Shushan: Extinction

Chapter 278 A Terrifying Trap
Gong Tianwu pinched his fingers together!
Immediately, a dual-elemental magnetic divine thunder was unleashed.

After this primordial magnetic divine thunder exploded, the primordial magnetic divine light illuminated the sky, and the magnetic field of the entire celestial domain suddenly distorted!

The white-browed needles were like being caught in a whirlpool, colliding and shattering one another.

Moreover, the most insidious aspect of the White Eyebrow Needle is that the three thousand needles on the surface are merely bait; the real killer is the seven invisible main needles that are launched after the needles have been released!
However, under the influence of the primordial magnetic divine light, the seven main needles had nowhere to hide. They collided and intersected in the air, instantly turning into stardust that scattered across the sky.

Dongfang Xiao used the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique, but now he suffered a backlash. His body stiffened, his true energy surged backward, his skin cracked inch by inch, blood seeped out, and his expression was distorted, making him look extremely painful.

With a flick of his finger, Gong Tianwu sent Dongfang Xiao exploding into a cloud of blood, leaving only his head intact, his eyes wide open as he plummeted towards the bamboo mountain below.

Upon witnessing this scene, the tens of thousands of soldiers below were filled with high morale and cheered "Long live the Emperor!" Their voices soared into the sky.

After all, the emperor's personal command of the expedition was already a huge morale booster, not to mention that Gong Tianwu also made a bold move, killing three extremely powerful figures of the enemy in succession with the force of an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.
At this moment, Gong Tianwu looked at the bamboo mountain beside him and said calmly:
"You couldn't even seize the opportunity I gave you, Xu Feiniang. Didn't you just complete your tribulation not long ago?"

"May"

"Xu Feiniang??"

"Isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, not only the people of Daqian, but even ninety percent of the cultivators in Zhushan were stunned, because they never expected that this legendary figure would actually be on Zhushan.

That's the leader of the Wutai Sect from the upper realm!

Why did she end up in Zhushan?

However, Gong Tianwu clearly had no intention of explaining, and directly waved his hand to order an attack on the mountain.

Instantly, the army, brimming with murderous intent, surged forward like a tidal wave.

Facing the boundless bamboo forest outside the mountain gate, the Daqian Army was well prepared, with hundreds of fire dragon nozzles roaring in unison!

The flames spewing from the nozzle were not ordinary fire, but inscribed flames mixed with cinnabar, saltpeter, and magic-breaking silver powder, with a length of thirty feet!
Wherever the flames passed, these carefully crafted bamboos burst into flames like ordinary wood, turning the bamboo forest into a fiery inferno, with the sound of the bamboo joints cracking like the bones of a cultivator breaking.

The large flock of guardian spirit birds raised by the Zhushan Sect had just taken flight from the bamboo forest when they were torn apart in mid-air by the golden net fired from the crossbow, their bloody feathers mixed with ashes falling to the ground.

When the disciples of Zhushan saw their beloved spirit birds being killed, they were heartbroken and would rush out in groups of three or five in anger. However, in the face of the well-trained killing machine of the Daqian army, they might be able to stir up a little ripple, but they would soon be drowned out by the shouts of killing.

Thick smoke billowed and flames roared; Zhushan Jiye was completely reduced to ashes.

In less than two hours, the bamboo forest formation that Zhushan was so proud of was directly broken. The Daqian army used a slow and methodical approach, destroying the entire bamboo forest bit by bit.

When this formation was established, the formation master thought that even if a hundred people attacked the formation, it could be easily withstood. However, he did not expect that the formation would now be facing an army of ten thousand people.

Soon, before noon, the main gate of Zhushan began to be attacked.

At the mountain gate, twelve giant bamboo puppets wielding swords formed a fierce defensive formation. Although the Great Qian army in front was also littered with corpses, the loss of a mere thousand or so men was just a drop in the ocean.

Moreover, with His Majesty the Emperor overseeing operations from the rear and personally leading the troops on the battlefield, who would dare to be passive or slack off?
Gradually, as the spiritual veins on the mountain were severed, the movements of the twelve giant bamboo puppets wielding swords began to slow down, and flames appeared on their bodies.

Faced with a barrage of Yin-Yang missiles, a giant bamboo puppet was the first to succumb and collapse with a crash.

During the collapse, the thing itself was blown to pieces, and a large amount of Yin-evil flames burst out from the broken bamboo, and it was quickly turned to ashes.

As if it were a fuse, the remaining eleven giant bamboo puppets were also destroyed, burning into enormous torches of despair.

After the mountain gate was breached, all the fighting temporarily subsided, as what lay ahead was a narrow, winding road leading up the mountain, fraught with supernatural dangers.

For example, thunder bamboo is densely planted on both sides of the mountain road. The bamboo stalks are purplish-black like iron, and the edges of the bamboo leaves are sharp as blades. When the mountain wind blows, all the leaves vibrate together, making a sound like thunder, which is in harmony with the rhythm of the Heavenly Gang Subduing Demon Formation.

If a person strays into the pass and takes the wrong step, bamboo arrows will burst forth from the ground, their runes flickering like snake tongues. It is as if one man can hold off ten thousand, and it seems that numbers are of no use in such a natural barrier.

It is precisely because of this natural barrier that the people of Zhushan have no intention of abandoning the sect. They have long been holding back their anger and want to teach these people a lesson.

Who knew that after the Daqian army captured the mountain gate, they would besiege it without attacking, which surprised everyone in Zhushan and gave them a vague sense of foreboding—after all, the unknown is what makes people most afraid.

Within two hours, the Zhushan group found out what Qian Guo was doing.

"Report!! Master, the water level in the Nourishing Heart Pool has dropped significantly, and the fish inside are about to be stranded."

“The spiritual energy is decreasing significantly, and some rare herbs in the herb garden are beginning to show signs of withering.”

"The thousand-year-old dragon bamboo is in pain, trembling; its roots have spread throughout the entire mountain, and it says that its spiritual energy is rapidly declining."

"I know now, these thieves are actually digging into the spiritual veins below!!!"

"."

In fact, Dushan is not a famous mountain or river, but the founder of the Zhushan Sect chose to settle here and stay for hundreds of years. The reason is simple: there is a top-grade spiritual vein passing through this mountain and then sinking deep into the earth's veins.

In recent years, while building Jidu, the Great Qian Dynasty has been trying to do one thing: to activate or alter the spiritual veins.

In this world's beliefs, spiritual veins are considered extremely sacred, the lifeblood of heaven and earth, and must never be disturbed lightly, otherwise great calamity will surely follow.

However, Gong Tianwu was influenced by Earth's culture and viewed spiritual veins as a mineral, no different from oil, natural gas, or coal.

So he ordered the craftsmen to try to relocate and alter the spiritual veins.

In any case, any immortal sect within the Great Qian territory that dares to disobey the imperial authority will be driven out and destroyed, so there are plenty of places for craftsmen to practice their skills.

With a large amount of money, manpower, material resources, and other resources invested, the relocation of the spiritual veins quickly yielded results.

The reason why the Hidden Dao Pavilion can provide such abundant spiritual energy for independent cultivators is actually the result of the maturation of the spiritual vein migration technology.

At this time, the spiritual veins below Dushan Mountain were not damaged, but rather, like a river changing course, the spiritual energy inside was directly diverted away.

This drastic measure of cutting off the enemy's supply line can be described as extremely ruthless. Dushan has been occupied by the Zhushan Sect for hundreds of years, and its various defensive facilities are extremely complete. However, the premise of these defensive measures is that they require a continuous supply of abundant spiritual energy.

In this way, the Zhushan Sect's efforts over the past few hundred years have been in vain.

At this moment, a middle-aged man in a red robe was kneeling before Gong Tianwu, who was none other than Yan Li, the Vice Minister of Works who was accompanying him.

"Your Majesty, the Dushan spiritual vein has now been officially diverted elsewhere. It is expected that the spiritual energy remaining in the Zhushan Sect will gradually dissipate within the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn."

Gong Tianwu turned to look at Chen Yunxian beside him:

"The task of attacking the mountain will be entrusted to the Trapped Camp."

Chen Yunxian pounded his left chest heavily:
"The minister obeys the order!"

***
Three hours later,

The Great Qianlong Banner was already flying atop the Zhushan Sect.

In a battle like this, the most frightening thing is not the lack of resources, but the lack of fighting spirit.

The disciples and elders who usually claimed to be loyal to the sect were now fleeing faster than anyone else.

Moreover, the Great Qian side also had a large number of Wind Warriors, and the treacherous mountain roads posed no challenge to them. Therefore, Chen Yunxian's advance with the Trapped Camp could truly be described as unstoppable.

Of course, there were still those in Zhushan who were willing to fight to the death. These people could still inflict casualties on the Daqian army with their desperate struggle, but it was of no use, because more Daqian soldiers immediately surged up.

Soon, Chen Yunxian sent someone to report that he had completely occupied the ancestral hall of the Zhushan Sect—Cuihuang Peak, but found it empty, let alone any trace of Xu Feiniang and Xu Lin.

Upon hearing the report, Gong Tianwu immediately set off for Cuihuang Peak. The area had already been thoroughly searched, ensuring that not even a single malicious mosquito remained.

The vanguard had discovered from the messy footprints and discarded debris on the ground that a large number of people had gone to the Ancestral Hall, but these people seemed to have vanished into thin air.

As expected, Gong Tianwu arrived at the Ancestral Hall surrounded by many people, only to find it deserted. In the center of the hall stood a jade statue over ten feet tall, with a wisp of incense burning in front of it.

Gong Tianwu wandered around the Ancestral Hall for a while but found nothing—after all, the Wulou Guard had searched the place many times before he arrived. However, after a while, Gong Tianwu returned to the enshrined jade statue and looked it over.

As can be seen, this statue is of a Taoist priest.

He stood still, his wide sleeves billowing in the wind, his right hand forming a mudra pointing towards the Big Dipper, while his left arm hung limply inside the wide sleeve of his robe.

Upon closer inspection, the jade patterns on the Taoist crown naturally form the image of clouds and thunder, while the face of the statue is the most extraordinary. From a distance, it appears to be smiling, but upon closer inspection, it transforms into a compassionate expression. When turned to the side, it becomes an angry Vajra, with the Big Dipper hidden in the folds of its robes. Each star is inlaid with chalcedony, emitting a faint and strange light.

The most peculiar thing was the jade sword hanging at the Taoist's waist. The tassel was carved with nine layers of lingzhi patterns, but the scabbard was seamlessly integrated with the robe and belt, as if it might melt into the jade at any moment.

For some reason, despite the statue's features being very clear, Gong Tianwu always felt that it was blurry and difficult to recognize, as if he would forget its appearance if he looked away.

"Who is this person?"

Gong Tianwu addressed those to his left and right.

Surprisingly, the people around had a variety of opinions:
Some people say, isn't this the Three Pure Ones being worshipped?
Some people say that this is Lao Tzu.

Some say that this person should be an unnamed powerful figure in Zhushan.

Upon thinking of this, Gong Tianwu suddenly had a thought: After Xie Tianyuan became emperor, didn't he immediately retreat into the mountains and become the head of Zhushan Sect?

"By the way, this place is called the Ancestral Master Hall?!"

Gong Tianwu suddenly understood. The most recognized ancestor in Zhushan was probably Xie Tianyuan!
If that's the case, then this statue could be...
Just as Gong Tianwu's thoughts turned to this, the jade statue suddenly cracked. Before the fragments could even hit the ground, they were twisted and collapsed by an invisible force!
The air inside the hall swirled wildly, and the bricks, stones, beams, and pillars were torn apart and swallowed up like pieces of paper. A pitch-black vortex the size of a fist appeared out of thin air and expanded to more than ten feet in an instant.

Just as Gong Tianwu was about to launch a full-scale counterattack, a faint bell suddenly rang out from the void.

The Eastern Emperor Bell tolls!

Previously, Gong Tianwu had used the powerful energy of the Eastern Emperor Bell to deal with countless powerful enemies, but this time the tables have turned, and he has also fallen victim to this trick!
Gong Tianwu was shocked and froze on the spot. Not only him, but everyone around him seemed to be frozen in time.

The next second, the pitch-black vortex instantly expanded, directly engulfing Gong Tianwu.

***
After a dizzying spin,
Gong Tianwu felt a series of vibrations coming from the Tianyuan Magnetic Bone in his chest, which woke him from his unconscious state.

Then Gong Tianwu realized he was falling rapidly, and all he could see was a deathly gray-white expanse, with a bone-chilling cold rushing towards him, almost freezing the last bit of warmth in his lungs.

Fortunately, the magnetic field still existed here, so the Tianyuan Magnetic Bone activated on its own, instantly suspending Gong Tianwu in mid-air, more than a hundred meters above the ground.

Gong Tianwu tried calling out to Kang, but found no response.

He looked around and found that this place was like a huge graveyard forgotten outside of time, with the sky and earth all gray and hazy, like an endless, viscous, ashen swamp.

The boundaries between the clouds and the fog had long since blurred, mingling together in a murky mixture, slowly writhing, exuding a mixed smell of rust and decay.

Occasionally, ruins and remnants would appear twisted and twisted deep within the fog, like the convulsing organs of a dying beast, exuding an ominous aura of death.

Gong Tianwu looked down and saw several huge, pale skeletons half-buried in the gray mist, like the masts of a sunken ancient ship. The magnificent buildings that might have existed were reduced to a few crooked beams and pillars, emitting a whistling friction sound in the deathly wind.

Dozens of feet above the ground, there are many dilapidated floating islands that seem to have detached from the ground and are suspended upside down in mid-air.

However, its surface luster had long since faded, and it was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, like the fissures of a dried-up riverbed. Moss and some unknown plants had withered and turned into patches of charred grime, clinging to the mountainside.

Clearly, this is no longer the Eastern Heaven Realm, but another sub-plane that is about to disappear, similar to a secret realm where immortal sects send disciples to train.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared beside me!
Gong Tianwu hurriedly dodged, but the light was too fast, instantly piercing his chest and carrying a tremendous force, directly shooting him more than a hundred feet away before slamming him hard against the stone wall behind him.

Crimson blood quickly flowed down the stone wall.

What pierced Gong Tianwu's chest was a flying sword:
This sword is three feet and three inches long, its entire body formed from solidified ice, yet crimson blood flows within, like a hundred vengeful spirits writhing and howling. Nine sinister talismans are engraved on the sword's spine; when wielded, they are silent, yet they evoke the wails of countless ghosts.

In the short few seconds after being stabbed, Gong Tianwu felt dizzy and lightheaded. A large number of black, root-like substances spread from the wound and rapidly entered his body, as if several souls were fighting for his body at the same time.

Despite the pain, Gong Tianwu shook his head and immediately swallowed a Jade Liquid Pill, a legendary elixir that could revive the dead and restore bones.

Sure enough, Gong Tianwu's spirits lifted, and he immediately recognized it as Xu Feiniang's signature flying sword:
The Hundred Spirits Immortal-Slaying Sword!
This sword is named Hundred Spirits, but it actually seals seven demonic souls within, corrupting the body and eroding the soul!

Immediately afterwards, Xu Feiniang appeared. After arriving in this realm, her strength was no longer suppressed by the Heavenly Dao of the Eastern Sky Realm. A small infant phantom was floating above her head, grinning at Gong Tianwu.

It goes without saying that a cultivator possessing this extraordinary phenomenon is at the Nascent Soul stage.

Although Gong Tianwu was strong, even with the blessing of the imperial throne and the protection of fortune, he could only exert the strength of the early Golden Core stage at most, at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Compared to Xu Feiniang, who was at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, she was a whole major level lower, so of course she was no match for her in a single encounter!
Xu Feiniang floated slowly towards Gong Tianwu. She still looked like a middle-aged woman, retaining her charm, and chuckled softly:
"You think you can successfully destroy the Bamboo Mountain Sect? Use it as a sacrifice for your throne? Hah, how naive! You are the sacrifice."

"This is the Taixu Realm, a secret realm abandoned by the Zhushan Sect after more than 130 years of use. It is also your burial place!"

At this moment, the group of people who had escaped from the Bamboo Mountain Sect appeared beside Xu Feiniang. They all glared angrily at Gong Tianwu, gritting their teeth.

However, at this moment, a deep voice came:

"Enough talk, let's get started!"

Upon hearing the voice, Gong Tianwu trembled and immediately turned to look.

It turned out that a unique figure had appeared from the highest point of the floating island next to them.

The figure almost blended into the gray sky, appearing both real and illusory.

A blurry humanoid silhouette wearing an imperial crown was vaguely visible, radiating a cold, domineering, and supreme pressure that looked down upon ants. The flames brought no warmth; instead, they scorched the surrounding ashes into an even more desolate void.

Upon closer inspection, one can discover that the figure is not made of flesh and blood; it is almost entirely an illusion, with only the heart area being a twisted, constantly collapsing and expanding dark golden flame.

Clearly, this is not the real person descending, but merely an avatar.

"Dong-kun!"

Gong Tianwu's voice sounded as if it were being squeezed out from between his teeth.

At this moment, Gong Tianwu was still quite frustrated. By now, he had naturally realized that Xu Feiniang's hiding in the Zhushan Sect during her tribulation was actually a conspiracy.

I've been getting too carried away lately, so I've become a little careless, and that's how Dongjun seized the opportunity and fell into his trap!

"Old ginger is spicier!"

Gong Tianwu also felt the same way.

The next second, Xu Feiniang and the people of Zhushan stood around Dongjun, surrounding him like stars around the moon, instantly setting up an array. It seemed that they had poured all their energy into Dongjun's incarnation.

Meanwhile, Dongjun's avatar quickly shifted from illusion to reality. His eyes narrowed, and two deep vortexes suddenly appeared in his pupils, within which countless strange crimson lightning bolts were constantly being generated and destroyed. He then fiercely grabbed at Gong Tianwu!
Gong Tianwu immediately felt an intense pain in his sea of ​​consciousness and couldn't help but scream out in agony.

Behind Dongjun's incarnation, a mysterious and extraordinary small bell suddenly appeared!

It is the actual body of the Eastern Emperor Bell, but about a quarter of it is still a clearly illusory image.

It could be clearly seen that lightning rolled between Dongjun's five fingers, transforming into five terrifying crimson lightning chains, each one entwined with dense, mysterious runes, chilling and awe-inspiring.

"Photography!"

With a cold shout, the chains burst forth, like a monstrous dragon constricting and strangling, instantly binding Gong Tianwu.

Gong Tianwu's blood vessels swelled all over his body, and his skin turned bright red, like a cooked shrimp. His face was contorted.

Meanwhile, the dragon that had transformed into Kang in his sea of ​​consciousness struggled and resisted with frantic screams, but it was being eroded by the crimson lightning power on the chains, and began to disintegrate inch by inch. It began to establish a connection with the main body of the Eastern Emperor Bell, and was gradually assimilated!
Only then did Gong Tianwu realize why Kang hadn't given any warnings throughout the entire process: it was because Dong Jun had been interfering the whole time, and the power of the Eastern Emperor Bell he wielded was even stronger!

(End of this chapter)