The water of the Hibiscus Pond was sparkling. Below the towering Conferred God Platform, countless flags were standing all around, fluttering in the wind. On both sides of the platform, the flames of the Sun and Moon divine furnaces were swaying, and thick smoke was rising. There were kneeling and standing figures everywhere. In the distance, the soldiers standing with spears in their hands could only hear the whistling of the wind and looked up.
Golden rays of light streaked across the sky like meteors, and shot out from the scroll in all directions. The people gathered outside the lotus pond watched without blinking, and were unable to come back to their senses for a long time.
"What...what is this?"
"Oh, so much golden light flew away."
"Conferring the gods, conferring the gods, I'm afraid there are gods in the light..."
"If the Imperial Master can be deified, will he be deified as well?"
Noisy conversations buzzed and spread in the crowd. All the civil and military officials and Emperor Yang Guang below the altar raised their heads one by one, not daring to breathe, for fear of disturbing the figure standing on the stage.
The scent of incense burning on the altar lingered, and the talisman paper was blown away by the wind, filling the sky. Lu Liangsheng retracted his gaze, reached out to take a roll of silk from the altar, unfolded it in his hands, and looked at the words on it. His beard trembled slightly in the wind, and his voice rang out in an old and loud voice.
"All the deceased heroes in the world, gods and ghosts from all directions, listen to the imperial edict—"
…
The light of the sky spread across the clouds, sprinkling over the northern Jin land. Frightened birds flew in the forest, broken carriages were abandoned on the roadside, and a group of people walked hastily, supporting each other, along the Wei River to the south. The following army, together with the "Liu" army that had broken through Taiyuan, blew the horn and rushed forward.
"Go! Tell Yuanba to withdraw!"
The horses were galloping, the shafts of the carriages broke and rolled, splashing into the river. Li Yuan was supporting his wife and was protected by his son Li Shimin and several guards. The infantry and cavalry that came in like a tide behind him were so powerful. His thin figure was like a lone boat swaying in the ocean, waving a huge hammer, smashing a scene with people and horses falling to the ground and blood and flesh flying everywhere.
Amid the buzzing noise, Qu Yuanfeng rushed in with a few others, dodged the spear that grazed their heads, and chopped off the horse's hoof with a backhanded knife. The warhorse screamed and fell forward, throwing the knight off to the ground.
"Yuan Ba! Don't fight any longer, just follow me!"
He pulled the shoulder of the young man in front of him, and to the side, the horse's hooves hurried, and a Northern cavalryman stretched out his spear and stabbed at the figure who was screaming and pulling the young man. Qu Yuanfeng turned his head sideways and subconsciously raised his knife to block.
Whoosh—
A black shadow broke through the air with a loud bang, passed through the sky, and pierced through the armor with a bang, nailing the cavalryman's chest, leaving a bloody hole, and then nailed another cavalryman behind him, knocking both the man and the horse to the ground. A faint golden light floated in the air and spread all over.
Qu Yuanfeng turned his eyes away in surprise, and then heard a loud horse neigh.
Hey, hey!
The long neighing of horses shook the whole field. Everyone turned around. Li Shimin stopped and looked at the hillside in the distance. His pupils contracted.
"He is ..."
In the skylight, a scarlet warhorse raised its front legs and stood up, with an excited neighing sound, and the red skin on its upper body fluttered diagonally. A tall figure wearing a beast-faced head-swallowing chain armor lowered a bow from the horse's back, pulled out a long weapon stuck in the ground, and a painted halberd swept across the sunlight, exuding a chill.
“Hehe… hum hum hum… hahahaha—”
The heroic and rampant laughter spread across the field.
Tongguan.
The shouts of killing shook the sky. A figure climbing the ladder leaped up with a sword in hand. On the bloody road, the soldiers defending the city fell from the top of the city with shrill screams. A general named Qin Qiong rode on horseback and looked at the siege scene in the distance. He drew the iron mace from his waist and suddenly felt murderous.
He lifted his cloak and swung his weapon, and the soldiers on the side were scattered and flew away. The figure who came at him very quickly raised the crescent-shaped sword in his hand high and slashed down angrily.
Bang!
The divine lights collided, and the blade that was coming was fleeting and disappeared into the air. However, in this fleeting glimpse, he saw the opponent's furious expression, which was as heavy as a date, and felt a murderous intent he had never felt before.
…
The flames of the Sun and Moon Divine Cauldrons burned fiercely, and the brocade spread out on the altar swayed in the wind.
“… The world is in chaos again, and lives are in ruins. The stars in the sky have descended to earth to incarnate the rebels to bring unrest to the nine states. However, the heroic spirits who have been conferred the title are the generous and heroic heroes of our land. Although they have died, their souls are still here. How can we watch the land that gave birth to us fall into chaos at the hands of the gods, and let our fellow sisters and brothers die in this unprovoked disaster?”
Below, Yang Guang clenched his fists. The world would have been peaceful if it weren't for those gods messing around. The Grand Canal, the attack on Goguryeo in the north, the expedition to Tuyuhun in the west, the expansion of the grassland in the north, and after all these were accomplished, he wouldn't dare say that his name would be passed down through the ages, but at least he would be worthy of the millions of future subjects and his father, Emperor Yang Jian.
"… However, there are so many stars, and they carry mortals as soldiers to raise the smoke of war. It is difficult for ordinary people to resist. I hope to ask the gods and ghosts and heroic spirits from all directions to obey my orders and save the four directions from danger, and protect the safety of the people in the nine provinces of the world."
After Lu Liangsheng finished reciting, he lit the candle hanging from the brocade. The flame burned the silk and slowly flamed up, then fell to the ground along with the brocade. He looked at the dark sea of people below the altar, then he raised his hands towards the sky.
"—Accepting the imperial decree, my soul will gather in Chang'an!"
…
Golden meteors streaked across the sky. On the Canglan River in the south, the bearded Li Sui'an and his pregnant wife strolled in the sunshine.
At a certain moment, he looked up and saw a meteor streaking across the distant sky. He summoned the black and white swords in the building, as well as a green sword, and carried them on his back and waist. He patted the back of his wife's hand, summoned the few disciples in the sect, and shouted hysterically: "Go to Chang'an!"
Dozens of figures carrying swords leaped onto the woods, stepping on the leaves as crows danced, carrying a wooden boat floating with a sail. A man wearing armor and a crown stood on the bow of the boat, holding a blade in his hand, overlooking the mountains.
In the southeast, in the Qixia Mountains, a little boy rushed through the woods, shaking a gourd. He stood on the cliff and saw a meteor streaking across the sky. He turned around and said goodbye to his mother who was following him. He headed down the mountain road below, turned into a little fox, and quickly shuttled between pedestrians and vendors, heading north.
On the surging river, the armies of Fu Gongyou and Du Fuwei set out to cross the river. Occasionally, they looked up and saw a shooting star passing by. A moment later, they saw a huge ship sailing in the vast mist downstream of the river, with the flags hanging high up inscribed with the words "Jingjiang Houwang".
…
In Chang'an, the voice from the Conferred God Platform stopped. Lu Liangsheng watched the silk book burnt to ashes and flew into the sky. The Conferred God List in the sunlight lost its light and turned into stars, slowly dissipating and disappearing.
"Thank God for this!"
Lu Liangsheng raised his hands and bowed deeply. The emperor, who was watching this scene from below, and a group of civil and military officials followed suit and all bowed toward the sky.
The throne of God has been sealed, and he has already mobilized his greatest power against the stars in the sky who have descended to the earth. Now the tide of anger is rolling in, leaving no room for them, and they can only stand in front of the waves like reefs in the sea.
Soon, the gate of heaven closed and the golden light withdrew. Lu Liangsheng walked down from the Conferred God Platform. Yang Guang, who was waiting below, felt a chill all over his body. He waved away the guards and eunuchs on his left and right and stepped forward to greet him.
"National Master! How is the Conferred God matter going? Are there any heroic spirits coming to fight with us?!"
"Everyone on the roster who can come is here."
Lu Liangsheng raised his eyes and scanned the figures around him. In the surroundings that ordinary people could not see, there were Zhao Yun on a white horse and a silver spear, Lu Bu, the Marquis of Wen, Xiang Yu, the water god of Wujiang River, riding a black horse and holding a big spear, Bai Qi, the King of Wu'an, standing on the chariot, Zhang Fei, the Marquis of Huan, the Inspector of the Yin and Yang Worlds, and Gan Ning, the god surrounded by crows...
The lake was rippling, the wind was blowing, heroes from different dynasties gathered together, leaving the past in the memory, and now they all had a common enemy.
The summer wind brings heat, the world is in turmoil, and a war is imminent.