Chapter 212: Chapter 152: The Nest is Overturned_1
Translator: 549690339
But speaking of the past few days, all the cultivators had received their orders and departed. Even True Monarch Changrong had returned to White Cloud Taoist Temple, leading an assembly of Real Man Magicians from within the sect, including two newly promoted True Monarchs, to head together to the grand encampment at the Qinhuai River, preparing for battle.
Fifteen years ago, the north and the south had established their boundaries by the Qinhuai River, building cities and training armies, each facing off against the other.
Today, the Northern Territory had fallen into the demon realm. The Chen Dynasty’s forces north of the Qinhuai River either defected to the south or returned north to meet their deaths.
In contrast, to the south of the Qinhuai River, fortifications were high and sturdy, defenses were on full alert, and there was a rapid mobilization of seven provinces’ forces.
Cultivators acted swiftly, and at the latest within one day, the vanguard of the army could set off.
Xu Yang bid farewell to everyone and turned to enter the temple.
“Master!”
A group of disciples came forward to greet him, all with the cultivation of a Five-Realm True Man.
Over the years, all three parties had developed significantly.
The disciples of Mingxiao Taoist Temple were among the earliest to be taken in and received the most resources.
With several decades of accumulation, there were now one hundred thousand disciples, surpassing even the Palace of Longevity and Pure Yang Palace in the number of Taoists.
Among the one hundred thousand disciples, there were not many in the Six Realm of True Monarch, only a mere three, for after all, he couldn’t cultivate the “Five Elements Gold Binding Pill” in this world, nor could he use the Luotian Dajiao regularly, making it fundamentally impossible to mass-produce Six Realm cultivators.
These three had broken through because: one, they possessed exceptional talents; two, they had rich cultivation resources; and three, the various skill traits of their teachers had added final touches, causing quantitative changes to lead to qualitative changes, hence they stepped into the realm of True Monarch.
Although there were not many Six Realm True Monarchs, there was no shortage of Five-Realm True Men, an entire host of three thousand.
Three thousand Real Men, if placed in the current world, would be equivalent to three thousand Foundation Establishments.
Scouring the entire Liang Country and the Three Sects of Golden Core, they probably couldn’t muster that many.
But Xu Yang, using various skill traits, had “grown” them over decades.
If one were to also include Guo Bei Academy and all the kind spirit monsters that had come to seek refuge, it would be enough to assemble a large army of cultivators composed of Five-Realm True Men.
To raise troops for a thousand days is to use them for one moment!
Now was the time to use them.
Xu Yang looked at the three disciples: “You will lead three thousand Real Men, sixty thousand mages, hurry to the grand encampment at the Qinhuai River, arrange the Duotian Altar, Shenxiao Great Array, summon the various gods from the Thunder department to possess, this time, we will risk our fortunes and lives, to fight the demons once and for all, to be victorious is to live, to be defeated is to die, there will be no turning back!”
“Yes!”
The three understood the gravity of the situation and dared not delay, immediately accepting the command and departing.
Xu Yang then turned and ascended the Nine-Rites high platform, crossed his legs and closed his eyes, and his Yang God exited his body.
Once the Yang God emerged, it traversed through Yin and Yang, entering directly into the netherworld.
In ancient times, Black Mountain, the City of Wrongful Deaths, had already been transformed into a sector of the Governors of the Netherworld.
With the descent of the Yang God, it landed in the Governors’ office, arriving at the drill ground, at the muster stage.
This muster stage was also a Mana Altar, surrounded by command flags unfurled in all eight directions, and command tablets hung high on all ten sides.
“Heaven is clear, Earth is spiritual, soldiers follow the seal’s turn, generals obey orders, and heed my command and deployment!”
With Xu Yang’s figure manifesting, he stood on top of the muster stage, with a wave of the command flag and a chant of the magic incantation, ghost soldiers from all ten directions approached.
The troops divided into ten directions, forming five forces: the Eastern Jiuyi soldiers, the Southern Baman soldiers, the Western Rong soldiers, the Northern Di soldiers, and the Central Qin soldiers.
The five forces of soldiers were distinct from one another, including lively and active Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, unkempt and disheveled Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, roaming and hunting Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, soul-collecting and restricting Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, South Mountain binding Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, chicken-slaughtering and blood-offering Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, chicken-disturbing and shouting Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, self-shouting and responding Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, flag-waving and shouting Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, finger-biting and blood-dropping Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, moving the cool and relieving pain Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, knife-opening and blood-letting Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, knife-sealing and bone-connecting Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers…
All one hundred thousand ghost soldiers were fully present.
Then, five gusts of cold yin wind rolled in, kneeling before the muster stage ready to take orders– these were the five Ghost Emperor Generals.
“Central Ghost Marshal Yao Bisong!”
“Northern Ghost Marshal Lin Jingzhong!”
“Western Ghost Marshal Cai Ziliang!”
“Southern Ghost Marshal Zhang Zigui!”
“Eastern Ghost Marshal Chen Guixian!”
“Greetings to the Mansion Lord!!!”
The marshals of the five directions appeared in response to the summons.
Xu Yang waved the command flag once more: “Where are the two Generals of Increase Life and Damage Fate?”
“Rumble!”
Before the words fall, the netherworld was struck by flashes of lightning and thunderclaps, startling all spirits into wailing and terrifying both gods and ghosts.
Two figures descended with the thunder: one in azure, one in crimson, both towering more than twenty feet tall, with ferocious faces and angry eyes, their mien like vajras and their spirit more fierce than asuras, causing even the ghost gods to weep at night and demons to cry out in fear.
Upon seeing this, Xu Yang uttered not another word; with a shake of both hands holding the command flags, he summoned lightning from all ten directions.
“No limits between Heaven and Earth, creation of Yin and Yang, the gods follow my command, orders unite as one!”
“Swift!!!”
As the words were spoken, lightning streaked forth swiftly, striking the bodies of the two generals, aiding them to combine loss and gain into one, uniting Yin and Yang.
After a moment, lightning exploded and, amidst dazzling divine light, a general with immense anger emerged with three heads and six arms, each wielding a divine weapon, while an eye in the middle of his forehead emitted lightning and divine light.
Indeed…
“Heaven complies and mankind consents, I hereby decree to appoint you as Yin Mountain Mansion’s Great Protector, the Grand Marshal of the Five Chaotic Generals and Soldiers, and the vanguard of wind, fire, lightning, and thunder!”
“Lead the troops to open the path, connecting Yin and Yang, eliminating demons and ghosts, slaying evil spirits and monsters, vanquishing wickedness and eradicating evil!”
“Go!!!”
Along with the shout, Xu Yang slammed the desk, and command flags from all eight directions and command tablets from all ten sides flew out, falling amidst the ranks of the five forces of soldiers.
“Orders Received!!!”
With all the ghosts thunderously obeying the command, the Great Increment-Decrement Marshal roared out. Immediately, winds and fires howled, sand and stones flew, accompanied by lightning and thunder piercing through the dual realm of Yin and Yang, creating a thoroughfare through the netherworld.
“Roar! Roar! Roar!”
The myriad ghosts roared as they followed suit, rushing towards the mortal realm.
In the mortal realm, it was broad daylight, and all was serene under the heaven and earth.
At the boundary of the Qinhuai River, one side was deserted while the other was tightly guarded, a somewhat strange contrast.
At this moment, within the northern bounds of the Qinhuai River, a group was fleeing in panic.
“Hurry, hurry, hurry!”
“The Qinhuai River is just ahead!”
“Once we cross the Qinhuai River, we’ll be in the south.”
“These evil ghosts dare not pursue. Quickly!”
A group of people fled in panic, including monks and Taoists, scholars and warriors, some riding auspicious clouds and others on magic artifacts.
Behind them, a chilling wind whistled like an overwhelming tide, threatening to chase them down and engulf them completely.
A piece of monk’s robe fluttered hurriedly through the air as an elderly monk with white eyebrows maneuvered a magic artifact, with a terrified young monk standing behind him.
The young monk looked back and saw the surging tide of Yin Qi, within which malevolent spirits with hideous faces appeared, causing his own complexion to turn pale with fear.
They were Buddhist monks from the north, remote and isolated due to their small temple, which had spared them from attending the deadly Water-Land Dharma Assembly in the capital city and allowed them to escape this catastrophe.
But having escaped this catastrophe, there was another waiting. The northern territory had become a demon realm, where demons and evil ghosts ran rampant. After enduring countless hardships, with most of their temple fellows either dead or injured, only the two of them, an old monk and a young one, had managed to escape to this place.
The path to life was right before them, but death pursued them closely from behind.
Seeing the old monk looking gaunt and his mana nearly depleted, the young monk’s eyes filled with despair.
“Baiyun, your master can’t go on. Hold tightly to the staff, I will send you on your way. Remember, you must bring the Golden Buddha to Mingxiao Taoist Temple and give it to Heavenly Master Shi. Only then can our Buddhism’s great sin be slightly reduced.”
“Go!”
After speaking, the old monk grabbed the young monk, stuffed a bundle into his embrace, and infused the last of his mana into the staff, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to send him off.
But unexpectedly…
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
A thunderous rumble ensued, and the sky darkened abruptly as if ominous clouds were descending.
Suddenly, the howling wind and the surge of ghostly Qi twisted the space in front of them, revealing a gloomy netherworld.
“Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!”
“Charging! Charging! Charging!”
“Flutter! Flutter! Flutter!”
From within the gloom, the sounds of troops and horses could be heard, and the black mist converged into a substantial Yin Qi.
Then, the ground thundered with the sounds of hooves like thunder, and within the black tide, shadowy figures could barely be seen as if an army of thousands was galloping towards them, blocking the way forward.
“This…”
Even the old monk couldn’t help but change his expression at this sight.
It was broad daylight, and the heavens were clear, yet were these the ghosts, the Underworld Soldiers, marching into the world of the living?
Such power was a thousand times, no, ten thousand times stronger than the tide of a hundred ghosts furiously chasing them from behind.
Was the demon’s influence so extensive already?
In a moment of shock, the army of thousands was already upon them.
“Amitabha!”
“Heaven’s will!”
“Fate!”
The old monk, left with no other choice, could only close his eyes and brace for the inevitable.
But unexpectedly…
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The whistling wind passed by, the dead not touching the living, and the army of thousands charged and collided, crushing the hundreds of pursuing evil ghosts who could not avoid them in time, reducing them to dust within the black tide.
“Huff! Huff! Huff!”
The gusts of chilling wind made their bodies tremble, but after waiting for a while, there was no pain, no feeling of a soul being devoured. The young monk couldn’t help but open his eyes and tugged at the old monk’s sleeve, “Master, master…”
“Hmm?”
The old monk was also confused, opening his eyes and looking forward.
Then he saw a towering ghost god, a three-headed, six-armed being, as formidable as a Vajra and as fierce as an Asura, stepping out from the netherworld with a hundred yards in each stride, followed by orderly troops from the five directions.
Those ghosts from before were merely the advance scouts!
The main corps now approaching was the elite of the Yin government!
“This…”
“The Great Increment-Decrement Marshal!”
“It’s the Yin Mountain Mansion!”
The old monk also realized what was happening and quickly picked up the young monk to stand aside and avoid the Yin government’s troops.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
No one paid them any mind as the Great Increment-Decrement Marshal commanded the five ghost generals and a million Underworld Soldiers as the vanguard of a grand army that charged mightily toward the north, grinding any encountered demons to dust.
The Underworld Soldiers borrowed the way, with the vanguard clearing the path.
And then…
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
More rumbling could be heard in the skies afar.
The old monk looked up, following the noise, his face filled with shock.
He saw that to the south of Qinhuai, the skies were completely dark, covered by an approaching mass of black clouds.
The uninterrupted expanse of black clouds eclipsed the sun, and atop the clouds, indistinct figures of Taoists and mages could be seen, among the sounds of thunder drums and flashing lightning resembling dragons, as if celestial soldiers had descended into the human realm.
In fact…
“Mingxiao Taoist Temple!”
“It’s the Taoists of Mingxiao!”
Before the old monk could recover from his astonishment, he heard Taoist survivors exclaiming nearby.
“It is said that under King Shifa of Mount Jilei’s Mingxiao Taoist Temple, three thousand true men and a hundred thousand Taoists, all versed in Thunder Series magic and served by various gods of thunder, create encompassing storm clouds and lightning veils the sun as they emerge, striking like celestial soldiers. Indeed, their reputation is well-deserved!”
“In the years past, when King Shifa purged the world of demons, the Taoists of Mingxiao followed, setting up the Duotian Altar and the Shenxiao Great Array. By invoking the Jade Pure Divine Thunder, countless demons and even millennia-old demons were obliterated under the might of these thunderbolts.”
“Are the demons about to taste the same bitter defeat this time?”
Watching the Taoists of Mingxiao disappear into the distance, those who had survived the disaster speculated in wonder.
In the meantime…
In the distant skies, a resplendent glow radiated, and thousands upon thousands of swords formed a mighty current, roaring their way across the sky, covering the sun and scattering the clouds with their ferocity.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The stream of swords soared high, darkening the sky, and the earth trembled with resonance. Armored legions emerged in the thousands, thunders roaring with their advance. Massive steel beasts spewed spirit light and rolled forward, an endless, majestic procession heading northward.