanied by the mournful call of several low horns, the Crystal Coffin slowly passed through the Hall of Glory and headed toward the cemetery within. A sentry post stood at the cemetery’s entrance, and above it hung six large characters: "Herein Lies Glory!" These words seemed to be a supreme tribute to all who had heroically sacrificed themselves, as well as an encouragement to future generations, reminding every living person to remember the great souls who died for humanity.

At the forefront of the funeral procession was a solemn and austere magic-guided vehicle. Its body and hood were adorned with white cloth, symbolizing the purity and dignity of the deceased. The white cloth fluttered gently in the wind, as if bidding farewell. The road to the cemetery was lined with lush cypress trees, which swayed in the breeze as if narrating memories of history, escorting the departed hero.

The sides of the road were already filled with soldiers who had come to pay their respects. Despite General Ning Danxin’s request for simplicity, news had traveled across the Longxia Federation, and the crowd of onlookers now filled the Hall of Glory. Each of them wore a strip of white cloth tied around their arm. The soldiers’ expressions were somber, their eyes filled with respect and a reluctance to let the hero go.

At the end of the road, the cemetery gate stood open in silence, welcoming this great hero. The large characters "Herein Lies Glory!" above the sentry post shone exceptionally bright in the sunlight, like a requiem tailor-made for General Ning Feihu. As the Crystal Coffin moved slowly forward, every eye followed it, no one willing to miss a second of this solemn moment.

From a prominent vantage point, Su Tiankuo, the Principal of the Sea City Military Academy, watched quietly, accompanied by several imposing, uniformed elders. Though advanced in age, these elders still exuded the unique heroic spirit and solemnity of soldiers. Without exception, their arms were also wrapped in white cloth.

To be honest, given Su Tiankuo’s personality, he had no desire to stand idly by watching the funeral with these few Human Saints, who were all much stronger than him. Although these Saints were duty-bound to guard the Mythical World and could not easily leave, each had sent a strand of their consciousness to the Sea City Military Academy to witness General Ning Feihu’s funeral. The reason was simple: these Holy Sanctuary Experts, who stood at the pinnacle of humanity, were all General Ning Feihu’s old comrades-in-arms. Having survived since the bloody dawn of the Era of Myth, they had long since overcome countless challenges to become the very Pillars of the Human Alliance. They were the first generation of elite Professionals who had led humanity’s rise on Blue Star. Compared to them, Su Tiankuo, a Legendary Warrior, was merely a rising star.

Su Tiankuo himself felt a bitter ache in his heart. He would have much rather taken Lu Hu’s place as a pallbearer for his idol and predecessor, Ning Feihu, than stand here beside these Holy Sanctuary Experts, feeling the torrent of their world-shattering grief. He believed that it wasn’t just him; probably many of the experts in the military academy were unwilling to bear this heavy emotional burden. This feeling is truly unbearable!

Walking this path, listening to the sobs of the spectators below, and seeing the endless procession behind him, Su Tiankuo felt that every moment he spent here was an agony. So this is how agonizing the death of a hero can be!

Unconsciously, a conviction took root in Su Tiankuo’s heart. If, after my own death, I could have such a funeral—with my own daughter and descendants to send me off, with my comrades weeping for me—then my life would have been splendid enough.

Su Tiankuo raised his head, looking toward the cemetery, which was now a sea of people. He composed himself, trying to appear less haggard. After all, his idol, General Ning Feihu, once said that a soldier must always present an awe-inspiring image, no matter the circumstances!

"They’re here," an elder in a long robe said softly, looking toward the Hall of Glory.

A drumbeat sounded. At its rhythm, the team of pallbearers slowly stopped before the cemetery gate. Su Tiankuo nodded toward the indistinct figures of the Human Saints, then adjusted his battle armor and leaped down from the viewing platform.

Major General Ning Danxin, standing at the forefront of the pallbearers, slowly walked toward Su Tiankuo. Her eyes were red, and her voice trembled slightly. "Principal Su, I have brought the coffin as ordered."

Su Tiankuo solemnly clasped his hands in a formal bow toward Ning Danxin and the coffin behind her. "General Ning Feihu’s meritorious deeds will be eternally remembered by Longxia! His noble name will be forever sung by the people of Longxia! The Ning Clan is the Great Wall that guards our Federation. You have all embodied the oath and honor of a Longxia soldier with your very lives!

"Longxia will remember. The people will remember. Human civilization will remember!"