In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

Unexpectedly, Cao Cao used such tactics to disgust them.

"No...we can't go on like this."

Tomorrow... at most tomorrow.

If these soldiers aren't given a truly profound spiritual shock, the gates of Yangping Pass might be opened by their own men before Cao Cao's army even has a chance to act, as they joyfully welcome Cao Cao's food carts.

"Since the aroma of meat has broken down our defenses..."

"Then we'll have to resort to divine intervention."

"Only a true miracle can suppress the appetites of these mortals!"

He turned around and summoned a guard.

"Pass down the order!"

"Tomorrow at noon, I will hold a ritual at the closed altar!"

"I will invoke the power of Laozi! I will show these fools, blinded by greed, what true power is!"

……

The eighth morning of the standoff at Yangping Pass.

It's already November.

In an effort to salvage the morale of his troops, Zhang Wei ordered the construction of a massive altar, three zhang high, overnight. Layers of wooden frames were stacked on top of each other, creating an imposing sight.

The Five Pecks of Rice sect reveres the virtue of earth.

The flags surrounding the altar were all predominantly bright yellow, embroidered with Tai Chi, Bagua, and star patterns. When the wind blew the flags, they created a truly solemn atmosphere.

In the very center, a bronze incense burner is placed, with incense burning inside, sending up wisps of blue smoke.

It seems that Zhang Wei is trying to use this incense to cover up the moral decay outside the city.

"Your Excellency, everything is ready."

Zhang Wei nodded.

"Open the altar! Let the Dharma Protector make his appearance first, to intimidate these restless soldiers!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

With a few muffled beats of the Dharma drum,

The scene at Yangping Pass is shown on one side.

Hundreds of the most fervent and core followers of the Five Pecks of Rice sect, each shirtless and covered in symbols, emerged from behind and formed a circle around the altar.

"Whoosh—ha!"

"Heaven and earth share the same root! All things return to one!"

They raised their hands and began to dance the Nuo dance.

Their steps were not synchronized, but they had the advantage of being numerous and imposing.

Under such extreme visual and auditory impact, the oppressive feeling of religion is indeed brought out.

Those ordinary ghost soldiers who were originally huddled in the corner savoring the braised pork were intimidated by this formation. They all put down their weapons, knelt down in awe, and didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Indeed, there is always a higher mountain to climb.

The primal fear of divine punishment for the five pecks of rice ultimately overpowered the temptation in his stomach for the time being.

The drumbeats suddenly became more rapid.

Zhang Wei has made his appearance.

Wearing an extremely ornate purple robe with a Bagua design, a Five Elders Crown on his head, and carrying a Seven Star Sword, he walked onto the altar.

Then, following the intricate "Yu Steps," they circled the incense burner three times clockwise and three times counterclockwise.

Suddenly, his eyes widened and his body twitched.

Perhaps possessed by some force, it raised its sword with both hands, pointing it straight to the sky, and roared:

"Disciple Zhang Wei, whose family has followed the Five Pecks of Rice Covenant, is now facing a crisis in Hanzhong, with the people living in fear."

Before the thrones of the Three Great Emperors of Heaven, Earth, and Water, and the Supreme Lord Laozi:

"May the true energy of the Great Dao protect our passes, bring peace to our people, and repel their weapons!"

Having said that, he bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the peach wood sword, and then slashed vertically into the air.

"The Heavenly Official bestows blessings, the Earthly Official pardons sins, and the Water Official relieves calamities!"

Five directional soldiers and eight righteous gods, hurry to the altar and assist my divine might!

"The Supreme Lord Laozi has made an alliance with me—as per the laws of this alliance!"

"Protect my ghost soldiers, and drive away Cao Cao!!!"

As the incantation reached its climax, Zhang Wei discreetly reached his left hand into his sleeve and pulled out a handful of powder.

This was his most treasured secret technique—phosphorus powder extracted from the bones in mass graves.

"Divine fire descends upon the world!"

Zhang Wei suddenly waved his left hand, scattering the powder onto the bronze incense burner in front of him.

"Whoosh—!"

Phosphorus powder ignites upon contact with fire, instantly exploding into a fireball in mid-air.

It was a ghostly green flame!

Although it's broad daylight, the green fire isn't as visually dominant as it is at night.

But as the saying goes, something is better than nothing. Just tell me, is this fire green or not, or is it magical or not?

"Ohhhhhh!!!"

"The Celestial Master has appeared! Laozi has appeared!"

The ghost soldiers behind the gate immediately erupted in jubilation.

The temptation of food, coupled with psychological suggestion, caused their brains to abandon thinking, and they only knew to frantically bang their heads against the bricks in front of the green flame.

"The Grand Master has summoned divine fire! Cao Cao's army is about to suffer divine retribution!"

In an instant, the morale of the soldiers at Yangping Pass was greatly boosted.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Cao Cao's camp.

There were no soldiers on high alert, no tense pre-battle mobilization; everything was relaxed and leisurely.

Cao Cao and Zhao Yu each held a delicate celadon bowl, containing freshly cooked mutton offal soup sprinkled with dogwood.

Cao Cao took a sip of the hot soup and sighed contentedly.

Then he squinted and watched Zhang Wei's performance.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Cao Cao smacked his lips, his tone full of disdain.

"Zhao Yu, look at this, look at this! What kind of rubbish is this? It's nowhere near as good as the Yellow Turban Rebellion."

"Those hundreds of shirtless men were shivering from the cold, their movements were all distorted. And Zhang Wei's few steps of the Yu Step were even stiffer than the monkeys performing in the Bronze Sparrow Square of Ye City, without the slightest bit of beauty."

"With such poor acting skills, you think you can fool people?"

Zhao Yu took out a sharpened bamboo slip from his pocket and picked his teeth.

"Prime Minister, you don't understand this. This is called focusing on the 'lower-tier market'."

"His audience consisted of ordinary soldiers who hadn't received much education and were struggling to get enough to eat; that's the kind of people who were drawn to him."

"It's all about exaggeration, mystery, and illogicality."

Zhao Yu glanced at the ball of fire.

"However, the green flame he created at the end was quite interesting."

"Oh? Could it be that it really is divine fire?"

Yang Xiu approached from the side without anyone noticing.

Holding an empty bowl in her hand, her eyes were filled with nervousness.

He may have studied the classics, and he may have considered himself exceptionally intelligent, but what if the green flames he saw with his own eyes were real?

"What kind of fire is this?"

Zhao Yu rolled his eyes at Yang Xiu.

"That's called white phosphorus. It's something extracted from bones. It has an extremely low ignition point, so it catches fire easily, and it's greenish in color."

"That old bastard is just taking advantage of the fact that ordinary people haven't studied."

Cao Cao laughed and realized he understood; it was all just a charade.

He downed the mutton soup in one gulp and casually handed the empty bowl to his guard.

"Alright, that's enough of the monkey show. If we let him keep jumping around like this, he'll really think that no one in our Great Han Dynasty can handle him."

"Ziwen!"

"How's the preparation going?"

"exist!"

Cao Zhang, who was gnawing on half a roast chicken in the corner, threw away the chicken bones and wiped the oil off his mouth haphazardly.

He ripped off his outer cloak, revealing an extremely stylish custom-made gold-threaded Bagua Taoist robe underneath.

This robe is made of the finest bright yellow Shu brocade.

Embroidered with a thunder dragon in pure gold thread, it looks like a walking gold nugget in the sunlight.

Coupled with Cao Zhang's towering, iron-tower-like physique and his signature golden beard.

This look.

He doesn't need to act; the moment he stands there, he's a living embodiment of the Thunder God!

That's wonderful!

"With my brother-in-law's help, everything was ready a long time ago."

"Alright, that's good. Go and show these bumpkins what a real monk is like."