Chapter 493 - 253: Tactics
"Kill!!!"
Within Guobei County, the sounds of battle shook the heavens, with chaotic skirmishes everywhere.
In this world, cultivation relies on incense offerings as sustenance; ghosts and gods must depend on the Human Dao and cannot exist independently.
Therefore, there are many living beings within this Lanruo Ghost Realm, all practicing evil arts like the former Five Immortals Gang, or evil cultivators dragged along by demons and ghosts, or Green Forest bandits, building forts and encampments in this ghostly realm, considered fierce and unruly.
Now, as the army presses, the Yin and Yang Realms are entangled, with ghosts and gods in chaotic battle, and officials and bandits killing each other.
The battle is fierce, yet not stagnant, rather showing a one-sided trend; both the demons and ghosts of the Underworld and the ferocious bandits of the Mortal World are retreating steadily, with the City God Daoist Soldiers and the Jinyang Army making rapid advances, soon breaking into Guobei County town.
Once Guobei is broken, ten thousand ghosts scatter, all contracting towards the ghost realm’s center.
The ghost realm’s center is Lanruo.
"These ghosts are simply overwhelming!"
"Lanruo Ghost Realm, standing between two prefectures and enduring the pressure of both Jinling and Jinyang’s City Gods, shouldn’t only have these methods."
"Could there be... deception?"
As the commander of the three armies, Li Mubai didn’t rush into battle, but instead commanded from the central army, while using the Divine Striking Technique to open his Yin-Yang Eye to observe the battlefield.
Looking afar, the Yin and Yang Realms, the Divine Being army, all advancing triumphantly, encountering hardly any resistance.
This is both logical and unexpected.
Logical, because of strength; deities inherently have an advantage over demons and ghosts, and the Golden Sun Deities cultivated by Shen Hex, along with the [Earth God][Ziwei Star]and other professions’ blessings, have a terrifying killing power against ghosts.
The Divine Dao being thus, the Human Dao is similar; those demons and bandits dragged by ghosts, although fierce and unruly, facing Li Mubai’s meticulously trained and heavily drilled ironclad troops, can only face defeat.
Therefore, the army advances triumphantly, naturally logical.
Yet despite logic, this Lanruo Ghost Realm has prospered for so long between two prefectures, even the Jinling City God, a Third-Rank Great God, couldn’t eliminate it; surely it has extraordinary methods and deep resources.
Even if unable to withstand it today, it shouldn’t fall so easily, without even a semblance of resistance.
When things are abnormal, there must be deception!
Deception?
There must be deception!
But...
Li Mubai looked around, then observed the frontline battle formation, seeing the soldiers courageously press forward, regardless of Yin and Yang, heedlessly advancing.
"Does the Divine Monarch intend to crush them with overwhelming force?"
"Indeed, after years of peace, it’s time for some training."
"A martial artist, courage and strength; if one only seeks stability, they lose their edge."
Li Mubai’s gaze shifted, soon steadying himself.
The things he can see, how could the Divine Monarch above not know?
Deception?
Let them deceive then.
No matter the tricks of the ghostly realm, I shall break them with strength.
This advance is precisely to crush with overwhelming force.
Li Mubai’s thoughts shifted, the starlight above him brightened as a result.
The Celestial Halberd signifies imperial military might, should indeed follow the grand and righteous path.
Now, this action aligns with the star’s destiny, the Celestial Halberd’s power grows mightily, united with military might and Evil Qi, charging like a fierce tiger at ten thousand ghosts, further worsening their defeat.
In this way...
"Kill!!!"
The Jinyang Army advances triumphantly, finally reaching the ghost realm’s center, gazing upon the notorious Lanruo Ancient Temple.
Lanruo is Alanro, meaning temple.
To name a temple Lanruo is indeed strange, like naming a person "person."
Li Mubai knew this temple wasn’t originally called Lanruo Temple, but because it existed for a very long time, and was massacred and occupied by the Ghost King, the world forgot its original name and called it Lanruo.
Looking afar, the ancient temple eerie and ruined, within it vegetation flourishes, ancient moss and vines everywhere, along with a few giant trees extending like talons, under shadows more terrifying, like a ghostly realm of demonic soil.
"Hah!"
Li Mubai reined in his warhorse, gazing upon the eerie ancient temple, letting out a cold chuckle, and waved his hand to command.
"Fire attack!"
"Yes!"
A team of archers received the orders, took out prepared fire arrows, along with oil jars and other incendiary items, threw them into the temple, starting to set fire.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
"Bang bang bang!"
Fire arrows launched, oil jars thrown, landing in the temple without any reaction, not a spark ignited.
Li Mubai wasn’t concerned about this.
Failure to ignite was anticipated.
If a mere fire could burn it down, the Lanruo Temple wouldn’t exist by now.
Setting the fire’s purpose, is to provoke the ghosts into action, suppressing the fire with their ghostly powers.
The world has laws, distinctions between Yin and Yang; ghosts and gods cannot interfere excessively in the Mortal World, else heavenly retribution will come.
As a Hidden Dragon, leading mortal soldiers to burn the Lanruo Temple; if ghosts and monsters intervene, blocking him with ghostly powers, they will surely suffer heavenly retribution and a double impact from Dragon Qi.
This isn’t a joke; the Weishui River Dragon Monarch, a Third-Rank Great God, even when saving Xiao Ye back then didn’t dare to directly attack the pursuing soldiers, only attaching to the warhorse, swiftly crossing the Weishui River, assisting him to escape danger this way.
Even a Third-Rank Great God is like this, let alone ghosts inherently weaker than the Divine Dao, facing mortal armies head-on, the double impact of heavenly retribution and Dragon Qi, even with the ghostly realm’s advantage, would cost them greatly to resist.
Sure enough...
"Boom rumble!"
A burst of explosion, earth tumbling, chaos in all directions.
Li Mubai gazed afar, seeing within the Lanruo Temple, suddenly a giant shadow appeared, it was a towering tree, rooted deeply in the ancient temple, rising to the sky, possessing Yin Yang Strange Power, attempting to confuse the Celestial Secret and reverse the realms.