raknovel Chapter 100 Thunderous Sounds Shake the Demon Land, Divine Palm Destroys the Demon Kingdom
Chapter 100 Thunderous Sounds Shake the Demon Land, Divine Palm Destroys the Demon Kingdom
Chapter 100 Thunderous Sounds Shake the Demon Land, Divine Palm Destroys the Demon Kingdom
The western wilderness is located on a plateau, and since ancient times it has been blocked by natural barriers, with scattered rocks and no way for people or horses to pass.
However, for martial artists, carving out a post road in a natural barrier is not difficult. In the past, the Great Demon Sect Dharma King, the Demon Subduer Red Venerable, in order to mobilize a large army to advance eastward, conscripted hundreds of thousands of slave laborers and thousands of disciples to carve mountains and fill rivers along the way, opening up a major road for military operations. This road has since become a trade route connecting the Central Plains and the Western Regions.
The snow-covered city along the trade route has frequent exchanges with the outside world. One can always see the faces of merchants from the Central Plains and martial arts practitioners. The two places exchange goods and services, and also spy on each other. The heroes of the Martial Alliance often hide their identities and spy on the movements of the Demonic Sect here.
The entire western region is dotted with monasteries, each nominally going its own way and independently passing down its traditions. In reality, however, they were all refuted by the Great Hero Dharma King through debate many years ago, and those who did not comply were all slaughtered and expelled.
The Demonic Cult unified all the sects in the Snow Region, and its leader was revered as the King of Monks and Buddha by all the temples, commanding all the believers of the true Dharma throughout the world.
Nowadays, the monasteries in the snowy region are actually vassals of a demonic cult. The monks act eccentrically, have no compassion, collude with local powerful figures, and together they prey on the people, extort offerings from them, and commit many cruel blood sacrifices. Their evil deeds are too numerous to recount.
An Ding City is the first major city on the remote trade route. Its geographical location is crucial, and it is also the core distribution center for many goods from the Central Plains and the Western Regions. It is prosperous and wealthy with a large population. Ten miles outside the city is Bai Tuo Temple, the sixth largest temple in the Snow Region, which has hundreds of Tibetan monks, all of whom are skilled in martial arts.
It's likely that no martial artist in the Central Plains has ever heard of Baituo Temple, but the "Great Rain Blood Divine Blade," a secret technique passed down through this lineage, is the signature martial art of the Rain Blade Hall of Xiaoshui Prefecture. The leader of the Rain Blade Hall, also known as the Wise and Brave Heavenly King of the Demonic Sect, once studied at this temple for ten years, finally comprehending the great technique and reaching the realm of a Grandmaster.
The powerful and the common people, as well as the peddlers and laborers in Anding City, all knew of the infamous reputation of Baituo Temple.
Today, Abbot Subafu entered the city to preach. The Dharma assembly was magnificent, and the whole city was in an uproar. People from the Central Plains were ordered not to go out, so they gathered by the windows to watch.
On the muddy road, a group of servants first came and sprinkled water and flowers, followed by a hundred or so monks who carried the temple's prayer flags in a procession. The pale white banners fluttered in the wind, and bone wind chimes hung from the tops of the banners, striking them with a sound like metal and stone.
Further on, thousands of slaves were pulling a six-tiered pyramid-shaped platform. Each tier was covered with all sorts of flowers, jewels, musical instruments, paintings, and bones. Each tier depicted the demons of hell and the Buddhas of the Pure Land from the scriptures. It was cold, solemn, and terrifying, making people tremble with fear at the sight of it.
The abbot sat atop the high platform, his wooden lotus throne painted a deep black with a reddish tinge. The old Tibetan monk had a benevolent face, but his triangular eyes drooped, and while he smiled amiably, his eyes held a cold, sinister glint.
At the end of the procession were a group of sacrifices to be offered: white oxen and white sheep, young boys and girls, and several martial artists from the Central Plains. These were all considered to be offerings of great spiritual power.
Cheers and chants filled the air in An Ding City, accompanied by the resounding Buddhist music. People prostrated themselves in worship, bowing and paying their respects. The cool autumn air was heated by this frenzy, and the mingled fragrance of incense and the stench of people and animals created a nauseating and pungent atmosphere that caused merchants from the Central Plains to close their doors and windows tightly.
The Righteous Hall heroes, disguised as caravan workers, gritted their teeth, their anger barely contained.
"These evil monks will get their comeuppance sooner or later."
"Old Ghost is entering the city, he'll surely perform another blood sacrifice. Those brothers who inquired about White Lotus Temple the other day got trapped there. I just spotted them at the back of the group. We'll risk our lives to rescue them today!"
"Old Ghost Soba is truly a grandmaster of evil arts. If we rashly attack, we will only be lambs to the slaughter!"
"Are you just going to stand by and watch Old Liu, Old Li, and the others die at the hands of those Tibetan monks?! Can you bear to see them skinned alive, their bodies mutilated, and left to die with their eyes wide open in disgrace?!"
"It's like throwing an egg against a rock; it'll only cost us a few more lives! Our martial arts skills are too poor, understand?"
"Martial arts, martial arts—if I had invincible skills, how could I have come to this? How could I have come to this—alas! What a tragedy!"
"I think those grandmasters on the Heavenly Ranking are all just bullies in their own backyard! Only if someone can recreate the story of the Yongjun Sword Sect, lead the heroes of the world to storm this shitty place, and wipe out these evil monks and demons, will I, Old Lu, truly be convinced! I wouldn't even complain if I had to be their slave!"
"Alas, the Western Regions are a land of demons and monsters. The martial arts world of the Central Plains is too busy fighting among itself to let any righteous spirit of humanity enter."
"Wait, listen," someone suddenly whispered.
"What?" The heroes became alert upon hearing this.
"There's a sound—is that thunder?"
Today, Anding City was bustling with noise, but from the distant horizon, a faint rumbling sound could still be heard, which could not be completely drowned out by the clamor of people here.
"Did you hear that right? The sun is shining brightly today, and there aren't many clouds in the sky." "No, you're right, it's really thundering! It's probably going to rain today." "Even Heaven can't bear to see the innocent lives lost in Anding City go to waste?"
They opened the window again and peered out. The autumn sky was a deep, clear blue, with wisps of clouds high in the sky as translucent as white brocade, without a single leaden cloud to hold rain.
So where did the thunder come from?
Boom! Boom! — A series of explosions rolled across the sky, each one clearer than the last. Everyone in the city heard them, even the high monk's throne was disturbed, and the chanting of prayers was temporarily halted.
"It seems to be in the direction of Baituo Temple." From the distance of Anding City, the red-painted temple walls look like small square bricks, while the towering spire covered with gold paint looks like a small mountain peak.
Now, after the thunder, the golden roof of Baituo Temple suddenly collapsed, like a sand dune washed away by the tide, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye, with billowing yellow dust rising up.
"What happened? Could it be that the earth has turned upside down?"
"All I know is that these Tibetan monks look unwell."
"retribution!"
The streets were filled with noise and commotion, and the grand sacrificial ceremony in the city could not proceed for the time being. The abbot's usually radiant face was devoid of any smile, and he could only mutter a few words in Spanish. The nobles in the city hurriedly sent cavalry to check the situation. While they waited anxiously, the believers continued to kowtow and the religious music continued to play loudly. However, the Tibetan monks had no mood to preside over the ceremony and let the offerings continue to bask in the sun and wait.
The first batch of cavalry was sent out, but they did not return for a long time. So a second and third batch were sent out, each accompanied by a high-ranking monk from Baituo Temple. However, these people also did not return.
The sun was high in the sky, baking the mud and sand to a scorching heat. The gold and silver wine vessels of the gentlemen became scalding hot. Sweat dripped from the hats of the Tibetan monks. Many believers fainted from exhaustion. The cattle and sheep that were about to be slaughtered began to shake their heads impatiently and started to move around, bumping into the guards.
As even the sounds of gongs and drums gradually faded, and still no news came from Baituo Temple, the abbot on the lotus throne was preparing to set off in person.
Just then, a commotion, screams, and screams came from the city gate. The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of red-robed Tibetan monks with ropes and chains around their necks walking towards the end of the street. Their arms had been broken and hung limply at their sides, their faces were covered in bloodstains, and their expressions were full of fear.
Behind the group of Tibetan monks was a group of men, women, and children, dressed in rags and resembling beggars. Their bodies were covered with old scars, and many of their limbs were deformed. They were clearly former livestock, now free men. Most of them stood upright, their faces showing the energy and spirit that comes from a full stomach, without the slightest hint of timidity.
This is the group of slaves who now hold the ropes binding the Tibetan monks.
Behind them were three fine horses. The leader was clad in heavy armor, with a long, flowing robe. He carried a long iron chain with an iron ball attached to the end. These were heavy shackles used to bind warriors, but he was now using them as a weapon.
The two riders accompanying him were both beautiful women. One of them radiated a faint divine light, like a bodhisattva descending to earth, while the other held a green pouch, filled with the aroma of medicine.
"Who is this valiant warrior?!" The heroes of the Righteous Hall suddenly erupted in excitement.
At this moment, in this situation, anyone with eyes can see that it was these people who destroyed Baituo Temple!
They are so arrogant that they not only captured the Tibetan monks, but also paraded them through the streets. This is a complete disgrace to the entire Western Regions!
The entire city of Anding was terrified into silence, everyone was silent and filled with fear, as if the passing of time had been refined into ghee and solidified.
Until the Tibetan monks parading through the streets looked up and howled, their mournful cries like those of vultures.
"Enemy of Buddha! Enemy of Buddha!!!!"
On the lotus throne, the abbot Soba was furious. He drew a snow-white sword from the pile of bones and flowers on the high platform below, and leaped into the air. The sword, raised high, transformed into a crescent moon, reflecting a desolate bloody light. The light made the tens of thousands of people in half the city appear as if the sky were completely black and their faces were all red.
Soba and the Wise and Brave Heavenly King are fellow disciples. Both of them have mastered the "Great Rain Blood Divine Blade". This divine skill has always been passed down in secret and rarely used by outsiders, so it is not well known. However, the fact that the Rain Blade Hall has been able to make such a great name today is naturally inseparable from this unique skill.
The Demonic Sect's Dharma King had once ordered the monks of Baituo Temple not to use the Great Rain Blood Divine Blade outside, lest it expose the identity of the Wise and Courageous Heavenly King. Soba respectfully obeyed the order and had never disobeyed it for many years. But today, facing this formidable enemy that had destroyed Baituo Temple's thousand-year foundation, and facing the humiliation of parading the monks through the streets, how could Soba still endure it? He had long since forgotten the Dharma King's decree!
Kill! They must kill! Kill the enemies of Buddhism, kill these lackeys, cut off their heads and pile them on the mound of corpses by the roadside outside the temple, tear off their skins and tie them to the prayer flag towers of Anding City, boil their bones and make them into bells and flutes—
Soba's rage amplified the power of the demonic blade.
To activate this martial art, the cultivator needs to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which is blood. Living beings are creations of heaven and earth, and the flesh and bones of living beings are naturally one of the spiritual energies of heaven and earth.
Moreover, martial artists who cultivate true essence of blood often do not suffer severe damage from heavenly tribulations if they only draw blood from their own bodies. The drawback is that the accumulation is slow and it is difficult to replenish during battle.
Therefore, they often go astray, extracting blood from other living beings for cultivation.
Although the blood of birds and beasts can also be used, it causes too much damage to the body. The least damaging blood and vital energy is taken from immature members of the same species.
When Lin Zhuo fought his way to the depths of Baituo Temple, he saw a bloodletting pool with corpses hanging like a forest, a truly horrifying sight.
At that moment, a fire was already burning within him.
Along the way, nothing brought him joy, and no scenery brought him peace of mind. The fire only burned hotter and higher, all suppressed by his dark and indifferent expression.
Now, he can finally vent a little.
Looking up at the sky, the Tibetan monk Soba's knife sliced through the air. In the cold and terrifying black illusion, the crimson true energy that the knife unleashed seemed to cut a thin wound in the sky, from which a winding river of blood flowed like a waterfall.
Not a single drop of blood in this sizable Red River was shed by the monk himself.
"Damn bastards—" Lin Zhuo took a deep breath. This armored warrior sitting upright on horseback, facing the dagger that horrified An Ding City, and facing the overwhelming illusion of true energy, simply raised his hand, and the iron ball of shackles in his palm rose up like a dragon emerging from the abyss.
The barrier between the eyebrows emitted a burst of white light.
A raging storm roared around him.
All the grandmasters in the martial arts world who display the divine power to change the color of heaven and earth need to use their true essence to stir up the external energy, and most of them are spiritual illusions created by the mysterious true energy.
Lin Zhuo didn't need any true essence; what surrounded him was pure "force"! All the gales and dust were simply swept up by this unparalleled power, not drawn by the same kind of true essence.
The purest and simplest martial arts in the world unleash the most terrifying and unsolvable numerical values.
Soba, who was in the air, had already sensed this fighting spirit and changed color suddenly. He was terrified and panicked. He dared not continue to fall so as not to enter the attack range of Lin Zhuo's hammer. So he hurriedly slashed out with his sword energy, and the blood river rushed down.
Lin Zhuo's steed trotted a couple of steps, bent its knees and leaped into the air. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, it soared into the sky with the lightness of riding the clouds and the ferocity of a mountain torrent or avalanche.
As the chain hammer struck, the sand and dust coalesced into a graceful dragon of energy, more than ten times larger than the blood river. It was ferocious and savage, tearing apart the crimson waterfall of sword light with its jaws. The remaining power was not diminished, and it continued to pounce, grabbing the Tibetan monk Soba in its mouth. The powerful and complex undercurrent of energy made this grandmaster of the demonic sect almost unable to move, let alone use his lightness skill to escape.
The chains rattled, and the enormous hammerhead suddenly magnified in Soba's eyes, becoming an overwhelming force. He could only groan, "Oh no!"
In the next instant, the wicked abbot of Baituo Temple exploded in mid-air, turning into a torrential rain of blood that fell upon the silent city of Anding.
The powerful nobles stood frozen in place, the believers looked bewildered, the merchants from the Central Plains stared in disbelief, and the chivalrous warriors of the Righteous Hall were equally lost in thought.
The horse that had leaped into the air landed lightly, and Lin Zhuo spurred it forward. The crowd naturally parted in front of him like waves. When he passed the six-story platform, he struck out with his palm, and the huge pagoda throne collapsed with a mournful cry, just like the golden roof of the White Pagoda Temple.
No one in Anding City dared to speak.
Lin Zhuo arrived before the crowd that should have been sacrificed. The captured Righteous Hall knights murmured silently, only looking at him with admiring and eager eyes.
With a snap, the chains broke from the force of the palm strike, and the prisoners regained their freedom. They all bowed deeply, declaring their willingness to serve the Grandmaster at his beck and call.
"You, carry my message back to the Central Plains and tell the heroes of the world that I, Lin Zhuo, will sweep across the snowy region today, destroy the Demonic Sect, kill the Dharma King, and wipe out all demons."
"We will obey the Grandmaster's command!" the heroes roared in response.
After today, the carrier eagle will fly from the west to the Central Plains, and to the ends of the earth, and the whole world will be shaken by a martial artist.