Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 975 The Blue Banner
The former young master of Mount Shu now feels... slightly panicked.

But feeling "slightly panicked" doesn't mean you're going to back down!

He was, after all, a "veteran" young hero who had followed Baoan Hall to slay demons and set fires in the mortal realm, so he still had basic professional ethics.

With a clang, he instinctively drew the Thunderclap Mandarin Duck Swords from his waist, crossed the two swords in front of him, and assumed what he considered to be his most formidable starting stance.

She tried her best to put on a stern face and shout out her lines in the fiercest tone:
"I... you ghosts, you are forbidden to go to the human world... and cause havoc!"

Unfortunately, he stuttered a bit in the first half of the sentence, but his voice unconsciously became softer in the second half.

It wasn't that I was really too scared to speak, but it was the first time in my life that I had faced an audience of 100,000 people alone. This was a bit beyond my expectations, and I wasn't used to this kind of "public speech" for a while.

However, in certain situations, the softer the voice, the more imposing it can be.

Especially at this critical moment when the 100,000 ghost soldiers had just sworn an oath and their killing intent was at its peak, this weak yet clear child's voice carried an almost absurd abruptness and composure.

The fierce killing intent that had been ignited and gathered to its peak by Chen Sheng's vow was actually momentarily halted, its sharpness abruptly diminished by this untimely "interlude"!
Chen Sheng could hardly believe his senses!

The carefully constructed momentum of going all out was interrupted by a single sentence from a little kid who appeared out of nowhere.

This is the greatest insult to him, the Ghost King, and to the 100,000-strong Zhang Chu army!

Any decent enemy wouldn't act so absurdly. Could it be that fate is about to destroy me again?

"You brat, how dare you disrupt the morale of my army!" Chen Sheng roared in fury, his rusty sword pointing directly at Qi Jinchan, causing the blood pool to boil. "Crush him for me!"

The ghost army, which had just been "intimidated" by Qi Jinchan, roared wildly again, surging towards the lone figure like a blood-red tide!
Qi Jinchan: "..." Is it too late to add the poem title now?
Chen Sheng's rusty sword had already been drawn, but at the critical moment, the scarlet ghost eye suddenly shrank!
A fierce, domineering, and seemingly all-powerful sword aura, like a lurking poisonous dragon, shot out from the black portal, its target aimed directly at his brow!
The speed was so fast and the killing intent so concentrated that even Chen Sheng, this old ghost, felt a chill run down his spine!
Ignoring Qi Jinchan any longer, the enormous ghost body suddenly turned to the side with an agility that was not commensurate with its size!

Swish!
The sword energy barely grazed the edge of his crown before blasting straight into the surging sea of ​​blood behind him!
Boom! ! !

The blood wave surged a hundred feet high, and the viscous blood plasma poured down like a torrential rain. The remaining sharpness of the sword energy even left a temporary, irreparable chasm on the sea of ​​blood!

"Little Brother Jin Chan, you still don't understand how to steal the spotlight at a time like this!"

Accompanied by a clear female voice that was both playful and familiar, five figures descended gracefully from the portal as if by prior arrangement, landing steadily in front of the slightly disheveled Qi Jinchan.

It was Yu Yingnan, Yan Renying, Qi Lingyun, Yu Ji, and Li Yingqi, who had just spoken and was now smiling!
These five people seemed to have rehearsed countless times; the moment they landed, they instinctively struck a pose, each with a unique and extremely cool look.

Yu Yingnan's sword tip pointed diagonally at the ground, radiating scorching heat; Yan Renying stood holding her sword, surrounded by stars; Qi Lingyun's robes fluttered, her ethereal beauty was extraordinary; Yu Ji's red dress was like fire, her allure tinged with a resolute determination.

Li Yingqi, who was standing at the very front, became the focus of the entire event!

Looking at the 100,000 ghost soldiers with overwhelming malevolent aura ahead, and the ghost king who was clearly their leader, he showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he revealed a bright smile that was a mixture of excitement and fighting spirit, as if a hunter had spotted his desired prey.

"Qiang——!"

With a clear and melodious sword cry, the two swords, Ziying and Qingsuo, were drawn simultaneously. Two sword lights, one purple and one green, coiled like dragons, their tips pointing at Chen Sheng on the high platform, their sword energy sharp and fierce!
"Bah!"

Li Yingqi channeled his magic power, his voice clear and resonant, yet carrying an undeniable penetrating force that echoed throughout the blood pool:
"Human destiny is predetermined; why reverse yin and yang and disrupt order?"

"After you became king of Chen County, you lost your original pure belief in saving the people and became obsessed with the evil ways of power and lust. Why do you have to do it again today and only add to the bloodshed?"

"Prince Chen, retreating now offers a sliver of hope. Do not say you were not warned!"

A simple opening, but full of momentum!

It clearly stated its stance, subtly mocked Chen Sheng's change of heart, and finally dropped a warning with a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, the world of martial arts and chivalry) flavor—the whole process was smooth and seamless.

Before Chen Sheng could react, Li Yingqi took a few more steps forward, her magical power surging towards the Purple and Green Twin Swords, causing the sword light to burst forth, making her appear like a sword immortal descending to earth!
Although I don't know why my master, who loves to show off the most, stayed behind and whispered to Master Xu, I have already firmly seized this best opportunity that everyone is watching!

"Master, I'm so sorry!" Li Yingqi thought to himself without a trace of guilt. "In such a grand occasion, it's all about making the first move! Next, we need to compose a poem, followed by a solo charge to take down the enemy chief! Even if Master Qing arrives now, he'll only get second place in terms of merit and glory! Hehehehe..."

The inner thoughts of the members of the old Baoan Hall are so simple and unpretentious, yet full of "ambition".

She took a deep breath, preparing to recite the poem she had prepared beforehand, and then stage a spectacular decapitation operation.

However, the moment her lips parted slightly, another unexpected event occurred!

The black portal twisted violently again, and this time, the surging aura caused the temperature of the entire Blood Pool Hell to plummet below freezing.

Little Green King is no longer the naive green snake that once lurked by the Qiantang River.

Having weathered countless storms in Jiangnan, experienced the affairs of Baoan Hall, and even wielded the power of the Water Lord, he has evolved countless times. How could he leave any flaws that would allow his apprentice to easily steal all the limelight?

It was at that delicate moment, just as Li Yingqi's poem was about to be released and his momentum was about to rise.

Waves rise from nowhere! It is not the wind of the mortal world, but the "dark wind" composed of yin and death energy, which is forcibly stirred up by a more powerful force, forming a reverse current and surging upwards!

The gloomy sky was torn open like a rag, and a clear, cold spring-like yet domineering demonic aura shot into the sky like smoke, forcefully carving out a domain in this filthy sea of ​​blood!
Demonic energy gathered, lifting up a divine general, whose dazzling radiance drew the attention of even 100,000 ghost soldiers! What did he look like?

Wearing a "Frosty Azure Crown," carved from millennia-old cold jade and adorned with a pearl from the East Sea, its light illuminates the darkness; and draped in "River Scale Armor," the armor plates resembling dragon scales and ice crystals, with the image of a hundred rivers flowing amidst the misty water vapor.
He wore a "golden belt that ripples with waves" around his waist, with a purple-gold bell hanging from it. When the bell rang three times, it would cause the raging tide of the River of Oblivion to surge. He wore a pair of "water-splitting and cloud-treading shoes" on his feet. Wherever he walked, the turbid waves would recede and clear springs would spring up on their own.

The weapons in their hands were no ordinary weapons of the underworld—Gan Jiang in his left hand and Mo Xie in his right. The two swords clashed, their yin and yang clashing, shaking the souls of countless ghost soldiers to their core!
Let's look at his appearance again:
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, and her eyes were like autumn waters rippling across the surface. She already possessed a beautiful face that could topple kingdoms, but because of her bewitching eyes that shone with a majestic golden light, she gained an additional three points of awe-inspiring and inviolable divine power!
Her lips parted slightly, and before the words were uttered, a chill descended, each word like an ice bead falling onto a jade plate:
"You demons and monsters below, how dare you invade my mortal realm?!"

This is none other than the Water Lord of the Jiangnan region, who is ordained by Heaven and commands the vast expanse of water—King Xiaoqing!
Standing atop the tide of demonic energy, her body exuded a chilling demonic aura yet also possessed the orthodox majesty of the divine. The two distinct auras blended perfectly within her, making her unparalleled in her domineering presence and peerless elegance!
Of course, such a dazzling entrance and overwhelming equipment only slightly outshone his apprentice, Li Yingqi.

For Little Green King, who was determined to steal the spotlight, this was far from enough.

The real highlight is yet to come!
Her gaze swept over the 100,000 menacing ghost soldiers ahead, a hint of disdain flashing in her golden demonic eyes. She clashed her twin swords, Gan Jiang and Mo Xie, together, producing a deafening metallic clang, and shouted sharply:
"You souls who defy the heavens and defy the Dao, who do not contemplate reincarnation, let us see if my Gan Jiang and Mo Xie can sever your delusions!"

Before she finished speaking, she raised her left hand, and a beam of azure light shot out. With a "poof," it landed firmly on the open ground on the other side of the battlefield, growing taller in the wind and transforming into a three-zhang-high azure banner!

On the flag, a dragon and phoenix danced, imbued with the shimmering light of water, and the flagpole stood out like a stabilizing pillar, exuding a calm and composed aura that suppressed all turmoil!

Immediately afterwards, Little Green King focused his energy in his dantian, channeling all his magical power, and his voice, like rolling spring thunder, resounded throughout the entire Blood Pool battlefield:
"Where is the army of justice?!"

The shout was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves!
First, a clanging sound of armor clashing came from inside the door, growing louder and louder as it approached.

Heavy and orderly, with the cold texture unique to metal, it's as if a thousand troops are preparing to go inside the door!
Immediately following was a deafening roar, as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had caved in!
The entire black portal expanded violently, as if it could not bear the weight, and spewed out a terrifying aura that was ten times more concentrated and as thick as ink than before!

The first to emerge from the gate were thirty thousand karmic demons!
Each of them was clad in black iron armor of sin, upon which appeared images of their evil deeds in life. Some were the faces of corrupt officials seeking revenge, others the demeanor of tyrants bullying others, their resentment coalescing into swirling black smoke.

The weapons in his hands were even more peculiar, being instruments of torture from the underworld such as the Soul-Hooking Iron Chain, the Sin-Beating Iron Ruler, and the Sin-Measuring Weight. When wielded, they carried a power of law specifically designed to strike down sinful souls.

These karmic demons marched in unison, and as they stepped onto the ground, black karmic fire lotuses bloomed, scorching the blood pool water and causing it to retreat.

As the karmic ghost emerged, it was followed closely by thirty thousand demon souls, creating a truly terrifying sight:
Some are tiger spirits with piercing eyes and white foreheads, standing upright and walking; others are eagle spirits with sharp claws, flapping their wings and circling; and still others are the spirits of half-human, half-demon mountain spirits and water monsters, retaining their ferocious appearance before death.

They were not clad in heavy armor, but their bodies were covered with scales and feathers formed from their innate demonic energy, which were colorful yet deathly pale.

The weapons were mostly bone forks, yin wind banners, and poison sprayers, accompanied by gusts of demonic wind and a gloomy, eerie mist.

Although these 60,000 demon soldiers came from the same sect, they were clearly distinct. Upon exiting the sect, without needing any commands, they automatically formed an array:
The demonic spirits occupied the center, forming the "Iron Enclosure" formation, like a wall of dark iron, firmly guarding the central army; the demonic souls were arranged on both flanks, setting up the "Summoning Demon Banner" formation, and the evil aura of the demonic souls soared into the sky.

In an instant, the battle formation was complete!

A huge black banner with the character "青" (qing, meaning green) rose slowly from the formation, its banner fluttering, and a green snake image on it swallowing clouds and spitting out mist!
The 60,000 demonic troops were completely silent, except for the overwhelming killing intent that had been condensed to the extreme, which dyed the thick dark clouds above the blood pool into an indissoluble black color!
Such a formidable formation is truly:

The raging flames and demonic winds gather the soldiers of the underworld; a single pointing of the green banner startles even ghosts and gods.

Blood churns and banners shatter; life and death are decided at the boundary between Yin and Yang!

Xiaoqing stood proudly at the front of the formation, looking at the magnificent army she had borrowed, feeling extremely proud.

She is a water deity who commands troops and dominates Jiangnan, suppressing the three lakes. How could she, like a junior, only know how to fight alone and make a show by reciting poems to steal the limelight?
Naturally, the first step was to find someone surnamed Xu to borrow this formidable army from Etu, and then crush them in a righteous and honorable manner!

This is wisdom!
It's a difference in level of understanding!

Full of a sense of accomplishment, King Qing now displayed his commanding presence. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across his own ranks, and he gave a clear shout that resonated throughout the entire army:

"Where is Li Xianfeng?!"

Li Yingqi, who could no longer contain himself, immediately clasped his hands in response, his voice clear and strong:
"The general is here!"

"I hereby command you to lead the swordsmen of Mount Shu as the vanguard, gather three thousand elite demons and monsters, and strike straight into the enemy's central army. Your objective is to slay the general and capture the flag!"

"Understood!" Li Yingqi's eyes lit up with excitement.

At this moment, she admired her master immensely: her master's skill level was truly high! This was not just personal martial prowess, but also the strategic acumen of a great general!
The position of vanguard officer is much more prestigious than simply charging in and killing people!
She immediately turned around and, facing Yu Yingnan, Yan Renying, Qi Lingyun, Qi Jinchan, and other fellow disciples of the Shu Mountain sect, as well as the three thousand elite warriors—a mixture of karmic ghosts and demon souls—who had quickly assembled, possessed the strongest baleful aura and were the best equipped, she swung her purple and green twin swords forward with great force:
"Follow me to break the formation! Kill—!"

"kill!!!"

The three thousand elite soldiers responded in unison, their voices, though not as powerful as those of the hundred thousand ghost soldiers, were more focused and sharp!

Li Yingqi took the lead, his body transforming into a sword light, like the tip of an arrow, leading the Shu Mountain disciples and three thousand demon soldiers, fearlessly launching a desperate charge towards the boundless tide of ghost army ahead!
Seeing this, Chen Sheng was so angry that he laughed: "How dare ants shake a mountain? My men, devour them for me!"

The 100,000 ghost soldiers roared and surged forward like a blood-red tide, instantly engulfing the vanguard.

The war has begun!

(End of this chapter)