novelaction Chapter 736: Mortal Faith (Xiao Cui Line Breakout)
Chapter 736: Mortal Faith (Xiao Cui Line Breakout)
The night, as dark as ink, hung heavy over Lotus Town. A bloody mist swirled, like vicious beasts devouring prey, engulfing the entire town. Shrouded in this eerie fog, the houses within were shadowy and indescribably eerie. The once tranquil streets were now utterly silent, broken only by the occasional low growl of a demonized beast, breaking the eerie stillness.
As soon as Yun Yao and Chu Mochen entered Lotus Town, they were stunned by the scene before them. Banners emblazoned with silver lotuses fluttered throughout the town, rustling beneath the bloody mist. Thousands of mortals, armed with crude weapons, their eyes gleaming with determination, busily moved through the bloody mist, building a defensive line. Some carried heavy stones, others shouldered thick wooden stakes. Sweat soaked their clothes, yet no one paused.
Xiao Cui stood atop the city wall, like a female warrior protecting the common people. She stood tall and straight, her gaze fixed firmly on the endless blood mist outside the town. The heart-protecting bell on her chest flickered faintly, shattered and revived, as if to speak of the mission and unyielding spirit it held. At this moment, she clutched the Semi-Immortal Jade Slip tightly, muttering to herself as faint rays of light emanated from it, guiding everyone in the construction of the "Mortal Boundary."
"Princess, I sense your call from the modern world!" Xiao Cui, as if sensing something, suddenly turned, a glimmer of surprise in her eyes. Her face, shrouded in the blood mist, looked utterly haggard, her hair disheveled, yet it couldn't conceal the strength that emanated from within. "These people have voluntarily infused the power of their faith into the jade slips. Though weak, it's enough to defeat low-level demonic forces." Her voice, a raspy yet unwavering resolve, echoed off the city walls, clearly heard by every busy citizen. Upon hearing this, their movements quickened, their gazes deepened.
Before he finished speaking, the bloody mist outside the town erupted in a violent roil, as if stirred by an evil force. Immediately afterwards, dozens of demonic beasts rushed out, claws and fangs bared. They were enormous, entwined with the curse of the Holy Maiden Youyue, and exuded a sickening stench. Their claws flashed with a cold light, and every swing brought a whistling sound, as if they were about to tear everything in sight into shreds.
Seeing this, Yun Yao's eyes glared, and the spiritual power within her body surged instantly. Just as she was about to attack, Xiao Cui stopped her. Xiao Cui looked at her firmly and said loudly, "Let's see if the power of mortals can change fate!" Yun Yao was slightly startled. Seeing the burning fighting spirit in Xiao Cui's eyes, she felt an inexplicable emotion in her heart. She slowly lowered her raised hand and decided to trust these ordinary yet extraordinary people.
As if hearing the call to charge, the Lotus Heart Cult members knelt in unison, their eyes closed, silently reciting the fragments of the "Ice Heart Sutra" that Yun Yao had taught them at the palace. For a moment, the only sound in the quiet town was their deep, coordinated chanting, a voice that seemed to carry a mysterious power, piercing the blood mist and reaching the hearts of the people. Fueled by the collective faith, the jade slip suddenly erupted with a powerful light. Each ray of light transformed into a silver lotus shadow, swirling and dancing in the air, then rushing towards the demonized beasts like a meteor.
The most powerful tiger demon, clearly enraged by the sudden attack, roared to the heavens, its cry resounding across the surrounding area. Then, with a fierce pounce, it aimed directly at Xiao Cui. The tiger demon was agile and swift, reaching Xiao Cui in the blink of an eye. Its maw opened wide, baring sharp fangs, and a foul stench filled her face. However, Xiao Cui remained undaunted. With a stern gaze, she met the tiger demon's brutal gaze. Just as the tiger demon's claws were about to reach her, she flicked her fingertips, and a faint light emanated from them.
An astonishing scene unfolded: the evil spirit within the tiger demon was slowly purified by an invisible force. The once inky black evil spirit, as if encountering its nemesis, gradually dissipated. The fury in the tiger demon's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of confusion. It turns out that when a mortal's faith is pure enough, they can actually subdue even high-level evil spirits!
But the crisis wasn't over yet. Xiao Cui suddenly turned pale, spat out a mouthful of blood, and staggered, nearly falling. Everyone exclaimed in shock. Yun Yao's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward to support Xiao Cui. Several cracks had appeared on the jade slip in Xiao Cui's hand, and a strange black aura seeped out from them.
"The Saint has left a backup plan in the jade slip..." Xiao Cui said faintly, "She wants to use my bloodline to contaminate the faith of all mortals!" Yun Yao was extremely anxious. She knew that if the faith of mortals was contaminated, Lotus Town would be powerless to resist, and the consequences would be disastrous. Without further consideration, she immediately injected the power of the Heavenly Dao Pen into the Heart Protection Bell.
Instantly, the Heart-Protecting Bell emitted a clear, melodious tone. This tone, like a tangible motto, echoed through the air: "Faith is not a gift from the gods; it is the will of the heart." As the bell rang, a strange sight unfolded. A faint light shone between the brows of all the Lotus Heart Cult members. At first, the light was as small as a bean, then grew brighter and brighter, like a glittering star. In the light, the fear on their faces gradually dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented determination. They slowly rose to their feet, gripping their weapons even tighter, their eyes revealing a determination to face death.
At this moment, a white-haired old man, leaning on a cane, trudged forward step by step. His body seemed frail in the blood mist, yet he exuded an undeniable majesty. He surveyed the crowd and declared, "Fellow villagers, the reason we stand here today, protecting our home, is not due to the blessing of some deity, but to the faith within our hearts! From the moment we decided to follow Miss Xiao Cui and the princess to fight against the evil spirits, we have become the masters of our own destiny!" Everyone nodded, their eyes blazing brightly.
"Those days, our Lianhua Town suffered from a drought and all crops were destroyed. The government turned a blind eye and it was because we supported each other and dug wells to find water that we got through that difficult time. Later, an epidemic ravaged the area and many families lost their loved ones, but we didn't give up. We relied on folk remedies and the care of our neighbors to suppress the epidemic. Throughout all this time, how many times have we not relied on our own faith to get through it?" The old man's voice was trembling, but it was filled with endless power. Every word he said struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
The elder's words stirred everyone's thoughts, and the difficult years of the past came back to them one by one. They recalled the days of sweating together under the scorching sun to dig wells, the tireless days and nights caring for the sick, and the countless moments of mutual encouragement and overcoming difficulties together. These memories, like a burning flame, fueled the faith in their hearts even more fiercely.
"Now, this evil spirit has come to invade our home again. What should we be afraid of? As long as our faith remains unextinguished, nothing can defeat us!" The old man shouted with his arms raised, raising the crutch in his hand high.
"Yes! We are not afraid!" Everyone shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the sky, as if to disperse the blood mist. At this moment, they were no longer ordinary people, but a group of warriors fighting to protect their homeland and their beliefs.
Amidst the crowd's passionate shouts, the light of the Heart-Protecting Bell grew stronger, echoing with the faint glow between everyone's brows, forming an indestructible protective light. The demonized beasts in the blood mist seemed intimidated by this momentum, halting their attacks, a hint of fear in their eyes.
Tears welled up in Xiao Cui's eyes as she watched the scene unfold. She recalled her first arrival at the palace, a timid maid, too afraid to even speak aloud. It was Princess Yun Yao who personally taught her how to read and gave her the Heart-Protecting Bell, teaching her that even a mortal could possess the power to change their fate. Now, looking at these fellow villagers who had grown and fought alongside her, she felt a surge of emotion and pride.
"Let's go together and drive these evil spirits out of our town!" Xiao Cui wiped away her tears, raised the jade slip in her hand, and shouted loudly.
"Kill!" the crowd shouted, rushing towards the demonized beasts like a tide. For a moment, swords flashed and shadows of sabers flashed, silver lotus shadows danced, and the blood mist was stirred even more violently by the surging force.
In this fierce battle, every man fought with all his might. Strong young men wielded broadswords, engaging the beasts in close combat. Though scarred, none of them flinched. Women assisted with clubs, their gazes determined, their voices brimming with encouragement. Even the children were not idle, picking up rocks and hurling them at the beasts, their small faces brimming with determination.
Yun Yao and Chu Mochen exchanged a glance, both of them filled with relief. They didn't immediately offer assistance, but chose to stand aside. They knew that at this moment, this battle belonged to these ordinary yet great people. This was the legend they had written with their faith.
As the battle dragged on, the number of demonized beasts dwindled, and their attacks grew weaker. Meanwhile, the morale of the Lotus Heart Cult grew stronger, fueled by their faith, as if they possessed boundless power.
Finally, the last demonized beast collapsed under the siege of the crowd. The blood mist gradually dissipated, and sunlight penetrated the clouds, shining on every corner of Lotus Town. Although the town was devastated, the faces of the people were filled with the joy of victory.
Xiao Cui gazed at this familiar land, her heart filled with emotion. She knew that after this battle, the people of Lianhua Town would be more united, their faith more unbreakable. And she, along with Princess Yun Yao, would carry this faith forward and meet the challenges of the future.
In the distance, from the direction of Yuxu Palace, a beam of light shot up into the sky, as if echoing the victory of Lianhua Town. Yun Yao knew that greater challenges lay ahead, and the situation in the immortal world remained grim. But at this moment, looking at these hopeful people before her, her heart was filled with strength.
"Let's go, we still have a long way to go." Yun Yao said softly to Chu Mochen.
Chu Mochen nodded slightly, and the two of them, hand in hand, walked towards Yuxu Palace with hope for the future. The people of Lotus Town watched them depart, their eyes filled with respect and blessings. They knew that the princess and her companions had embarked on a new journey to protect this world and the beliefs of each of them...