Infinite Professions

Chapter 365 - 191: Assault on the Mountain (Part 2)

"The white mist rolls like waves, representing the incense offerings of the people, while the red mist surges like tides, symbolizing the organized military force."

"The Village Land God of Little Huang Village, not only governs the people effectively, inspiring devout worship, but also has a methodical approach in training troops; in just a few months he cultivated a strong force, giving rise to military prowess."

"No wonder he dares to take action against Little Yellow Mountain!"

"But that’s not right, Little Huang Village has only over seven hundred people. Even if they are united and offer devout worship, the incense offerings wouldn’t be that abundant. How can he afford to squander it so?"

"Could there be additional support from the government treasury?"

"He’s indeed a mighty dragon crossing the river..."

Observing the expanding Magic Realm and the various phenomena emerging within, the deities displayed mixed emotions and whispered among themselves, while the enigmatic blue-robed official in the county remained silent.

Qinghe County, with its eight townships, is guarded by deities, including an Eighth-Grade County City God and eight Ninth-Grade rural Village Land God.

Originally Tenth-Class, these rural Village Land God do not belong to the Ninth Grade. However, with adept management and years of accumulation, they can achieve promotion to become Ninth Grade Little Gods.

These eight townships in Qinghe have managed to do just that, through decades of deep accumulation, becoming entrenched local powers.

Such entrenched powers naturally harbor some resentment towards the mighty dragon from over the river, especially the few rural Village Land God surrounding Little Yellow Mountain. If Little Yellow Mountain were to be purified, eradicating the evil ghosts and demons as well as rogue bandits, it would allow them to exploit the mountain, attract villagers to establish settlements, and seize their worshippers and incense offerings, potentially bringing them under their governance.

After all, that is Little Yellow Mountain, equal in status to Qinghe County. The position of Mountain God has significant potential for promotion; with proper management and sufficient incense offerings, one might even rise to be a Seventh-rank God.

The management abilities of the Village Land God of Little Huang Village have already been observed. If allowed to purify evil ghosts and demons on Little Yellow Mountain, these rural Village Land God will likely have to bow to his influence in the future.

Thus, the pressure from all sides is evident.

But no matter how great the pressure, there is nothing that can be done at this moment.

The opposing forces act openly under legitimate jurisdiction, making it impossible for them to interfere or confront directly. All they can do is watch coldly, hoping that the demons and evil ghosts of Little Yellow Mountain will put up a worthy resistance against this divine power.

Otherwise...

"Rumble!"

The Magic Realm expands and encroaches onto the mountain, with black mist immediately emerging, enveloping several mountain fortresses, establishing a Ghostly Realm.

These are the three strongholds: Black Wind, Black Cloud, and Black Mountain.

Though Wang Po, Liang Erjiang, and several hundred bandits were annihilated in Little Huang Village months ago, some bandits remain in the strongholds. Furthermore, the evil ghosts are supplemented by some wandering spirits, allowing these three strongholds to persist.

The first assault from Little Huang Village is directed at these three strongholds.

"Black Cloud Village!"

Song Wu and Song Ying lead the charge at the forefront, with strongmen following behind. Every one of them is robust and athletic, supported by martial arts and divine power. The steep and perilous mountain path poses no obstacle at all, and they swiftly arrive at the front of Black Cloud Village.

Black Cloud Village indeed features overcast clouds pressing down. Despite the winter season, daylight shines above. The mountain isn’t shrouded in darkness, yet within Black Cloud Village, thick clouds hover gloomily, exuding a sinister and eerie aura from inside out.

Aside from this, the stronghold stands elevated, relying on natural defenses, accessible only by a suspension bridge. Beneath it lies a towering ravine, with the center swept by chilling mountain winds that cause the bridge to sway unsteadily, seemingly impossible to traverse.

This kind of stronghold, this kind of natural defense, cannot be attacked by ordinary troops.

Though Song Wu is no ordinary person, facing this scenario furrowed his brow in uncertainty.

At that moment...

"Rumble!"

In the distance, thunder seemed to echo, while golden light flashed within the void—Divine Dao Realm grandly arrived and clashed with the Black Cloud Ghost Realm.

Raising his head, Song Wu glimpsed briefly, as golden light burst forth and instantly obliterated a portion of the dark, eerie atmosphere, causing the oppressive clouds over Black Cloud Village to dissipate, with the howling winds in the ravine ceasing, stabilizing the swaying suspension bridge. Though still appearing dangerous, it now provided a chance to cross.

"Go!"

Song Wu decisively led the strongmen to charge forward, preparing to cross the suspension bridge in one swift move.

"Enemy attack!"

"Someone assaults the mountain!"

The remnants of Black Cloud Village responded quickly, ready to sever ropes and planks to cut off the bridge.

"Fire!!"

However, Song Ying and the others behind unleashed strong bows, firing arrows that struck down several bandits at the bridgehead.

"Kill!!!"

At the front, Song Wu charged swiftly across the suspension bridge, plunging into the stronghold, clashing with several bandits.

"Huff, huff, huff!"

At the same time, deep in the fortress, a sinister wind howled as several hidden currents surged forth, ready to attack Song Wu and his people.

Ghosts and gods interconnected, demons and ghostly realms; it’s essentially a magic realm, formed by the power of demons and evil spirits, capable of traversing Yin and Yang.

Although the Eighth-Grade Five Immortal Evil God had been slain by Shen Hex in the battle at Little Huang Village, there were still many evil ghosts within Black Cloud Village, including a Fierce Ghost transformed from a Five Immortal Sorcerer, ranked Ninth-Grade, not to be underestimated.

Now, with the ghostly realm shattered, these fierce ghosts and evil spirits surged out, making one last desperate assault.

However...

"How dare you!"

A thunderous shout rang out, followed by a burst of golden light—it was a squad of Divine Soldiers.

A squad of Divine Soldiers, wearing Yellow Turbans, donned in golden armor, wielding Xuanhua Great Axes, charged into the fortress, and without a word, swung their axes at the fierce ghosts and evil spirits that had come howling out.

"Whoosh!"

A Tier Three evil ghost came howling forward, its face green with fangs bared, ferocious and terrifying, its speed far surpassing the golden-armored Divine Soldiers, skillfully closing in, claws tearing straight at them.

"Bang!!!"

Yet, those sharp claws and teeth revealed only a spark against the Golden Body, leaving no mark whatsoever. The Yellow Turban Warriors seemed oblivious, retaliating with their axes, landing a blow that instantly splattered a burst of black blood, the evil ghost was cleaved in half by a single strike, falling to the ground and dissipating into black mist.

"Daoist Soldiers!"

A shrill and ghastly scream rose up, from the Tier Four Fierce Ghost formed by the Five Immortal Sorcerer.

He flew into the air, witnessing the Yellow Turban Warriors storming the fortress, each of them reaching a height of over a yard, garbed in Yellow Turban Golden Armor, wielding Xuanhua Great Axes, surrounded by an aura of golden light. His fierce ghost subordinates struggled against them, unable to inflict any harm, while being systematically slaughtered by the axes, suffering heavy losses in a blink.

No need for more words, these were Divine Daoist Soldiers, not ordinary ones either, impervious to blades and spears, possessing immense strength, even Tier Three evil ghosts were hard-pressed to harm them. Their bodies were shielded by an inexplicable layer of golden light, and even he, akin to a Ninth-Grade Deity, as a Tier Four Fierce Ghost, could only manage a minor breakthrough, injuring but not killing them.

Such elite soldiers, how could they be commonplace?

The Five Immortal Gods were already dead, relying on himself alone, he could not hold them off!

Confronted with the unstoppable Yellow Turban Warriors, this Fierce Ghost, formed by the Five Immortal Sorcerer, made a swift decision to transform into a sinister wind, intending to flee beyond the mountain.

The wind pulled tight!

Yet unexpectedly...

"Slash!!!"

A sword descended from the heavens, piercing through the air in an instant, with the sinister wind dissolving instantly, the fierce ghost perishing in a blink.

"Kill!"

Within the fortress, the morale of the Yellow Turban Warriors soared, soon eradicating all the evil ghosts within the fortress.

The battle between gods and ghosts concluded.

Looking back at the mortal world, Song Wu charged valiantly at the front, followed by Song Ying, as a hundred Yellow Turban Warriors stormed the fortress. The dozens of remaining bandits of Black Cloud Village couldn’t resist at all, falling back rapidly under the onslaught.

"Surrender and you won’t be killed, surrender and you won’t be killed!"

Song Wu, blood-soaked and crimson all over, resembling a ghost god, roared out fiercely, with his Inner Strength surging forth, shaking the entire fortress. Seeing this, the demoralized bandits threw down their weapons, kneeling in surrender.

Soon, the situation was under control, more than a hundred warriors remained unharmed, with only the corpses of Black Cloud bandits lying on the ground.

Song Wu wiped the blood from his face, looked at the dozen bandits kneeling in surrender, and said to Song Ying beside him, "Go fetch the stuff from the government treasury."

"Yes!"

Song Ying nodded, leading these bandits and dozens of Yellow Turban Warriors, enthusiastically towards the plunder.

Clearing the mountains of bandits can be a bitter task or a lucrative one, depending on whether you can conquer it or not.

If you can’t, then naturally it’s a bitter task.

But if you succeed, not only can you use the bandits to train soldiers, temper them through slaughter, but also plunder the wealth accumulated by these bandits, and incorporate captives and surrendered soldiers into the army as cannon fodder. After several battles, you will have an iron-blooded force.

Throughout history, ambitious figures have risen by eradicating bandits, using their resources to strengthen themselves, and within a few years, assemble a powerful army as a base for vying for supremacy.

Little Huang Village has Yellow Turban Warriors, so there’s no need to recruit bandits as soldiers, but population is needed to develop Little Yellow Mountain in the future and bolster the incense offerings for the Mountain God.

Therefore, these surrendered bandits and the elderly, women, and children within the fortress should not be wantonly killed, as their efforts will be needed to clear and cultivate the mountain lands, plant crops, increase population, and boost production after pacifying Little Yellow Mountain.

According to what my father says, what is this called?

Oh right, labor reform!