Qin Mu smiled sheepishly. "There are a few more, perhaps nine in total."
"Nine such powerful figures?"
State Preceptor of Yankang felt a chill in his heart. Were these nine individuals all mute-like figures?
If so, the background of this Heavenly Demon Cult Master was rather terrifying!
"There are nine more like me. My path is not lonely after all."
State Preceptor of Yankang revealed a relieved smile and murmured, "I thought I was the only one who had reached this stage, but now my heart suddenly feels at peace..."
Qin Mu looked at him curiously and suddenly wondered if he used the Azure Sky Eye to look at State Preceptor of Yankang at this moment, would he be beaten to death?
He really wanted to see if State Preceptor of Yankang was the same existence as the Village Chief.
Of course, State Preceptor of Yankang was unfathomable to him. His cultivation was unfathomable, and his temperament was also unfathomable. This person had many seemingly contradictory aspects.
Using the Azure Sky Eye to look at him rashly might very well anger him.
"State Preceptor, the Palace Master is speaking to you. Why don't you answer?"
Qin Mu looked up at the voice and saw the speaker walking down from the platform, wearing a bronze mask. This bronze mask was unique, with exaggerated features: long and wide ears, an eagle-beak-like nose, an exaggerated big mouth, two pillar-like eyes, very wide eyebrows, and a hole on the forehead, as if prepared for an eye on the forehead.
Then, Qin Mu saw that under the position of the mask's forehead, there was indeed an eye.
This person had an eye growing at the position of his third eye!
"What kind of technique is this?" He was slightly stunned.
State Preceptor of Yankang looked toward the bronze-masked man, his gaze then passing over him to fall on Liqing Palace Master Qiu Dieyi. "Palace Master Qiu of Liqing Palace, her technique is the Lihen Heavenly Sword Technique, rumored to be a sword technique passed down by divine beings, expressing parting sorrow and hatred."
His gaze fell on the next person. "Fortress Master Che Zhengli of Sanqi Fortress, Jade Master Yu Qingsheng, and Fortress Master Li Fei. Fortress Master Che's technique is the Heavenly Demon Mysterious Restriction, a demonic restriction method from the Daoist sects. Jade Master Yu's technique is the Five Gu Dragon Transformation, nurturing gu to become dragons. Fortress Master Li refines poison into power, but I'm not sure what her technique is called."
Fortress Master Li chuckled. "Even the State Preceptor doesn't know all techniques? My technique is called the Poison Transformation Three Immortals Mysterious Skill, which excels at converting poison into power."
State Preceptor of Yankang's gaze fell on another person. "Daoist Zhenren Daoquan has always treated illnesses and saved people. Why have you also joined the rebellion? More than a decade ago, when the Yong River flooded and plague ravaged the Jiangnan region, you treated villagers and provided medicine, earning widespread acclaim. I wanted to invite you to the Imperial Academy as an official, but you declined. In the end, I only granted you the title of Zhenren."
Daoist Zhenren Daoquan said solemnly, "Those who follow different paths cannot make plans together. State Preceptor, back when I refused to serve as an official, you should have seen that I am not on the same path as you. You went too far, seeking to destroy all Daoist sects in the world. I had to come to stop you."
State Preceptor of Yankang was silent. "I destroyed the Daoist sects to treat more people. How have I done these years?"
Daoist Zhenren Daoquan replied, "You have done well. Originally, there were few pharmacists in the world, but now they are as numerous as ox hairs. Even on warships, pharmacists and medicine boys are equipped, making it difficult for plagues to spread. However, the Imperial Academy has only produced mediocre doctors all these years, not a single one worthy of being called a divine doctor. For this, you cannot escape responsibility."
"It seems we truly follow different paths."
State Preceptor of Yankang looked at another person. "Grand Minister of the Department of State Affairs, Lord Ma Lianshan."
"I dare not accept."
Ma Lianshan said solemnly, "State Preceptor, you promoted me to my position, but I also have my own sect. I originally belonged to the Zhongnan Mountain lineage, practicing the Nanming Five Separations Sword Scripture."
State Preceptor of Yankang said, "I asked His Majesty to appoint you as Grand Minister because you were upright, impartial, and also a skilled military commander. I thought you would set aside sectarian prejudices. You becoming a rebel grieves me. As Grand Minister, you were a good official, and the people always spoke highly of you."
Ma Lianshan shook his head. "Am I the only good official who has betrayed? State Preceptor, you should reflect on your own actions."
State Preceptor of Yankang said flatly, "What is old and rotten should be eliminated. When people's hearts are old and rotten, how can they be reformed? Only revolution can do it. Without revolutionizing the lives of the rotten, the world will be difficult to pacify. Although you are a good person, you are blocking my path."
He looked at the others. "Beggar Sect Master Qi Dayou, with the Hundred Poverty Mysterious Skill. Star Net Sect Master Luo Xinghe, with the Star Net Mysterious Skill. Zen Master Zhikong of the Great Hero Temple, with the Four True Words Seal of Formation, Abiding, Decay, and Emptiness. Abbess Hongfa of the Great Putuo Temple, with the Buddhist Dharma for Benefiting Sentient Beings. Abbess Huiyin of the South Sea Jiayin Temple, with the Diamond Invincible Skill. And Dharma King Xuankong, originally the ruler of the Xuankong Kingdom, Southern Liang Kingdom ruler Duan Yan, Western Fan Kingdom ruler Nunu Hu'er. And these three elders from the old era."
His gaze fell on the two old men and one old woman. "The three of you come from the old era and are quite advanced in years. You must be seven or eight hundred years old now? Living past eight hundred years brings you to the year of Heavenly Mandate. How many more years do you have?"
The short, thin, and dark old man smiled. "I am Li Sanren, a wandering immortal. Actually, not really a wandering immortal. The small kingdom you destroyed, the Chuyun Kingdom, was founded by me."
"I am Tian Zhenjun."
The old woman grinned. "I like to raise insects. You must have already met me. The Jade Master of Sanqi Fortress is my son."
The plump old man said, "I don't have their impressive backgrounds. I am the Poor Scholar. Don't be fooled by my size—I'm poor and thin. Our school is called the Poor Reasoning Skill—the poorer, the more reasonable."
"Poor Scholar, you jest."
State Preceptor of Yankang said solemnly, "Investigating poverty to achieve knowledge, reflecting on oneself to practice the truth, investigating things to extend knowledge—I understand these principles. Since you are a scholar, why do you oppose me?"
Poor Scholar shook his head. "In poverty, one cultivates oneself; in prosperity, one benefits the world. State Preceptor, your power is too great and does not benefit the world. I oppose you not for personal gain like them, but for the State of Yankang. I see your power reaching the heavens. It is still possible to eliminate you now, but in a few years, you will become the emperor."
State Preceptor of Yankang stood at the mountain peak, his voice calm and flat, spreading in all directions: "Who else opposes me?"
Immediately, voices rose from Daxiang City: "I do!"
"Liao Yinzhi of the Celestial Immortal Sect dares to oppose the State Preceptor!"
"Qiu Zhiming, Grand Master of the Light, dares to oppose the State Preceptor!"
"Marquis Shan Mu of Wuling dares to oppose the State Preceptor!"
"Chief Administrator Qing Mingyue of the Protectorate dares to oppose the State Preceptor!"
"County Magistrate Chen Yao of Wuyin County dares to oppose the State Preceptor!"
...
One voice after another came from Daxiang City—powerful experts at the Life Transformation and Celestial Being realms. As one voice fell, another rose, one after another, growing more imposing and awe-inspiring, making one's blood boil.
The bronze-masked man was also filled with excitement, his blood surging as he declared loudly, "State Preceptor, do you see? How unpopular you are! Everyone in the world wants to kill you. What face do you have to live in this world?" His voice was resolute and powerful.
State Preceptor of Yankang remained expressionless. "Everyone in the world? The few hundred thousand people in this city are hardly representative of the world. Just insignificant people—eliminating them is no great loss. Once you are dead, the world will truly know peace."
"In that case, there is only one outcome—one side must be completely eliminated."
The bronze-masked man said, "This mountain has been sealed with the Heavenly Prison Restriction. Within eight hundred acres, we can fight here without worrying about affecting the soldiers outside. This time..."
He said coldly, "We will not observe martial ethics or follow the rules of the martial world!"
Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Si Yunxiang. "Then I can rest easy."
Monk Yunque's face turned pale, stammering, "Rest easy? We're inside the restriction—we'll be the first to be killed by the shockwaves. Do you remember Tianbo City? This battle will be at least several times more terrifying!"
Yue Qinghong and the others also looked pale. The battle at Tianbo City involved only a portion of the Dutian Demon God's power, and the opponents were the Dragon Control Sect Master and another Cult Master-level expert, but the destruction was already unimaginable. Even the powerful Dragon Qilin couldn't withstand such an impact.
If a great battle erupted here, it would be several times more destructive than that time!
Moreover, with a restriction over eight hundred acres, the fluctuations caused by these experts would only bounce back and forth within this space, churning and mixing!
By then, even the Dragon Qilin might be torn apart by the aftershocks of their battle!
At that moment, suddenly outside the city, large banners fluttered, stretching for dozens of miles from east to west.
The bronze-masked man and the others stood at a high vantage point and looked outward, their faces changing dramatically. They saw the banners raised one by one, each over ten zhang tall, blocking the enemy camp opposite. And beneath the banners, hidden from view, were countless soldiers and horses!
The bronze-masked man was about to shout a warning when suddenly the banners rolled inward, and three hundred and sixty banners appeared in the city. Beneath each banner, a strange figure wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a cloth-wrapped weapon shook the banner, and the tens of thousands of Yankang State soldiers who had been outside suddenly appeared inside Daxiang City!
At that moment, the bronze-masked man's voice finally came: "Prepare—"
But it was already too late.
When the three hundred and sixty strange figures folded their banners, fierce faces appeared beneath them, holding sabers, spears, swords, and halberds, their killing intent soaring to the sky.
Beneath the banner surface, golden-armored giants appeared together with cloud chariots. At the tail of the massive warships, bronze beasts had already begun spouting flames, and great birds flapped their wings, stirring up fierce winds.
When the banners were fully folded and became small flags, the sound of killing had already erupted. The sound of swords unsheathing from their scabbards echoed amidst earth-shattering battle cries.
In this moment, time seemed to move extremely slowly—slow enough to see every person's expression change from fierce to ferocious, from dazed to terrified.
The blood spray from flying swords cutting through human bodies also seemed to burst forth slowly, scattering in the air. The moment a head flew from its neck also appeared with a strange, tragic beauty.
"Elephant Transformation!"
A roar came, breaking this brief moment. A general of the infantry shouted angrily, and thousands of infantrymen roared, their bodies shaking as they transformed into elephant-headed giants, charging toward the rebel army and scattering them.
The cavalry had already risen into the sky and swooped down, with countless flying swords shooting down like rain.
"Fire Gourd!"
On the warships, a command flag waved, and the soldiers on board took down the red gourds—half a person's height—from their backs, removed the stoppers, and fierce true fire sprayed down from the ships, burning the defenders on the city walls, turning countless people into burning humans!
Boom—
A team of golden-armored strongmen dragged cloud chariots, crushing countless soldiers along the way, and slammed violently into the city wall, collapsing hundreds of zhang of wall. Burning people fell from the city walls. Outside the city, the Champion General and Huaihua General raised their spear and halberd, pointing toward Daxiang City. Behind them, the endless Yankang State army charged forward with battle cries, surging like a tide through the air and on the ground.