Two Realms High Martial Arts: Gathering the Heavens to Become a Great Luo Immortal

Chapter 257 Clan, Common People, City Destruction (Two-in-One)

Southeast Guangfu County.

The once bustling metropolis, teeming with merchants, is now shrouded in a somber shadow of war.

On the city wall, soldiers patrolled back and forth, their expressions tense, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and a sense of tension.

Inside the Governor's Mansion, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

At this moment, Tang Yongzhen, who had been promoted to Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, was looking at a bronze mirror in front of him. The mirror reflected an old man dressed in a simple Confucian robe, with white hair and beard, but with gentle and profound eyes.

This old man was none other than Situ Wenyan, the Confucian Sage True Lord who usually resided in the southeast.

"Mr. Situ,"

Tang Yongzhen's voice was hoarse and filled with barely concealed anxiety. "The vanguard of the rebel army has already reached Zengcheng, dozens of miles away. They are marching day and night and will soon be at the city gates. Guangfu is now the last line of defense."

Situ Wenyan stroked his beard slowly, his brows furrowed:

"Yongzhen, it's not that I'm unwilling to go all out. It's just that those two 'guests' from the Church of Light and the Church of Storms are currently seated inside the Wanguo Mansion on Hainan Island, their auras locked onto Guangzhou from afar."

"If I rashly leave the South China Sea to meet the enemy, I fear they will immediately take advantage of the situation and invade. At that time, the fall of the Southeast will be imminent."

He sighed, "Given the current situation, I can only rely on the strength of the people of the southeast to barely restrain those two first-order angels, preventing them from making any rash moves. As for the rebel army outside the city, I am simply unable to spare the resources."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yongzhen couldn't help but let out a deep, bitter smile.

He was originally a confidant of the emperor and served as the Governor-General of Tianjin and Zhili Province, holding a high position and great power.

Two years ago, a brilliant and outstanding Li Xijun emerged in Tianjin. He made many outstanding contributions, and as a result, Li Xijun, the Governor-General of Zhili, also benefited from his achievements and accumulated great political accomplishments. This led to his promotion to the position of Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, a position known as the "highest position among officials".

Originally, I thought that by taking advantage of this prosperous land and managing it well, and by relying on my cultivation as a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and by accumulating more years of experience, I might be able to obtain the imperial court's favor. With the help of my accumulated merits and the wishes of some sentient beings, I would try to condense my mind and glimpse the realm of divine manifestation.

But who would have thought that less than a year after taking office, he would encounter this devastating disaster that swept across the southeast.

Hong Tianwang's advance was unstoppable, and the entire Guangxi region fell. Guangdong also lost several cities in succession, and now the rebel army's advance was aimed directly at Guangfu County.

If this core area of ​​Lingnan, a vital economic center, falls into his hands again, let alone any miraculous opportunity, Tang Yongzhen will be the eternal sinner of the Great Sheng Dynasty, whose sins cannot be redeemed even by a hundred deaths.

"I understand your difficulties, sir," Tang Yongzhen said in a heavy voice. "I have already sent a memorial requesting assistance to the capital via the fastest possible courier. Alas!"

He sighed heavily. "The imperial court also tried to ask the Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain for help, but the Celestial Masters replied to Zhang Tianshi that the First Order of Light Angels are already difficult to deal with, not to mention that Hong Xiuquan was named the 'Second Son of Light,' which is blessed with divine power and is no small matter. The Celestial Masters' Manifestation True Lord also felt that the risk was too great and was unwilling to take the risk lightly, lest it damage the foundation of the Taoist sect."

Upon hearing this, Situ Wenyan's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness and understanding. The Buddhist and Taoist sects have always been like this. If the Western Continent had not made no attempt to conceal its ambitions and wanted to wipe out all the people of the Eastern Continent, neither of them would have necessarily taken action.

The battle back then was truly brutal, with nearly half of the three religions suffering casualties, leaving them with lingering fears.

Now that the Celestial Masters sect has heard of this matter, it is only natural that they would be cautious and avoid battle when facing a powerful enemy with orthodox divine favor.

Even the Great Sheng Dynasty could not hold the forces that possessed the Manifestation of the True Lord accountable.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "The imperial reinforcements are too far away to be of any use in this urgent situation, and the Celestial Masters sect is also out of the question. For now, I'm afraid we can only seek help from the local powerful families in Guangzhou."

He looked at Tang Yongzhen and began to speak:

"The Lin, Chen, and Huang families of Guangfu are all ancient families with a history of over a thousand years and profound cultural heritage."

"Within their ancestral halls, there are many spirits of ancestors who have passed away and are worshipped with incense."

"Although most of them are at the Nascent Soul stage, their combined strength is not to be underestimated. Especially the Lin family."

Situ Wenyan paused, his tone becoming more serious:

"Five hundred years ago, the Lin family produced a Manifestation True Lord. Although he has passed away, a trace of his Yin spirit has been nourished by the Lin family's incense offerings and vows over the past five hundred years and still exists in the ancestral hall."

"Although the years have passed, his strength must have been greatly diminished, far less than when he was alive. Moreover, asking him to take action would come at a huge cost, which would likely consume a large amount of the Lin family's accumulated incense and prayer power, and even affect the family's fortune. But at this critical moment of life and death, perhaps only by asking the spirit of this Lin family ancestor can we help us protect this Guangfu City and wait for a turning point."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Tang Yongzhen's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by the heavy reality.

To mobilize the heritage of a family, especially the spirits of ancestors worshipped, is no easy task.

The costs involved and the potential consequences are extremely complex.

But for now, this seems to be the only feasible solution.

"It seems that this is the only way."

Tang Yongzhen stood up, straightened his official robes, and a resolute look appeared on his face. "I will personally visit the head of the Lin family to explain the situation. No matter what, Guangfu City must not be lost!"

Situ Wenyan sighed softly and said in a deep voice, "I will stay here and keep a close eye on the situation in Hainan Island. I hope—we can hold out until a turning point appears."

That evening, Tang Yongzhen acted swiftly and immediately ordered people to send urgent invitations to several of the most influential powerful families in Guangfu County, including the Lin, Ye, Chen, and Huang families.

Within an hour, the side hall of the governor's mansion, used for confidential meetings, was filled with the stewards of these families.

They were dressed in brocade robes or as scholars. Although they looked different, they all had a dignified air about them, which they had long held in high positions, as well as a worry that they could not completely hide at this moment.

These important figures rarely spoke directly. Even though Tang Yongzhen was extremely anxious at the moment, he remained calm on the surface. He first had a maid serve fragrant tea, and then chatted with these noble families about this year's tea and local affairs. Only then did Tang Yongzhen put down his teacup and frankly tell them about the crisis outside the city and the predicament of Situ Wenyan being restrained.

"...You are all pillars of Guangdong, sharing weal and woe with me."

Tang Yongzhen's voice was heavy as soon as he spoke, "The enemy forces are now too strong, and it is difficult to resist them in open battle outside the city. In order to protect the millions of lives in Guangfu and to protect the foundation of our ancestors, we can only rely on the city walls to defend the city and rely on the strength of your families. I would like to ask you to invite the spirits of our ancestors who are worshipped in the ancestral hall to help the government troops defend the city."

He glanced around at the crowd and, seeing that many family members indeed looked hesitant, gritted his teeth and made a solemn promise:

"For any family that has contributed their labor, I will immediately submit a memorial to the court to request commendation for them."

"In addition, over the next ten years, the commercial taxes of the main businesses under each household will be reduced by 70%, and there will be additional rewards after the city is defended."

These words caused a slight commotion in the hall.

The reduction or exemption of commercial taxes was undoubtedly a great temptation. The Cantonese region had a thriving commercial sector, and 70% of its commercial taxes amounted to an astronomical figure.

The heads of the Chen, Huang, and other families looked thoughtful, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

However, Lin Huaijin, the head of the Lin family, who had been sitting in the first seat on the left and had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes.

He was about sixty years old, with a clear face. Although he was a retired high-ranking official, he did not have much of an official air about him. Instead, he looked more like a shrewd accountant.

He gently shook his head and asked in a calm voice:

"Does Your Excellency know that invoking the spirits of our ancestors would deplete the very foundation of our family's centuries-old traditions and shake the very basis of our family's fortune? This is something that cannot be measured in gold or silver."

,

"If you really think about it, this is actually a losing proposition."

Tang Yongzhen's heart sank suddenly, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

If the Lin family refuses to intervene, even if the other families agree, their strength will be greatly reduced, making it difficult to contend with the experts among the rebels.

Just as the atmosphere was almost frozen, and just as some people breathed a sigh of relief and their faces lit up with joy, while others looked grim and were about to stand up and shout angrily, "But this unprofitable deal, my Lin family is going to do it!"

Lin Huaijin abruptly changed the subject, his gaze suddenly sharpening as he swept over the few people present who were beaming with joy. He said sternly, "If today's events are merely a common peasant uprising, or if the rebels are simply vying for power, then my Lin family, and all of you present here, may really have to consider whether it is worthwhile to expend our family's foundation to fight for a future."

"After all, the world belongs to the royal family. For us noble families, the most important thing is to pass on our lineage and continue our family traditions."

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of suppressed anger:

"But the current situation is no longer a simple rebellion."

"What does Hong Renkun worship? He worships the Church of Light from the Western Continent!"

"What does he call himself? That damned 'Second Son of Light'!"

"This is clearly the work of those foreign churches from the Western Continent, using the traitorous Hong as a pretext to destroy the very foundation of our Great Sheng civilization and devour our fertile southeastern lands!"

Lin Huaijin suddenly stood up, his beard and hair standing on end, as if recalling an extremely painful past event:

"Do you all still remember thirty years ago, when Western warships bombarded Humen? Do you still remember the fishing villages at the mouth of the Pearl River that were destroyed by artillery fire? Do you still remember the devastation of the Thirteen Factories, looted and engulfed in flames?"

"I still remember that year when I accompanied my father to deal with the shops affected by the shelling. In the ruins by the roadside, there was a little child who had lost his parents, sitting under the broken wall, neither crying nor making a sound, his eyes filled with nothing but death—that scene is etched in my memory!"

His words stirred up long-forgotten memories for everyone present, and those horrific images of powerful ships and cannons, burning, killing, and looting seemed to resurface.

The head of the Ye family suddenly stood up and slammed his fist heavily on the coffee table, making the teacups clatter.

"Brother Lin is right. Those foreigners are determined to destroy us. If the Illuminati takes over Guangzhou, what ancestral halls will we have left? What family property will we have left to protect? We'll probably all turn to ashes at the foot of their church!"

"That's right!" The Chen family patriarch also stood up abruptly. "It's one thing to fight over petty gains on ordinary days, but now foreigners are coming to uproot us."

"This is no longer just a matter for the imperial court; it is a battle for the survival of all the people of Guangdong, and even the gentry and merchants of the entire Dasheng Southeast region."

"The Lin family is willing to offer the spirits of their ancestors, and my Chen family is also willing! Even if it means exhausting our incense offerings, we will never let the Western barbarians' conspiracy succeed!"

"The Ye family seconds this!"

"The Huang family is willing to provide all their assistance!"

For a time, the crowd was filled with righteous indignation and shared a common hatred for the enemy.

Tang Yongzhen looked at the scene before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He bowed deeply: "On behalf of the imperial court and the millions of people of Guangfu, I, Tang, thank you all for your noble sentiments!"

And it was at this very moment that, "BOOM!!!"

A violent storm, with winds and lightning like a typhoon, suddenly resounded throughout the entire city of Guangzhou.

"Report!"

A bodyguard scrambled into the side hall, his face deathly pale, his voice shrill:

"Governor, gentlemen, no, this is terrible! The rebel army, Hong—Hong Tianwang's army, has reached ten miles outside the city."

Banners blotted out the sun, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"That—that Heavenly King Hong himself, riding a colossal golden mountain, hovered above the central army, his imposing aura—his aura was like that of a True Lord incarnate!"

The crowd's expressions changed drastically. They rushed out of the side hall and climbed to the top floor of the governor's mansion to look out over the city.

On the distant horizon, a black line was rapidly spreading, eventually transforming into an endless sea of ​​people and the neighing of horses.

The dust raised by the marching army of hundreds of thousands swept in like a sandstorm, turning half the sky a hazy yellow.

Amidst the billowing dust, a single, dazzling golden light stood out. It was a massive chariot pulled by sixteen pure white horses, hovering several feet off the ground, moving slowly forward.

On the carriage sat a man dressed in a bright yellow robe and wearing a golden crown. His face was blurred in the golden light, but the powerful aura emanating from him was like a real tsunami. Even from such a distance, it made the people on the city wall feel breathless and their minds tremble.

The aura was magnificent and imposing, filled with light, fervor, and unquestionable majesty. Its intensity subtly exceeded the scope of an ordinary first-order angel, approaching the level of the legendary "King of Angels."

Even Situ Wenyan, who had been standing in the South China Sea, suddenly opened his eyes, his face showing an extremely solemn expression for the first time. He whispered, "The claim that he is the second son of the God of Light is true—he has actually received such divine favor?!"

On the city wall, Tang Yongzhen, Lin Huaijin and others looked at the Heavenly King Hong and his boundless army, who seemed like gods descending to earth, and felt a chilling despair rise from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.

The sunlight was obscured by dust and divine light, and Guangfu City seemed to have entered night prematurely.

Tang Yongzhen gripped the crenellations of the city wall tightly, his knuckles turning white. He took a deep breath, suppressing his fear, and turned to the heads of the various families, his voice hoarse but firm:

"Gentlemen, our lives depend on this battle! Please prepare immediately to meet the enemy!"

Lin Huaijin and the others exchanged glances, all seeing the determination in each other's eyes. He nodded emphatically: "Governor, rest assured, the spirits of the Lin family ancestors will be summoned immediately. Even if it means mutual destruction, we will never let the Western barbarians' treacherous schemes succeed."

At the same time, a streak of light descended upon the mountains of Shaoguan. Li Xijun, who had once again poured himself a bottle of spiritual marrow liquid, scanned the area with his mental power. He looked at the distant river where ships and wooden boats were going upstream one by one, and the crowded scene of people fleeing with their families. He couldn't help but sigh softly.

"If the second son of the God of Light alone can cause such a stir, what kind of misery will the millions of people of the Great Sheng suffer if the war between East and West breaks out again in the future...?"

35

The words drifted across the mountains, causing the visualizations of Master Xuanzang and the Sage Confucius within their sea of ​​consciousness to tremble slightly, and even the eyes of the Eternal Mother revealed a compassionate expression.

This caused Li Xijun to sway, and in the silence, a sense of destiny arose in her heart.

"Tonight... is the time for me to save all people from suffering, and also the opportunity for me to attain enlightenment and manifest sainthood..."

The thought naturally arose in his mind. Then, feeling his spiritual energy recover, he no longer hesitated and transformed into a streak of light, flying straight towards Guangfu County.

Such an unusual phenomenon caused countless refugees on the river to kowtow and pray, their prayers and chants hoping that someone could quell the rebellion so they could return home soon.