I Killed Gods and Demons in Song Dynasty

Chapter 253 Taowu Golden Tablet
As Pang Yu's voice fell, he slapped the ground with his palm.

In an instant, the dark blue flames spread along the ground like a poisonous snake. When the blazing flames touched the floor of the Hero Building, they burned like magma, causing violent vibrations.

The tables and chairs in the lobby seemed to be squeezed by some invisible force, making creaking sounds and finally collapsing with a bang.

"Boom!"

After a loud bang, the floor suddenly sank, and a dark secret door appeared from the cracked bricks and stones. It was like a deep and huge mouth, spewing out cold air from the ground, and a disgusting smell of decay came to the face.

Pang Yu took the lead and strode into the secret door, his eyes full of murderous intent, and said in a cold voice:
"Li Qingyun, do you really think I can't do anything to you? Today I want to see where you can hide!"

Behind him, the black-clad killer followed like a shadow, and the faceless waiter followed silently. The dim blue light reflected the cracked stone walls in the tunnel, making it look extremely eerie.

At the end of the secret passage is a secret room with dim lights. The walls are inlaid with golden runes. Those runes are like coiled dragons and snakes, emitting a faint aura of majesty, tightly covering the entire space in a net, isolating the energy and making it difficult for outsiders to sense the movements inside.

In the deepest part of the secret room, an old man in coarse clothes sat cross-legged.

His face was pale and haggard, and his breath was weak, but even so, he could not conceal the innate majesty between his brows, as if everything in the world was solemn and dignified because of his existence.

Zhao Zhen slowly raised his head and looked directly at the intruder, his expression as calm as water.

His voice was low, but it had unquestionable majesty:
"Pang Yu, I knew you had evil intentions long ago, and today you have revealed your true colors! You broke into the secret room without permission and framed the emperor. Your crime is even more serious. Why don't you kneel down and confess your guilt?"

After hearing this, Pang Yu was not afraid at all, but instead sneered.

He walked slowly towards Zhao Zhen, with the black-clad assassins following him like a shadow, surrounding the secret room.

I only heard him mockingly:

"Son of Heaven? Isn't the Emperor sitting in the Golden Throne Hall? The one in front of us is just a reckless rebel who dares to pretend to be the Emperor. His crime is unforgivable!"

Zhao Zhen's expression changed slightly when he heard this, but he still said coldly:

"Pang Yu, I am the emperor. How dare you take the risk of threatening the emperor? What do you want to do? Do you think that no one in the world would allow a lunatic like you to be so outrageous?"

Pang Yu laughed loudly, and there was a chill in his laughter:
"No one in the world? No, there is someone in the world, but that person is me, Pang Yu. False emperor, you have no dragon veins and have long been a useless person. How dare you put on the airs of an emperor? Today I will let you know that in this world, power only belongs to the strong!"

As he spoke, he smiled coldly, slowly raised his hands, and the faint blue flame in his palms suddenly rose up, suddenly turning into a pitch-black air blade, and rushed straight towards Zhao Zhen.

The air blade was as fast as lightning, causing bursts of sharp whistling sounds in the air, as if the power of the underworld had arrived.

Zhao Zhen's expression remained unchanged, he stood straight and allowed the air blade to attack him, his eyes still carrying the majesty of an emperor.

"boom!"

The air blade hit Zhao Zhen hard, and the dark blue flame penetrated into his body like a spirit snake, sealing off all the energy in his body.

Pang Yu stared at him coldly and said slowly:

"I want to see where your dragon vein is hidden!"

The rune in his palm glowed brightly, and a strange aura penetrated into Zhao Zhen's body, trying to sense the existence of the dragon vein.

However, a moment later, his expression suddenly changed and his pupils shrank slightly, as if he had seen something extremely incredible.

"How can it be……"

Pang Yu muttered to himself, "There is no dragon vein... not even a trace of breath!"

Zhao Zhen looked at him coldly. Although he was restrained, a hint of mockery appeared on his face:

"Pang Yu, the dragon vein is a gift from heaven. Do you think you can seize the destiny of the world with your little tricks? Ridiculous!"

Pang Yu's face was extremely gloomy.

He suddenly realized that the dragon vein energy in Zhao Zhen's body might have been transferred by Li Qingyun long ago, but how was all this done?
With the help of the Faceless Immortal's magical power and the Dragon Blood Pool, he spent a long time but was unable to drain the dragon veins from Zhao Zhen's body. What method did Li Qingyun use to extract the dragon veins in such a short time and hide them so thoroughly?

And more importantly, what exactly does Li Qingyun, or the god behind him, want to do with the dragon vein?
In Pang Yu's mind, Li Qingyun went to such great lengths to oppose him, even taking the risk of destroying the Dragon Pool, simply because he coveted the dragon vein in Zhao Zhen's body.

But he was just a mortal, and the dragon veins and national fortune were of little use to him. He couldn't do it just to become an emperor himself.

The only explanation is that Li Qingyun is also a god-favored one, and seizing the dragon vein may be to enhance his divinity, or to thwart the plan of the Faceless Immortal.

The struggle involved is difficult for mortals to understand, but as a follower of the Faceless Immortal, Pang Yu naturally has to strive for the greatest benefit for his master and take back the dragon vein.

At this moment, Zhao Zhen uttered a low groan. Pang Yu's thoughts were interrupted by anger. His eyes were red, and he gnashed his teeth and shouted:

"Zhao Zhen, you are nothing but a useless person. Even if the dragon vein is gone, your existence is enough to hinder the plan of the Faceless Immortal. In this case, there is no point in me keeping you!"

Pang Yu raised his hand, and a dark blue blade of air condensed in his palm again, with murderous intent, heading straight for Zhao Zhen's throat.

Zhao Zhen's face turned slightly pale, but he still straightened his back and said coldly:
"Pang Yu, although I have fallen into this situation, you must remember that one day, Li Qingyun will avenge me and eradicate you, the traitor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Pang Yu suddenly chopped down with his palm, and the air blade cut through the air and went straight through Zhao Zhen's chest.

"boom!"

With a muffled sound, Zhao Zhen's body fell to the ground. His eyes closed slightly, but the majesty between his brows had not disappeared.

With his last breath, he left a few words: "As long as I am alive, the country will not be ruined... Justice is clear, retribution will come!"

Pang Yu withdrew his hand and glanced coldly at the fallen Zhao Zhen, his eyes full of disgust.

He waved his hand to signal his men to drag the body away, and said coldly:

"Inform the Emperor that the traitor is dead. Li Qingyun is wanted throughout the Song Dynasty. If he is dead, his body must be found!"

……

The night wind whistled like a knife, and there was a murderous atmosphere between heaven and earth.

Li Qingyun was wearing a black robe and flying in the clouds. On his back, he carried Zhao Zhen, who looked exhausted and tired. His eyes were cold and his expression was deep.

The vast land beneath his feet quickly receded beneath him, and rivers and mountains appeared and disappeared under the starlight, like a magnificent yet chilling painting.

During this trip, his state of mind was as deep as the night sky, with murderous intent hidden in the calm.

He knew that this time, it was not just a simple transfer, but a ray of hope to preserve the destiny of the entire Song Dynasty. Although the Fourth Emperor Zhao Zhen had lost almost all of his dragon veins, he was still the symbol of the orthodoxy of the Song Dynasty.

If he were to die, the land south of the Yellow River would completely fall apart, and the land of China might be plunged into endless unrest and war.

Because of this, he made a risky decision to secretly send the real Zhao Zhen to the Taoist temple of the Old Mother of Mount Li, and left his clone in the Hero Building to confuse Pang Yu and disrupt the other party's sight.

This is a risky move, but it is the only viable option.

Mount Li is as majestic as a knife and full of magnificent momentum.

In the darkness of night, the mountain top in the distance is like a silent giant, with mist lingering on the mountainside and lights dimly lit. It looks like a fairyland on earth, yet exudes a hint of solemnity and mystery.

Li Qingyun landed steadily on a mountain top. Looking up, he saw a dim light in the woods swaying gently in the wind.

He curled his lips slightly and whispered:
"It seems that the person who is supposed to pick you up has arrived."

At the end of the forest path, a nimble figure stood facing the wind.

She was seen holding a spear in her hand and a flying knife on her back. She was standing tall and looking very heroic. Her eyes were as sharp as knives, scanning the surroundings, as if she was ready to attack the enemy at any time.

That beautiful yet resolute face, under the dim light, looked even more like a general.

It was the awe-inspiring commander of Tianbo Mansion—Mu Guiying!

When Mu Guiying saw Li Qingyun and Zhao Zhen rushing out from the night, her brows relaxed, a smile appeared on the corners of her mouth, and she strode forward with a cheerful voice:

"Qingyun, it's you! I've been waiting for you in Mount Li for a long time. I heard that Pang Yu launched a city-wide manhunt, and I was worried that you might get into danger along the way. It seems that I was worrying too much."

Li Qingyun smiled calmly, but his tone was a little gentle:

"General Mu, thank you for your support this time. The situation in Bianliang City is critical, so I can only entrust the emperor here temporarily.

"Pang Yu is blessed by the Faceless Immortal and can use his divine power to see through cause and effect. In the whole world, only the Taoist temple of the Old Mother of Mount Li can hide the whereabouts of the emperor for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Mu Guiying nodded, turned her gaze towards Zhao Zhen, and immediately clasped her fists and bowed:
"Your humble servant Mu Guiying pays respect to Your Majesty!"

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly, the dignity between his brows could not hide his emotion and fatigue:

"Lord Mu, please get up quickly! I have fallen into this situation now, and it is all thanks to the rescue of all the wise ministers and generals. If I can rebuild the country one day, I will never forget your kindness today!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Guiying knelt on one knee, raised her head with a determined look, and spoke with unwavering confidence:
"Your Majesty, rest assured. Although Mount Li is remote, it is protected by the Taoist temple of my teacher, the Mother of Mount Li. Even if Pang Yu has the ability to reach the sky, he will not be able to hurt you in the slightest. I will swear to protect your majesty until my death."

Zhao Zhen nodded, a complex emotion flashed across his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Following the escort of Li Qingyun and Mu Guiying, he entered a mysterious cave where the Mother of Mount Li was enshrined.

……

The cave is dark and solemn, and the walls are covered with ancient and strange murals.

Those murals show dragons soaring into the sky, phoenixes flapping their wings, as well as raging fires and tsunamis surging alternately in the ancient wilderness, as if telling a distant and unknown history.

After passing through a long and narrow corridor, in the center of the huge cave, there is a statue of the Mother of Mount Li.

The statue was blurry and its face could not be seen clearly, but it emitted a warm, jade-like halo that dispelled the darkness in the cave without a trace.

However, as soon as Li Qingyun entered the cave, the divine nature in his body began to tremble quietly. The resonance that had been silent for a long time was like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, causing ripples.

His gaze involuntarily fell on the statue of the Lishan Mother. His eyes were deep and his expression became slightly gloomy.

"This breath..."

He was shocked. The scent of the incense from the statue should have been peaceful and pure, but beneath the delicate and jade-like scent, there was a faint hint of evil and chaos, as if a great chaos, disaster, and terror was brewing in secret.

If he had not had a profound cultivation base, possessed a divine nature, and had not previously battled with the evil spirit of the Faceless Immortal, it would have been difficult for him to detect this abnormality.

Mu Guiying did not seem to notice his abnormality. She placed Zhao Zhen on a cushion in front of the statue and whispered,

"Your Majesty, this is the Taoist temple of my master, the Old Mother of Mount Li. She is a 'god' of the seventh level of the incense and fire path, with profound cultivation, and is not afraid of Pang Yu's evil magic.

"You can rest assured and recuperate. During this time, Yang Paifeng will lead several disciples of the Lishan Sect to accompany you and ensure your safety."

Zhao Zhen nodded slowly. Although he didn't say much, a hint of gratitude flashed in his eyes.

After settling Zhao Zhen, Mu Guiying and Li Qingyun walked out of the cave side by side and stood on the top of Mount Li.

The night wind blew their robes, making rustling sounds. The stars twinkled in the sky and the moonlight sprinkled down, covering the mountains and rivers with a layer of silver glow.

Mu Guiying turned to look at Li Qingyun, a faint smile appeared on her face:

"Qingyun, the last time we stood here, you were still an ordinary mortal who had just started practicing Taoism. At that time, I asked you to cultivate to the fourth level within a year. I didn't expect that in just half a year, your cultivation has far surpassed mine. If you hadn't shown up to help, Bianliang City would have been in chaos long ago."

Li Qingyun smiled slightly, but there was no trace of pride in his expression.

He looked deep in his eyes and said bluntly, "Marshal Mu, have you obtained the 'Taowu' golden tablet?"

Mu Guiying's expression froze. She reached out and took out a golden tablet from her bosom and handed it to Li Qingyun.

The golden tablet was completely black, with complex patterns engraved on its surface, and it faintly revealed an ancient and ferocious aura, as if a prehistoric beast was sleeping in it and could wake up at any time, which was frightening.

"good,"

Mu Guiying whispered, "This golden tablet has been kept in the hands of the Xixia people. A few months ago, Wen Guang won a battle in the northwest battlefield and seized it from a Xixia general."

"But how did you know that?"

Li Qingyun took the golden tablet and moved his fingertips slightly. The "Taowu" golden tablet suddenly made a low buzzing sound.

At the same time, the other three golden tablets on his body - "Qiongqi", "Taotie" and "Hundun" - trembled at the same time, emitting a faint golden light, echoing with the "Yaowu" golden tablet.

These four golden tablets, like pieces of a puzzle, finally formed a mysterious resonance at this moment.

Li Qingyun frowned, and felt a large amount of information suddenly flooding into his mind. The information was ancient and difficult to understand, but it seemed to have some kind of power, answering all the previous questions one by one, forming a clear logical closed loop...

……

(End of this chapter)