Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 407 The Situation in Yuyang, The Battle of Hengmen (4.9K words + map of the situation in Yuyang, please support with monthly votes)
The map of Yuyang can be found in the comments section of this sentence; readers can refer to it while reading the main text.

The following is the main text.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Liuxi River originates from Huaxian County. Initially, it was just a small stream. After flowing into Guangzhou Prefecture, this small stream received water from various waterways from the east and west, so the water volume increased sharply and the water surface became unusually wide. At this time, it was no longer appropriate to call it Liuxi.

As the Liuxi River flows past the foot of Baiyun Mountain in Guangzhou Prefecture, it strikes a massive reef in its center. Over time, the irregular, dark gray mudflats have become rounded by the river's relentless erosion, and the outer layer of rock has been washed away, revealing a deep red interior, resembling the red coral of the South China Sea. Thus, people named this boulder the Haizhu Stone (Pearl Stone), and the lower reaches of the Liuxi River flowing into Guangzhou Prefecture became known as the Pearl River.

In a narrow sense, the Pearl River starts from this Haizhu Stone and extends all the way to the Lingdingyang.

However, before the Pearl River flows into the Lingdingyang, the Beijiang and Dongjiang rivers flow into it from the left and right, respectively, making the Pearl River a major tributary of two rivers. The branches of the Beijiang and Xijiang rivers are intertwined. Thus, this small Pearl River, which originates from the Liuxi River, has become the collective name for a vast network of waterways that spans Yunnan, Miao areas, southern wilderness, Yuyang, Hunan, and Henan.

In order to distinguish the Pearl River system in a broad sense from the Pearl River in a narrow sense, which is the Liuxi River of Guangzhou Prefecture, people simply call the latter the Middle River, since it is located in the middle of the North River and the East River.

Thus, from west to east, the West River, North River, Middle River, and East River together form the world-famous Pearl River system, and together they have eroded and carved out the complex water and marshland south of Yuyang Guangzhou Prefecture.

In southern China, there is a long-standing rumor that the Zhuhai water network has a significant origin, being a remnant of the ancient Pandu River. In ancient times, this water network was even more extensive.

Legend has it that during the Shang and Zhou dynasties' rivalry, the celestial Weak Water River malfunctioned, overflowing and cascading into the earth, landing in the south. However, at that time, the southern part of China lacked major waterways, consisting only of small rivers and streams, making it impossible to dredge the waters, causing widespread flooding. Therefore, the ancient gods and immortals of the earth, along with the remnants of Yu the Great, joined forces to create a new major waterway in the south, guiding the floodwaters and directing them to flow into the South China Sea. This was the fifth major waterway on the land of China, following the Yangtze, Yellow, Ji, and Huai rivers, and the only one that flowed into the South China Sea.

At that time, the North Sea had rivers, the Yellow Sea had the Huai River, the East Sea had the Yangtze River, and although the West Sea did not have a long-flowing canal, it still had a giant river like the Tongtian River. Only the South Sea did not have a large body of water comparable to the above rivers. Therefore, when the Pan Canal appeared, the Dragon King of the South Sea was overjoyed and personally appeared to guide the floodwaters of the great canal into the sea.

The great flood that year was so massive that even a single estuary couldn't contain it all, threatening to breach the coastline and cause land loss on the southern shore. Therefore, the ancient deities who controlled the flood diverted it, creating eight estuaries to separate the waters from the sea. As fate would have it, the Dragon King of the South Sea possessed a magical artifact: the Eight Dragon Gates. Seeing the great river branching out to sea, the Dragon King unleashed his eight Dragon Gates, stabilizing the coastline, guiding the floodwaters, and successfully averting the devastating flood. This also created a new great river flowing into the South Sea.

This is the origin of the legend of the Pearl River flowing into the sea through eight channels along the coast of Yuyang.
Even though the ancient immortals and gods were so careful, and the Dragon King cooperated, the enormous volume of water from the Weak Water still damaged part of the coastline, creating a funnel-shaped gap, which is the origin of the present-day Lingdingyang.

In the south, there is a rumor that the eight gates of the ancient Pandu River not only stabilize the coastline and guide floods, but also contain the supernatural powers of the South China Sea Dragon King. If a dragon walks through Pandu River into the sea and leaps over the Dragon Gates, it can cleanse its bloodline and transform into a true dragon.

However, legends are just legends. From the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the present, tens of thousands of years have passed. The land of China has experienced two immeasurable calamities, two periods of immortals disappearing from the world, and numerous calamities of immortal slaughter. Many lineages have perished, and many new lineages have been reborn. The world has changed dramatically. During this time, many wonderful legends have disappeared, and many speculative legends about ancient times have been born. Truth and falsehood are intertwined, making it difficult to distinguish between them.

Legend has it that the ancient Pan Canal, which once stretched across the south, has long since changed its appearance due to the vicissitudes of time and numerous battles between gods. Its water volume has greatly decreased, and with the rise of countless sandbars and land reclamation, the main stream has become thinner and the tributaries have disappeared, making it far less impressive than before. Therefore, people today are more accustomed to calling it the Pearl River. As for what the ancient Pan Canal actually looked like, no one in the world knows anymore. People can only imagine the vast and magnificent landscape of the southern water kingdom in ancient times by looking at the four existing rivers in the west, north, central and east.

As for the legendary eight Dragon Gates erected by the Dragon King of the South China Sea, people just listen and laugh, believing it to be a fabrication by the locals. After all, in the Pearl River Estuary today, there are dozens of places named with the character "gate," all claiming to be Dragon Gate relics, and all speaking with great certainty, able to explain the origin of the Dragon Gates in detail, which is very impressive.

However, this is quite normal; after all, what place doesn't have magical ancient legends?
However, this concept was overturned in the 439th year of the Ming Dynasty.

That year, that night, the Green-Robed Ancestor walked along the West River and into the sea, triggering the strange phenomenon of the Ancient Dragon Gate. The phantom images of eight Dragon Gates illuminated the coastline of Yuyang, visible for thousands of miles.

The rumors are true!

Among the four major waterways of the Pearl River—west, north, central, and east—the West River is the largest. It originates from the Nanpan River in Yunnan, flows through the Miao region, traverses the southern wilderness, and empties into the sea at Yuyang. It is the true main stream of the Pearl River and the main trunk of the ancient Pandu River channel.

Originally, the Xijiang River branched off in the Heshan area of ​​Zhaoqing Prefecture, flowing into the sea through four gates: Modaomen, Jitimen, Hutiaomen, and Yamen. Some tributaries also merged with the Beijiang River, flowing into the Lingdingyang through Jiaomen, Hongqimen, and Hengmen. However, when Lüpao was traveling along the river, he dredged and widened the river, deepened the old channel, and diverted water from the Yamen waterway to the Tanjiang River, flowing into the Huangmaoyang, connecting with the South China Sea. This completely demarcated the boundary between the Xijiang River and the Beijiang, Zhongjiang, and Dongjiang Rivers flowing into the Lingdingyang, making it an independent and complete estuary, laying the foundation for the development of the southern branch of the river.

From then on, Jiaomen, Hongqimen, and Hengmen lost all connection with the Xijiang River, while Modaomen, Jitimen, and Hutiaomen became the mouths of small rivers. The Xijiang River became an independent major river with a clear source and a well-defined outlet to the sea, originating from Maxiong Mountain in the west and flowing south into Yamenkou.

As the Green-Robed Ancestor who revived the ancient Pandu Road and inherited the legacy of the South China Sea Dragon Gate, he instantly became the most powerful figure in this world, controlling the West River, commanding the South China Sea, and commanding thousands of demon generals and tens of thousands of dragon soldiers.

It can be said that if the Green-Robed Ancestor were willing, the West River could be completely independent of the Pearl River at this time.

However, he did not do so.

The Xijiang River originates in Yunnan and flows eastward. After entering Yuyang, it bends near Hudingshan in Zhaoqing Prefecture, turning south and flowing directly into the South China Sea. For this section of its main channel, from Heshan downstream to the sea, the governor separated it from the Beijiang River and heavily guarded it. However, in the section between Hudingshan and Heshan, the Xijiang River developed many eastward-flowing tributaries. In this section, however, he allowed them to flow freely, resulting in their close entanglement with the Beijiang and Zhongjiang Rivers.

This demon saint was certainly not satisfied with just the West River. This section of the river, which he deliberately created as a horizontal tributary, served as a springboard for his eastward advance into the North River, the Middle River, and even the entire eastern part of Yuyang.

After the Green-Robed Ancestor completely occupied the West River, the Southern Demon Dragons, led by the Demon Dragon of Lake Cauldron Mountain, invaded the North and Middle Rivers via these eastward tributaries. Especially during the summer floods, when the West River was full, countless dragons set out from it, unleashing floods eastward, tearing apart mountains and splitting the earth with unstoppable force. The floods overflowed the river channels, devastating both banks, and at one point even reached the East River, their might threatening Mount Luofu. The Anqi Temple on Baiyun Mountain on the east bank of the Middle River was destroyed during this period.

However, the demonic tide was surging, but the Taoist sect was not made of clay. After the Eastern Taoist sect began to unite and exert its strength, it quickly gained a foothold in the East River, and launched a westward expedition to slay the dragon. It also successively recovered the Middle River and the North River, and based in the North River, it confronted the demonic dragon in the West River, starting a more than ten-year-long battle for control of the two rivers.

However, the battle at Yuyang was not so easy.

Green Robe not only controls the West River, but is also the veritable master of the South China Sea. His two wicked generals launched a surprise attack from the sea, occupying Kowloon Island on the east side of the Lingdingyang outlet, and using it as a base to continuously send troops towards the inner bay of Lingdingyang, Luofu Mountain and the source of the East River.

In response, the Eastern Taoist sect built a defensive line in the area of ​​Xiling Mountain, Dongling Mountain, Yinping Mountain, Jixin Mountain, and Tielu Mountain, encircling Jiulong Island and connecting it with the Beijiang defense line through Humen, firmly protecting the eastern part of Yuyang behind them, and launching a counterattack to recover lost territory.

Over the years, the Eastern Taoist sects have referred to the area where the West River and North River connect as the "Battlefield of the Two Rivers," the area from Lingdingyang to Humen as the "Battlefield of Humen," and the area from Jiulong Mountain to the Five Mountains Defense Line as the "Battlefield of the Five Mountains."

For so many years, not a single day has been peaceful on these three battlefields, and countless lives have been lost. The demonic path has it easy, only concerned with striking, wishing they could sink the land and flood the South China Sea. The righteous path, however, faces a much more difficult situation, having to defend against demons while also securing the land and managing the waterways to ensure the safety of the land. Therefore, it has been truly remarkable that they have been able to firmly hold the Beijiang-Wushan defense line all these years.

In these three battlefields, the situation was constantly changing. Every summer flood season, the Pearl River system was full of water, especially the West River, which flowed eastward with great force. The West River Demonic Cult would take the opportunity to flood eastward, inundating the North River, making the "Two Rivers Battlefield" particularly fierce, where the righteous path could only fight to the death. At the same time, the waters of the North River, Middle River, and West River converged at Humen, rushing towards the Lingdingyang. Under the overwhelming power of the heavens, even the demons of the South China Sea were powerless to go against the current and attack Humen. On the contrary, the Eastern Taoist sects could take advantage of the water's momentum, advance from Humen, easily stir up waves, and counterattack Kowloon Island.

When winter came and the waters dried up, the situation reversed. Beijiang fared somewhat better, but Humen faced much greater pressure. Therefore, the three battlegrounds weren't fighting independently. Although there were battles every day in each location, the focus varied with the seasons, and troop deployments were extremely common and frequent. The higher the cultivation level and the more outstanding the combat power, the more heavily they were deployed. Some skilled warriors would often guard Beijiang in the summer, Humen in the winter, and the Five Mountains in the spring and autumn.

Therefore, in such a situation, true talent cannot be hidden. If one reveals their abilities in a series of battles, they will be immediately discovered, becoming a thorn in the side of the demonic sect and a treasure in the hands of the righteous path. The resources of the Righteous Alliance will be rapidly channeled towards them; if magical treasures are broken, new ones will be sent; if talismans and pills run out, they will be replenished immediately. Their combat strength and cultivation level will also increase rapidly, their reputation will grow ever stronger, and their role on the battlefield will become increasingly important.

Such people, if they are from a rogue cultivator background, will be recruited by the Haoran Alliance on the spot; if they come from a small family, their superior sect or ancestral court will immediately come to ask for them; if they are disciples of a major sect, they will be given priority to occupy a position in the alliance and sect. As long as they can live until the end of the war, they will naturally be promoted by exception to become the person in charge of the alliance and sect.

"White-Robed Tai Sui" Shen Zhaoming is such a person, and he is also from a Daoist lineage of a celestial sect. His water magic is no less than that of a dragon, and his sword is stained with countless demonic blood. He has long been registered and offered a reward in the Southern Sect. Wherever he appears, low-level demons avoid him, while high-level demons regard him as a treasure.

On this day, outside Humen, in the Hengmen waters west of Lingdingyang, another fierce battle broke out.

This summer, taking advantage of the summer floods, the Taoist sect marched south out of Humen and seized back the three waterways of Jiaomen, Hongqimen, and Hengmen, nearly taking over Yunti Mountain. In winter, the demons of the South China Sea launched a counterattack, but encountered fierce resistance from the Taoist sect. Aside from holding Yunti Mountain, the demonic sect gained little else.

The dry season is almost over. In previous years, the sea would have flooded not only Hengmen at the foot of Yunti Mountain, but also Humen! What's going on this year? There's been no progress. Could it be that the Demonic Sect can no longer hold sway over the world?
Green Robe didn't believe it, and neither did the two villains of the South Sea. So, taking advantage of the last days of winter and early spring, the demons of the South Sea launched wave after wave of fierce attacks.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Someone from the Void Constellation position has arrived!"

On the north side of the Hengmen Waterway, amidst the rising and falling roars of dragons, a refined-looking Taoist priest shouted. Less than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) in front of him stood a blue-scaled dragon that had already revealed its true form. This unusual rhinoceros-dragon resembled a rhinoceros, with an exceptionally large head, thick skin, and a single, thick horn protruding from its nose. At this moment, the rhinoceros-dragon lowered its head, facing its enemy with its horn, and charged towards the Taoist priest like a wild bull.

"boom!"

With a loud crash, the Hengmen Waterway seemed to be lifted up like a basin of water, and the water inside shook violently, splashing against the banks.

The south bank was already muddy, while the north bank remained clean, with neither the river nor the dragon able to enter. The refined-looking Taoist priest didn't even blink when he saw the dragon and the giant wave coming. He was very confident in his formation. After calling out to Shen Zhaoming, he quickly bent down to change the formation base.

They persisted for two hours; by then, the jade discs in the "Xu Su Wei" area would probably need to be replaced.

Warfare is both deadly and expensive. If you want to lose fewer lives, you have to spend even more money.

With this loud noise, a transparent wall of light appeared in the void. As the Taoist priest had expected, although the wall of light trembled violently and looked like it was about to collapse, it did not fall down in the end and firmly blocked the river and the dragon.

In positional warfare, formations are indispensable.

As for why the dragon came at him, the Taoist knew the answer. It was because he had only been in Yuyang for a year and had already earned the nickname "Eight Gates Golden Lock".
Shen Zhaoming, dressed in white as snow, heard it and saw the rhinoceros-dragon circle around to the "Void Constellation Position" where the pressure was greatest, and head straight for Ji Shu. This strange dragon was the North Gate General of Cloud Ladder Mountain. One of its dragon pearls had been washed five times. Its skin was thick and its flesh was tough. It was the sworn brother of Cao Jin, the Eight-Armed Dragon King. Its strength was three points stronger than the Rainbow Scaled Dragon of Pingshazhou that he had killed this summer.

At this moment, Shen Zhaoming was dealing with the Demonic Sect outside the formation, helping wherever they were weak or needed a respite. And there were more than a hundred people like him.

At that moment, everyone heard the Eight Gates Golden Lock's shouts, and those who could get away rushed over to help.

The dragon was exceptionally ferocious, fighting against multiple opponents without being at a disadvantage, and it seemed determined to devour Song Jishu alive.

Shen Zhaoming stealthily approached, concealed by the dazzling light of various spells and magical artifacts, and found the opportune moment to strike. He bit his right index finger, drawing blood, then formed a hand seal, drawing a vertical line between his eyebrows.

"open!"

He gave a low shout, and then a vertical eye opened between his eyebrows. It was impossible to see exactly what the eye looked like, but a dazzling white light burst forth and shot towards the dragon. The eye then closed.

This beam of light was incredibly fast, almost like a real gaze, illuminating everything it saw. Just as Shen Zhaoming opened his eyes to cast the spell, the beam of light had already struck the dragon.

"hold head high--"

The dragon let out a painful cry, and almost instinctively raised its head, causing the white light to deviate slightly. What was originally meant to pierce the Niwan Palace now pierced through its neck, and the dragon's blood gushed out like a jet of water.

The dragon was severely injured. After letting out a painful cry, it glared hatefully at Song Jishu and Shen Zhaoming, who had made the move, and then left without looking back, fleeing towards the Yunti Mountain camp behind it.

"Evil beast, where are you going!"

Shen Zhaoming quickly followed, having used all his best techniques to finally find the right opportunity to severely injure him. How could he let him escape now?

"Zhaoming, don't pursue a cornered enemy!"

In the midst of the battle, Song Jishu shouted.

Shen Zhaoming heard this, but he didn't stop. He was very experienced; these dragons had thick skin and flesh, so he had to kill them when he had the chance. Otherwise, if they were released back into the wild, the injuries might look serious, but they would heal in less than two months. However, it would be difficult to find such an opportunity again.

　Requesting monthly votes and recommendations! Comments and messages are welcome!
　　P.S.: Creating the map took a lot of time, so the update is late. Please forgive me.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)