Chapter 849: Blade Decimates the Tenth Palace

Chapter 849: Blade Decimates the Tenth Palace

Before this slaughter tribulation fully unfolded, not everyone realized its true terror.

Even Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou had once fallen into a state of isolation, almost like a lone ruler.

Originally, the Grain Guard Army, the White Armor Army, and the Iron Barrier Army formed a three-army alliance, attacking the Divine Bestowed King of Quzhou. They agreed that whoever defeated the Divine Bestowed King would become the leader of the three armies, and their overall strength and reputation would rise, officially becoming qualified to compete for dominance over the world.

Before this, Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou was already seen as the common ruler in everyone's eyes, with strong soldiers, robust horses, and an excellent reputation.

However, the battle at Tiger Pass produced an unexpected outcome for everyone. The Iron Barrier King captured Tiger Pass, but Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou unleashed a killing spree.

The Iron Barrier King, riding on his victory, headed north to seize the Horse Ranch of the Long Victory Army in Mengzhou, with great momentum. Surprisingly, Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou went south instead, paying no heed to grand strategies or the overall situation. He went wherever there was food, wherever there was excess, and that's where he would appear.

There were too many strategists and subordinates who didn't understand this, but after unleashing this killing spree, Yang Gong became incredibly perceptive. Those who didn't understand were left with the Iron Barrier King, while he, alone and solitary, rode south.

Those who wanted to follow could do so.

The first to follow him were countless people in the mountains and wilderness who survived on porridge, people who had obtained grain from Yang Gong, taken from the wealthy families of the eight counties and twenty counties.

They were not strong soldiers, nor did they have formidable generals. Just the day before, they had nearly starved, and they had no direction. Yet, they followed Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou because this person promised to find them food and ensure they wouldn't starve.

And so, as an evil wind blew across the land, excess turned into an army, and Yang Gong transformed into a demon, leading this slaughter tribulation to engulf the world.

"Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou has broken the rules and become a calamity. Who knows how long it will take for him to rise again?"

Even before the battle at Tiger Pass, when Yang Gong slaughtered the noble families of the eight counties and twenty counties, his infamy spread far and wide, causing panic and discussions among those who were scared. They began to think in the worst possible direction.

Some guessed it would take two or three months, some half a year, and some thought it would take several years.

Others believed he wouldn't last long and would soon be killed, becoming a laughingstock.

But no one expected that in less than ten days, the name of Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou would suddenly echo throughout the world.

Everywhere, people rose up under the banner of Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou, and the wilderness was filled with his followers, like a snowball effect.

With the guidance of the Beefless Sect disciples and the assistance of reincarnators and local experts, this killing intent did not follow the common people's expectations, growing from one to two, two to three, and three to four. Instead, within a few short days, it expanded from one to a hundred, and from a hundred to ten thousand.

As the killing intent rose, it swept across the world.

There were starving people who had become numb, huddled together in groups in the wilderness, where even tree bark had been stripped clean, waiting for death.

Someone brought them a flag of Mingzhou's king, whispered a few words, and pointed in a direction.

That night, blood energy filled the sky, and suddenly, Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou gained thirty thousand soldiers, all strangers to each other.

Some followed the name of a noble lord, preparing to fight off the commoners who might come to steal their food, ready to wear armor and wield guns. But overnight, they discovered that all their weapons and provisions had been replaced with paper-mache.

Meanwhile, Yang Gong led a group of commoners who had just eaten their last meal, wandering aimlessly on the mountain path, when they saw a mountain of weapons, bamboo armor, and provisions ahead.

It was strange. The Divine Bestowed King had killed countless, but his reputation in Quzhou remained good, and many came to his aid in times of trouble.

Yang Gong had only unleashed a killing spree outside Tiger Pass, slaughtering the noble families of the eight counties and twenty counties, and instantly became a feared figure by all.

Numerous extraordinary individuals from various sects wanted to uphold justice, kill this calamitous star who had taken countless lives, and eliminate this source of disaster. However, they all failed in the end.

Countless assassins who had been waiting for an opportunity to strike at Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou were secretly eliminated.

Many sect members who wanted to join forces to make things difficult for Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou were visited by a capable individual at night. This visitor politely paid a visit, then challenged them with his skills, forcing them to either surrender or face extermination.

Over time, even the martial world spread the word that Duke Yang Gong of Mingzhou was protected by ghosts and gods and should not be provoked.

This half-true, half-false rumor further spread the name of Divine King Yang Gong throughout the world. The slogan "Slay Tyrants, Protect the People" had already spread across the world in just a few short days.

The troops under Divine King Yang Gong of Mingzhou grew like a snowball, swelling daily. In just half a month, nearly a million troops were acting in his name, and slaughter tribulations erupted across the world. The noble families and the wealthy were collapsing like broken tiles.

It was only then that many people realized the problem.

The excess they saw was actually people, and as long as they were people, they could learn to wield a knife and kill.

This slaughter tribulation was not instigated by anyone, nor was it led by anyone. It only needed someone to take the lead, and it would immediately spread throughout the world.

This slaughter tribulation had always been in the human world.

...

...

"There are two treasures in the world: the Celestial Age and the common folk."

In the Nether Palace, Hu Ma, by transforming his body into a bridge, could more profoundly sense the horror of this slaughter tribulation.

This slaughter tribulation was unprecedented and would cause countless deaths in this world.

However, only through this slaughter tribulation could the world preserve more lives, ensuring that by the time of the Heaven-Earth Transformation, there would be enough popular support to challenge the Celestial Age.

The Celestial Age is a treasure, so the royal family, the noble families, and the Ten Clans monopolize it. Therefore, the reincarnators must protect the common folk.

He was waiting patiently in the Nether Palace because he knew that the speed of this slaughter tribulation would surpass everyone's imagination.

In dreams, time flows differently from reality.

Moreover, with the circulation of purple qi, his dream became the heaviest in the world, giving him the patience to wait for the human world's slaughter tribulation to help him nurture this blade.

Currently, he had reached the realm of being a ghost but not a ghost, a relatively high realm, but he lacked the corresponding means.

But with this blade, it was enough.

The longer he waited, the more advantageous it would be, but unfortunately, the ghosts in the Nether Palace clearly didn't let him have his way. The second Emperor Ghost had already arrived, drawn by the scent.

For Hu Ma, this was like a nightmare, unprecedented throughout history. Countless large ghosts invaded his dreams, attempting to devour him in his sleep, using his dream as a gateway back to the Human World.

However, the dream-self was not one to surrender easily. The Meng Family Ancestor became his first line of defense.

Inviting ghosts into dreams to guard the true spirit.

One must admit that the Nether Palace Emperor Ghost was terrifying. The Meng Family Ancestor was something no one dared to face directly in the Human World. Even the former State Tutor, who had faced it, only thought of ways to send it away.

But at this moment, the Meng Family Ancestor was fighting fiercely with the Emperor Ghost, their cries chilling and terrifying. In a short time, neither gained an advantage, but later, the Meng Family Ancestor gradually gained the upper hand.

This advantage was due to Hu Ma bringing the Purple Qi from the Nether Palace into the Human World, weakening the Nether Palace and thus gaining the upper hand.

By this time, he had already pinned down the first Emperor Ghost.

As the Purple Qi dissipated and Hu Ma slashed wildly, the life force of this Emperor Ghost was reduced to its lowest point. The Meng Family Ancestor, on the other hand, became even more ferocious. The first Emperor Ghost that could fight it became its target.

One must admit that the Meng Family Ancestor's performance was truly remarkable.

The more Hu Ma made it suffer, the more ferocious it became, pinning the tenth Emperor Ghost beneath it and tearing at its flesh and blood, Purple Qi, and tendrils.

The blessing characters and withered faces on its body seemed to come to life, biting and tearing at the tenth Emperor Ghost's flesh and blood, Purple Qi, and tendrils.

And the reason it was so obedient was surprisingly simple.

Inviting ghosts to possess, making them feel comfortable, and borrowing their spiritual power.

To counter evil ghosts, one only needs to make them uncomfortable, stimulate their ferocity, and better defend against them.

"Like a fighting cricket..."

If the other Ten Clans knew how easily the Meng Family had overcome this obstacle, they would surely be envious.

If not for another Emperor Ghost arriving from the Nether Palace, Hu Ma would have believed that the Meng Family Ancestor could have bitten the tenth Emperor Ghost to death.

Unfortunately, the other Emperor Ghost arrived too quickly. The Nether Ghost in the tenth palace was still struggling beneath the Meng Family Ancestor, and the palace dome above its head was suddenly torn away by a giant hand.

The next moment, a torrent of Purple Qi descended, reshaping and suppressing everything around it, as if creating a new space.

Before Hu Ma, a larger palace appeared, filled with more civil and military officials. Dragon roars echoed within, and a brilliant golden light shone from the massive figure seated on the dragon throne, glaring at Hu Ma and emitting a fierce dragon roar.

Under the heavens, there could only be one emperor.

Therefore, the two Nether Palaces could not coexist. The ninth Emperor Ghost appeared and immediately suppressed the tenth Emperor Ghost's palace.

At this moment, the imperial aura on the tenth Emperor Ghost's body dissipated, and with the arrival of the ninth palace, it willingly transformed into the crown prince after being replaced.

Correspondingly, the ninth palace emperor's might was evidently much stronger than that of the tenth palace emperor.

The Duyi Dynasty had declined generation after generation. The earlier the imperial position, the greater the prestige and the more elaborate the funeral rites.

Another point was that the ninth Emperor Ghost had reigned for twenty-three years, and his fortune was stronger than that of the tenth Emperor Ghost. With his appearance, he showed no hesitation, and beneath the pearl curtain, his eyes shot out a chilling light. A giant hand reached out to grab Hu Ma.

"Won't you chat a little longer and let me kill some time?"

Although Hu Ma was in a killing frenzy, he remained vigilant, ensuring he didn't get surrounded. Now, with the ninth palace descending into his dream, the other party didn't say a word and simply reached out to grab him.

His heart sank, and without hesitation, he cried out, "Meng Family Ancestor, save me!"

At this moment, the Meng Family Ancestor was in the palace, biting the tenth Emperor Ghost, leaving it drenched in blood.

Its ferocity erupted, and it didn't even consider the will of the possessed person.

But Hu Ma knew how to control it. Suddenly, he felt intense pain all over his body, and the rune on his back forcefully twisted his anger, directing it towards the ninth Emperor Ghost on the palace.

This was a method of controlling the Meng Family Ancestor that even the Meng Family had never experienced.

"Chila!"

The ninth Emperor Ghost was met by the Meng Family Ancestor, who immediately pinned the ferocious ghost in the palace, pressing it down with a torrent of Purple Qi.

Even the Meng Family Ancestor's dignified burial robe was torn and tattered, leaving him in a sorry state.

But the Meng Family Ancestor's ferocity was also rare in the world. Countless black hands surged from his body, grabbing the tendrils of the ninth Emperor Ghost. Not only had he just suppressed the tenth Emperor Ghost, but he had also stopped the ninth Emperor Ghost.

Unfortunately, this did not truly free Hu Ma from the crisis.

The ninth Emperor Ghost was stopped, but by his side stood a tall figure in purple-golden iron armor, and on the ground was the tenth Emperor Ghost, whose restraints had just been released, its body tattered and torn. Together, they let out a furious roar that a living person could not match.

Then, they transformed into a torrent of dark wind, sweeping across the entire palace and slamming into Hu Ma, who stood at the palace entrance.

Following them were the civil and military officials of the new palace, each revealing their ghostly forms and rushing forward like a tide.

"In the ninth palace, there's not only that Emperor Ghost, but also a formidable thing..."

Hu Ma's heart sank as he immediately realized the problem.

The ninth Emperor Ghost of the Nether Palace was Yi Ding Emperor. During his reign, he had a valiant general who had quelled countless rebellions and achieved extraordinary feats. He was also handsome and had a close relationship with the Yi Ding Emperor, becoming a famous story.

Unfortunately, he died young, before the Yi Ding Emperor. The Yi Ding Emperor, in recognition of his achievements, issued an edict allowing him to be buried in the imperial mausoleum, a rare case of a general being buried with the reigning emperor.

Therefore, in the ninth palace, there was not only the Yi Ding Emperor, who was stopped by the Meng Family Ancestor, but also the Purple-Gold Iron Armor General.

With the tenth Emperor Ghost on one side and the general on the other, their attack was extremely ferocious.

"Hu Ma, run!"

Before Hu Ma could react, a purple shadow suddenly shot out beside him.

In the tenth palace, Little Hong Tang was truly obedient, trembling and hiding behind Hu Ma, not daring to show her face.

In the Tenth Palace, even a palace maid would tremble in fear at the sight of her, but now, in the Ninth Palace, she didn't recognize anyone in the hall, and her courage grew.

Following Hu Ma, she had absorbed an unknown amount of purple qi, and now, in her red attire, she seemed to have a subtle purple glow, and even her figure seemed to have grown taller, resembling a girl a few years older.

With her newfound height came a bolder attitude. Seeing Hu Ma fighting two opponents, she finally mustered the courage to rush forward.

She hugged the legs of the Purple-Gold Iron Armor General, dragging the mighty general into a dog-chewed mess.

The Purple-Gold Iron Armor General roared in anger and turned to strike, while Little Hong Tang charged at his head.

The two, one large and one small, one golden and one purple, clashed instantly, creating chaos all around. Dark winds howled, and purple qi surged.

Little Hong Tang, brimming with purple qi, faced the former general of the previous dynasty who embodied slaughter, disaster, savagery, and evil. They exchanged punches and glares, drew their blades and tugged at each other's legs, roared to the heavens, and cooed in a girlish tone.

Little Hong Tang had never learned to fight, and this was her first time taking the initiative after crippling the crippled little ghost, Yang Gong. She kicked and flailed her sleeves, unleashing all her skills, and then...

...they fought back and forth, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Well done, Hong Tang!"

Witnessing this scene, Hu Ma abruptly raised his head, and with a sense of relief, he turned his gaze towards the Tenth Palace ghost who had rushed before him.

...

...

Kill, kill, kill!

Horses' hooves trample the bones of the noble lords, and their heads roll.

In the mortal realm, Yang Gong had been fighting on all fronts, creating a bloodbath wherever he went. Cities fell, walls crumbled, and doors and lintels were reduced to flesh and mud. Wildfires raged across the land.

The noble lords of the aristocratic clans were invaded, and countless died in the flames of war. Even more were captured and brought before the city, their necks under the blade.

"Demons and monsters rule, the heavens are unjust, and bandits openly seize our ancestral legacy without shame! They deserve to die!"

Countless curses and wails of vengeful ghosts echoed, each word dripping with tears and blood. Yang Gong could have explained that he only wanted to take the grain, and those who opened their granaries would be spared. He could even provide them with ample food.

But after a while, he grew tired of explaining and gave up.

He lifted the head of a noble lord who had cursed him the most before his death, weighing it in his hand, and laughed, "The necks of the noble lords don't seem any stronger than others..."

...

...

In Hu Ma's dream, the Nether Palace.

At this moment, he felt the slaughter tribulation in the mortal realm, and it was becoming increasingly fierce.

When he turned himself into a bridge, the slaughter tribulation had just begun, but now, it had become an ocean.

He even had to use his bridge-like body to suppress it, lest it frighten the Emperor Ghost within the Nether Palace. And the arrival of the Tenth Palace Emperor Ghost was just in time.

"Dusk divides Yin and Yang."

"When ghosts intrude on mortal dreams, it is a crime of rebellion!"

"Should be executed!"

As Yang Gong's command rang out, Hu Ma abruptly stood up. The Demon Emperor Saber in his hand, hungry and impatient, suddenly rose, and behind him, a sea of blood surged, creating waves of endless killing intent that flowed towards the blade.

The saber's light was fierce, overpowering the brilliance and purple qi of the entire palace.

The Demon Emperor Saber had long been impatient, having received its name from Hu Ma, knowing it had the chance to surpass all other weapons.

But as it had not yet materialized, it transformed into hunger, constantly ringing, until this moment.

"Huala!"

The Tenth Palace Emperor Ghost rushed towards Hu Ma. Even though half of the purple qi in the Tenth Palace had been drawn into the mortal realm by Hu Ma, and the ghost itself had been torn apart by the Meng Family Ancestor, leaving it in tatters and barely holding on, it still retained a third of its power.

Finally, it reached Hu Ma, and on its bizarre face, a look of surprise appeared. Its massive body resembled a mountain peak.

But Hu Ma, as he raised his blade, suddenly swelled in size.

In the time it took to burn a stick of incense, he unleashed the Great Heavenly General General Technique, and his soul shone brightly, and his Dharma form was solemn. Unlike in the mortal realm, where he had three heads, in this dream, he had only one.

But it was a head of a fierce and evil spirit, with a blue face and fangs, eyes like copper bells, and a black body surrounded by rolling evil flames, appearing even taller than the Tenth Palace Emperor Ghost. He raised his savage blade high.

"Hah!"

From above, with a single strike, he pinned down the Tenth Palace Emperor Ghost who had rushed before him.

The next moment, the blade fell.

A huge head fell from the Tenth Palace Emperor Ghost, and countless tentacles writhed in agony, gradually withering.

At this moment, the Demon Emperor Saber lived up to its name, ringing sharply.

In the mortal realm, the sky suddenly cleared, but then, out of nowhere, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and the mountains and seas churned.

In a certain place in the mortal realm, the Duyi Imperial Mausoleum suddenly experienced an unprecedented earthquake. The mountains crumbled, the earth split, and the slopes slid, revealing an imperial mausoleum built there, which collapsed, exposing countless jewels and treasures within. A Grain Protection Army passing by benefited from this, gaining a substantial amount of provisions.

In the Nether Palace, as the head fell, silence descended. Whether it was the Ninth Palace Emperor Ghost, who was entangled in a fierce battle with the Meng Family Ancestor, the court officials, or the sacrificial generals, all fell silent.

Even outside the Nether Palace, several Emperor Ghosts who had smelled the scent and approached also felt a primal fear from that strike.

"Did you see that?"

In the silence between heaven and earth, Hu Ma grabbed the head of the Tenth Palace Emperor Ghost and shouted to the crowd, "The emperor's neck is not so tough!"

"You speak of the slaughter tribulation in the mortal realm and the fate of the people, but it's just the people opening their eyes to the world!"

"When you were recognized as emperors, you enjoyed the wealth and glory of the world, and even using a golden hoe to farm was considered righteous!"

"But when you are no longer recognized, what are you?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end