While Gu Hai led the civil and military officials in honoring the dead Three Mountains City citizens, five men with stern expressions stood on a large cloud outside Borderless Heavenly Capital.
They were Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Di Shitian, and the Southern Sea Dragon King.
The five had watched coldly as Gu Hai went off to the distant Three Mountains City on a flying ship with the civil and military officials.
“They all left? Kong Xuan, Shangguan Hen, Ao Shun, and the Mosquito Daoist all headed to Three Mountains City? Do they not care about Borderless Heavenly Capital?” the Southern Sea Dragon King said in bewilderment.
“There’s still Bodhisattva Lian Sheng.” Di Shitian frowned as he glanced at Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, who was in a plaza in the distant Borderless Heavenly Capital.
Bodhisattva Lian Sheng appeared curious as he looked into the distance.
“Bodhisattva Lian Sheng? He cannot stop the five of us. Do you think we can immediately destroy Borderless Heavenly Capital if we attack now? Will the Han Imperial Dynasty lose most of its blessings?” Brahma said with a cold smile.
“No. I want to find Zhengfa Ming. Didn’t the Lord Buddha say Zhengfa Ming appeared?” the Southern Sea Dragon said seriously.
“When the Lord Buddha left that day, he used a secret technique to monitor Borderless Heavenly Capital. Unexpectedly, Gu Hai dealt with it, so no one knows the situation in Borderless Heavenly Capital. However, I guess since Gu Hai knows you are looking for Zhengfa Ming, he will hide Zhengfa Ming. Zhengfa Ming is unlikely to be in Borderless Heavenly Capital,” Shiva said.
“Then should we attack?” Di Shitian asked.
Brahma shook his head. “Wait. Wait for Long Shenying to arrive. This is the border between the Ying Nation and the Han Nation.”
Everyone waited patiently.
“Roar!”
The Han Imperial Dynasty’s golden blessings dragon suddenly roared. Then Gu Hai’s voice reached all the Han Nation citizens’ ears.
These five experts could clearly hear Gu Hai’s voice in the distance if they focused on listening.
“Haha! The first cup to acknowledge his failure? How hypocritical! He thinks he can gain the support of the people like this. How laughable! Swear on it if you can!” Di Shitian sneered.
Everyone showed disdain until Gu Hai offered the second cup and said, “Unless we avenge this grudge—by destroying the Spirit Mountain Holy Land—the Han Nation will stop at imperial, never to ascend to heavenly.” The five experts’ expressions changed at this.
“Gu Hai is for real?” Brahma exclaimed, appearing shocked.
“He is crazy! Is he really going to fight the Spirit Mountain Holy Land to the death?” Di Shitian’s face suddenly sank.
“This is an oath taken before the people of the world; everyone has witnessed it. The will of the people is the will of heaven, especially for those who cultivate blessings. A sovereign’s words are gold; they cannot be changed. Going back on his word would destabilize his nation’s blessings, and its progress would stop there. Did Gu Hai have to make such an oath?” Shiva’s expression changed.
They all could not help feeling a chill in their hearts.
No matter when it was or how strong the opponent was, the only thing to fear was the opponent recklessly choosing to die with one. Gu Hai was such an opponent now, never resting until death.
The distant Bodhisattva Lian Sheng also gaped in shock. He had not expected Gu Hai to make such a grave oath.
As everyone felt shocked, Gu Hai’s epitaph started.
“The grand Han Nation, brilliant and civilized. Word of its benevolence spreads far abroad; it performs noble acts of kindness.
“The Spirit Mountain invaders destroyed my Three Mountains, massacring its populace and turning the masses into corpses.”
The first two lines of this epitaph inspired foreboding in the group.
Fortunately, Heaven had taken away the calligraphy Dao’s laws. A grand air had appeared with the first quarter of the first line. If the calligraphy Dao’s laws were still extant, these words alone would already burst out with overwhelming noble spirit.
Such formal speeches for memorials that exalted the people had the power to move heaven. When these words were said, heaven could follow and resonate with the will of the people. The will of the people influenced the will of heaven. This was something even grander and more solemn than those poems of love, passion, hatred, and grudges.
Although there no longer were calligraphy Dao laws, the artistic conception infected everyone, suddenly planting a seed of hatred in everyone’s heart.
“Oh no! I nearly forgot that Gu Hai’s calligraphy Dao stands out, even on the world level!” Di Shitian’s expression changed.
“Two hundred million departed souls nurse a grievance in this mountain city, feeling dismay and shock, day and night.
“They moved around like wild, brutal beasts, like nothing ever seen or heard of before. What crime did these comrades commit for the nation to suffer great disaster?”
Indeed, when Gu Hai said the third and fourth lines, nearly all the Han Nation citizens clenched their fists, great hatred writ large on their faces.
Two hundred million citizens nursed a grievance in this mountain city; it was not two, not two hundred, not twenty thousand, not twenty million, but two hundred million.
When the citizens previously heard the news, they only knew about the numbers. However, Gu Hai’s solemn epitaph seemed to have shown them that violent and frenzied scene.
Their comrades cried miserably before their deaths, and no one came to help. The world seemed dim, and the universe was shocked. So many innocent citizens died in the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s hands.
Great hatred flared in all the citizens’ hearts. This hatred was the will of the people, the will of heaven.
The surrounding sky even turned gloomy. Ordinary people just thought there were dark clouds, but the five experts understood the will of the people had moved the will of heaven. Those were not simply dark clouds but the rage of the citizens, the resentment of the citizens, and the hatred of the citizens. An intense aura of hatred burst out.
The epitaph caused the world to change color.
“Oh no! Oh no! That Gu Hai is indeed excellent at misleading people. Where is Long Shenying?” Shiva’s expression changed.
“After today, this hatred will spread in all directions. The resentment of the people can even influence the laws. If this hatred spreads to the entire world, my Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s blessings will be affected,” Vishnu said with an unsightly expression.
“No, if Long Shenying still does not arrive, we will attack first and interrupt Gu Hai’s public memorial service!” Di Shitian glared.
Boom!
Just then, a powerful gust blew over, instantly arriving behind the five experts.
“Long Shenying?” Joy immediately appeared on the five’s faces.
When Gu Hai spoke to his citizens using the golden blessings dragon, the Ying Imperial Dynasty had received word of it.
Long Shenying responded, shouting, “Ying Nation citizens, we are borrowing energy from you one final time. I am fighting for a better, nobler future for the Ying Nation citizens. Please raise your right hand and lend us your energy!”
“Roar!” the Ying Imperial Dynasty’s golden blessings dragon roared.
The Ying Nation citizens raised their right hands, full of trust in Long Shenying, sending him their energy.
The golden blessings dragon roared as it dragged the Ying Nation citizens’ energy into Long Shenying’s body.
Long Shenying’s body immediately burst out with unprecedented strength. A powerful flow of energy seemed to form a golden flame around his body.
Boom!
Long Shenying’s figure flashed as he shot towards Borderless Heavenly Capital and arrived outside in mere moments. He saw the five experts preparing to attack.
At the same time, on a mountain summit outside Three Mountains City:
The leaders of the six factions also received word.
“Sect Master, Long Shenying has already driven the power of his nation. He should arrive soon!” a disciple reported respectfully.
The six faction leaders exchanged looks as their eyes lit up.
“When Long Shenying drives the power of his nation, he is comparable to Sect Master Heavenly Access. He can block Gu Hai when Gu Hai drives the power of the Han Nation. Together with the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s people, we can eradicate the Han Imperial Dynasty!” One sovereign’s eyes lit up.
“He should be here soon, right?”
“Everyone, prepare. We will attack together. Let nothing go wrong!”
The six faction leaders clenched their fists in anticipation.
“He’s coming! Look!” One sect master’s eyes lit up.
A powerful gust suddenly scattered a white cloud to the south of Borderless Heavenly Capital, revealing Di Shitian and the others. Long Shenying had arrived.
“He really came! Excellent! Excellent! We are about to start!” a sect master said excitedly.
At the entrance to Three Mountains City, the expressions of Kong Xuan, Shangguan Hen, the Mosquito Daoist, Ao Shun, and the others changed. They guessed the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s people were going to attack. However, they did not act rashly. Instead, they looked at Gu Hai.
Now, Gu Hai said the final two lines.
“Three Mountains today, us tomorrow. If we do not eradicate these demons, the world will not be at peace!
“Sorrowful soldiers, lift your spirits; raise your golden halberds. Brothers, be united as one and swear to destroy the evil demons!”
Gu Hai practically shouted his sorrow and rage in the final two lines.
“Roar!”
The golden blessings dragon sent his passionate voice to the ears of the citizens.
The first two lines had already incited boundless hatred in the citizens’ hearts. This hatred roused the will of heaven to rage, causing dark clouds to fill the sky.
However, the last two lines seemed to give the citizens a vent. They instantly found a way to deal with their resentment and hatred. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Today, the two hundred million citizens of Three Mountains City suffered a calamity. Tomorrow, it might be us. If we don’t eradicate the demons, the world will not be safe. Sorrowful soldiers, lift your spirits; raise your golden halberds. We can kill the evil demons only by being united.
“Brothers, unite as one and swear to destroy the evil demons!” someone shouted.
Suddenly, countless citizens in the Han Imperial Dynasty shouted together, swearing to kill the evil demons, never to share a world with the Spirit Mountain Holy Land.
Boom!
The laws seemed to sense the citizens’ surging emotions, responding with a loud crack of thunder and pouring rain.
In Borderless Heavenly Capital, shock flashed in Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s eyes. He had underestimated this public memorial service for Three Mountains City.
“After this public memorial service, the people of the world will find it hard to support the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. What a memorial service! It cut off the world’s delusions and pushed the Spirit Mountain Holy Land into the position of the demon?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said in shock.
On the other side, the five experts’ expressions changed dramatically.
“It’s too late! Quickly, attack! Hurry!” Di Shitian exhorted anxiously.
“That’s right! Attack quickly. I’m here. Let’s start!” Long Shenying said.
“Alright. Attack together!” The Southern Sea Dragon King glared, throwing a palm strike at Borderless Heavenly Capital.
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Di Shitian also attacked. Five gigantic manifested palms rushed towards Borderless Heavenly Capital to smash it completely.
“Oh no!” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s expression suddenly changed. He wanted to make a move to counter the attacks.
When this group launched their attack and the six faction leaders in the distance prepared to take action, something strange happened.
Long Shenying eyes turned cold, and he showed a faint sneer. He formed claws with his hands and stabbed Di Shitian and the Southern Sea Dragon King from behind, using surging Zombie Energy.
How could they expect Long Shenying to betray them before this? Furthermore, he was driving the power of the Ying Nation. Such power would not be weaker than two strikes of the Immortal Executioner Sword, and the two were unprepared.
Boom! Boom!
Two loud reports rang out, and two massive holes blasted open in the chests of Di Shitian and the Southern Sea Dragon King. Only after Long Shenying’s claws pierced through their chests did everyone react.
“What?”
“No!”
Di Shitian and the Southern Sea Dragon Kong both spewed a mouthful of blood, showing sorrowful and furious expressions of despair.
“Long Shenying, what are you doing?” The faces of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva changed dramatically. They had not expected things to turn out like this.
Now, the three no longer thought about eradicating Borderless Heavenly Capital. Their manifested palms turned around and flew towards Long Shenying.
This change happened too quickly. Why did our ally suddenly attack us? Were we tricked? Is this Gu Hai’s scheme? Did Gu Hai send the six faction leaders to trick us?
The Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s people felt a mixture of shock and rage.
Far away, Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s hand stopped midway. His expression congealed in obvious shock.
“How could it be like this?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng could no longer understand.
The six faction leaders in the distance also could not understand the situation.
The three sovereigns and three sect masters goggled. A moment ago, the six had taken out their enchanted treasures and weapons.
When the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s people attacked, they were about to attack their surroundings.
The six had even designated their opponents to prevent confusion. With the Spirit Mountain Holy Land and Long Shenying, two powerful assistants, the Han Imperial Dynasty’s paths to recovery were all blocked.
However, the strongest Spirit Mountain Holy Land and Long Shenying started fighting each other.
The two sides are fighting each other? This…what is the meaning of this? Why don’t I understand this?
The six experts froze in place.
