Chapter 378: The Nine Rivers Array, the Five Immortals of Lushan

"Push the Tiangang Great Sage Five Thunder Divine Fire Cannon!"

"Ignite!"

Chen Gongming wore a cold expression; on the rubber tires sat a steel carriage, and upon the carriage was the newly refined Magic Tool cannon.

It was refined using the authentic Tiangang Five Thunder Method, forged by gathering the Qi of the Five Thunders, and the shells loaded inside were flowering shells with high-strength ceramic casings.

With one blast, on the high city walls of Jiangzhou Prefecture, the various military officers also had cannons.

Yet, after only a moment, a cannoneer cried out to the Jiangzhou General: "General, our cannons cannot reach them!"

The next moment, the shells fell, blowing limbs flying in all directions, the blood mist like a rainbow.

"Is this what they call benevolence and righteousness? Using such firearms that offend the harmony of heaven?" The General was also near despair.

Jiangzhou was a majestic city where the Nine Rivers converged, a vital path for crossing the natural barrier of the Yangtze River to the north; to control the Jiangnan West Circuit, one had to capture this place.

The Jiangzhou Magistrate and the Jiangzhou Prefect had successively borrowed troops and equipment from the E and Xiang regions, intending to rely on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, the water routes extending in all directions, and the city towers over ten zhang high to wage a defensive war, obstructing the rebel army's northward advance and seizure of the granaries.

In total, they borrowed eighty warships and one hundred and twenty cannons, but they were all antiques from the early founding of the Great Ning Dynasty...

"General, the rebel army's firepower is fierce, the army's morale is flagging, and our cannons have too short a range..."

"There are those in the rebel army who know the evil arts of the Daoist sects; they are grabbing prostitutes from the city, exposing their chests and breasts, and facing the doors toward the cannons to break the Yang with Yin."

Immediately following, in a short while, a group of terrified, stark-naked prostitutes were forcibly pushed onto the city walls.

Chen Gongming watched for a while through binoculars and ordered the cannons to be withdrawn: "They have no more tricks left; to think they would resort to such a foolish move now."

He then turned to ask several mechanical engineers: "Are the leaflets printed? How many can the flying balls carry?"

The so-called flying balls were hot air balloons, though they also had steam-powered devices on them.

"They have been adjusted well enough," the mechanical engineer said. "The wind direction is just right now; in one hour, the wind will blow south, which is perfect for sending them back. One hundred thousand copies of the leaflets have been printed, enough to scatter over the entire city."

Chen Gongming nodded: "Once Nine Rivers is taken, there will be no more worries. We can march north or head south, managing the entire Jiangnan West Circuit, and it will be as solid as a golden soup. This Jiangzhou Prefect is defending the city to the death, and Jiangzhou is a famously wealthy place; the grain in the city should last half a year without issue. Although our cannons are powerful, we cannot destroy this ancient city. We only need to strike a fierce blow to make them realize we are invincible and give rise to the desire to surrender."

"There are many noble families in Nine Rivers. They already know the fate of the four great families of Nanchang, so I fear they will resist stubbornly."

The deputy generals were none other than Jiang Qi and Shen Bao. After being enlightened by Xu Jia and eating the Innate Tiangang Qi Mantou, they possessed immense strength and followed the path of the Martial Dao Military School; they were currently the most prominent young generals in the rebel army.

"But the ones fighting are not these noble family members; they are all the children of poor commoners. What are we fighting for? It is for liberation."

"But ordinary people cannot read the leaflets."

"Our people have already infiltrated Jiangzhou City."

The number of believers in Lingbao has already grown, and furthermore, many merchants under the Golden Toad also transit through Jiangzhou. The Daoists in the Jiangzhou Wanshou Palace also went to Sanqing Mountain to study and exchange ideas a few days ago.

Implementing the strategy of surrounding the cities from the countryside, there were already people in the villages around Jiangzhou Prefecture specifically promoting the benefits of Equal Field; even the theater troupes hired to perform had such plots.

This kind of infiltration cannot be guarded against.

Seven or eight steam-powered hot air balloons took to the sky. The soldiers in the army looked up, their faces filled with envy. Although they were all gradually cultivating and had been granted the Lingbao Daoist Soldier Register, flying was truly a dream from ancient times to the present.

These few flying units were carefully selected, the outstanding ones in the army, specifically cultivating the "Winnowing Wind Incantation," and they had Command Flags to control the Buyu Chang and use the fog Qi to cover their forms.

The hot air balloons flew over Jiangzhou City. In a moment, there were Daoists accompanying the army in Jiangzhou City performing rituals; they were also properly supported by the imperial court, from the Dao Record Division.

Although they did not want to be deployed, the Daoist temples could not withstand the siege of fifty troops, and besides, few had attained the status of Earth Immortal.

"Thunder, come!"

The Daoists of the Jiangzhou Dao Record Division transmitted their methods from Lushan. The ancient pronunciation of Lushan is read as "Lingshan," which is the Daochang of the Ten Witches of Lingshan. The Lushan Method was transmitted from Min and became the "Lushan Method." Xu Xun, the Heavenly Master, once served in Jiangzhou and cultivated in the Lushan Dongtian.

Speaking of the Lushan Dharma lineage, it was also Xu Jia's Ancestor Altar, but the world lines of the two worlds were different; it could be considered a parallel world.

The Lushan Method was derived from the Witch Sect's methods and was extremely powerful. Although these Daoists of the Dao Record Division accompanying the army were only Human Immortals, they actually had the technique to summon thunder.

Suddenly, the sky was covered in dark clouds. The weather in Jiangzhou City was often rainy anyway. Regardless, once they obtained the Lushan decree, the Cloud Boys pushed the clouds, and friction generated electricity.

The flying soldiers on the hot air balloons were not in a hurry; they took out a miniature Dharma Altar, which looked like a Lu Ban box, and the Command Flags and such were all one size smaller.

This was the "Yuhua Mountain 1.0 Version" Vermilion Bird Altar. There were four types in total; the remaining ones were the White Tiger Altar, Black Tortoise Altar, and Azure Dragon Altar. The Vermilion Bird was the image of the Li Fire bird, and also carried the meaning of "swift as the wind, fast as fire."

It is said that the higher the Dharma Altar, the closer it is to the sky, and the higher the Dharma borrowed. This Vermilion Bird Altar did not borrow Qi from the Earth Veins, but borrowed Qi from the heavens.

The thunder and lightning that was about to strike suddenly took the form of a lightning bird in the Dharma Realm. The lightning bird was spherical, its speed strange, and it counter-attacked the Lushan Altar below.

The Lushan Altar was instantly blown to pieces. The Daoist on the altar could not dodge in time, his internal organs scorched. Not yet dead, he cried out: "Ancestor, save me!"

The next moment, several rays of light flew up from Lushan; they were flying swords. The flying swords shuttled back and forth, cutting the ropes of the hot air balloons.

Suddenly, the various prepared leaflets flew about like autumn leaves swept by the wind.

The few people on the baskets pulled the back bolts, and bio-mimetic gliding wing suits appeared. The Winnowing Wind Incantation was activated, and they flew back.

In those few sword lights, one could vaguely see Primordial Spirits. The Primordial Spirit said: "We are hidden Immortals of Lushan, and we cannot bear to see the common people suffer. We originally did not wish to intervene in the changing of dynasties, but seeing such firearms and divine cannons, the harm is quite great..."

"We have set up the Nine Rivers Array in Jiangzhou City. Please wait three days for the rehearsal of the array. If you can break the array, then our Lushan Sect is willing to follow your lead and persuade the Jiangzhou Prefect to surrender."

After speaking, these sword lights landed in front of the Jiangzhou camp. They were a few strange cultivators: one was fifty or sixty years old but wore his hair in a child's topknot; one was a dashing scholar but carried a sword on his back; one was an old man with red hair and a red beard; one was a big-bearded man, looking like a butcher with yellow teeth; and one was beautiful enough to topple cities, holding a green bottle.

The old man with the topknot said: "I am the Cave Master of Lushan, Jiaming Daoist."

The scholar said: "I am Weixing Realized Person."

The red-haired old man said: "I am Huayong Lay Buddhist."

The butcher-looking one said: "I am Bichen Superior."

The fairy-looking one said: "I am Jieyin Fairy."

The Jiangzhou Magistrate thought to himself: Hidden Immortals, meaning those who are hidden. These five people—one a fake name, one a false surname, one an adaptation, one a nickname, one a borrowed sound...

Yet he dared not be presumptuous and bowed respectfully: "That you, the Immortal Truths, are willing to descend to the mortal world to save the suffering, I am deeply grateful. Please move to the inner chamber, and we shall provide vegetarian meals."

"No need. We mountain dwellers eat wind and sleep in the dew, gathering rosy clouds and consuming Qi; we do not eat the five grains of the human world, nor do we wish to live in luxurious rooms. Luxurious rooms are the fat and cream exploited from the common people. We only need bamboo poles and thatch to build a grass shed."

The Jiangzhou Prefect was helpless: "So simple, I fear it is a slight."

"No slight, no slight. We do not rely on fame or profit. We came here today because we saw his cannons were sharp and the killing excessive, so we used the Nine Rivers Array against him. It is not that we are unwilling to state our true names, but the other side has an expert who knows our names; if he calls them, he can detain our souls and seize our spirits."

"This Nine Rivers Array requires the selection of three thousand six hundred naval troops and eighty-one ships, connected by iron chains, stationed in Nine Rivers, drawing on the power of the Yangtze River's water veins, obtaining the South Dragon's water Qi. It can extinguish flames and silence the thunder sound. When the cultivators enter the array, they will be suppressed by the power of the Nine Rivers Return to the Abyss, and the troops that enter the array will be surrounded and annihilated by the array's formation."

"This array is so powerful, can it be successfully rehearsed in three days?"

"The official may rest assured. The core of this array lies in our magic treasure, the Nine Rivers Map. This is an ancient surveying map. It was obtained when Nine Rivers was built, suppressing the Flood Dragon, and surveying the land. It is a treasure of water luck and morality, naturally connected to the southern water veins."

"Once the array is deployed, all waters will connect into one; the Nine Rivers Array is the combined might of nine great rivers, with the Yangtze River as the core, and its defense is peerless. Even if he has thousands of cannons, he cannot damage it. Three days after the array is formed, he will surely retreat."

The Jiangzhou Prefect heard him speak so impressively and could only comply.

On the other side, several Military Officials returned to the camp. Just as they were about to report the situation, Chen Gongming waved his hand and said, "I already know of this matter. We have long known how the Lushan cultivation world is; these few are certainly not from Lushan cultivation, but are likely from aristocratic families. Those few sword lights all possess the level of an Earth Immortal; they are not opponents you can handle. Wait for me to write a letter, then return."

As he was speaking, he saw a flying dragon soar into the sky. Although this flying dragon had the form of a Flood Dragon, it grew beautiful feathers and had two feet. Beneath the feet of that Flood Dragon was a Daoist figure, clutching its claws, appearing to be about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a handsome complexion and wearing a Daoist robe.

It was Xun Taizi, who had come over together with Xu Jian.

Xu Jian is the Ancestor of Shanju Guan; now gradually cultivating his Dharma Power, he descended.

Chen Gongming asked, "Does Master Xu have any instructions?"

"My elder brother says this array cannot be broken by firepower. The Five Immortals within the array have some background and are connected to the Nine Rivers. If one breaks it by force, the rivers will burst their banks, and the entire Jiangzhou will be flooded; it is extremely vicious."

"At that time, the casualties among the common people will be countless, and the hearts of the people will surely be broken."

"Then how should we break the array?" Chen Gongming asked curiously. "Or should we not wait for them to finish the array and just bombard them with concentrated cannon fire again?"

"Jiangzhou City has great utility and must not be damaged too severely; Lushan is even more a place of spiritual beauty and must not be lightly insulted."

"Only by breaking the array in a grand and upright manner can we display our side's capability."

"Master Xu internally refines his Body God and possesses the Jiujiang Shuidi, therefore he told me to bring a Yangtze River Water Emperor Edict. You all should also practice an array; when the time comes to break the array, there will surely be a torrential flood. This edict can subdue all water immortals, water demons, water ghosts, and the Dragon God."

(End of this chapter)