I Killed Gods and Demons in Song Dynasty

Chapter 278: Going to the Buzhou Mountain
The next day, as the morning light broke, a pale red sun emerged on the horizon, casting a faint halo over the desolate ancient plain.

The morning mist was thick and was stirred by the flags all over the sky, like an invisible tide under the sky.

In the midst of the silence, there was a sudden deafening sound of war drums—boom! boom! boom! It seemed to hit the heart of the mountains, stirring the blood in the chests of the tribal warriors.

On the mountain, the camp that was brightly lit the night before has now been quickly moved out to form a military formation, fully demonstrating the foundation of the human race that has been tempered over the years.

Gray-brown dust rose from countless feet, forming faint columns of smoke in the air.

At this moment, the atmosphere on the earth platform built in the center became increasingly solemn.

The earthen platform is surrounded by totems and large banners of various tribes. Each banner has witnessed countless blood and tears over the years, but now they are flying high in the wind, facing the same direction.

Hundreds of human generals and leaders lined up below the stage, forming a magnificent human wall.

From a distance, it seemed as if only the order was given and it would sweep across the world like a tidal wave.

In front of the earthen platform, two figures stood side by side. The one wearing a fiery robe was Emperor Yan, and the other wearing a dark golden armor was Emperor Huang.

Their eyes are deep, as if they can see through the silence and hidden dangers of this land.

Beside the two emperors, Hanba, Li Qingyun, and several core generals stood together to guard this place.

Further away, Guangchengzi and several Yuxu Palace disciples were seen stopping to watch. Their gray hair and long sleeves looked elegant and out of place among the human race's warhorses.

According to ancient rituals, several columns of smoke rose from behind the earthen platform and soared into the sky.

The smoke was dyed with the color of the rising sun, like a blood-red torch, showing the human race's determination to fight to the death without fear.

The drums rumbled again, causing countless warriors below the stage to raise their weapons, drawing a cold metallic light in the air.

At this moment, the world is silent, with only a majestic force rushing towards you.

Li Qingyun stood behind the emperor and also felt his chest tighten: this was the hatred and hope that the human race had accumulated for thousands of years, which had since been thrown onto Mount Buzhou and the high platforms of the prehistoric gods.

"For thousands of years, our clan has been bullied by gods and demons. Now is the time to move forward!"

The voice of Emperor Yan was not loud, but it penetrated the ears of thousands of soldiers, and every word was like the clanging of huge rocks.

"From today on, we will no longer tolerate humiliation. The two kings, Huangdi and I, will join forces with the tribal leaders and heroes, and with the help of the Taoist Yuxu Palace, we have only one goal: Buzhou Mountain!

"If we can shake its foundation, we will let the heavens bear witness to our people's aspirations!"

The audience immediately erupted in thunderous shouts, no matter if they came from the mountains, grasslands or rivers and lakes, they all raised their arms and roared:
"Buzhou Mountain! Fight!"

This sound seemed to shatter the dark clouds and tear a gap in the countless haze of the ancient world.

Huangdi followed closely behind, his eyes flashing like lightning, and said loudly:
"I know this battle is extremely dangerous. The Lord of the Netherworld is watching us covetously, and the gods of the ancient world will do anything to stop us. But do we have a way out? If we don't break this mountain, the blood-eating disaster will continue to be rampant. My people, your descendants, can only be slaughtered in the dark and desperate situation! So -"

His tone suddenly became more serious, "Even if there is a web of gods and demons ahead, we have no choice but to pierce the pillar of heaven with our sword and completely break the old shackles!"

“Chop it into pieces! Chop it into pieces—”

Once again, the crowd responded loudly. The anger and passion that burst out from the desperate situation were like a volcano erupting, unstoppable.

The sound waves rolled, echoing between the earth and the valley for a long time.

Li Qingyun stood among them, and looked at Hanba across the crowd, and they both read the emotion in each other's expression.

Even though he had previously been wary of the power of the four ferocious beasts, he now had to admit that the human race had been forced into a point of no return and could only rush forward at all costs.

He felt the gray fog in his sea of ​​consciousness stirring, as if with contempt and mockery; but he clenched his fists and suppressed the thought: today is the day to swear an oath, all the haze will be temporarily sealed into the blade, waiting for the critical moment to make a decision.

"Everyone, listen to my orders."

Emperor Yan raised his hand slightly, paused his voice, and the shouting from the audience automatically subsided, like a retreating tide.

"During this expedition to Mount Buzhou, we must divide our forces into several groups, first destroy the outer demons, and then join forces to attack the mountain. Huangdi and I will lead the central army and head straight to the foot of the mountain.

"Li Qingyun, Hanba, you two will lead the elite Flame Army and Blade Team as the vanguard. There are also many demigods willing to charge with you. I hope you will judge the situation and not lose the big picture because of small gains."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyun and Hanba bowed and accepted the order:
"I will obey your majesty's orders."

Emperor Yan nodded, and ordered several veteran generals and tribal leaders to occupy the left and right wings to protect the people and baggage and food in the rear. Once strange beasts attacked, the archers or navy would quickly maneuver and fight.

The entire formation was carefully planned, taking into account the diversity within the human race while maximizing their advantages.

At this moment, Huangdi turned his head to look at Guangchengzi outside the field and bowed slightly:

"I wonder when Yuxu Palace will start its expedition?"

Guang Chengzi waved his whisk lightly and said with a smile:

"I have sent my disciples to set up magic arrays at key points in the mountains to reduce the erosion of the Netherworld. Two of my fellow disciples who are at the eighth level of the 'Hedao' realm are in seclusion and will come here soon to fight the enemy side by side with Your Majesty."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the human generals around them showed a mixture of expectation and doubt - if the Yuxu Palace could help, it would indeed be a great help; but the Taoist sect came and went quickly, and no one dared to say that they could be relied on 100%.

Huangdi did not say much, just nodded slightly:

"Then I'll leave it to you, Immortal."

The atmosphere among the heroes became relatively relaxed under such "politically charged" etiquette.

But Li Qingyun still sensed the vagueness in Guangchengzi's words, and wondered what their real trump card was.

However, the most urgent task is to integrate the human army. It would be a blessing if we can reduce the casualties to the minimum.

As the oath-taking ceremony drew to an end, the two emperors announced a military order. Swords and spears were raised again under the earthen platform, creating a magnificent scene.

The huge army roared in response, and the gongs and drums sounded together, like a heavy thunder rolling over, shaking the sky with a continuous rumble, and even the distant mountains seemed to be shaking and cracking.

The vastness of the wilderness also seemed to be filled with fiery sharpness because of the tens of thousands of elite human beings.

At this moment, a gust of wind suddenly blew up in the air, carrying with it a few wisps of light purple smoke. The smoke was shaped like dragons and snakes, circling around and around, and it seemed to have the same origin as the strange phenomenon in the night sky yesterday.

Many soldiers couldn't help but feel alert.

Huangdi said in a deep voice:
"Don't panic. This is a sign of turbulent air currents in the wild. The closer we get to Mount Buzhou, the more frequent this phenomenon may become."

He looked towards the mountains, his eyes flashing with coldness. "The more this happens, the more we cannot retreat. The army is ready - move camp immediately!"

As soon as the voice fell, a series of instructions spread in all directions. The generals of the tribes below responded immediately, and then formed into multiple columns on the spot, each leading their soldiers back to the camp for final arrangements.

Wolf smoke rose, trumpets sounded, huge war drums were put onto carts along with military flags, and the raised swords and guns reflected dazzling white light in the sunlight.

For a moment, the camp was filled with the neighing of horses and the noise of people, but they were all converging towards the same goal in an orderly manner.

If you look down from mid-air, it looks like rivers of all sizes merge into a mighty torrent and begin to advance towards the desolate mountains in the north.

Li Qingyun stood on the stage and looked around at the endless crowd, feeling the passion in his heart difficult to contain.

He clenched his fist secretly: No matter it is the conspiracy of the Lord of the Underworld or the destructive potential of the Four Evil Sub-Gods, let this rolling iron torrent carve out a bloody path first.

Thinking of this, he turned around and looked at Hanba, who nodded slightly.

The two men then rushed towards the stage with their elite troops, ready to charge first and clear the way for the main force.

The formation was still being assembled, and Yan Emperor, Huang Emperor and others took a moment to walk to Li Qingyun.

Emperor Yan patted his arm and whispered:
"Although you are skilled in swordsmanship, you must understand that this is not a matter of showing off one's own strength, but of the lives of thousands of people. If you encounter danger, you must think twice and do not let our troops fall into a desperate situation."

Li Qingyun took a deep breath:

"Don't worry, I will do my best to keep the front troops in order."

Huangdi also said:
"In the past, the old mother of Mount Li hoped that you could take on the great responsibility. This time, it depends on whether you can make good use of what you have learned and lend a helping hand to the human race."

"If I, Li Qingyun, retreat even a little bit, I will die on the mountain road!"

Although his tone was calm, it was filled with determination to fight to the death.

The two emperors nodded in satisfaction. It was obvious that they were also full of worries and could only seize every opportunity in this crisis.

As they were talking, a long whistle of "departure" echoed in the wind.

That was the signal from the veteran forward.

Thousands of cavalrymen marched out first, followed by demigods and warriors.

The dust raised by horse hooves filled the sky, and the sound of armor and swords colliding intertwined into a passionate melody.

Hanba led hundreds of warriors from the Fire Army and rushed to the front. The flames surged like a tide, causing the hot air on the ground to distort.

Li Qingyun followed them, holding the scabbard in his hand with a solemn expression, while secretly exploring the Sea of ​​Consciousness Palace to prevent the shadow from taking advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble.

Soon, the infantry and follow-up troops gathered together and left the camp one after another.

Led by the two emperors, these tens of thousands of people marched along the northern sky, forming an endless black iron stream.

The chariots rumbled, the flags fluttered, the voices thundered, and the powerful rhythm of the drums seemed to crush into pieces this wasteland that had buried the blood and tears of countless ancestors.

Before leaving, an elderly clan leader looked at the remaining military tents and braziers that were still being finished, with tears in his eyes.

The young man supported him and said:
"Don't be sad, ancestor. Since we have come all the way from our hometown, we should fight to the end with the prehistoric world."

The clan leader gritted his teeth and said in a trembling voice:
"No! I'm not sad, I'm excited... I've never seen my race gather so many heroes, and I never thought we would dare to attack the gods and demons."

After saying that, he sighed, picked up the bone bow and followed the team forward.

There are countless human warriors like him who are filled with fear and hope.

After the main army left, the former assembly camp suddenly became much emptier, with only sporadic smoke and scattered broken supplies left.

If night falls and there are no more human voices, it will seem lonely and terrifying.

Occasionally, a gust of wind would lift up the scraps of robe and make them flutter in the air, like the wailing of ghosts.

This place, which will be recorded in history as the "starting point of the counterattack against the wilderness", may become a sacred or gloomy monument in legend.

The dark clouds were still hanging high in the sky, and had not yet dispersed, as if silently watching this human expedition.

After walking for a few miles, the expedition team found that the terrain was becoming increasingly rugged: there were many rocks and cliffs, and the caves that were once occupied by demon nests contained countless dangers.

In order to avoid being ambushed along the way, the vanguard troops dispersed and searched everywhere.

Sure enough, they didn't walk for long before they were attacked fiercely by a small group of ferocious beasts in a narrow valley. The beasts were breathing poison and making strange sounds, like the curses of half-human, half-beasts.

The Flame Army did not hesitate and ignited an arc-shaped wall of fire to surround them; Li Qingyun drew his sword and swung out a streak of light, instantly destroying the attacks of several giant lizard monsters.

The young warriors who saw him take action with their own eyes felt even more confident:

"As expected of Taiyi Immortal, he is indeed unrivaled in thunder!"

Although the follow-up team also encountered some resistance from monsters, with the coordination of the large army and the help of several demigod leaders, they quickly eliminated these sporadic obstacles.

There was blood and fire and corpses everywhere along the way, but the human race was advancing like a bulldozer.

A strong smell of blood permeated the barren rocks and soil, as if announcing that the journey to Mount Buzhou must be paved with corpses.

As we head further north, the terrain becomes more rugged and rugged.

The mountains overlap and the fog becomes increasingly gloomy and cold.

Sometimes you can see strange lights and shadows floating in the sky. Those are the Taoists or disciples sent by Yuxu Palace. They use talismans to observe the surrounding mountains in the clouds, and also to resist the power of the lurking gods.

Occasionally, lightning strikes from the dark clouds, revealing the wildness of the ancient times.

However, the human race's iron hooves did not stop, but instead accelerated.

In the distance, you can seem to hear the thunder of waterfalls or the whimpering ghostly howls of wind caves, adding to the mysterious Cthulhu-like atmosphere.

Hanba and Li Qingyun often lead the way, and from time to time they have to help eliminate the sudden appearance of monsters or poisonous miasma.

Sometimes he would cooperate with a master from Yuxu Palace to use a combination of thunder and fire to attack extremely difficult monsters.

In this way, the strength of Taoism was able to be demonstrated to some extent on the front line, allowing the core tribal soldiers of the human race to gradually let go of their prejudices and realize that this "immortal power" was not false.

However, Guangchengzi and his group did not communicate much with Li Qingyun. They often left after helping from afar, which made them even more mysterious.

Over the past few days, the team has been fighting against the wind and has suffered casualties in the series of fierce battles, but overall they have been unstoppable and are constantly approaching the outskirts of Mount Buzhou.

During the march, Huangdi and Yandi exchanged messages through scouts to find out which team successfully eliminated the demon stronghold, which reinforcements encountered interference from poisonous fog, etc.; they then made real-time dispatches to keep the battle line stable at all times.

Whenever we camped at night, the camp would light bonfires and set up defense arrays, giving people a tragic and cohesive sense of security.

Li Qingyun, on the other hand, found it difficult to completely relax, whether fighting during the day or on guard at night.

The gray mist in the palace fluctuated in his body from time to time, causing him to feel chest tightness and palpitations from time to time. He could only try his best to circulate the Law of Nirvana to calm himself down.

Fortunately, it has not really broken out, and I can still support the command of the front-line battle.

This journey would have taken months in the past, but now the human race had gathered great determination and in just over ten days they had crossed two dangerous areas and reached the area over a thousand miles away at the foot of Mount Buzhou.

The top of the mountain is always covered by dark clouds, with faint lightning tearing through the night sky.

The earth seemed to be shaking with fear on its own, and every few miles one could see strange air currents flowing out of the cracks in the ground.

Some people believed that this was a sign of the instability of the Pillar of Heaven, while others whispered: Perhaps the ancient power imprisoned in the belly of the mountain was restless.

Once the army really reaches the top of the mountain, the so-called "aftermath of the war of gods" will probably erupt.

On the last night, the main force was still stationed in a narrow valley, building a temporary strong camp with rocks and fences.

The command tents of Huangdi and Yandi were set up here, and the surrounding area was heavily guarded. Hanba and Li Qingyun also rested here for half a day so that the vanguard could maintain peak condition before attacking the foot of the mountain.

Until late at night, the sound of the wind gradually became a howl, like some kind of ominous omen; occasionally, faint roars could be heard in the distance, like countless hungry ghosts wandering in the wilderness.

Knowing that war was imminent, few soldiers in the army could sleep peacefully. Most of them held their swords and leaned on their armor, ready to fight at any time.

The baggage cart was filled with arrows and pills, and the Flame Army formed a circle of fire, clapping each other to boost their fighting spirit.

Li Qingyun walked out of the area illuminated by the campfire and his eyes fell on the towering mountain shadows in the north.

The mountain range looked like a sleeping beast under the cover of night, emitting invisible pressure and eeriness.

Suddenly, a flash of blood-red lightning flashed across the sky, short but dazzling, making the outline of the mountain look like a demon with bared fangs and claws.

Buzhou Mountain..."

He murmured quietly, feeling his chest throbbing.

If this trend continues, the human race will embark on a formal attack on the mountain tomorrow or the next morning.

At that time, the bloody counterattack of gods and demons, the arrival of powerful reinforcements from Yuxu Palace, the unknown darkness in his body, and the potential destruction of the four ferocious beasts would all break out at the same time.

He gripped the hilt of the knife, feeling cold sweat on his fingertips, but at the same time, he also gathered a fearless spirit.

The hardships and trials of life and death in the past have taught him that the only way to survive is to keep moving forward in desperate situations.

After returning to the tent and sitting down, he closed his eyes and practiced his internal energy. In his sea of ​​consciousness, he saw the faint outline of the dark palace again, like a sleeping devil's eye staring at him.

But now, he has strengthened his mind, "If you really want to make a move, let's see who will devour whom!"

This feeling of silence and fiery solemnity intertwined throughout the entire night.

Finally, at dawn, the horn sounded and the whole camp woke up suddenly. The sound of armor and horses colliding continued. The soldiers jumped on their horses or packed their bags, and the army moved forward again.

Some soldiers had red veins in their eyes, but they were trying hard to stay alert. Some demigods looked excited, wanting to prove their own strength.

Huangdi and Yandi led the central army to follow, while Li Qingyun and Hanba took the lead in charging.

At the shout of "Move on", the team moved like thunder, treating the gloomy cliffs of Mount Buzhou as the target of a blade that would split towards the dome.

There is no turning back.

The weapons clanged forward under the dark sky, like a fire dragon rolling in the darkness, majestic and accompanied by the unique unity of the human race in the ancient times and the tragic heroism of a last-ditch effort.

The morning sun pierced through a corner of the clouds, illuminating the Taoist disciples such as Guangchengzi standing in the air in front of them. They watched the human army advance all the way.

Although he showed no joy or anger, he did not try to stop it either. The subtle gathering of power in the magic circle was a gesture of helping.

The earth roared.

The sounds of horse hooves, chariots, and infantry trampling were endless, and the endless column stretched to the north and disappeared into the deep fog.

The strong wind blew up dust and war flags, which fluttered and whistled between heaven and earth.

For them, every step at this moment is towards the unknown and life and death, but it is also a step towards the dawn of their dreams for thousands of years - if they can really cut off the pillar of heaven, the lofty position of the gods and demons above their heads will surely be shaken!
Victory or defeat, the only way to win is with sharp swords and blood.

Hanba was riding his horse in the front row. He suddenly turned around and raised his hand slightly to Li Qingyun. Although there was no expression on his face, it revealed an indescribable sense of pride in shoulder to shoulder.

Li Qingyun understood the meaning: go together, live and die together.

With a smile, he suddenly urged his horse to speed up and led the Blade Team out like the wind.

They shoulder the responsibility of clearing the way, and also symbolize the sharp edge of humanity's "burn their boats" fight.

Deep in the queue, Huangdi and Yandi also walked steadily and looked at each other.

Emperor Yan said softly:
"We have already taken this step, and there is no turning back. Wait for the bloody battle to begin in front, and we will follow behind and wait for the opportunity to march to the foot of the mountain."

Huangdi nodded:

"That's right. It depends on fate, and also on the determination of my people to die."

The clouds rolled, and Mount Buzhou was looming in the distance, like a devil's nest under the sky, baring its sharp teeth and waiting for intruders.

There seemed to be a faint sneer in the wind, or perhaps it was a hidden resentment seeping from the belly of the mountain, or it could be some ancient seal roaring at the intruder.

However, the iron stream of the human race never stopped, crossing rift valleys, mountain paths, and dead forests, ignoring the corpses and dead branches along the way, as if answering the chilling provocation from the depths of the underworld with endless passion and indomitable spirit.

From this scene on, the ancient world is no longer peaceful.

Perhaps, the Lord of the Underworld is sounding the call for his underworld army to assemble, or perhaps the Yuxu Palace is also eyeing the secret treasures of Mount Buzhou.

But for this team that vowed not to return, the only thing they could do was to keep moving forward.

Every step will make the earth shake, and every flash of the sword will split the rocks and the night; on the top of the mountains, faint thunder and lightning are interweaving, reflecting the omen that gods and mortals are about to collide head-on.

With all these expectations and suspense, the army set off in a cloud of dust, spreading their blood and flames to the wilderness, determined to shake the shackles of God that stood tall.

Just as Li Qingyun thought in his heart:
"Let Blade tell this vast universe that the human race should be self-reliant and do not need the grace of God!"

If the pillar of heaven must be broken, they will use their lives as hammers to smash the shackles on their heads. Even if the other side is hell, they must do their best to move forward...

……

(End of this chapter)