Chapter 1 A Bloody Beginning

A rain of blood poured down on everyone, like the heavy beats of a drum, spreading from this half of Quzhou to the entire world, forever changing this land.

"Has he really started this massacre?"

Before the Mighty Tiger Pass, most of the Grain Protection Army, the Iron Rail King, the White Armor Army, and a group of devotees who did not eat beef, military advisors, and fierce generals were still present. They all guessed what Yang Gong was going to do, but still seemed somewhat incredulous.

"He... he came out of Mingzhou with a great reputation, already possessing the countenance of an emperor. Now he is about to begin a great slaughter. Could it be that he..."

"He doesn't want to be the emperor anymore?"

"More than that."

A devotee who did not eat beef sighed softly and said, "Not only can he not be the emperor, but he may not even live to see a new emperor appear in this world."

"From now on, his reputation will be ruined. The world will hate him, fear him, and want to kill him..."

Looking up, the boundless rain of blood poured down, and between heaven and earth, all sorts of rolling and surging bloody aura existed. Reaching out to catch the raindrops, one could even feel the coldness of a blade coming upon them: "Boundless karma of killing arises from this, and a great calamity of killing will befall the world."

"We have been immersed in the ways of the underworld for half our lives, but we never imagined that there would be a method that directly exceeded all our imaginations!"

"Then... then what are we going to do now?"

Amidst the tension, someone asked urgently. Military Advisor Tie Zui Zi glanced at the dark and heavy Mighty Tiger Pass, where the Blood Slaughterers still remained, along with the powerful and influential clans and local bullies of Quzhou.

Another night had passed, and it was time for the Blood Slaughterers to leave the pass. Previously, every time night fell, they would be frightened, fearing that they would be slaughtered clean by the Blood Slaughterers.

But inexplicably, at this moment, they were not afraid at all. Instead, they had set up an incense table, preparing to burn paper offerings to heaven. However, just after the incense table was set up, he suddenly felt a little unsure.

"The killing intent is too heavy. My cultivation is insufficient. Otherwise, should we ask Senior Brother Jin Zi Men to come over?"

But before he could decide whether to ask someone else, he saw someone slowly walking over, saying lazily, "Step aside. You don't know how to receive this killing intent. I'll have to do it!"

Tie Zui Zi saw the newcomer's demeanor and felt a sense of awe. He said in a low voice, "May I ask who you are, esteemed one..."

"When the Azure Sky dies, the Yellow Sky shall rise. In the year of Jia Zi, great fortune will come to the world."

The newcomer casually spoke these sixteen characters, then stepped forward and took the wooden sword and yellow paper, saying, "In terms of seniority, you should call me Shishu (martial uncle), but you don't need to kowtow. I don't like that."

Tie Zui Zi hurriedly stepped aside and saw General Qiao Yun, Lao Suan Pan (Old Abacus) of the Great Luo Dharma Sect, and Lao Gao Liang (Old Sorghum), Zhu Ye Qing (Bamboo Leaf Green), Yu Bing Shao (Jade Ice Burn), whose names were strange, also came here, watching this person from afar as he took out a piece of paper.

Although this killing karma was frightening, it had to be used. It was precisely by borrowing this killing intent that they would break through the Mighty Tiger Pass, which was why they had to set up this incense table.

To burn paper offerings to inform the gods, to strengthen heaven and earth.

Tie Zui Zi was conflicted because he knew that doing so was right, but he didn't even know how to write the memorial. After all, to some extent, he felt that the noble families of the eight prefectures and twenty counties were innocent.

However, the person codenamed Green Ant Wine did not hesitate at all. He directly wrote in front of the incense table:

"Heaven creates all things to nourish the people, but the people have no good to repay heaven."

"Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill! Those who are disloyal shall be killed!"

"Those who are unfilial shall be killed! Those who are unkind shall be killed!"

"Those who are unjust shall be killed! Those who are without propriety, wisdom, or trust!"

"The King of Mingzhou says: Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"I was not born to hunt for the throne, nor am I interested in building a golden platform in the capital."

"..."

"This is..."

Tie Zui Zi and a group of advisors and eccentrics who did not eat beef only glanced at a few words from afar, and were suddenly so frightened that their faces turned pale. They staggered back a few steps, their necks feeling a chill.

This was not a Qing ci (Taoist prayer), nor was it a memorial. This was simply a killing intent so thick that it could not be dissolved.

Even as he wrote these strange verses, the heavens and earth were rolling and surging, producing a response. The blood rain falling from the sky gathered more towards this place, and streaks of blood-red lightning split the sky above their heads.

On the other hand, the people surrounding the incense table, except for Lao Suan Pan (Old Abacus), tilted their heads one by one, admiring the verses written by Green Ant Wine, with smiles on their faces.

Di Gua Shao (Sweet Potato Burn) even shook his head and sighed, "So cultured. I knew there were toads in Daming Lake."

"That's enough."

Green Ant Wine put away his pen and smiled, "The King of Mingzhou has made the first move, and has already drawn out this great killing machine of heaven and earth. But to accumulate it, it still needs time. And we will lend him a hand!"

As he spoke, he waved his sleeves, holding the yellow paper in his hand, braving the rolling blood rain above his head, and recited loudly, his voice resounding inside and outside the Mighty Tiger Pass, and then burned it to the ghosts and gods.

It was impossible to describe the changes that suddenly occurred when his voice appeared between this heaven and earth.

It was as if the entire world trembled slightly because of this, silently.

Each word dripping with blood, each sound horrifying.

The poem was not a curse, but it was more powerful than any curse. When Military Advisor Tie Zui Zi recited it, the inside and outside of the Mighty Tiger Pass were silent, and everyone felt a chill on their necks.

And when this poem was forbidden to ghosts and gods, all that could be seen between heaven and earth was a sudden surge of Yin wind, and the blood rain became even heavier. Even the red lantern hanging high above the three armies was covered with a more vivid layer of bloody aura.

"What does the King of Mingzhou mean by this poem?"

"It means that he doesn't even want to be the emperor anymore, and would rather be a demon who kills like hemp."

"Of course, even if he wanted to sit on the emperor's throne, he wouldn't be able to."

"In the past, only the aristocratic families eliminated the redundant officials. Today, he wants to protect the redundant officials and kill the aristocratic families. What he is offending is the entire world..."

Even within the Mighty Tiger Pass, after hearing the content of this poem, many people felt frightened, as if an invisible dark night was pressing down on their heads.

"Boom!"

And in the distance, as Yang Gong gave the order to charge towards the grim bunkers and earthen walls, lightning flashed across the night sky, illuminating the blades in the hands of the Grain Protection Army.

Within the Mighty Tiger Pass, the gate had been opened. For several days, the Blood Slaughterers, who had been weighing down the Three Armies Alliance and preventing them from sleeping peacefully, had once again appeared at the gate. However, this time, as soon as they left the pass, they suddenly felt a bloody aura.

This bloody aura was so vast that it even caused them to stop abruptly, their dull and empty eyes looking towards the blood-colored night sky.

"Kill!"

At this moment, behind the incense table, in front of the pass, the greatest changes occurred in the five thousand Grain Protection Army that Yang Gong had left behind, and the generals and advisors of all the armies who knew the cause.

In the past, they had to avoid the Blood Slaughterers every time they left the pass, but this time, it was as if they could feel the surging killing intent coming from behind them. Suddenly, someone gave an order, and endless swords and spears were thrust out, heading straight for the Mighty Tiger Pass.

The Blood Slaughterers specialized in killing people at night, and the three armies broke through the pass at night.

Rumble!

As the horses galloped, and mud splashed, within the Mighty Tiger Pass, whether it was the Blood Slaughterers, the private soldiers of the aristocratic families, or the various experts of the Xinghun (Execution Soul) Sect, they all felt frightened.

Especially the God-Given King. He had always been invincible. Although bearing a sea of blood would make him tired from time to time, as long as he could hold on and bring the Blood Slaughterers out, there would be no one in this world who could not be killed.

Only at this moment, as the paper offerings were burned to heaven in front of the pass, he felt his iron armor was so heavy, and he knelt on one knee on the ground.

And the Blood Slaughterers around him fell down one after another, lifeless, turning back into dead people.

"How is it possible? How is it possible?"

The God-Given King, facing the rolling soldiers and horses coming towards the pass, gritted his teeth and stubbornly stood up. He alone still raised his broadsword and pointed it at the charging soldiers and horses, roaring hoarsely:

"I am the Heaven-Born God-Given King, born to break all spells, slaughtering countless people. How dare you..."

"..."

He was a fierce general who had crushed several enemy armies in a few days, beheaded one hundred thousand, and subdued the major aristocratic families of Quzhou, pointing at the nose of the impermanent Li family and cursing.

He firmly believed that as long as he had a breath left, no matter what demons and ghosts they were, they would have to honestly lower their heads in front of him.

But now, he waved his sword and shouted, only to be doused with a body full of golden汁 (excrement).

Several earthenware pots were thrown at him, covering him from head to toe. Before he could even raise his hand to wipe the filth from his eyes, a pitchfork pierced straight through his chest, nailing him to the wall.

"Slaughtering the old and young, begging the aristocratic families, willing to be a knife in the hands of others, and still pretending to be a hero..."

The young general who pierced him through with the pitchfork pulled back his weapon, shook it a few times with disdain, and spat fiercely, "What kind of thing do you think you are!"

After speaking, he didn't even look back, but led the way into the pass. The three armies followed closely behind, black and overwhelming, shocking the various private soldiers and experts within the Mighty Tiger Pass, who were either trembling with fear, abandoning their weapons and surrendering, or fleeing the pass in chaos.

The Mighty Tiger Pass was breached, and the soldiers and horses shouted loudly. Some shouted the name of the Golden 汁(excrement) General, who was the first to rush into the pass, and others shouted the name of the Iron Rail King, who led his men to take down the city.

And at this time, behind the army in front of the pass, in front of the incense table, the devotees who did not eat beef and the reincarnated ones who burned paper offerings to heaven all felt a deep sigh in their hearts. They turned their heads and bowed their fists towards the very center of the rain of blood.

Towards the person who was causing this boundless slaughter, they cupped their fists and saluted.

……

……

"Crack..."

In the Yellow Springs of the Yin realm, Hu Ma held up one hand and shattered the old well. The blood-stained pool also seemed to dry up for the most part in an instant. The surrounding white banners and spells were all tattered, much like the blank expression on the face of the Li family's master.

He stared blankly at the new shadow that appeared in the blood-stained pool, feeling that all of this was beyond his comprehension.

Since it was a battle of magic, he had considered the possibility of the Li family losing, but what he thought was that the Li family was either a step behind or losing on the surface but winning in secret. But now the result...

The Li family was actually crushed and defeated.

It had always been the aristocratic families who eliminated the redundant officials, and never had he seen the redundant officials killing the aristocratic families.

Therefore, he also could not understand how it had always been the people of the underworld using the blood-stained pool to suppress the human world, but now, how could it be that the killing intent of the human world was suppressing the situation of the blood-stained pool...

And at the same time, Hu Ma, looking at the void shadow that appeared in the blood-stained pool, also felt heavy in his heart.

Yang Gong was brought out by him. Most of the time, he regarded him as an ignorant grassroots, but in fact, he learned many things better than him. That was why he made this decision so quickly...

With a low sigh, he did not bother to pay attention to the impermanent Li family's chief steward, who was being suppressed and could not breathe, and was as dull as wood. He slowly turned his gaze to Miss Red Wine beside him and said,

Feeling extremely difficult, he said, "Where is Shao Dao Zi (Burning Blade)?"

Miss Red Wine was also walking over slowly. Meeting Hu Ma's inquiry, she smiled slightly and said, "Dead!"

Speaking, she even easily explained: "The blood-stained pool cannot be deceived by just anyone. It is not easy to arouse such a gathering of killing karma, but we cannot help but find a way to arouse it."

"After all, the killing karma in the human world is rising too slowly, so we have to add fuel to the fire."

"..."

"Dead..."

Although Hu Ma had guessed it long ago, his heart was heavy and indescribable. He even felt a little dazed. Miss Red Wine was the one who was familiar with Shao Dao Zi (Burning Blade), but she smiled at it, while he was the one who found it difficult to accept...

Just like that, dead?

"It's not necessarily a bad thing."

Miss Red Wine looked at Hu Ma and smiled, "There are not many things that can make people completely disappear, and the blood-stained pool is one of them."

"So Shao Dao Zi (Burning Blade) said from the beginning that he didn't want to suffer eternal punishment, and he was too lazy to figure out the way to deal with the Grand Duke, only asking that his skills be used in a critical place."

"But he..."

Hu Ma was momentarily confused: "Why didn't you say a word before entering the Yin realm?"

Miss Red Wine listened and was silent for a while before revealing a smile again, "He was afraid of trouble, afraid that you would all be nagging."

"It was actually because he was afraid of trouble..."

Hu Ma didn't know what to say for a moment. He felt absurd and his heart was blocked and uncomfortable.

After a long silence, watching the blood aura on Yang Gong's body grow heavier and heavier, he slowly turned his head to look at Miss Red Wine and said in a low voice, "Did Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess) plan to do this a long time ago?"

"Why... didn't you tell me in advance?"

"..."

"She didn't tell anyone except me, because if she said it, she would hesitate."

Miss Red Wine slowly opened her mouth and looked up at Hu Ma: "This matter is too big and too ferocious. Here with you, you will bear great karma, be rejected by heaven and earth, and make many people hesitate."

"Moreover, even reincarnated people are not all trustworthy, so if something has to be done, it must be done with thunderous means, cutting off people's false thoughts!"

"This matter must be done."

"You have probably understood during the past month or so that you led the Grain Protection Army out of Mingzhou that if you want to win this battle, you cannot escape such a killing calamity."

"To forcibly maintain the continuation of order is wrong in itself."

"This world has been trying to maintain that little bit of order. After the Yi tribes, it was the Ten Surnames, and after the Ten Surnames, it was the Grasshead Kings, only wanting to seamlessly connect and achieve a new heaven."

"But that is impossible. Only by completely breaking it can a true order be formed that is sufficient to resist the Grand Duke."

"..."

"But..."

At this time, Er Guo Tou (Double Distilled Liquor) beside him could not help but open his mouth: "Didn't that crazy monkey agree to fight with the Ten Surnames?"

Many of the reincarnated people knew that Monkey Wine was clever, but also crazy enough, but they believed in his judgment even more, so since this battle was set down, even Er Guo Tou (Double Distilled Liquor) had not doubted it.

"That monkey is indeed clever enough, but he is also too rational."

Miss Red Wine smiled and said, "He knows how to calculate cold numbers, but he is not very good at calculating people's hearts."

"In this area, Senior Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess) is the most proficient."

"She has been watching this world coldly, and even once wanted to introduce the supreme principles of Buddhism into this world, but later, she changed her mind."

"What need is there for Buddhism to eliminate karma? She prefers to stop karma with killing, and wants these Eight Views of the Yellow Springs to be used by me."

"The Ten Surnames' agreement to this battle in the first place was the naivety of the Ten Surnames. Their ambitions were laughably naive in Tie Guan Yin's eyes. They only thought that they were qualified to be living gods, but how could they control the affairs of the world?"

"Now it seems that the Ten Surnames have the final say, and many people listen, but when the new emperor ascends the throne and divides the power of this world, how much will the words of the Ten Surnames be worth?"

"Of course, you also have to be prepared."

Speaking of this, she was looking at Hu Ma, nodded gently, and said, "This impermanent Li family didn't expect us to overturn the table during the battle. It was their naivety."

"And you, if you really believe that winning this battle will guarantee that both sides will laugh and joke and save this world, then you are naive."

"You cannot expect them to really keep their promise so faithfully, hand over everything after losing, and not do things that are harmful to the human world. You can only prepare early and guard against them leading the Grand Duke into the calamity of the human world."

"People have a self-destructive nature, even if they don't think so now, they will definitely do so in the end."

"This is the advice that Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess) asked me to give you."

"..."

"..."

"The karma is indeed too great..."

Hu Ma listened carefully to every word, without needing to refute. Some words, after being spoken, naturally knew whether they were true or false.

However, even so, when he opened his mouth, he could not control his voice trembling: "But you don't want me to bear this bad name, could it be that... could it be that you are not afraid of this karma?"

"Because we have always been regarded as evil spirits..."

Miss Red Wine laughed, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Hu Ma: "Then we will do the work of evil spirits, anyway, we have already been used to it, so what's the problem?"

"When you were in the capital, you only talked to Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess) about the Great Luo Heaven Sacrifice and expelling the Grand Duke. Didn't you ever think about a problem at that time?"

"Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess) told almost everyone everything in the capital, but she concealed one thing."

Her expression was very calm, even smiling, but every word she spoke was pressing on people's hearts: "The Great Luo Heaven Sacrifice will be successful, but we will die."

"We also belong to a part of the Grand Duke. This world has no place left for us."

"..."

Something was surging in Hu Ma's heart: "I..."

"Just be prepared!"

Miss Red Wine raised her hand and stopped Hu Ma's words, and smiled, "We are not doing this because of your request, but simply because we have also developed feelings for this world in the past twenty years."

"Some people have descendants, some people have made friends, some people have married eighteen wives here, and some people have made a bunch of brothers."

"Since we are going to die, then we are not pretentious, only trying our best before we die, leaving behind a better world."