A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 223 Water Villages, A Thousand Bodies Like Fire

Lu Da was impatient. After drinking several bottles, he loudly praised the wine and asked repeatedly to confirm that Guan Luoyang was going to give it all to him. Only then did he unfold the large robe around his waist, wrap all the good wine in it, and hold it in his arms.

He jumped ashore and exchanged a few words with Wu Song, then led the way, inviting Guan Luoyang and the others to see their lodgings.

When Guan Luoyang came ashore, Wu Song was holding four wine bottles in each of his two big hands. He looked over with a burning gaze, his eyes full of joy, nodding repeatedly as if he were looking at a large wine cellar rather than a person.

"Damn it, I already drank my fill in Mizhou, I can't drink much more tonight."

Wu Song whispered to Lu Da, "Those wines brewed with the essence of the five metals are good, but they don't taste as good as this kind of wine. Brother, you are seriously injured and have to entertain the Taoist priest, so let me hold onto the wine. I'll take it and put it away for now."

Lu Da readily agreed, clutching the bundle in his arms even tighter, refusing to loosen his grip even with a finger, and exclaimed, "Brother, arrange these ores first, distribute them overnight, and teach them how to eat them tomorrow morning."

He shouted as he hurried up the mountain.

As everyone followed him up the mountain, Guan Luoyang touched his sleeve and thought to himself, "In the Lesser Universe Technique, there are only some miscellaneous items left, such as the Divine Weapon of Radiant Martial Arts and the invitation letter for Emperor-type Reincarnators. There's no wine left."

The men brought by Guan Luoyang, led by Li Jun, first went to find a place with few mosquitoes and no poisonous snakes, lit a campfire, and roasted themselves around it to get rid of the cold and dampness that had accumulated on their bodies from traveling on the water for a long time.

The remaining Lin Lingsu, Gongsun Sheng, Dai Zong, and others naturally had no need to warm themselves by the fire, so they followed along to the top of the mountain.

When looking at Liangshan from the water, you can only see dense forests and no signs of houses being built. But once you cross the mountain, the scenery changes completely.

On the surrounding hillsides, houses rose and fell in a seemingly chaotic yet orderly fashion, standing quietly in the night, each exuding a faint scent of herbs.

"When Brother Li Ying arrived at Liangshan, the people here lived in the forest. In spring and summer, there were countless poisonous insects and mosquitoes. Thanks to his personal guidance, he taught everyone how to build houses on the hillside, choose a place that would not easily collapse when it rained, and also taught everyone to collect herbs to prevent insects."

Lu Da said, "The idea of ​​not building houses on the outer perimeter of the mountains, but on the inner side, was also proposed by Brother Li Ying. I was a little confused at the time, but recently I have come to understand the benefits of doing it this way."

When government troops attacked Liangshan, in order to create a real momentum for suppressing the bandits, they would usually send out large warships first, with hundreds of cannons firing simultaneously to bombard the area first.

If these people build houses on the outskirts of the mountains, they will surely be injured by artillery fire.

Looking around, Guan Luoyang felt as if he were in a mountain city with peaks as its walls.

Each household's stove was set up outside, and the traces of earthenware pots and fire pits were still fresh. Some families were better off, and dried fish and meat hung under their windows.

The people who had just moved here had to switch from fishing to making a living, even though they were originally meant to make a living on land. Their lives should have been difficult, but the place was surprisingly full of vitality, which made them feel much more at ease than the many villages that Guan Luoyang had seen since arriving in this world.

Further on, past these houses, you reach the valley. Ahead, you can see a large, flat area, stretching over 500 feet in length and width. At the foot of the mountain, rows of wooden houses stand in neat rows, with open spaces deliberately left in the middle.

Lu Zhishen said, "Taoist Master, look at that place. I led my men to level and compact it. Don't be fooled by how simple the house looks. It has a very solid foundation and can withstand the strong winds in the mountains. It can house more than thirty people. The people living inside are all good men who have learned martial arts from me and my brother."

Guan Luoyang asked, "How many people are there?"

"There are approximately eight thousand."

Lu Zhishen said, "That's already quite a lot. These eight thousand are all in relatively good physical condition and can withstand hard training. As for the others, unless they are well-fed and cared for for a year or two, they won't be able to train and will only damage their bodies for no reason."

Li Ying added, "Moreover, people need to fish, and people need to go into the forest to cut down trees, make ropes, and weave nets in order to survive. These eight thousand people alone are already being supported by others through gritted teeth. If they hadn't already suffered a lot on their way to Liangshan, they wouldn't have had the determination to support this group."

Since realizing the situation at Liangshan, Li Ying has been torn. If he doesn't help them allocate manpower and support such a force, they are not doing well now, and it will be even worse when the government troops attack. But even if he grits his teeth and supports such a force, it will still be a disaster when the government troops attack.

He stayed there for several months before finally leaving, knowing that if he didn't leave soon, he might lose his life if he stayed with these people any longer.

Lu Da had already reached the door of a wooden house. He kicked the door open, put a bundle of wine inside, and turned around to say, "This is where I live. Please wait a moment, Daoist. I'll cook two fish and roast some meat to go with the wine."

Lin Lingsu said from outside, "I need to regulate my vital energy. When it rains in these mountains, which peak gets struck by lightning the most times?"

Li Ying thought for a moment and pointed to a mountain peak.

Guan Luoyang said, "Would you recover faster if you were struck by lightning? Why didn't you say so earlier? Then I..."

Lin Lingsu resolutely said, "No need. I just want to use the mountain's spiritual beauty to recuperate, not to be struck by lightning. In particular, I don't want to touch something so different from heavenly lightning. I don't know what kind of strange lightning magic it is."

The kind of thing that injures the mind before the body, if you strike it a few more times, even if the physical injuries heal on the side, the mental injuries will probably take several more months to heal.

With that thought in mind, he walked alone up the mountain.

Since he had already arrived at Liangshan, and was not afraid of encountering any dangers he could not handle, Gongsun Sheng did not go with him.

The rest of the group went to sit down in Lu Zhishen's room.

There were no tables or chairs, just a few large stones for people to lean on and sit on.

A shallow pit was dug in the ground between these large rocks, and burnt charcoal was buried in the pit. Two or three earthenware pots containing warm water were placed on top of it.

Lu Da had already moved the earthenware pot aside, taken some dry firewood, flapped his nostrils twice, and breathed out a burst of flame from his mouth to light it. He then put the earthenware pot back on, and once the water boiled, he could cook the fish.

Guan Luoyang stopped Lu Da: "There's no need for any roast meat or fish. We've been eating all the way on the boat. You're badly injured, so you should focus on healing first. This boiling water is just right; I'll use it to make some tea to sober up."

He took out the tea leaves and tea set and placed them in front of him.

Li Ying also offered a few words of advice, and Lu Da finally sat back down.

"The iron staff that I used to use in the army has been damaged over the years. It was accidentally shattered during the battle that night. Later, I seized many weapons, but none of them were suitable, which is why I got some more wounds."

Lu Da took off a small cloth bag tied to his waist, took out a few dark minerals, and stuffed them into his mouth. He chewed them with a clanging sound, his muscles bulged, and the shallower wounds slowly closed up.

Guan Luoyang waved his hand, and the boiling water in the earthenware pot split into several streams, pouring into the bowl and filling it completely. The tea leaves slowly unfurled, and he put the lid on, saying, "Is the iron staff you're using a weapon like a crescent shovel? I might have one here that would suit you."

Among the twenty-eight divine weapons of Guangwu, there are all kinds of weapons, including swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks. There are even feather fans and guqin. Among them, there happens to be a crescent shovel.

Guan Luoyang took it out and held it in his hand. He saw that the long handle in the middle of the crescent shovel had a heavy, dark luster, and two gold rings were tied around the part connecting the shovel head and the crescent shape.

The blades at both ends are snow-white, and a casual glance at them can make one's eyes sting and ache slightly.

"My iron staff is nine feet long. Six feet of it is a round stick, and the top three feet is thicker. It is hexagonal with six sides and is engraved with many incomprehensible scribbles. It doesn't look like a shovel."

Despite his words, Lu Da still accepted the crescent shovel. The moment he touched it, a sense of delight rose within him. He said, "A fine weapon, a fine weapon! This thing is heavier than my old iron staff, and it's icy cold to the touch. But after handling it for a while, it feels as if it's connected to my blood. It's truly a wondrous object. What is its origin?"

Guan Luoyang said, "It is said to be the weapon of the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai under Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is a divine object that conceals its true nature. Only when it encounters a famous general or warrior who can subdue it will it feel a connection with its bloodline. It seems that this weapon is compatible with your temperament. If you don't mind, you can take it and use it."

"This is an antique!" Lu Da exclaimed in surprise, quickly declining, "The Daoist Master already gifted me so much fine wine upon our first meeting, how could I possibly accept such a generous gift?"

Guan Luoyang said, "The government troops want to attack Liangshan, but I intend to stay there for a long time, sharing your hatred of the enemy. Giving you weapons is also helping myself. Besides, I have a request. Could you show me the martial arts techniques you've taught the Liangshan people?"

"That's just the introductory skill of the Nine Earths Expansion Classic, called the 'Standing and Flying Sword and Spear Manual'."

Lu Da was really fond of the crescent shovel and said, "Since you're interested, Daoist, why don't I demonstrate it for you?"

He was decisive and acted swiftly, taking the Crescent Moon Cudgel with him as he went out and stood in the training ground.

Guan Luoyang and the others followed and watched.

Lu Da first opened his eyes and looked at the sky, then let out a long and heavy breathing sound from his mouth and nose. His aura gradually rose, as if he wanted to bite a piece off the moon in the sky.

When that breath became as loud as a whistle, Lu Da's body seemed to step on that rising, sharp sound and suddenly charged out.

Surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests, the crescent-shaped shovel tumbled and rolled, slashing and smashing, enveloping Lu Da in a flurry of movements, leaving afterimages everywhere.

He deliberately slowed down the pace of the drill so that Guan Luoyang could see every detail clearly. Even so, his movements were still as fast as a whirlwind that lingered in the valley.

The distance of several hundred feet seemed to be within his reach. As long as he turned his gaze to a certain place, he could take a step and the blade of the crescent shovel would be there.

This vast open space, large enough to accommodate ten thousand people, was completely suppressed by him alone, with the imposing aura of his weapon. Every corner was under the threat of that crescent shovel.

Guan Luoyang could see clearly that this set of standing and flying sword and spear manuals was actually simple in movement, and no posture exceeded the physical limits of an ordinary person, but it was just right to bring it to the point of near-limit.

You can imagine that as long as you follow these movements, even if you don't do them perfectly or quickly enough, your breathing rhythm will be guided into a special pattern, allowing you to breathe in and out your internal organs, develop your body and mind, and nourish your nine orifices.

As for the more advanced demonic techniques and methods, such as how to devour ores and transform them into one's own vital energy, it seems that some clues can be gleaned from these foundational skills.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Da had finished practicing the entire set of sword and spear manuals. His body was shrouded in smoke, with a faint luster like burning iron. Taking advantage of this lingering effect, he recited a mental cultivation technique.

"...This is the complete version of the Nine Grounds Exorcism Classic."

Lu Da said, "The mental techniques of military strategy are all like this. They are short and easy to get started with, but they become more and more difficult to master as you progress. How high you can reach depends entirely on your perseverance. Of course, the most important thing is to have enough minerals to nourish your body."

Guan Luoyang silently recited the technique in his mind, analyzed it word by word for a while, and said, "The army practices this kind of technique. So those junior officers and elite soldiers at that level should not be able to develop the ability to manipulate wind and fire, or fly and escape from the ground. They are just stronger."

Lu Da nodded in agreement and said, "In fact, the so-called elite soldiers in each prefecture and county only need to have the strength of more than a thousand catties in their arms. If they have more than ten thousand catties, they are already qualified to be officers such as captains or commanders."

Li Ying said from the side, "But once the army exceeds ten thousand, the turbid air fills the sky. With the breathing techniques of the demonic path, they become stronger and stronger in battle. If they are led by a sufficient number of famous generals, they will be even more divinely empowered, making them as solid as a rock."

"When the fighting reached its peak, it was no longer the other way around; the surrounding air and blood energy were so concentrated that they were actively crowding into their bodies, and everyone could exceed their usual level."

He looked at Lu Da and said, "I know that you and Wu Song are both exceptionally brave, but you are also always shrewd despite your rough exterior. You must have scouted ahead and avoided places where there might be large armies stationed."

Lu Da laughed heartily and said, "Brother Li Ying, you flatter me."

Guan Luoyang understood and said, "So you mean, relying on a few experts to harass the enemy everywhere won't be very effective. To truly force an army to retreat, we need at least enough manpower to hold the line temporarily and prevent the enemy's morale and fighting strength from continuing to rise. Only then can we try to change the situation through methods like dueling battles?"

"Exactly. If there are only a few experts, even the best heroes and Taoists in the world, they can at most break through the army. They cannot possibly kill tens of thousands of elite demonic soldiers. If they fight to the death, they may even be worn down by the army."

Li Ying's voice was low and deep. "The most difficult part is that, at present, the people of Liangshan cannot even establish the most basic defensive line when facing the government troops."

Gongsun Sheng stood to the side, looking dejected, and tried to speak several times. His master, Master Luo, was a prime example of how he was held back by a few Taoist officials and then slowly worn down to death by the demonic army.

"So——"

To Li Ying and the others' surprise, Guan Luoyang neither sighed nor remained silent. Instead, he revealed a confident smile, clapped his hands, and laughed, "I'll solve this problem first."

At dawn, with the first stars and waning moon, the sky was already brightening.

Eight thousand infantrymen from Liangshan were summoned and stood in the drill ground.

They helped unload the cargo on the shore last night and each received a portion of the minerals. They were so excited that they couldn't contain themselves and were just waiting to learn the secret to consuming the minerals.

Looking at their sleepless, excited expressions, Li Ying gradually discerned what lay hidden beneath that excitement.

—It turns out they were all deeply worried.

They lacked Li Ying's keen insight and Guan Luoyang's ability to draw inferences from one instance to another, and they were unable to deduce from the overall situation that government troops were about to attack Liangshan.

But their instincts prevented them from relaxing.

Life is so hard elsewhere, so why is it so comfortable here? (They consider life here comfortable)

Can officials govern so many places, but not this one?

Even the most remote villages will be searched by soldiers conscripting laborers. Won't soldiers come to this place?

That was just a simple, even somewhat self-deprecating and fearful, survival wisdom, yet it yielded the same correct answer.

That's why these people were able to endure the arduous training arranged by Lu Da and Wu Song, and why they were so eager to undergo further rigorous training. They also felt that there wasn't enough time and vaguely guessed that their arduous training might not be enough.

But there was no other way.

Li Ying dared not look any longer, turning his head to look at the hillside, thinking with a glimmer of hope: What exactly is Guan Luoyang's plan?

Guan Luoyang bent slightly on the hillside, letting down his sleeves, the edges of which touched the grass on the hillside.

On the distant mountaintop, Lin Lingsu also turned around and looked at that spot.

A layer of bright red blood spread across Guan Luoyang's sleeves, growing thicker and thicker until it flowed out of his sleeves, covering the green grass and moving among the roots and leaves.

In the blink of an eye, the bright red color had covered the entire hillside.

The eight thousand people of Liangshan, bewildered and puzzled, watched the scene unfold before them.

Guan Luoyang forcefully flicked his sleeve, tearing off a corner of it.

Vibrant colors surged forth, and thousands upon thousands of bright red flowers burst open across the entire hillside, their delicate red stamens dancing in the air.

The Divine Robe absorbed so much earth vein energy in Violet State. The purest part was used to absorb and evolve, but there was also a lot of lower-level primordial energy that could be used to nourish, proliferate, and split into more new combat life fibers.

In any case, if Guan Luoyang encounters a truly formidable opponent, only the most evolved part of the Divine Robe can be of help; the other newly proliferated sub-bodies are dispensable to him.

For the people of Liangshan, however, it was quite different.

The silk threads fell like rain and snow onto their clothes, seeping into their fabric.

It's just a small piece of combat life fiber, not enough to change its state too much.

However, under Guan Luoyang's true spiritual electric energy baptism, it was enough to transform the clothes of these eight thousand people into the shape he envisioned.

A subtle stinging sensation, mixed with exhilarating emotions, impacted their minds and bodies, and their variegated coarse cloth and even linen clothes were all transforming into fiery red outfits.

Narrow sleeves, wrist guards, cinched waist, and right-fastening front.

To stimulate and sustain the life force of combat requires a certain potential, or rather, a certain belief.

This belief can be anything, but Guan Luoyang, upon first meeting these people, no longer doubted their ability to achieve it.

They were displaced, traversing mountains and rivers to migrate here.

No belief in the world is more powerful or more simple than this.

What kind of vision?

Live!

Not enough, what kind of ambition?

What's not enough? We just want a place to live!

As if in a hallucination, they heard a question from above, and the eight thousand people trembled and clenched their fists in anger.

And then, in that instant, their bodies were engulfed in flames!

(End of this chapter)