The light of the sword was like rain, and the sound of the piano was like waves. They overlapped and combined their forces. The ground in front of the military formation suddenly sank three feet, and the white beast shape of Sheluo Mandrill was instantly crushed into pieces.
Amidst the turbulent air waves and smoke, a roar was heard that shook the heavens and the earth. Divine power penetrated the universe, bestowed the body of the mandrill, and forced away the light of the sword and the sound of the piano.
The turmoil had not subsided yet, with the protection of Sheluo Mandrill's divine light, he raised his body in one fell swoop and hurriedly retreated towards Dantu County.
How could Zhao Shu allow him to escape back to the city? Regardless of the restless Qi in his body, he forced the thunder and arrows to kill him, intending to eliminate the enemy and complete his task.
But when he raised the token, he suddenly felt a huge divine power invading the altar. As if a pair of cold eyes were looking from the south, the barrier protecting the altar collapsed instantly like a huge mountain falling, and all the officials and soldiers were shaken
It's all over the place.
The mandala was disturbed and his practice was interrupted. Zhao Shu was shocked. The energy in his body suddenly went into chaos. The light and shadow in front of his eyes flashed. There was a sharp tingling in his ears. He opened his mouth and spurted out blood. The table in front of him was covered with blood. He looked up.
His head fell off the altar.
This frightened everyone nearby. Lu Wangji was the first to fly down and immediately helped Zhao Shu up. He saw that his mouth and nose were covered in blood and his limbs were twitching slightly.
"Retreat, retreat the troops." Zhao Shu endured the pain of the zhenqi impacting his hundreds of veins, looked at the crowds of people, gathered a little strength, and fainted after saying these words.
After receiving the order, the captain under his command immediately signaled Ming Jin to withdraw his troops. The army covered each other and slowly retreated to the riverside camp.
…
"What's going on? Why did you suddenly withdraw your troops?!"
Ding Muqiu hurried back to the camp, angrily, and was about to go straight into the tent, but was stopped by He Dangguan and a group of soldiers: "Zhao Changshi suddenly fell ill, please don't disturb me, Chief Immortal."
"Sick? Are you kidding me?" Ding Muqiu waved his purple silk ribbon and easily forced He Dangguan and others away, broke into the tent, and asked again and again: "What's wrong with Marquis Zhenming?"
"Quiet." Lu Wangji pressed his hand on the strings and shouted softly.
Ding Muqiu saw that the other party was wearing a curtain hat and did not show her true face. He had seen this person occasionally in Jianjia Pass, but the other party never talked to him much. He heard that she was a master of casual cultivation recruited by Zhao Shu.
"How is the condition of Marquis Zhenming?" Ding Muqiu looked at Zhao Shu, who was lying ill on the marching couch.
"The Qi in his body was in chaos, and it was difficult to control it for a while." Lu Wangji said: "I have played music for him to suppress the restless Qi, so that he can concentrate a little."
"It was fine before, how could it suddenly happen?" Ding Muqiu asked puzzledly.
Lu Wangji said: "I sensed that there was an external force invading the Dharma altar just now. It is most important to avoid being disturbed by external forces when performing Dharma on the altar. Perhaps Zhenming Hou was injured because of this."
Liang Hui also entered the tent and said, "I'm here to take the pulse of Marquis Zhenming."
Unexpectedly, Lu Wangji crossed the Yaoqin and stopped him: "No, others should not approach Zhenminghou."
Liang Hui was stunned and explained: "Marquis Zhenming is now the commander-in-chief of the army. The success or failure of the war depends on him. How can he not regulate him?"
"I don't believe you." Lu Wangji said bluntly. These words made Liang Hui's face immediately turn ugly.
"Do you want Zhao Shu to be seriously injured and difficult to treat?" Ding Muqiu asked accusingly: "We almost killed the Jiuli Witch Zhu just now. If we hadn't suddenly withdrawn our troops, we would have invaded Dantu County by now!"
Lu Wangji said: "It is the order of Marquis Zhenming to withdraw the troops."
"Who knows if you are falsely conveying military orders?" Ding Muqiu scolded him bluntly: "And didn't Marquis Zhenming ask you to help guard Jianjia Pass? Why did you come here suddenly?"
"He sent someone to deliver the message, asking me to come to Dantu County to help." Lu Wangji took out the letter from his sleeve.
Ding Muqiu snatched it away and took a few glances to confirm that it was correct, but the look in Lu Wangji's eyes was still unavoidable with doubts.
"No matter what, rescuing Marquis Zhenming is the top priority right now!" Liang Hui said urgently: "Marquis Zhenming cannot be seriously injured, which will shake the morale of the army. If the barbarians of Jiuli Kingdom know about this, I am afraid they will
We are leaving the city to attack the camp!"
Lu Wangji was silent for a moment. Just as she was thinking, Zhao Shu's voice came from the side: "You... are so noisy."
Everyone was surprised and gathered around Zhao Mi's bed. They saw that he looked pale and was obviously seriously injured.
"How do you feel?" Lu Wangji asked.
"I...you guys get out of the way, I'm angry." Zhao Shu shook his fingers. Now it was difficult for him to even sit up. All the veins in his body were like being cut with thousands of knives. His whole body was sore and numb, and even the slightest movement affected him.
It's painful to get up.
Several monks took half a step back, and Ding Muqiu couldn't help but ask: "Marquis Zhenming, why are you suddenly injured? Who is invading the altar?"
"The god worshiped by Jiuli Wu Zhu." Zhao Shu spoke weakly: "At that time, that Wu Zhu called for divine power and the altar was disturbed. How could I not be hurt?"
"With such magical power, the gods worshiped by evil witches are unusual." Liang Hui frowned and said.
"Then what should we do now?" Ding Muqiu asked.
Zhao Shu glanced at the tent and saw that except for the monks Lu Wangji, no one else was present.
"Calling all the school lieutenants and military officials to enter the account." Zhao Shui was also convinced. These monks were either young masters and young ladies who didn't know how to take care of people at all, or they were outsiders with a loose temperament like Lu Wangji. He himself
It was such a miserable situation that no one even offered a glass of water.
A group of captains and military officials filed in with eager faces, and all knelt down in front of Zhao Wei's couch.
"I'm in such a condition that I'm afraid I won't be able to preside over the war in a hurry." Just lying down and talking, Zhao Miao felt a sharp pain in his chest like thousands of needles pricking him, but he still insisted: "The troops in Dantu County were so hastily withdrawn."
If there is suspicion, various means will be used to test it later. For this reason, the camp must be well prepared. If the enemy Wu Zhu Feitian attacks the camp, just gather your bows and arrows and shoot them. Don't rush into pursuit."
All the captains and officers bowed their heads and said yes. Zhao Shu continued: "In addition, the daily inspection of horses and reconnaissance must not be interrupted. The situation in Dantu County within a radius of thirty miles must be thoroughly investigated. Any abnormalities must be listed in a book, twice in the morning and evening.
Come report. If Jiuli Country has any support, it must report to me immediately... no matter what my situation is."
Lieutenant Chen couldn't help but asked worriedly: "Zhao Changshi, how should I tell General Wei about this matter?"
Zhao Shu was silent for a moment, then looked at Zhang Liwei: "You arrange your trusted men to report to General Wei as soon as possible. Just say that I was injured on the battlefield, and the capture of Dantu County will be delayed for ten days. But our army is guarding the waterways and food and grass."
The transfer is okay, General Wei please don't worry about the battle situation at the rear."
Zhang Liwei bowed and said yes. He understood Zhao Shu's eyes and obviously wanted to tell Chiyundu about this matter.
Some military officers couldn't help it anymore: "Zhao Changshi, you should have a good rest! If it doesn't work, we will withdraw our troops and return to Jianjia Pass."
"Nonsense." Zhao Shu closed his eyes and said: "Dantu County is of great importance. Even if we cannot recapture this city, we must firmly trap the enemy forces. Once we withdraw our troops, the Jiuli Kingdom soldiers and horses in Dantu County can
If we scatter attacks in all directions, then the logistics and food routes will become even more unstable, causing endless trouble... From now on, anyone who dares to retreat will be killed without mercy."
"Follow your orders!" The captains and officers all had serious expressions on their faces.
"I just suffered some minor injuries, but I will be as good as before in ten and a half months." Zhao Shu comforted everyone and said, "I am a cultivator, and my body bones are stronger than yours, so you don't have to worry too much."
Everyone present did not dare to refute, Zhao Shu waved his hand: "Okay, you continue to hold on to the camp, and also send people to keep an eye on Dantu County, go ahead."
The school captains and military officials each resigned, leaving a group of monks in the hall looking at each other. Several Huaiying Hall disciples were signaled by their eyes, and one of them took the initiative to come forward and said: "Senior, you... don't worry, we can defend
Good for the camp."
"You are all young and talented people with good cultivation. Naturally, you don't need my guidance." Zhao Shu sighed secretly: "I only have one request - please love your soldiers and do not study hard just because of your cultivation of immortality and Taoism.
He is arrogant and arrogant and looks down on the public. Colonel Chen has been in war for a long time. If you have any questions about various military affairs, you can ask him for advice."
The monks looked at each other for a few times, wondering if they had listened. Zhao Shu felt an inexplicable coldness in his heart, and waved his hand with slightly trembling fingertips: "Everyone, please go out... You three will stay here for now."
What Zhao Shu said was naturally Lu Wangji, Ding Muqiu and Liang Hui. He was silent for a long time and said: "Fellow Daoist Ding, please think peacefully during these days. If the enemy provokes a challenge, do not leave the camp to pursue him. Jiuli Wu
Zhu was also hit hard, and his situation is probably similar to mine, so he won’t be able to cause trouble in the near future.”
"You... you should take good care of your injuries first. I am not the kind of impulsive person." Seeing that Zhao Shui was so seriously injured, Ding Muqiu still arranged the affairs in an orderly manner. Knowing that she had just misunderstood him, she raised her hands and clasped her fists in shame.
Then quickly left the tent.
Liang Hui looked at Ding Muqiu's back with a strange look in his eyes, and then he heard Zhao Shu say: "Fellow Daoist Liang, if anyone...contacts you and asks about me, it's okay for you to speak up."
Liang Hui was startled when he heard this, and his face changed color slightly. He thought that he used the Four-Guide Mirror to communicate with his grandfather in a quiet room isolated from prying eyes. Zhao Shu's words clearly meant that he had discovered what he had done.
.
"Marquis Zhenming, please take care of yourself." Liang Hui didn't know what to say. He vaguely guessed that his grandfather valued Zhao Mi, and he was somewhat jealous. He was obviously a direct descendant of the Liang family in Yongjia, so why couldn't he be reused for so long?
After Liang Hui also left, Zhao Shu said to Lu Wangji: "Thank you fellow Taoist for the timely treatment. If it weren't for your Qin music to adjust the Qi pulse, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to wake up so quickly."
"This is what I should do." Lu Wangji nodded slightly and shook his hat: "You sent a letter asking me to come before, but I don't know why?"
Zhao Miao took a breath, and Lu Wangji noticed that he was short of breath. Then he put the Hengqin on his knees and gently plucked the strings. The music was like clear springs and clouds flowing, which greatly alleviated the pain in Zhao Miao's veins.
"Ashamed." Zhao Shu said: "I invited my Taoist friends to come here because I wanted to come up with a detailed method for capturing the evil aura on the battlefield."
Lu Wangji asked: "Why did Marquis Zhenming suddenly have this thought?"
"My Taoist friends have also seen the power of Jiuli God." Zhao Shu smiled bitterly and said: "I consciously tried all kinds of means, but still can't restrain such divine power. After thinking about it for many days, I felt the evil aura on the battlefield.
It can be bestowed upon me by divine power."
"The evil aura can indeed hinder the magic, and the accumulation is deep enough to make ghosts and gods retreat." Lu Wangji said: "But as far as I know, the evil aura is also difficult to capture. Only after long-term killing on the battlefield, can the evil spirit be absorbed.
Only soldiers whose hands are full of blood can develop a vicious aura."
"I know." Zhao Shu sighed: "So what I want to capture is not the ferocious aura of one soldier, but the ferocious aura of thousands of soldiers on the battlefield, and gather them together to form
The surging momentum can not only block the divine power from descending, but can also break through the Dantu County formation in one fell swoop."
"This method is unheard of." Lu Wangji asked: "Why did Marquis Zhenming ask me for help?"
"I have tried to use rituals and rituals to capture the evil spirit before, but the officers and soldiers were scattered and the effect was not effective." Zhao Shu said bluntly: "Then I remembered that fellow Taoists can use zither music to set up formations and capture the sharp edges of the world.
The Qi is used for attack, so I thought about whether fellow Taoists have also achieved success in using the evil Qi."
Lu Wangji pressed the strings of the piano and spoke softly: "This is not easy. In this way, the monks will be deeply infected by the residual energy. The practice in Fengming Valley pays attention to the five-tone tone, the heart of the piano is harmonious, and the sound turns to death.
We need to be very careful when cutting down roots, and widely harvest the evil energy, I'm afraid... it won't be beneficial to the immortal way."
"Of course I won't let fellow Taoists do such things." Zhao Shu said, "I just hope that fellow Taoists can give you some pointers on the theory of music and the use of qi. To implement it, you don't necessarily have to use qin music."
"Marquis Zhenming, I don't want you to do this." Lu Wangji was silent for a long time before saying: "You have done enough. I didn't say it in front of others, but I just took your pulse and found out that your cultivation is at the right time.
The key step for the Xuanzhu to pass through the Chonglou and enter the Niwan is that the internal and external qi are intertwined, causing external invasion and internal disturbance. If not for this, the invasion of the altar by ghosts and gods should not have caused you such a serious injury."
"I still can't hide it from my fellow Taoist." Zhao Shu was just about to laugh when his Qi pulse deviated and his chest moved, causing him to choke and cough. However, such a cough caused severe pain and made Zhao Shu break out in a cold sweat.
Lu Wangji quickly tuned the piano and strummed the strings. The sound like water waves enveloped Zhao Shu, and only then did his injury stabilize.
"If you want to live forever, you must explore life and death, but don't rush towards a dead end." Lu Wangji said: "Marquis Zhenming doesn't have to do something he knows is impossible. Today's battle does not mean that there is no evil spirit. You and I join forces.
Can we also defeat the enemy?"
"Fellow Taoist, how many people like you and me are there in the world?" Zhao Shu asked.
"Of course there are very few." Lu Wangji replied after a moment of silence.
"I just feel that just like us, even if we exhaust our own cultivation, what we can do is limited after all." Zhao Shu laughed: "Actually, this is still a big talk. Most of the time, we can only strive for a little gain in the cracks. But here we are.
On the battlefield, facing thousands of troops, even if you are not careful, you will have a narrow escape."
"Huaxu country still has masters like Liang Guoshi, so Zhenminghou doesn't have to worry too much." Lu Wangji comforted him.
"Liang Guoshi, Liang Guoshi..." Zhao Shu really didn't know how to evaluate this person. Huaxu's country's misfortune, happiness, and survival depended on him, so he was indispensable. But in other words, how could the fate of a country be left in the hands of someone alone?
Isn't it dangerous?
"What if Master Liang is not here one day?" Zhao Shu asked.
"This is beyond my expectation." Lu Wangji also said: "If that day really comes, why would Marquis Zhenming not give up his hard work and go boating on the blue waves, playing the piano in the secluded bamboo, and disappearing from the world, in order to reach the path of immortality?"
"I..." Zhao Shu was confused for a moment. He found that except for the True Essence Lock, he had almost no practical plans for his future. If the ideal of the Dao Kingdom in the world was difficult to achieve, where should he go?