Chapter 410: Counterattack!

Thunder rolled, and the heavy rain turned to mist upon hitting the ground.

Yu Yu Longzi stood before the altar, his right hand forming a sword seal, as if bearing a thousand-jun weight, his arm trembling slightly under the strain.

With no choice, he gripped his right wrist with his left hand.

His face was deathly pale, sweat and rain indistinguishable on his forehead, his whole body drenched, as if he might collapse at any moment.

Gu Yu Linzi, standing beside him, couldn't help but look deeply worried.

Yu Yu Longzi had already spent an entire night in battle with an opponent and suffered severe injuries.

For an ordinary cultivator, such a condition would require two or three months of quiet recuperation; if he wished to avoid damaging his foundation, at least half a year.

Yet Yu Yu Longzi had immediately set up the altar to slay the river dragon.

This was nothing short of playing with his own life!

But some things simply cannot be retreated from.

The opponent had outmaneuvered them, setting a trap in advance that had humiliated Zhenwu Palace—no matter how you looked at it, they had failed.

Added to that, the mountain flood had erupted, making it impossible for reinforcements to arrive on time; Yu Yu Longzi could only grit his teeth and endure alone.

Just then, Yu Yu Longzi's sword seal faltered.

Crack!

The clay dragon sculpture atop the altar suddenly shattered.

Yu Yu Longzi froze, his eyes filled with disbelief, gazing toward the southeast, then gave a thoughtful order: "Fetch the sword!"

"Yes, Master!"

Gu Yu Linzi and the others lifted a bronze urn carved with talismanic patterns and sprinted down the mountain, then stood by the water's edge, waiting.

Splash!

Soon, the waves churned, and a yellow silk-wrapped sword rolled to shore, as if propelled by some unseen force.

The yellow silk was caked with black, pus-filled blood.

Seeing the floating sword, the Five Dragon Disciples all trembled, but clenched their teeth and said nothing.

This sword was named the Five Dragon Flying Sword, forged from the flesh and divine aura of Iron Toad Ancestor when he dissolved his body and attained enlightenment.

First, it served as an object to suppress the destiny of the Five Dragon Palace.

Second, it was obtained from the True Martial Dragon Cave, forged from meteoric iron found at a crucial nexus, specifically designed to subdue the Five Dragon Disciples.

Iron Toad Ancestor's final instruction was that if the Five Dragon Disciples ever turned to the dark path, Yu Yu Longzi could use this sword to purge the sect.

Though Yu Yu Longzi said nothing, the Five Dragon Disciples sensed it.

They felt no anger—indeed, they felt gratitude, knowing their master had openly revealed this to guide them.

Many people stray because they lack reverence.

It is better to establish rules now than to wield this sword later.

But before Gu Yu Linzi could pick up the sword, his face suddenly paled and he stammered: "No! We missed it!"

The ritual to slay the dragon Shen creature follows a strict procedure.

Killing the dragon is only the beginning; its soul must be captured, sealed within the bronze urn, bound with chains, and buried deep in a well, with seven days and nights of rites performed before it is truly complete.

On Mount Wudang Mountain, there happened to be an empty Locking Dragon Well.

But now, the dragon's soul had not been captured!

Their faces darkened, and they hurried back up the mountain to report.

"Do not worry."

Yu Yu Longzi had already dismantled the altar, sat pale and breathless beneath a tree: "That evil dragon disrupted heavenly patterns and has been punished by heaven—struck by five thunderbolts, its soul scattered to nothing."

Just then, Gu Zhuaizi suddenly raised his hand, looked to the sky, and exclaimed with excitement: "Master, the rain has stopped!"

The rain stopping meant the calamity was truly over.

Yu Yu Longzi nodded: "Handle the aftermath…."

Then he collapsed, unable to hold on any longer.

"The rain has stopped! The rain has stopped!"

On the mountaintop, imperial soldiers cheered in unison.

They had fled in haste, forgetting even their rations; there was no shelter from the rain—utterly wretched.

The short, sturdy general stared fixedly at the opposite peak, striding forward with a deep voice: "Gentlemen, this flood will likely recede within half a day. I intend to lead a surprise attack to intercept the demons—what do you say?"

"That is unwise."

Gu Yu Linzi immediately shook his head in refusal.

Seeing the general's grim expression, Gu Yu Linzi patiently explained: "Among their ranks are not only Huang Liu Shi, but also Tian Sheng Gong—a former Grand Master who could easily sever a general's head in the chaos of battle."

"Moreover, our troops' morale is low; now is not the time to pursue. Rushing forward only invites ambush."

"Rest assured, Mount Wudang Mountain has dispatched experts, and naval forces are en route. We will handle the killing of the demons—your men take all the credit."

"Very well. I shall follow your advice."

The short, sturdy general's expression softened slightly…

…………

On the other side, the massive ship was already filled with clamor.

After slaying the dragon, the Ju River could no longer be navigated, so Li Yan and the others turned their course, heading down the Man River toward the Han River.

Along the way, they rescued many more.

The dragon's rampage came suddenly; though warnings had been issued along the lower banks, some still ignored them, continuing to sail and fish—and suffered the consequences.

Even naval warships had run aground.

On the wooden boats prepared by the Tian Sheng Sect, crowds of people stood tightly packed; now that the flood had receded, some wept bitterly, others sighed in despair.

Inside the cabin, Li Yan stared at the treasures inside the wooden box.

A pearl the size of a goose egg emitted a faint glow—not poisonous fluorite, but a true Night-Bright Dragon Pearl.

Huh~

Sha Sha Li Fei blew a puff of dust toward the pearl, but before it could reach, some force repelled it, scattering the dust around.

"Dust-Avoiding Pearl! A real Dust-Avoiding Pearl!"

Sha Sha Li Fei's nose was sweating with excitement.

He never expected to find such a treasure—and one gained by slaying the dragon, its value incalculable.

Wang Wang Daoxuan, meanwhile, carefully examined the dragon's horn.

The dragon's head was enormous, nearly the size of a dining table; its horn was equally astonishing—thick as an adult's arm, two arms' length.

Like a bull's horn, layered and stacked, grown over countless years, pale gold in color, ringing with a metallic chime when struck, appearing extraordinarily resilient.

"Young Master Li, this thing is no ordinary object…"

Wang Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard: "Ancient texts speak of dragon horns in five colors, corresponding to the Five Qi, marked with cloud and thunder patterns."

"But once a dragon fully forms, it transforms into dragon qi—capable of changing size, without physical form."

"Thus, the ancient texts must be referring to dragon horns of the jiao."

"Given its color, this should be of metal; black jiao belongs to water; metal and water generate each other—this makes sense. If I'm not mistaken, it can be forged into a divine weapon!"

Ding!

Li Yan reached out and tapped it, then shook his head gravely: "No matter how excellent, we cannot touch it yet."

"The credit for slaying the dragon belongs chiefly to Zhenwu Palace. If we conceal this, we break the rules—we must clarify matters first."

"Ah, this… this is a huge loss!"

Sha Sha Li Fei's face twisted in reluctance, sighing heavily.

But there was no choice—it was a rule established when the team formed, and since others performed the ritual to slay the dragon, they couldn't keep it for themselves.

Such a treasure could easily spark a feud.

Li Yan hesitated, saying nothing.

He had contributed significantly to this.

But the dream of slaying the dragon was simply too unbelievable.

First, if he told others, no one would believe him.

Second, there were many oddities.

If this was a task from the Underworld, why had the soul ledger shown no anomaly when he met Hei Lin Gong?

Only after being struck by lightning did he receive the task.

What exactly had happened?

In the dream, slaying the dragon relied entirely on the Soul-Grabbing Chain—though a power of Luo Feng Mountain, it had been re-consecrated by the Thunder Department's force.

The Supreme Jade Pure King of the Nine Heavens' Response to the Origin… behind it stood a great figure…

Also, the mortal deity inside Yang Si General's Temple had deliberately manipulated the surrounding fish and turtles to deliver the dragon's head—giving him the chance to seize it.

Yang Si General was no ordinary deity.

Not just in Ezhou and Xiangxi, but wherever there was water in the south, Yang Si General's temples stood.

It wasn't because he looked handsome that they sent this.

All these mysteries left Li Yan with a strange sense of unease.

Suddenly, footsteps pounded outside the cabin—it was the soldier they had rescued, bowing urgently: "Young Master Li, the naval forces have arrived! We must return to our unit!"

"How many?"

"Many!"

"Oh?"

Li Yan and the others exchanged glances and immediately stepped out of the cabin.

!.

"H-how are there so many people?"

Sha Sha Li Fei let out a startled cry as he emerged from the sand.

The Man River they were on was not large, so the Jiujiang-style patrol boats could not enter; all arriving vessels were medium-sized warships.

Three side by side would clog the river, so they formed a single line.

Looking out, banners fluttered endlessly, stretching beyond sight.

Li Yan instantly understood, calmly saying: "It seems the war in Yunyang has ended—they're heading south to attack the Tusi City."

Their giant ship was sizable, crude though it was, clearly not civilian, and with soldiers shouting, it naturally drew inspection.

"So it's Li Li Shaoxia."

The man boarding was an acquaintance: Wang Company Commander, a trusted aide of Huang Battalion Commander, the seal-bearer of Yunyang, from Jiaozhou.

"Wang Company Commander, what are you doing here?"

"Lord Tian Sheng Jiao remnants still linger—we've been ordered to exterminate them and prevent them from joining forces with the Tusi City."

"Lord Tian Sheng Gong has been resurrected, and many experts remain..."

"Don't worry—this time, both the Ministry of War and Mount Mount Wudang have sent experts. I hear even the Mount Wudang Patriarch has descended the mountain himself."

"Li Li Shaoxia, you've done well. The former Prefect is very pleased—he asks you to come to Yunyang Prefecture to collect your reward..."

After some casual chat and handing over the scattered soldiers, Wang Company Commander took his leave and continued with the army as it marched away.

"Look!"

Sha Sha Li Fei suddenly pointed upward.

It was already dusk; the dark clouds had not yet cleared, and a tiny black dot glowed faintly, flying toward their point of origin.

"It's Lu Ban's wooden magpie."

Li Yan's face broke into a smile. "It seems the Momen have cracked the fuel stone—had we had this earlier, we might never have gotten this lucrative mission."

…………

The giant ship they rode was sailless and oarless, unsuitable for navigation, so they traded it for a small painted pleasure boat to continue onward.

Once they left the Man River and entered the Han River, the scene grew even grander.

Tower ships, Mengchong, Doujian, Zouge, Yingchuan... countless vessels of all sizes surged downstream in a vast procession.

Low clouds hung heavy; night had fallen. Lanterns on the ships blazed thickly, like stars stretching to the horizon.

This spectacle was truly awe-inspiring.

The Great Da Xuan Dynasty was at its zenith; across Shenzhou, including frontier garrisons, troop numbers had reached two million.

But troop movements were never simple.

Most troops still needed to garrison the borders and each province.

This mobilization of two hundred thousand troops, with large-scale use of firearms, demanded resources so vast it was unprecedented in years.

The crowd stood in awe, watching until every soldier had boarded and departed, then finally came to their senses.

"Wow, this scene..."

Sha Sha Li Fei sighed, then asked: "Brother Yan, where do we head next?"

Li Yan paused briefly, then said: "With the army heading south, the Tusi City will try to block them—Changjiang will become a battlefield."

"Let's return to Yunyang first. Rest there, collect our reward, then see how things develop."

Saying this, he pulled the sail and set course for Yunyang...

…………

Night fell; the dark clouds finally cleared, revealing a bright moon.

"Kill!"

On the mountain path, torches formed long, winding dragons.

The remnants of Lord Tian Sheng Jiao ran frantically.

As the tide receded, they finally had a path—planning to cross mountains and ridges, traveling from Yuan'an to Dangyang, then crossing the river to reach the Tusi City.

The road ahead was long, with several checkpoints to force through; how many would die, they did not know—but they had no other choice.

What they hadn't expected was that Yunyang Prefecture's army suddenly marched south, sending ten thousand reinforcements to join Baokang's garrison in pursuit.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Behind them, musket fire erupted continuously; men kept collapsing to the ground.

Above, bamboo thunder arrows whistled through the air.

With each thunderous explosion, limbs and flesh sprayed in all directions.

The remnants of Lord Tian Sheng Jiao were utterly desperate.

In the dense forest, fighting raged equally fiercely.

Experts sent by the Ministry of War and Daoists from Zhenwu Palace joined forces to systematically exterminate the mad demon troops.

Farther out on the barren hills, figures sped forward, using Divine Speed Technique as they darted between treetops.

They were the experts of Lord Tian Sheng Jiao and the Ghost Sect.

At this moment, whether the Right Chancellor, the Left Chancellor, or even Wang Wang Hufa and others, all looked bewildered, frequently glancing back.

All their years of hard work had been utterly destroyed.

Though joining the Tusi City might offer refuge, without troops, they'd have no authority to speak.

As for the Ghost Sect members, their expressions remained calm.

They didn't care how many of Lord Tian Sheng Jiao died—once inside the Tusi City, they'd find ways to seize power.

"Stop!"

At that moment, Lord Tian Sheng Gong suddenly raised his hand, halting. His eyes turned dark as he stared ahead: "Since you've come, why not show yourselves?"

Hearing this, the others immediately grew alert.

Lord Tian Sheng Gong Xiao Xiao Tianxiong had once been among the Ten Grand Masters. Though just resurrected and his cultivation not yet restored, his insight and experience remained intact—he must have sensed something.

Indeed, atop the hill ahead, mist suddenly rose and cleared to reveal three figures, clad in Daoist robes, holding ritual swords and banners, all with white hair, each radiating formidable aura.

Especially the leader: tall and slender, his Daoist robe ornate, eyes narrow and long, wearing a towering crown, his beard and hair streaked black and white.

In his hand he held a precious sword that glowed fiercely in the night, ancient in form, razor-sharp, its scabbard covered in verdigris, inlaid with copper wire forming two seal-script characters: "Zhenwu."

"The Zhenwu Sword—it's the Mount Wudang Patriarch, Yu Yu Chanzi!"

The Right Chancellor and others, even Huang Huang Liushi, felt their hairs stand on end.

Mount Wudang's Yu Yu Chanzi, cultivation at the Seventh Floor, though his martial skill was slightly inferior and he never ranked among the Ten Grand Masters, his magical arts alone were enough to stabilize Mount Wudang's destiny.

And that was only a decade or so ago.

This man had not descended the mountain in years—who knew what realm he had reached now?

"Run!"

Huang Huang Liushi said nothing—he spun, transforming into rolling black smoke, abandoning his foundation to flee using a self-damaging escape technique.

The others did the same.

Even Lord Tian Sheng Gong, though reluctant, fled.

Once, he had fought Zhang Master Sanfeng himself—now he had to run from the master's disciple's disciple. His heart burned with humiliation...

Second chapter later

(End of Chapter)