Chapter 280: Repel the Old Demon and the Innate Divine Fire Curse

Chapter 280: Repel the Old Demon and the Innate Divine Fire Curse

Chapter 280: Repel the Old Demon and the Innate Divine Fire Curse (Part 1)
Xu Qing suddenly broke out of Master Tianling’s dream.

His demonic body suddenly appeared in the hustle and bustle of the Old Port.

The moment he appeared, the surrounding noise quickly receded like the tide, and the whole world seemed to have quieted down for him at this moment.

Xu Qing slowly raised his head and looked at the night sky shrouded by strange stars.

In the dark sky, the stars flickered, as if telling of an impending terrible disaster.

A bone-chilling chill surged through Xu Qing's heart. He knew without thinking too much that this was definitely not a natural phenomenon. There must be a powerful person with extraordinary means hiding behind it who was secretly planning something.

In an instant, an extremely terrifying figure emerged in his mind—the Black Mountain Demon!

This name alone is enough to scare all the ascetics in the world.

Who else could have caused such a turbulent wave except this terrifying existence standing at the pinnacle of the human world?

"Xu Qing, do you think you can stop me with your little ability?"

An indifferent and ruthless voice, like the eternal law of heaven, as if carrying the chill of the Nine Nether Hell, entered Xu Qing's ears without warning.

He turned around abruptly, and glanced around like lightning, but all he could see was empty space, without even a human figure.
The voice was like that of a ghost haunting him, echoing all around him, as if it was going to drill straight into the depths of his demonic consciousness and crush his evil heart.

"Black Mountain Old Demon, you are nothing but a person who hides his head and shows his tail."

Xu Qing responded calmly, there was no fear in his voice, only endless calmness and determination.

In an instant, the Taishi Demon Qi was activated. The erosion suffered by the Purple Star Emperor Vein disappeared without a trace in this instant.

In the hidden veins of his soul, his natal star, Ziwei Star, lit up again, emitting a dazzling light. The Purple Emperor Dragon Armor transformed by the Seven Stars of the Eastern Azure Dragon was slowly draped over Xu Qingtianmo. The scales on the dragon armor shone with a mysterious luster, flowing with ancient power.

At the same time, the primordial demonic energy around Xu Qing surged like a raging flame. The demonic flames surged and burned fiercely, reflecting the purple emperor dragon armor and emitting a chilling aura.

The horns of the blue dragon on the top of the Taoist armor stand tall, as if they are about to break through the constraints of heaven and earth, soaring into the sky, showing its majesty and power to the world.

He knew clearly in his heart that facing this man who had entered the realm of the Creator twice and was the world's number one master who was the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao in this world, he must not underestimate him even if he was not at the peak or was just an incarnation.

Moreover, when Xu Qing sent troops to pacify Southeast Asia, he had already anticipated that the Black Mountain Demon might take action.

After all, the Nanyang area is not the territory of the Dayu Dynasty. Without the suppression of the dynasty's destiny, the old demon will be more unscrupulous in his actions.

But if he becomes a demon, the worst result is the disintegration of his demon body. If he can take this opportunity to disrupt the old demon's return to the peak, it will be a big profit.

After all, as the power of the Dayu Dynasty grows over time, it will become more and more unfavorable to the Black Mountain Demon in the future.

The Black Mountain Old Demon did not reply, only a strange and eerie laughter was heard, like the cry of a night owl, which made people's backs chill.

Then, a strong dark aura rushed in from all directions like an endless black ocean, instantly wrapping Xu Qing tightly. The pressure was like an invisible mountain, pressing him so hard that his breathing became rapid. Every breath he took seemed to carry sand and gravel, piercing his lungs.

Xu Qing activated the Primordial Demonic Qi, trying to dispel the dark aura. As soon as the Demonic Qi came into contact with the dark power, a crackling sound was heard, and a pungent smell of burning instantly filled the air, as if everything in the world was ignited and burned in this terrifying clash of powers.

But the darkness was like a maggot attached to his bones, not only growing thicker, but every collision made his blood boil, and his internal organs felt as if being kneaded by a pair of invisible hands, causing unbearable pain.

Xu Qing had to admit that he was worthy of being called the Black Mountain Old Demon. Even now, there was still a huge gap between him and the old demon.

But Xu Qing was very calm, the Taishi Demon Qi circulated as he wished, and all the discomforts of the demon body disappeared at once. However, the Taishi Demon Qi was not endless, and part of it was visibly consumed.

At the same time, he had an idea and called up the Asura Demon King who was the guardian of the Heavenly Demon. The Asura Demon King was the incarnation of the Heavenly Spirit Master, possessing the combat power of a Thunder Tribulation Ghost Immortal, and completely obeyed Xu Qing's orders.

Its figure appeared instantly, emitting a strange dark red light all over its body. It stood quietly beside Xu Qing, like a silent guardian god of war, waiting for his orders.

Soon after, another demon king appeared, with martial arts energy rushing to the sky. It was the Vajra Demon King.

At the same time, his primordial demonic energy was being consumed at an incredibly fast rate.

According to Xu Qing's calculations, the two demon kings could only last for a quarter of an hour at most.

"Bronze mirror!"

Xu Qing murmured softly, as if chanting an extremely terrifying spell.

An ancient bronze mirror appeared out of thin air, the surface of the mirror engraved with mysterious runes, exuding an ancient and powerful aura.

At the same time, the two demon kings and Xu Qing injected power into the mirror at the same time.

The three powers had the same origin. In an instant, the bronze mirror shone brightly, and a dazzling light shot out from the mirror, rushing towards the dark aura. Darkness and light collided violently in mid-air, making a deafening sound, and light splashed everywhere, as if to reshape the world.

The whole world was illuminated by this light, as if it were daytime, but this light seemed so small and vulnerable in front of the endless darkness.

"it is good!"

The voice of the Black Mountain Old Demon resurfaced again, as if it came from the Nine Nether Hell, bringing with it endless chill.

The dark aura suddenly increased several times, and it actually suppressed the light of the bronze mirror in an instant. The light of the bronze mirror kept flickering in the darkness, swaying, like a candle in the wind, which could go out at any time.

However, Xu Qing showed a smug smile at this moment.

"Senior Ji!"

He growled, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation and determination.

A huge net glowing with lightning appeared out of nowhere, covering the bronze mirror and the dark aura.

At the same time, the two demon kings stepped forward and actually hugged the darkness tightly. The Martial Saint's blood and the Thunder Tribulation Ghost Immortal's Yin Shen power were like water and fire fighting, turning into a terrifying vortex, and on the outside was a strange lightning net magic weapon that blocked the void.

At the same time, with the help of tidal resonance, the artillery batteries in the old port aimed their gun barrels at the bronze mirror in the void.

Xu Qing knew clearly that the thing that the Black Mountain Old Demon cared about most must be the bronze mirror. If he used it as bait, the Old Demon would definitely be tempted.

However, he still had a concern, that is, the old demon had the ability to see through the secrets of heaven, and he didn't know whether he would fall into his trap.

But at this moment, the arrow had to be shot. Moreover, the importance of the bronze mirror was self-evident. Once the old demon appeared, the possibility of taking risks was very high.

Amidst loud noises, the dark forces began to dissipate.

In the starry sky, the light of Ziwei Star once again occupied Ziweiyuan, like the residence of gods, lighting up the night.

Xu Qing's body slowly landed at the port of Jiugang. Looking at the stars in the night sky gradually returning to normal, he felt a lot of emotions in his heart.

Although he had temporarily won the battle against the Black Mountain Demon, he knew that the road ahead was still long and more challenges were waiting for him.

And the second battle with the Black Mountain Demon also gave him a deeper understanding of the power in this world. He knew that he still had a long way to go.

Ji Changxi came to Xu Qing and said softly, "This mission with you is completely over. It's time for me to leave."

When she saw the bronze mirror, she knew that this must be Xu Qing's great secret, otherwise it would never have been able to seduce the Black Mountain Old Demon and give them the opportunity to repel the old demon.

However, Ji Changxi did not ask any further questions. For people of their level, who doesn’t have a big secret?

At the same time, Ji Changxi was more concerned about the fact that Xu Qing had gained a new demon king guardian at the level of a thunder ghost fairy.

This kid is getting more and more amazing.

However, Xu Qing had better not get carried away.

Ji Changxi knew very well that His Majesty was not as simple as outsiders thought. The previous battle at Mount Taihe had left her with a very terrible impression.

Even at the most critical moment, His Majesty did not take action.

She still had a terrible premonition in her heart that His Majesty's strength was underestimated by everyone.

In this Great Yu Dynasty, the person who truly hides the most is Your Majesty.

But she never mentioned this to anyone.

...

...

The capital, this ancient city that has witnessed the rise and fall of the Great Yu Dynasty for a hundred years, is now under the strict control of Prince Yu.

Since getting the opportunity to be regent, Prince Yu's power has been at its peak. The whole of Northern Zhili is under his command. With this as the center, his influence is like an invisible net, radiating to several northern provinces and even to the prestigious nine border towns.

Before this dynasty, if someone could control these key places, he would be called the master of "China". The so-called "China" is the country in the center of the world.

The taste of power is like fine wine. Once you taste it, you will be intoxicated and unable to give it up. After Prince Yu took over the power of the capital, he made great efforts and did a lot. With the support of a lama from the Snowland named Shanzhi, he carefully established a terrifying intelligence organization - the Blood Dropper.

This organization acted in secret and with ruthless methods, even more so than the Inner Factory. For a time, the entire north was shrouded in the invisible shadow of the Flying Guillotine, and Prince Yu's will was implemented.

As regent, the human and material resources that Prince Yu can mobilize are far beyond what he could do when he was an ordinary prince.

Moreover, under the painstaking efforts of the old Prime Minister Zhang Tai'a, a solid foundation was laid for the reform in the north, which made the implementation of the land clearing and the Single Whip System in the north extremely smooth.

In addition, the court vigorously promoted the minting of longevity silver coins. For a time, there was an abundance of silver and money in the two capitals of the Dayu Dynasty.

However, the dignitaries and wealthy people in the north felt an unprecedented sense of urgency.

Today, the South is developing rapidly, and various mechanical devices and firearms are constantly being innovated, causing the military force that the North once prided itself on to gradually lose its advantage when facing the South.

Although many new institutions have emerged in the North, the wealth accumulated by these institutions is a far cry from that in the South.

The South, relying on its unique geographical location, occupies a dominant position in maritime trade and is also the largest consumer market in the Dayu Dynasty.

The prosperity of business made the wealth of the South grow like a snowball.

In contrast, although many workshops were established in the north, the business atmosphere was far less mature than that in the south, and the circulation of goods and the accumulation of wealth were subject to many restrictions.

The nobles and gentry in the north were full of worries. Under the promotion of the old emperor and Xu Qing, the focus of the reform initiated in the north was quietly shifting to the south.

What they were most concerned about was the old emperor's reluctance to return to the north. Could it be that the old emperor was planning to relocate the capital to Yingtianfu?

Once this idea was planted in their minds, it grew wildly like weeds.

For the wealthy and powerful people in the north, moving the capital would undoubtedly be a catastrophe.

Without the halo of the capital, the North will lose the strong financial support from the South. What is more frightening is that they will completely fade out of the core of power of the Dayu Dynasty.

This is something they absolutely cannot tolerate, both from an economic and political perspective.

The military families in the nine border areas also had complaints about this.

Over the past two hundred years, these military families have continuously expanded their power by taking advantage of border threats, gradually forming a situation in which they can use the border threats to gain power.

The capital's geographical location is crucial and can be regarded as the gateway to the country.

Once a border threat breaks out, the enemy army will be able to march straight in and directly threaten the ruling core of the Dayu Dynasty.

This special geopolitical situation made the generals in border towns more and more domineering.

They knew that the imperial court could not do without their military strength, so they demanded more and more military pay every year. But strangely, the border troubles never decreased, but became more and more serious.

Today's border towns have become a heavy burden for the Dayu Dynasty, making it difficult for the imperial court to breathe.

Even though the northwest was filled with disaster victims and starving people, the imperial court did not dare to shortchange the military pay of the border towns, for fear that these military families would become dissatisfied and cause even greater chaos.

...

...

Amid the delicate situation in which the northern nobles and gentry were worried and the military families in the nine border areas were dissatisfied, Prince Yu was having a secret conversation with Lama Shanzhi behind closed doors in his mansion in the capital.

The flickering candlelight cast the figures of the two people on the wall, making them look particularly deep and mysterious.

"Master, the south is developing rapidly now, and my father has been living in the south for a long time. The people in the north are in panic, and the generals in the border towns are also ready to make a move. In your opinion, how should I deal with it?" Prince Yu frowned, his eyes revealing a hint of anxiety and an imperceptible expectation.

Shanzhi Lama narrowed his eyes slightly, turned the Buddhist beads in his hand, and said slowly: "Your Highness, the current situation is that the South has risen and it is difficult to contain. But the North has a deep foundation and should not be underestimated. As the regent, Your Highness should make stabilizing the situation in the North your top priority. Although the border town generals are domineering, they can also be used."

"Utilize? How to utilize?" Prince Yu asked.

"What the generals in the border towns care about is nothing more than power and military pay. Your Highness can promise them that if they can help stabilize the north, you will fight for more rights and interests for them in the court in the future, and even grant them jurisdiction over some places. For example, the treatment of the governors of the vassal states in the previous dynasty. In this way, they will stand on the side of Your Highness and be used by Your Highness." There was a sly flash in Shanzhi Lama's eyes.

Prince Yu pondered for a moment and nodded slightly: "This plan is feasible. But in the south, my father and Xu Qing are in control of the situation. How can I check and balance them?"

"The key to the south lies in Xu Qing. He is now in the limelight, holds power in the south, and is deeply trusted by His Majesty. Your Majesty can secretly instruct the Blood Dropper to collect Xu Qing's handles. Once there is an opportunity, he can make trouble in the court and weaken his power." Shanzhi Lama said in a low voice.

Prince Yu smiled bitterly, "Master may not know the position of Xu Qing in my father's heart. In my opinion, unless Xu Qing personally launches a coup similar to the Xuanwu Gate Incident, my father will never believe that Xu Qing has the intention of rebellion."

Shanzhi Lama: "Why does your majesty trust Xu Gongming so much? Is it true, as the rumors say, that he is..."

The news that Xu Qing was the old emperor's illegitimate son had a wide market among the people of the Dayu Dynasty, and many powerful and wealthy families also secretly reached a similar consensus.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain the old emperor's trust in Xu Qing.

Prince Yu: "Over the past thirty years, my father has favored many people, but no prince or princess has been born in the harem. Xu Qing is only about twenty years old, so it doesn't make sense. Although I don't know why Xu Qing can win my father's trust, Xu Qing's position is precisely targeting me everywhere. Alas..."

"Yes, the contradiction between the emperor and the crown prince has always grown with the years, becoming bigger and bigger until it is irreconcilable. Even if Xu Qing is resolved, it will not be able to dispel His Majesty's suspicion of the prince." Mr. Dai sighed lightly and walked out leisurely.

Lama Shanzhi knew very well that Mr. Dai was the most trusted confidant of Prince Yu and was far more trusted by Prince Yu than Shen Mo, another Minister of Works who was also a top scholar in the court.

Many of Prince Yu's plans were the work of Mr. Dai.

The reason why Prince Yu was willing to accept him was also the choice Prince Yu made after Mr. Dai analyzed the situation for him.

The Heavenly Family is ruthless.

Mr. Dai has seen through the old emperor's intentions.

The birth of the emperor's grandson was undoubtedly the beginning of Prince Yu's end.

Prince Yu also began to feel heartbroken from this moment on.

He did not choose to sit still and wait for death.

Mr. Dai actually knew that Prince Yu had little chance of winning, but in order to repay Prince Yu's kindness, he did not choose to leave.

In fact, in his heart, he knew that the true wise leader was someone else, but it was a pity that a loyal minister could not serve two masters.

He can only follow Prince Yu till the end.

Shanzhi Lama smiled upon hearing this, "Although Your Majesty has seen the essence of the problem, Xu Qing is Your Majesty's most capable henchman. Once he is eliminated, it will be of great benefit to Your Majesty. I also have good news to offer, which will surely ease Your Majesty's worries."

"Master, what good news do you have?"

"Not long ago, the spirit incarnation of the Lord of the Demon Palace in Changbai Mountain traveled the world and fought with Xu Qing in Nanyang. Although the Lord of the Demon Palace retreated this time, he had already planted the Innate Divine Fire Curse on Xu Qing. Once the Lord of the Demon Palace comes out of retreat, he will be able to trigger the Innate Divine Fire Curse at the right time, making Xu Qing unable to live or die."

"The Black Mountain Old Demon?" Prince Yu said in shock.

Mr. Dai had a normal look on his face. He had long guessed that although Lama Shanzhi was ostensibly a living Buddha of the Snowland Tantric Buddhism, there was actually another big shot behind him.

as predicted.

Lama Shanzhi was actually an important chess piece planted by the Black Mountain Demon in the capital of the Dayu Dynasty.

This terrifying existence that is feared by the whole world, the strongest man in the world, is actually so afraid of Xu Qing?
Mr. Dai couldn't help feeling emotional, and his worries deepened.

He didn't believe that the Black Mountain Old Demon could defeat Xu Gongming with the so-called innate divine fire spell. It was unrealistic.

Alas, the situation is becoming increasingly complex and difficult.

Even though he saw through the fog, he still felt pessimistic and desperate about Prince Yu's ending.

This is the most tragic thing in the world.

Even though I know the outcome, I still rush into it like a moth to a flame, without looking back.

Even though he was extremely desperate and depressed, Mr. Dai would not reveal a single thing to Prince Yu.

In addition, in his opinion, even if Prince Yu failed, he still had his bloodline and even had a good chance of ascending the throne. And based on various clues, he judged one thing: Your Majesty must have an extremely terrifying power to be able to be open-hearted to Xu Gongming and not be afraid of Xu Gongming's rebellion.

Whether it is Prince Yu or Xu Gongming, they are just tools of Your Majesty.

Moreover, all the actions taken by Prince Yu after he became regent were actually still a plan of His Majesty.

The more clearly Mr. Dai saw, the more he respected His Majesty, and the less he dared to reveal the truth.

(End of this chapter)