But any power's use required a price. He was no exception.
After becoming a Mountain God, he would be completely bound to this mountain—discarding his human body, abandoning his human identity, becoming this mountain's life.
In truth, for many people, this was also a dream-come-true blessing.
Becoming a Mountain God meant that as long as this mountain still existed, he'd possess infinite life. Moreover, because this was the era of Spiritual Energy Revival, mountains were often spiritual energy's favorite places.
As the spiritual energy the mountain could gather grew increasingly dense, his strength would also grow stronger and stronger.
Even now—as long as he fused with this mountain, within this mountain, even First Sequence wouldn't frighten him in the slightest.
It could truly be called ascending to heaven in a single step.
Of course, it wasn't as though you could fuse with any mountain you wanted. Otherwise, he could completely go to Kunlun, Mount Tai, Mount Hua, and similar famous mountains, becoming those renowned mountains' Mountain God. Wouldn't his strength be even more formidable then?
To become a mountain's Mountain God, the ability merely gave you a key.
You had to understand that mountain, have feelings for it—even gain that mountain's acknowledgment.
He was born here. Grew up here.
Generation after generation had also been here.
Never departing.
Regarding feelings—in this backward city, this backward homeland—how many people still held the same thoughts as him?
Since he'd already made his decision, the golden rune in his hand also radiated dazzling brilliance.
"RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE..."
Accompanied by earth's tremors, a rock giant several hundred meters tall appeared before the world's eyes, bearing countless mutant beasts. Its enormous palm sent the mutant beasts on its body and head flying, then launched a fierce assault on this beast horde.
"This place is the territory I protect."
Not just him—in other cities, ability users like this also stepped forth one after another.
Perhaps their abilities weren't this powerful, couldn't let them ascend to heaven in one step and possess the capability to protect cities. But their hearts' desire to protect these cities was the same. Even many among them had participated in the Beast Tide that erupted during the Second Spiritual Energy Tide.
Only after the Beast Tide ended, they'd hidden themselves again, returning to normalcy.
During times of crisis, they stepped forth from among the people. After crisis ended, they walked back among the people.
"What are you still doing here? Why haven't you hurried off to fulfill your duty?!"
A white-haired old man struck the man before him with his cane.
"Old man, I've lived this long—even if I died now, this life would've been worth it."
"What use is you staying here to protect me? I'm your father. Do I need you protecting me?!"
"You're a retired soldier, someone who protects the nation. The Zhao family has never bred cowards!"
"Hurry and get lost! Get out there! Don't come back before the Beast Tide ends!"
After speaking, he turned around, no longer looking at the man behind him.
The man behind him watched silently. After a long while, he kowtowed three times, picked up the spear from beside the wall, took one last look, then turned and left.
"Hah..."
Many people hesitated between nation and family—but often you had no choice.
It wasn't that they possessed such lofty ideals—could sacrifice themselves for the people, for the nation—but for the parents, wives, and children behind them, they had to step forth.
Once the city's defensive line was broken, the entire city became mutant beasts' hunting ground.
At that point, their chances of dying would far exceed the present.
So long as the Flying General of Dragon City remains, Tartar steeds shall never cross Yin Mountains.
At some unknown time, a figure appeared amid the Beast Tide. A silver spear like a dragon, shuttling through the beast horde.
During the Spiritual Energy Revival, a saying circulated:
In chaotic times, the Bodhi asks nothing; Laojun bears his sword to save all beings. In peaceful times, Buddhist gates welcome pilgrims; Daoist Lords retreat to mountain forests.
Between Buddhism and Daoism—facing war, they held different choices and philosophies.
Buddhism remained indifferent. Daoism saved all living beings.
Different philosophies, different methods. No right or wrong—merely different choices.
(To put it bluntly: standing by coldly. What follows just sounds better.)
There was such a story: Two monks traveled, each carrying a shovel. The shovel had two purposes—one for convenient production, one for convenient burial. During their journey, they encountered a corpse.
One monk chose not to acknowledge it, bypassing the corpse to continue walking. The other monk said "Amitabha," stopped, and chose to dig a grave and bury it.
Whose approach was correct?
Neither right nor wrong. Each had reason.
The former was detachment. The latter was compassion.
Facing war, Buddhism believed in neither good nor evil—choosing to preserve a pure land for people in this chaotic world. No matter how chaotic the times, they could preserve a portion of beauty and peace for the mortal realm.
Daoism, however, knew good and knew evil. Though normally Daoist disciples remained tranquil and non-interfering, transcendent from the world—whenever disasters occurred, whenever all under heaven fell into chaos, Daoist disciples always chose to descend from mountains and save all living beings.
So what about now?
All under heaven could be chaotic—but this old master absolutely couldn't stand by coldly!
Daoism was thus. Buddhism was also changing toward this point.
During the Second Spiritual Energy Tide, Daoist and Buddhist mountain gates opened one after another, receiving civilian after civilian.
Accompanying this—Daoist priests and monks stepped forth from mountain gates one after another, resisting Beast Tides, rescuing civilians.
Under the Spiritual Energy Era, mystery descended.
Those original scriptures also revealed true profundity.
Though only disciples truly acknowledged by Dao and Buddha could study them, this number couldn't be called small either.
Bashu.
"Evil creature—die!"
A cold shout. Countless sword shadows transformed into streaming light, piercing the mutant white python before him.
"Seal!"
Both hands formed seals, displaying strange runes. The gourd at his waist generated enormous suction, drawing the mutant white python's body into the gourd's interior.
Returning the gourd to his waist, he looked toward the city gate. A thread of golden light flashed through his eyes.
Then he shook his head.
"No room for me to intervene at all."
Unlike other cities—though Bashu also lacked First Sequence talent ability users, their soldiers could unleash unimaginable coordination and cohesion.
Within the city, facing the surging Beast Tide, they showed not the slightest tension.
He could even see quite a few people playing mahjong.
Other cities had more or less implemented many shelter measures—but here, you couldn't see these things at all.
Thinking carefully, it seemed only natural.
Before the outcome emerged, hiding in shelters—wouldn't you be disrupting their mahjong time?
"Senior brothers and junior brothers have already gone to support other cities. If I hadn't seen it, I'd probably have already departed long ago."
"Now that spiritual energy has revived, countless scriptures have thus revealed true capabilities."
"I received ancestral master's favor, gained ancestral master's acknowledgment to cultivate techniques. I must certainly practice the Way of Heaven, take subduing demons and eliminating evil as my duty, protecting all living beings."
"The Qi of all heavens surges magnificently—my Dao prospers daily!"
"Sword Flight Technique!"
Words falling, Xu Qing stood atop his longsword, transforming into streaming light and vanishing from this place.
(End of Chapter)