Baizhou, within the city.
And let's talk about Zhu Yanchang, who led 50,000 advance troops and advanced in a grand manner. A scout reported to the city.
As the commanding general of Baizhou City, Wu Luan was enraged upon learning of the Jurchen incursion and immediately hurried to ascend the throne to gather his officers and soldiers.
The various officers and soldiers gathered at the general's mansion and had completed their visit.
Looking down at Shao Ke and the other soldiers, Wu Luan said, "The Jurchen are violent and don't follow their own norms. Last year, my seven-month defense of Yunzhou was defeated by them. Later, when Emperor Gaozu abandoned Yunzhou in his letter, the Jurchen withdrew. Now that Emperor Gaozu has died and barbarians have once again invaded, they are too arrogant. Starting this army with no name is deeply hateful! Moreover, my Jin Dynasty and your Jurchen each defend our own territory without any harm. Now you come to die on your own initiative. How can I lightly forgive? You soldiers, do you have any clever strategies to repel the Jurchen troops?"
Shao Ke, being a close confidant of General Wu Luan, stepped forward at the moment and said, "General Wu, the Jurchen army is strong and well-equipped. I fear that our civilians and soldiers in Baizhou cannot withstand them. In my opinion, we should defend the city without venturing out and wait for the imperial court to send relief troops to defeat them."
Another general, Huang Yuan, rose to bow and said, "Although our Baizhou is a strategically important land both by land and sea, the number of our troops in the city is quite limited. If the Jurchen army were to attack us without hesitation and without worrying about their equipment, they would definitely breach our defenses. To hold the city, we would need to damage their weapons and tools used in the siege."
The strategist Chen Jidao said, "Attack the city is nothing more than clouds and ladders, our people should prepare enough straw, when the Jurchen troops climb the city wall, burn it by igniting it, in this way, we can certainly defeat the Jurchen troops."
The officers and soldiers expressed their opinions and countermeasures separately.
After a moment, Wu Luan said decisively, "What you all said makes sense. Our Baizhou army is quite limited and cannot face the Jurchen army head-on. Immediately order the preparation of straw, fire oil, and pile them up to the city walls. If the Jurchen army really dares to attack, I will make sure they come but never return!"
The orders were given one by one.
The entire Baizhou City was like a wound-up machine, preparing for battle in an orderly manner.
Bundles of straw and barrels of fire oil were continuously transported.
Other soldiers rushed into the city to sound the gongs and drums, enlisting young able-bodied men to distribute swords, spears, armor, and helmets for joint defense of the city.
As the saying goes, in another part of the general's mansion, there were three immortals and a group of unenlightened cultivators gathered together.
Looking around, there were about ten people.
In the guest hall, Kui Muling was sitting in the seat of honor.
One could see that he looked like a white tiger, a fierce wolf, and an immortal pig, dressed in yellow robes, with a majestic and serious demeanor.
If anyone understands Kui Muling, they would certainly know that he is one of the incarnations of the White Tiger.
Because in mythological legends, he belongs to the element of wood and is a wolf, so he also appears in the form of a famished wolf.
Additionally, the star signs resemble an immortal pig.
Therefore, there is a combination of three aspects in his appearance, making him look like a white tiger at first glance, then a famished wolf upon closer inspection, and finally, an immortal pig upon closer examination.
To the right of Kui Muling, there was General Zhao Da, sitting calmly in his seat. He was one of the sixty heavens, known as Wu Chen Tai Sui. He looked like a dragon, holding a small blue dragon in his hands, dressed in a green robe adorned with golden patterns. He exuded an aura of righteousness that was awe-inspiring.
On the left side of the two sacred beings, there was a figure sitting, it was Gouteng Daoist.
Let's not mention the other cultivators who have not achieved enlightenment for now.
General Zhao Da looked outside with his sharp eyes and whispered, "The Jurchen army is attacking. I see lotus flowers, sacred treasures, and black qi rising from the enemy army. There must be powerful cultivators among them. If I'm not mistaken, the lotus flower light is that of the third prince, Naha, and the golden treasure light is that of Vaisravana holding a pagoda in his hand. As for this terrifying black qi, I can't guess what kind of demon it is."
"Naha possesses great power and once defied ninety-six demon lords, making him a formidable enemy. Today he serves the Jurchen army," Kui Muling said slowly. "Vaisravana, holding the Golden Pagoda gifted by Shakyamuni Buddha, is no one to be trifled with. It's that demon who should not cause fear to us. I see the black qi gradually coalescing into a white ox form, it must be a demonic spirit of a transformed white ox, which is just what I can confront."
The two immortals possess celestial powers that can penetrate the heavens and the earth. Naturally, they can observe extraordinary phenomena in the sky that are invisible to human eyes during the Jurchen army's attack, and know what kind of extraordinary individuals are in their camp.
This is because the cultivation Realms of Naha, Li Jing, and Jiubo King are too high, and the extraordinary phenomena are earth-shattering. They actually cover up the abnormal phenomena of Chen Yun, Niu Dali, and Jiao Daozi. It makes them unable to see clearly.
General Zhao Da said, "Naha is incredibly powerful. Even if the two of us work together, we may not be able to win. What should we do?"
Kui Muling said, "No worries. I have summoned the other eight celestial officials of Kui Xiu to descend to the mortal realm. We just need to hold on for three days, and then the nine celestial officials of Kui Xiu will be gathered together, and we will not fear Naha anymore."
Gouteng Daoist said, "The celestial officials, the Taiyi, we cannot easily hold on for three days. If the Jurchen army attacks, we will have to fight back in self-defense. At that time, it will be difficult to resist."
Kui Muling laughed and said, "My friend is a first-time participant in the event of the Shengshen, unaware of the reason behind it. We can battle outside the city, but if we are defeated and flee back to the city, the divine beings on the other side will not pursue us. If we disturb the lives of ordinary people, even if we gain a lot of military merits, it is not possible to be awarded a good god position. Therefore, if we engage in battle, if we know that we cannot win, immediately return to the city. It will not be difficult to hold up for three days."
"Then, we can be at ease."
"As long as the Jurchen army cannot breach the city, we can be safe with the protection of Baizhou City."
"Although the Jurchen army is powerful, we can retreat them slightly by using a small spell when they are attacking the city."
"If that doesn't work, we can also engage in a series of duels to delay them."
Below, a group of unenlightened cultivators were expressing their opinions.
In the end, Kui Muling made a decision and said, "Tomorrow, before the Jurchen army attacks the city, I will fight in the vanguard to stall them. Who among you is willing to lead the way?"
Upon hearing about leading the charge, the group of cultivators who had not yet become immortals fell silent.
Everyone knows that there are three divine beings and demons, Naha, Li Jing, and Jiubo King, who are all powerful and have boundless abilities within the Jurchen army. If they were to lead the charge, the probability of death is very high. No one would dare to step forward.
Kui Muling, seeing that no one dared to step forward, patiently explained, "Generally speaking, in the event of the Shengshen, each serves their own master and must distinguish between life and death. Even if someone is captured, they will be held until the end of the war at most and will not really be killed. But if they can achieve some gains, that would be a commendable achievement and would be recorded in the Shengshen Position Merit Map for future deification. Now the Jurchen army sent is their vanguard, while their main forces have not arrived yet. This is the best opportunity to gain military merits. If you miss this chance, it will not be so easy to gain military merits afterwards."
The Shengshen Battle is not a life-and-death battle, so it is rare for lives to be at stake in combat.
Most of the cultivators present have never participated in the Shengshen Battle before and do not understand this is normal.
Now that everyone heard Kui Muling's words, they all realized how treacherous the Shengshen Battle was and also knew that, with their weak cultivation, if they wanted to gain military merits, now was the best time.
"I will go!"
"Celestial official, let me go!"
"Even if I'm captured, what's the big deal? Zhang is not afraid!"
The cultivators all responded in unison.
Gouteng Daoist was silent for a moment before saying, "If many of you can hold them off tomorrow, that will be fine. If not, I am willing to go out and fight."
Kui Muling nodded slightly and said, "That's very good. On the first day, you invite them to fight. On the second day, General Zhao Da will invite them. On the third day, I will go personally. If by the fourth day…At that time, when the nine celestial officials of Kui Xiu gather together, we will not fear Naha or Li Jing either."
After the group had finished discussing, they drew lots to determine who would go first.
...
The next day, at dawn.
The Jurchen army was preparing meals, planning to have breakfast and take a short rest before immediately attacking the city.
Various siege instruments had already been prepared, waiting for Zhao Yanxu's orders to advance towards the Baizhou City.
Chen Yun, Naha, Li Jing, and Niudali were looking towards Baizhou City. They saw the soldiers and laborers moving around, knowing that the city had prepared for the battle.
They were only accompanying the army to fight against the powerful individuals in the Liao Dynasty's army, and they would definitely not deliberately harm ordinary soldiers and civilians. Naturally, they would not go into battle equipped with armor.
Time was ticking away, and the sky was just starting to brighten. They were preparing to attack the city.
At this moment, Chen Yun, Naha, Li Jing, and Jiubo King were gathering at the central camp. They were waiting for Zhao Yanxu's command while also acting as his bodyguards to prevent him from being accidentally killed, which could lead to a collapse of the army.
Suddenly, a silver-armored young soldier riding a blue goat descended from the city of Baizhou, shouting fiercely, "I am Zhang Zhi, a scattered cultivator from the East Sea. Who among you dares to fight me?"
He stood alone at the gate, with a loud and resounding voice that carried for a full mile without faltering. It was clear that he was not an ordinary person.
Zhao Yanxu looked down from high up and saw the general's mighty aura. He realized that ordinary soldiers were no match for him.
He looked at Chen Yun with an utmost respect and asked, "Mr. Chen, there is a stranger challenging us. How should we respond?"
Chen Yun had his hands behind his back and looked at him for a moment before speaking softly, "It's no problem. Just send out my disciples to fight."
He paused and said to one side, "Lu Yuan."
Lu Yuan, dressed in the attire of a Taoist, immediately stepped forward and said, "Teacher."
Chen Yun said, "Zhang Zhi is a physical cultivator, with medium level of magic cultivator. He is on par with you. You have not fought before, so go and fight him to accumulate some experience."
Lu Yuan said, "Following the teacher's will."
After saying this, he held the peach wood magic weapon in his hand, carried a green blade flying sword on his back, and soared through the air towards an open area ahead.
After a moment, Lu Yuan and Zhang Zhi faced each other.
He bowed and said, "I am Lu Yuan, a disciple of Mr. Niren, a cultivator from Qing City's Mount Mianfeng, here to respond to your invitation."
Zhang Zhi, holding a steel spear, laughed and said, "If you want to fight, fight. Why all the talk?"
As he spoke, he waved his riding animal, Blue Goat, and vanished out of sight in an instant.
Lu Yuan remained calm, muttering incantations, while releasing a ring of firelight around his body to shield himself. At the same time, the wind qing he had on his back burst out of its sheath and turned into a stream of light, slashing towards the left.
The next moment, a clinking sound echoed, and Zhang Zhi, who had vanished, reappeared. He used his steel spear to block the flying sword and praised, "Good Taoist technique!"
Lu Yuan did not respond and continued to control the flying sword, moving it like a snake at an incredible speed.
Zhang Zhi showed no fear, moving the blue goat quickly while using the steel spear to deflect the attacks. He was closing in on Lu Yuan.
The two engaged in battle, both sword and spear in hand.
Such a fierce battle was far from over.
The young rider sat astride his saddle, and the clouds of battle rose nine levels into the sky.
The Taoist wields the flying sword, its cold gleam piercing a thousand eyes.
This steel spear is like a rain of pears.
The other flying sword spins like a spinning top.
The young warrior's spear aims to slay the Taoist.
That flying sword takes on the hero.
This is the body strength cultivator who has the power to move mountains in his lifetime.
That one, fresh out of the hermitage, has astonishing Taoist abilities.
The soldiers and soldiers of both sides saw the situation and cheered loudly, clapping their hands.
It was said that Zhang Zhi was battling Lu Yuan, and it was not until the thirtyth round.
Zhang Zhi had pressed in close to within three chi, and it seemed that the steel spear was about to point at Lu Yuan's face.
Suddenly, Lu Yuan pointed his peach wood sword and shouted loudly, "Why wait? Strike now!"
This shout was like a sound that struck the soul. Zhang Zhi only felt dizzy and his whole body turned limp, making him fall to the ground helplessly.
Lu Yuan, without hesitation, pointed his flying sword straight at the enemy's neck and struck out a dan qi, piercing through the enemy's plectrum bone, making it impossible for Zhang Zhi to exert force.
Then, he grabbed Zhang Zhi's belt and lifted him up, flying back to the Jurchen camp.
Lu Yuan entered the war chariot to see Chen Yun, threw Zhang Zhi on the ground, and knelt down with both hands clasped in front of him. "The disciple has not dishonored the mission, capturing the enemy general."
Chen Yun nodded slightly, "That's good. You'd better rest for a while."
Lu Yuan replied and walked to the side to rest.
Zhao Yanxu saw Lu Yuan's strength and immediately rushed over to ask if he was cold and if he needed any help.
In the city of Baizhou, the disciples saw Zhang Zhi captured. They looked very uncomfortable.
Kui Muling stood on the city wall without expression, casting a glance to his side. "Wang Cheng, go invite a fight."
A left-handed cultivator, whole body emitting a cold and sinister aura, holding a broken bag, stepped forward and said, "I accept the order."
Speaking, the left-handed cultivator didn't make any move and disappeared into the city. He then appeared in front of the city gates and shouted loudly, "I am Wang Cheng, a refiner of qi from Heishui. Who dares to fight me?"
Chen Yun inspected him carefully and learned that although Wang Cheng's cultivation was only at the level of a medium-grade magician, the tattered bag he was holding seemed to have some clues.
To be cautious, he called out, "Zhang Gan, my senior brother."
Zhang Gan stood up and said, "Brother Chen."
Chen Yun reached out and a frost ring talisman appeared in his palm.
He inhaled a bit of divine energy and covered it with his breath. Then he said, "Take this thing and fight. If he uses the bag, you also use the frost ring."
Zhang Gan took the frost ring and said, "I accept the order."
Zhang Gan then turned into a black mist and appeared on the scene instantly.
Wang Cheng asked, "Who are you?"
Zhang Gan said, "I am Zhang Qian from the Qing City Mount Mianfeng."
Wang Cheng said, "I see that Mr. Zhang is full of vitality, clearly not an ordinary person. When we fight, if I lose, I kindly ask you to show mercy..."
His words were only halfway through when he suddenly summoned his broken cloth bag.
As the bag was filled without wind, a powerful suction force was heard from the bag's mouth, trying to absorb Zhang Qian.
Zhang Qian had once dared to explore the South Sea when he was an inferior level magician, and he had a lot of combat experience. Now that he has reached a high-level magician's cultivation, how could he fall for the other party's tricks?
Zhang Gan immediately summoned the frost ring when he saw Wang Cheng's strange movement.
The frost ring flew to the middle of the sky, and ice crystals spurted out like the tide in the sea.
The terrifying coldness spread instantly, and even though Zhao Yanxu and other ordinary people in the camp were a mile away, they shivered with the sensation of an irresistible invasion of the cold. It seemed as if they would be frozen into ice sculptures if they stayed for just a moment longer.
Even in a camp like this, it was still an incredible sight.
In reality, the battle scene was even more terrifying and grandiose.
The crowd heard a sound like the roar of a car engine echoing from the surging ice crystals.
Boom.
The roar became louder and louder.
Gradually, it seemed that the entire sky and earth were echoing with angry roars.
Following that, a tremendous "Crack!" explosion resounded throughout the heavens and earth.
Everyone witnessed a scene of sheer terror.
Perhaps because the frost ring talisman was too fierce, the vast plain was instantly frozen. Moreover, in an instant, the sky above was condensed by the cold air into a half sky of thick snow and ice, resembling a towering white mountain that pierced the clouds.
However, this towering mountain of thick snow and ice formed by the frost ring talisman did not last long and collapsed in an instant!
It was as if Mount Zhouzhi had collapsed!
Then, the vast white snow and ice in the sky suddenly collapsed, with snow and sand swirling as if flying towards the heavens.
Everyone saw a "white line" fall vertically from the sky, like a huge wave of the rising tide during a tsunami, covering everything in an instant.
This "white line" swept across the sky along its path, growing larger and larger. By the time it reached its maximum, it had almost covered the entire sky, swirling in a fierce torrent.
The sun in the sky was obscured by the "white mist."
It covered the sky from horizon to horizon, towering high in the sky.
"White mist rolling," it gives the feeling of possibly collapsing at any moment, making people feel extremely oppressed!
But in fact, anyone who witnesses this scene knows that the "white mist" has already collapsed and surged.
As expected, it didn't take even a fraction of a second for the "white giant wave" in the sky to shatter like the Milky Way, and the raging waves spread down, just like water coming from heaven, instantly enveloping everything in the world. Even the air became extremely cold and sticky.
A single breath brought an icy chill into the lungs.
The surrounding area was dense and black, without any sunlight. The coldness was overwhelming, and wherever the "white giant wave" covered the ground, whether it was grass, trees, or huge rocks, all were shattered and rolled into it.
Seeing this, Wang Cheng almost fell into a panic, exclaiming, "I admit defeat!"
He quickly put away the cloth bag, indicating that he would no longer resist.
Seeing that Wang Cheng had voluntarily surrendered, Zhang Gan did not go on to kill him and also put away his frost ring.
The next moment, the ice crystals and cold air disappeared completely, as if they had never existed.
As before, after winning, Zhang Qian used his magical power to pierce Wang Cheng's plectrum bone and brought him back to the camp.
After two consecutive victories, the disciples on the city walls of Baizhou were all shocked.
They never imagined that Chen Yun's disciples were so ferocious!
