Chapter 109: Magical Duel (Part Two)
The Precious Canopy stood tall, surrounded by dense dark clouds.
Li Qi was beside it, racking his brains while trying to calm Old Horse. He thought about what he could do, analyzing his options, the dangers involved, and how to implement them.
Yes, he hadn't given up yet.
Despite the two terrifying presences before him, either of which could easily kill him with a mere shake, he refused to give up.
Li Qi had never been one to accept his fate. Even when he was a barge hauler, he had always strived to climb higher, whether through self-study or physical training, he had never given up.
As Li Qi wracked his brain, attempting to come up with even the smallest plan, he suddenly heard a sound.
A very loud sound.
It sounded like...
An army?
Countless shouts and battle cries swept over.
Old Horse, agitated, kicked at the ground, nudged Li Qi, and nervously bit onto his clothes, pulling him toward the cliffside.
Li Qi climbed up to get a better view, enhancing his vision with qi. To his astonishment, a hundred li away, there was an army!
But not a human army—an army composed of demons!
Countless lesser demons, most not fully formed, looking more beast than human, but all wearing ill-fitting armor, weaponless, relying on their claws and teeth for attack.
Occasionally, some officer-like lesser demons were fully formed, clearly all ninth-rank, holding weapons with divine powers swirling around them, leading the troops forward.
Tens of thousands of lesser demons, with roughly a thousand ninth-rank transformed demons among them, and dozens of other eighth-rank demons capable of summoning storms and commanding evil shadows. The demon wind blew fiercely, gathering tens of thousands of demonic creatures together, forming a black cloud that blotted out the sky, reeking horribly!
Then, from this demonic army, the black wind condensed into another Dharma body!
This Dharma body, also a hundred zhang tall, had the head of a bear and the body of a man. Red energy swirled around its eyes, yellow energy encircled it, and black energy flew like birds. Red and black energy patterns covered its armor like leopard skin.
He took a step forward, followed by two seventh-rank deputy generals, with military qi swirling around him—white above and red below, gathering like clouds. The clouds resembled countless heads, filled with bloodthirsty and sinister energy, as if death and bloodshed were imminent, bringing forth rain and dead winds, making the sun dim. It was as if a male pheasant stood atop a city wall, exuding an imposing aura!
This scene made Li Qi's face turn pale.
Though he didn't understand much, such intense energy perfectly matched the descriptions in the Zhu book!
He recognized this—it was clearly ominous soldier qi. Just looking at the moon obscuring Jupiter, the twisted snake-like shape, the killing and defiance without order, the scattered sunlight like flowing blood—all undeniably indicated "the disorder of yin and yang due to non-compliance with the four seasons."
This new demon had managed to disrupt the surrounding weather with his own soldier qi alone!
Unfortunately, Li Qi's shock was useless.
The bear-headed Dharma body, composed of ominous soldier qi, took two steps forward, facing the other two Dharma bodies. He laughed aloud, saying, "Haha! Whether you are merely the solar essence Yangning or even a wisp of Luo Fu Niangniang's soul, before us, the 'Two Kings of White Snake Mountain,' you will meet your end!"
"In the ten-thousand-li radius of White Snake Mountain, my brothers and I rule supreme. Even the governor and witch doctors can only remain within their walls. If you don't reveal Luo Fu Niangniang's whereabouts, prepare to face our curses!"
The bear-headed demon said this, and the other demonic shadow echoed, "I am the Great King of Cursed Demons, and he is the Great King of Bear Slaughter. Together, we can fight even fifth-rank beings. Even at your peak, you were only fifth rank, let alone now that you're severely injured."
"You'd better surrender Luo Fu Niangniang's location if you want to live!" the Great King of Cursed Demons growled menacingly.
The Great King of Bear Slaughter remained silent and stomped his foot. Immediately, the tens of thousands of demon soldiers lined up neatly, marching forward in solemn formation, clearly a well-trained elite force, not a ragtag mob!
However, the female apparition moved.
Whether controlled by Luo Fu Niangniang or the solar essence Yangning, she extended her hand again and spoke in a soft but thunderous voice, "Looking for death!"
"By the Decree of Heaven's Soldiers and Generals, Thunderous Officers, Eight Trigram Generals, Mighty Five-Thunder Soldiers, heed my command! Appear!"
With this decree, an army appeared directly.
A luminous army unfolded, their armor adorned with golden scales, their spears unbreakable, their shields sturdy and thick, their horses strong and powerful.
The army radiated fierce fighting spirit, countless soldiers wielding weapons, dressed in armor, charging forward, waving flags, beating drums, brimming with battle intent.
The troops were majestic, each celestial soldier broad-faced and heavily armored, carrying various weapons, bows and arrows, silver spears, golden swords, halberds, tiger-eye whips, standing in formation.
Celestial generals appeared next, preceded by rolling winds and purple mists. Each general stood over ten meters tall, walking through the air, spirits high, divine light shining brightly, illuminating the heavens!
These generals had broad foreheads and muscular builds, wielding halberds and suspended whips, standing at the forefront, awe-inspiring. Golden-scaled dragons coiled around their bodies, and they rode colorful phoenixes, pressing down with wind and thunder, ready for battle!
Even these celestial soldiers and generals alone rivaled the power of the Great King of Bear Slaughter and the Great King of Cursed Demons!
Li Qi had no doubt that he couldn't handle these celestial soldiers, and the generals... could probably pierce him with a single spear, leaving him utterly defenseless.
Moreover, there seemed to be exactly one hundred thousand celestial soldiers and generals!
With just one decree, such formidable power emerged!
Li Qi was stunned, but then saw the Great King of Bear Slaughter laugh loudly, unconcerned. "Silver-coated spears, good for show only. Children! Tear apart these broken toys!"
At his command, the demon soldiers let out howls and, under the leadership of a seventh-rank deputy general, formed ranks and launched a charge!
The two armies clashed.
The demon soldiers' qi rose like black clouds, rushing forward with ferocity like bears, amidst the killing aura, appearing like raging flames.
The celestial soldiers' qi surged like dragons, mountains stabilizing the mist, with a canopy of glory amidst the fog. Their camp's qi was yellowish-white, heavy and lustrous, with firelight above, and flying dragons soaring.
Both sides displayed military qi!
Two different types of military qi collided, engaging in fierce combat.
Meanwhile, the Great King of Cursed Demons immediately acted.
He had fewer demon soldiers but employed more insidious methods.
The covering demonic shadow contracted sharply, causing countless snakes, insects, rats, and ants to appear on the celestial soldiers and generals, biting their armor and dragging their weapons, putting them at a disadvantage instantly.
Just then, Shen Shuibei returned.