Chapter 406: Fierce and Flourishing

"Ah, this... should we go take a look?"

Hearing there was danger, Sha Sha Li Fei grew hesitant.

No other reason—this Inside Shennongjia was no ordinary place.

Mountain gods, spirits, Jingren tribes... these past two days' experiences even made Sha Sha Li Fei wonder if he were dreaming.

After all, such things were exceedingly rare.

Last night's great battle had consumed most of the gunpowder pellets, leaving only a few left, and the even more dangerous enemy had yet to appear—naturally, his heart trembled.

But if the mountain god hid the key, there must be something strange about it.

Perhaps it was some divine relic left behind!

Thinking of this, Sha Sha Li Fei's curiosity flared again.

"Not yet."

Li Yan looked up at the sky and gestured: "We won't go now—the ones above are still fighting fiercely; we must wait for the outcome."

"What's going on?"

Sha Sha Li Fei quickly looked up, but saw only dark clouds filling the sky, thunder rumbling, yet no rain fell.

Wang Wang Daoxuan immediately explained the situation.

After hearing it, Sha Sha Li Fei complained: "I thought sending the intelligence would be the end of it—so all this effort was just lighting a candle for a blind man?"

"The imperial court is too incompetent—just bring in a few hundred cannons and blast the place to hell."

"It's not that simple."

Wang Wang Daoxuan shook his head: "The Tian Sheng Sect is already at its end, beyond redemption—the real problem is that trapped dragon."

"Dragons, like drought demons, are troublesome to handle. Born from earth vein qi, you must not only break their flesh with ritual altars but also suppress them with treasure vases—every locked dragon well across the land was built for this purpose."

"Moreover, this one has ancient roots—it's formed from the residual dragon qi of the primordial River Deity, so we must treat it with extreme caution."

"One misstep, and the people downstream will suffer."

Hearing this, Li Yan suddenly felt a stir in his heart.

That night, the Dragon Maiden had visited him in a dream; afterward, he suspected she had established a faint connection with him through the Dragon Pattern Jade Tablet.

The trapped dragon, known as Blackscale Lord, had formed by absorbing a strand of the River Deity's dragon qi—thus, he and the Dragon Maiden shared the same origin.

I wonder if she has a way to deal with it...

Acting on impulse, Li Yan gave instructions to the others, then went to a secluded spot, took out the Dragon Pattern Jade Tablet, and sat cross-legged.

Li Yan formed the Jade Pure Seal with his left hand; electric sparks crackled at his fingertips, forming a thunder talisman, while he gripped the Dragon Pattern Jade Tablet and chanted: "Sima Qian Yu repels poison, shakes loose the spirit net. The Eight Immortals hold the axe, the Emperor's spirit... I bear the Thunder Seal, command all spirits—swift as the law!"

This was the Northern Emperor's Divine Art.

Originally, it required setting up a ritual altar, and the summoned deities depended entirely on luck—but with the Dragon Maiden's jade tablet, direct communion should be possible.

Indeed, in the blink of an eye, he entered that strange state—half-asleep, half-awake, everything around him becoming unreal.

Splash...

Water surged again, flooding his ankles, while a pair of jade arms wrapped around him from behind, her hair brushing his neck.

This time, Li Yan did not lose control.

But he still dared not turn around.

There were legends of the Dragon Maiden at Lake Liangzi Lake too; beyond the surface fairy tale, there were forbidden tales.

For instance, one must never see the Dragon Maiden's face—otherwise, one must marry her. It sounds like a blessing, but some say one is dragged into the lake to spend eternity with her.

The Dragon Maiden always appeared from behind—this made him suspect the taboo might hold truth.

To avoid mishaps, caution was best.

"Does Blackscale Lord have a way to deal with..."

Speech was impossible in the dream; Li Yan could only silently think.

Fortunately, a response came quickly.

Before his eyes, light and shadow flickered again—just as the mountain god "Zouyu" had done with his secret art—carrying his vision swiftly forward.

Soon, they reached a towering mountain in the northwest, shrouded in mist and clouds, jagged rocks jutting out. At the peak, they passed through the mountain and entered a cavern—but blocked by a bronze door.

On it were eight strange keyholes, unmistakably matching the key he had taken from "Bai Gong's" belly.

The bronze door seemed to radiate a force that blocked his sight.

Instantly, Li Yan snapped back to full awareness.

He looked toward the northwest.

That was precisely where Shennongding lay!

Again, that place...

Could the danger he'd sensed yesterday be connected to it?

Doubt stirred in Li Yan's heart.

"Roar—!"

At that moment, a long, resonant roar echoed.

Li Yan and the others hurriedly climbed down the rope from the cave.

Indeed, the mountain god "Zouyu" had fully recovered from his wounds, raised his head, and let out a mighty howl, his black-and-white fur bristling, radiating an extraordinary aura.

Around him, the Jingren all leapt and danced with joy.

Seeing them arrive, "Zouyu's" gaze softened; he bowed slightly and shook his massive head.

Sha Sha Li Fei laughed: "Mountain God, did you sleep well? We nearly lost our lives! Do you still have any of those herbs?"

"Not now."

Li Yan stepped forward, voice grave: "Elder, I need your help with something."

An incense stick later, they all climbed out of the cave again.

"Zouyu" also leapt out from within.

He looked up, clearly seeing the magical battle in the sky, then let out a long, thunderous roar.

"Roar—!"

The mighty howl shook the mountains and rivers.

Soon, countless animals surged from the dense forest below—from all directions: tigers, leopards, jackals, wolves, some with donkey heads and wolf bodies, and three coffin beasts.

Even farther away, Shenkui, Shandu, and wild men appeared, all prostrating themselves, respectfully gazing at "Zouyu."

Li Yan instantly understood: with "Bai Gong" dead, "Zouyu" had become the sole remaining mountain god of Inside Shennongjia.

Then, the three coffin beasts thundered up the mountain.

Lu San's face lit up with delight: "Let's go—the Mountain God himself will lead us to Shennongding."

Saying this, he scooped up the little fox and leapt onto the back of a coffin beast.

The coffin beasts were massive, their backs slightly arched and broad—hard to ride. Lu San tossed the reins and tied them to the beast's horns.

The others followed suit: Sha Sha Li Fei rode with Lu San; Li Yan and Wang Wang Daoxuan shared one; the largest, Wu Ba, rode alone, face alight with excitement, gripping the beast's horns tightly.

"Roar!"

Another distant, echoing howl.

"Zouyu" leapt high, bounding down the mountain in a few leaps; behind him, beasts charged, shaking the mountains and sending birds flying in panic.

Countless wild beasts and mountain spirits gathered as one, a vast, roaring host heading toward Shennongding.

The wind rushed against Li Yan's face; a smile touched his lips.

With this army of beasts led by the mountain god, even if danger arose, they could handle it calmly.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, thunder roared again in the sky.

Wang Wang Daoxuan formed a hand seal, looked up, and frowned deeply: "Something's wrong."

"What is it?"

Li Yan asked quickly.

Wang Wang Daoxuan frowned: "From my aura sight, both sides were evenly matched before—but now, the Zhenwu Palace's aura has clearly weakened. Something has gone wrong."

Hearing this, Li Yan gazed thoughtfully toward the southeast: "Forget it—we can't help even if we go. Let's head to Shennongding first!"

"Roar!"

Ahead, "Zouyu" let out another long howl.

More fierce beasts and mountain spirits joined—the group grew ever larger...

…………

"Kill!"

In the mountains and forests, cries of battle never ceased.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Cannons roared, trees flew apart, limbs splattered. The remaining Tian Sheng Sect disciples had mobilized nearly their entire force, charging the imperial army's encampment and battle lines.

The demon army, once elusive, finally appeared.

Each bore some animal trait—hairy skin, vertical pupils, sharp claws, eyes brimming with savagery.

The Tian Sheng Sect's demon army numbered a thousand; though many had died in the past months, five or six hundred remained.

They moved swiftly, even armed with firearms—the imperial soldiers had no chance against them.

Like a sharp blade, they pierced through the outer defenses of the imperial army.

Behind them came the Tian Sheng Sect's elite.

They either lined up and fired their rifles, or advanced with shields.

Behind them, countless fanatical followers, clad in tattered rags and wielding rusted knives and broken swords, waited eagerly for the charge.

The news of the Heavenly Saint Duke's resurrection had greatly boosted their morale.

!.

"Form ranks! Volley fire!"

The short, sturdy general drew his sword and roared.

The front-line troops immediately formed ranks: three rows of musketeers fired in rotation at chest height, while archers behind them drew their bows in unison.

This campaign to quell the rebellion aimed not only to permanently resolve the Jing-Xiang mountain folk problem that had plagued the empire for a thousand years, but also to train troops in the process.

First, since the northern frontier rebellion and the suppression of the Maitreya Sect in Guanzhong, there had been no major warfare for years; most soldiers today were newcomers.

Second, with the advancement of firearms, new tactics needed to be tested and trained—this Jing-Xiang uprising was the whetstone.

According to the commander's plan for this campaign, they would sharpen their blades, then strike decisively to breach the Tusi city.

This three-rank musket formation was developed over the past few months and proved most practical in large-scale warfare.

On a nearby hilltop, a group watched the battlefield below.

Leading them was the resurrected Xiao Xiao Tianxiong.

He gazed at the battlefield below, his eyes filled with bloodlust, and said with interest: "I never expected that in less than a century of slumber, firearms had advanced so rapidly."

"Your Grace,"

The Right Chancellor quickly bowed and said: "We have mastered the new method of manufacturing firearms. Once we enter the Miao lands, we can exploit their terrain and spiritual materials to mass-produce them, then use the Ten Thousand Mountains as our base to contend with the imperial court."

"Good!"

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong nodded in satisfaction: "Well done. But our immediate priority is to break the Mount Wudang monks' spells."

"Hurry up. Break through the imperial army's formation."

"As your holy decree commands!"

The Right Chancellor bowed respectfully, then pulled a buffalo horn trumpet from his sleeve and blew it.

The Left Chancellor, watching nearby, let a flicker of mockery cross his eyes.

They had just returned, and this Right Chancellor was already scrambling to show loyalty, showering flattery—clearly trying to steal his position.

In the past, this would have been a fight to the death.

But now, the Left Chancellor welcomed anyone who would draw attention away from him.

Doo—!

The trumpet blared long and loud, and the Heavenly Saint Sect's forces shifted again.

Suddenly, a dozen massive figures appeared.

They were also demon soldiers, having cultivated the demonic longevity technique, but by devouring bear hearts—each towering in size, nearly matching Wu Ba.

Unlike others, these men were covered in black fur, their mouths filled with fangs, no longer human in appearance, and each carried a giant musket.

These muskets were smaller than cannons but several times larger than standard rifles, with barrels as wide as a bowl, over a meter long, and fitted with handles gripped by both hands of the giants as they advanced.

Beside them marched soldiers specifically assigned to ignite the charges.

Hss!

Even before entering the imperial musketeers' range, the giant muskets were ignited.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A cascade of explosive shots rained down like a waterfall.

The imperial musketeers' bodies erupted in bloody holes; they collapsed, lifeless, and gaps tore through the formation.

On the hill, the Right Chancellor boasted: "Your Grace, this is the Heavenly Saint Sect's musket corps—nothing can withstand them!"

"Excellent."

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong nodded and turned to the others: "Gentlemen, act now."

Lu Lin Fuzi and the others from the Ghost Sect had already set up their ritual altars; upon hearing this, they immediately began their rites, waving ritual swords and banners.

Though it was daytime and they could not summon troops, after their ritual, thick miasmas surged from the Inside Shennongjia direction, coalescing into fog that drifted toward the imperial army.

"Huang, let's go!"

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong let out a cold snort and leapt down.

Huang Huang Liushi flung his blood-red robe and followed close behind.

One a former Grand Master, the other a petrified zombie, both capable of slaying enemy commanders in the midst of battle, they vanished into the miasma and charged toward the imperial encampment.

On the encampment's ritual altar, Yu Yu Longzi, hair disheveled, waved his long sword toward the sky, sweat drenching his forehead.

After an entire night of magical combat, he was utterly exhausted.

The opponent was unknown, but their cultivation was equal to his—and there were more than one.

But Yu Yu Longzi knew this was a battle of will.

Whoever retreated first would lose the magical duel entirely.

"Wu Yu Longzi, guard the altar!"

Sensing the threat, Yu Yu Longzi roared.

The Heavenly Saint Sect's forces numbered fewer than ten thousand; their all-out assault clearly aimed to destroy his altar.

If he failed, the dragon would prematurely ascend, and they would have no choice but to yield.

"Yes, Master!"

Wu Yu Longzi, who had been guarding the altar, immediately leapt forward.

"True Martial Seven-Star Sword Array!"

Sensing danger, Gu Yu Linzi dared not underestimate them; he shouted, and the remaining Zhenwu Palace disciples instantly assembled.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Daoists drew their swords and formed the array.

Simultaneously, they formed sword seals, stepped the Gang steps, thrust upward, swept low, and slashed left and right—all movements perfectly synchronized.

Though it looked like sword practice, each man radiated Gang sha energy, which converged upon Wu Yu Longzi.

This was the advanced application of Daoist martial arts.

In the distance, the miasma surged forward; soldiers along its path scattered, but those too slow to evade inhaled the poison and collapsed, dizzy and disoriented.

"Kill!"

A squad of demon soldiers, eyes blazing red, charged into the encampment.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sound of explosions erupted as the Commandant's Divine Fire Musket troops appeared, shredding the front-line demon soldiers to pieces.

Amidst flying blood and flesh, two figures—white and red—shot forward with flickering speed; the Commandant's troops could not lock onto them.

They were Xiao Xiao Tianxiong and Huang Huang Liushi.

"Heavenly Gang Eight Trigrams: Evoking the Celestial Pivot!"

Gu Yu Linzi roared; the Daoists swung their swords in unison, shifting left and right, weaving blades into a luminous barrier that blocked the two.

"Hahaha…"

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong laughed freely: "After all these years, Zhang Master Sanfeng's disciples still only know this?"

Before he finished speaking, Wu Yu Longzi raised his sword, formed a seal, and slapped forward a palm—the air around them erupted into a violent storm.

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong swiftly retreated, eyes narrowing.

"Five-element Gang sha… what are you?"

…………

As the Zhenwu Palace altar came under attack, Li Yan and the others arrived at Shennongding.

"Follow me!"

Following the Dragon Girl's instructions, they found a hidden cave nearby, twisted through winding passages, and entered the mountain.

Shennongding was the highest peak of the Mount Daba Mountains; though its dragon veins were scattered and unable to gather primordial Gang sha into a blessed land, it possessed two yin-yang energy nodes.

The place where Huang Huang Liushi and the others resurrected the Heavenly Saint Duke was on the shaded northern side—the yin-sha energy node.

Li Yan, however, led the group into the yang node…

Second chapter update later

(End of Chapter)