Chapter 00206: Each One is a Second Mother
# Each One is a Second Mother
Chapter 206
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 206: Each One is a Second Mother
With this command, the Ba Ling army brandished their blades, spears, swords, and halberds, all aimed at the Red General.
Even if he were made of iron, he would be pierced into a beehive.
However, when the first spear tip struck, the Red General's figure suddenly vanished.
There was no warning, nor any residual shadows of movement; he simply disappeared.
The subsequent thrusts and slashes were all in vain.
All that remained in the spot was a cicada shell the size of a pinky finger, which was blown away into the sky by the strong wind.
This was the Li Dai Tao Jiang technique.
The Red General had secretly placed a cicada shell when he first entered the stable, unnoticed by anyone.
If He Lingchuan were to witness this scene, he would surely smile knowingly.
Having exchanged positions with the ghostly cicada shell, the Red General now appeared within the stable.
Shao Yingyang's gaze swept across, and he was instantly horrified: a shadow had appeared in the stable of the post station, swinging a blade to chop at the copper talisman on the ground.
In shock, he had no time to think further; he bit his tongue and pointed towards the stable, shouting, "Suppress!"
A silver-white lightning bolt appeared in mid-air, striking down with the force of ten thousand jun, aimed directly at the Red General's crown.
This bolt of lightning illuminated half of Wei City, indicating its tremendous power; after all, thunder was the righteous law of heaven and earth, capable of dispelling all malevolent spirits.
Yet, the Red General extended his left hand, pinching the lightning between his index and middle fingers, as if it had been premeditated.
The ferocious lightning was indeed caught in his grasp! It crackled and popped, struggling like a live snake, but could not escape the Red General's palm.
His right hand wielded the long knife, smoothly carving a "Z" shape onto the copper talisman.
The knife moved lightly, yet the incision was deep, nearly piercing through the copper talisman.
With this, the azure light vanished, and the formation immediately lost its efficacy.
The San Si Chong, which had been wandering about, originally feared the thunder and scattered in all directions.
However, once the Red General crushed the Thunder Snake and damaged the copper talisman, they surged with renewed vigor, launching a more ferocious attack on the nearest targets, as if enraged.
Hundreds of San Si Chong invaded their host, creating an indescribably sinister and bizarre scene.
Anyone present who could witness it firsthand would surely remember it for life.
The Ba Ling army, which had been entangled with Xiao Maoliang and others, was now dumbfounded, their pupils gradually losing focus, while their facial muscles twisted in horror.
They then turned around, howling as they raised their weapons against their comrades behind them.
The battle suddenly tilted, and the Ba Ling army collapsed entirely.
At this time, the Ba Ling people had yet to discover a more effective means to deal with the San Si Chong.
The Red General's plan was ultimately completed, despite many twists and turns along the way.
With the enemy suddenly turning against them, Xiao Maoliang and the others breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly pushed the city gates open once more.
The sound of galloping hooves finally arrived outside the city.
The Da Feng army had come, coordinating inside and out.
Summoning the Thunder Snake was originally a massive consumption of energy, yet it was subdued in an instant.
Shao Yingyang spat out two mouthfuls of fresh blood on the spot, his spirit immediately deflating, his face sinking, but his eyes remained fixed on the Red General: "Impossible, even a divine envoy cannot withstand a small heavenly thunder..."
One of his subordinates supported him, exclaiming, "General, the city gate has been breached; we cannot linger in Wei City!" The gates of Wei City swung wide open, and the Da Feng army surged in like a tide.
Although this ambush force only numbered four hundred, the Ba Ling garrison in Wei City still had over a thousand troops, most of whom had been possessed by the San Si Chong and had almost no combat capability.
Even those around Shao Yingyang had to use magical artifacts and activate talismans to ensure they were not bewitched.
The situation in Wei City, under the control of the Ba Ling people, had turned dire.
Shao Yingyang looked around, and despite his unwillingness, he had no choice but to order a retreat through the north gate.
He mounted his horse, glaring at the stable, gritting his teeth: "Three feet above your head, there are divine beings; you cannot hide from them..."
He originally intended to utter a harsh word before fleeing, but unexpectedly, a long spear suddenly shot out from the post station, swift as lightning, surrounded by arcs of electricity, its might unparalleled.
Shao Yingyang could not evade in time.
Just as he was about to be skewered, a massive shadow suddenly collided with him, directly blocking his path.
It was the gigantic stone puppet.
With a loud "bang," the stone puppet was pierced through the chest, its enormous body collapsing in the midst of the electric light.
This lightning was the Red General returning the favor.
The remaining force of the spear did not diminish; it pierced through Shao Yingyang's throat, spilling forth a spray of crimson blood.
The stone puppet's protection did not alter his final fate.
Shao Yingyang did not even have time to scream before he fell from his horse.
The power of a single spear had reached such a conclusion.
At this moment, everyone realized that what the Red General had thrown was not a long spear, but rather a pitchfork from the stable, with only the prongs broken off.
He simply used whatever was at hand.
"Too much nonsense."
The remaining Ba Ling soldiers were terrified, their spirits shattered, and without any fighting spirit left, they picked up Shao Yingyang's corpse and retreated northward.
This time, it was the Da Feng army that pursued relentlessly.
However, within Wei City, there were countless streets and houses, numerous obstacles that hindered the Da Feng army's interception efficiency.
Furthermore, the copper talisman formation still operating at the north gate allowed many Ba Ling soldiers to regain their senses.
In the end, over a hundred riders burst out of the north gate of Wei City, fleeing eastward.
Inside Wei City, Xiao Maoliang asked the Red General whether to pursue, to which the latter simply replied, "Enough, the leader has been eliminated; do not pursue the remaining enemies."
He had only brought four hundred riders to seize the city, and his forces were not abundant; for now, it was sufficient to consolidate their gains.
Moreover, the Ba Ling people still had forty thousand troops roaming the wilderness, capable of launching a counterattack at any moment.
"Defend Wei City well, and the Pan Long Wilderness will naturally help us repel the Ba Ling army."
Xiao Maoliang acknowledged and went to arrange the city defense tasks.
This time, taking Wei City did not require a strong assault; the city itself remained intact, with only a few feathered arrows added to the gates.
Additionally, it was noted that the walls and gates of Wei City had been reinforced by the Ba Ling people, with several defensive structures installed.
The Da Feng army also found plenty of defensive supplies, even food and salt, surprisingly abundant in the nearby warehouses.
Evidently, Hua Muco had intended to use Wei City as a stronghold after capturing it, planning to further extend his influence over the Pan Long Wilderness.
Little did he know that Shao Yingyang's command would result in Wei City returning to enemy hands.
Once Hua Muco learned of this, he would likely be furious to the point of spitting blood.
The Red General approached the stone puppet.
Large and small stones lay scattered on the ground, among which a fist-sized stone was still trembling.
The Red General sliced it in half with his knife, revealing a red crystal inside, intricately inscribed with fine incantations on its surface.
The crystal was also embedded with a layer of golden lacquer, which was a sealing spell.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed as if there were wisps of light smoke swirling within the crystal.
The Red General scraped off the golden lacquer with the tip of his knife and forcefully squeezed, causing the crystal to open.
A wisp of light smoke floated out, transforming into the phantom of a bear before the Red General.
"So it was driven by the soul of a bear."
The Red General waved his hand, "You are free now; go."
He raised his hand, and the light smoke fearfully drifted four feet away, then bowed twice before dissipating into thin air.
Iron, stone, and other lifeless materials, when made into puppets capable of movement and combat, must be driven by the souls of living beings.
The stronger the soul in life, the more solid it would be, and the greater the power of the puppet.
The core of this stone puppet was the soul of a violent bear, which had lived for three hundred years and was killed, only to be trapped within the stone puppet, manipulated by its murderer.
The puppet's core could be reused repeatedly; if the Red General had not opened the seal, it would remain trapped indefinitely.
The Red General then looked at his left hand.
His palm was nearly pierced through, charred and blackened.
There was no red without black; aside from the back of his hand, there was not a single good piece of flesh, with white bones visible at the base of his fingers.
In this world, it was nearly impossible for anyone to withstand heavenly thunder without paying any price.
Shao Yingyang still had some skill.
One of his personal guards, sharp-eyed, noticed, "General, you are injured! Do you need..."
Do you need someone to come and heal you? The Red General clenched his fist, "No need."
He Lingchuan's speed was not to be underestimated, but when he reached the front of the passage, he discovered that the way back was completely sealed by heavy spider webs! Turning back, he saw the spider was already several zhang away.
Even with its large belly, its speed of movement was astonishingly fast.
The spider then spoke, "Little thing, where do you think you are running to?" He Lingchuan swallowed hard, "Zhu Erniang?"
"Who else do you think it is?" It did not just resemble Zhu Erniang; it was Zhu Erniang! This monster had silently returned to its lair and had already woven a web in advance on his escape route, blocking him in the cave.
Having high combat power was one thing, but its cunning was even more intricate than that of humans.
"Did you set the fire?" Zhu Erniang, upon receiving reports from her spider offspring, returned to find her nest engulfed in flames, truly furious.
Although she used her divine powers to extinguish the fire, at least one-third of her long-cultivated aphid farm had been destroyed.
With autumn and winter approaching, her spider army would likely face a shortage of food.
"There is only this one cave."
He Lingchuan replied honestly, "The other caves were set ablaze by the Ba Ling people."
"The damage they caused is nothing compared to what you have done!" Zhu Erniang laughed in anger, "I will personally dissolve your muscles, tendons, and bones, turning you into a water sack. When my children devour you, you will still be very much aware!"
Zhu Erniang slowly approached, countless spiders emerging behind her, the ground, rock walls, and ceiling filled with the eerie sounds of their movements, sending chills down one's spine.
There was no escape from this calamity.
He Lingchuan clasped his fists, "Since I cannot fly away, may I ask you to enlighten me before I die?"
This little fellow had become her prey, and indeed had no hope of escape.
Seeing his exceptionally sincere attitude, Zhu Erniang halted her steps, "Ask away."
She had seen many who were not afraid of death and had consumed many, but it was rare to find someone who could calmly ask questions before dying.
She was a bit curious.
Zhu Erniang had countless descendants in the Ghost Needle Stone Forest, and even she did not know how many cave spiders there were.
However, these foolish creatures had limited intelligence; upon seeing her, they would prostrate themselves, not daring to converse with her.
Alas, there was not a single one who could chat.
She was indeed a chatty second mother.
He Lingchuan pointed at the rock wall, "What about those seven doll-like spider demons? Are they your ancestors?"
This place resembled a display hall.
Did the spider demons have a tradition of collecting the remains of their ancestors? This question made Zhu Erniang hesitate noticeably before she replied, "Yes and no."
She stood beside the largest giant spider, her size towering over it: "These seven remains are all my former selves!"
This answer shocked He Lingchuan greatly: "What did you say? These seven are all you?"
"Foolish human, do you think I am just some nameless wild monster by the roadside?" Zhu Erniang declared proudly, "In ancient times, I roamed the Pan Long Wilderness in this very form; back then, it was called the Pan Long Wilderness. This is my lair, the Qi Xia Residence!"
He Lingchuan finally understood what was inscribed on the large stone tablet outside the cave.
"What about the other remains?" The so-called "remains," in He Lingchuan's understanding, referred to the discarded skins and shells.
"Later, as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth rapidly declined, it was insufficient to sustain my original form's activities, just like a giant whale cannot survive in shallow waters."
Zhu Erniang's voice was filled with helplessness, "I had no choice but to abandon my original form and shed a new self."
He Lingchuan was taken aback.
This great demon was saying that its original form was even more powerful in ancient times, but unfortunately, it could not adapt to the drastic changes in the environment and had to actively give up, transforming into a weaker body?
Her phrasing was also quite interesting, "shedding."
For such a great demon, it was essentially a form of regression, wasn't it? He Lingchuan tentatively asked, "Does that mean you gave up your cultivation to preserve your spiritual consciousness?" This should be a species' innate talent; humans probably could not achieve it.
The old turtle demon's "Bing Jie" technique was quite similar, which could only be described as a marvelous creation.
"Yes. Over these long years, I have compressed my cultivation seven times, only then finding the path to survival."
Zhu Erniang sighed deeply, "All the spores here emit light and heat, stemming from the residual power of the remains."
In the depths of the cave, without bioluminescent spores, one could not cultivate moss carpets, nor could one raise dairy cows, or rather, giant aphid swarms.
In other words, she had been sustaining the entire clan by herself.
Who could understand the hardships she had endured in her quest for survival over these thousands of years? Not only did she have to live well herself, but she also had to support her family.
"Answer complete, where do you want me to bite?" She walked towards He Lingchuan, growing somewhat impatient.
"I still have two last questions!" He Lingchuan seized the opportunity, "Was the ancient era the age of immortals? Why did the spiritual energy decline so rapidly?"
Regarding the decline of spiritual energy, there was great debate in historical discussions, and truly, there was no consensus among the hundred schools of thought.
People in later generations looked and looked, becoming increasingly confused.
Zhu Erniang tapped the ground: "Yes."
She tapped the ground again, indicating her answer to the second question: "I cannot remember clearly. During the process of changing these seven skins, I lost many key memories."
Reducing cultivation and secretly seeking longevity was inherently against the heavens; how could there be no price to pay?
Of course, the most crucial point was that her patience had run out, and she was too lazy to answer further.
The chat had gone on long enough; this cat-and-mouse game should come to an end.
Indeed, she was an impatient second mother.
"As for the ancient times, I only remember scattered fragments and images, and none of these are related to you!" She towered over He Lingchuan, taking a few steps to stand before him, opening her mouth to reveal sharp, poisonous fangs.
From He Lingchuan's perspective, looking up at these fangs, dark and shiny, they were as large as two curved forks, dripping with saliva.
The prey injected with these fangs could only be described as "unable to seek life or death" in a way that was too understated.
"You are right; it has nothing to do with me."
He Lingchuan forced a bitter smile, drawing his long knife with a clang.
Did this ant-like human still want to resist? Come on, come on; she loved to see the struggles of her prey, making it taste even better later.
Zhu Erniang sneered contemptuously, only to see him swiftly slice his own throat, clean and decisive!
"..."
A true man should die a swift death.
To avoid suffering.
...
Something flew across the sky, circling Wei City twice.
The Red General raised the glowing spores and shook them twice; that thing then confirmed its position, flying down to land on his shoulder.
It was the Sparrow Hawk returning.
"The reinforcements from Pan Long City have arrived outside the Ghost Needle Stone Forest, coordinating with General Nan Ke to jointly resist Hua Muco."
The Sparrow Hawk was exhausted; it had flown quickly and urgently all night, "On the way back, I also saw Sun Duwei's team; they were leading the Ba Ling army in circles on the wilderness."
The task of that Da Feng army was to divert the main force of the Ba Ling army, allowing the Red General to seize the city.
It opened its mouth, panting and dissipating heat, and continued, "General Nan Ke was at a disadvantage against Zhu Erniang in the Ghost Needle Stone Forest, so he had to burn down her old nest to divert her attention, which allowed him to lead the army successfully out of the stone forest."
Then, it recounted the entire process.
The Red General personally fed it water and stroked its feathers—his hand had healed—letting the Sparrow Hawk rest for more than a moment before instructing, "Go find Sun Duwei and tell him to return to Wei City. From now on, we will switch from offense to defense."
Daylight broke, and the battle was about to enter its second half.
The Sparrow Hawk accepted the order and flapped its wings, flying away.
The Red General then glanced in the direction of the Ghost Needle Stone Forest, lost in thought.
——
This volume ends here; the next chapter begins a new volume, "Dun Yu."
(End of this chapter)