Chapter 560: Netherworld Yama Emissaries (First Update)
The Black Tiger God lay prostrate on the ground. Qin Mu quickly threw the box onto his back, hugged Hu Ling'er, and led the three girls and Long Qilin as they leaped onto the tiger's back.
The Black Tiger God immediately burst into a frantic sprint. Mountains flashed by in an instant, his speed unmatched.
Qin Mu pressed himself tightly against the tiger's back, listening to the Black Tiger God's panting. The breaths grew faster and faster. He thought to himself, "I wasn't wrong. Senior Brother Tiger cultivated for an entire lifetime, only to have it all ruined by Fatty Long. He's lost his cultivation because of him. I just hope he doesn't get too fat, or else I won't be able to explain it to the Saint Teacher… Hmm, whether we can even break through the enemy camp and return to Li City is also a problem…"
Just then, a sound like a dam bursting and a flood raging came from ahead, deafeningly loud. Qin Mu quickly braced himself against the howling wind and looked forward. He saw streaks of sword light tearing through the high wall of demonic energy, ripping a huge gap in the demon camp.
Following these sword lights were towering gourds floating in midair. Around each gourd floated cultivators who channeled their divine abilities, causing thunderous tides to surge within the gourds. Heavenly thunder poured down like a torrential rainstorm onto the demon camp.
Behind the Thunder Gourds were countless sword pellets, tens of thousands of them spinning wildly. Following the thunder strikes, a rain of swords shot down from above into the demon camp.
Further back were rows upon rows of tower ships. The true essence cannons on those ships fired beams that plowed the ground, destroying the demon camp!
"It's the Yan Kang army!"
Qin Mu's spirits soared. "That sword technique that broke through the camp just now—it's the Yan Kang National Teacher's sword art! That guy really knows how to seize an opportunity. The demon god who charged out of the camp to kill us must have been that camp's commander. The moment the commander left the camp, the National Teacher spotted the weakness and took the chance to break the formation! Only the National Teacher would be so opportunistic!"
The Yan Kang National Teacher had entered the Dao through the sword. His sword path had forged his Dao heart, so no enemy's flaw could escape his eyes or evade his sword light—and the same applied to enemy formations. He had transformed the sword path into the art of battlefield offense, making it unstoppable in war.
Qin Mu relaxed. Even if the Black Tiger God was a bit winded, it was enough to get them through the encirclement and back to Li City.
Ahead, the Yan Kang National Teacher and the Duke of Wei, two deities, led the way. Behind them were tower ships, with many soldiers carrying Thunder Gourds as they floated down from the air and landed on the ships.
Further back was an army of countless spirit beasts and cultivators.
The Black Tiger God charged into the battlefield. Suddenly, he shook his body, flinging everyone off, then rose up, grabbed his two great hammers, and swung them like windmills, smashing into the enemy with a storm of blows.
Boom—
One hammer struck the ground, and its surging might swept in all directions, sending countless demons flying into the air.
The Black Tiger God crazily slaughtered his way into the enemy ranks, roaring, "You all go back first! I'll digest the spirit pills and melt away the fat on my belly, so the master won't fail to recognize me when I return!"
With that, the demon god tore through everything in his path to the front line, leading the charge and destroying enemy camps and formations. He suddenly opened his mouth and roared, unleashing a blinding white light that blasted the demon god charging toward him flying. The white light pierced a hundred miles before slowly fading.
Qin Mu stared in shock, then turned to look at Long Qilin, who had been tossed into the air, round and fat like a ball. His heart sank. "The Saint Teacher's mount is still the best. Even if he's a bit greedy, he knows how to cultivate and keep his figure, so it doesn't hinder his cultivation…"
Long Qilin was also stunned. He glanced at Qin Mu's gloomy expression and fell into thought.
A tower ship flew over from the air, brushing past them. A young general stood at the bow, waving his hand. Golden lotuses bloomed beneath everyone's feet, lifting them up and sending them onto the ship.
"Qin Feiyue, Young General Qin!" Qin Mu exclaimed in surprise, quickly bowing in greeting.
Qin Feiyue, clad in full armor, slightly inclined his head in return: "Greetings, Sect Leader Qin. Greetings, Princess Xiu. Forgive me for not being more formal—I'm in my armor."
A figure emerged from behind him—it was Qin Yu, with a young dragon coiled around him. He also bowed to Qin Mu and the others: "Qin Yu pays respects to Sect Leader Qin, Princess Xiu, and Saintess Xiang."
These two brothers came from the Qin clan of the Grand Strategist. They were among the many disciples of the National Teacher, having trained under him for a time before achieving some success and taking up military posts.
The Yan Kang National Teacher had many disciples, but they often entered the military and held high positions. Ling Yuxiu was bold and sociable, befriending many heroes, and many of her friends were the National Teacher's disciples.
The first time Qin Mu met Ling Yuxiu, she was with Qin Feiyue, entering the Great Wasteland to map its geography and plan its conquest.
The young dragon on Qin Yu's body raised its head curiously, studying Qin Mu. Suddenly, it slithered off Qin Yu, climbed onto Qin Mu, and rubbed its dragon horn against his cheek, murmuring softly, "Maha…"
Qin Yu was stunned. He quickly took out a dragon pearl, trying to recall his young dragon, but the little dragon was reluctant to leave Qin Mu.
Qin Yu grew uneasy. "I couldn't match him even at the Imperial Academy—he beat me several times. After he became the Heavenly Demon Sect Leader, I fell even further behind. Is he going to take my dragon too?"
Qin Mu plucked the little dragon off, examined it carefully, and said in surprise, "Is this the true dragon from the Yong River Dragon Palace?"
Qin Feiyue nodded. "The National Teacher invited Little Poison King Fu Yuanqing to revive it, and later gave it to my brother."
Qin Mu's heart stirred. He smiled and said, "Junior Brother Qin Yu, could you lend me this little dragon for a few days?"
Qin Yu hesitated. Qin Feiyue laughed and said, "Sect Leader Qin holds a high position and is the Grand Sacrificial Officer of the Heavenly Saint Academy, raising countless flood dragons. Would he cheat you out of yours?"
Qin Yu had no choice but to agree. Qin Mu smiled and said, "Junior Brother Qin Yu, I won't borrow it for nothing. I'll give you some benefits. Once this little dragon is returned to you, you'll understand where the benefit lies."
The young dragon shrank down, crawled onto his earlobe, and hung there like a dangling earring.
Qin Mu looked into the distance. He saw the Tai Huang army, taking advantage of the Yan Kang army's breakthrough, intercepting the demon reinforcements from both flanks like two fists striking the enemy's weak points.
Up close, each tower ship was led by a young general directing the battle. Cannon fire plowed the ground from the air, while cultivators on the ships drove sword pellets and divine abilities downward. Behind them, strongmen cleared the way, and spirit beast armies and infantry slaughtered the demons.
"The generals on the other ships are also the National Teacher's disciples!"
Ling Yuxiu looked around and said to Qin Mu, "The National Teacher's disciples are often registered at the Jiangling Academy's Imperial Academy and frequently go there to teach. Many are military experts. There are familiar faces over there—fellow disciples from the Imperial Academy!"
Qin Mu looked into the distance and saw Wei Yong, Shen Wanyun, and others. He quickly waved, but they were fully focused on driving their spirit weapons downward and didn't see him.
After a while, the tower ships scattered the enemy formation, blasting the demon army below into pieces. The spirit beast battle formation behind them rolled forward, and the fighting grew fierce.
Qin Feiyue ordered the tower ship to halt and cease cannon fire, switching to spirit weapon attacks on the fleeing enemies below to stabilize the position. He explained to Qin Mu, "The reason our Yan Kang army is the vanguard this time is that the Tai Huang cultivators are too poor at mathematical arts, and their formations are somewhat loose. The National Teacher felt their formation's offensive power was insufficient, so he had our Yan Kang army break the formations up front."
Qin Mu praised, "The National Teacher is truly talented. The Tai Huang's mathematical arts are indeed lacking."
Sang Hua blushed and lowered her head without speaking.
"Although the Tai Huang's mathematical arts are very poor, their divine abilities are strong. They have aspects of cultivation that our Yan Kang cannot match. We can only rely on battle formations to charge forward. For the close-quarters combat afterward, we still have to depend on the Tai Huang cultivators."
Qin Feiyue drove his sword pellets, attacking the demons below from a height, and sighed, "I thought I was exceptional at the Heavenly Being realm, but after encountering these Tai Huang cultivators, I've truly had my eyes opened. With my cultivation and strength, I don't even rank among them in Tai Huang! This time, when charging the enemy formation, the National Teacher ordered that no one leave the ships to fight, precisely because our soldiers, at the same cultivation level, are no match for the demons."
The battle dragged on for a long time, continuing until the sun in the sky went out before both sides sounded the retreat.
Sang Hua asked in confusion, "We clearly won the battle, so why are we retreating? Why not press the advantage while the enemy flees and attack Lin City?"
Ling Yuxiu said, "Our forces are insufficient. Attacking Lin City would only scatter our troops and give the demons a chance to pick us off one by one. The National Teacher won this battle and then withdrew, using a strategy of attrition. Right here on this battlefield, he will keep grinding down the demons' living forces until they are completely annihilated. Then the demons will never become a threat!"
Qin Mu remembered what the Woodcutter Saint had said—that Tai Huang was fundamentally indefensible—and a shadow of worry crept into his heart.
The Woodcutter Saint's words were not baseless. If he said it couldn't be defended, then it couldn't be. The demons certainly wouldn't fight the way the Yan Kang National Teacher hoped. Fu Rilu must have other plans.
In the dark battlefield, ghost fires flickered faintly. Entrances to other dimensions appeared, and many ghost fires drifted over from another world. They were small boats sailing out of the Netherworld. From the boats came elderly figures with indistinct faces, carrying lanterns to welcome the fallen spirits.
Whether human or demon, once they became ghosts, they were all led into the Netherworld by these emissaries.
The retreating army below marched in silence, ignoring these Netherworld Yama Emissaries as if they were used to it.
Qin Mu stood at the bow of the tower ship in the air, watching this scene. Countless emotions welled up inside him, but he said nothing.
Just then, a small boat appeared in front of the tower ship, sailing quietly toward them. The old man sitting at the bow stood up, raised his lantern, and shone it on Qin Mu.
"Qin Fengqing, you have disturbed the Netherworld. Lord Tu Bo invites you to come and explain the matter." The old man holding the lantern spoke.
Qin Mu was startled, then laughed, "Who is Qin Fengqing? Elder, you've mistaken me for someone else."
The lantern light shone on his face. The old man behind the lantern said nothing.
Suddenly, a flash of black light, and the Black Tiger God appeared at the bow, placing himself between them, blocking Qin Mu. He shouted, "Yama Emissaries only handle matters after death! Since when do you meddle in the affairs of the living?"
The face behind the lantern was blurry and indistinct. "The Netherworld has its rules. It does not interfere with the affairs of the living world. But when a living person disrupts the Netherworld's operations, the Netherworld must intervene. Fifteen days ago, Qin Fengqing released forty-eight thousand Netherworld souls, violating Netherworld law. Fifteen days ago, we already notified Qin Fengqing, inviting him to the Netherworld to explain the matter. But he had a treasure on him that blocked the emissary sent to deliver the summons."
The Yan Kang National Teacher stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "What if I refuse to let you take him?"
The old man behind the lantern replied unhurriedly, "Many worlds have been destroyed because of such refusals."
Qin Mu recalled what he had seen in the Netherworld—the Capital Heaven Demon King wailing in the darkness, a tragic and moving sight. He said, "National Teacher, Senior Brother Tiger, say no more. I will go with him."