Chapter 185 — Summoning the Demon God

The others quickly understood Shen Mu's meaning as well and hurriedly stripped the clothes off several Hongshan School divine ability users. Shen Mu also donned the garments of a Hongshan School disciple and said in a low voice: "Pull up those white banners too, and pick up the talisman treasures for later use.

" Shen Wanyun and the others stepped forward, pulled up the white banners, and gathered talisman treasures one by one.

When everyone was dressed and equipped, they saw that demon god roaring at the river surface, shaking the Yong River into towering waves.

Everyone's expression changed drastically. The dragon-qilin rushed over.

Shen Mu said swiftly: "We retreat from this place at once.

This is no longer a place where scholars of our Five Luminaries realm can stand.

Do any of you still have anything on you that can represent your identity as a scholar of the Grand Academy? Hand it all to me.

" Yunque took out his waist tablet and book tablet, murmuring: "Are we really going to the Southern Wilds to die? " Shen Mu collected everyone's waist tablets and book tablets, placed them in the Taotie pouch, and said: "We're only taking a detour through the Southern Wilds, skirting around this battlefield.

Once we cross the river to the north bank, we'll be safe. " He let out a breath of turbid air and was about to give the order to leave when he suddenly caught sight of the still-unfinished demon god statue.

His heart stirred slightly; he hoisted the statue onto his shoulder and lashed it to the dragon-qilin. "Let's go. South. " Everyone's mood was heavy as they followed his steps, heading south along the mountain's foot.

After walking some ten-odd li, they finally emerged from the shroud of black mist, and after another ten-odd li, Shen Mu looked back.

The black mist was like an incomparably enormous black pot overturned over the vicinity of the Yong River, covering both banks. Within the black mist, lightning flashed and thunder rolled, and one could faintly make out the radiance of Daoist arts and divine abilities clashing.

Within that black mist stood a giant gateway — a gateway that pierced through life and death, connecting yin and yang. "Lizhou.

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I wonder how many will survive," Shen Mu thought. Before long, Shen Mu suddenly stopped: "The army is coming. " Yunque's heart leaped with joy: "The army? Our Jingping army?

" Shen Mu shook his head and pointed ahead: "The rebel army.

" Everyone looked forward.

Dozens of tower ships were sailing toward them, banners and flags streaming from the vessels, and around each tower ship, strange beasts flew through the air — grotesque and varied, a vast array of kinds.

Below the aerial host marched rank upon rank of soldiers composed of martial artists and divine ability users, and among the soldiers were colossal beasts hung all over with round, lumpish boulders.

Those beasts stood several dozen zhang tall, like walking hills; each step they took made the earth tremble.

Shen Mu and the others stood to one side, letting this great army bound for the Yong River battlefield pass by. Aboard one of the tower ships stood a general, his gaze sweeping like lightning, flickering over Shen Mu and the others. He asked the commander beside him: "Who are those people?

" A commander at his side glanced at Shen Mu and the others and said: "They look like Hongshan School disciples. I'll go down and ask. " The commander leaped down from the tower ship. With every step he took, a golden lotus formed beneath his foot — lotuses blooming at every step — as he walked step by step through the air to stand before Shen Mu and the others, striking terror into their hearts.

This was a great expert of the Seven Stars realm, treading the void with his steps; killing them would be easier than lifting a finger! The commander glanced at the demon god statue on the dragon-qilin's back and said coldly: "Hongshan School disciples, fleeing without fighting — what crime does that merit? " Shen Mu bowed, neither servile nor overbearing: "We of the Hongshan School did our utmost. We have already summoned a demon god to aid the battle.

Not only are we not guilty — we are meritorious. " The commander snorted coldly: "But you fled the battlefield.

That is a capital offense — to be beheaded on the spot! " Shen Mu's face was full of grief and indignation as he protested loudly: "We were ambushed by Lizhou!

Of thirteen brothers and sisters, seven died in battle — only we six remain! When we were fighting for our lives, where were you?

Our Hongshan School has already been annihilated — only we are left. Are we to fight to the death to the last one?

General, leave the Hongshan School a root! " The commander hesitated and looked up.

Aboard the tower ship in the air, the general said in a deep voice: "The Hongshan School's numbers are already few.

There's no need to pursue this too far. They summoned a demon god to aid the battle — that is a great merit. Have them demonstrate a spell to verify their identity, then let them go. " Cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of Shen Wanyun, Yunque, and the others. Hongshan School spells — none of them had ever cultivated them.

Shen Mu activated a talisman treasure.

The general's voice came: "Not a talisman treasure. A spell. " Shen Mu circulated his primal qi, and the qi transformed into a rune that shone upon the demon god statue.

A rune on the statue lit up.

The commander bowed and said: "General Xiaoyi, it is indeed the Hongshan School's Talisman Command over Ghosts and Gods.

" General Xiaoyi aboard the tower ship waved his hand: "Let them go. The army sets out to take Lizhou.

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Wait! " General Xiaoyi's gaze fell upon Shen Mu and the others once more, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Send them to Tianbo City. Have them summon a demon god there as well. "