Chapter 835: Dawn Breaks with the Rooster's Crow

Chapter 835: Dawn Breaks with the Rooster's Crow

"How can they be so fierce?"

The exclamation came from Second Pot Head, who, although not part of the army, understood the unique spells and techniques of the Mystic Circuit. This sudden scene caught him completely off guard.

Seeing that even Digua Shou Tou didn't dare to turn back and was fleeing from inside Tiger Gate, he first summoned the sister who had just made a great contribution, and when he looked back, he saw the Stupa Army emerging from the city.

One by one, the soldiers and their horses, clad in full armor, had blood splattered beneath their hooves, as if they were trampling on a sea of blood. And in the center, Divine Bestowed King's body was drenched in blood that occasionally seeped out through the gaps in his armor.

It was as if this blood, with him at its center, connected the entire Stupa Army.

Before their eyes, this group of soldiers, having trampled through the sea of blood, charged forward and rushed towards the Whispering Army. They reached the front, where the two five-hundred-strong vanguard teams of the allied forces were positioned on both sides for protection. In an instant, they were swallowed up, as if they hadn't even had a chance to scream before falling silent.

Second Pot Head's heart raced, and he waved several Shrine Banners to try and stop the steps of this ghostly army, but to no avail. The army continued to press forward.

"What the hell..."

He was shocked by this sudden change and quickly recalled one of the Shrine Banners to inspect it. He saw that the banner no longer had any divine light, and only a thick, bloody aura remained.

It seemed as if the spell on the banner had been broken.

Surprised, he looked up and saw that the Stupa Army's charge had already clashed with another army, also mounted on tall horses and clad in purple armor. They immediately engaged in fierce combat.

This was none other than the 10,000-strong Grain Guard Army from the Capital City, and without exchanging words, they began fighting.

On both sides, the sound of drums and gongs rang out, signaling the arrival of the White Armor Army and the Iron Barricade Army, who charged diagonally, surrounding the Stupa Army and engaging in a chaotic battle in the dark night.

The Grain Guard Army was an elite force, and both the White Armor Army and the Iron Barricade Army had their unique strengths.

The White Armor Army wore paper armor, and when they chanted their incantations, the paper armor became as sturdy as iron, yet lighter and easier to replace, giving them an advantage in agility and adaptability.

The Iron Barricade Army soldiers each held large shields, which were also enchanted with Mystic Circuit spells. These shields were forged from Yin Wood from the mountains, and once planted into the ground, they drew upon the earth's energy, becoming virtually immovable. They were especially skilled in defensive battles.

Unexpectedly, the three armies, upon encountering the Stupa Army, were on the brink of defeat within moments.

The Stupa Army numbered 30,000, but with the Three Armies Alliance, their combined strength reached nearly 100,000. Just in this battlefield, the elite forces numbered over 30,000, making the two sides evenly matched in terms of numbers.

However, the Stupa Army's bloodlust was overwhelming, and the White Armor Army's paper armor couldn't withstand the onslaught. Their armor was reduced to its original state, offering no protection against swords and blades, as if they were fighting bare-bodied.

The large shields held by the Iron Barricade Army also lost their effectiveness. When faced with the blood-soaked weapons of the Stupa Army, the shields shattered like rotten wood.

If not for the 10,000 elite soldiers of the Grain Guard Army holding the front line and blocking the Stupa Army's advance, this main force of the allied armies would have been scattered like dry wood.

As Second Pot Head watched the Grain Guard Army and the Stupa Army clash in the night, he saw bodies from both sides falling and being trampled into meat paste. His eyes widened, and his heart ached with pain.

He knew how the elite Grain Guard Army was formed and had a connection with them.

Each fallen soldier from the 10,000-strong elite Grain Guard Army was irreplaceable, and the thought of their losses made his heart ache.

As he stared intently at the battle, he suddenly widened his eyes and couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, this..."

He was distressed by the casualties of the Grain Guard Army, but what he saw next was even more bizarre. He witnessed a soldier from the Grain Guard Army and a member of the Stupa Army simultaneously piercing each other with their spears, both falling from their tall horses.

The Grain Guard soldier lay on the ground, unable to get up, but the Stupa Army soldier, after falling, had blood on the ground continuously seeping into his armor.

Before long, he stood up as if nothing had happened, and even his horse rose to its feet, joining the other soldiers in their fierce resistance against the Grain Guard Army.

"Immortal?"

This left Second Pot Head speechless, and his scalp tingled. "How can we fight this?"

The Grain Guard Army was already an elite force, and even a one-for-one exchange with the enemy was painful. Who would have thought that the enemy could resurrect after death, making it even more unbearable.

"Blood Vajra, the most ferocious, filthy, evil, and toxic, breaking all spells and defiling all treasures."

At that moment, Hu Ma's voice sounded beside him, "This army is forged from the blood pool in the Eight Scenes of Hell."

"Blood Pool?"

Second Pot Head was also shocked, "Isn't that something from the Netherworld?"

"This is the path that the Li Family has laid out for us."

Hu Ma also looked towards the battlefield and saw from a distance that only the Grain Guard Army and a few New Year Guard Officers were left to hold off the allied forces. The generals were already in a panic, but behind them, the military strategist Iron Mouth appeared.

As they shouted for the Grain Guard Army to retreat slowly, they cast their spells, and suddenly, the ground rumbled. A metal coffin emerged from the earth, and a sinister creature leaped out of it.

It was none other than the Yin General.

Hu Ma, having just finished speaking with Madame Li, realized that the Vajra Army was even more formidable than he had imagined. So, he went to meet the Vajra Army, temporarily lending the Yin General to the Grain Guard Army to adapt to the changing situation. Only then did he return to meet Erguotou.

With the appearance of the Yin General, the Yin Wind swept across the ground, and amidst the eerie darkness, tens of thousands of shadow troops clad in armor and wielding spears advanced towards the Blood Vajra, aiding the Grain Guard Army and halting their decline.

Only then did Hu Ma deeply exhale a breath of frustration, saying, "No one knows what tricks the Li Family has played in this Blood Pool, or how they managed to lure this thing into the mortal realm."

"Not to mention the soldiers, even we, if we're not careful and encounter this thing, will suffer a great loss!"

"Old Brother, you often travel to the Netherworld. Do you know about one of the Eight Sceneries of Hell?"

Madame Li was a reasonable person, and she had made assurances about the outcome of this gamble, but with age comes wisdom, and she didn't reveal a single crucial detail.

How to defeat the Vajra Army and deal with the Blood Pool on their bodies were matters that required careful consideration.

"I don't know."

Erguotou, seeing that the Grain Guard Army had gained assistance, felt slightly relieved. Hearing this, he shook his head and said, "When we enter the Netherworld, we usually don't go this deep. The last time I followed you into the City of the Wretched Dead was the deepest I've ever been. Usually, I just circle around the Gate of Ghosts."

"Although ascending the bridge means transcendence, different paths lead to different encounters. Reincarnators will get closer to the Evil Star, while those who take the path of wandering ghosts will head towards the Dark Palace of the Netherworld. The Wang Family is close to their ancestors..."

"Only the Soul Punishment Sect, or perhaps only the Li Family, can get closer to the Blood Pool and understand the wonder of this scenery."

"Moreover, they not only get close, but they also block others, fearing that others will see and know. Of course, the Ten Surnames all have this nature..."

"Except for the Hu Family!"

"..."

"This is probably where the Ten Surnames draw their confidence."

Hu Ma sighed softly, "The Li Family's advantage in this gamble lies in their understanding of the Blood Pool, which far surpasses that of anyone else. This is their ace in the hole."

"But let's first resolve the crisis of the Three Armies Alliance. As for the rest, we'll wait until the person we're waiting for arrives!"

As they spoke, their attention remained focused. With the Yin General's assistance, it was clear that the Grain Guard Army had become much more agile, but the Blood Vajra also fought with increasing ferocity, and the battle continued with attacks and retreats.

The Blood Vajra could corrupt all spells, and its body emanated a fierce aura. The Yin General's presence was a comforting sight.

The only regret was that Hu Ma's killing intent was too weak. The Yin General had only about sixty thousand shadow troops, far fewer than the million needed to be invincible.

The correct way to use the Yin General was to ignore the concept of Yin and Yang. When the shadow troops passed through an area, all living beings within a hundred li, or even a thousand li, would dream of following the Yin General, defeating enemies and winning battles. Of course, after the great battle, their fate was of no concern.

Hu Ma had never used such a method before. He could only collect a little here and there, barely managing to use it.

To some extent, the path Hu Ma had chosen and the principles he believed in had already determined that he couldn't effectively utilize the Yin General, this sinister Yin artifact.

"I... I'll..."

Just as he was thinking, the Senior Abacus rushed over, panting heavily, with a chicken coop on his shoulder. He was so exhausted that he almost collapsed, and after putting down the coop, he grabbed a rooster from inside.

Then, he bowed his head towards the rooster and knocked his head against it, saying, "Grandpa, I'm counting on you..."

The rooster had been stolen from the Grain Guard Army's supply camp and had been locked up for two days, becoming listless and staring blankly without any reaction.

The Senior Abacus, without hesitation, knocked his head against the rooster twice more. The rooster seemed to sense something and raised its head, looking at the dark sky. Suddenly, its chest puffed out, and it let out a loud, resonant crow.

As the rooster crowed, it seemed to suppress the dark Yin Wind in the night. Beneath the heavens, the darkness began to clear.

However, in the eastern sky, a thin line of blood still hung, pressing against the horizon, blocking the sun. The Yin Wind that had just dispersed seemed to be gathering again.

Hu Ma understood the Senior Abacus's method. Seeing that the rooster had begun its second crow, he gathered his soul light, revealing a three-headed, six-armed dharma form. One of his heads turned with a creaking sound, looking towards the east, holding the Demon-Suppressing Golden Mace, and smashing it down with force.

Bang! It was as if he had shattered an egg.

The eastern sky, previously obscured by the blood line, suddenly exploded, revealing a sun like a yolk. The darkness of the night had thinned considerably.

"General, the sun is rising!"

At that moment, on the battlefield, the Blood Vajra was overwhelming the three armies. Blood flowed like a river, but upon hearing the rooster's crow and facing the eastern dawn, the Blood Vajra's offensive slowed, and it gradually retracted its momentum, retreating back to Tiger Pass.

And across from them, the Yin General also sensed the sudden surge of positive energy between heaven and earth. He quickly jumped back into his coffin, which sealed itself. Hu Ma reached out and retrieved the General Order from the hands of the Soul Punishment Sect's Iron Mouth.

The Grain Guard Army also suffered numerous casualties and dared not pursue. They hastily regrouped and tended to their wounded.

"How did you know about this method?"

Hu Ma looked at Old Abacus, who had just climbed to his feet, dusting off his knees. He casually pointed and said, "This time, it wasn't me. It was her."

Puzzled, Hu Ma saw that Old Abacus was pointing at Wu He.

"Brother Hu, the Blood Vajra Army of the Li Family only fights at night. Because at night, they can summon the blood pool's water for empowerment, making them extremely deadly and toxic, capable of destroying one's fate and fortune."

"The undeserving will die, and those who encounter them will also struggle to survive."

Since delivering the message for the Divine Hand Zhao Family, Wu He had not left. At this moment, she was holding a basin with a towel draped over it. Seeing that Hu Ma had finished his task, she approached and handed him the wet towel.

"But once the sun rises, their blood energy will dissipate, and they will no longer be protected by the Blood Pool."

Hu Ma understood that the Divine Hand Zhao Family wanted to pass him a message through Wu He. Hearing this, he frowned slightly, "So, once it's daytime, the Blood Vajra Army becomes ordinary people?"

"No."

Wu He shook her head, her voice slightly lowered. "Young Master Zhao said he couldn't reveal the Li Family's secrets, but you'll know at a glance."

"See?"

Hu Ma was slightly puzzled, but he kept the thought in mind. Soon, some Bull-Not-Eater disciples arrived, carrying a wooden frame. Their armor indicated that they were members of the Blood Vajra Army.

Although the Bull-Not-Eater disciples couldn't stop the Blood Vajra Army, they could assist the Grain Guard Army. As long as there was a plan, they could secretly capture one or two of them on the battlefield, which was what Hu Ma had instructed them to do when he sent the General Order.

Hu Ma reached out and tore open the iron armor of the Blood Vajra soldier, examining him. His expression changed slightly.

He had the Bull-Not-Eater disciples capture a live Blood Vajra soldier to learn the secrets of the Blood Pool's empowerment. However, to his surprise, the person under the iron armor was dead.

Hu Ma took a closer look, realizing that the Bull-Not-Eater disciples had failed in their task.

The person under the iron armor had pale skin, lifeless eyes, and even a faint stench of decay. On his arms, chest, and other parts of his body, there were visible stitches from thick threads, resembling those used for sewing up wounds on animals.

This person was not only dead but had likely been dead for a long time.

Suddenly, Hu Ma understood the intention behind Zhao San's reminder. He turned to Wu He, "What else did he ask you to tell me?"

"That's all!"

Wu He carefully recalled, "He just wanted me to remind you that at night, no one can match the Blood Vajra Army."

Hu Ma's gaze deepened as he looked towards Tiger Pass, "So, last night, the Grain Guard Army was fighting against an army of the dead?"

Second Pot Head listened, his heart slightly startled, "What do you mean?"

Hu Ma looked down at the Blood Vajra soldier at his feet, clad in black armor, and said softly, "It's not that the Blood Vajra Army can't be killed. It's just that, except for the Divine Bestowed King, the rest of the army might have been dead from the start, with only their spirits sealed within their bodies."

"Because they're dead, they don't feel pain, and because they're dead, they can't withstand the sunlight."

"Then, to break through Tiger Pass, we must attack during the day."

He paused, deep in thought, "Inside Tiger Pass, there was originally the Divine Bestowed King's army of tens of thousands, along with countless civilians. But last night, they were all burned by the Sweet Potato Burn Army, causing them to either flee or be entangled, leaving the pass empty."

Upon hearing this, Second Pot Head became excited, "If that's the case, let's immediately reorganize our troops and launch an attack. Can we consider this a victory?"

Hu Ma slowly nodded, "In a battle of spells, the one with superior skills wins. Even those who take advantage of the situation can be considered victorious."

"Regardless of the method, as long as we can slay the Divine Bestowed King and eliminate the Blood Vajra Army, the Unchanging Li Family will have no choice but to submit to us and follow our orders."

Second Pot Head became anxious, "Then what are we waiting for?"

Hu Ma didn't stop them from delivering the message to the Grain Guard Army, but his brows furrowed, sensing that it might not be that simple.

Indeed, when the allied forces received the message from the Ghost Messenger, they realized that Tiger Pass, despite its formidable appearance, was actually empty. Furthermore, the Blood Vajra Army, which seemed like a nightmare, would also become ordinary during the day. They quickly reorganized and prepared to attack the pass.

However, as they were preparing, they saw numerous large banners converging towards Tiger Pass. The empty battlements were now filled with soldiers. Throughout the morning, various figures dressed in luxurious silk robes appeared on the pass, observing the movements of the surrounding armies.

"The Punishing Soul Sect's experts have arrived."

Hu Ma heaved a quiet sigh, his gaze sweeping over the troops at Tiger Pass and the Bull-Not-Eater disciples who were scouting and relaying information. They had a thorough understanding of the movements in Quzhou.

"The Unchanging Li Family made a promise, but they also pinned their hopes on this battle. How could they not know the weaknesses of the Stupa Army?"

"The private army and the experts in various arts have probably been summoned from their twenty years of cultivation."

"But these officials from various halls, who are affiliated with the Li Family, and even the local officials and gods... How could they all respond so quickly to a single order and gather here at Tiger Pass?"

"..."

A sense of absurdity and astonishment filled his heart. The Divine Bestowed King was known for his ferocity and brutality, yet in this vast land of Quzhou, he seemed to have an uncanny ability to rally people to his cause.

Had the Li Family helped him achieve this?

Hu Ma wasn't entirely convinced, but seeing the activity at Tiger Pass, he understood that the alliance of the Grain Guard Army, Iron Barricade Army, and White Armor Army was formidable. However, taking the pass in a single day would be an almost impossible task.

If they waited until nightfall, and the Blood Vajra Army arrived, how could the three allied armies withstand them? On the other hand, if the three allied armies attacked during the day, they would be at a disadvantage. The Blood Vajra Army's reinforcements arrived so quickly, like ghosts and gods, and in just one morning, they appeared even stronger than before.

Several vanguard officers tested the waters and immediately encountered the experts within Tiger Pass.

After a brief exchange, apart from Zhao Zhu's Jar Army gaining a slight advantage, the others couldn't hold their own in the battle.

As time passed and dusk approached, the invisible pressure returned to the heads of the allied army's commanders.

"I never expected the Li Family to make their move so early."

As the sun relentlessly sank in the west, causing restlessness among the crowd, a woman dressed like a peasant, with a red silk scarf wrapped around her head, led a few companions to their location.

It was the Red Wine Lady. "Fortunately, Iron Guanyin instructed us in Old Yin Mountain. We haven't been idle these past few days, and now we can finally be of help."

Seeing her arrival, Hu Ma relaxed and smiled, "Did Elder Iron Guanyin foresee this?"

"She didn't know who she would meet, but when we met, she reminded us that ascending the bridge is a good thing. But after crossing the bridge, instead of focusing solely on the Celestial Age, it's better to divide our attention and consider the Eight Scenes of Hell."

The Red Wine Lady had arranged to meet with Hu Ma in Quzhou, but due to the battle at Tiger Pass, they had been delayed by a day or two. Now that they had finally met, they were both delighted.

However, as they were already quite familiar with each other, there was no need for formalities.

After a brief greeting, she quickly got down to business, glanced at Tiger Pass, and then turned halfway to a man in a black robe behind her, asking, "Well?"

Hu Ma recognized the man; he was the reincarnator from Anzhou, code-named Burned Blade.

He first examined the dead body of the Stupa Army soldier on the ground, then squinted towards Tiger Pass, and with a smirk, he said, "I know that so-called Divine Bestowed King. When the Unchanging Li Family chose me, I borrowed him to help them kill in my dreams."

"Since he can carry it, so can I."

"..."

Hu Ma and Second Pot Head, upon hearing these words, realized that the Red Wine Lady had already made up her mind. They were overjoyed and eagerly invited her to sit down, offering her the tea that Wu He had prepared in the mountains.

"Attacking Tiger Pass during the day is a foolish strategy, and we don't know how much energy it will drain our troops. So, let's go straight for the heart of the matter."

After taking a sip of tea, the Red Wine Lady slowly spoke, "In the end, it's not a person, but an object that has been soaked in the Blood Pool. Without that power, he's nothing."

"To seize that power, we must find the executioners who were once invited to kill for the Blood Pool. Fortunately, our brother Burned Blade has served in the Blood Pool before."

"So..."

She smiled and turned to Hu Ma, "Old Bai Gan, are you interested in taking a trip to the Netherworld and seeing what's at the end of the bridge?"

Hearing her emphasize the words "Old Bai Gan," Hu Ma's heart steadied, and he smiled, "Sure!"

The Elder Abacus, standing nearby, was both surprised and delighted. He was glad to have some clarity, but as he glanced westward and saw the darkening sky, he exclaimed, "But if you all go down there, what will happen here?"

"Let them handle it."

At these words, the Red Wine Lady merely smiled, her gaze piercing, and she said, "Do you really think only we few came here?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end