I Killed Gods and Demons in Song Dynasty

Chapter 264 The Mystery of Mount Li
The smoke and dust cleared, and the world returned to a brief tranquility, but this tranquility was not peaceful, and there were still deeper undercurrents hidden.

On the battlefield, the civilians and monks who survived the disaster gathered together, looking at the black-robed figure standing on the city wall from afar, feeling awe and a chill in their hearts.

Li Qingyun slowly sheathed his sword. When the purple-gold sword returned to the sheath, it made a crisp buzzing sound, like a whisper.

He turned around and floated onto the city wall, his black robe fluttering in the wind and his long black hair disheveled yet dignified.

His expression was stern and his eyes were steady, but there was a hint of fatigue that could not be concealed in his eyes.

He had just experienced a life-and-death battle with a true demigod. Even if he won, the consumption would be enormous.

But the rewards are equally huge.

[Killing the seventh level demigod: a total of 727,400 souls of energy and blood were obtained].

[Remaining Qi and blood: 731,200 souls].

[Absorb the will of God and obtain the eight elements of the 'power of law'...].

"Qingyun!"

He Xiangu let out a soft cry, her voice mixed with complex emotions. She quickly stepped forward, looking at Li Qingyun from head to toe with eyes like a sharp blade, as if she wanted to confirm whether he was still a true "mortal".

"Qingyun, you... you actually killed a god with your mortal body?"

There was disbelief in her tone.

Han Xiangzi followed closely behind, holding the jade flute tightly in his hand. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were filled with deep shock:
"That battle just now... I have practiced for hundreds of years, but I didn't even have the qualifications to intervene. Qingyun, what level of strength have you reached now?"

Mu Guiying walked forward slowly, her eyes were complex and difficult to understand, with admiration and a hint of awe.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and whispered:

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it... Li Qingyun, is that terrifying power really something a mortal can control?"

Faced with their shock and admiration, Li Qingyun remained calm.

He raised his eyes slightly, without a trace of complacency, but even with a bit of coldness and worry in his eyes.

He whispered, "This battle... is only a temporary victory."

He took a deep breath and spoke in a low and calm tone:
"Although the barrier of the human world has not yet completely collapsed, the evil demons that have entered are only at the demigod level, and are not even considered the strongest in the seventh level. If the real strong men from the spirit world come, today's victory will be nothing but a drop in the bucket."

These words were like thunder in their ears, and the faces of He Xiangu and others changed instantly.

"A stronger existence..."

Han Xiangzi murmured, a trace of worry in his eyes, "If that's the case...how can we resist? Although Qingyun has amazing power, China is a vast land with millions of lives. How can you protect it with just your own strength?"

Mu Guiying also frowned, with a hint of uneasiness in her eyes:
"It's a miracle that we're lucky enough to survive until now. But if a stronger evil god descends next time, I'm afraid you alone won't be able to help."

Li Qingyun shook his head, his tone firm but a little cold:

"That's why I'm worried. Behind this war of gods, there's more to it than just the advent of an evil god.

"The order of the spirit world has been torn apart. Not only are evil gods rampant, but even the benevolent gods from Yuxu Palace and Heaven who are supposed to protect the human world have yet to show up."

His eyes were sharp, and his voice was getting deeper and deeper. "If they can come, the human world will still have a glimmer of hope. But now, why have they remained silent? Behind this... there must be a bigger secret."

He Xiangu was silent for a moment after hearing this, her brows furrowed, and her eyes became more solemn:
“Qingyun, you are right. I have felt something unusual since these evil spirits first descended. Logically speaking, the gods in heaven have suppressed the three realms for countless years. It is impossible for them to have no reaction to such a big crisis... unless there is something wrong with them.”

When Mu Guiying heard this, her eyes suddenly became stern, and her tone became more decisive:
"In this case, we must find out the reason as soon as possible! If we cannot awaken those kind-hearted gods, even though Qingyun is able to turn the tide today, in the long run, we will definitely not be able to support the situation alone."

Han Xiangzi sighed softly, with worry in his eyes:

"But how can we investigate? If even the gods in heaven are trapped, what chances do the forces of the human world have of winning?"

Li Qingyun carried a long sword on his back and remained silent for a long time.

His gaze was as deep as the abyss, as if it penetrated the entire land and looked towards some distant and unreachable direction.

After a moment, he spoke slowly in a low voice:

"I know a place where I might be able to find the answer."

When these words were spoken, He Xiangu, Mu Guiying and Han Xiangzi were all startled and their eyes all fell on him.

"Mother of Mount Li."

Li Qingyun uttered the name. Although his voice was low, it was as heavy as a mountain pressing down on one's head, and it faintly revealed a sense of solemnity and coldness.

"Mother of Mount Li?"

When He Xiangu heard this, her pupils shrank slightly and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

She shook her head slowly, her tone revealing a bit of solemnity and awe:
"It is rumored that the Old Mother of Mount Li is a powerful being who existed during the first war of gods. She has lived for thousands of years, is omniscient, and has unparalleled wisdom. But hundreds of years ago, she went into seclusion and lived deep in Mount Li, isolated from the world. Even the strong men on the Tiangang Ranking could hardly see her. Qingyun, how do you know that she has clues?"

Li Qingyun's eyes narrowed slightly, and then he looked at Mu Guiying, his tone low and serious:
"This matter is a long story."

He spoke slowly, his voice calm but with a chill that could not be ignored:
"Marshal Mu was once a disciple of the Old Mother of Mount Li. More than a year ago, she received a golden tablet from the Old Mother of Mount Li, which contained some obscure information. Later, by chance, I collected the other three golden tablets and put them together to form a complete set."

"Golden tablet?"

He Xiangu frowned slightly, "What exactly is recorded in that golden scroll?"

"There is a message hidden in the golden tablet."

Li Qingyun lowered his voice, as if afraid that the night wind would steal such an important secret. "The Old Mother of Mount Li did not ascend to heaven as the legend says. Instead, she was trapped in a secret space near Mount Li. This space seems to be related to the origin of the rules of heaven and earth, and may even be a cage formed by some cross-border laws."

"Trapped?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Guiying's expression suddenly changed, and she couldn't help but exclaimed: "Is Master really trapped? If even a strong person like her can't escape, how terrible must the power of this restriction be!"

Li Qingyun nodded gently, his eyes becoming more profound:

"Yes. At that time, my cultivation was far from the level I have today, and I was unable to fully understand the restriction. But now, I have entered the seventh level, and I can vaguely sense the operation of the heavenly secrets. There may be some close connection between the entrapment of the Old Mother of Mount Li and the inability of the benevolent gods of heaven to descend."

"There is such a thing..."

He Xiangu took a deep breath and frowned, "The power of the Lishan Mother is extraordinary. If she is really trapped, there must be a conspiracy behind this that even we can't imagine."

When Han Xiangzi heard this, his face turned very ugly.

He whispered:
"The area around Mount Li has long been a forbidden area, with evil spirits rampant, and ordinary cultivators simply cannot get close. If the Mother of Mount Li is really trapped in some kind of restriction, how can we get rid of it? Moreover, if this restriction is really related to the evil gods of the spirit world, once we step in, we may be in danger of death."

"So what if you narrowly escape death?"

Li Qingyun's eyes were like knives, and his tone was cold and resolute, "The human world is now in danger. If we don't take this opportunity to find out the truth, there will be more deaths in the future."

He Xiangu looked up at him, took a deep breath after a moment, and nodded slowly:
"Qingyun is right. The Old Mother of Mount Li is not only a powerful figure in China in the past, but also holds the secrets of countless ancient gods. She may be the most critical breakthrough in this crisis. No matter what, we must find a way to rescue her."

Mu Guiying's eyes narrowed, she gritted her teeth and said:

"If the Mother of Mount Li is really trapped, we must not stand idly by! I am willing to go to Mount Li with Qingyun. Even if I have to risk my life, I will not retreat!" Han Xiangzi sighed softly. Although there was worry in his eyes, there was more determination:
"The journey to Mount Li is bound to be dangerous, but you are right. If we can really find the Mother of Mount Li, there may still be a glimmer of hope for the human world."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyun's eyes slowly swept over the three people, and finally stared at the distant sky.

There was no sign of retreat in his eyes, only an unwavering determination. He whispered:

"The restrictions on Mount Li are extremely complex. With just a few of us, we may still be in a vain. But on this trip, we must not retreat."

The night wind blew his black robe, making a rustling sound, as if responding to his determination.

"Mount Li..."

Li Qingyun murmured in a low and cold voice, "No matter what, I will uncover the truth behind this. If we can rescue the Mother of Mount Li, she may become the key to our fight against the evil gods of the spirit world."

He Xiangu took a deep breath, nodded and said:
"In this case, we must act without further delay. Mount Li is fraught with danger, but we have no other choice."

Mu Guiying clenched the flying knife in her hand, her eyes sharp:
"If Master is really trapped, I will definitely rescue her!"

Han Xiangzi waved his jade flute gently and said with a wry smile:

"It seems like this is another life-or-death situation. But since we have come to this point, we can only move forward."

The four of them looked at each other, and there was determination in each other's eyes.

The night was dark, but their determination ignited a tiny light in the darkness, pointing directly to the unknown depths of Mount Li.

……

The night was as dark as ink, and there was only the low sound of the wind in the wilderness, as if countless invisible whispers were telling unspeakable secrets.

Li Qingyun walked alone to a desolate place, looked around, and after confirming that no one was following him, he took a deep breath and raised his hand to make a gesture.

As he whispered an obscure ancient spell, the void suddenly twisted slightly.

"boom--!"

A dull vibration sounded, the void cracked, and a dark and magnificent palace suddenly emerged from the crack, covering the space around him.

This palace is like a giant beast lying down, exuding an aura that does not belong to the human world.

The runes engraved on it emit a faint light, and between the interweaving of light and shadow, the entire palace seems to be breathing, which is both mysterious and oppressive.

The palace door opened silently in front of him, revealing a spacious and deep interior.

Inside the palace, it was so quiet that it seemed as if all sounds were swallowed up. Only the countless runes floating in the air connected to each other, outlining a mysterious network structure.

These runes trembled gently like living things, emitting a light that was a combination of divinity and rules, and each ray seemed to contain eternal secrets.

Li Qingyun took slow steps, and the sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty palace.

His figure was reflected by countless thick gray fogs, appearing cold and aloof.

With a steady gaze and firm steps, he walked straight to the center of the palace and sat on the lofty throne of God.

There, a blinding beam of light pierced the dome, with an oppressive force like a mountain, as if heralding some indescribable existence.

In the beam of light, a huge and twisted figure was bound by chains and suspended in mid-air.

His figure is tall but ferocious, and the majesty that originally covered the heaven and earth now appears to be in tatters.

He was none other than the demigod who was killed by Li Qingyun himself—the “Reverend Netherworld” of the seventh realm!
At this moment, Lord Netherworld has long lost his former aura. His body is almost transparent and is entangled by countless rune chains. Those chains seem to have life, extracting some kind of pure and profound power from his body every moment.

This power turned into invisible ripples and merged into the runes on the palace walls, making the entire space seem even more weird.

The Netherworld Lord stood with his head bowed, his eyes that were once as blood red as the flames of hell had long since dimmed, revealing death and weakness.

"Mortal... no, demigod..."

His low and weak voice sounded. The cold and majestic voice no longer existed. Instead, it was filled with a deep fear and unwillingness. "You imprisoned me with mysterious power... but didn't kill me... What do you want?"

Li Qingyun smiled slightly, his expression cold and contemptuous. His gaze was like a knife, piercing straight into the nearly transparent body of the Netherworld Venerable:
"You should have understood long ago that what I want... is your godhood."

The figure of Lord Netherworld trembled slightly. Although his power was almost exhausted, when he heard the word "godhood", a trace of anger and fear still flashed in his pupils.

Li Qingyun stopped talking nonsense, waved his long sleeves, and shouted:

"The Law of Nirvana!"

The void suddenly trembled slightly, and countless floating runes suddenly surged.

The runes formed by the power of rules surrounded the body of the Nether Lord like a tide, making a low and long humming sound, as if some ancient ritual was unfolding.

The light of the beam became more and more dazzling, and the runes were wrapped around every inch of the body of the Nether Lord like chains, constantly stripping away the source of rules in his body.

Gray energies were drawn out one after another, and finally condensed into a fist-sized crystal. This crystal emitted a deep gray light, which was the divinity of the Nether Lord.

"stop!"

The Netherworld Master roared his last roar, his voice filled with tearing pain, "Who are you? How can you have the ability to deprive a god of his divine status?
"Impossible, you are an ant in the human world, and you are incapable of controlling the true godhood... You will pay the price for this!"

Li Qingyun sneered, with cold sarcasm in his eyes:
"Unable to control it? Are you qualified to warn me?"

As he finished speaking, the divine crystal slowly rose up, spinning and floating towards the wall of the palace.

There were already countless regular runes engraved there. The godhead crystal slowly merged into it, and suddenly, a new rune emerged, emitting a more dazzling brilliance than the other runes.

The body of Lord Netherworld completely collapsed at this moment, turning into countless black smoke and dissipating into the void, leaving only the rune engraved in the palace, recording his existence and destruction.

Li Qingyun stared at the new rune with a cold and deep gaze.

His breathing hitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

The rune light in the palace slowly subsided, returning to its original depth and mystery.

"godhead……"

Li Qingyun murmured in a low voice, his tone revealing a hint of deep thought, "So, this is the so-called 'essence of God'. Controlling the rules, transcending life and death... But a godhead alone is far from enough."

He slowly closed his eyes, the aura around him gradually subsided, and the entire palace instantly fell into deathly silence.

With the surge of mysterious power, he began to deduce the secrets of heaven and comprehend the mystery of the seventh realm leading to the eighth realm.

After a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, with a cold light in his eyes:
“I see…If you want to break through the eighth realm, you must possess enough godhood. Only by relying on the power of rules can you transcend the boundaries of life and death and become a true god.”

Li Qingyun stood up and his eyes swept across every inch of runes in the palace, finally falling on the void in the distance.

His voice was low and firm:
"Mother Lishan... maybe you are hiding the key to a higher realm. No matter what, I must find you."

In the palace, runes flickered, responding to his determination. His figure disappeared into the depths of the void, moving towards an unknown future with an unshakable will.

(End of this chapter)