Chapter 198: The Might of the Heavenly Demon Sect
Qin Mu blushed and chuckled, “It’s a bit more, barely nine.”
“Nine such figures?”
Yankang National Teacher’s heart tightened. Were these nine all mute-like individuals?
If so, this Heavenly Demon Sect leader’s origins were terrifying!
“And there are nine more like me, so my path is not lonely.”
Yankang National Teacher revealed a relieved smile, murmuring, “I thought I was the only one who had reached this step, but now my heart suddenly settles down…”
Qin Mu looked at him curiously, then suddenly thought: If I used the Azure Sky Heavenly Eye to look at Yankang National Teacher right now, would he beat me to death?
He was very eager to see if Yankang National Teacher and the Village Chief were the same kind of existence.
Of course, Yankang National Teacher was unfathomable to him—his cultivation, his temperament, all impenetrable. This man had many seemingly contradictory traits.
Using the Azure Sky Heavenly Eye on him rashly would likely provoke his wrath.
“National Teacher, the Palace Master is speaking to you. Why don’t you answer?”
Qin Mu turned to look and saw the speaker walking up from below, wearing a bronze mask. This mask was unique, with exaggerated features: long, wide ears, an eagle-beak nose, an oversized mouth, pillar-like eyes, broad brows, and a hole in the forehead, as if prepared for a third eye.
Then Qin Mu saw that beneath the forehead position of the mask, there was indeed an eye.
At the center of this person’s brow, a single eye grew!
“What kind of technique is this?” He was momentarily stunned.
Yankang National Teacher glanced at the bronze-masked man, then his gaze passed over him and landed on Liqing Palace Master Qiu Dieyi. “Palace Master Qiu of Liqing Palace, technique: Lihen Heaven Sword Art, said to be a divine sword art passed down from the gods, severing love and parting with hate.”
His gaze fell on the next person. “Car Fort Master Che Zhengli of Sanqi Fort, Jade Fort Master Yu Qingsheng, and Li Fort Master Li Fei. Che Fort Master’s technique is the Heavenly Demon Dark Prohibition, a demonic forbidden art from the Daoist sect. Jade Fort Master’s technique is the Five Gu Dragon Transformation Art, raising gu into dragons. Li Fort Master refines poison into power—her technique I do not know.”
That Li Fort Master giggled, “Even the National Teacher doesn’t know some techniques? My technique is called the Poison Transformation Three Immortals Mystic Art, adept at turning poison into power.”
Yankang National Teacher’s gaze moved to another. “Daoquan True Person has always healed the sick and saved lives. Why join the rebellion? Over a decade ago, the Yong River flooded, disaster and plague raged, spreading across Jiangnan. You treated villagers and gave medicine, earning fame across the land. I wanted to appoint you as an official in the Grand Academy, but you declined, and I only granted you the title of True Person.”
Daoquan True Person said solemnly, “Different paths cannot lead to the same goal. National Teacher, when I refused the official post back then, you could see we were not of the same mind. You went too far, wanting to destroy all Daoist sects under heaven. I had no choice but to stop you.”
Yankang National Teacher fell silent, then said, “I destroyed the Daoist sects to heal more people. How do you judge my work over these years?”
Daoquan True Person replied, “You did well. There used to be few healers in the world; now they are as numerous as ox hairs, even warships are equipped with healers and apprentices, and plagues rarely spread. But in these years, the Grand Academy has produced only mediocre doctors, none worthy of being called a divine physician. For that, you are to blame.”
“It seems our paths are indeed different.”
Yankang National Teacher looked at another. “Grand Secretariat Director, Ma Lianshan, Lord Ma.”
“I dare not.”
Ma Lianshan said gravely, “National Teacher, you promoted me to this post, but I also have a sect. I am originally from the Zhongnan Mountain lineage, cultivating the Southern Bright Five Separation Sword Scripture.”
Yankang National Teacher said, “I asked His Majesty to appoint you as Secretariat Director, overseeing the Secretariat, because you are upright, selfless, and skilled in leading troops. I thought you would set aside sectarian views. You joining the rebels grieves me. As Secretariat Director, you were a good official, well-regarded by the people.”
Ma Lianshan shook his head. “I am not the only good official who betrayed you. National Teacher, you should reflect on your actions.”
Yankang National Teacher said woodenly, “What is old and rotten must be excised. When people’s hearts are old and rotten, how to excise them? Only revolution. Without revolution against the rotten, the world cannot find peace. You are a good man, but you block my path.”
He looked at the others. “Beggar Sect Leader Qi Dayou, Hundred Poor Mystic Art. Star Net Heavenly Gate Sect Leader Luo Xinghe, Star Net Heavenly Gate Mystic Art. Daxiong Temple’s Zen Master Zhikong, Four True Word Seals of Formation, Abiding, Destruction, and Emptiness. Daputu Temple’s Abbess Hongfa, Spreading Dharma and Benefiting Beings Bodhi Art. Nanhai Jiayin Temple’s Abbess Huiyin, Adamantine Invincible Art. And Floating Sky Dharma King, formerly the king of Floating Sky Kingdom, Southern Liang Kingdom Lord Duan Yan, Western Fan Kingdom Lord Nunuhuer. And these three seniors from the old era.”
His gaze fell on the two old men and one old woman. “Three from the old era, advanced in years, now seven or eight hundred years old, yes? Living past eight hundred years means reaching the age of destiny. How many years do you three have left?”
The short, thin, dark old man laughed, “I am a mountain wild hermit, known as Li Sanren. I have sixteen years left. Not exactly a hermit, though—the tiny kingdom you destroyed, Chuyun Kingdom, was founded by me.”
“I am Tian Zhenjun.”
The old woman grinned, “I like raising bugs. You should have seen them already. Jade Fort Master of Sanqi Fort is my son.”
The fat, plump old man said, “I don’t have such grand origins. I am Poor Master. Don’t let my fat fool you—I’m poor from eating. Our school is called the Poor Principle Art. The poorer you are, the more right you have.”
“Poor Master jokes.”
Yankang National Teacher said solemnly, “Exhausting principles to reach knowledge, reflecting on oneself to practice truth, investigating things to attain understanding—I understand these principles. Sir, since you are a master, why oppose me?”
Poor Master shook his head. “In poverty, cultivate oneself alone; in success, benefit the whole world. National Teacher, your power is too great, harmful to the realm. I oppose you not for personal gain like the others, but for Yankang Kingdom. I see your power overwhelming the state. Removing you now is possible; later, you would become emperor.”
Yankang National Teacher stood on the mountain peak, his voice flat and clear, spreading in all directions: “Who else opposes me?”
From within Daxiang City, voices rose one after another: “I do!”
“Tianxian Sect’s Liao Yinzhi dares to oppose the National Teacher!”
“Grand Master of Remonstrance Qiu Zhiming dares to oppose the National Teacher!”
“Marquis of Wuling Shan Mu dares to oppose the National Teacher!”
“Protectorate Chief Clerk Qing Mingyue dares to oppose the National Teacher!”
“Wuyin County Magistrate Chen Yao dares to oppose the National Teacher!”
…
Voices came from Daxiang City, each from a great expert at the Life-and-Death Realm or Heavenly Man Realm. One voice fell, another rose, one after another, growing stronger and more stirring, igniting passion in the heart.
The bronze-masked man was also filled with fervor, his blood boiling. He declared loudly, “National Teacher, do you see? How unpopular you are! The whole world wants you dead. What face do you have to live?” His voice rang with force!
Yankang National Teacher remained expressionless, saying calmly, “The whole world? A few hundred thousand people in this city, and they represent the whole world? Mere petty folk, extinguished if extinguished. When you die, the world will truly be at peace.”
“Then only one side can be completely annihilated.”
The bronze-masked man said, “This mountain has been sealed with a Heavenly Prison Barrier, covering eight hundred acres. Fighting here, we need not worry about it spreading outside and harming the soldiers. This time…”
He said coldly, “We abandon all martial honor and rules!”
Qin Mu sighed in relief and smiled at Si Yunxiang, “Then I can rest easy.”
Yun Que’s face turned ashen, and he stammered, “Rest easy about what? We’re inside the barrier—we’ll be shaken to death first. Remember Tianbo City? This battle will be several times more terrifying than that!”
Yue Qinghong and the others also turned pale. The battle at Tianbo City had only involved a fraction of the Dutian Heavenly Demon’s power descending, against the Dragon Gate Sect Leader and another sect master-level expert, yet the destruction was unimaginable. Even a creature as powerful as the Dragon Qilin couldn’t withstand such an impact.
If a battle erupted here, it would be several times more destructive!
And with the eight-hundred-acre area sealed, the shockwaves from these experts would only churn and reverberate within this space!
At that point, even the Dragon Qilin would likely be shredded by the residual force of their clash!
Just then, outside the city, banners fluttered one after another, stretching east to west for dozens of miles.
The bronze-masked man and the others looked out from the heights and their faces changed drastically. The banners stood over ten zhang tall, hiding the enemy camp opposite, and beneath them were countless troops!
The bronze-masked man was about to shout a warning when the banners suddenly rolled up. In an instant, three hundred and sixty banners appeared within the city. Under each banner, a strange figure in a bamboo hat carrying a long cloth bundle shook the banner violently, and tens of thousands of Yankang Kingdom troops from outside the city suddenly materialized inside Daxiang City!
At that moment, the bronze-masked man’s shout finally came: “Beware—”
But it was too late.
As the three hundred and sixty strange figures retracted their banners, beneath them appeared faces full of murderous intent, gripping swords, spears, and halberds, their killing aura soaring to the heavens.
Under the banners, golden-armored giants appeared alongside cloud chariots. At the tail of a massive warship, a bronze beast began spewing flames. Huge birds flapped their wings, stirring up gales.
When the banners were fully furled into small flags, the battle cries had already erupted. The sound of swords leaving their scabbards came from sword cases, mingling with earth-shaking roars.
At that moment, time seemed to slow, slow enough to see every person’s expression change—from murderous intent to ferocious savagery, from bewilderment to terror.
The blood spray from flying swords cutting through bodies seemed to burst slowly from within, scattering in the air. Heads flying from necks in that instant carried a strange, tragic beauty.
“Elephant Transformation!”
A roar broke the brief stillness. A general of the infantry bellowed, and thousands of soldiers roared, their bodies shaking as they transformed into elephant-headed giants, charging into the rebel forces and scattering them.
Cavalry soared into the sky and dove down, raining countless flying swords like a storm.
“Fire Gourd!”
On the warship, a command flag waved. Soldiers on board took down red gourds half a man’s height from their backs, pulled out the stoppers, and blazing true fire sprayed down from the ship, burning the defenders on the city wall, turning countless men into human torches!
Boom—
A squad of golden-armored warriors dragged a cloud chariot, crushing countless soldiers as it slammed into the city wall, collapsing hundreds of zhang of it. The burning men on the wall tumbled down. Outside the city, the Champion General and the Pacification General raised their spear and halberd, pointing at Daxiang City. Behind them, countless Yankang Kingdom troops roared, surging forward from the air and ground like a tide.
—The Pastoral Divine Chronicle has finally reached twenty thousand subscriptions. Thank you all for your support and affection. Today, Zhai Zhu’s body feels a bit better, the cold is less severe, so I’ll continue the burst with a third chapter. The second chapter will be at six in the evening!