leonardwarren 049. Not worshipping gods
049. Not worshipping gods
The black-feathered eagle spread its wings and soared, its wingspan reaching seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters).
Each feather was sharpened and hardened by the high-speed airflow, becoming as sharp as a knife blade.
Ning Kui sat cross-legged on the eagle's back, looking down at the scenery rushing past below.
From the sky, the desolation and ruin of the countryside are even more obvious, with only the area near towns showing a slightly denser population.
After killing Liu Jingyou, he gained 1000 Yin Qi points.
"Is it because I didn't devour his golden bones that I'm far inferior to that black python in the Core Formation stage?"
...Thinking about it now, it's quite unsettling.
Besides the Yin Qi Point, two other martial arts techniques were also plundered.
"Dead Arrow" and "Dead Eyes".
The Death Arrow is merely a censored version of the Flying Star Technique. He doesn't even value the Flying Star Technique, so naturally he won't consume Yin Qi points to cultivate it.
But "The Dark Eyes of Death"...
This secret technique can see through the death aura on a person's body! That is, the so-called weakness.
When used in conjunction with the Death Arrow, it can often result in a one-hit kill.
It's also a good match for his [Flying Stone] superpower.
The cultivation process was just too creepy.
Whenever practicing, one must hold the eyeballs of a rotting corpse in one's mouth and use a secret method to circulate one's qi and blood, integrating them into one's own pupils.
"Damn it, this is too perverted..."
To master this technique, one would have to gouge out countless eyes.
There weren't enough dead bodies, so they had to raise corpses to make up for it.
"However, since 'Dead Nether Arrow' is a censored version of 'Flying Star Technique', then 'Dead Nether Eyes' should also be a censored version created by the Yuan family."
He had to admire these ancient families; the great evil behind them was definitely not just one.
They were able to create cultivation methods suitable for human practice by studying the supernatural powers of these great evil spirits.
In a sense, they are also sages worthy of respect from later generations.
"Unfortunately, all of this was obtained by betraying humanity..."
Ning Kui gathered his thoughts; the Black Feathered Eagle had already entered the territory of Black Mountain City.
He did not choose Qinglu County, which borders Pinghu County, for fear that Song Ehu, who was in a bloodthirsty rage, would come to seek revenge.
Instead, it landed directly outside the city of Heishan Prefecture.
After finding a sinkhole, Ning Kui first fed the black-feathered eagle two Qi and Blood Pills, telling it that there would be benefits to following him.
Then seal the exit with ice to prevent it from escaping.
After buying the grain, we still need to rely on the Black Feathered Eagle to return to Yugu County.
Otherwise, when the time comes, who knows what kind of trouble the people with no food will cause.
The city of Heishan was built at the foot of a continuous mountain range.
It is named Black Mountain because its body is dark black.
Legend has it that there is a deity in the Black Mountain Range, named the Black Mountain God.
In addition to the incense offerings in the ten counties of Heishan Prefecture, there are also several county towns in the ten counties of Jing'an Prefecture that offer sacrifices.
This is a genuine and powerful evil.
The Dragon King and the Pig God are no match for him, just like spicy strips and roast suckling pig.
"This is... Lord Black Mountain?"
Ning Kui stared in awe at the enormous armored statue standing outside the city gate.
The pure gold-plated body was dazzling in the sunlight; where was it black?
Starting with the boots, a dazzling array of pearls, agates, turquoise, and other gemstones are embellished and laid upwards.
Above the chest, there were even more precious materials such as refined gold, mithril, and demon cores.
This one statue alone is worth more than the entire Ding family's wealth, plus some extra.
The city of Heishan Prefecture has eight city gates, and there are eight such extravagantly luxurious statues.
"Anyone entering Black Mountain City must offer three sticks of incense to the deity!"
"Anyone leaving Black Mountain Prefecture must pay ten percent of the goods!"
Groups of soldiers in black robes galloped on horseback, loudly reciting the city rules.
Judging from their aura, even the weakest among them is a martial artist at the Great Perfection of the Skin Refining Realm.
Most of those at the squad leader level need to reach the Great Perfection of the Flesh Refining Realm.
There was even a martial artist at the minor completion stage of the Bone Refining Realm watching from a high place, responsible for suppressing everything.
These are just the troops guarding the city gate.
I wonder how strong the core army of Black Mountain City must be.
"Line up, get your incense!"
Seeing Ning Kui looking around, a soldier shoved him, saying, "Kowtowing to the Divine Lord a few more times will ensure your whole family's wealth and well-being!"
As he spoke, he placed his hand on the donation box and winked at Ning Kui.
Judging from this, one wouldn't be worthy of receiving incense and kowtowing to the deity without donating some merit.
Without kowtowing and offering incense, one cannot enter the city of Heishan Prefecture.
"What kind of lousy place is this, with so many rules?"
Ning Kui exclaimed, "Damn it! I should have never come to the prefectural city!"
He took out two fifty-tael silver notes, threw one into the incense sticks, and stuffed the other into the soldier's hand.
"My lord, could you please not kneel? I have other evil... deities worshipped in my home. Please do me this favor."
The soldiers' breathing quickened, and they hurriedly grabbed the silver notes and stuffed them into their sleeves.
He then stuffed the incense and candles into Ning Kui's hand: "Just light the incense and candles and bow three times. Only when you are surrounded by the fragrance of incense can you pass through the city gate formation."
Whether to kneel or not... is really up to you.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir."
Ning Kui bowed in thanks, then joined many other people who had received incense and candles in front of the statue.
He lit three incense sticks and noticed that among the densely packed people kneeling and kowtowing, there were also several young men in fine clothes who were simply bowing in worship.
He tried to imitate the mannerisms of those richly dressed young men, attempting to bow in a pretentious manner.
However, just as this thought arose, the temple in his mind suddenly emitted a violent roar.
"Duh!"
It was like a thunderclap exploding in his mind.
The incense and candles in his hands went out with a "whoosh," and the birthmark of the deity on his back felt as hot as a branding iron.
A mysterious and profound wave, following the incense smoke swirling outside the city gate, slashed towards the unknown void.
"Snap!!!"
Before the incredulous eyes of countless believers, a huge gash suddenly appeared in the towering golden body of the Black Mountain God.
It extends from the chest to the ankles, revealing the mysterious black stones transported from the heart of the Black Mountain.
The magic array at the city gate collapsed and crumbled, turning into a pile of ruins.
Chaos erupted at the scene, and the black-robed soldiers charged on horseback, hacking and slashing several civilians who were trying to take advantage of the chaos to pick up the treasures.
Ning Kui exclaimed in disbelief, never expecting the temple in his sea of consciousness to have such a volatile temper.
Even though he's fallen so low that he's trapped in his own mind, he still can't help but throw such a big tantrum.
It actually damaged the golden body of the Black Mountain God!
He didn't know what that wave, slashing towards the unknown, was.
But he knew that the Black Mountain God must be very angry now.
Staying here will only lead to certain death.
Taking advantage of the chaos at the scene, Ning Kui quickly mingled with the crowd and rushed into the Black Mountain City.
……
In the Black Mountain Range, in a valley where sunlight never shines, a tremendous, agonizing roar suddenly resounded.
"Who dares to destroy my golden body and sever my cultivation! They deserve to die!!!"
The entire Black Mountain range, stretching for thousands of miles, trembled at this roar.
Huge rocks rolled down, the earth cracked open, and subterranean fire erupted!
In the center of Heishan Prefecture, there stands the magnificent and imposing Heishan Temple.
The temple keeper of Xiangdijing Temple, who was receiving worshippers, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood that was oozing with a dark sheen.
His facial muscles trembled violently, his eyes rolled upwards, and he kept muttering something under his breath.
A moment later, his dark eyes rolled down, regaining their clarity.
Looking at the densely packed kneeling believers and black-robed guards below, the high priest spoke in a chilling tone.
"Bring everyone who enters the city today..."
Bring them all before me!