By sacrificing oneself in the killing tribulation, one becomes a bridge. The knife borrows the people's anger to sever half the court.
The Dōu Yí Underworld Palace, with its ten Emperor-Ghosts, had been cut down to the Fifth Palace. The collapse of the preceding six palaces caused rolling streams of purple qi to return to the human realm via Hú Má's body. This vast and surging sight nearly submerged the entirety of Great Grief Mountain.
The people in the human realm were currently unaware of what Hú Má was doing, but the Imperial Advisor, the Wáng family members, and Old Calculator on Great Grief Mountain were all stunned speechless by the scene.
Especially the Imperial Advisor, who had just been worried that Hú Má's move was not a good one.
He had guessed that this killing tribulation would be blocked by the noble families of the world because he had dealt with these people too much before and knew how difficult they were to persuade. But he never expected that what the transmigrator was doing from the very beginning far exceeded his expectations.
He was initially not optimistic about the transmigrators because they were all outsiders, too far removed from this world.
Therefore, even if they stirred up this killing tribulation, the Imperial Advisor believed they would only be guides, leading this world into its greatest calamity, not caring about the outcome.
Like evil spirits detached from the world, watching the bustle of humanity.
But he never expected that they would not only enter the game themselves, but even go to the extent of sacrificing themselves for the game. This… how was this possible?
How could there be outsiders who cared so much about the human realm?
"One cannot discuss ice with summer insects, nor the sea with well frogs. The ephemeral mushroom knows not dawn and dusk, the cicada knows not spring and autumn."
At the same time in the Underworld Palace, Hú Má had swallowed the Emperor-Ghosts and all the civil and military officials of the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Palaces, and had become a tall and solid dharma image, his ferocious power terrifying.
Green-faced and with fangs, he fully displayed his ferocity. His eyes were like copper bells, yet they also possessed a serenity that perceived all things. He was in a dream, but he seemed to be able to sense the astonishment of the Imperial Advisor and others on Great Grief Mountain.
The emotions in his heart were extremely complex, and he sighed softly: "This is only because you don't understand that personal interests and fame are not the greatest pursuits…"
"The greatest pursuit is to realize one's own Dao (path, principle)…"
"…"
"…"
In the human realm, when popular resentment rose in the Four Prefectures and Seven Provinces, crushing Chāng Píng Wáng and forcing Chén Tóu Jiàng into a desperate situation, unprecedented bustle and excitement were also stirring in the south of Lake Province, the northwest, the southwest, and the north.
South of Lake Province, while Míng Zhōu Wáng led his troops to attack Qú Province, he left General Zhāng Yàn Běi of the Right Route to garrison the south to guard against any changes.
He knew deeply that he was shouldering the safety of the grain-protecting army. Once this place was seized, the entire Dōng Shān Road area, including Míng Zhōu Wáng's hometown, would fall into the hands of the enemy. Therefore, he dared not slacken for a day, training horses and drilling soldiers every day, and patrolling day and night.
Earlier, when Míng Wáng attacked Fierce Tiger Pass, the various grassroots kings in the south were quite honest, but when this human killing tribulation was stirred up, suddenly many troops came to harass them.
Old Zhāng only defended and did not attack, and withstood many difficulties.
Most importantly, the Chaos King in the south seemed to be on good terms with Míng Zhōu Wáng, helping to solve many troubles invisibly.
Unexpectedly, with the rise of the killing tribulation, the Chaos King in the south suddenly turned his back and launched a large-scale attack. Old Zhāng's border garrison was immediately plunged into an unprecedented hard battle.
First, there was a strange army carrying bamboo rafts on their backs, wearing blue robes, and adorning themselves with silver ornaments. Each of them carried a bamboo tube on their backs. When the two armies approached, they picked up the bamboo tubes behind them and knocked on them. Their own soldiers would immediately feel dizzy and their brains would swell, and they would be immediately overwhelmed by the enemy.
What was worse, even those who returned alive to the camp showed various signs of decay on their bodies. Strange insects crawled in and out of their wounds. Not only did they become burdens, but even those who took care of them were infected with this evil disease.
Moreover, the Ten Thousand Mountains south of Lake Province seemed to come alive.
The enemy's troops drilled in and out of the mountains like snakes returning to their holes, but their own troops disappeared without a trace as soon as they entered the mountains and were never heard from again.
No one answered their calls to heaven, and no one responded to their calls to earth. When they were discovered, they were often found hanging in the mountains in groups.
After fighting like this for more than half a month, Old Zhāng's 10,000 soldiers and 30,000 civilians had collapsed and died, leaving only less than 1,000 people. They retreated to a small county town on the border of Lake Province and were protected in the city by the wandering ghosts, but they dared not even stick their heads out.
Old Zhāng was a real man. In order to protect Míng Zhōu Wáng's hometown, he had never taken a step back. Eight of his disciples had died, leaving only two left.
In order to fight against the snakes and insects summoned by the bamboo raft army, he had screamed until his throat bled, but he never thought of retreating.
But now, he really had the intention of retreating. There were too many strange things happening on this battlefield, and too many soldiers died for no apparent reason. If he didn't retreat, all the soldiers under his command would die, and even his entire sect, including his master and disciples, would be wiped out.
Fortunately, at this time, Zhang Āgū, the ghost walker, and Mr. Lǐ from Qīng Shí Town arrived here and handed over a letter from the ghost walker sect, only saying that reinforcements were coming soon and asking Old Zhāng to wait patiently and hold on for a few more days.
Old Zhāng also knew the importance of this place, so he could only grit his teeth and hold on.
But every day he held on was a torment.
Now, the entire army had been frightened by the bamboo raft army's ability to drive snakes and insects. The entire army would tremble uncontrollably at the sight of a piece of straw rope.
What was more, it was heard that the Chaos King in the south had gathered his troops, claiming to have 100,000 troops, and was ready to advance towards Lake Province at any time. And here, there were only less than 1,000 people guarding it…
But finally, at this time, the reinforcements arrived.
First, a well-dressed, pretty, and cute young lady, claiming to be General Qiǎo Yún under Míng Wáng, came in a sedan chair at night, leading 500 hemp-clad soldiers to rush over overnight. At dawn, she entered the city, wanting to help the bald Old Zhāng fight against the Chaos King in the south.
When Old Zhāng saw her, he almost cried out: "Madam Lú, I know you are very capable. You showed your skills when you fought the Green-Clad Evil Ghost."
"But you only brought 500 people here. Adding the ones under my command, there are only a thousand or so."
"Are we going to fight against the Chaos King's 100,000 troops with our lives?"
"…"
When Sweet Potato Roast saw the bald Old Zhāng's frustrated appearance, she only smiled and said: "Don't panic, there are still some who haven't arrived yet…"
"That's the main force!"
"The Left Protector of the Red Lantern Goddess Society said that no matter what the situation is on your side, as long as that person arrives, they will definitely be able to help us turn defeat into victory!"
"…"
When Old Zhāng saw her so confident, he suddenly looked forward to it: "Who is so powerful? Could it be that he has thousands of troops under his command?"
Amidst the expectations of the entire army, the person they were waiting for finally arrived on this day. He saw a person dressed in white, holding a bamboo flute in his hand, riding in a strange ox cart, with a few bamboo baskets on the cart, slowly and leisurely coming straight to the county government.
He glanced at the soldiers in the county government, who had already been frightened out of their wits, as well as the wounded who had been wailing day and night, whose wounds had been festering for several days, and countless strange insects were drilling in and out of their wounds.
He frowned and said: "The evil aura in the army is indeed the weakest against Gu (poisonous) insects. No wonder they suffered such a big loss. However, the Zhù family has fallen into the lower ranks by condoning this army."
Then he looked up at the Ten Thousand Mountains in the south and said lightly: "Prepare yourselves, let's enter the mountains tonight."
"What?"
Old Zhāng had waited for them with great anticipation, but now he was so angry that he wanted to directly throw away the weapon in his hand.
He had been looking forward to these reinforcements for so long, but they were just these two people?
Old Zhāng came from the Jianghu (martial world) and didn't know nothing about it. He himself was a shǒusùi (year-guardian) and had seen many powerful ways and strange people.
But no matter how strange a person was, he would have to avoid the edge of thousands of troops. Today, he was just a single person, and he was going to boast and take his 800 soldiers, who had already been frightened out of their wits, to the demon mountain to fight against the 100,000 troops of the Chaos King?
Nonsense! Nonsense!
Don't even mention obeying orders, he didn't even want to provide this person with food!
…
…
"Are the nobles going to kill people, or is heaven going to kill people?"
In the southwest, Yáng Gōng led his troops here, and what he saw filled him with anger.
He led his army, starting from Qú Province, slaughtering all the aristocratic families and opening the granaries to distribute grain, but the grain-protecting army only took one share, leaving the rest so that women, children, and the elderly had a chance to survive until the autumn harvest.
The other young and strong men who were willing to stay stayed, and those who were willing to leave followed him.
He didn't know how many fierce battles he had fought along the way, and he didn't know how many hard bones he had gnawed, but when he arrived here, it began to become difficult to move an inch.
As if God was deliberately making things difficult, while the army was marching, the grain carts piled up in one place, and they were struck by lightning, causing a fire that burned half of them.
While walking in the mountains, they saw the earth dragon turn over, rocks collapsed, and countless people were killed and injured. When crossing the river, there were calm waves, but then large waves rose, overturning many boats.
What was even more excessive was that in April, there was a heavy snowfall, stretching out as far as the eye could see, and many people froze and starved to death.
Now, there were already rumors in the world that Yáng Gōng was the reincarnation of an evil ghost and should be punished by heaven, and there were also words that Yáng Gōng was blessed by ghosts and gods and was invincible, but now, his journey was difficult, full of disasters and calamities everywhere, and even the morale of the soldiers was shaken.
Yáng Gōng was not afraid of fighting fierce battles, but when he saw these young and strong men who had voluntarily followed him, only hoping that fewer people would starve to death, dying for no reason, he was extremely angry.
The words he had promised them that they would not starve to death were still in his ears, but what about now?
He had protected them from being killed by those noble lords, but now they were going to die under this natural disaster?
He hated it in his heart, but he had a knife in his hand, but he didn't know who to cut.
"People don't kill people, heaven kills people."
At this time, when the morale of the soldiers was frustrated and they were wrapping their straw clothes tightly to avoid the wind and snow, someone hugged their legs and sat on the rock next to them.
He had come from another place to join the army and was a small official in charge of executions under Yáng Gōng. He had no special characteristics, except that he always cut off people's heads very cleanly. Yáng Gōng was not familiar with him.
It wasn't until this moment that he heard him sighing there: "It's the heavens who want our lives. If we don't starve to death, we will be killed by others. If we are not killed by others, we will be taken away by heaven…"
"The hard days of these common people will never end…"
"…"
These words seemed to be shaking the morale of the army. When Yáng Gōng heard it, he temporarily moved to punish him strictly and wondered if he should cut him down.
But when he looked around, he saw people in thin clothes, with pale faces, watching with those listless eyes. He felt a little tired in his heart.
These people who had been saved from the fate of starvation by him had not blamed him until now, but it was obvious that many people seemed to really begin to doubt whether they were qualified to live.
And just when Yáng Gōng felt extremely tired, riding his horse back and forth to check, but was helpless in the face of this vast natural disaster, he suddenly saw a magnificent temple in the rolling wind and snow, tall and solemn in the vast wind and snow.
When the military advisor Tiě Zuǐzi saw this, he suddenly had an idea: "General, since natural disasters harm people, there is a temple in front of us, why not go in and worship the ghosts and gods?"
When Yáng Gōng heard this, his heart stirred. From childhood until now, he did have the habit of seeking gods and asking ghosts.
Everyone around him, seeing the temple sacred and vast from a distance, also felt a little hope, and they all waited on the side for Míng Wáng's order. Only the man with a numb face in the distance just watched coldly and didn't say anything.
If it could save the lives of his men, Yáng Gōng didn't mind kowtowing, but he didn't know why, he always felt a little unwilling in his heart.
"Or should I just destroy this temple and cut down the statues of the gods in the temple?"
At this moment, a clear and cold voice sounded in the wind and snow. Turning his head to look, he saw a woman wearing a white fox fur coat, holding a white cat in her arms.
She was accompanied by the military advisor Tiě Zuǐzi and a group of disciples who did not eat beef, as well as several men with extraordinary temperament and carts of grain and supplies. But now, she was not in a hurry to report her identity, but instead looked coldly at Míng Wáng Yáng Gōng and said:
"Now everyone in the world is saying that you, Míng Zhōu Wáng, are a born killer, creating a killing spree for this world."
"Hearing that you were coming, an entire village fled several days in advance. Seeing you in bad luck, many people in the world are clapping their hands and cheering, but I want to come over and ask you a question…"
"Do you really think you are guilty?"
"…"
Yáng Gōng gritted his teeth and said sternly: "I just want to let more people live, what is the crime?"
"Exactly."
The woman wearing the fox fur nodded and said seriously: "Since you believe in what you are doing, why do you have to fear these so-called gods and ghosts?"
Saying this, she raised her head and looked coldly at the goose feather snow in the sky, her eyes stern: "If the gods block your path, then kill the gods. If the heavens block your path, then punish the heavens. Now the grain-protecting army is suffering disasters everywhere, freezing people to death, which is already a great crime!"
"I will tie that damned old heaven here for you and declare his great crimes. Dare you cut him down with one knife?"
"…"
Yáng Gōng was stunned when he heard this, only feeling a surge of heat into his brain.
Before he could answer, the old man squatting on the rock in the distance had already rarely shown joy on his face. He looked up and grinned: "Someone who understands reason has come…"
…
…
In the southwest, the rat plague was rampant, but in this area, a certain small town was bustling.
Here, people set up a stage, performed with large jars, beat clappers, walked on stilts, and held a lively performance. All the tricks that could be imagined in various parts of the human world seemed to be found in this small town.
The strange thing was that there were only performers here, but no audience, no spectators, and no rewards. Such a lonely and deserted performance lasted for three full days and finally welcomed the first audience member.
All the performers in the town looked at him, wanting to see what he would say first and what he would do first.
But this person just carried his hands behind his back and slowly entered the town.
He came to a girl who was bowing and juggling more than a dozen plates, smiled slightly, took out a copper coin from his sleeve, and threw it in front of her.
He smiled and said: "Good job, worthy of a reward!"
…
…
North of Qú Province, when the whole world began to be lively, Tiě Jiàn Wáng (Iron Threshold King) Zhōu Dàtóng was still confused.
When he was in Qú Province, Míng Wáng Yáng Gōng inexplicably sent him such a great achievement, taking Qú Province. The name of Tiě Jiàn Wáng also rose in one fell swoop and became famous all over the world. But he didn't know what to do next.
After taking Qú Province, he should go north to fight Cháng Shèng Wáng (Ever-Victorious King).
But he was not confident in dealing with the Cháng Shèng Army, which had even attacked the capital city. He had neither the confidence to win nor the intention to fight. He was only thinking about what his brother Yáng Gōng was doing, and he didn't understand why his men wouldn't let him go to help him.
But it was also at this time that the Cháng Shèng Wáng's army had already pressed to the border of Qú Province, coming aggressively.
Zhōu Dàtóng was even thinking about running away when two people suddenly came to his tent. When they opened their mouths, they startled Zhōu Dàtóng.
"I am Cháng Shèng Wáng."
The tall and mighty man with a slight paunch said: "The one next to me is Táo Yín, the eldest son of the Táo family of Huái Běi. The Táo family is a noble family with five generations and three dukes. In terms of status, they don't even care about the Ten Surnames."
"Oh, you probably know his name better. Everyone calls him Bái Mǎ Yín Ān Xiǎo Zhì Jiàng (White Horse Silver Saddle Little Wise General). He never fights head-on, but his poisonous plans follow one after another."
"…"
"Ah yo…"
When Zhōu Dàtóng heard this, he was completely dumbfounded.
No, with the army pressing on the border and in imminent danger, the enemy's main general and military advisor came to his tent alone?
To assassinate him? Or to negotiate peace?
So what should he do?
Should he directly send someone to capture them? Or should he invite them to drink?
Then, the two men opened their mouths and said: "We also know that you are Zhōu Dàtóng, the junior brother of Mr. Hú of the Zhèn Suì (Town-Evil) Hú family. We are friends with him and are also working on the same side."
"When you see him in the future, tell him that it was Mèng Zhōu Mèn Dǎo Lǘ (Mèn Dǎo Lǘ of Mèng Zhōu) and Wǔ Jiā Pí who came. He will know."
Saying this, the two men's expressions were also a little heavy. After a slight silence, they said in a deep voice: "This trip is also to discuss a major matter with you. Our troops are all good brothers who were brought up with one hand. From today on, they will be yours."
"…"
Zhōu Dàtóng was even more confused: "What?"
The person next to him who claimed to be Wǔ Jiā Pí said: "Of course, we have to put on a show. You pretend to defeat us, and we will come to rely on you."
"But you must treat them well, not be afraid of fighting, but not treat them like stepchildren."
"…"
It has to be said that Zhōu Dàtóng felt like he was dreaming all night. Cháng Shèng Wáng was such an existence, traversing the three Dào (provinces) and eleven Fǔ (prefectures) of the north, with strong soldiers and horses, and was invincible. Not to mention himself, even with Yáng Gōng and Shí Mǎ Town, they might not be able to touch him.
Now, two people had inexplicably come to his army and, with a wave of their hands, said that they would hand over all the 100,000 troops and several Zhōu (states) under their command to him?
He wouldn't even dare to dream like this. It would be more believable to say that they gave two widows to him…
But he didn't expect that Cháng Shèng Wáng was actually playing for real.
The next day, the two armies lined up. Cháng Shèng Wáng, relying on his bravery, came forward to fight Tiě Jiàn Wáng. Zhōu Dàtóng won inexplicably. The Bái Mǎ Yín Ān Xiǎo Zhì Jiàng in the Cháng Shèng Army came to fight him with magic and also lost convincingly.
So, these two people took advantage of the situation and came to serve him. The 100,000 Cháng Shèng Army were so confused and all came into the hands of Tiě Jiàn Wáng Zhōu Dàtóng.
Zhōu Dàtóng vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't say exactly what it was, because everything was not right.
And it was also at this time that his Tiě Jiàn Wáng had courage and strategy, and subdued Cháng Shèng Wáng without bloodshed, and his reputation shook the world. At this time, Cháng Xióng Wáng (Ever-Powerful King) led only 3,000 elite soldiers, passing through Qú Province, only saying that he wanted to remove the scourge of Míng Wáng Yáng Gōng for the world.
He wanted the Tiě Jiàn Army to make way and let their 3,000 elite soldiers pass, and guaranteed that they would never harass them.
Zhōu Dàtóng was confused about other things, but he was immediately certain when he heard these words.
He shouted sharply: "Stop them, not even a dog can be let through!"
Cháng Xióng Wáng was not surprised that the Tiě Jiàn Army did not make way. The 3,000 elite soldiers lined up, and ten generals walked out of the formation, each holding his horse and standing in front of the formation, saying: "There is no hatred between the two armies. We only want to borrow a way to eliminate the demons."
"Since Tiě Jiàn Wáng does not allow it, then let's agree to fight generals and divide victory and defeat. If our army is lucky and wins all ten battles, then please Tiě Jiàn Wáng to lend us a way, how about that?"
"Win all ten battles?"
Even Zhōu Dàtóng took a breath of cold air. How big of a tone did the other party have to dare to say such a thing?
Did they not know that he came from the Shǒusùi sect?
In full view of the public, with the entire army watching, he could not but respond. He could only pull up a group of generals and walk out of the army to look at them from afar.
He saw that the people on horseback on the other side were all looking down on him with arrogant expressions, and some didn't even wear armor.
But the more relaxed they were, the more frightening they were, especially Sūn, the most knowledgeable old man from Shí Mǎ Town, who took one look and then another, and was already a little liver-trembling. He called out in a low voice: "It's bad, Cháng Xióng Wáng is fake, the people from the Yǎng Mìng Zhōu (Nourishing Life Zhou) family are really making a move…"
Zhōu Dàtóng also stared at one person on the other side, feeling nervous in his heart.
He slowly pulled his horse forward and walked to the field. He only saw that each of the ten people who came out of the formation had a majestic aura and the arrogance to look down on tens of thousands of soldiers.
Zhōu Dàtóng was also from the Shǒusùi sect, but his cultivation was not too diligent. Now he had just refined his five viscera and had not yet entered the Fǔ (palace) realm. Looking at Mr. Sūn, he felt like an ant seeing the sky. Looking at these people, he had a feeling of not being able to understand them.
There was a difference of a whole great realm of entering the Fǔ. In terms of the skills of the sect, the two sides were not on the same level at all.
But despite the huge gap, Zhōu Dàtóng still tried to steady himself and walked out. The eyes of the entire army were all focused on him alone. He felt that Tiě Jiàn Wáng at this time seemed to have a sense of "the wind is bleak, where righteousness lies, I will never return."
Then he saw Zhōu Dàtóng riding his horse to the field, suddenly dismounting, and kowtowing to the female general surrounded by the ten generals on the other side:
He shouted with joy: "Sister-in-law, it's me, sister-in-law…"
"I am Hú Má's junior brother…"
"You stayed in our village during the New Year and borrowed our bedding…"
"…"
"?"
Everyone in the two armies was stunned by this sudden scene, especially on Cháng Xióng Wáng's side, where everyone suddenly turned their attention to the only female general among the ten who came out.
Fourth Miss Zhōu was also stunned. She couldn't see her face clearly, but she saw her silent for a long time and slowly walked out of the military formation.
She took the joyful Tiě Jiàn Wáng Zhōu Dàtóng, who was in the military formation, to the Tiě Jiàn Wáng's army, and then turned to the opposite side and said: "Let's begin!"
"On your side, who will be the first to come out?"