Chapter 369: Hongguan Great War, Zen Gold Powder and Six-Path Vajra Mantra, Short

131st Year of the Mo'ao Era, November 29th, First Half of the Night

"Advance, Hongguan!"

Beyond Lu Yang's expectation, after the 180,000 Earth-Digging Realm cultivators returned to the camp, Jiang Yuanlong gave them another hour to rest. By the time they reassembled and ordered the advance to Hongguan, most of the first half of the night had passed.

The 180,000 Earth-Digging Realm cultivators set out from the north and south gates of the camp respectively, rushing straight to Hongguan.

"There are still more than six hours before dawn, the time is definitely enough! Zhou Shiyan leads the southern route army, Lu Hong leads the northern route army, one kilometer distance, the main army directly approaches Hongguan in combat formation, no matter how many means Dajue Temple has, it's useless!"

Jiang Yuanlong stood outside the west gate, watching the north and south route armies already walking out about ten thousand people, pondered for a moment, then turned to face the two thousand town defense troops behind him and shouted: "If we don't take Hongguan tonight, we swear not to return!"

Swish…………

The two thousand town defense soldiers standing straight all raised their weapons in unison and shouted angrily: "If we don't take Hongguan, we swear not to return!"

Generally speaking, regular armies, in order to facilitate the manufacture of military equipment and strengthen coordination on the battlefield, will unify the soldiers' weapons. Jiangxia Town did not do this, and the weapons in the soldiers' hands were all-encompassing.

But even so, the momentum caused by the two thousand main armies shouting in unison was enough to shake the entire camp. Not only the two thousand-plus Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators on the flank of the main army, but many Earth-Digging Realm cultivators who were walking out of the north and south gates also couldn't help but look over.

"Set out!"

At Jiang Yuanlong's order, he walked out of the west gate first. Following him were over three hundred Jiangxia Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, then the two thousand town defense troops, and on the flank of the town defense troops were the less than two thousand Cold-Resistant Grade reinforcements from the seven towns.

Last night's snow forest surprise attack lost over two hundred people, Jiangxia and the seven towns each died over a hundred. Among Jiangxia's eight hundred Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, more than half were originally from the town defense troops. At this moment, they have all returned to the team, so Jiang Yuanlong only has these three hundred-plus people behind him.

180,000 Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, 2,300 Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, plus two branches of Jiangxia's town defense troops, maintained a combat formation throughout the journey, and it only took half an hour to approach the Hongguan pass.

"Humph humph, know to shrink back!"

As soon as he arrived at the pass, Jiang Yuanlong immediately sneered twice.

The Hongguan pass, which is less than two kilometers wide from north to south, has no one on the east outer side at this moment. Dajue Temple's 70,000-strong army is all blocking the inner side of the pass, facing east, waiting in full battle array.

180,000 Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, even if they are not a regular army, just standing still can form the effect of black clouds pressing down on the city. And it is night at this moment, there are almost no trees on the east outer side, and looking from the inside of Hongguan to the outside, it is completely pitch black, full of pressure.

"Yanxin, withdraw from Hongguan, return the two villages of Longhe and Jinbi, Dajue Temple's entire army withdraws to Qinghepu, and we can avoid the suffering of all living things tonight!"

Jiang Yuanlong is probably the kind of general who is good at attacking the heart. At the same time, he clearly realizes that his main army can exert great pressure on the enemy army, so he didn't rush to call people to attack, but waited for a full ten minutes before raising his blood energy and shouting at the inner side of the pass.

"The nine towns set fire to Qinghe Village for no reason, hurting countless people. Dajue Temple's war this time is only to seek justice for those innocent people who died in the fire. Under the Master's earnest teachings, our Qinghepu, from top to bottom, who is not proud of doing good and accumulating virtue? We never take the initiative to provoke right and wrong. If it weren't for your nine towns bullying people too much, how could there be today's war."

Yanxin on the opposite side also stood out. His mouth is not weak. After this impassioned speech, he not only effectively retorted Jiang Yuanlong but also boosted the morale of his side. The garrison soldiers on the inner side of the pass became visibly angry after hearing these words.

"Killing my sons, occupying my territory, wantonly harming children, clearly weird monster behavior. Your excuses, no matter how high-sounding, cannot change these facts. Dajue Demon Temple, bewitching people, deceiving the world and stealing names, how can our Jiangxia tolerate you, release arrows!"

Swish swish swish…………

"Release arrows!"

While Jiang Yuanlong shouted to release arrows, Yanxin almost simultaneously ordered.

One side from the inner side of the pass to the east, one side from the outer side of the pass to the west, two waves of arrow rain flew out, and the arrow formation confrontation began.

The north and south of the pass are not even two kilometers. All 180,000 people who are equipped with bows are now in the front row, and the number is about one-third. This round of arrow rain shot out, directly forming a black arrow curtain, instantly submerging the pass.

Dajue Temple's side only has 70,000-plus Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, and fewer people are equipped with bows, estimated to be only about 20,000. So at this moment, when the two armies' arrow formations clashed, the situation was completely reversed from last night's snow forest battle.

The arrow curtain shot by Jiangxia directly covered Dajue Temple's arrow rain.

Pfft... pfft…………

"Ah..."

Not only covered, the arrows shot by Jiangxia were also clearly stronger than the enemy's.

Just from the screams made by both sides, one can tell that very few people on Jiangxia's side made screams after being shot, while the sound on Dajue Temple's side became more and more dense, and even the front row formation began to loosen.

"Front row, discard bows and raise shields, block them, rear row continue to shoot!"

Yanxin's instruction also fully proves this point. Qinghepu's forging craftsmanship is too poor, not only reflected in the battle armor item, but also in bows and arrows.

Moreover, Dajue Temple's side, the monastery monks are not equipped with bows at all, and the remaining Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators of the three villages and eighteen families, very few are equipped with bows, how can they compare with Jiangxia's eight hundred-plus Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators?

Counting the two thousand town defense troops, all equipped with strong bows with a draw force of over thirty stone, the result of this arrow formation confrontation is almost without suspense.

Of course, although Jiangxia's arrow formation has the upper hand, from the moment Yanxin let the front row raise shields, it was destined that the results would not be too great.

No matter how many arrow formations, after all, the vast majority are arrows shot by Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, and the overall power is destined not to be too great. Moreover, the pass is narrow, and the front row raises shields, so the effect is very weak.

Except for being able to create some chaos, or some arrows shot by Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators being able to effectively hurt the enemy, there is almost no other role.

"Town defense troops, follow this Military Head to take the lead, seven-town reinforcements cover the flanks, Zhou Shiyan, Lu Hong, lead the rear army to charge with me, break Hongguan!"

Relying on arrow formations to regain Hongguan is definitely impossible. Jiang Yuanlong is naturally clear about this, so seeing that the arrow quivers on the backs of the soldiers on his side are about to bottom out, he directly ordered.

As soon as the voice fell, he was the first to rush toward the west pass.

At this moment, the east side of the entire pass, the main army is divided very clearly. In the middle are the two thousand town defense troops he led personally and all the Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators of the eight towns; the south is the 90,000 people led by Zhou Shiyan; the north is the 90,000 people of Lu Hong.

With Jiang Yuanlong's instruction, everyone moved.

The fastest is the town defense troops behind him, then the seven-town Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators standing on both sides of the town defense troops, and then the north and south route armies. The three parties rushed wildly simultaneously, rushing straight to the Hongguan pass.

"Regain Hongguan!"

"Kill!"

"Kill all the monsters of the Demon Temple."

"Brothers, kill!"

………………

The east side of the entire pass was instantly filled with roars. The overwhelming crowd of people instantly caused the earth to tremble. The cold light and residual shadows danced by knives, guns, swords, halberds, and sticks seemed to illuminate the entire outer side of the pass. Everyone flushed red and rushed toward the enemy army on the inner side of the pass.

Rumble... rumble…………

Whoosh…

Jiang Yuanlong took the lead, rushed to the front row of the army formation first, drew a silver sword edge tens of meters long horizontally, directly slashed the monastery monks in the front row who had not had time to close their shields, and rushed straight into the pile of people.

The two thousand town defense troops following closely, like a sharp knife, directly inserted into the core of the pass army formation, swords, guns, swords, and halberds broke through the crowd, instantly crushing a large gap of over a hundred meters wide from north to south.

The seven-town Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators quickly filled the position, supported the flanks, and quickly expanded the gap, making room for the main army in the rear.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

Zhou Shiyan and Lu Hong roared loudly, and the group of Earth-Digging Realm cultivators in the front row on the north and south sides also rushed in from the north and south edges of the pass.

The slaughter began!

Clang... clang………… pfft... crack…………

"Ah!"

"Kill..."

The humming sound of knife and sword collisions, the sound of sharp blades opening stomachs and breaking bones, and the screams of soldiers synchronized with these sounds instantly filled the inside and outside of the entire pass.

One side defended to the death, one side attacked fiercely, and no one had a way out at this moment.

The attacking side had too many people, a full 180,000. The people in the front row wanted to retreat, but they couldn't retreat anymore, because the rear was still continuously rushing in. Except for rushing forward, they had no other choice.

"Rush in, they can't hold it!"

Jiang Yuanlong had already rushed two hundred meters deep into the pass. Looking at his main army advancing triumphantly, his face was full of excitement. He slashed open the Head Monk Yanxin in front of him and roared at the town defense troops behind him.

"Brothers, the Military Head has rushed into the pass, if we don't rush now, when will we?"

"Rush!"

The town defense soldiers, hearing Jiang Yuanlong's voice, immediately let out roars, and the posture of rushing forward became even stronger.

It is indeed a regular army. The combat power exerted by the two thousand town defense troops all wearing Thousand-Forged battle armor was stronger than the reinforcements from the seven towns. They followed Jiang Yuanlong and rushed forward all the way, rushing the deepest, and wherever they passed, it was basically corpses everywhere. Dajue Temple's garrison simply couldn't resist.

The enemy's retreat made their emotions even higher, constantly shouting to signal everyone to continue rushing forward, following closely behind Jiang Yuanlong, not to mention Qinghepu's Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, even the thousands of monastery monks were rushed back by them, and could only dodge to the north and south sides.

"Hold on, don't retreat, the pass cannot be given to them."

After the snow forest battle, the specific number of monastery monks is unclear, but this actually doesn't matter anymore. Even if all five thousand monks were still there, they couldn't withstand Jiangxia's charge. This was destined.

The number of people on Jiangxia's side was really too many.

It was almost three times that of Dajue Temple!

Not to mention there were two branches of town defense troops whose combat power was enough to form a crushing effect.

So no matter how loudly Yanxin shouted, he couldn't change the fact that Dajue Temple's side was constantly retreating.

"Hahahaha, occupying two villages in one day, aren't you very arrogant?"

"Mob, wanting to fight against Jiangxia, dream!"

"Demon Temple monster, die!"

"Brothers, continue to rush inside, occupy the entire pass!"

………………

The combat power exerted by two thousand town defense troops all wearing Thousand-Forged battle armor was stronger than the reinforcements from the seven towns. They followed Jiang Yuanlong and rushed forward all the way, rushing the deepest, and wherever they passed, it was basically corpses everywhere. Dajue Temple's garrison simply couldn't resist.

The enemy's retreat made their emotions even higher, constantly shouting to signal everyone to continue rushing forward, following closely behind Jiang Yuanlong, not to mention Qinghepu's Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, even the thousands of monastery monks were rushed back by them, and could only dodge to the north and south sides.

Jiang Yuanlong probably felt it wasn't fast enough. Looking at the seven-town reinforcements on the flank of the town defense troops, he suddenly shouted sharply: "Seven-town reinforcements listen well, the top one hundred people who kill the most enemies in this battle will be rewarded with one Longli Pill each, and the top ten will get five each. There are supervisors in the army, Jiang's words are firm, and you can come to me after the war."

Swish…………

The nearly two thousand Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators of the seven towns looked over in unison upon hearing this. Not to mention those ordinary Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, even the seven reinforcement leaders such as Huang Tianxing and Qin Yuanhai had their pupils shake violently.

"Good, Lord Jiang's words are firm, Huang will fight for your Jiangxia!"

"Deputy Military Head Jiang is heroic, Qin has noted it!"

"Brothers, since Jiangxia is willing to take out real things, what else is there to say?"

"Up, break Hongguan!"

………………

Under heavy rewards, there must be brave men.

If using the seven-town reinforcements' psychology of not fighting to the death last night to successfully plan that snow forest surprise attack only showed that Jiang Yuanlong as a general was qualified; then at this moment, being able to mobilize the fighting spirit of the seven-town reinforcements with one sentence on the battlefield was enough to prove that he was worthy of the word "excellent."

Even the seven reinforcement leaders like Huang Tianxing were so excited, not to mention the ordinary Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators of the seven towns. This time, not only the town defense troops, but even they were all like they had been injected with chicken blood, rushing toward the depths of the pass frantically.

Dajue Temple's signs of defeat were even more obvious.

"My lord, something is wrong. Those monastery monks are infiltrating the crowd and approaching the outer side of the pass. It's not one or two, it's all of them!"

In the rear, which was the east side of the seven-town reinforcements, Wang Tao slashed open two Earth-Digging Realm soldiers in front of him and spoke to Lu Yang behind him. In a battlefield of over 200,000 people, it was already chaotic and noisy, so he didn't need to lower his voice at all.

"I discovered it long ago. Zhu Shun, Lin Fan, go notify everyone to follow me to the outer side. Dajue Temple has a backup plan. They are deliberately giving up the pass!"

Wang Tao was observing, and Lu Yang was also observing. He deliberately hung in the rear throughout the battle, and his gaze never left those monastery monks. He discovered long ago that thousands of monks seemed to be besieged, but in fact, they were all frantically infiltrating the crowd, approaching the east pass. Some even didn't hesitate to be slashed several times on their bodies, just to fly toward that side.

There is a trick, there must be a trick!

After Lu Yang asked Zhu and Lin to notify the thirty-one people of Dongling, he turned to look at the Jiangxia crowd who were already killing with red eyes, his heart twitched first, then he scanned the outside of the east pass, found that only two or three thousand people were left, blocked by the people in the mouth and couldn't get in, and he instantly realized something.

"This is wanting to close the door and beat the dog. Once 180,000 people all come in, it will be difficult to run out from this small mouth!"

For the Hongguan pass, which is less than two kilometers wide, 180,000 people are really too many. Even if one person stands in a vertical column every meter, at most two thousand people can stand. What is the concept of 180,000 people? It is being able to line up hundreds of such long columns. It is impossible to rush in in one breath.

At this moment, the inside of the pass almost doesn't have a single bit of free area. The two or three thousand people on the periphery are not that they don't want to come in, but that they can't squeeze in at all, or that the speed of coming in is very, very slow. They only have to wait for empty areas to appear on the inner side before they can take advantage of the situation to enter the battlefield.

And such empty areas can only be created by people on the inner side of the pass.

And the most critical one is naturally Jiang Yuanlong, who is charging the fiercest on the west side, as well as the two thousand town defense troops behind him and the two thousand Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators.

The deeper they kill, the more the battlefield pushes west, and then the empty areas will increase, and the speed of this group of people on the periphery will accelerate.

Lu Yang led the thirty-one people of Dongling to retreat continuously on the battlefield, and soon they were only a hundred meters away from the pass.

"Don't retreat anymore, the supervisors are in the back, if you retreat again, you will be exposed!"

Hearing Lu Yang's words, everyone immediately stopped retreating and instead started fighting with the enemy soldiers beside them. The thirty-plus people tried their best to stand together.

Jiangxia's main army has supervisors, numbering about five hundred, and they are personally led by Zhou Shiyan and Lu Hong. They are currently urging the last twenty thousand-plus Earth-Digging Realm cultivators on the periphery to hurry into the pass to fight.

"This is urging them to come in and die! Close the door and beat the dog, but you have to be able to close the door. What other backup plan does Dajue Temple have..."

Lu Yang looked at more and more monastery monks approaching the east pass here, roughly estimating that it was almost a thousand, and a trace of curiosity appeared in his eyes.

It has been two hours since the war started. At this moment, it has officially entered the second half of the night. It is estimated that there are still four hours before dawn. For Jiangxia's side, the time is definitely more than enough.

Inside the entire pass, there are at least 20,000 corpses on the ground. Everyone can only step on the corpses to fight. When Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators fight, they will even pick up the corpses and collapse them. The entire inner side of the pass, using the eight words "corpses everywhere, broken limbs flying," is not an exaggeration at all.

As long as one distinguishes carefully, one can still see that the corpses on the ground are basically soldiers of Dajue Temple's side, which is also in line with the actual situation that they are currently retreating.

"Dajue Temple has a total of 70,000 people, and the attrition rate has exceeded 20%, yet they haven't collapsed. This demon temple's ability to bewitch people is indeed something!"

Lu Yang looked at the Qinghepu main army who were still fighting to the death, and a thick trace of fear flashed in his eyes. He once heard Yuan Cheng say that an army that can maintain combat effectiveness even after the attrition rate on the battlefield exceeds 20% cannot be described as elite; it must be an elite main army that holds the determination to fight to the death.

At this moment, these 70,000 Earth-Digging Realm cultivators of Dajue Temple certainly have nothing to do with the elite main army. Even among them, more than 50,000 people were just surrendered to Dajue Temple last month. Being able to do this can only be attributed to Dajue Temple's ability to bewitch people.

"But it's about the same. Whatever backup plan they have should be used."

"All monks, listen to the order, release Zen Gold Powder!" ===== CHAPTER 370 =====