Chapter 853: If Heaven Doesn't Let Me Live, I'll Die with Heaven

Chapter 853: If Heaven Doesn't Let Me Live, I'll Die with Heaven

Quickly delivering rice and cooking porridge in large pots.

Purple Qi washes the grain, and the laozao wine intoxicates people.

Under the Begging General, the three major granaries are all mixed with grain washed by the Purple Qi to neutralize the corpse poison. Then, they divide the area into sections and signal with flags, setting up large pots to gather people for a meal. Even the unbutchered pigs and sheep are slaughtered and added to the porridge, stirred with large ladles.

This is a massive undertaking, not only keeping the Begging General's men busy but also requiring the help of the Non-Veggie disciples.

When things get overwhelming, they even ask for assistance from ghosts and spirits to transport grain, grind it, and boil the pots.

On this night, not only do the Begging General's troops have a full meal, but the surrounding commoners, the elderly, and the starving people also receive a pot of porridge each.

For countless people, this is the first time they've had a full meal since the New Year.

Moreover, although it's porridge instead of rice, it has been washed by the Purple Qi, making it far beyond what these ordinary people could imagine.

Normally, with their life force, they couldn't even touch this Purple Qi, as a single wisp could crush countless people.

But this gourd of Purple Qi, distributed among tens of thousands of bowls of porridge, is enough for people to withstand.

It even seems insufficient.

"What?"

A hundred li away, in Dongping City, Prince Changping's 30,000 elite troops are stationed here, along with various aristocratic clans and their private armies, scattered across the area. Spies come and go, gathering information.

With such a mixed bag of people around the Begging General, it's impossible to stop these spies. All their movements have long been grasped by Prince Changping. Hearing this information, he couldn't help but be startled.

"They actually opened the granaries and distributed porridge for people to eat... Are they courting death?"

This is the grain that has been obedient to the flying corpses...

These surplus people are terrifying, and the endless starving masses gather and march, too many to kill or scare away.

It is precisely because of their overwhelming numbers that Prince Changping, despite commanding a powerful army, dares not act recklessly. Instead, he sought help from the Daoist stranger, and Chen Family Preceptor used the obedient granary to destroy the grain and slaughter the livestock.

This move is to let those starving people with green eyes know: you shouldn't have come to steal the grain.

Even if you steal the grain, you won't be able to eat it.

If you eat it, your intestines will be pierced, and your stomach will rot, turning you into madmen who are neither human nor ghost.

This is a heart-breaking move, breaking the enemy's morale before the battle even starts, forcing them to scatter and wait for death obediently.

However, if they only see one or two, or even ten or a hundred, of them eating the grain and turning into madmen, it's not a big deal. They can even be laughed at for their foolishness.

But what if tens of thousands of people in the state capital go mad at the same time and seek death?

"Hiss..."

"Why does it still feel scary?"

"..."

"There are Non-Veggie monsters among those peasants, causing trouble in the jianghu."

A strategist immediately stepped forward: "When things become abnormal, they are considered demonic. Our army..."

"No!"

Prince Changping didn't even think about it before shaking his head in rejection: "Maintain a tight formation and wait for changes. Just send someone to inform those lords with private armies that their men can go and test the waters."

"Our army must only move at a critical moment. Additionally, since it's the Daoist stranger's doing, we should ask Chen Family's experts to come up with a solution for this unorthodox method."

The strategist immediately passed on the message, but no one actually mobilized their troops.

With so many people here, if you don't go, I won't go either.

It's just a matter of sending a few more spies to gather information. If those people really want to die together, let them.

If they don't die, Prince Changping's 30,000 elite troops are still here, blocking the way. What's there to fear?

...

...

"Hehe, once this incantation starts, it'll be too late."

At the same time, on a small hill in the surplus army, Laozao Wine faced east, his face cold as he muttered to himself: "Ever since you used this ruthless tactic, these starving people have had no way out. But they don't understand that if the starving people have no way out, can you?"

He chuckled coldly and picked up a bowl of rotten rice porridge, which tasted a bit sweet and sour.

Although the taste wasn't great, thinking that this was the Purple Qi he had stolen and washed the grain with, he drank another bowl.

After two bowls, he even felt a bit tipsy, and his heart whispered: "If it's intoxicating, how can it not be wine?"

"Those guys are just arguing with me!"

"..."

"Laozao Brother..."

At this moment, someone from the foot of the hill brought three more bowls of rotten rice porridge, distributing them while reporting: "After calling for two days in the Soul Temple, seven brothers agreed to follow us and help out."

"There were also four or five who responded, saying they were nearby and would help at a critical moment. Additionally, some of our men are from the Impermanence Li Family, and we can command them."

"Some Non-Veggie disciples from the Hanging Character Sect and the Flat Character Sect are also here, ready to follow our orders."

"Also, Red Wine Sister said that if necessary, we can burn incense and ask for assistance from the Ghost-Walking Sect."

"But the Ghost-Walking Sect follows the will of Heaven and can only provide support at critical moments, so we must be cautious..."

"..."

"Hehe, there's no need to say that."

Laozao Wine said, "If we can't accomplish the task, what's the point of thinking about support? We'll lose face!"

"Moreover, do you really think we can win against the Necromancer Chen Family just by relying on numbers? It's about determination!"

"Have you arranged what I asked for?"

"..."

"It's arranged!"

Pineapple Beer nodded vigorously and said, "Among the Non-Veggie Hanging Character Sect disciples, there are some skilled in shadow puppet shows."

"The Flat Character Sect disciples are also good at stirring up trouble!"

"When do we start?"

"..."

Laozao Wine stood up, picked up another bowl of porridge, slurped it, wiped his mouth, and turned to look at the surplus army. His face was slightly somber, and he saw fires and joyous voices all around. This porridge was like a New Year's treat to them.

He slowly put down the bowl and said, "Start as soon as they fall asleep."

Their bellies, which hadn't had a full meal in a long time, were now filled, and they began to feel sleepy, especially since this was a rare feast after so many days. There was even some alcohol content in the porridge.

Moreover, the surplus army had a sense of last-ditch revelry, so after drinking their fill, they laughed and chatted, and soon, one by one, they fell asleep.

From the moment they gathered, they initially tried to emulate the regular army with guards and night patrols.

Now, they didn't bother with any of that.

Only the fires in various places quietly burned.

The Non-Veggie Hanging Character Sect disciples, on the other hand, carried large boxes one by one and arrived at the small hill. They lit a bonfire, set up a frame, and took out a set of shadow puppets. Following the instructions given by Laozao Beer beforehand, they arranged the puppets for the play.

The title of the play was: Prince of Changping's Insanity, Corpse Obedience Granary of Necromancer Chen.

"Laozao Brother, I wrote the play myself, and it will definitely stir up hatred. But do you have any idea how to project it into dreams?"

There were numerous methods for dream projection within the Daoist arts.

However, this time, they were going to project the play into the dreams of the people from the four states and seven prefectures, so they had to carefully consider the approach.

Laozao Beer said, "I know a few methods, but I'm afraid they won't be realistic or grand enough."

"Since you asked, do you have a way?"

"..."

Pineapple Beer burst into laughter and ordered a young servant beside him to bring a long box. When it was opened, nine exquisite and beautiful crystal lanterns of various sizes were revealed, lined up inside. "These nine lanterns are the treasures I refined myself," he said with a smile.

"Specially designed for dream projection, ensuring a lifelike experience as if in the mortal realm."

"..."

"This is a good thing..."

Laozao Beer was an expert at recognizing quality, and just by looking at the lanterns, he knew they were extraordinary. After hearing about their function, he found it novel and said, "If your lanterns can only project images and not harm people, what use are they? What made you think of refining such a strange item?"

Pineapple Beer chuckled and said, "To be honest, I used to paste images of palace beauties on these lanterns."

Laozao Beer hadn't processed this information yet and replied with an "Mm-hmm."

Pineapple Beer lowered his voice and said, "And they were all palace beauties without clothes."

Laozao Beer was taken aback for a moment. "Without clothes, how would I know they're palace beauties?"

"They had their hair done up in a bun..."

Laozao Beer was stunned for quite a while before suddenly realizing what he meant. He looked at the nine lanterns again and became excited:

"Holy crap! I'd love to play with this too..."

Pineapple Beer immediately pounded his chest and said, "We're brothers in spirit. Don't worry, I'll put the best one on for you later."

As the whole world was sunk in slumber, a set of gongs and drums sounded on the small hill, and a shadow puppet play without an audience began. The shadows, manipulated by thin bamboo rods, were projected onto a painted screen.

There were generals, lords, talented individuals, and unfortunate commoners. A general, unable to bear the sight of starving infants, went to beg for food from the lord but was beaten by the lord's servants and driven away. Enraged, the general became a rebel leader.

He led his men to seize food and distribute it to the poor, but he himself was killed by the lord's sword.

The general's subordinates returned to inform the poor that there was food, and they rejoiced, finally having a chance to survive.

The lord cursed, saying that those who deserved to starve should not eat their food. So he invited a talented individual to cast spells, summon corpses, and destroy the food, pointing at the people outside the screen and cursing, "Our food would rather rot than be given to you!"

The play was well-written, and unlike usual plays where the heavens would intervene and punish the villains, in this play, the villains did not face retribution.

The poor would still starve to death, and the general would still be beheaded.

Act by act, the play unfolded, and on the side, the crystal lanterns were lit one by one. These lanterns illuminated the shadow play, their light shimmering, and as they turned, the scenes were projected into the hearts of the people in the four prefectures and seven states, countless individuals slumbering in their dreams.

Thus, the expressions of these people, who had just enjoyed a rare full meal, began to twist with worry.

Deep within their hearts, there was already a profound concern about where their next meal would come from.

Now, this worry was stirred up.

Initially, this concern was accompanied by confusion, not knowing the reason for their predicament.

But this time, it seemed someone had brought an answer.

In life, they dared not be angry or speak up, but in their dreams, would they still be so suppressed? Finally, something was triggered, and some began to grit their teeth, some started to sob, and some, in their sleep, clenched their fists in anger, squeezing the thigh of the person next to them.

The person next to them trembled in pain but saw, in their dream, the lord with a sinister smile gripping their thigh. Unable to bear the pain any longer, they raised the hand that had only ever known farm work and slapped that face:

"Let go of my thigh!"

"..."

"..."

"The wind is rising!"

On the hill, Laozao Beer watched as a faint, cold breeze stirred in the dark sky, gradually growing stronger and more numerous, turning into a gale that caused the fires to tremble.

He slowly raised his head, slightly intoxicated.

Suddenly, he slammed the bowl in his hand to the ground, jumped up, raised one hand high, and between his two fingers, he held a talisman.

"Thousand Pointed Fingers, Death Without Disease!"

"..."

Within the Soul Punishment Sect, there was a saying about hurting others' hearts.

In the past, there was a prison clerk who loved money more than life itself. Taking advantage of his position in the prison, he accepted bribes, helped others avoid disasters, and committed countless injustices and harms.

The victims were all poor and had no means to report him, but their resentment accumulated. When a talented individual passed by, they visited him, saying that their resentment was too strong and would offend the heavens, possibly inviting the wrath of ghosts and gods, ultimately bringing disaster upon themselves.

The victims, in their despair, cursed, "We have grievances that cannot be redressed, and yet we bring disaster upon ourselves?" The talented individual sighed, left a talisman, and told them that whenever they felt indignant and unable to vent their anger, they should come and bow before this talisman. If there were new victims in the city, they should not make a fuss but come and bow as well. Over time, its power would manifest.

From then on, anyone who harbored resentment towards the clerk would come and bow before the talisman. After several months, the talisman was suddenly blown away by the wind.

At the same time, the clerk died suddenly without any illness.

Some in the prison took this as a warning and introduced this method to the prison, and later, it became a technique within the Soul Punishment Sect.

Laozao Beer used this very technique, the simplest method in the Soul Punishment Sect.

So simple that he didn't even bother with sweet potato burn, considering it too slow.

But Laozao Beer didn't believe in such nonsense.

Slow? When he held the talisman between his fingers and pointed it at the night sky, the endless, beast-like dark wind suddenly seemed to find its target and rushed towards the hill.

The strength and intensity of the dark wind were such that even the Non-Veggie disciples on the hill felt their breath stifled, their bodies chilled, and they hurriedly raised their hands to cover their faces. The talisman in their hands had already been torn to shreds.

"What the heck?"

Not only were those on the hill shocked, but even Laozao Beer himself was stunned.

"So powerful?"

His face immediately showed a mix of surprise and delight. "Before, I only knew it theoretically, but now, seeing it in action, it's truly terrifying..."

"But it feels great!"

"..."

He shouted and flipped his body, reaching into his bundle and pulling out a white flag with countless silk threads hanging from it. On each thread was a talisman, and he began to wave it in the night sky.

Whoosh!

Countless talismans danced in the wind, and the wind itself grew stronger, like a mighty wave, layer upon layer, sweeping in.

Above the white flags, every talisman paper became incredibly heavy.

But in the blink of an eye, they were on the verge of collapsing, and cracks had already appeared on each piece of talisman paper.

"Not enough, not enough!"

Laozao Wine shouted and quickly pulled out several flags from his bundle, surrounding his body as they danced in the air.

The dark wind blew across the four counties and seven states, over empty towns, and through desolate fields.

It blew past the impoverished commoners in tattered clothes, with faces as pale as vegetables, gathered in the valley. It blew past the neglected graves overgrown with weeds, and past the tattered military tent of the Begging General. It even blew past the young men holding wooden sticks and spears, deep in slumber.

Wave after wave, layer upon layer, the endless dark wind gathered towards the mountain peak.

Dozens of flags piled up on the small hill, creating a white sea, like countless white ghosts dancing in the wind.

Each talisman was incredibly heavy, and even the small hill seemed to sink under the weight.

"This..."

Pineapple Beer watched from the side, his face filled with surprise and admiration for Laozao Wine. But as he continued to watch, his expression changed.

The surprise turned to worry, even panic.

"Oh no, this is too much..."

He hurried to stop him but was knocked back by one of the talismans on the flag, causing him to stumble. He could only shout with a hoarse voice, "Laozao, stop..."

"This incantation is too heavy and too big. You can't control it anymore..."

"..."

Incantations borrow power from people, demons, local spirits, and the heavens.

The Spirit-Bearing Sect has incantations, the Ghost-Walking Sect, and even the Soul Punishment Sect occasionally use incantations to scare people.

Different sects use incantations differently, but they all borrow power. However, Laozao Wine's incantation borrows from the resentment of the common people.

The Spell Dao steals the power of heaven and earth, but one must be cautious, or they may face heavenly retribution.

Necromancer Chen can hide from cause and effect and avoid heavenly retribution, but Laozao Wine cannot. This incantation is too powerful, far exceeding the limits of the sect and his current realm. Even the old white wine of the Curse Suppressing Hu Family might not be able to withstand this incantation.

How could Laozao Wine, who is not even in the subhuman realm, withstand it?

"The Chen Family can use this evil method to destroy grain without fear, but I can't even speak about it?"

As Pineapple Beer reminded him, Laozao Wine clenched his teeth and growled, "This is unreasonable!"

"I won't accept this!"

Amidst his roar, the white flags swirling around his body became incredibly heavy, reaching their limit. Even his clothes began to frost over.

His exposed arms and neck started to crack, and heavy black clouds appeared above his head, layer upon layer. It was as if the heavens were watching him with their eyes.

Whenever someone from any sect felt like they were being watched from above, they would immediately stop.

This meant that they had accumulated sins and were about to lose control.

When the Impermanence Li Family was still around, these sins might not have fallen upon them but upon the Li Family first.

But now, it was descending directly.

However, Laozao Wine glared at the night sky, his voice growing louder, "Now is the time!"

"Brother, when it comes to spells, we can't compare to the Chen Family. Even if we bring more people to fight, we'll still be at a disadvantage."

"But compared to the Chen Family, we also have our strengths..."

"If they don't fear heavenly retribution, neither do we."

"Quick, bring out your ninth crystal lantern and shine it on me. I want to say something important to the people of this world..."

"..."

Pineapple Beer understood Laozao Wine's intentions and exclaimed in surprise, "No, no, this isn't part of the plan. Brother, I haven't even shown you my palace beauty yet..."

"What plan? The time has come, sooner or later. This is it!"

Laozao Wine burst into laughter, his figure seeming to move further and further away from Pineapple Beer, "During that meeting, everyone was too sentimental. That's why we didn't take it seriously."

"But Miss Red Wine said something that really resonated with me."

"We come to this world once, leaving no name or sound, but we must leave our mark."

"..."

Pineapple Beer didn't know what to say and cursed in frustration, "You should have brought me along for this opportunity..."

"I've been calling you brother for several days, and now you're abandoning me..."

"If we fall into the hands of the Celestial Age, it'll be terrible..."

"..."

Amidst the curses, Pineapple Beer could only bring out the last lantern, the one with the strongest spiritual power, the clearest, and the farthest-reaching light. He aimed it at Laozao Wine, surrounded by white flags.

At that moment, thick lead clouds appeared above his head, and dark winds blew from all directions, layer upon layer, rolling towards the mountain. Even with so many flags and talismans, they couldn't bear the resentment of the people from the four directions.

Laozao Wine laughed silently, suddenly tearing open his clothes and biting his finger. He drew a sharp blood talisman on his chest.

His body became the talisman, bearing the resentment from all directions.

As soon as the talisman was complete, the endless resentment from all around rushed towards him.

The thick lead clouds in the night sky suddenly gave birth to a response, facing the resentment that far exceeded the limits. Countless black lightning bolts descended, striking towards Laozao Wine's head.

Laozao Wine, who had become the talisman, laughed at the endless dark thunder in the sky. He bowed with both arms, drawing countless white flags and talismans, pointing directly at the heavens.

"What officials, what ten clans, what Celestial Age, I only recognize one principle..."

At that moment, his expression, illuminated by lightning and firelight, turned green and hideous. With a loud roar, he spoke through the crystal lantern, his voice entering the dreams of countless people:

"If heaven won't let me live, I'll perish with heaven!"

"..."

With this angry roar and the rolling thunder, his physical body collapsed, but his divine soul had already broken through. Accompanied by the white flags around him, he charged against the endless dark thunder, pointing directly at the heavens.

Using incantations as heaven, resentment ascends to the nine heavens.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end