Chapter 364: Molten Fire Pills and the Shurangama Mantra, the Great War Begins

131st Year of the Mo'ao Era, October 17th

North Bank of the Xing River, Jinbi Village

Because cold air constantly invades the shore from the river, the temperature here is undoubtedly lower than in other regions, and theoretically, it is even less suitable for human settlements to survive.

The fact that tens of thousands of people can take root in Jinbi Village is closely related to its name.

Three kilometers due north of the village is the southern cliff face of Mount Shuanglong. In the middle of that cliff, there is an area about nine hundred meters high and three hundred meters wide that is surprisingly pure gold. It shows no abnormality at night, but during the day, when illuminated by the cold light, it immediately becomes radiant with golden light—a true wonder.

The name "Jinbi" (Golden Wall) comes from this.

Jinbi Village is Jiangxia territory. Such a mysterious and profound golden cliff naturally attracted the attention of Jiangxia's high-level officials long ago, all of whom assumed it was some kind of heavy treasure.

However, after wasting several years of time and having over a dozen waves of people come to investigate, they ultimately gained nothing. Thus, they could only attribute this spectacle to the uncanny workmanship of the Frozen Abyss and shelved the matter.

At this moment, the sky is just beginning to brighten, and the earth is still pitch black, but the cold light slowly descending from the sky has already illuminated the summit of Mount Shuanglong. As the range of the cold light gradually shifts downward, the cliff three kilometers to the north also begins to emit golden light, becoming brilliant and dazzling.

On the west side of Jinbi Village, twenty giant black animal-hide tents have quietly stood in the snow forest at some unknown time. The tents are arched, supported and fixed by dozens of iron poles, each a hundred meters in diameter, with the highest point in the center being about ten meters. The volume is clearly astonishingly large.

These black tents have excellent sealing and light-blocking properties. Even though one can hear the voices of many people talking inside, and thick smoke is constantly rising from the exhaust vents on top—indicating that campfires have been lit inside—people standing outside are simply unable to see a single thing inside through the tarpaulin.

Outside the tent furthest to the east, a bald monk holding a crimson monk's staff and wearing moon-white monastic robes is looking up at the golden cliff to the north, his face calm and his demeanor peaceful, wondering what he is thinking.

Behind him stand twenty bald monks in white robes similar to his, also wearing moon-white monastic robes, though they hold various weapons instead of monk's staffs.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blows from the east, interrupting the bald monk in front. He quickly shifts his gaze away from the cliff and turns to look at the newcomer.

The newcomer is a gray-robed monk who has not shaved his hair. He wears a look of joy on his face. While still over ten meters away, he presses his palms together, bows to the monk holding the staff, and then speaks:

"Reporting to Head Monk Yanxin, the Woodcutting Realm cultivators and ordinary people of Jinbi Village have indeed all withdrawn. Now, only Earth-Digging Realm and Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators remain in the village, with a total number of just over thirty thousand, eighty percent of whom are Earth-Digging Realm."

"Hahaha, Head Monk Senior Brother is brilliant, Junior Brother admires you!"

As soon as the man finishes speaking, the twenty white-robed monks, for some reason, all immediately reveal smiles. One of them cannot help but praise Head Monk Yanxin in the front row, his eyes full of admiration as he looks at him.

With over twenty-four thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators and six hundred Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, the garrison left by Jiangxia Town in Jinbi Village is clearly far stronger than the force dispatched by Dajue Temple this time. Theoretically, the monks should not be reacting this way.

Yet, in reality, not only is everyone smiling, but their eyes are full of confidence as they look at Jinbi Village, less than a kilometer to the east, all appearing as if victory is already in their grasp.

Head Monk Yanxin in the front row withdraws his gaze from Jinbi Village, turns to look at the twenty white-robed monks behind him, reveals a hint of coldness in his eyes, and orders in a deep voice: "Notify the monastery deacons to distribute the Molten Fire Pills. Have all Junior Brothers lead the crowd in chanting the Shurangama Mantra three times. After chanting, march into Jinbi Village!"

"Yes!"

The twenty white-robed monks all press their palms together upon hearing this, nod in agreement, and then quickly take out cloth bags from their bodies, dispersing toward the twenty large tents.

…………

"Has Dajue Temple never fought a war before? Who marches in the second half of the night and arrives at the enemy's front to set up camp before dawn?"

In the Hexia Village tent, Bai Shanqiu walks in from outside, sits down beside Seeing Xiang Liang, and after looking around to ensure no one is there, speaks in a low, confused voice.

Seeing Xiang Liang's brows knit slightly upon hearing this, his face also full of bewilderment.

It is not just the marching; this war by Dajue Temple has felt wrong everywhere since they assembled at Qinghe Village two days ago, on the 15th.

Speed is precious in war; what a battlefield demands is speed.

The three villages and eighteen families finished assembling at Qinghe Village on the 15th, yet Dajue Temple insisted on waiting two days, until today, to set out.

Setting out today would be fine, but given the distance between Qinghepu and Jinbi Village, one should have seized the time and set out immediately at nightfall. That way, they would have arrived at Jinbi Village in the first half of the night and could have quickly engaged in battle in the second half.

Dajue Temple actually waited until the second half of the night to set out with the main army, and the result is what we see now: they only set up camp on the west side of Jinbi Village when the sky is almost bright.

It is no wonder Bai Shanqiu would exclaim that Dajue Temple has never fought a war!

After thinking for a moment, Seeing Xiang Liang immediately shakes his head: "That shouldn't be it."

He pulled a bottle from his person, poured out a few flesh-colored medicinal pills, and continued in a low voice: "We have equipped all twenty thousand-plus Earth-Digging Realm soldiers with hundred-forged armor, and each soldier was also issued fifty Green Food Pills. The twenty thousand Earth-Digging Realm soldiers are divided into forty regiments, each assigned to be led by a Zen monastery deacon. Everyone of the Frigid-Resistant level across the three villages and eighteen families must obey their commands. Look at these twenty black military tents; it is clear that the Great Awakening Temple has made extremely thorough preparations for this great battle."

Seeing Xiang Liang looks at the Green Food Pill in his hand, his eyes full of curiosity. This Green Food Pill was issued to them by the monastery deacon before the army set out last night, claiming that one pill could sustain a person for a day's food. Before setting out from Qinghe Village last night, he took one along with the others, and indeed, he still feels full even now.

It is just a pity that he is not an alchemist and cannot distinguish the ingredients of the Green Food Pill; he can only wait until he sends the items back to Does Da Xia later and let the people in the Craftsman Department study them.

Of course, it is not just the Green Food Pill, but also these huge black military tents.

Seeing Xiang Liang looks up and surveys the military tents, his eyes full of strange colors.

These military tents are not only sturdy but also have excellent sealing and light-blocking properties, so even the firelight cannot penetrate them. People outside cannot see the situation inside at all. Coupled with the black color, it is very difficult for them to be discovered at night in any slightly hidden place.

The key is that they are not heavy; a dozen Earth-Digging Realm soldiers can easily lift them, which does not affect the marching speed at all.

The main material of these military tents is indeed animal hide; he had already felt it when he helped set up the tents just now. It is made by sewing many pieces of animal hide together.

The problem is that these animal hides are not black themselves; they are dyed black with a pitch-black substance similar to an oil film, which should be the reason why they are opaque.

"Green Food Pills, black military tents—with such heaven-defying effects and ease of transport, they can both be called the best tools for marching and fighting. If Does Da Xia could also develop them, the improvement in the army's combat power would be immeasurable!"

Seeing Xiang Liang's expression is somewhat excited. After all, both of these things were discovered by him and Bai Shanqiu. Once the news is sent back to Does Da Xia, their contribution will surely be significant.

However, now is not the time to think about these things.

Seeing Xiang Liang shakes his head slightly, temporarily putting aside his idle thoughts.

Just as he said, having brought out two magical items like the Green Food Pill and the black military tent, and having taken the trouble to divide the twenty thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators into forty regiments and hand them over to forty monastery deacons to lead, Dajue Temple is clearly well-prepared for this great war.

Then why is the timing of this march so unreasonable?

After Seeing Xiang Liang finishes speaking, he, like Bai Shanqiu, falls into confusion.

But their confusion is soon resolved.

"All Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, come over and assemble!"

Two young monks who have not shaved their hair, about fifteen or sixteen years old and dressed in gray, suddenly lift the tent flap and walk in quickly. Both are carrying a cloth bag and calling for all Earth-Digging Realm cultivators to assemble.

The Earth-Digging Realm cultivators dispatched this time all come from the three villages and eighteen families. Dajue Temple did not mix the people up but tried as much as possible to keep the Earth-Digging Realm cultivators of each family in one regiment. This is understandable; after all, familiar people together have higher coordination and tacit understanding, and their combat power is naturally stronger.

People from other giant and large camps are few and can be placed in one battalion, but the three village-level camps have too many Earth-Digging Realm cultivators this time, so that won't work.

Hexia Village dispatched a total of over 2,500 Earth-Digging Realm cultivators this time, roughly divided into five regiments according to cultivation level. The battalion where Seeing Xiang Liang, Bai Shanqiu, and other Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators are located is naturally the one with the strongest combat power.

It is worth mentioning that the monastery deacon responsible for leading the battalion where Seeing Xiang Liang and the other two are located is Wang Yuxiu's second younger brother, Wang Yuan, which is the gray-robed monk who just walked in from outside the military tent.

Wang Yuan and the other person open the cloth bags in their hands, take out fire-red pills the size of fingernails, and distribute them to all the Earth-Digging Realm cultivators present.

Seeing Xiang Liang, Bai Shanqiu, and over a dozen other Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators are all watching quietly from the side. When the pills are gone and they realize they don't have any, a look of curiosity immediately appears on their faces.

"These are the Fire-Melting Pills bestowed by the Flame Dragon Master, possessing supreme divine power. Everyone, hold them under your tongues now; do not swallow!"

The one thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators of Hexia Village do not hesitate at all upon hearing this, directly throwing the Molten Fire Pill into their mouths and holding it under their tongues.

"Everyone, sit cross-legged and wait for a moment!"

After Wang Yuan and the other monastery deacon finish speaking, they are the first to sit cross-legged in meditation. The others follow suit, all sitting cross-legged on the ground, then pressing their palms together, closing their eyes, and revealing pious expressions.

The dozen or so Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators are no exception.

Seeing Xiang Liang and Bai Shanqiu also sit cross-legged. Although they also perform the action of pressing their palms together, they secretly open their eyes. Watching over a thousand people in the tent be so obedient to the words of the two monastery deacons, their expressions become slightly solemn, and their hearts become increasingly curious.

What exactly is this for?

"Namo sadtatha sugataye arahati samyaksambuddhaya..."

A sound of chanting suddenly comes from outside the tent.

Upon hearing this, the two deacons, Wang Yuan and the other, immediately open their eyes and say to the people in the tent: "Everyone, quickly chant along with the Head Monastery Senior Brother! Namo sadtatha sugataye arahati samyaksambuddhaya..."

"Namo sadtatha sugataye arahati samyaksambuddhaya..."

After the two finish speaking, they are the first to start chanting along. Everyone in the tent asks no questions and directly follows along in chanting.

Strangely, these scriptures are clearly very complex, but when they enter the ears from outside the tent, they become exceptionally clear. As long as one follows along, one can basically chant them.

Seeing Xiang Liang and Bai Shanqiu are both experiencing this kind of scene for the first time, and their expressions become extremely strange. But hearing the Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators beside them also chanting, the two can only follow along.

This scripture is very long. The crowd chants along with the sound outside the tent for seven or eight minutes before finishing.

Hum…………

The moment the first pass of the scripture is finished, it is as if something has awakened above the large tent, emitting a mysterious humming sound.

In the tent, except for the two deacons and the dozen or so Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, the faces of all the remaining Earth-Digging Realm cultivators begin to turn red, their body temperatures clearly rising rapidly, and the entire tent immediately becomes much warmer.

"Namo sadtatha sugataye arahati samyaksambuddhaya..."

After the second pass is finished, not only are their faces red, but their body surfaces also begin to turn red. Wisps of heat waves surge from everyone's bodies, and the campfire in the tent becomes a bit more vigorous for a time.

"Namo sadtatha sugataye arahati samyaksambuddhaya..."

Boom…………

By the time the third pass is finished, the bodies of all the Earth-Digging Realm cultivators in the tent actually begin to emit flames. Yet they still keep their eyes closed, only panting heavily, as if they cannot feel their own bodies burning.

"No, no, this is not real fire. If it were real fire, they would have been burned to death long ago. What is this? Is it the effect of that Molten Fire Pill just now, or the effect of the three passes of scripture..."

Seeing Xiang Liang, who secretly opened his eyes to watch the entire process of the changes in the crowd in the tent, now has surging waves in his heart. He has already vaguely guessed why Dajue Temple would have everyone set out at midnight and arrive at Jinbi Village at dawn.

"Wang Chuan, take people to take down the tent!"

Wang Yuan calls his father by his name, and the Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators of Hexia Village do not seem to feel anything wrong after hearing it.

"Yes!"

Even Wang Chuan himself does not reveal any strange expression, opening his eyes and taking the Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators to directly start taking down the black tent. ===== CHAPTER 365 =====