Above the Great Dao
Chapter 85 - 53 The Entire Family’s Loyalty and Martyrdom

Chapter 85: Chapter 53 The Entire Family’s Loyalty and Martyrdom

Outside the Demon Domain, steeds galloped swiftly as knights on their backs hurled one banner after another.

Each towering banner rustled in the wind, planted in the ground, with dragon patterns unfurling upon the banner cloth.

The patterns were surrounded by strange characters, a combination of talisman scripts and seal inscriptions.

Every hundred steps, there was such a banner.

Once all the banners were in place, the knights turned their horses and raced toward the distant camp.

The camp had been newly constructed, near a provincial road in Xin Xiang Province, where three branches: the Bureau for Promotion of Governance, the Surveillance Commission, and the Military Commission, along with Xinxiang’s governor, all gathered, looking into the distance at the Demon Domain.

With a command uttered, the banners were activated, revealing golden dragons clawing their way out with great effort, hooks latched onto the red backdrop, climbing upwards.

After a moment, all the golden dragons had fully emerged, sprawling atop the red curtain.

Flags fluttered, emitting fierce golden light that infused into the bodies of the golden dragons to maintain their form.

"The Heavenly Dragon Locking Demon Array can hold for a hundred days, after which the True God will watch over us, and the Demon Domain will vanish without a trace, posing no threat to the people outside."

Xinxiang’s governor, Zhao Tianbao, heaved a sigh and said, "My nephew, Zhao Yanlong, heard about the Demon Transformation breaking out on Qianyang Mountain. Leading four thousand elites from Xuanying Mansion, he even took his heirs with him to charge into the Demon Domain, attempting to halt the transformation. Foolish child, such a foolish child!"

He shook his head repeatedly, tears streaming down his face as he looked to the sky, "He is worthy of the Zhao family lineage, upholding the honor of our ancestors!"

Officials from the Province’s various departments were moved to tears, weeping uncontrollably.

"Master of Xuanying Mansion is a model of noble spirit, worthy of our learning."

"To know death is certain yet to advance regardless of fate, what kind of spirit is this? I shall record this affair in the annals of history to be extolled by future generations, so that the deeds of the Master of Xuanying Mansion today are not forgotten!"

Someone cried, "The entire Xuanying Mansion has shown loyal valor—"

...

Xinxiang’s governor, Zhao Tianbao, too shed tears, only after great effort did he manage to halt them, and urged everyone to restrain their grief. "Yanlong is truly a man of the Zhao family, brave in his sacrifice, bold in his duty, not bringing dishonor to our family name. I propose that, after a hundred days, we hold a ritual right here to pay tribute to Yanlong and the Zhao descendants of Xuanying Mansion. What do you all think?"

"Governor’s insight is profound!"

"In my opinion, we also need to submit a report to the Cabinet to elucidate the sacrifices of the Zhao family in fighting the demons, as a model for all civil and military officials. I am a student of Elder Yan in the Cabinet and shall submit a petition to this effect. The court is likely to bestow rewards or even titles promptly."

With the plan settled, everyone left with a clear conscience.

The Demon Transformation, day three.

Chen Shi looked into the distance as thunderous sounds emanated from the mountains, occasionally interspersed with flashes of fire.

Amid the woods, a massive porcelain Bodhisattva danced with eight arms, suddenly holding the Vajra Devil Subduing Pestle, thrusting it mightily into the ground, instantly igniting raging Demon Fire that consumed everything on the mountaintop!

The swirling Demon Fire roared terrifyingly; even from afar, one could hear the crackling and popping of the explosions caused by the severe expansion of the air.

That was in the direction of the kiln factory.

However, it was unknown who was battling the Evil Bodhisattva.

"The one fighting the Evil Bodhisattva has been holding on for three days already."

Li Tianqing’s face was etched with worry as he spoke to Chen Shi, "My grandfather and your grandfather are very likely to be there; they are both quite old by now, I wonder if they can still endure?"

Chen Shi was also deeply concerned and asked, "Do you think the authorities will send help?"

Li Tianqing, having never encountered such a situation, guessed, "Xin Xiang Province will probably send rescue. After all, the people within a hundred li radius are its subjects. If Xin Xiang Province doesn’t save them, the elders in the Cabinet will surely punish them."

The two left the village to continue hunting. Passing through another village, they saw a caravan stopped on the road, consisting of thirty to forty people with cattle and horses, the vehicles laden with the old and young.

They planned to leave the Demon Domain, but no sooner had they left the village than they all turned into porcelain.

The two moved them to the side of the road to avoid any collisions.

If the Demon were annihilated in the future, perhaps they could be restored.

Along the road, they saw some people, few and scattered, who had earlier hidden in the villages under the protection of foster mothers and hadn’t ventured out, so they were not turned into porcelain. But after starving for three days and only drinking water, they had no choice but to come out in search of food.

Rabbits, wild boars, and pheasants, the usual game, had turned into porcelain. The Xinxiang rats were among the few food sources they could find.

Xinxiang rats, being mutant beasts, took longer to turn into porcelain. These creatures were also affected by the transformation, moving sluggishly, making them easier to catch.

However, the people were equally slow, and whether they could catch the Xinxiang rats was still a gamble.

"If you’re not sure you can survive, find a safe place to lie down, and wait until someone kills the Demon. Then you might have the chance to live," Chen Shi advised those people.

He was very kind.

After all, these were his fellow villagers whom he had previously oppressed. If they all died off, who would he be able to oppress once he became a Scholar and official?

Seeing this, Li Tianqing followed suit and also advised those people to find a safe place to lie down and await death.

Returning from hunting, they had a much better haul than the day before; unable to move, they had caught more than a dozen Xinxiang rats. With just these rats, the villagers of Huangpo Village would have food for over ten days.

Draggling the rats by their long tails, Li Tianqing watched Black Pot running merrily ahead and suddenly felt a twinge in his heart, whispering, "Little Ten, all the beasts outside have already turned into porcelain, even mutant beasts like Xinxiang rats can’t run, so why is Black Pot unaffected?"

Chen Shi also felt a twinge and looked at the dog, lowering his voice, "Do you suspect something wrong with it?"