The human realm boasts figures like Yan Chixia and Zen Master Baiyun, the demon realm has the Thousand-Year Tree Demon and the Centipede National Master, and the ghost realm has the Black Mountain Demon. With their strength and resources, these individuals are more than capable of gaining the favor of the world's will. If they were to use this opportunity to break through to the Earth Immortal realm, reach the Celestial Immortal realm, or even higher, they could turn the tide of battle. Even those mortals, minor demons, and lesser ghosts who lack strength but are temporarily protagonists can directly become gods upon receiving the world's will…”
"Therefore, unless I kill all the chosen ones, demons, monsters and monsters of this world, I will be in danger of failure." A murderous intent flashed in Jiang Liu's eyes, but it was not a cruel and inhuman urge to slaughter.
"Massacre is merely the most brutal method, contrary to my principles, and unacceptable... The Azure Emperor cultivates the path of incense to become a god. If he were to spread his teachings throughout the world, shifting the will of humanity, he could both gather the power of faith and subtly weaken humanity. However, when the entire human realm worships the Azure Emperor, the will of humanity will be unable to resist my plunder. As for the Ghost Path, leave it to Zhong Kui. He will surely be happy to purify this world. With his ability to devour ghosts, he is more than capable of becoming the King of All Ghosts and ruling the Ghost Path. As for the Demon Path... if both the Human and Ghost Paths are destroyed, dealing with one Demon Path cultivator will be a piece of cake!"
Chapter 371 The Deadly Chant
A Chinese Ghost Story originates from a story in Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
This world is the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
Jiang Liu did not go to Lanruo Temple in Guobei County, Jinhua, Zhejiang, but instead came to the capital. This world was overrun by demons, and even the human capital had not survived. A terrifying centipede demon had transformed into the imperial advisor, wreaking havoc on the world.
"Master, I can go myself. Does that Cihang Pudu have the combat power of a celestial being?"
"Being careful is never a big deal. We have a grand plan, and we cannot afford to make a single mistake!"
The two people, one big and one small, walked into the ruined city. The huge city wall was dilapidated due to years of neglect, and a section of it had even collapsed.
The soldiers at the city gate robbed Jiang Liu of one tael of silver before letting the two of them in.
Natural disasters and man-made calamities have left this human kingdom teetering on the brink of collapse. The power of demons is beyond the reach of mortals. As for the Kunlun, Buddhist, and Taoist sects, which are tasked with subduing demons, they are too busy protecting themselves from the demonic attacks to have any energy left to help the human world.
When a nation is about to perish, monstrous evils will surely appear.
The human world will be destroyed, and humanity will collapse as well, being absorbed by the demon and ghost realms to strengthen themselves.
"What a magnificent temple! This is a Buddhist temple built with the combined resources of the entire nation!"
The Green Emperor was extremely surprised. Along the way, the people looked pale and were suffering terribly, but the temples in front of him were endless, tall and magnificent, and covered with gold paint.
And construction was still underway, with a group of soldiers wielding long whips supervising the work, occasionally lashing out with their whips to leave blood-soaked wounds on the laborers.
"Haven't you eaten? This grand hall must be completed in seven days. If it's not finished, you will all be beheaded, and I will be punished too..."
Thousands of people were building a magnificent structure, constructing an immortal palace with massive stones.
"Who are you? This is a sacred imperial territory, and you dare to trespass here? Guards, arrest them!"
“Be careful, the Imperial Advisor likes children. That little chubby one is a gift to the Imperial Advisor, and we will all reward him! That boy will be sent to my residence…” A fat man in brocade robes saw Jiang Liu and the Azure Emperor and revealed a wicked smile, as if he had great power and the warlords all obeyed his orders.
A murderous glint flashed in the Azure Emperor's eyes as he asked, "Master, may I kill someone?"
"Kill them! These vicious villains, killing them is an act of merit!" Jiang Liu looked around and found the location of the demonic energy, but he did not intend to use excessive force, lest he attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao.
"Let's go and kill that Cihang Pudu!"
The Azure Emperor took out an iron spear, three or four meters long and as thick as a goose egg, which was a huge contrast to his small, seven or eight-year-old body.
This steel spear has a sharp, needle-like tip and two equally sharp blades.
This is the Sorrowful Light Divine Spear!
The entire spear exudes a sense of power and oppression. With the slightest tremor, it hums and vibrates, as if one were in an ancient battlefield, amidst the intense atmosphere of thousands of troops and bloody battles!
It was truly bizarre that a small body would fight with a gun. But one man and one gun, they went straight into the Buddhist temple. The spearhead thrust out, a cold light flashed, blood splattered everywhere, and ghosts howled.
There was no one who could withstand a single blow.
Before long, Jiang Liu and his companion stepped into the main hall.
"What kind of demon dares to trespass on Cihang Temple? Where is your army?" A monk with a compassionate face looked at the Azure Emperor, his face full of righteousness, but also a hint of greed.
The Azure Emperor's vigorous blood energy was the very elixir that allowed this ancient demon to enhance his strength. As for Jiang Liu, he was just an ordinary boy in his eyes.
This centipede demon, purported to be a benevolent healer, turned all the officials of the court into his puppets. Using incredibly realistic sorcery, he bewitched the emperor and became his imperial advisor. He used deadly chants to deceive the mortal realm, claiming to be the Buddha.
"Force him to reveal his true form!"
Without Jiang Liu giving any instructions, the Azure Emperor strode off, his spear flashing out with terrifying killing intent, the ground seeming to have been cleaved by a sword, sending up a shower of rubble.
Faced with such martial arts prowess, Cihang Pudu dared not be careless. In an instant, his sacred and majestic chanting echoed in the sky: "The sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. Lay down the butcher's knife, and you will instantly become a Buddha. The sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. Lay down the butcher's knife, and you will instantly become a Buddha..."
At the same time, the abbot's body radiated golden light, as if the Buddha had descended to earth.
The sound waves surged like ocean waves, directly entering the Azure Emperor's ears and seeping into his consciousness and soul.
At first, he recited in Chinese, but later he switched to Sanskrit. An extremely evil power was brewing within it; although it sounded like Buddhist chants, its true source was demonic magic.
The Azure Emperor stopped and shook his head violently. Clearly, he was not immune to the attack of the Death-Snatching Chant, but brainwashing him was out of the question.
"So noisy!"
A furious roar, like a thunderclap in clear skies, exploded amidst the deadly chanting.
The centipede demon was slightly startled, finding it hard to believe that his invincible life-snatching chant had no effect on him. Immediately, his voice grew louder and louder, gradually becoming a massive wave of sound that filled the heavens and earth. The only sound throughout the world was his increasingly majestic and grand chanting of Sanskrit.
As the Azure Emperor stepped into his sonic domain step by step, the great monk grinned maliciously, and golden light burst forth from his hand, aiming to pierce the Azure Emperor's body.
But at the moment of penetration, it was reflected back.
"What a nuisance, I can't use my supernatural powers! I'll send you to your death later..." the Azure Emperor muttered, continuing to thrust his spear straight at Cihang Pudu.
The centipede demon panicked. Since its two supernatural powers had failed to work, it immediately clasped its hands together and transformed into a golden Buddha, hovering in the void: "Namo Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of the West has arrived here. You demons and evil spirits, before the Buddha, why don't you quickly reveal your true forms!"
"You little demon at the Earth Immortal level dare to call yourself Buddha..." The Azure Emperor laughed loudly, ignoring the bursts of golden light. His body flashed in the void, and his spear thrust out simultaneously, sending seven spear shadows piercing towards the golden Buddha.
Seven Killings.
The centipede demon was immediately terrified. He possessed the golden body of Buddhism, and his physical body was so strong that no one in this world could rival him. However, he was filled with fear when faced with the Seven Killings Path of the Azure Emperor.
He clasped his hands together again, releasing bursts of Buddhist light.
"Centipede demon, die!" The Azure Emperor dared not actually kill it now, because he still needed its demonic form to spread the word and had to let the world see its true face.
A single spear pierced through his golden body, and a casual punch sent lightning into his body, shattering his golden form into pieces.
"It hurts so much!"
Suddenly, the earth shook violently, and a huge crack appeared in the ground, from which emerged a gigantic monster. It was a hundred meters long, had a hundred legs, and its body was covered with scales and bone spikes—it was a centipede demon.
"The Imperial Advisor has turned into a centipede?"
The soldiers who had surrounded them immediately retreated several steps, incredulous.
The centipede moved its hundred legs and charged towards the Azure Emperor, spewing poisonous mist from its mouth, seemingly intent on destroying the entire capital.
Chapter 372 Daoist Chronicles of Liaozhai
The centipede demon was easily killed, and its corpse was hung on the city wall. This not only deterred the demons that coveted the blood of humans, but also instilled a sense of awe in the people and prevented the ministers from uttering a single word of complaint.
“Your Majesty, the Azure Emperor has already gathered tens of thousands of believers. In this capital, the people only have the Hidden Dragon Temple and the Azure Emperor in their hearts… Isn’t he just another centipede demon? Perhaps he is a demon in human skin…” An old man with white hair knelt in the hall, looking as if he were going to his death.
The emperor, who had not appeared at court for a long time, finally sat on the dragon throne. His steps were unsteady and his face was pale. It was clear that he had indulged in excessive sexual activity and would not live much longer.
"Lord Li, this is slander! This is the work of a petty person! Our dynasty is about to be revived, demons have retreated, humanity is on the rise, and our Emperor is the restorer of this dynasty, a wise and benevolent ruler..."
"If it weren't for the Azure Emperor descending to earth, we would have been devoured by that centipede demon long ago, and the fate of the entire nation would have been seized by it. Instead of being grateful, you uttered such treasonous words. You deserve to die!"
"He deserves to die..."
The white-haired Minister Li bowed repeatedly with a bitter smile, kowtowing until his forehead bled, and choked out, "Your Majesty, I have long since disregarded my life. I only hope that Your Majesty can rule the world and not be toyed with by demons or gods alike..."
Having said that, he rammed his head into the large pillar beside him.
This desperate, reckless charge was ineffective; it was as if he had struck cotton.
"Old Li has the nation at heart, why seek death..." A woman walked out from outside the main hall. It was Chan Yinsha. Her skin was as clear as a pearl, and she was surrounded by a radiant light. Her figure was graceful and elegant, like a divine lotus in bloom. She had an ethereal temperament and an unparalleled beauty. She was as beautiful as a fairy, with a face that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, and a face that could shame the moon and flowers. She was like a banished immortal descending to earth, bright and otherworldly.
"Ah! The goddess has arrived in person, Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." The middle-aged emperor stepped down from the main hall in a few steps. Looking at Chan Yinsha's peerless face, he was so incoherent that his words were filled with fear, greed, and lewdness.
"Your Majesty, the auspicious day is in three days. When Your Majesty offers sacrifices to Heaven, do not forget the matter entrusted to you by the Azure Emperor..."
"Witch!" Lord Li, who hadn't managed to kill her, pointed at Chan Yinsha and shouted angrily, "Acting on behalf of Heaven, do you think you can replace Heaven?!"
"We only hope to restore a bright and clear world to the human realm, and all our actions are righteous. Before the Azure Emperor descended to the mortal world, you suffered greatly from the invasion of demons, and the people lived in misery. The capital of a nation was occupied by a powerful demon, and the pillars of the nation were manipulated at will... Look at you now, the demons have retreated, and the capital has been restored to a bright and clear world. Isn't the Azure Emperor's work enough?"
"He's just an old stubborn man, Goddess, please don't be angry. In three days, at the Heavenly Sacrifice, I will appoint the Azure Emperor as the National Preceptor, establish a Great Religion to protect the nation, and give him control over all government affairs..."
...
After the emperor performed the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, Qianlong Temple truly took root in the world of Liaozhai.
If the name is not correct, then the words will not be proper!
Now, the Azure Emperor has stolen a sliver of the rules of humanity, enabling him to summon the fanatical believers from the inner world of the Jiang River. Without the sacrifice of the Heavenly Emperor, "The One Who Escaped" could only protect three to five people.
Now, as long as the Azure Emperor's faith power is strong enough, he can summon hundreds or even thousands of fanatical believers to this world. Of course, these fanatical believers from the "Yang God" can only move within the divine kingdom established by the Azure Emperor.
With the Azure Emperor's strength, this divine kingdom is less than a hundred miles long.
But that was enough. With his experience spreading the word in the world of "Yang Shen," the Azure Emperor could rebuild the Hidden Dragon Temple effortlessly. A thousand believers swiftly integrated into the world of Liaozhai, wielding their magic and displaying their martial prowess. Within a hundred miles of the capital, all demons and evil spirits were wiped out.
Of course, the Green Emperor's most powerful method was controlling plants. Grains grew at a speed visible to the naked eye in the eyes of starving people, and then were laden with fruit. Such divine power was almost like that of an immortal.
If you suffer from illness, it doesn't matter; believe in the Green Emperor and you can stay away from disease.
In such a chaotic world where humanity has declined and demons roam freely, the country is no longer a country, and families have no homes. The greatest wish of the people is to have enough to eat every day, to be free from the harassment of demons and the threat of death, and to have a warm and comfortable home.
With a simple wish, the Azure Emperor used his magic to attract a large number of fanatical believers.
...
Outside the city, a large army was being formed, weeding out the old, weak, sick, and disabled. Although it numbered less than three thousand, it was an elite force. Of course, the core officers were fanatical believers brought from the "Yang Shen" world.
In addition to daily training, these three thousand people also worship the Green Emperor morning and evening.
...
In rural areas, people dressed in Taoist robes can often be seen performing rituals to increase yields in the fields.
You can see that every household has set up a memorial tablet for the Green Emperor, and people pray to him all the time.
Within a hundred miles of the capital, the people were more united than ever before, and the atmosphere was thriving and full of vitality. Large-scale military training and production were proceeding with great enthusiasm, changing rapidly day by day.
Given the current strength of the Azure Emperor, he can only protect a hundred miles away; beyond that, his reach becomes insufficient.
Even if Jiang Liu possessed the combat power of a celestial being, he couldn't possibly slay all the demons and ghosts single-handedly if he were to truly restore the human world. As long as he killed enough, the demon and ghost paths within the Heavenly Dao would inevitably react instinctively, propelling the protagonist of the era to grow at an unimaginable speed.
Taking things slowly and methodically is the right way.