Jiangshan (4)
Qu Yi saw Xu Ning and said, "I woke up last night and heard a strange bell ringing from the City Lord's Palace."
"I went over to see that the city lord was walking with a man in black. I went over to pull him away, but the man in black knocked me unconscious with a palm."
"Can you see the man in black clearly?"
Qu Yi shook his head: "He was wearing a black cloak, and most of his face was covered. He had a bell, and when the bell rang, the city lord followed him. He looked like he had lost consciousness."
The only person Xu Ning could think of who had this ability was the Soul-Catcher Fu Ling.
"When Cang Cang and I went to rescue Dad, Fu Ling had already died in order to protect us." Xu Lian frowned in confusion.
Ye Yulan took a sip of tea and said slowly: "It's not him. It's the Wu clan elder Xuan Yin."
"Fu Ling was once Xuan Yin's disciple before joining the Lie Yin Sect. When it comes to soul-stealing techniques, Xuan Yin is the best in the world. I thought he was dead a long time ago, but now it seems he's in hiding."
Xue Buzhu suddenly jumped up and said, "It's over. If Xuanyin was working for Su Wujin, and led Zhao Shao to be taken away by this old monster to practice poison cultivation, I was wondering how this kid, with such a good physique for poison cultivation, could escape so easily. So this is his plan."
Qu Xiang added, "I've read in poison books that when Ningzhou becomes a Gu King, they release people mid-sentence, also known as releasing them. If they survive, they'll be captured and placed in a poison pool made from 108 different kinds of Gu insects for three days and three nights, and then they'll become the true Gu King."
"What will become of him?"
Qu Xiang looked at Xu Ning's dark eyes covered with a layer of mist, and his voice trembled, ready to break at the slightest touch.
Qu Xiang sighed and squeezed out the words: "He lost consciousness, neither human nor ghost."
"Like those scary-looking people who only know how to kill people?"
"Yes. And more aggressive."
"Don't be sad, little girl. There are also people in the ancient books of Ningzhou who became Gu Queens and retained their consciousness and were able to control themselves."
Xu Ning's eyes changed slightly.
Xue Bushuo continued, "We have to trust Yin Zhao. He's such a strong man, he will definitely be able to do it."
——
Tang Xixu lost consciousness and followed Xuanyin like a puppet.
"Since Elder Xuan has found the person, please give me the last Soul-Devouring Pill." Su Wujin said angrily.
The King of Xizhou issued an edict to him, requiring him to capture fifteen cities of the State of Xin this year and not to pay tribute next year, otherwise the successor to the throne would be chosen by someone else.
"Of course." A small silver snake's head popped out from his shoulder, hissing and spitting out its tongue. Xuan Yin took out the remaining pills from his sleeve and said with a deep smile, "Thank you, Your Highness, for helping my Wu Clan find the Gu King."
The Ningzhou Witch Clan has been in decline for many years because it has never had a Gu King. The clan members have a hard time living. Xuanyin has trained several Gu children, but only Tang Xixu survived. If Su Wujin had not helped him enter the Buhuo City where the defense was weakened, he might not have been able to catch him.
After returning to the Wu clan, Xuanyin sent people to strip Tang Xixu of his upper body clothes and tied him up.
A strange red mandala that looks like a blood claw blooms on his chest, now covering most of his chest.
Xuan Yin stared at his "work" almost crazily, with the devotion of a believer.
The moment he saw the statue of Tang Xiwan, Tang Xixu regained consciousness. After seven years, he returned to this place. It remained unchanged. In the center of the sacrificial field stood a limbless bronze figure wearing a large-eared, green bronze mask. Green banners, raised from all sides, formed a pyramid, shrouding the entire altar. From the main seat of the altar, dark green bronze vessels shaped like the sun and the golden crow surrounded it. The wind blew, and the bronze vessels clashed. The sound of ancient bells echoed from ancient times, transporting everyone to the mysterious ancient land of the Wu Clan.
Five or six people pinned him down, and Tang Xixu was unable to move.
"Xuan Yin, what on earth are you going to do? I don't owe you anything, and my mother doesn't owe you anything either."
The young man raised his eyelids, his expression cold and gloomy.
"Your mother, Tang Xiwan, is the Saint of our Wu Clan. Her mission is to find the Gu King who can lead our Wu Clan to prosperity."
Xuan Yin walked up to the statue of Tang Xiwan and said, "Your Highness, I have brought your son back. His body is indeed an excellent vessel for poisonous Gu, a natural-born Gu King."
The old man's eyes could not hide his excitement and pride.
Tang Xixu searched for his mother's body for many years but couldn't find it. He almost collapsed and resisted: "What on earth did you do to my mother! Give her back to me!"
Xuan Yin, the madman, thought he had done a great deed. "What's with that expression on your face? Your body will be immortalized as a stone statue, worshipped by generations of Wu people. This is the fate of every saint. It's the highest honor!"
Tang Xixu didn't want to listen to his bullshit. If his mother really thought this was glory, she wouldn't have looked so horrified at the end.
When Tang Xiwan learned that her son was living like a beast in Ningzhou, she came to rescue him, but she never expected to be plotted against by Xuanyin. She was filled with lead and made into a stone specimen and placed in the Holy Maiden Temple.
Xuanyin raised his chin towards one of the priests and said, "Let's start." The language of the Wu people is different from that of the people of the present day. They have a unique language system. Perhaps because of his Wu blood, Tang Xixu has never had any language barriers.
Tang Xixu's internal strength had already been weakened a lot. Although his cold had healed, the poison had recurred and everything was back to the starting point.
Xuanyin didn't know what medicine he took, but Tang Xixu's internal energy was sealed and he was no different from an ordinary person.
Tang Xixu broke free from his restraints and jumped away.
"Catch him!"
Tang Xixu had no internal strength left, and all his palm strikes were empty moves, just like tickling someone.
Several more people came up and punched and kicked him, and Tang Xixu fell into the bubbling pool of medicine.
Tang Xixu fell into the pool and the surface of the pool was silent. Xuanyin immediately ordered people to seal the pool with iron nets.
His ears were filled with water and he lost his hearing for a moment. Xu Ning's appearance and voice were blurred. His brother, father, mother, all the people, things, sounds and smells he was familiar with became blurred.
He knew what would become of him, and he wanted to kill himself, but his hands and feet were weak and he couldn't use any strength.
When his mind went blank, his meridians became active, his blood boiled, his heart beat rapidly, and his whole body was filled with strength.
During the days that Tang Xixu fell into the pool, the color of the green pool became lighter. On the third night, a whirlpool appeared in the center of the pool, and soon half of its body was completely covered by red datura flowers, with its fangs and claws bared.
The young man burst out of the pool, his pupils a dark red, the corners half crimson and half dark blue. The iron net was broken, and a strong wind blew, knocking all the guards to the ground.
Tang Xixu's eyes were icy, and no one could stop him. Xuanyin heard the noise and came over, overjoyed, as if he had seen the dawn.
"It's done, it's done, hahaha, the Wu clan is saved!" Xuan Yin raised his hands, "The Gu King is born, and there is hope for our Wu clan!"
He piously called on everyone to kneel down, but before they could even lower their heads, their necks were broken.
Tang Xixu couldn't control the arrogant and overbearing power in his body. It paralyzed his nerves, excited his brain, and controlled his behavior.
He didn't know why he was like this. The violent gene in his heart was raging, and he didn't want to kill anyone in his heart.
"Go!" He tried his best to control his hands and not attack anyone.
Everyone fled in panic, and some of those who were slow were killed in one blow.
The altar had become a scorching battlefield of corpses and bones, and the inky bronze statue, splattered with blood, looked like a ghost devouring human bones.
The small snake that had been wrapped around Xuanyin, attracted by Tang Xixu's unique fragrance, coiled around his ankle and bit him. Tang Xixu kicked the snake away, and the snake, as if possessed by a spirit, led him towards the priest's hall.
The rage in his body subsided, and he followed the little snake as if possessed.
Above the main seat of the priest's hall was a piece of crystal clear blood jade, inside which lay a strange-looking little insect with four legs and eight feet, about the size of a thumb, sleeping with its eyes closed.
The little silver snake wrapped itself around the blood jade and stared at Tang Xixu spitting out his tongue.
The blood jade was emitting a fragrance, the same as the one emanating from his body, but a little lighter. Tang Xixu took a deep breath of the blood jade, and the remaining restlessness in his body disappeared.
He also found two identical pieces in the Xuanyin Palace, and Tang Xixu carried one of them with him.
The Daxin Palace was in turmoil, and the Xizhou envoys, under the guise of leaving, launched an uprising half a month later, leading the highly combat-capable Gu People Army to breach Wutong Pass and capture three cities in a single day. This battle depleted the majority of the imperial forces, and at this time, the Jin State took advantage of the situation to loot, resulting in the loss of another city.
After Mo Wenqing's death, Emperor Gan Ping of Xin Kingdom lost interest in defending the borders. With no one at court to fight, he sought out talented individuals from across the land. All the heroes of the Jianghu put aside their past grudges and joined the war to defeat the foreign enemy.
Yuwen Xin sat on the throne, holding his forehead and frowning.
Li Dequan hurried in, his eyelids trembling: "Your Majesty, Nanyang County has been lost."
Yuwen Xin raised his eyes, his gaze suddenly cold. He stood up and walked to the map of the country behind the dragon throne, covering the small area of Nanyang.
We will arrive at Youzhou soon. After passing Youzhou, we will be not far from Jizhou, and then to Shangjing.
Li Dequan considered it over and over again: "Even if there are powerful martial arts heroes here, it is difficult to win."
"Can you find Zui Shengchi and Bi Ruohua?"
"No, the two hermits left for the nameless island in the western polar region last year, so it's too late to find them. Furthermore, at the founding of the nation, Zui Shengchi made an agreement with the other rulers not to get involved in any disputes, and Bi Ruohua did the same later."
If the two of them had joined the war, there would have been no rulers of the countries that came after them.
After a long silence, Yuwen Xin made up his mind.
Whether he lives or dies, the Daxin Kingdom is in his hands, and he will do his best to protect it.
"I will personally lead the army."
Zhao Mingchang wanted to dissuade them, but ultimately did not step forward.
Based on Mo Tingzhou's description, Xue Bushuo and Sun Baoyi are developing an antidote for this enhanced version of the poison.
As the war drew closer, Xu Ning entrusted the task of finding Tang Xixu to Ye Yulan, but she still hadn't received a reply in almost a month. She couldn't think about anything else, as she spent her days fighting and clearing out enemy troops while Qu Xiang tended to the wounded.
Many houses in villages and towns were destroyed and people were seriously injured.
Qu Xiang was bandaging a soldier's wound. It was cold, and someone put a piece of clothing on his shoulders.
She glanced sideways and was about to bow, but Zhao Mingshang stopped her: "I'm not the queen here, I'm just a daughter of the Zhao family."
The Jin State led its troops to besiege Nanyang County, which was defended by the people of Yueqiu City. The leader of the Jin State was He Lansheng himself. Xu Ning was worried and sent Xu Lian and Yin Cangcang to support them.
In this life, Yin Wumeng was sent to Yaowang Valley for treatment in time. Although his power was weakened, fortunately he was clear-headed and not stupid.
Helan Sheng was so arrogant that he didn't even wear armor. The people of Jin fought for the pleasure of their master, so they carried a sedan chair.
He Lansheng squinted at Xu Lian and said, "How did Yingshanhong, who once regarded the Lie Yin Sect as a disgrace, become like this? Look at you, a person who was about to enter the realm of innocence, now retreated to the Great Heaven, without any murderous intent."
Yin Cangcang was seriously injured, and Xu Lian saved her by giving her four levels of power, missing her chance to break through. Meanwhile, He Lansheng had already entered the Shangqing realm after a year of absence.
"How about I make a deal with you? You give me Fang Hongzhi's body, and I will withdraw my troops immediately." He Lansheng leaned over and sneered.
Xu Lian's eyes were cold and sneered: "Since the king is so confident, why not take action himself?"
He Lansheng stopped laughing and called for someone to bring a sword.
The two armies did not move, and the three men dueled.
…
"General, the Gu army has reached Jizhou." A young general came from the battlefield to report.
Xu Ning looked solemn.
Su Wujin led his Gu people army to the gate of Jizhou city. There were not only Gu people army but also normal troops. The gate was crowded with people.
The strong wind was blowing, the military flags were fluttering, Yuwen Xin's canopy stood in the center of the army, and Zhao Mingshang also came. She was wearing a bright yellow dress, with her sleeves rolled up and holding a drumstick.
"Xu Ning, I really underestimated you. Not only did you rescue Ye Yulan, but you also gave Taran advice that led to the breakup between the Yisha tribe and the Xizhou royal court."
"However, Tang Xixu is dead. No matter how powerful you are, you are still a woman." Su Wujin's eyes were full of contempt.
He wanted to provoke Xu Ning, but she was particularly calm and no emotion could be seen on her face.
"That's still better than you. At least I don't take human life lightly."
"For the sake of my great cause of unifying Xizhou, those insignificant people can die." Su Wujin paused and said, "If you put down your sword and come towards me now, I will not hold anything against you. When I conquer Xin and unify the Central Plains, I will offer you my kingdom as a betrothal gift and share the world with you. How do you think?"
If an ordinary woman heard these words, she would blush and become his pawn, a bird in a cage, but she is Xu Ning, an eagle in the sky and a Kun in the sea. How can sweet words contain an eagle or a Kun?
"Not very good."
"My mother used this sword to protect our beautiful country. Now I will use this sword to drive you back to Xizhou."
Su Wujin narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly. She had agreed just now, so she was no longer Xu Ning.
"Black Armored Soldiers, protect His Majesty. The rest of the soldiers, follow me and kill together!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dark clouds covered the sun and the wind was raging.
Zhao Mingchang raised his hammer and beat the drum, which greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers.
"Soldiers of Xin State, Ming Chang is in the hands of you!"
The emperor came in person, the empress beat the drum to boost morale, and the morale was high.
Soon the two sides started fighting. The Gu army was much stronger, and many Xin soldiers had their necks twisted before they could even make a move. What's more, some of the Gu army were well-trained soldiers, and there were also many followers of the Southern Sect. After half an hour, many heroes had died.
The war never stops, the drums never stop beating.
Qu Yi shouted, "We can't go on like this. Those crazy people are so energetic that we'll either be killed or exhausted to death!"
Xu Ning didn't know how many people she had killed. She would kill anyone with stiff limbs and sharp fangs.
When Xu Lian arrived, he had only one arm left. The blood from the broken arm stained the white cloth wrapped in it red. He carried a long sword on his back and Yin Cangcang on his right hand.
The woman was unconscious, with blood oozing from the corners of her lips, and her face was also pale.
"elder brother!"
"careful!"
When Xu Ning lost consciousness, a poisonous person with a distorted and terrifying face pointed his claws at Xu Ning's back.
Qu Yi happened to come over and catch Yin Cangcang, and Xu Lian was able to kill the poisoner.
Both sides suffered heavy losses in the battle of Youzhou. When He Lansheng cut off Xu Lian's arm, Yin Cangcang used all his strength to hit He Lansheng with a palm. He Lansheng seriously injured Yin Cangcang when he took his last breath. Fortunately, the two of them managed to save Youzhou City.
After Qu Yi returned to the military tent, Qu Xiang took over.
Yin Cangcang woke up and coughed up blood: "Hurry up and save Brother Lian, he, he broke his arm."
A flash of surprise flashed across Qu Xiang's eyes. He immediately sent someone to Youzhou to retrieve the broken arm. She consoled him, "Don't worry, I'll heal him. Your internal organs are all damaged, so don't speak anymore."
After He Lansheng's death, Su Wuxie took over the Jin army and force-fed them a poisonous insect, this time with a stronger effect.
It was dark and then light, then light and then dark again. I wonder how many days had passed, three? Or four?
During the truce, the soldiers slept on the ground. They had no food left and had to eat skins and grass.
Xu Ning looked at the army of Gu people that continued to advance, with no end in sight. She felt confused and desperate.
What should I do, Mother? This is my last chance. The army has suffered heavy casualties. I don't know how much longer I can hold out.
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