Chapter 382: Yingge Dance, Divine Procession, the Officials' Formation Steps Upon the Seven Stars
Words : 1055
Updated : Oct 11th, 2025
......
The vanguard forces of Great Han came to a halt.
Both sides stood ready, facing each other across the sea.
A murderous atmosphere enveloped the heavens and earth.
Viewed from above,
It resembled a chess match, with the opposing forces separated like the Chu River and Han Border, soon to engage in life-and-death exchanges of moves!!!
The Tai Island onmyoji stood upon the ritual platform.
His hunting robes fluttered, crowned with a tasseled hat.
Flicking open his folding fan: "Your Great Han has a saying - 'All warfare is based on deception.'"
Snapping the fan shut, he pointed it horizontally at the 749 Bureau investigators opposite.
"Today we've erected this altar. By rights, your entire Great Han vanguard should die here."
"But I'm feeling generous today. I'll spare you - go back and bring someone competent for altar confrontation."
At these words,
Someone from Great Han's side burst into laughter.
"More eloquent than an opera singer! Who do you think you're fooling? We don't need your mercy! If you want altar confrontation, issue a formal challenge. Don't sneakily set up your altar to seize positional advantage."
"Too scared to attack outright for fear of breaking rules, yet putting on this magnanimous act? I'm standing right here - if I blink, I'm your bastard son! Dare to kill me?!"
Simply put, Qi Refiners fighting is infantry pressing forward in direct combat.
Erecting altars and deploying formations is like using weapons of mass destruction.
Not forbidden - use them freely.
But if you use them, don't complain when we respond in kind.
However big we go.
You started it.
If both sides agree to altar confrontation, then it's settled by altar combat.
Break formations, destroy altars - matter concluded.
Then resume regular fighting.
No more altars.
But if you secretly erect altars and attack indiscriminately without warning - all bets are off!
Just like conventional wars don't open with white phosphorus or thermobaric weapons.
They might use them eventually, but not initially.
Unless desperate or provoked.
Once someone fires the first shot, even if it hits an iron door... it's over.
Thus, though Tai Island erected an altar, they dared not casually use it against Great Han's vanguard.
Because altar battles originated from Great Han.
Great Han wrote the book.
The forbidden techniques in 749's vaults remain unused, not nonexistent!
Sato Takashi's expression darkened: "Leave when told. If you want to stall, I've all the time to waste on your prattle."
The previous speaker scoffed contemptuously.
"Tch... what a pretentious prick."
Someone patted his shoulder: "Enough, let's go. Good dogs don't block paths, but this is a bad one. We'll call animal control."
The man replied: "Can't stand his type."
"Trying to work in hospitality while building monuments, needing speeches to prop up his ego. Ignore him."
"HAHAHAHAHA......"
Great Han's laughter rang out.
Each peal grated on Sato Takashi's ears.
Yet he couldn't strike.
Later, they could fight however they wished - kill whoever they could.
But not now.
Acting now would bring severe consequences.
The situation reached Wu City.
The three Heavenly Perception cultivators who had met Lu Ding at Dragon Wall were present:
Mountain-Knocking Pilgrim, Dou Tingyu, Jiang Xue's Sword Sorrow, Zhao Jian, Biting North Wind, and Qiu Fu.
Hearing of Tai Island's altar deployment at sea, they first sent Lu Ding the urgent message.
They needed him for formation-breaking.
But with Lu Ding yet to arrive, they couldn't simply ignore the enemy's prepared formation.
Delaying wouldn't cost lives, but would lose face.
Unacceptable!!
*SLAM!*
Dou Tingyu rose, smacking the table.
She shouted: "Grand Elder, notify the families - cast the divination blocks!!!"
An aged voice responded: "Now that's proper! Great Han's matters are ours. Wu City's matters are ours."
"How can we watch idly when they're at our doorstep? I'll notify the families immediately!!"
With a gust, the old man vanished.
749 investigators were strong, but specialized in individual combat - few practiced group formations or altar rituals.
But folk traditions differed.
Especially around Wu City - strong clan culture, ancestral halls everywhere, fierce local customs.
During peacetime, these were cultural heritage.
During conflict?
Just watch.
......
Wu City, Qi Refiners' village - Golden Gate Village.
Before the ancestral hall, the temple overflowed with people.
All properly dressed, eyes blazing.
A rosy-cheeked elder, wearing his finest clothes, stepped forward.
Under the juniors' gaze,
He knelt slowly, chanting while holding divination blocks.
After rituals,
The blocks fell.
All eyes followed.
First cast - one upright, one reversed!
Breaths grew rapid.
Second cast - one upright, one reversed!!
Veins began bulging in bloodshot eyes.
Third cast - one upright, one reversed!!!
The elder stood, waving forcefully: "Open temple gates, CARRY THEM!!!!"
"OOOOOH!!!!!!!"
Deafening cheers erupted.
Excitement shone on every face.
Juniors flushed red, crowding yet orderly as they followed the deities' statues rushing from the village.
This scene repeated across villages.
If one listened carefully to the falling blocks,
They'd hear
Crisp sounds gradually composing an inspiring divine procession melody.
Though unconventional,
Without preparation,
The consistent divination blocks conveyed 'Their' will.
This wasn't recreation!!
This was war procession!!!
Thus all formalities simplified!!!
KILL!!!
Altars? Formation battles?
Let's see you withstand divine proxies!!!
Across the open sea,
Gongs and drums resounded as colorful clouds illuminated the sky, purple hues rising.
Horse handlers in brocade led the way.
Divine aura billowed - those clouds were whipped forth by their riding crops.
Angry divine figures approached behind, their terrifying presence making hearts tremble.
Then,
Urgent drums joined by suona horns,
An overwhelming murderous aura pierced the heavens.
Following its source,
Spirit mediums with fierce painted faces,
Incense atop heads, stepping seven-star patterns.
Grasping tridents, gnashing divine teeth.
Then,
An indescribable sound -
Like objects clashing crisply.
Looking closer,
Black-robed deities danced forward with mystical serpents.
One hundred six deities followed in two columns.
Wielding Yingge hammers, stepping square patterns.
Making cowards tremble, demons retreat.
Great Han's three forces converged, their combined momentum
Crashing toward Tai Island onmyoji's formation, joined by Zhenla and Hetu Qi Refiners' triad altar array.
Three against three - what gives you the right to posture?!
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