Chapter 314
Chapter 314
*Rumble.*
Another clap of thunder and flash of lightning illuminated the faces of the warrior monks.
‘Our Buddha eats only meat, kills men, and dallies with women.’
The sacred temple Shen Lang had built was a simple structure: a wooden frame covered with a single layer of oiled cloth. It had no defensive measures, not even proper walls. A light push would be enough to bring it down. The temple looked far too fragile to withstand the two thousand five hundred warriors.
* * *
But Shen Lang had long been waiting for this day and had a plan in place. While building the temple, he had secretly tasked the Heavenly Dao Society with transporting numerous iron wires and a dozen iron pillars, each as thick as a thumb. Now, those dozen pillars were connected into one and erected in the center of the temple. It was a great iron pillar, thirty-five meters tall, reaching for the sky. This pillar was guaranteed to be the tallest object within several thousand meters. Logically, it would act as a lightning rod, drawing all strikes into the earth. Furthermore, the ground inside and around the temple was covered with dry cowhide, and everyone inside wore cowhide shoes that provided complete insulation from electricity.
Not only that, but after the temple was built, Shen Lang had the Jin Clan warriors modify it. The warriors wound iron wires around the temple's wooden frame, extending them to the ground outside. By then, the ground outside the temple was thoroughly soaked, ensuring it would conduct electricity. Once the lightning rod in the center was severed and the network of iron and steel wires connected to the towering pillar, any lightning it attracted would not be grounded but would instead surge through the dense wire mesh to the surrounding earth. What would happen then to everyone standing outside the temple? What kind of shoes were the bald warriors wearing? Wet straw sandals—more than enough to get them electrocuted. And what is the voltage of a lightning strike? It can range from tens of millions to a billion volts. How many people could that kill? Only the heavens knew.
* * *
Inside the temple.
A hundred warriors trembled in fear. Outside stood two thousand five hundred ferocious bald warriors. They were surely doomed. The difference in numbers was so vast that a fight was unwinnable from the start.
“Thirteen, begin!”
Shen Lang gave the command during a rare moment of quiet in the sky. Shen Thirteen scrambled up to the temple's peak like a monkey and connected the wire mesh to the central iron pillar.
“Big Dummy, go!”
Big Dummy swung his heavy iron staff with all his might, easily severing the lightning rod where it was inserted into the ground. Now, the pillar would no longer ground the current but would instead channel it into the mesh of iron and copper wire. All preparations were complete. They just had to wait for the next lightning strike.
* * *
“Hah, hah, hah.”
“Kill, kill, kill!”
Outside, the bald warriors of the Snow Mountain Divine Temple began to roar violently. Ascetic Kuhai shouted.
“The State of Qiang has only one faith—the Heavenly God. Our Snow Mountain Divine Temple represents the will of the Heavenly God. Yet now, these people from Yue have built their sacred temple on our land. This is an insult to the Heavenly God, an act that calls for divine punishment. In the name of the Heavenly God, I will trample this Yue temple into the ground and slaughter every last person from Yue inside!”
“Kill, kill, kill!”
The bald warriors roared with murderous intent, their cries like the howling of wolves. The killing intent thickened. Amidst it all, Shen Lang's fragile temple seemed like a small boat tossed in a raging storm, ready to be shattered at any moment. Inside, dozens of warriors from Yue could no longer bear the pressure. They dropped to their knees and wailed.
“If we surrender, they'll spare us!”
But the warriors from the Jin Clan and the Heavenly Dao Society, though pale-faced and trembling in fear, clutched their bows tightly and did not cry out like the others.
*Tonight, we will surely die here!*
Finally, the wolf-like howls outside ceased. Two thousand five hundred men formed a circle and advanced toward the temple with menacing steps.
“Kill them, kill them all! Kill every last person from Yue! Raze the temple! Tear Shen Lang to pieces! Cry, you Yue bastards, scream!”
The bald warriors' pace quickened, closing the distance to the temple. They brandished the scimitars in their hands, their faces twisted with ferocity as they began a frantic charge. Like a black tide, they surged forward to engulf the helpless temple.
Just then! A terrifying bolt of lightning, like a soaring dragon, burst through a tear in the dark clouds that filled the sky. It stretched for tens of thousands of meters, its power threatening to shake the very heavens.
*CRACK-BOOM!*
A world-shaking thunderclap followed, illuminating the black night sky as if it were day. A stunning series of lightning bolts rained down. They looked like descending blades, like a tightly woven net blanketing the world, striking the earth with mad fury. The power of nature was truly immense. At last, a bolt ten thousand meters long struck the thirty-five-meter iron pillar atop the temple. A staggering current raged down through it.
“Kill them, kill them all.”
The bald warriors had charged right up to the temple and were raising their scimitars to strike it down. And then...
*BOOM!*
An incredible explosion erupted. Countless sparks from the lightning flew across the entire temple, and the iron wires burned and snapped. Simultaneously, an immense current spread through the ground and into the people outside the shrine. The fierce and savage warrior monks were instantly struck by the massive current. Sparks flew from their bodies, thick smoke rose, and their movements froze. In an instant, countless bald warriors were brutally struck dead by the lightning. Dozens were turned to charcoal on the spot.
A divine miracle and a massacre had occurred in a flash. At that same moment, inside the temple, the divine maiden Xue Yin opened her beautiful eyes and awoke.
* * *
It was a terrifying, astonishing scene. The power of the lightning was beyond imagination, yet only a few hundred had been killed or injured in one go. What was truly frightening was the unknown, the power of nature itself. In particular, the few who had been closest were turned into actual lumps of charcoal. The sight of so many people being struck down by lightning truly looked like divine retribution.
“The Heavenly God has shown his might. Our attack on the sacred temple must have angered him!”
Every bald warrior had the same thought, their legs trembling so violently they could barely stay standing, let alone kneel. Just then, a voice filled with majesty, like that of the Heavenly God himself, echoed from within the temple.
“This sacred temple has saved countless people of Qiang; it is under the protection of the heavens. If false believers like you dare to trespass, you will be turned to dust!”
The voice was Shen Lang's, amplified by a megaphone made of sheet iron. If he had shouted that loudly without the megaphone, his throat would have ruptured, or his vocal cords would have been damaged to the point of death.
The moment Shen Lang's voice reached them, the remaining bald warriors outside trembled in fear, unable to advance another step. The people who had surrounded the temple from a distance to watch were also utterly thrilled.
*The Heavenly God has truly shown his divine power. Look! The warrior monks of the Snow Mountain Divine Temple attacked the Yue temple, and they were struck down by lightning from the heavens. The Heavenly God must really be protecting the Yue temple.*
*Whoosh.*
The torrential rain finally began to fall. The current from the lightning strike had been so strong that it had burned through countless wires, starting large fires nearby. But now, even those flames were slowly being extinguished by the downpour.
Ascetic Kuhai, mounted on his black ox, watched the events unfold, his soul nearly leaving his body. But as soon as he noticed the tall iron pillar atop the temple, he understood Shen Lang's scheme.
“That wasn't the Heavenly God's might! It was just a cheap trick by that bastard Shen Lang! Charge!”
But the bald warriors no longer had the courage to charge.
*Rumble.*
Another peal of thunder rolled across the sky, followed by a flash of lightning. Even with the tall iron pillar, the chances of lightning striking the same place twice were low, so no divine punishment occurred this time. Ascetic Kuhai shouted loudly.
“See! What happened just now was a mere coincidence! We can tear down this temple and kill everyone inside in the blink of an eye! If our faith is stolen from us, what will you have to eat and wear in the future? Will you still enjoy wealth and glory? Charge in, kill the people of Yue, and tear Shen Lang to shreds!”
Hearing his words, several of his bravest and most trusted monks held their breath, gritted their teeth, and took a step forward.
*The master is right. If we don't destroy this temple today, our days at the Snow Mountain Divine Temple will be difficult. We have to grit our teeth and kill everyone inside in an instant.*
Soon, they charged forward again at full speed, heading for the temple's main gate. At that moment, Shen Thirteen, who was inside, yanked hard on a rope in his hand.
*BOOM!*
A loud noise erupted as the temple entrance suddenly exploded violently, sending up a thick plume of black smoke. It was the simplest kind of landmine, made from black powder, so its power was not great, and there was not even a visible flame. Dozens of charging warriors were sent flying by the explosion, but only a few were injured. However, though the casualties were few, the fear brought on by the landmine was beyond imagination. They had already been scared out of their wits by the divine punishment of the lightning strike; now, as the bald warriors charged the temple, thunder had erupted from the flat ground and sent them flying.
*Oh my god, it really is divine punishment! It has to be!*
The surrounding warrior monks were so shocked they nearly wet themselves. They had tried to muster their courage to attack, but this sight completely drained it away.
“This sacred temple is protected by me, the Heavenly God! If you dare take another step closer, I will kill you all! And after you die, I will cast you into the eighteen levels of hell so that you may never be reborn! People of Qiang, do you wish for the god's protection? Why do you not hurry and defend this sacred temple?”
Shen Lang shouted through his sheet-iron megaphone. And as if on cue, a sound effect swelled to match his voice.
*RUMBLE-CRACK.*
Another clap of thunder rang out, surrounding the entire temple so loudly that it seemed to shake heaven and earth. This time, it was a true coincidence. A bolt of lightning struck again, hitting the temple's tall iron pillar, and the current once more surged through the network of wires into the ground. Fortunately, not many died this time. Most had already retreated far from the temple. However, the dozen or so bald warriors who had just been charging the gate were turned completely into piles of charcoal, so thoroughly dead they could never be revived. For a moment, the flash of lightning was as thrilling as a soaring dragon suddenly bursting forth.
*A miracle, it's a miracle!*
The people of Qiang, whose lives had been saved by the sacred temple before, were finally electrified with excitement, feeling a surge of power through their bodies. The Heavenly God has given us strength.
“Kill them, kill them! Kill those bald-headed bandits! How dare they defile the sacred temple and insult the Heavenly God! Kill them!”
Just then, an explosive shout came from inside the temple. Princess Aronana charged out, brandishing her Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Shen Lang was so shocked by her appearance that he nearly jumped out of his skin.