Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 628 Pingqiu
On the shores of Beihai, at Tiangui Mountain, lies the Jisheng Palace.

Just as Lu Wu's true form had ascertained the truth about the Ghost Kingdom and bound the Black Emperor Zhi Guangji to Kunlun Hill, after listening to the long and detailed accusations of the Water Tribe Saintess Wusima, Qin Huai (Taowu) did not hesitate to capture all the Water Demon heroes whose strength was far inferior to his own and hand them over to Zhugu Zhi for safekeeping. He then sat in the Ice Palace, carefully planning his next move.

'Alright, let's go to Pingqiu first and see those treacherous officials of the serpent lineage. Even if they really have nothing to do with the death of the God Emperor, it would be good to get some information about the Fuxi Stone Prophecy from there.'

Having made up his mind, Qin Huai stood up and looked at the members of the Extreme Saint Palace who were obediently cooperating under the soothing words of the Water Saintess, Usma. He said coldly, "If you continue to obey orders during this time, I will kill the Candle Demon myself without you having to lift a finger. Even Zhi Guangji might be able to be resurrected. But if you dare to have any disloyal thoughts, then there will only be one fate: death. Now, take me to Pingqiu. I have some questions to ask that Wu Hui Snake Granny."

Upon hearing the words "Black Emperor's Resurrection," Bomu seemed to have thought of something and was about to speak when Usma smiled and said, "It's 1,200 li to Pingqiu. If we set off now, we won't arrive until dusk at the earliest. Since you're so eager, senior, let's not delay and go now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the people of the Supreme Saint Palace summoned the Snow Vulture Flying Chariot, invited Qin Huai to come inside and sit down, and then flew the two of them straight to the depths of the North Sea.

A dim sun hung in the western sky, seemingly unmoved.

The sea of ​​clouds stretches endlessly, the icy ocean is vast and boundless, and the space between the sky and the sea is filled with dense white mist. Under the glow of the setting sun, it transforms into a variety of enchanting and wondrous landscapes, resembling countless fairy mountains standing proudly on the sea, or thousands of giant beasts running rampant.

With a heron's sharp cry and the rumbling of wheels, the Snow Vulture Flying Car sped northward, skimming the sea surface, and soon plunged into the vast white mist. A fierce wind blew, and the whole world became a floating, chaotic white, with surging currents that made it impossible to distinguish east from west. The mist, mixed with the icy waves, washed over the car like a torrential rain, making a splashing sound.

"Hold the helm firmly, stay close to the sea surface, and don't deviate from the compass direction!"

Seeing Qin Huai stabilize the swaying car body, Bo Mu felt a chill and gave a soft shout, directing the actions of the Jisheng Palace Iron Guards.

The two burly men at the stern gripped the steering wheel tightly, constantly correcting the course; the burly man at the stern, following the instructions of the bronze helm flag, whipped the birds, forming a triangular formation, and flew swiftly northward close to the sea surface.

The fog grew thicker and thicker, until even inside the carriage, visibility was extremely low. Qin Huai's eyes gleamed slightly as he memorized the trajectory and, combined with Zero's location, drew an ever-extending flight path on the Great Wilderness map.

'Fortunately, I didn't rashly attempt a soul search; otherwise, if anything went wrong, even if I reached Pingqiu, I fear I wouldn't be able to return safely.'

As Qin Huai was thinking this, he withdrew the Qi energy that had stabilized the vehicle, and the entire Snow Vulture Flying Chariot immediately began to shake.

The waves were high, the wind was fierce, and the cold was biting. The carriage shook violently with a creaking sound, covered in a thick layer of white ice. The wheels and rudder were frozen solid, making it increasingly difficult to turn. The flywheel gradually slowed down, and the speed decreased significantly. Even the six herons driving the carriage seemed unable to escape the bitter cold, screeching and crying mournfully. The burly man at the front of the carriage was so cold that his teeth chattered, and he trembled all over, too weak even to swing his whip.

"Activate the Wind and Fire Wheel, and add 'Taiyi Divine Water' every incense stick's time!"

But as Zhi Xuanqing gave another command, not long after, two streaks of fire suddenly shot up from the rear of the flying cars, which spun around and increased in speed, rushing forward like lightning.

The herons cried out joyfully, flapped their wings and flew up to the roof of the carriage to keep warm. The driver hurriedly opened the carriage door and retreated into the carriage.

The enormous flying vehicle sped forward through the vast white fog, propelled only by the power of its two fiery paddle wheels.

After flying for about half an hour, the storm at sea intensified, with raging waves crashing down like mountains, relentlessly pounding the airship. Even though the flying vehicle was incredibly sturdy, it felt as if it were about to collapse.

"Keep a steady hand on the steering wheel; you need not worry about the safety of the vehicle."

Qin Huai raised his hand, and Zhu Guzhi immediately understood. The Heaven-Turning Divine Seal in his palm emitted a dazzling five-colored light, expanding outwards, cutting through the wind and waves, protecting the flying chariot as it sped northwards.

More than an hour later, the group could hear faint bird calls coming from afar, which became clearer and more frequent, as if thousands of birds were following closely behind.

Qin Huai looked out the window following the sound and found that the fog in front of him suddenly gathered and dispersed, and the outline of the mountains could be vaguely seen. The wind was blowing and a few strange bird calls like the crying of a baby came. He wanted to concentrate and listen again, but then there was silence.

"That's the Ghost Bird. It's often accompanied by the spirits of infants who died young. It usually hovers around the Pingqiu Abyss, so every time I come here, I can hear its mournful cries."

Perhaps sensing Qin Huai's attention, Usma said with a smile, "The Ghost Bird is a ferocious bird unique to the Abyss. Since its cry has been heard, Pingqiu must not be far away."

At that time, the clouds and mist outside the window dispersed, the waves gradually calmed, and a steep mountain could be vaguely seen standing in the icy ocean, its peak cut off by the sea of ​​clouds. Several rays of the setting sun pierced through the clouds and shone obliquely on the cliff, making it golden.

The wind and fire spun, breaking through the waves and rising up. As the flying car got closer, the gale subsided, the clouds and fog became thinner and thinner, and a corner of blue sky could be faintly seen.

The towering mountains stretch across the vast sea, reaching into the clouds like giant pillars supporting the sky, their height unfathomable.

The flying car circled around the cliff, and looking straight ahead, there was a vast and deep valley, lush with greenery and covered with flowers, like a colorful brocade that stretched all the way to the foot of the mountain and was reflected in the azure blue ocean, bright and beautiful as a painting.

A gentle breeze stirred, the sea was calm, and the air was filled with the rich fragrance of flowers. All worldly cares vanished, leaving everyone feeling ethereal and blissful. They had never imagined that such a warm and beautiful paradise could exist in the midst of the raging storms and blizzards of the Arctic Ocean. Having just experienced the nightmarish fog and turbulent waves, they felt even more captivated and enchanted.

Birds chirped, snow vultures circled, and thousands of flying fish danced in the waves, tracing countless beautiful, bright arcs, cascading like silver waterfalls from the car windows and rushing into the sea. The vibrant life they exuded was quite different from the lifeless, icy ocean.

In the center of the valley, two hills stand facing each other, steep and precipitous, their peaks seemingly carved by a sharp axe, barren of vegetation. These must be the legendary Pingqiu. Legend has it that these two peaks are the fangs of a celestial dragon that fell to earth to suppress ferocious beasts, hence they are also known as Dragon Tooth Mountain.

In just a moment, the Snow Vulture Flying Cart's flags fluttered, its wheels spun, and it swooped into the valley, skimming over the colorful wildflowers and meadows, rushing towards the flat hills like lightning.

The lush forest stretched like a sea, undulating and surging. A cool breeze, carrying a hint of moisture, blew in, refreshingly invigorating. In the distance, two hills rose from a vast, emerald lake, its surface shrouded in mist and shimmering with light. Birds that approached immediately cried out and circled away, surely the legendary, frigid abyss that stretched to the deepest depths of the earth.

"The Serpent Granny Wu Hui is sealed under the Ten Thousand Serpent Rock on the west peak of Pingqiu. Among the Seven Immortals of Pingqiu, Ancestor Gan Zu and Ancestor Gan Hua guard her every step of the way. The other five, Fairy Yu Yu, Fairy Yang Liu, True Man Qing Ma, Ancestor Shi Rou, and Fairy Bai Guo, patrol various places and meet at the Ten Thousand Serpent Rock every two hours. The flying chariot is very powerful, so they must have discovered us."

Before Bo Mu could finish speaking, a booming voice rang out: "Damn it, where did this bastard come from! This is the forbidden area of ​​Pingqiu. Are you looking for death by barging in?"

Qin Huai looked in the direction of the sound and saw a huge, fat beast with red-striped snake scales and two bodies slithering down from the mountain on the left, screaming and howling, spewing out balls of fire. Riding on the fat beast's head was a strange man, round and red, its head and body fused together, looking from a distance like a lump of fresh beef liver. Its two copper-bell-like green eyes darted left and right, its expression menacing, while it smacked its teeth noisily at a large deer leg. This must be the "Ancestor of Flesh-Seeing" from the Seven Immortals of Pingqiu.

【Shirou】: Legend has it that there are some wild monsters with slightly chaotic bloodlines in the Great Wilderness. They have 2,500 years of cultivation. Their bodies are round and without limbs. They are ferocious and cruel by nature. Even tigers and wolves will be swallowed whole if they encounter them.

Note: The creature that sees meat has eyes but no intestines or stomach; it is inexhaustible and regenerates as before, but has a bland taste.

—Guo Pu, Jin Dynasty, "Illustrated Eulogy to the Classic of Mountains and Seas"

'It doesn't even have the secret treasures of Jambudvipa? What a useless thing.'

Qin Huai's eyes flickered, but before he could make a move, Wusima continued, "We must let Qilang and Senior know that although the seven immortals guarding Pingqiu are only Immortal-level experts (peak of the Eight Extremes), if they join forces and their minds are in sync, their power will be multiplied. Even divine-level experts like Chaoyang Shuibo and the Twin-Headed Ancestor might not be able to gain an advantage against these seven. Most importantly, these seven all possess [Light Extreme Stones]. If an accident occurs, the red light from the divine stones will shoot straight into the sky, visible for thousands of miles around. Reinforcements will arrive within an hour and a half at the latest. You are powerful enough to kill the seven quickly, but we will need them in the future, so we hope Senior can spare their lives."

Qin Huai nodded slightly, tacitly agreeing to Usma's plan.

Jiufeng and Qiangliang then floated out of the carriage, bowed in mid-air, and said in unison: "Jiufeng and Qiangliang of Tiangui Mountain, by the order of the True God of Candle, are escorting the heavy prisoner to Pingqiu. We are also accompanied by a pure Yin girl as a sacrifice for the Zhujuan Divine Serpent's hibernation during the polar night. We ask the Ancestor to bring her in."

"So it is the arrival of the two esteemed guests from the Arctic. We apologize for not welcoming you properly."

The old ancestor of meat was deeply moved and hurriedly dropped the deer leg, awkwardly bowing in return.

Immediately afterward, his emerald eyes scrutinized the Snow Vulture Chariot, a hint of suspicion flashing across his plump face. He coughed and said, "However, the Pingqiu prison chariot is always escorted by the blind slaves of Youdu. Why should the two gods condescend to come in person? Well, the two gods should know the Water Tribe's prohibition: 'Once you enter Pingqiu, you can never leave,' even the escorting envoys are no exception."

"Haha, of course we're aware of this ban. In principle, only you Seven Immortals of Pingqiu are allowed free entry and exit from Pingqiu. However..."

Qiang Liang's triangular eyes gleamed, and he grinned slyly, saying, "This case involves extremely important prisoners, and the True God of Candlelight cannot afford to lose him, so he specially dispatched two people to protect you. Otherwise, even if you offered us eight divine chariots, we wouldn't come."

He then raised his hand, and the red snake on his left arm, coiled around a black stone bottle, stood upright, continuing, "Ancestor, rest assured, we naturally know the secrets of Pingqiu and cannot divulge them. Therefore, the True God of Candle ordered us to bring the [Forgetful River Water] along with it. After the handover is completed and we leave Pingqiu, you will personally feed us the divine water, and we will forget everything completely."

"The true divine decree is here; read it carefully."

The Nine Phoenix Fairy's pretty face was filled with murderous intent. Her right hand waved like an orchid, and a piece of sheepskin fluttered and landed in the chubby hand of the Ancestor of the Flesh. On it was the handwriting of the Candle Dragon, stamped with the seal of the Water God.

"The presence of these two deities brings glory to Pingqiu. However, this human sacrifice of a young girl is far too good for the Zhu Juan Divine Serpent. If True Man Qingma were to see this, he would surely complain about the waste of such a precious resource."

The Old Ancestor of the Spectrum of Flesh read it three times with great concentration, and had no more doubts. He put the sheepskin into his bosom and laughed heartily.

"This matter is of great importance. Ancestor, please lead the way as soon as possible and let us escort the prisoners into jail."

Qiang Liang pointed to the group of people from the Extreme Saint Palace inside the flying car, who had already changed clothes and disguised themselves, bound themselves in shackles, and were dressed as prisoners, and urged them to hurry up.

"Of course, of course. May I ask who this gentleman is?"

Out of the corner of his eye, the Old Ancestor of the Flesh and Blood caught sight of Qin Huai, who was escorting a heavily armed prisoner. He seemed to sense Qin Huai's aura, which was as deep as the ocean, and immediately asked a question.

"Senior Taotie is my master, does the Ancestor have any objections?"

Just then, Zhu Guzhi turned out from behind Qin Huai and replied with a smile.

"Ah! Qilang, how did you come to Pingqiu with the two Venerables?"

Upon seeing that Zhuguzhi, the only son of Zhulong, had also appeared in this bitterly cold ocean, the Ancestor of the Flesh and Blood no longer had any doubts. He immediately stepped forward to inquire about his well-being, his face full of enthusiasm.

"What?! Qilang is here?!"

A strong wind blew, horses neighed, and a handsome, tall man in black rode a dark blue-green horse, charging down the mountain. He had a smile on his lips and an arrogant and domineering air about him. This was none other than the Azure Horse Immortal.

Then, clear, bell-like voices came from the east, north, and west. One after another, they said, "Yiyu, Yangliu, and Baiguo are late in welcoming you, please forgive us, Seventh Brother!"

The clouds on the mountain dispersed, birds soared high, and three beautiful women in colorful clothes rode divine birds down gracefully, circling in front of the flying chariot.

"Seventh Brother, Venerable Ones, please come with us into the Ten Thousand Serpents Rock. My eldest and second brothers are guarding the Crimson Scroll Demoness and are unable to come out to greet you. Please forgive them."

Upon seeing that Zhugu had personally come to Pingqiu for inspection, the Old Ancestor Shirou chuckled and took the initiative to lead the way.

The twin peaks of Pingqiu are as if cleaved by an axe, covered with dark and light green moss, which are bright and eye-catching against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds. Below, the abyss is filled with icy air. Even though it is thousands of feet away, the biting cold wind blows against everyone's faces, making them shiver.

As they flew further, the pleasantly warm climate of Pingqiu quickly turned into an even colder and more frigid environment than the Arctic Ocean they had encountered earlier.

The gale was like a knife, lashing down on us, mixed with thousands of sharp ice crystals, which struck the dazzling light field generated by the candle drum with a crisp, continuous sound.

The Five Immortals of Pingqiu gazed at the Heaven-Turning Divine Seal in the hands of Zhulong's son, assuming it was a divine artifact bestowed by Zhulong, and were filled with extreme envy.

(End of this chapter)