I Killed Gods and Demons in Song Dynasty

Chapter 277: Calling for the Tribes to Gather
The vast land has been silent for too long since the dry season.

Under the scorching sun, dark red silt accumulated in the dry riverbed, as if witnessing countless events of blood and fire.

The sudden rain is hard to come, and the wind only carries yellow dust and scorching heat.

In the distance, the mountains stretch across the sky like crawling ancient beasts, and the greedy eyes of demons are always lurking in the shadows.

In this depressing atmosphere, a deafening command came like a huge hammer, knocking on the hearts of the human race from all directions.

That was a sacred summons issued jointly by Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang.

Messengers travelled in succession, reaching the secluded places of each tribe.

Some of those human tribes live in seclusion on the steep top of the plateau, and never see outsiders all year round; others are scattered across the vast grasslands, with only campfires and hunters guarding their positions.

The weak humans who used to live in groups of two or three now all received the same message: "The pillars of heaven will break, and the order of the wilderness will no longer exist. If humans do not rise up, they will forever be slaves to blood."

Some tribes were startled by the noise, and the elders gathered to discuss: The gods and demons are high above us, how can we easily shake them?
But Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang are the kings of the human race, and this noble act may be the final game of wits.

There was also a tribal leader who slapped the stone table and responded loudly:

"If we always shrink back, how can we have a chance to turn things around? Although Mount Buzhou is dangerous, we should still follow the two emperors to fight!" He then drove his elite troops, sorted out the weapons and armor, and embarked on a long journey.

The situation varies from place to place, but it is undeniable that the names of the two emperors have always had unparalleled appeal in the mortal world.

The kingly way they have established cannot be questioned in any way.

The order spread throughout the mountains and rivers that day, and more and more human tribes rushed to the designated gathering place.

There are no need to be afraid of the obstacles of mountains and rivers, or the invasion of demons: there are human heroes leading the team to kill the ferocious beasts that block the way, and the smoke of war is everywhere.

Anyone who witnessed that mighty procession felt a spark of hope rise in their hearts.

About ten days after the call was issued, at dusk, Li Qingyun came alone to a dry and cracked desert.

The wind was howling, blowing sand and stones everywhere.

In the distance, one could vaguely see an abandoned tribal camp - that was the goal of his trip: it was rumored that the tribal leader hesitated after receiving the order and even planned to surrender to the demon tribe.

The two emperors Yan and Huang secretly instructed him to go and persuade or suppress the rebellion.

If we can encourage them to surrender, we will have more manpower; if they are stubborn, we have no choice but to eliminate them.

In the desolate dim light, the tents scattered in the camp were half collapsed and half broken, as if they had experienced a fierce battle.

Li Qingyun walked along the burnt bonfire, stepping on scorched earth and broken bones. He vaguely heard rustling whispers in the night wind, like the screams of ghosts.

His heart tightened, and he thought to himself:

"It seems I'm a step too late."

This place might be swept by demons first, and perhaps the leader will be unable to resist and the tribe will be destroyed.

He closed his eyes for a moment, sensing his surroundings, and vaguely smelled a horrible mixture of blood and decay. The smell was accompanied by an unknown strange corrosion, which was somewhat similar to the gloomy breath of the "Lord of the Underworld" he had seen in the goddess of the Old Mother of Mount Li.

As the night deepens, the sky and the earth become heavy as iron.

He did not bother to stay and checked the several corpses in the camp, both old and young, with hideous wounds, as if torn by poison gas or sharp claws.

A pile of bones nearby glowed with a dim phosphorescent glow, revealing the shadow of hunger and despair.

"The minions of the Lord of the Underworld have spread here. It seems that there are no survivors in this tribe."

Li Qingyun sighed.

As he paced, he unexpectedly discovered someone crawling at the foot of the mountain wall, like a figure that was not yet dead.

He went forward to investigate and saw a dying young soldier, coughing up blood from his throat, but still struggling with a hoarse voice:

"The leader of the demon clan has been captured... Order... Tell... the Second Emperor..."

Before he could finish his words, he stopped breathing and there was no more sound.

Li Qingyun was silent for a while, then gently stroked the young man's forehead:

"The outcome of this battle will be determined by the blood of brave men like you. Go with peace of mind."

He closed its eyes, covered it with earth and rocks, then turned around and jumped out of the ruins.

He made a few light leaps, crossed the Gobi Desert, and hurried towards the next gathering point.

He knew very well that the more tribe fell, the more dangerous the human race would be.

At this moment, the only way to avoid being defeated one by one is to let more surviving tribes gather as soon as possible.

Remembering the instructions of Emperors Yan and Huang, he walked faster.

After traveling all night, he met up with another group of human warriors the next morning. The leader of the group was overjoyed to see him, and said that seven or eight tribes nearby had successfully resisted the demon soldiers by working together.

Everyone marched together to the assembly point designated by the two emperors.

Li Qingyun heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. Although he had seen a lot of tragedy along the way, there were still some people who were unwilling to be destroyed and were willing to fight once before the sky collapsed and the earth split.

Along the way, he witnessed old men with white beards waving rusty bronze spears into battle despite their advanced age; he also saw boys of fifteen or sixteen years old clinging to their fathers and brothers with the stubborn look of a newborn calf.

There are also many people with demigod blood who, under the leadership of the elders, cross mountains and rivers and display all kinds of incredible talents - some can control the wind, some can call thunder, and some can awaken sleeping spirit beasts for the use of tribe migration.

Although the human race has suffered from bullying by gods and demons over the years, it has also accumulated resilience beyond imagination.

Li Qingyun looked around and saw flags fluttering in the desert. Iron armor reflected golden light, like a blazing torch. Even the strong wind could not shake that tenacious will.

By the time he arrived at the designated gathering place, it was already dusk several days later.

What comes into view is a vast ancient plain, with mountains on all sides undulating like huge waves, surrounding a flat and open area in the center.

It can accommodate a million troops and is an ancient site left by the ancestors of the human race. According to legend, an altar was set up here to offer sacrifices to the sky, symbolizing the integration with the earth's destiny.

Now there are endless tents and fences erected around, flags and totems fluttering in the wind, shouts and horse neighs rising and falling, interweaving with the night, creating a spectacular sight.

Li Qingyun looked down from a rocky hill and saw crowds of people. Countless tribal leaders gathered together holding their own clan emblems. Different costumes, weapons, and mounts formed a gorgeous and mottled torrent.

The wolf riders of the northern snowfield tribe have occupied the high ground, and the sound of bone flutes continues; the feather armor army of the southwestern rain forest has built a campfire by the stream, and the firelight makes their bronze skin shine.

There are also grassland archers, mountain stone soldiers, and river and lake navy...

There are many kinds of them, each with its own unique magical powers.

There are also those with demigod bodies, who hold their heads high and chests puffed out, as if they can shake the mountains with their own strength.

"Is this the foundation of the human race..."

Li Qingyun took a deep breath, feeling both proud and unfamiliar.

When he traveled through the ancient wilderness, most of the human race had been scattered due to wars, and the various tribes did not know each other.

Now that they are gathered together, it will be an epic gathering.

If they had not been faced with the threat of life and death, perhaps they would never have been so united.

Seeing the numerous crises in the ancient world, the torch of hope was ignited because of this gathering of forces.

After stepping down the rocky hill, a familiar soldier in the camp saw Li Qingyun and couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise:
"It's Qingyun! He's here! The new sub-god who killed the Demon King in the legend!"

Everyone looked at them along the way, and some of the young soldiers even cheered loudly with eager faces.

Li Qingyun hurriedly bowed in return, remaining humble.

Although he did not like to show off, he felt warm at heart when he saw his compatriots being so enthusiastic.

Several descendants of demigods came over upon hearing the news and saluted him:
"I heard that you have been promoted to Taiyi Immortal, and I would like to learn sword techniques from you. I wonder if we are destined to advance together?"

Li Qingyun replied with a smile:
"It's too hasty to spar with each other here. If you have time in the future, you can practice a little more."

So he declined with a little apology.

After walking for dozens of steps, he suddenly saw a familiar figure standing in front of the troops.

The man was wearing red armor, his back was straight, and his whole body seemed to be surrounded by a flaming aura.

When she looked back, it was the drought demon.

The two looked at each other from a distance, and although they didn't say much, they understood each other.

Hanba nodded slightly to Li Qingyun, then signaled the people in the Fire Army to make way.

The Flame Army was composed of sturdy warriors with bronze skin, red faces and vigorous blood. They were led by Hanba himself and were famous among the human race.

But now they smiled friendly at Li Qingyun, obviously recognizing this hero who was as famous as their own commander.

There were bursts of gong sounds coming from the front. It turned out to be a temporary earthen platform, and it seemed that the tribal leaders were being arranged to take the stage to call the roll. Li Qingyun followed Hanba and saw an old general in charge of registration commanding the team while shouting loudly:
"The Black Mountain Tribe, the Rockbone Tribe, and the Bluestone Tribe have reported in... Where is the Wolf Rider Tribe? Have they been here?"

A group of wolf riders wearing animal skins led by their leader and dozens of riders quickly ran to the stage and answered with a fist clasped:

"We were blocked by a group of monsters on the road recently, so we are late for half a day. Please forgive us."

The veteran nodded seriously:

"Remember! You will stay in the western camp and just follow the orders of the drums."

The leader took the order and withdrew.

This process was repeated until various groups of people reported in one by one.

Hanba whispered to Li Qingyun:
"In the past few days, many tribes have gathered one after another, and some have been late or attacked. But the human formation is no longer comparable to the past."

Li Qingyun looked at the crowd, thinking about the dilemma of having to do so many things in the past. Although he could not be said to have a strong army now, the more integrated they were, the more confidence they would have in fighting against the gods and demons of the ancient times.

He replied:
"Indeed. If it is supplemented by the ancient formation of the two emperors, it might really make the Buzhou Mountain shake."

Hanba saw that he looked a little serious, and asked in a low voice:

"But you are still concerned about what the old mother of Mount Li told you?"

Li Qingyun smiled bitterly:
"That's right. If the seal of the four fierce beasts really involves the will of the God of War, destroying the mountains in the three realms may not really be a shortcut. Once we can't control the power of destruction, the consequences will be disastrous."

After hearing this, Hanba was silent for a while, and finally said:

"First, we must gather our strength to resist the demons, and then see what the two emperors have to say. If we work together, we can always fight for a glimmer of hope in desperate situations."

That night, the earth fell silent.

The bonfires among the tribes burned even more vigorously, and the cold edges of swords and spears flickered in the firelight.

The dry and strong wind blew up dust from time to time, making the tent roof rustle.

Li Qingyun returned to his simple camping place, but felt uneasy.

Just as I was about to adjust my breathing and meditate, I suddenly heard someone outside exclaim:
"Look at the sky!"

He stood up and opened the camp curtain, only to see a purple-red halo emerging in the inky night sky, like blood twisting in black clouds.

Accompanied by a strange tinnitus, some people seemed to see in hallucinations that the mountains became tall and majestic, and there even seemed to be the shadow of an ancient god looking down at the world from deep in the clouds.

After a few breaths, the halo slowly faded away, as if it was a phantom.

But the group of soldiers on guard were still trembling with fear, and some whispered:
"Buzhou Mountain, is that...Buzhou Mountain giving a warning?

"Some people also said to themselves:

"If the pillar of heaven is really broken, won't it bring about even greater disasters?"

There was a hint of uneasiness in the atmosphere.

Li Qingyun looked up, as if he could still feel the gray mist of the palace whispering in his body. The words were obscure and made his eardrums ache slightly.

He gritted his teeth and activated the "Law of Nirvana" to calm his mind, but he felt more and more that this journey would not be easy to accomplish.

Thinking that the next day would be the day when Emperors Yan and Huang would swear an oath to their troops, and that a deeper storm was about to unfold, his determination to succeed even at the cost of his life was rekindled.

He returned to the tent with a gloomy face, gathered his energy and practiced his skills, repeatedly recalling the last will of the Old Mother of Mount Li: If the human race does not break the impasse, it will surely decline and perish in the ancient times; but how to break the impasse is a gamble on the edge of a knife.

The bonfire outside made the night sky look dim red, as if the sky was dyed with blood.

The sound of the wind seemed to be heard by countless dead souls screaming and wailing.

The tribal warriors, however, still stood vigilantly around the torches.

Be they demigods or mortals, they all understood at this moment that only by following the call of the two emperors and striving forward can they shake the stubborn sky.

The next morning, just as the sky in the east began to turn pale, tribes arrived one after another.

Some rode on huge rhinoceros-horned beasts, while others stepped on strange-looking wild birds. They all looked tired but in high spirits, showing that they had crossed thousands of mountains and valleys just to catch up with this gathering of extraordinary significance.

The camp became more lively for a while: the human forces scattered throughout the wilderness now gathered in this ancient plain, forming an unprecedented "human torrent".

The wind blew up the flags and mixed with dust.

Li Qingyun stepped out of the tent and saw another group of tribes arriving from the misty mountains, including the Jianghu navy. Many soldiers still had a salty smell on their bodies, obviously coming down the river.

They rode ferocious water lizards and giant turtles and carried javelins on their backs. The scene was extremely strange.

When they met the land tribes, they greeted them in unison and had a great conversation with them.

A curious person picked up the bone trumpet and blew it, which immediately caused a sensation in the surrounding area, like the beat of a drum and thunder, attracting the attention of everyone.

Such a scene would have been almost unimaginable in the past: humans were used to being scattered and had even defended themselves on their own hilltops.

But today, there seems to be some sinister yet sacred power that weaves them into the same magnificent picture.

The dark clouds in the sky were still gloomy, unable to conceal the bloodiness and tenacity surging on the ground.

Many people stood with swords in their hands, getting to know each other and greeting each other, and some shouted "We are willing to live and die together and fight to the end in this battle."

Li Qingyun stood silently in the open space in the center of the camp. Everywhere he looked, he saw the concentrated enthusiasm of the human race. At the same time, he felt a sense of tragedy that penetrated deep into his bones.

Because if this battle fails, even if all the elites gather in one place, they will turn into a handful of ashes in the ancient purgatory.

He recalled the strange vision that appeared in the sky yesterday night, and his heart seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds, yet there was a secret fire burning in it.

Then he thought again, remembering the whispers deep in the palace, which seemed to be an invisible sneer, mocking the human race's "foolish resistance."

Li Qingyun snorted coldly and shouted in his heart:
"Even if I perish together with the gods and demons, I will have no regrets!"

Just at this moment, Hanba walked to his side.

The two men looked at each other in silence, but the same passion flashed in their eyes: Now that the assembly was complete, the next step was to wait for the two emperors Yan and Huang to issue orders, announcing that the army would officially set out.

There was a faint rumbling sound in the sky, like thunder striking deep in the sea of ​​clouds.

At the junction of mountains and ancient plains, thousands of human warriors are rubbing their hands in readiness, with swords and spears shining in the sun, waiting day and night for a shout.

The earth undulated like the heart of a giant beast, gradually converging to this center - waiting for the oath, waiting for the order of unification!
Li Qingyun slowly raised his eyes and looked forward, without any hesitation.

The danger of the ancient times, the danger of the four evil seals, the conspiracy of Yuxu Palace or gods and demons... will all break out in full swing soon.

And at this moment, the human race is facing a grand opportunity where light and darkness are intertwined, which has never been seen since ancient times.

If they could cross the gap, perhaps they could reverse fate and free millions of ordinary people from the control of gods and demons; if they failed, there would be a sea of ​​blood and the end of time. But even if the sky fell and the earth collapsed, they would not refuse.

That night, torches were lit up in camps across the ancient plain, illuminating the sky with a faint reddish hue, as if murderous aura pierced through the darkness.

Every tribal warrior was filled with excitement, with thousands of years of grief and anger burning in his chest.

If there are still evil shadows lurking in the night, they can only see this endless sea of ​​swords and fire, and feel the roar of the human race refusing to perish.

Just like the loud sound of metal colliding, it has already told the prelude to the army's march - the storm is about to rise, and there is no way back.

Li Qingyun gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, thinking of the dangerous peak of Buzhou Mountain shrouded in haze. He felt that disaster was waiting on the top of the mountain, but he only felt his blood boiling.

Behind him were countless tribal warriors, whose lives and hopes now depended on the decision he and the two emperors made.

He took a deep breath of the wasteland air, his eyes gleaming with unyielding flames:

"The truth will be revealed."

Although the voice was low, it echoed in the cracks of the night and spread in all directions with the wind.

It is precisely this eve of the gathering of millions of people and the death of millions that is destined to be praised or lamented by future generations.

In any case, there seemed to be a thunderous response from the depths of the ancient world.

The battle between gods and demons is inevitable, and a new chapter will be opened in the epic story of humanity's fight against fate.

When Li Qingyun raised his head again, he saw a strange purple dark light passing across the sky, fast and hidden, like an evil spirit peeking from behind the blood curtain, which made him feel terrified.

But he did not retreat. He sheathed his sword and walked towards the king's tent fearlessly.

He knew that tomorrow he might have to take a step that would shock the world.

If the pillar of heaven can really be split by the power of human beings, what absurd situation will the prehistoric situation evolve into?
In this smoke-filled moment, no one can foresee the outcome, and can only forge a new chapter with blood.

Dawn was still far away, but the sound of the wind was like drumbeats, knocking impatiently on the road to Buzhou Mountain. That was the declaration of the human race's determination to fight...

……

(End of this chapter)