Chapter 240 — Undercurrents
Sea of Primordial Tribulation · Page 2 of 6
"Golden Light Immortal, go up and seize this man. Once Hong Cong is taken, the Bodhisattvas will personally deliver them to Emperor Gouchen, and let that Emperor punish them himself. A disciple carrying on with demon women, conduct unbecoming—Gouchen too shall bear the charge of failing to discipline his household." Seeing that Liao Yanqiao did not answer, Jinzha took it for cowardice, and pressed his advantage, meaning to seize the man first and talk later.
The Golden Light Immortal, being under another's control, was unwilling but had no choice. This was no good errand: the man's master was Emperor Gouchen, and if blame were laid later, those Bodhisattvas, to keep from tearing their own faces, would likewise push the responsibility onto him and let him suffer for it. It was a task that pleased neither side.
The Golden Light Immortal advanced hesitantly, sword in hand, and faced Liao Yanqiao, about to speak, when from below the valley came a sweet, shrill cry. The seven sisters and Hong Cong came up bearing weapons, and at the same moment demon soldiers rose in dense swarms from the mountain, and the nine great lakes encircling the mountain surged with mountainous spray, throwing up waves that reached the sky; a host of water soldiers, led by water-demon giants, came charging up on the strength of the waters—a full million strong—and enclosed those several hundred thousand Buddhist soldiers completely in their midst.
Jinzha seemed to have foreseen this situation long ago and was not afraid. Though the demon soldiers were many, in a melee they might not prove a match for the Buddhist troops.
"Hong Cong, will you not release my brother? Bow thrice and knock your head nine times, and go to the Bodhisattvas to confess your crime!" Jinzha shouted as soon as he saw Hong Cong.
"What brother have you left? That Muzha I roasted over the fire long ago and divided among my underlings to eat; by now he has become dung. You come asking for him—is it not a bit late?" Hong Cong, sharp of tongue and tooth, laughed with a heh-heh.
Jinzha flew into a rage at once. "Golden Light Immortal, strike now! Horned-Head Immortal, Spirit-Fang Immortal, you two go seize the demon women and Hong Cong!" Jinzha shouted hurriedly. He himself led the Buddhist soldiers charging at the demon troops around them. After trading a couple of blows with an otter demon king, Jinzha raised his Dragon-Subduing Stake and clamped it hard upon the otter. This Dragon-Subduing Stake had three rings, divided into Heaven, Earth, and Man of the Three Powers; once it clamped a foe, he could not move and was left to be cut up at will. The otter was clamped straight from top to bottom; Jinzha waved a sword and struck off the otter's head. Golden light blazed from the stake, and with a single report, both corpse and primal spirit were shattered to fine dust.
With the Dragon-Subduing Stake to aid him, Jinzha was fierce beyond compare; in a few exchanges he had slain three or four demon kings. Add to that the ferocity of the Buddhist soldiers behind him—though fewer in number than the demon troops, in battle they gained the upper hand instead.
Liao Yanqiao had commanded demon soldiers in war on Black Wind Mountain and had experience in such melees. Seeing Jinzha so fierce and the demon troops hard pressed to withstand him, he paid no more heed to the Golden Light Immortal before him; he shook his body, and thirteen blood-shadows flew out swift as the wind, casting a smear of brilliant red across heaven and earth, veiling all in a bloody light.
The thirteen Blood Gods were the finest aid in a melee; that one should hold off ten thousand was no wonder at all.
The Golden Light Immortal, unexpectedly, did not block them, nor did he seize the chance to attack Liao Yanqiao; he only sent golden light forth from his own body, so that the Blood Gods could not draw near.