“However, now that I’ve become a Taoist priest, the preparations I made earlier can finally be put to use!”
Wu Ming murmured, taking out a golden talisman. The paper emitted wisps of mist, and faintly revealed a dragon’s shadow flickering within.
Ever since he learned through the privileges of being a Divine Envoy that his next mission world would be the Celestial Fate world, and that he had a mission to assist someone in claiming kingship, Wu Ming had been preparing specifically for this.
He had accumulated considerable merits from his previous mission, and hadn’t spent them on completing the “Yellow Court Yin Fu Sutra”. After just a few expenditures for bringing items into the world, he still had nearly 1,500 small merits left, which he used entirely to exchange for the “Star Disturbing Talisman” and “Soul Breaking Talisman”, as well as this final item!
Among these, the “Star Disturbing Talisman” and “Soul Breaking Talisman” were minor expenditures. The major expense was this single “Grand Year Pacifying Demon Talisman”.
“Grand Year Pacifying Demon Talisman: Can only be crafted after the Taoist Master receives the national master’s investiture. It uses the dragon qi of the national fortune to suppress evil qi. It can counteract and suppress one’s own dragon qi backlash for a month! Note: Heaven’s will cannot be deceived! After a month, heavenly tribulation will descend, bringing back the evil qi with double the original power, which can no longer be stopped. Exchange requirement: 10 Heavenly Merits!”
Such a tiny talisman actually demanded Heavenly Merits! If not for Wu Ming’s privilege of exempt transaction fees, the Main God’s Hall would have levied a hefty charge on him, and his merits would have fallen far short.
Even so, after spending 1,000 small merits, Wu Ming was completely drained of all his merits.
This talisman was extremely expensive, and its usefulness was limited.
After all, for other Taoists, it only provided an extra month of respite, but the heavenly tribulation’s power would double, making it practically a death sentence with no chance of survival. However, for Wu Ming, it was sufficient.
“The heavenly tribulation in this world surely won’t follow me all the way to the Zhou Dynasty, right?”
Wu Ming rubbed his chin: “Besides, since two months have already passed, that’s perfect!”
With a clap of his hands, the golden talisman ignited, transforming into sparkling lights that landed on his body.
Wu Ming shivered slightly, feeling as if his body had become lighter and refreshed. When he checked his fortune, there seemed to be no change at all, as if it were just an illusion.
However, he clearly understood in his heart that the talisman’s effect had already begun to take hold.
Within a month, even if Li Rubi suffered defeat and his dragon qi backfired, he would still be able to withstand it.
If it weren’t for this safeguard, he would have to be completely out of his mind to tie his own fortune to the Jiushan Army and attempt such a dangerous endeavor.
“However… although I have this advantage, I still need to do my part. At the very least… I must suppress the backlash to the minimum, or even better, successfully support the Longting, which would be beneficial without any harm…”
Thinking to himself, Wu Ming stepped outside: “Someone, bring some hot water, I want to take a bath!”
He then enjoyed a refreshing bath, feeling completely rejuvenated. He changed into a loose hemp robe, donned a bamboo hat, and proceeded to inspect the military camp.
The soldiers in this company saw a graceful young man with wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, exuding an aura of ethereal elegance, and couldn’t help but feel deeply impressed.
Ignoring these people, Wu Ming climbed to a high place and opened his spiritual eyes.
After achieving the status of a Taoist priest, his spiritual vision technique had become increasingly wondrous. At this moment, he could see a crimson military aura coming from the direction of the state city, surging with fierce momentum, making the horizon appear as if dyed in blood.
Affected by this, the Jiushan Army’s military aura wavered, nearly becoming unstable.
“Oh no! This main force led by Wang Xuanfan has arrived, and they’re coming aggressively!”
Wu Ming was somewhat stunned. At this moment, he also heard a messenger shouting from below: “General! The state troops are attacking! The commander has ordered all officers above the rank of Wei Zheng to gather at the commander’s mansion for a meeting!”
In the ninth year of Qianyuan, on the third day of the tenth month, General Wang Xuanfan led an elite force of 40,000 troops to attack.
Li Rubi mobilized his army to confront them in Zhen Ding Prefecture.
…
At this time, within Jiushan Prefecture.
In a remote, scenic mountain area, a group of elite soldiers suddenly arrived.
“Strategist, everything is ready!”
Xiao Jidu followed behind Nan Shanweng, with Yu Shaojun and Xie Xiaodi beside him, all wearing respectful expressions.
“Good, let’s go!”
Nan Shanweng waved his sleeve and took the lead.
Xie Xiaodi, with his clever eyes darting around, couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: “Deep mountains and vast marshes truly give birth to dragons and snakes. This area has rich earth veins and can produce earth dragons. It’s most likely the ancestral dragon vein of the Li family… With a major battle imminent, this person secretly sent his strategist here. Could it be that he wants to stimulate the fortune again? Doesn’t he fear excessive consumption?”
“However, it also makes sense. As long as they win this battle, they can seize the entire Cao Prefecture, and then replenish their fortune with the people’s qi, which would be fine!”
“But… this immortal seems to have other intentions…”
Although it was just a thought, Nan Shanweng seemed to sense it, turned his head, and his eyes emitted a green glow.
Xie Xiaodi dared not move again and quickly lowered his head.
Fortunately, Nan Shan Zhenren remained silent, and the group continued quietly into the depths.
This area had a terrain surrounded by mountains and water, with a small river flowing like a jade belt. What was even more remarkable was that there were nine small mountains, with a cave in the center surrounded by them.
If viewed from above, one would surely notice that the arrangement of these nine mountains was very similar to the nine connected mountains of Jiushan Prefecture, yet it was naturally formed, making it extremely precious.
As soon as they entered this area, everyone felt a lightness in their bodies, sensing the rising earth qi bringing warmth.
This situation made it obvious to anyone who wasn’t an idiot that something was amiss.
“This earth vein is not only rich but also corresponds to the mountains of Jiushan Prefecture. Possessing it means having a connection with Jiushan Prefecture, no wonder the ancestors of the Li family were buried here, ensuring thirteen generations of good fortune, continuous blessings, and unending wealth and honor!” Xie Xiaodi thought inwardly.
“We’ve arrived!”
At this moment, Xiao Jidu couldn’t help but exclaim in delight.
Indeed, the four of them had now reached the center of the nine small mountains, where they saw a towering ancient pine, its branches lush and dense, spreading like a canopy.
Under the pine tree, there was a naturally formed cave.
Xie Xiaodi secretly activated his technique, narrowing his eyes slightly, and saw golden clouds surging forth, with green qi in the center connected to the Jiushan earth vein, forming a great dragon.
Before he could look further, the dragon’s eyes, tinged with purple, glared at him furiously. He couldn’t help but tremble, quickly covering his face with his sleeve and silently wiping away blood, knowing he had suffered a backlash and sustained a minor injury, his heart filled with alarm: “What a mighty earth dragon! It’s almost comparable to a true dragon’s vein…”
“This is the general’s sacred place, you all must wait outside. Disciple, Xiao Jidu, and you, follow this immortal inside!”
Upon arriving at this point, Master Nan Shan instructed the soldiers to stay at the entrance of the cave while he and the other three proceeded inside.
With torches in hand, they walked a little further and noticed a change.
The front was still like a wild cave, but after passing through several hidden doors, signs of human presence emerged, vaguely revealing a tomb.
Xie Xiaodi examined it carefully and saw that the tomb’s structure and specifications exuded a grand and majestic aura, indicating the scale of a feudal lord, which made him shudder inwardly.
There was also a tombstone with the simple inscription “Ancestral Grave of the Li Family,” clearly intentional.
At this moment, he sensed a concealed sharpness here, realizing it was the site of a dragon’s lair. If they provoked it, the repercussions would undoubtedly intensify tenfold, so he dared not scrutinize the omen any further.
“Finally, I’m back here again!”
However, Nan Shan Zhenren let out a sigh, his face filled with emotion. He took out a sacrificial text personally written by Li Rubi, burned it, and then performed the grand ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows before the tombstone. After rising, a cold smile appeared on his face: “It’s done!”
“Hou hou!”
A breeze blew through, and within the cave, it sounded almost like a dragon’s roar.
Xie Xiaodi and Yu Shaojun both trembled violently, nearly collapsing.
A strange sensation made Xie Xiaodi shudder.
“You two come over, this immortal has something to tell you!”
Nan Shan narrowed his eyes and suddenly spoke.
“What does the immortal command?” At this point, knowing they were at the mercy of the butcher’s knife, Xie Xiaodi and Xiao Jidu could only bow and ask.
“Later, you’ll follow my orders, like this… Do you understand!”
Nan Shan Zhenren gave a few instructions, while Xie Xiaodi and Xiao Jidu both turned pale, glancing at Yu Shaojun.
Seeing that the other party still looked calm, combined with Wu Ming’s theory of great victories and defeats, they finally managed to suppress their anxiety.
…
A little earlier in time, on the plains of Zhen Ding Prefecture.
Three hundred thousand troops of the Jiushan Army and forty thousand state troops, led by Li Rubi and Wang Xuansu respectively, had formed their battle arrays.
Li Rubi, surrounded by a hundred horsemen, inspected the entire army, gazing at the state troops’ formation. He saw countless banners like a forest, exuding a solemn and murderous aura.
Wang Xuanfan truly lived up to his reputation as an extraordinary general. In just two months, the state and prefecture troops had undergone a complete transformation, their presence as heavy as a mountain, making him feel deeply apprehensive.
“However, I still have one last ace up my sleeve. My strategist has already gone to my ancestral grave to activate the dragon vein’s energy. As long as we win this battle, the outcome will be decided!”
Li Rubi waved his hand: “Attack!”
“Victory!”
“Victory!”
“Victory!”
…
With the war drums sounding, the thirty thousand troops roared, their voices shaking the entire wilderness.
“Crush the rebels!”
On the opposing side, a general also roared fiercely, his voice almost drowning out the sound of a hundred thousand troops.
This extraordinary bravery made everyone in the Jiushan Army change expressions.
“The Martial Star has descended into the world, and the general star has found its place. This person must be Wang Xuanfan!”
Wu Ming looked far away, seeing the opponent’s martial spirit rising like a wolf’s smoke, commanding the army, and resonating with the stars in the sky, his heart also filled with apprehension.
“Judging from the fortune observation, although the enemy’s military aura is stronger, the Jiushan Army might still be able to hold their ground and gradually gain the upper hand!”
Seeing both sides’ military auras rising to the sky, each displaying their own omens, Wu Ming couldn’t help but exhale deeply.
But in an instant, his expression suddenly changed drastically!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the distance, six streams of military aura surged forth, converging into Wang Xuanfan’s aura, making the black clouds cover the sky like a heavenly pillar.
At the same time.
Crash!
The Jiushan Army’s military aura disintegrated like snow melting under the sun, scattering into chaos, instantly becoming a mess.
“Even if the enemy had reinforcements, it shouldn’t have turned out like this. This is a sign of fundamental damage… From this, it can be seen that in this battle, Li Rubi will suffer a crushing defeat, and it will be fortunate if he even survives!”
Wu Ming couldn’t help but shudder: “Indeed… arcane techniques can be deadly. If I hadn’t made preparations in advance, I would have gone crazy this time…”
“Charge!”
Both armies advanced, ready to clash in battle.
Just when Li Rubi was feeling confident and triumphant, suddenly a fierce wind blew, causing his general’s flag to sway violently from east to west, his face immediately changed drastically.
…
“The time has come!”
In the cave of Jiushan Prefecture, Nan Shan Zhenren opened his eyes, lightning seemingly flashing within them, radiating immense authority as he commanded: “What are you waiting for?! Begin now!”
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