Chapter 1292: Self-Attacking the City Gate

He had no doubt that once the Sky Demon found an opportunity, it would certainly return to the human world. If he were the Sky Demon, he would do the same.

Only by descending to the human world could it continue to pursue its individual strength.

Dong Rui bared his teeth, "How would I know? Didn't you stop me from researching it?"

"I trust your deductions."

At these words, Dong Rui's temper vanished. "Hmm, the most convenient method would be to possess an immortal's body, but that in itself is too difficult. It's like a mouse trying to put a bell on a cat."

There was a local story: cats walked silently, and mice were always victimized. So, the mice unanimously decided to put a bell on the cat; wherever the cat walked, the bell would ring, and the mice could escape.

Then the problem arose: who would go and put the bell on the cat?

The Sky Demon faced a similar problem. Not only were there very few immortals left in existence, but even if there were, how many bodies could it possess?

Not to mention, there was also an compatibility issue.

"A cultivator's body is too fragile to fully contain the Sky Demon's power." Dong Rui had long considered this issue and his mind was clear. "So, the key question is, does the Sky Demon's body necessarily have to be human?"

Silence fell over the room as soon as he spoke these words.

He Lingchuan recalled Qu Yu's landfill. No matter how the immortal tried to destroy the clues, he hadn't had time to burn down the landfill entirely. Strange and bizarre remains were piled there, and He Lingchuan didn't know if they were naturally formed that way or had been modified later.

Had Qu Yu modified them?

Why?

He Lingchuan also thought of Dong Rui's demon puppets. Were they similar in concept?

A shiver ran down his spine.

Both men were silent for a long moment.

Finally, Dong Rui broke the silence. "Ahem, did you call me for something?"

"Yes." He Lingchuan collected his thoughts, picked up a piece of intelligence, and showed it to him. "The matters here are mostly settled. I want to make a trip to Bayuan Village."

"Another new mission from Spirit Mountain?" Dong Rui read the words on the paper. "The Puyin Temple is in Bayuan Village, directly behind Shizhoutou City, and has strong incense offerings?"

"It's not a Spirit Mountain mission. Spirit Mountain wouldn't pay attention to such a small place. I want to go there myself," He Lingchuan said. "I have some new ideas."

"Puyin Temple? Is that a temple dedicated to a god?" Dong Rui frowned. "Puyin... I seem to have heard that name somewhere before."

"Puyin is just a minor deity, not very well-known elsewhere," He Lingchuan stretched. "If we want to go to Bayuan Village, we should pick a bright, sunny day."

Glimmering Gold Plain.

Fifty *li* south of Ju City, Shizhoutou.

The city gates were tightly shut, and torches blazed both on and below the city walls.

Outside the city, a vast army stood, and someone below shouted loudly towards the top of the city gate:

"The City Commander has returned! Xu Youguang, open the gate quickly!"

After several shouts, there was no answer from the other side. Instead, the soldiers on the city gate aimed their bows and arrows downwards, their gaze unfriendly.

"Who's in charge of the gate? Is everyone dead?" The people below grew impatient. "Send someone who can talk!"

Just as he finished speaking, someone indeed spoke from the city gate tower:

"Xu Youguang is dead. He can't open the gate for Commander Liu."

The torchlight illuminated the man's face, revealing a fresh, dark-red scar running from the corner of his eye to his nostril.

"When the Zhao army attacked, he tried to secretly open the city gates to surrender, so I personally chopped off his head."

The army below was startled by the words. Commander Liu spurred his horse forward and rode out from the crowd. "Captain Yang did well! From now on, you are the deputy general, commanding the city defense army. Now, quickly open the city gates."

"Before the Zhao army attacked, didn't Commander Liu just pack up and run?" Captain Yang remained unmoved. "Before fleeing, he even looted the city's residents, making bandits look mild in comparison. Now that we've driven off the Zhao army and held the city, Commander Liu wants to return to his post?"

Commander Liu was displeased. "I personally went to get reinforcements, and I ordered you to stay and defend the city! Your steadfast defense of Shizhoutou was your duty. How dare you spread baseless rumors, accusing me of abandoning the people!"

Suddenly, a soldier on the city gate shouted:

"Two days before the Zhao army attacked, you condoned your subordinates' looting! Both my sisters' homes were ransacked, and they were beaten bloody!"

With someone leading the way, the crowd above the city gate began to curse him, their voices carrying for two *li*.

"The City Commander is a thief, shameless!"

"You scoundrel, you still want to enter the city? I'll shoot you down first!"

Other profanities were even more offensive.

Someone, overcome with emotion and with an arrow already notched, fired it directly at Commander Liu.

The arrow was quite precise, hitting him squarely in the chest.

Commander Liu wore a protective artifact; a flash of green light emanated from his body, saving his life. Nevertheless, he was startled. He reined his horse and galloped back into his army, while simultaneously pointing at the city gate:

"Take them down! Shoot them all down!"

The army below the city also raised their bows and shot upwards.

Arrows rained down from both sides, and the battle suddenly erupted.

However, the defenders on the wall had the advantage of higher ground. Commander Liu hadn't expected his own city defense army to actually attack him. His subordinates were too close to the city gate, and their casualties from arrows were much higher than those of the city defense army.

Commander Liu's army had to retreat fifty *zhang*.

At the same time, Captain Yang signaled to the city defense army: "Stop firing! We don't have many arrows; use them sparingly!"

After fighting off the Zhao army, their supplies were severely depleted, and they hadn't received reinforcements when Commander Liu returned.

He never expected that the most difficult hurdle would be "their own people."

Captain Yang sighed inwardly.

"Yang Meng!" Commander Liu, having retreated fifty *zhang*, spoke again. "Open the city and surrender immediately! I will overlook your past actions, and the terms I offered earlier are still valid!"

What an idiot! Captain Yang was so exasperated he almost laughed. Shouldn't such terms be negotiated in private? What general would dare openly agree to such a thing in front of his own soldiers?

This kind of person was actually the Commander of Shizhoutou! Even if he agreed, the people would never accept it.

Yang Meng snatched a bow and arrows, aimed at Commander Liu, and fired two swift shots.

This was his answer.

White clouds drifted across the blue sky, and the early spring fields were filled with the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers.

Dong Rui had been cooped up doing experiments lately, so occasionally stepping out for some fresh air and a stroll made him feel refreshed.

Once they reached a point where the road was finally empty, he said to He Lingchuan, "I finally remember! That booklet of Shao Jian's recorded a celestial deity named Puyin!"

He Lingchuan gave him a faint, sarcastic look. "You have an excellent memory."

"I rarely pay excessive attention to external matters," Dong Rui said, clearing his throat. How could he bother to remember such a trivial thing? Precious brainpower had to be used in the right place. "Why are you looking for the god Puyin?"

"To build connections and gather information," He Lingchuan replied. "Just like we did when we found Shinan."

Not all celestial deities were arrogant; some lower-ranking minor gods were willing to humble themselves and forge connections with the human world, as long as they found you useful and you could find resources for them.

There were too few temples on Platinum Island, and He Lingchuan needed to broaden his sources of information.