Chapter 1971: Appearing Miraculous Before the People

Vast stretches of yellow sand.

Qin Sang gazed down at the land, his eyes fixed between two sand dunes.

The sand slowly began to flow, revealing a deep abyss below that continuously swallowed the grains. Soon, a deep gully appeared. The two dunes were engulfed by the gully, but the consumption didn't stop. Gradually, a chasm several thousand zhang long and seemingly bottomless formed. From the bottom of the chasm, crimson firelight glowed, indicating that the earth had been torn open, reaching the underground magma veins.

Suddenly, a golden thread shot out from below. As he flew through the air, the Fire Jade Centipede also accompanied him within the underground magma veins, thoroughly surveying their distribution. Moreover, the Fire Jade Centipede had discovered some ancient traces here, a dilapidated secret realm—exactly what Qin Sang was looking for.

The Fire Jade Centipede coiled around a copper pillar and then plunged back into the lava. Qin Sang floated above the chasm, his fingertips flicking out streams of light that shot into the ground. The lava surged, emitting rumbling sounds. Inside the boiling lava, a golden centipede could vaguely be seen thrashing about. The Fire Jade Centipede was coordinating with Qin Sang's actions.

As time passed, dense runes floated around the Fire Jade Centipede. These runes formed a restriction, derived from Qin Sang's discoveries in the ruins years ago, but with significant modifications. The copper pillar, serving as the core of the restriction, was inserted diagonally into the lava. When the Fire Jade Centipede stretched out its body and released the copper pillar, the pillar could be seen trembling slightly. It wasn't fixed in one spot but slowly moved with the lava.

This was an illusion specifically created by Qin Sang. After all, he had occupied the ruins for so long, and when he built the dojo, he hadn't foreseen this day. It would be impossible to fully restore the Ancient Coiling Dragon Formation without leaving any traces. Even if it could deceive the Spirit Transformation cultivators from both sides, the two Ancestral Elders would easily spot the flaws, which might affect his plan. Therefore, Qin Sang went to extra trouble, creating the illusion that the ruins had torn themselves apart, the copper pillar had detached, and had fallen into this secret realm.

In the future, when the two major powers discover those ruins, they will gradually find this copper pillar based on certain clues. Everything was meticulously designed, including this location, which was carefully chosen. By then, it would be time for Qin Sang to truly intervene in the game!

After setting up everything, Qin Sang subtly raised his hand. The yellow sand on both sides flowed towards the center, and the crack in the earth gradually healed. The Fire Jade Centipede vanished into Qin Sang's sleeve. Qin Sang looked around, ensured there were no flaws, and then flew away.

He did not return to the 'dojo' but flew directly south, reaching Qingyang Temple to meet his clone. From now on, he would not interfere in the conflicts within the fire region but would quietly wait for the opportune moment at the temple.

Inside the underground chamber.

The clone awoke, stepped down from the altar, handed everything over to the main body, and returned to the surface to continue serving as the master of Qingyang Temple.

The main body sat on the altar. All sixty-four sub-altars had been built, and after years of comprehension by the clone, he now had a profound understanding of the altar formation. However, to repair the main altar, the clone alone was not enough; the main body had to personally intervene.

Qin Sang raised his hands and skillfully formed a magical seal. As soon as the seal was formed, wind and thunder immediately erupted around Qin Sang.

'CRACK!''Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...'

A violent gale raged, electric serpents coiled, and amidst the flickering lightning, clusters of thunder flames could be seen. In the small underground chamber, thunder roared, shaking the heavens, as if the end of the world had arrived. Qin Sang's expression remained calm and unmoving, like an ancient well. Although the phenomena were terrifying, they were merely manifestations of his true essence and could not harm him in the slightest.

But at this moment, the altar itself began to stir.

'CRACKLE!'

Suddenly, an unusual bolt of lightning struck towards the wind and thunder. This lightning originated from the altar itself; more precisely, from a rune on one side of the altar. A moment before, the rune had flashed brightly, come alive, writhed like a tadpole, and finally transformed into a bolt of lightning. The lightning struck but did not dissipate. The wind and thunder were drawn by some attraction, surging towards that lightning bolt. After absorbing the wind and thunder generated by Qin Sang's true essence, it shone even more brightly, becoming almost substantial.

Immediately, thunderclaps echoed continuously. One by one, runes lit up in succession, turning into lightning. As more and more runes appeared, dense bolts of lightning floated around Qin Sang. With so many lightning bolts encircling Qin Sang, his figure was almost submerged by the thunderous glow. Visibly, these lightning bolts were also distributed according to the structure of the altar itself, clearly forming a true 'Thunder Altar'. What was manifested was Qin Sang's understanding of the altar; he was precisely the core of the Thunder Altar!

The moment the 'Thunder Altar' took shape, Qin Sang's perception of the main altar and the altar formation became even clearer. Finally, inside the altar, the cluster of lightning that had previously been impenetrable slowly unveiled a layer of its mystery. As the altar had not yet been fully repaired, the sight Qin Sang beheld was still very blurry; he could only barely make out details.

Inside the lightning, a sheet of paper was actually suspended! A silver sheet, light as a feather, seemingly weightless, composed of the power of lightning. The paper was covered with dense, illegible characters; he could only confirm they were not normal text.

Qin Sang's heart trembled, for this was somewhat different from what he had expected. If this sheet of paper merely recorded ancient secrets or transmitted Taoist court spells, Qin Sang would certainly gain a lot, but he would be forced to change his plans.

Qin Sang composed himself and observed intently. Even with various methods, he couldn't discern the characters, but Qin Sang gradually discovered the unusual aspect of this sheet of paper.

"Indeed!"

Qin Sang's expression relaxed slightly, and he smiled. He finally confirmed that this thunder paper was not just a sheet for recording, but a materialization of talismanic power. As expected, this was not a talisman-writing altar but a ritual-performing altar used for executing magic. This talisman was even more profound than any third-tier divine talisman from the Five Thunder Envoy Seal. It had to be a fourth-tier divine talisman! A fourth-tier divine talisman, within the Taoist Court, corresponded to the River Diagram Dharma Rank, a cultivator of the Integration Stage!

"Which fourth-tier divine talisman could it be?"

Qin Sang's heart was filled with anticipation. He would have to wait for the altar formation to be fully restored to know the complete form of the divine talisman. Qin Sang, unable to wait, began to fully repair the main altar.

Meanwhile.

In the four directions: southeast, northwest. Taiyi, Luohou, Lingshi, and Guihou—Qin Sang's four Spirit Transformation-level subordinates—each led a troop of demon soldiers. They each chose a sub-altar and took up positions in the four directions. They simultaneously comprehended the altar formation, assisting Qin Sang, while also training the demon soldiers and teaching them thunder-fire Taoist techniques.

Below the mountain, chaos had already erupted. The Yan Kingdom, after subjugating the small border states, immediately launched a surprise counterattack against the Qi Kingdom, forcing the Qi Kingdom to suffer heavy losses. The Qi Kingdom, attempting to steal a chicken but losing a handful of rice, retreated repeatedly and was eventually forced to cede two prefectures to the Yan Kingdom, barely stabilizing its position.

At the same time, the third prince of the Daliang Kingdom, having failed in his bid for the throne, fled to the Yan Kingdom. He proactively declared allegiance to the Yan King and formally requested Yan's army to help him expel the rebellious officials and traitors. The cultivator assigned to descend and assist the Daliang third prince was named Zhao Du, also a Foundation Establishment cultivator. With his lord's failure, he subsequently joined the Yan Kingdom, obeying Yu Lang's commands.

Having gained a righteous cause, the Yan Kingdom then dispatched troops to Daliang. Zhao Du and Tao Teng led the vanguard, but since the domestic situation in Yan Kingdom was already settled, Yu Lang did not need to personally oversee it. The Yan King decreed Yu Lang as the Grand Marshal of All Expeditions and General of the Armies, personally leading the three armies. For many years, Yu Lang's prestige in the Yan Kingdom was unmatched, and the army's morale immediately soared.

The Yan Kingdom, having long prepared, entered the Daliang border, immediately hoisted the third prince's banner, and seized the opportunity while Daliang was unstable after its internal strife. The army swept through like a hot knife through butter, conquering three prefectures in just one month, with their forces reaching the Daliang capital. For a time, the Daliang Kingdom teetered precariously, its people filled with panic.

Just as victory seemed within reach, secret intelligence arrived: Daliang's new monarch had actually written to the Qi Kingdom, inviting the Qi army south. The two nations planned to combine forces and jointly defeat the Yan Kingdom. However, it remained unknown whether this was a strategy to 'drive the tiger to swallow the wolf' or simply a feast for division. Yu Lang and the others assembled all their generals and marshals. After deliberation, they decided to continue their advance.

Finally, the armies of the three factions met in Huang Province of the Daliang Kingdom. Huang Province was less than five hundred li from the Daliang capital. Within Huang Province flowed a great river named Dujiang. Once the army crossed the river, they could march straight to the capital, and Daliang would have no more natural defenses to rely on. For the Daliang Kingdom, this was the final decisive battle.

The autumn wind was bleak. On the river, sails stood like a forest. On both banks of the great river, a murderous aura soared to the heavens, and dense armies stretched as far as the eye could see.

On the west bank of Dujiang, a towering boat tower had been erected. A troop of soldiers ascended the boat tower, led by Yu Lang, Tao Teng, and Zhao Du. Yu Lang wore no armor, dressed in a white robe with a sword at his waist, appearing like a scholarly general. Tao Teng and Zhao Du were both major generals in the army, fully armored, exuding power with every step.

As they ascended the boat tower, the scene on the river unfolded completely before their eyes. The Yan army was busily working with great fervor, constructing ferry boats and building pontoon bridges, preparing for the upcoming river crossing battle. On the east bank of the great river, the enemy army also showed no weakness, with continuous sails and busy construction of fortifications on land.

"Next, it will be a fierce battle," Yu Lang sighed lightly. Yan Kingdom had achieved continuous victories, seemingly a prosperous scene, but the more wars, the more casualties. This went against their initial intention of descending the mountain and entering the mortal world, yet they were helpless. They had already done their best, exhausting all efforts. Over the years, Yu Lang and Tao Teng had been under immense pressure; they dared not lose even once. Only by continuously winning and ending the war as quickly as possible could the suffering cease.

Tao Teng felt a pang of sympathy. Zhao Du, however, was not much affected. In his view, mortals were merely bargaining chips for his own advancement. Last time he lost, he had to submit to others and obey orders. In the future, the greatest merits would not be his. He could only hope he hadn't followed the wrong person and that Yu Lang was capable of great responsibilities. What did the countless deaths and injuries of mortals have to do with him? Most cultivators who entered the mortal world shared the same mindset as Zhao Du.

"Tomorrow will be bright and clear, perfect for crossing the river!" Yu Lang observed the celestial phenomena, then his expression turned solemn. He looked straight to the east, gripped his sword hilt, and issued a grave command.

"Your humble generals obey!" All the generals responded in unison.

Unexpectedly, before Yu Lang's words had even faded, from the enemy camp on the east bank of the great river, a sharp whooshing sound suddenly emerged. Then, a grey light was seen, flying out from the enemy's main tent, swift as an arrow, heading straight for the river surface. At the same time, a strange cackling laugh echoed.

"Hahaha... better to arrive at the opportune moment than too early! All the generals of the three armies are here; I might as well catch them all in one go and save myself some trouble!" The laughter shook heaven and earth, rolling like thunder, clearly audible on both banks of the great river. In an instant, countless soldiers and generals felt a tremendous shock to their hearts, staring blankly at the grey light in the sky. It was clearly an old man!

The old man's face was extraordinarily ancient, covered in wrinkles. The grey light emanated from his grey robe. Without relying on any external device, he was actually flying in the air, crossing several hundred zhang in a single stride, instantly arriving above the river surface. All the mortals were stunned, unable to believe their eyes. Someone was actually flying! The army erupted in an uproar. Some shouted 'Immortal,' others 'Demon,' and confusion reigned. This scene had surpassed mortal comprehension, existing only in tales of gods and monsters, yet it was vividly unfolding before them.

The expressions of the three (Yu Lang, Tao Teng, Zhao Du) also changed. As expected, someone broke the rules! According to the comparison of military strength, Yan Kingdom was slightly weaker, but both Qi Kingdom and Daliang Kingdom had been defeated by Yan in the past, and their morale was far inferior to Yan's. Without intervention, Yan Kingdom had a greater chance of victory! The opposing cultivator could no longer hold back and personally made a move. Moreover, this old man's cultivation was extremely high.

The old man flew over the river, lightly flicked his horsetail whisk, and the river water suddenly solidified. Then, with cracking sounds, it instantly formed a thick layer of ice. The ice surface was eerily black. With just this one move, it would be effortless for him to kill the three of them! The old man's eyes were icy cold as he looked towards the boat tower, finally settling on Yu Lang, with killing intent in his gaze. His gaze, like a sword, caused the three to tremble violently in their hearts, their blood seeming to freeze.

In this moment of crisis, behind Yu Lang, a fully armored personal guard subtly moved, about to step forward, but suddenly stopped and looked downstream. Over the river surface, several more streaks of green light broke through the air, accompanied by a booming shout.

"Old Devil Yu, I knew you couldn't hold back. Let the mortal world be for the younger generation to play in. What kind of ability is it to bully the weak? Let this old man have a go with you!"

That personal guard was precisely Sha Jiayu. Seeing the newcomers, his eyes flickered, and he whispered, "It's Ancestral Elder Kuang!"

The situation has changed! Yu Lang and Tao Teng exchanged glances, the same thought surfacing in their minds. Cultivators were going to directly intervene and fight on the battlefield. Did their proposal back then move Tao Teng's master, or was this arrangement already planned? Yu Lang couldn't figure it out, but he remained calm. Seeing the enemy army advancing across the ice, shouting battle cries, he ordered his generals to quickly stabilize the troops' morale and told Sha Jiayu to help him fly into the air.

"Evil demons are causing chaos, and everyone should exterminate them! Soldiers and generals, follow me to eliminate these demons!"

Seeing that their own side also had an immortal, and that it was their commander, the army, which had been in disarray, immediately became resolute, erupting in cheers like a mountain torrent and a roaring sea.

The old man's expression darkened. Just as he was about to swing his horsetail whisk to kill Yu Lang, a streak of green light rapidly approached, blocking the old man's path, revealing a gentle and refined scholar. Ancestral Elder Kuang nodded to Yu Lang, then stomped in mid-air. The ice surface shattered with a crash, and the Qi and Liang armies who had entered the river immediately fell into disarray, their horses and men tumbling, screaming repeatedly.

The old man snorted coldly and swung his horsetail whisk back towards Ancestral Elder Kuang. Ancestral Elder Kuang, unhurried, conjured a green short sword, which transformed into a sword-rainbow and tangled with the horsetail whisk. Above the river, grey mist immediately filled the air, and sword light flickered, making people recoil in fear.

The other green streaks arrived belatedly. They did not join the battle between the two Nascent Soul Ancestral Masters but flew to Yu Lang's front. They were all disciples of the Kuang family. They uniformly clasped their fists in salute to Yu Lang and handed him a command arrow.

"We, the Seven Sons of the Kuang Family, have been specifically ordered by Immortal Master Yun to assist General Qin! The Immortal Master commands that General Qin is a divine strategist, possessing complete military and civil wisdom! From now on, the nations of Qi, Liang, Yan, Zhao, Xuan, and others, both immortal and mortal, shall obey General Qin's orders, assisting General Qin in slaying demons and eradicating evil, and establishing unparalleled merit!"