Half a month later.
Li Shi stood atop a high slope, gazing at the military town ahead, his brows slightly furrowed.
He had swept all before him along the way, taking five cities in succession, and had finally arrived here—You City!
This place was the gateway to Yanyun, like a hard nail hammered into the entrance.
Over ten thousand elite troops were garrisoned in the city, its walls high and thick, with rolling stones, molten gold, and arrows all at the ready, defenses tight.
Earlier, Li Shi had already led a feigned assault once. The losses were small, but he had felt out the enemy’s strength and weakness.
"General, let’s attack head-on! With us Warriors, we’re sure to take it!" The deputy general cupped his fists and asked for battle, his tone urgent.
Li Shi waved his hand, his tone grave:
"No!"
"If we storm it head-on, the Warriors may well be able to withdraw unscathed, but the Daoist Soldiers will suffer heavy damage."
"These people are the foundation of Taishang Dao, the capital for the Daoist Master’s future expansion. They must not be squandered lightly."
A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes:
"Pass the order: open the altar and perform the ritual!"
The Daoist Soldiers quickly cleared out an open space and set up a simple ritual altar.
An Incense Burner, Talisman Paper, and Peach Wood Sword were laid out one after another. Incense smoke curled upward, Dao Rhyme filling the air.
The defenders on the city wall saw this and all revealed looks of disdain.
The Defender General even burst into loud laughter:
"Hahaha, the rebels can’t win in a straight fight so they start putting on a sham mystic show! Taishang Dao? I say they’re just a bunch of jumping clowns!"
"Exactly, opening an altar to do magic—begging Heaven’s blessing, are they? Ridiculous!"
Li Shi turned a deaf ear.
He donned a Daoist Robe embroidered with the sun, moon, and stars, his expression solemn, and stepped up onto the altar one step at a time.
From his hand he took out a piece of yellowing Talisman Paper, its talisman lines complex and profound, with faint Thunder Light flowing across it.
It was none other than the Celestial Thunder Talisman personally bestowed by Chen Sheng.
"Heaven and earth, mysterious and yellow; the universe, vast and wild—Taishang Celestial King, draw down the thunder and bestow auspiciousness!"
Li Shi’s Spell was low and solemn, carrying a strange Dao Rhyme that spread to the four directions.
As his words fell, the Celestial Thunder Talisman slowly rose into the air and hung there motionless.
The lines on the Talisman Paper lit up, radiating dazzling golden light. The air between heaven and earth suddenly grew restless.
In an instant, the clear sky abruptly darkened.
Dark clouds converged like a tide, veiling the blazing sun. A fierce wind howled and thunder rumbled faintly.
"Th-this... what’s going on?"
The jeering on the city wall cut off mid-sentence.
The disdain on the defenders’ faces was completely replaced by terror.
Below the altar, every Taishang Daoist Soldier wore an expression of fervor, hands pressed together as they shouted in unison:
"The Celestial King descends to the world! To deliver all living beings! The Celestial King protects us!"
"Divine thunder descends from Heaven!"
"Smash the city and execute the wicked!"
Their cries shook the sky, interweaving with the thunder above, utterly shocking.
The Defender General’s face turned deathly pale, his legs trembling as he forced himself to stay calm:
"Coincidence! It must be a coincidence! It’s just going to rain!"
No sooner had he spoken than—
Crack—!
A blinding bolt of pale lightning tore through the sky.
Thunder on a clear day, lightning flashing and thunder roaring.
The thick bolt of lightning plunged down like a silver dragon galloping from the heavens, carrying the force to tear the world asunder as it crashed onto the city wall.
Boom—!
The deafening roar shook heaven and earth.
Where the Thunder Light struck, a fierce glare exploded. Dozens of defenders didn’t even have time to scream before they were turned to charred husks, the air thick with the stench of burning.
The solid city wall was blasted open into a massive gap, bricks and stones shattering, smoke and dust billowing, the entire gate tower on the verge of collapse.
The Defender General was scared witless, his legs giving out as he collapsed atop the wall, eyes vacant, muttering under his breath:
"It’s not a coincidence... it’s real妖术... it’s divine punishment..."
The few men beside him exchanged glances and saw nothing but fear and despair in each other’s eyes.
If they could even draw down Celestial Thunder, this was completely beyond anything they could resist. Rather than be blasted to death by lightning, they might as well surrender and live.
The few made up their minds on the spot, stepped forward, tied up the limp Defender General, raised a white flag, and shouted outward:
"Stop calling down thunder! We surrender! We welcome the royal army!"
Standing atop the altar, Li Shi threw his head back in loud laughter, his voice booming across the land:
"A man who knows the times is a true hero! Enter the city!"
"Enter the city! Enter the city!"
The Daoist Soldiers roared with joy.
The Dao Banners snapped in the wind as the great host surged into the military town, seizing the Yanyun gateway with ease and opening a passage for Taishang Dao into the Yanyun route.
...
Ning City, Taishang Dao’s main headquarters.
Chen Sheng sat upright in the Main Position, holding a battle report in his hands, the corners of his lips slightly raised.
Battle reports flew in like snowflakes.
Five counties, ten counties, one prefecture...
In less than a month, wherever the Daoist Soldiers of the Supreme Dao pointed their blades, they advanced like a hot knife through butter, unstoppable.
They had already taken two prefectures and seventeen counties, their territory expanding at a breakneck pace.
As their power surged, Chen Sheng’s Fate also rose rapidly.
His profession Level had already broken through to the Sixth Level.
[Daoist: Sixth Level (346,000 / 1,000,000)]
Chen Sheng lowered his head and glanced at the panel, the corner of his brow lifting slightly as he fell into thought:
"Seventeen counties, and it only increased by a little over three hundred thousand Fate. Seems there’s some indigestion."
"The four armies, after taking the county seats, did hold public trials of corrupt officials, beheading them until heads rolled, and then redistributed the land..."
"But the schedule is still too tight. Land distribution isn’t an easy affair."
"The true value of these counties hasn’t been released at all."
Chen Sheng rose, walked to the window, and looked out over the scene of Ning City, his tone resolute:
"Seventeen counties, hundreds of thousands of people."
"If we can bring all the peasants in the countryside fully under Control, soothe their hearts, preach the doctrine, then gathering a million Fate will be nothing but a trivial matter."
That said, he felt not the slightest dissatisfaction.
He knew that Wang Xuan and the others were also carrying out his policy—snowball-style expansion.
He was, after all, not an ordinary rebel army; he did not need to take a place and then slowly put down roots, bringing everyone under his Control.
He possessed absolute strength to suppress all resistance.
There would be plenty of time in the future to digest the territory.
Having made up his mind, Chen Sheng’s gaze sharpened:
"First seize the territory, then talk!"
"If seventeen counties aren’t enough, then one hundred and seventy counties!"
Thinking thus, his eyes fell on the newly unlocked Talismanic Magic and Warriors after his Level-up.
[Talismanic Magic: Capital-Heaven Divine Fire Talisman, Supreme Body-Protection Talisman]
[Warriors: Golden Wu Warriors]
He extended his hand, a wisp of pale golden Dao Rhyme condensing at his fingertip.
He murmured softly, the Dao Rhyme circulating and gradually forming the phantom of a sheet of Talisman Paper.
"Capital-Heaven Divine Fire Talisman—summon Celestial Fire to descend upon the world and burn all things to ash."
"Supreme Body-Protection Talisman—gather peerless power to safeguard one’s own body."
Chen Sheng comprehended the profundities within the talismans, his fingertip moving slightly.
A streak of crimson Flame lit up on the talisman phantom, warm yet domineering, as though it could burn away all evil spirits.
Another strand of lustrous white Dao Rhyme coiled around, gentle yet solid, of the same source as the Profound Light on the Guardian Warriors.
"The path of Talismanic Magic truly is wondrous, containing the supreme principles of heaven and earth."
The hint of a smile tugged at his lips:
"As for the Golden Wu Warriors, their marvels far surpass those of the Guardian Warriors. With the Golden Wu Dharma Aspect, it’s perfect for promoting Wang Xuan, Li Shi, and a few others."
"At the same time, the Guardian Warriors are absolutely loyal, all of them my eyes and ears."
"Now that the territory has expanded, it’s time to elevate a batch of Warriors, so they can better protect the Dao and execute orders—best if they’re scattered far and wide to monitor all directions for me!"
...
The Capital City of Great Li, the inner palace.
Inside the Purple Emperor Hall, candle flames flickered, casting a heavy expression on the old man seated upon the dragon throne.
He wore a bright yellow Dragon Robe embroidered with the Twelve Emblems, holding a secret memorial stained with hidden patterns—he was the Emperor of Great Li.
"Supreme Dao, Protective Profound Light, Celestial Thunder breaching city walls..."
"In merely half a month, he has swept through seventeen counties. What a Demon Dao!"
This was a secret report sent by the Brocade Guard spread across Great Li, every word true, without the slightest falsehood.
The Emperor felt a chill at heart, rose, smoothed the creases on his Dragon Robe, and strode quickly into the depths of the palace.
A hidden compartment in the wall opened with a soft click, revealing a pitch-black underground passage. The candlelight within was dim, wisps of cold air seeping out, exuding an ancient, deathly silence.
Reaching the end of the passage, a vast and majestic underground palace suddenly opened before him.
Inside the hall, thousands of vermilion coffins were neatly arranged, their bodies carved with dragons and phoenixes, inlaid with gold and jade, radiating the dignity of the imperial clan.
And at the very center of the palace, a coffin entirely gilded shone especially bright, golden patterns flowing over its surface as it floated in midair!
The Emperor bowed with lowered head, knocking his forehead on the floor as he called out in a deep voice:
"I beg audience with Ancestor!"
As his words fell, the hall fell silent for a moment.
Then, the lid of that gilded coffin slowly lifted, a streak of flowing light flashing by; within the coffin there lay a young and handsome man.
He wore a Dragon Robe patterned with Dark Gold, his complexion lustrous rather than withered, hair jet-black, a faint Dark Gold blood energy coiling around him. Though his eyes were closed, a natural air of dominion over the world emanated from him.
"What is this clamor?"
The man slowly opened his eyes; his pupils were a deep dark crimson, his voice cool and devoid of mortal warmth, yet carrying an unquestionable pressure.
The Emperor hurriedly bowed further and replied:
"Ancestor, a Demon Dao has appeared in the world, calling itself the Supreme Dao, wielding Talismanic Water and commanding Celestial Thunder."
"Supreme Dao? Talismanic Water? Celestial Thunder?"
At these words, Gu Youming’s gaze suddenly brightened, the corner of his mouth lifting into a curve both playful and icy.
An invisible, majestic pressure burst forth at once, making the entire underground palace tremble faintly.
All around, those vermilion coffins began to shake violently, their lids successively lifting as figure after figure in imperial and royal robes slowly rose into the air.
Each of them stood tall and straight, their faces handsome or stern, complexions lustrous, eyes tinged with dark crimson, blood energy surging around them, roaring straight up toward the ceiling of the hall.
With a casual glance, the Emperor picked out his own father and grandfather among them.
In the past, when they passed away, they were already in their twilight years; now, each appeared in the prime of life, bodies straight, gazes sharp.
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