Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 693 Demon Army Siege
The people in the courtyard were startled by the sudden banging on the door and the shouts, and their eyes immediately focused on the uninvited guests who had broken in.

"who?!"

A burly martial artist instinctively stepped forward, raised his arm to block the way, and shouted sternly:
"Stop right there! What are you doing breaking into a private residence in the middle of the night?!"

Tonight is the crucial moment for the escape plan, and no one wants to cause any trouble. Therefore, although the martial artist was shocked, he remained calm and tried to stop them with words to find out the reason.

however.

His only response was a more frenzied roar and a relentless attack!

The crazed civilians ignored the shouts and their eyes were filled with greed for fresh flesh. They brandished their claws and opened their mouths to bite the warrior's arms, neck and other exposed parts of his body!
"Something's wrong!"

The old monk Beikong's pupils contracted. With his rich experience, he instantly realized that the abnormality of these "commoners" far exceeded ordinary madness:

"They've lost their humanity and are controlled by evil! Subdue them, but be careful not to get hurt!"

Upon receiving the order, the martial artists no longer hesitated.

Those who can stand out in the Demon Extermination Tournament are all skilled martial artists, agile and with considerable internal strength.

In an instant, a strong wind howled in the courtyard, and fists, palms, and legs flew everywhere.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With a few muffled thuds, the crazed villagers were easily sent flying like rag dolls, crashing heavily against the base of the courtyard wall, the sound of their bones shattering clearly audible.

An ordinary person struck by such a blow would be either dead or unconscious.

"Run! Get out of here in the chaos!"

With a low shout, Bei Kong took the lead and strode towards the courtyard gate.

With everyone focused on their escape plan, they had no intention of getting entangled and followed suit.

However, just as a martial artist passed by the "corpse" that had just been sent flying by his palm strike, another unexpected event occurred!

"Ugh—!"

Caught off guard, the martial artist let out a shrill scream.

The "corpse" that should have been limp on the ground suddenly sprang up, clung tightly to his arm like a leech, and bit down hard!
A sharp pain shot through him. The martial artist looked down and saw that a large chunk of flesh, along with his clothes, had been torn off his forearm. Blood gushed out instantly, staining his sleeve red.

"Bastard thing!"

The martial artist was both shocked and enraged, his eyes revealing a murderous intent:
"Aren't you really afraid of dying?!"

In his rage, he held nothing back. His inner energy surged wildly, and he unleashed a flurry of palm strikes, the force of which landed squarely on the chests of the several madmen who charged at him again.

"Crack! Click!"

The sickening cracking of bones echoed repeatedly.

This time, he went all out; the madman's chest visibly caved in, and countless ribs were broken.

Such severe injuries would be fatal even to a wild beast, let alone a human.

But what happened next sent chills down the spines of all who witnessed it, sending a cold shiver down their spines!

Those “people” whose chests had collapsed and who should have been dead long ago, once again, in an extremely distorted and illogical posture, slowly crawled up from the ground using their hands and feet!
Their heads were tilted to the side, their collapsed chests obstructing their breathing, making a "hoarse" sound as they cut through the air. Their crimson eyes were fixed on the living person, and they limped closer with unwavering determination!

It was as if the potentially fatal wound was nothing more than a trivial obstacle to them.

They felt no pain, ignored their fatal wounds, and their only instinct was to devour all the flesh and blood in front of them!
"hiss……"

Some people couldn't help but gasp; the scene was too bizarre and terrifying.

"Amitabha……"

Bei Kong's face was ashen, and he shouted in a deep voice:
"There's no need to get entangled with these inhuman creatures. The best course of action is to leave this place as soon as possible!"

After saying that, he took the lead and stepped out of the already damaged courtyard gate.

The other martial artists suppressed their fear and hurriedly followed behind.

however.

When they finally stepped onto the street outside and saw the scene before them, everyone was frozen in place, their pupils dilated with extreme shock.

What lay before them was no longer the familiar streets of Yaoshui City, but a living hell on earth!
Along the long street, scattered firelight illuminated countless figures frantically fleeing.

Cries, screams, and desperate wails mingled together, tearing at the night sky.

What's even more chilling are the pursuers—a large number of "people" with bloodshot eyes, distorted faces, and behavior exactly like the madmen in the courtyard, who, like hyenas that have smelled blood, frantically pounce on the fleeing civilians.

Once caught up, he was immediately tackled to the ground by several madmen, who then proceeded to tear and gnaw at him frantically.

The sounds of flesh being torn apart, bones being crushed, and the short, desperate sobs of victims before their deaths mingled together, assaulting everyone's eardrums.

Mutilated limbs were carelessly discarded on the street, entrails spilling out, and dark red blood soaked almost every stone slab, pooling into trickles. The air was filled with a nauseatingly strong stench of blood.

Not just this one street, but everywhere you look, in the nearby alleys and even further away, there is this chaotic and terrifying scene!

The entire city of Yaoshui seemed to have fallen into a sea of ​​blood in an instant!
"Is...is this hell?"

A young martial artist was deathly pale, his lips trembling, and he muttered unconsciously.

The horrific scene before him was beyond anything he had ever known before.

Even the well-informed Beikong was deeply shaken at this moment. Holding his prayer beads, he kept chanting scriptures in a low voice, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

But his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his unease at that moment.

Just as everyone was in a state of high excitement—

"Roar--!"

A beastly roar suddenly erupted from the crowd at the demon-slaying gathering!

The martial artist whose arm had been bitten earlier now had bloodshot eyes, bulging veins on his face, and his expression became as ferocious as the madman on the street!
He suddenly opened his mouth, revealing his white, blood-stained teeth, and with lightning speed, bit down on one of his unsuspecting companions!
"Uh... ho ho..."

The attacker's throat was instantly severed, leaving him only able to gasp for air. His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief as blood gushed out like a fountain.

The biting warrior, like a wild beast, lay on top of his companion, frantically gnawing at his neck, warm blood splattering all over his head and face.

This sudden internal strife caught everyone off guard!

"He...he's gone mad too!"

"It's a wound! He got bitten and that's what happened!"

Someone pointed in horror at the warrior's still bleeding arm.

Bei Kong's sharp gaze instantly locked onto the eerie blackness emanating from around the wound, and he said with deep sorrow:
"As expected, the evil poison is spread through biting!"

"Be careful, everyone! Do not be harmed by these madmen, or you will suffer the same fate!"

A chill instantly swept over everyone.

They finally understood why there seemed to be more and more lunatics on the streets!
This terrifying "madness" can spread like a plague!
A resolute blend of pity and sternness flashed in Bei Kong's eyes:
"Since you are no longer human and are drowning in the sea of ​​suffering, this humble monk will help you ascend to the Pure Land as soon as possible and be freed from this pain!"

Before he could finish speaking, Bei Kong had already struck out with his palm from a distance!
The powerful and fierce Buddhist palm strike pierced through the air and accurately struck the head of the already crazed martial artist.

"Oh!"

With a muffled thud, the head shattered like a watermelon, splattering red and white matter everywhere.

However, what's even more chilling is that in the splattering liquid, a thin, hair-like, blood-red thread-like worm is writhing and struggling wildly!
Though small, it possessed extraordinary strength, meandering through the viscous brain matter, attempting to burrow into the ground.

"Hmph! It really is the work of Gu worms!"

Bei Kong snorted coldly, stepped forward, and stomped down heavily with his monk's shoes, crushing the strange and evil insect into dust!

Upon seeing these familiar yet repulsive scarlet Gu worms, everyone couldn't help but recall the monk Bei Yi they had encountered a few days ago, whose brain had also long been parasitized by Gu worms.

Now, the same horror is repeating itself around us, and it is erupting in such a rapid and large-scale manner!
Bei Kong's face was ashen, his gaze sweeping over the city engulfed in madness and bloodshed, his voice heavy:
"These Gu worms are not targeting us."

"It's probably a vicious tactic used by the Demon Lord of Wuxu to create chaos and terror and undermine the will of the defenders before the formal attack on the city!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

I had long heard that the Demon Lord of Wuxu was cruel and tyrannical, and that massacring cities and destroying villages was commonplace for him, but I never expected that his methods would be so ruthless and treacherous!

To sacrifice the entire city's inhabitants to unleash such an inhumane and evil technique—truly a ruthless and tyrannical figure who regards human life as worthless!

Panic spread among the martial artists like a plague:
"Damn it! The demon army is really going to take advantage of the chaos to attack the city! If we go out now, won't we be walking into a trap?"

"That's right! The city is now surrounded by the demon army. If we try to break out now, we will be mistaken for Yaoshui defenders and killed without mercy!"

"What can we do then? Are we just going to stay here and wait to die? Once the demon army breaches the city, knowing the demon lord's nature, he will surely massacre the entire city! We'll all be doomed anyway!"

"I can't leave, and I can't stay! What should I do?!"

……

Just as everyone was in a panic and arguing, the madmen wandering the street seemed to be attracted by the presence of living people and the smell of blood. They all turned their heads, their crimson eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty light in the darkness.

Immediately, they let out excited roars and surged towards the demon-slaying assembly like a tidal wave!

Faced with these madmen, mostly ordinary people turned madmen, the martial artists remained calm despite their alarm.

Although they are fearless of pain and incredibly strong, they lack discipline and internal strength, posing a limited threat to martial arts masters.

Amidst the flashing blades and shadows, the madmen charging at the forefront were instantly cut down in droves.

However, Bei Kong frowned. He looked towards the end of the street and saw more madmen surging in from all directions, densely packed and seemingly endless.

And people who can run and shout normally on the streets are almost nowhere to be seen anymore.

“Amitabha Buddha... We should commit fewer acts of killing, and besides... we can't kill them all anyway.”

Bei Kong let out a long sigh, his voice filled with helplessness:
"Let's retreat back into the courtyard, hold our ground, and then plan our next move!"

Upon hearing this, everyone realized the dire situation and retreated while fighting, quickly returning to the dilapidated courtyard. They used the remaining wood and debris in the courtyard to desperately hold back the rickety gate.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Outside the door, the frantic pounding sounds were like the incessant beating of drums, and the wooden door groaned under the strain.

Even more alarming, rustling sounds of climbing and overlapping roars began to come from outside the wall.

Soon, the madmen stepped on their companions' bodies, piling them up until they finally climbed over the wall, fell into the courtyard, and then got up and pounced on them without stopping!

"Watch out for the wall!"

"Don't let them bite! Kill!"

Bei Kong gave a decisive order, showing no mercy whatsoever at this moment.

The martial artists used their various skills, with sword energy crisscrossing, sword light flashing, and palm wind howling.

Those madmen who scaled the wall were instantly torn apart and cleaved down by the fierce attacks, their severed limbs scattered all over the ground, and the stench of blood in the courtyard grew even stronger.

Just as everyone was doing their best to deal with the seemingly endless madmen.

A martial artist turned around by chance, only to be astonished to find—

"Look! The Great Teacher... what is he doing?!"

Upon hearing the sound, everyone involuntarily turned their attention to that direction.

Before anyone could see, Liang Jin had quietly slipped out of the bedroom.

He was still wearing his simple Southern State clothes, his steps seemingly slow, yet carrying a strange composure.

He went straight to the corner of the courtyard and squatted down in front of several madmen whose legs had been broken and who could only crawl and scream on the ground.

Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Liang Jin found himself holding an ordinary wooden water bowl.

The bowl contained clear spring water, but on the surface floated some fine black ash left after the fire had burned out.

With one hand, he firmly held down the head of a frantically struggling madman, while with the other hand, he skillfully forced water mixed with ash from a bowl into the man's mouth.

"Is the Great Teacher using talismanic water?"

One of the martial artists gasped in disbelief.

Everyone knows that the Great Master of the Way of Peace is skilled at healing with talismanic water.

However, in the eyes of most people in the martial arts world and even ordinary people, such methods are more often seen as a way to win people's hearts and create an air of mystery, no different in essence from those charlatan swindlers. It's just that he did it on a bigger scale and was more successful.

At this moment, seeing Liang Jin actually trying to use this "talisman water" to deal with this bizarre and terrifying madness caused by Gu worms, everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity.

Do you really think this bowl of water with paper ash floating on it is a panacea?

It can even exorcise such evil spirits and worms? That's a bit too much...

However, before their doubts could fully arise, a shocking scene unfolded!

"Cough cough cough! Ugh—"

Those who had been forced to drink the talismanic water suddenly coughed violently and then began to retch.

Immediately afterwards, a thick, foul-smelling, dark yellow liquid began to flow from their nostrils.

Upon closer inspection, several thin, hair-like, and stiff, scarlet Gu worms were found mixed in with the mucus!
As the Gu worms were expelled, the terrifying crimson in the madman's eyes faded rapidly at a visible speed, replaced by a sense of bewilderment and confusion.

The grotesque expressions on their faces relaxed, and they stared blankly at their surroundings, as if waking from a deep dream.

"I...where am I?"

"My leg...it hurts so much! What's wrong?"

"Why is there blood in my mouth? And my teeth seem loose too..."

"But...it feels so warm and comfortable inside my body...the pain in my wound seems to be lessening?"

……

These people, who had just regained their senses, clearly had no memory of what had happened before, only physical pain and confusion.

The demon-slaying assembly members standing to the side were dumbfounded, almost unable to believe their eyes!
It actually works?!

The Great Teacher's talismanic water is not just a myth!
Not only can it cure diseases, but it can actually expel these strange and evil Gu worms?!

That's absolutely incredible!

Could it be that this great and virtuous teacher is truly, as the legends say, someone who has attained profound understanding of the Dao and is close to the realm of immortals and gods?!

Ignoring the shock of the crowd, Liang Jin poured talisman water into the mouths of the other madmen one by one. Watching them expel the dead worms and regain their senses, he already knew what was going on.

He gently stroked the obedient jade-faced fire monkey perched on his shoulder, and the monkey squeaked as if in response.

The next moment, Liang Jin moved slightly. Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, and when they looked again, he was standing silently on the highest point of the roof, like a weightless fallen leaf, his clothes fluttering slightly in the night wind.

From this vantage point, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city.

Even Liang Jin couldn't help but feel a ripple in his eyes at the sight before him.

The entire city of Yaoshui is now completely shrouded in chaos and bloodshed.

The flickering firelight illuminated countless figures chasing and tearing at each other in a frenzy, with screams rising and falling like those of a ghost town.

Not only civilians, but even some patrolling soldiers were thrown into chaos; some resisted, while others also became part of the frenzy.

"A Gu worm version of... Resident Evil?"

Liang Jin muttered to himself, his tone carrying an indescribable complexity.

The behavior patterns of these madmen were strikingly similar to some kind of disaster scene from a movie in his past life memories.

"It seems that all of this was indeed the work of the Demon Lord of Wuxu."

A cold light flashed in his eyes.

The encounter during the day showed that the other party was indeed not just there to demonstrate.

I never expected that their methods would be so cruel and vicious, treating the lives of the entire city like straw dogs.

Of course, the one who carried out the act may be Wu Ling, but this sin will ultimately be attributed to Wu Xu Demon Lord, who was the mastermind.

He raised his hand, and a bowl of talisman water condensed once again in his palm.

With a slight release of his inner force, the talisman water in the bowl, under the exquisite envelopment and control of his inner force, floated up and formed a constantly flowing transparent water sphere in front of him.

On the surface of the water sphere, the black ash was evenly distributed, faintly shimmering with an almost imperceptible light.

Then, Liang Jin flicked his wrist slightly.

"Oh!"

The water sphere burst open, transforming into an extremely fine mist. As if it possessed a life of its own, it was guided by his internal energy and precisely enveloped the densest group of madmen gathered on the street below.

The mist spread silently, as if possessing a spirit, precisely penetrating the mouths and noses of every madman.

A miracle has happened again!

The group of frenzied madmen suddenly froze, then collapsed to the ground as if their bones had been removed.

Immediately following were the sounds of coughing and vomiting, as thick liquid mixed with dead Gu worms continuously poured out of their mouths and noses...

Before long, the fallen "madmen" struggled to sit up one after another, their eyes regaining their clarity. Their faces showed bewilderment and fear after surviving a disaster. They looked at each other, completely unaware of what had happened.

"The effect is indeed remarkable."

Liang Jin nodded slightly, confirming his suspicions.

His gaze swept across the chaotic streets and landed on the towering tree in the heart of the city, its silhouette clearly defined even in the darkness.

"If we can get the cooperation of the Yaoshui royal family or high-ranking officials, organize manpower, and use my talisman water to heal the people of the city and quell this calamity, it is not impossible."

He pondered in his heart.

As far as the eye could see, the giant tree seemed unaffected by the chaos and remained orderly.

Many madmen could be vaguely seen trying to climb the thick tree trunk, while the guards on the tree took advantage of the terrain to launch effective counterattacks with bows and arrows, logs, and other weapons.

But soon, Liang Jin shook his head slightly, dismissing the idea.

"Forget it, it's better to avoid trouble. Just treat it yourself."

"If we go to those high-ranking officials of the kingdom, it's hard to guarantee that we won't end up like the farmer and the snake."

He had a clear understanding of his current identity—the Great Teacher of the Way of Peace.

In the Yaoshui Kingdom, which has its own beliefs and rejects foreign religions, if he were to use talismanic water to treat the people on a large scale, in the eyes of those in power, it would probably not be a simple act of kindness, but a threat to win people's hearts, spread doctrines, and shake the foundation of their rule.

Once they feel their power is challenged, even if you have done them a favor, there is no guarantee they won't repay kindness with enmity and turn against you.

With a little deduction, this possibility becomes extremely high.

"The system has already completed its mission of treating 100,000 people; the next goal is to treat one million... This goal is incredibly difficult."

Liang Jin shook his head slightly in his heart:

"The entire Great Qian Dynasty probably has a population of only tens of millions."

"Save millions of people is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it can only be done gradually."

"But right now, there is an opportunity in Yaoshui City."

His gaze swept over the chaotic city below:

"The city has tens of thousands of people, and a considerable number of them are madmen controlled by Gu worms. I can not save them all, but if I can save 10,000 people this night, it will be a great merit and enough to take a big step forward."

Having made up his mind, Liang Jin no longer hesitated.

He put on the [Si Mask], and with a swift movement, he rose from the rooftop like a wisp of green smoke, disappearing into the thick night and the sudden gust of wind.

His figure swept through the air like a ghost in the dark night.

Wherever he went, bowls of talisman water, under his exquisite control of internal energy, continuously transformed into misty water vapor, sprinkling down on the streets and courtyards below like sweet rain, precisely enveloping the madmen who were chasing and tearing at him.

This scene is somewhat reminiscent of airplanes spraying pesticides to kill insects in my past life—efficient and swift.

The chaotic streets quickly quieted down after Liang Jin passed by.

The frantic screams were replaced by painful coughs and bewildered cries, and the rampant "plague" was forcibly contained by the miraculous effects of the talisman water.

The once hellish city of Yaoshui showed signs of calming down thanks to his efforts alone!
……

The bright moonlight shone down quietly, seemingly separating it from the bloody chaos below into two different worlds.

At the top of the giant tree, in front of the magnificent building built against the trunk, resembling a palace on the moon, lies an extremely spacious viewing platform.

Standing here, you can take in the entire view of Yaoshui City.

At this moment, the noble elders of Yaoshui Kingdom, who held high positions, and the tribal leaders of Nanzhou who had come to offer their support, all gathered here.

But at this moment, everyone's faces lost their usual composure and dignity, replaced by a deep sense of fear and unease.

Despite their high vantage point, the incessant, wave-like screams and desperate wails from within the city still pierced the night sky, reaching everyone's ears and tormenting their nerves.

"What on earth happened?! Why is the city in such chaos? Those people... are they even human?"

"The demon army hasn't even launched a formal attack, and we've already collapsed! How...how can we defend this city?!"

"May the gods protect us... May the Demon Lord of Wuxu's army not take advantage of the chaos to attack! Otherwise, we will be besieged from within and without, and we will all die without a burial place!"

……

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, their voices cacophony filled with the panic of impending doom.

However, after a moment of bewildered commotion, everyone's gaze, filled with awe and anticipation, involuntarily turned to the most edge of the platform, to the stunningly beautiful figure standing by the railing.

It was a woman.

She wore a long, white robe as pure as moonlight. The robe was of extraordinary quality and shimmered with a soft luster under the moonlight, untouched by any dust.

Her long, jet-black hair, flowing like a waterfall, was carefully styled into an elegant bun, revealing her slender, jade-like neck, as white and delicate as ivory. The bun was not adorned with elaborate gold, silver, or jeweled ornaments, but simply by a delicate silver chain. The pendant was a bright pearl the size of a longan, with a warm and clear luster, as if a miniature moon were worn on her head.

She stood tall and elegant, quietly, as if she had become one with the temple behind her and the bright moon above her.

In his hand he held a jade scepter that was entirely green and shimmering with iridescent light. The scepter was carved with ancient totems, and the head of the scepter was inlaid with a larger jewel that emitted a hazy halo.

This scepter symbolizes the supreme divine and royal power of the Yaoshui Kingdom.

Whoever controls it is the master of this land and the embodiment of faith.

Even just a glimpse of her back exuded an aura of holiness, nobility, and inviolability, as if a celestial maiden had descended to earth, causing all those of noble birth present to feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

"Someone intervened in the city and saved the lives of the people."

The woman did not turn around. Her clear and calm voice rang out, like the soft chime of a jade chime, clearly reaching everyone's ears and strangely calming the restlessness in the room.

Upon hearing this, everyone crowded to the railing and strained to look down.

However, all they could see below was darkness, scattered firelight, and black dots scurrying about like ants; they could not discern any signs of "treatment."

The woman seemed to sense something, and she slightly raised her head. Her eyes, as deep as the starry night and as clear as autumn water, pierced through the night and looked towards the dark night sky in the distance of the city.

Her voice remained calm, yet carried a subtle hint of gravity:

"The demon army has arrived as well."

As if to confirm her seemingly casual yet weighty words—

"Waaaaaah—waaaaaaah!!!!"

The next moment, countless night owls' mournful and piercing cries ripped through the night sky without warning!

The sound was so dense and so vast, as if the entire sky was covered by countless outstretched owl wings, casting a shadow of death!

Next!

"Thump!! Thump thump thump—bang bang bang!!!"

The deep, rhythmic sound of the bronze drum, like the heartbeat of a wild beast, came thunderously from afar, striking the hearts of everyone present!
The drumbeats were loud and primal, filled with a wild sense of oppression and naked intimidation!

Upon hearing the iconic cry of the night owl and the booming of the bronze drum, everyone on the platform turned deathly pale, their eyes filled with despair!
They knew this was a sign that the fearsome "Owl Army" under the command of the Demon Lord of Wuxu was about to be mobilized!

As expected, the enemy chose this most chaotic and vulnerable moment to launch a deadly siege!

(End of this chapter)