Chapter 856: Talents from the Four Directions

Chapter 856: Talents from the Four Directions

The Slaughter Calamity serves as a bridge to the Netherworld, and the people's anger is the blade that cuts through half the court.

In the Nether Palace, ten Imperial Ghosts from the first to the fifth palace have been slain, causing the collapse of the previous six palaces. This triggered a surge of purple qi, which, through Hu Ma, returned to the mortal realm, creating a vast and overwhelming scene that nearly submerged the entire Great Grief Mountain.

Currently, the mortal realm is still unaware of Hu Ma's actions, but the State Tutor, the Wang family members, and the Old Abacus on Great Grief Mountain have been shocked speechless by this spectacle.

Especially the State Tutor, who had just been worried, thinking that Hu Ma had made a wrong move.

He had predicted that the Slaughter Calamity would be obstructed by the noble clans of the mortal realm. Through his past dealings with them, he knew how difficult it was to convince them, but he never expected that the actions of the reincarnates would exceed his expectations from the very beginning.

Initially, he did not have high hopes for the reincarnates because they were outsiders, too distant from this world.

Even when they instigated the Slaughter Calamity, the State Tutor believed they would only be guides, leading this world into a great catastrophe. As for the outcome, they didn't care.

They were like malevolent spirits, detached from the world, watching the mortal realm's turmoil.

But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that not only would they personally enter the fray, but they would even go as far as to sacrifice themselves. How could this be possible?

How could outsiders care so deeply for the mortal realm? "Summer insects cannot speak of ice, well frogs cannot speak of the sea. Morning mushrooms do not know the alternation of day and night, cicadas do not know the changing seasons."

Meanwhile, in the Nether Palace, Hu Ma had devoured the Imperial Ghosts of the sixth, seventh, and eighth palaces, along with their court officials. His Dharma form had grown taller and more solid, and his aura of ferocity was terrifying.

With his fangs bared and his eyes like bronze bells, he exuded a terrifying aura, yet there was a sense of calmness as if he could see through everything. Even in his dream, he seemed to sense the astonishment of the State Tutor and others on Great Grief Mountain.

His emotions were complex as he muttered, "This is only because you don't understand. Personal interests and fame are not the greatest pursuits..."

"The greatest pursuit is to realize one's own truth..."

"..."

"..."

In the mortal realm, the Four Prefectures and Seven States were in turmoil, with the people's grievances leading to the demise of Changping King. As Chen's head was forced into a desperate situation, a never-before-seen commotion arose in the south of Lake State, the northwest, southwest, and north.

In the south of Lake State, the King of Bright State led his troops to attack Qiu State, while to the south, General Zhang Yannan of the Right Flank remained to guard against any disturbances in the south.

General Zhang was well aware of the responsibility on his shoulders, as the safety of the food supply troops depended on him. If this place fell into enemy hands, the East Mountain Path, including the hometown of the King of Bright State, would also be lost. Therefore, he dared not slack off, training his troops and horses day and night.

Earlier, when the King of Bright State attacked Tiger Gate, the southern Hilltop Kings were relatively well-behaved. However, as the Slaughter Calamity erupted, many more troops suddenly appeared to harass them.

Old Zhang, who only defended and never attacked, endured many hardships.

The most pressing issue was the Chaotic World King in the south, who seemed to have friendly intentions towards the King of Bright State. Unknowingly, he helped resolve many problems.

But as the Slaughter Calamity unfolded, the Chaotic World King suddenly turned hostile and launched a direct attack with his army. Old Zhang's border-guarding force was immediately thrown into an unprecedented fierce battle.

First, there was a peculiar army carrying bamboo rafts, dressed in blue robes and adorned with silver accessories. Each soldier carried a bamboo tube on their back, and as the two armies approached, they began to strike the tubes, causing Old Zhang's troops to become dizzy and disoriented, allowing the enemy to slaughter them.

Some soldiers managed to return to camp alive, but their bodies showed signs of decay, with strange insects crawling in and out of their wounds. Not only did they become a burden, but those who cared for them also fell ill.

In the south of Lake State, the Hundred Thousand Mountains seemed to come alive.

The enemy troops emerged from the mountains like snakes returning to their holes, while Old Zhang's troops, once inside the mountains, disappeared without a trace, never to be heard from again.

Their cries for help went unanswered, and when they were found, they were often discovered hanging in groups in the mountains.

After half a month of continuous battles, Old Zhang's army of ten thousand troops and three thousand civilians had been reduced to less than a thousand, retreating to a small county in the border of Lake State. Protected by the Ghost Walkers in the city, they dared not even raise their heads.

Old Zhang was a man of determination, never retreating a step in guarding the hometown of the King of Bright State. Of his eight disciples, only two remained.

To counter the snake and insect summoning of the Bamboo Raft Army, he shouted until he coughed up blood, never once considering retreat.

But now, he truly felt the urge to retreat. The strange occurrences on the battlefield were too numerous, and too many troops had died mysteriously. If he didn't retreat, his entire army would be annihilated, and his sect, including the master and disciples, would be wiped out.

Fortunately, at this moment, Ghost Walker Zhang Agu and Little Mr. Li from Green Stone Town arrived, delivering a message from the Ghost-Walking Sect, assuring Old Zhang that reinforcements were on the way and asking him to patiently hold on for a few more days.

Old Zhang, understanding the importance of this place, could only grit his teeth and endure.

But each day of endurance was torture.

Currently, the entire army was terrified by the Bamboo Raft Army's ability to command snakes and insects. The sight of a single grass rope was enough to make them lose control.

It was also heard that the Chaotic World King in the south had already gathered his troops, claiming to have a force of a hundred thousand, ready to march toward Huzhou at any moment. Here, however, there were only a few hundred men under his command, barely enough to defend the place...

But at this critical moment, reinforcements finally arrived.

First, a beautifully dressed, charming young lady appeared, introducing herself as General Qiaoyun under the command of the Bright King. She arrived in a sedan chair at night, leading five hundred Hemp Uniformed Army soldiers, and entered the city at dawn, offering to help Bald Old Zhang resist the Chaotic World King from the south.

Bald Old Zhang, upon seeing her, was almost in tears: "Lady Lu, I know you are capable. You once showed your prowess in a spell battle against the Straw-Clothed Evil Ghost."

"But you’ve only brought five hundred men. With my troops, we barely make a thousand."

"How can we fight against the Chaotic World King’s hundred thousand soldiers with our lives?"

"..."

Seeing Bald Old Zhang's dejected expression, Sweet Potato Burn smiled and said, "Don't worry, more reinforcements are on the way..."

"That's the main force!"

"The Left Guardian of the Red Lantern Lady’s sect said that no matter what the situation is here, once that person arrives, they will surely help us turn the tide!"

"..."

Bald Old Zhang, seeing her confidence, became hopeful: "Who is so powerful? Could they command an army of a thousand soldiers?"

Amidst the anticipation of the entire force, the person they had been waiting for finally arrived. A man in a white robe, holding a bamboo flute, slowly drove a peculiar ox cart, which carried several bamboo baskets, directly into the county office.

He scanned the county office, the frightened soldiers, and the injured men who had been wailing for days, their wounds festering, with countless strange insects crawling in and out.

He frowned and said, "The malevolent energy in the army is indeed the weakest against poisonous insects. No wonder you suffered such a heavy loss. The Zhu Family’s indulgence in this army has already put them at a disadvantage."

Then he looked toward the Southern Hundred Thousand Mountain Range and said calmly, "Prepare yourselves, we will enter the mountains tonight."

"What?"

Bald Old Zhang, who had been eagerly awaiting their arrival, was now so angry that he wanted to throw his weapon.

After waiting so long for reinforcements, only two people showed up?

I, Old Zhang, come from the martial world and am no stranger to it. I am a Year-Guarding Sect member and have seen many powerful sects and extraordinary individuals.

But no matter how extraordinary they are, they still need to avoid the sharp edge of a thousand soldiers. Today, this lone man is boasting that he will lead my already terrified eight hundred men into the demon mountain to fight against the Chaotic World King’s hundred thousand soldiers?

Nonsense! Nonsense!

Forget taking orders, I don’t even want to feed him!

...

...

"Does the noble lord want to kill, or does heaven want to kill?"

In the southwest, Yang Gong led his troops here, only to see a scene that made his hair stand on end.

He had led his army from Qiu State, cutting down noble families and distributing grain, but the grain protection troops only took a portion, leaving the rest for the women, children, and the elderly, giving them a chance to survive until the autumn harvest.

The remaining young men, those who wished to stay, stayed, and those who wished to leave, followed him.

On this journey, they had fought many fierce battles and faced many tough challenges, but once they reached this place, every step became a struggle.

It seemed as if Heaven was deliberately making things difficult. During the march, the grain carts were struck by lightning and caught fire, burning half of them. While traveling through the mountains, the earth dragon turned, causing rocks to fall and causing countless deaths. When crossing the river, the calm water suddenly churned, capsizing many boats.

Worse still, in April, a heavy snowfall occurred, covering everything in a continuous blanket, causing many to freeze and starve to death.

Now, there were rumors that Yang Gong was the reincarnation of an evil ghost, deserving of heavenly retribution, and others that he was protected by ghosts and gods, making him invincible. But now, his journey was fraught with disasters and obstacles, causing the morale of his troops to waver.

Yang Gong was not afraid of tough battles, but seeing these young men, who had voluntarily followed him to ensure fewer people starved, die senselessly, filled him with great anger.

He had promised them that they would not starve, but now what?

He had protected them from being killed by the nobles, but now they were dying from natural disasters?

He was filled with hatred, but with a sword in his hand, he did not know who to strike.

"Man does not kill, but heaven does."

At this moment, when the morale of the troops was low and they were huddling in the snow, a man sat on a nearby rock, hugging his legs.

He had come to join the army from elsewhere and had become a minor executioner under Yang Gong. He had no particular traits, except that he always cut off heads cleanly. Yang Gong was not particularly familiar with him.

Until now, he heard the man sigh, "It seems Heaven wants to take our lives. We won't starve to death, but we will be killed by others. If not by others, then by Heaven..."

"The suffering of the ordinary people will never end..."

"..."

These words seemed to undermine the morale of the troops. Yang Gong, hearing them, was tempted to enforce strict military discipline and behead the man.

But looking around, he saw the soldiers in the snow, thinly clothed and pale-faced, their eyes listless. His heart felt weary.

These people, whom he had saved from starvation, had not blamed him. Instead, he could see that many were beginning to doubt whether they deserved to live.

As Yang Gong felt utterly exhausted, he rode his horse back and forth, searching for a solution amidst the vast natural disaster. Suddenly, through the swirling snow, he spotted a majestic temple, grand and solemn amidst the blizzard.

His advisor, Tie Zui Zi, noticed it too and had an idea: "General, since heaven has brought this disaster upon us, why not enter the temple and pay respects to the spirits?"

Yang Gong's heart stirred at the suggestion, for he had always been one to seek guidance from the divine.

The soldiers around him, seeing the grandeur of the temple, also felt a glimmer of hope. They all waited for the Bright State King's decision, except for a distant, numb-faced man who merely watched coldly without saying a word.

Yang Gong was willing to bow down to the spirits if it meant saving his men, but for some reason, he felt reluctant.

"Or should we just destroy the temple and its statues?"

Just then, a clear and cold voice rose above the snowstorm. They turned to see a woman holding a white cat, dressed in a white fox fur.

Beside her were Tie Zui Zi and several Non-Vegetarian Sect disciples, along with several refined-looking men and carts of supplies. She didn't rush to introduce herself but instead stared coldly at King Yang Gong, saying, "The whole world is talking about you, Bright State King, as a born killer, bringing calamity to mankind."

"I heard you were coming, and a whole village fled in fear. Many celebrate your misfortune, but I came to ask you one question..."

"Do you truly believe you are guilty?"

"..."

Yang Gong clenched his teeth and said sternly, "I only wanted more people to live. What crime is there in that?"

"Exactly."

The woman in fox fur nodded earnestly, "If you believe in your actions, why fear these so-called spirits?"

She lifted her head, her cold gaze sweeping across the heavy snowfall, "If the spirits block your path, then slay them. If heaven itself stands in your way, then punish heaven. The army protecting the supplies faces disaster at every step, freezing people to death. This is already a heinous crime against heaven!"

"I'll bring that old heaven-thief here, and you can declare his crimes. Do you dare to execute him?"

"..."

Yang Gong was stunned, feeling his blood boil.

Before he could respond, an old man sitting on a distant rock, a rare smile spreading across his face, looked up and said with a grin, "Someone who understands is here..."

...

...

In the southwest, where plague was rampant, a small town in the region was bustling with activity.

People set up stages, performed jugglery, beat drums, and walked on stilts, creating a lively atmosphere. All the entertainment one could imagine seemed to be found in this little town.

The strange thing was that while there were performers, there were no spectators, no audience, and no rewards. This lonely and quiet performance continued for three days until the first audience member finally arrived.

Everyone in town turned to look at him, waiting for his first words and actions.

The man, with his hands behind his back, slowly walked into the town.

He approached a young girl who was bending over, juggling over a dozen plates, and smiled. He took a copper coin from his sleeve and tossed it in front of her.

"Well done, you deserve a reward!"

...

...

As the whole world became lively, Iron Gate King Zhou Datong in the north of Qiu State was left bewildered.

In Qiu State, he had mysteriously received a great merit from Bright State King Yang Gong, capturing the state. Iron Gate King's name rose to fame overnight, but he didn't know what to do next.

After taking Qiu State, he was supposed to head north to face Long Victory King.

However, he wasn't confident in defeating the Long Victory Army, which had once even threatened the capital. He had no desire to fight, his mind preoccupied with Yang Gong's actions, and he couldn't understand why his men wouldn't let him go help his brother.

Just then, the Long Victory Army arrived at the borders of Qiu State, their momentum fierce.

Zhou Datong was thinking of fleeing when two people suddenly entered his tent, and their words startled him.

"I am Long Victory King."

The tall and robust man, slightly plump, said, "My companion here is Tao Yin, the young master of the Tao family from North Huai River. The Taos are a noble clan with a long history, having produced three prime ministers in five generations. In terms of status, they don't even put the Ten Surnames in their eyes."

"Oh, you might be more familiar with his title, White Horse Silver Saddle Intelligent General. He never engages in direct combat or spell battles but is known for his cunning strategies."

"..."

"Ah..."

Zhou Datong was completely taken aback.

The enemy army was at their doorstep, and the situation was critical. Yet, the enemy's commander and advisor had come alone to his tent? Was it an assassination attempt or a peace negotiation? What should he do? Should he capture them?

Should they be invited for a drink?

The two men then spoke up, "We also know that you are Master Zhou Datong, the junior disciple of the Hu family from Tranquil Ghost Palace. We are friends with him and are also working together."

"In the future, when you meet him, tell him that Meng State Dull Donkey and Five Bark Wine came from Mengzhou, and he will understand."

As they spoke, their expressions grew more serious, and after a brief silence, they continued, "This time, we also have a major matter to discuss with you. Our troops are all brothers we've raised with our own hands. From today onwards, they will be under your command."

"..."

Zhou Datong was even more confused, "What?"

The man who called himself Five Bark Wine said, "Of course, we need to put on a show. You pretend to defeat us, and we will surrender to you."

"But please, be kind to them. It's not that we're afraid of fighting, but we can't be treated like stepchildren."

"..."

It must be said that Zhou Datong felt like he was dreaming all night. The Long Victory King was an extraordinary existence, dominating the three paths and eleven prefectures of the North. His army was strong and mighty, invincible wherever they went. Even with the addition of Yang Gong and Stone Horse Town, they might not be able to compete with him.

Now, these two men had mysteriously arrived in his army, and with a grand gesture, they offered to hand over their ten thousand troops and several states to him.

He wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing, and it would be more believable if they offered two widows instead...

But he never expected the Long Victory King to be serious.

The next day, the two armies faced off, and the Long Victory King, confident in his martial prowess, rode forward to challenge the Iron Gate King. Surprisingly, Zhou Datong won, and the intelligent general of the Long Victory Army, the White Horse Silver Saddle General, came forward to challenge him in a spell battle, only to lose convincingly.

Thus, the two men surrendered, bringing with them ten thousand Long Victory Army soldiers, all of whom were confused and disoriented, and joined the Iron Gate Army under Zhou Datong's command.

Zhou Datong felt something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it, as everything seemed a bit off.

Just as the Iron Gate King demonstrated his bravery and wisdom, conquering the Long Victory King without bloodshed and shaking the heavens and the earth with his might, at that very moment, the Long Hero King from the North arrived with three thousand elite troops, passing through Qiu State. He declared that for the sake of the world, he would eliminate the calamity that was the Bright State King, Yang Gong.

The Iron Gate Army was asked to make way, allowing the three thousand elite troops to pass, with a guarantee that they would not cause any trouble.

Zhou Datong was still confused about other matters, but upon hearing these words, he immediately made up his mind.

He shouted sternly, "Stop them! Not even a dog will be allowed to pass!"

The Long Hero King, seeing that the Iron Gate Army was blocking the way, was not surprised. The three thousand elite troops formed a battle formation, and from within, ten generals emerged, each mounted on their horses and standing at the front of the formation. They said, "Our armies bear no grudge; we only ask to borrow a path to eliminate a scourge."

"Since the Iron Gate King does not permit it, let's settle it with a battle. If our army wins ten consecutive battles, we ask the Iron Gate King to lend us a path. How about that?"

"Win ten consecutive battles?"

Even Zhou Datong was stunned by the audacity of their request. How dare they speak so boldly?

Did they not know they were from the Year-Guarding Sect?

Under the watchful eyes of both armies, they had no choice but to respond. They gathered their generals and stepped forward from their army, gazing into the distance.

They saw the ten generals who had emerged from the formation, each with a domineering aura, looking down upon tens of thousands of troops with arrogance.

But the more relaxed they appeared, the more alarming it was, especially to the experienced Old Master Sun from Stone Horse Town. He took a look, then another, and his liver trembled as he whispered, "It's bad. The Long Hero King is a ruse, but the actions of the Zhou family are real..."

Zhou Datong also fixed his gaze on one of them, feeling tense.

He slowly reined in his horse and rode forward into the field. He suddenly dismounted and bowed to the female general in the center, surrounded by the ten generals:

He exclaimed in surprise, "Sister-in-law, it's me, sister-in-law..."

"I'm the junior disciple of Hu Ma..."

"You stayed in our village during the New Year and borrowed my bedding..."

"..."

"?"

Both armies were stunned by this sudden turn of events, especially the Long Hero King's side, where everyone suddenly turned their attention to the only female general among the ten.

Miss Zhou was also confused, unable to make out her features, but she saw her remain silent for a long time before slowly stepping out of the formation.

With the exuberant Iron Gate Army behind her, Zhou Datong turned to face the Long Hero King and said, "Begin!"

"Who will go first from your side?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end