Chapter 54: Sea of ​​Fire

After the fire formed, billowing black smoke rose into the sky and turned into a black dragon, hovering in the night sky.

In the sea of ​​​​fire, tongues of fire kept rising and rising, like dragons leaping out of the water, and from time to time there were roaring and exploding sounds.

This is the Zhenwu concept at this time.

Some of the spiritual officials who had survived by chance were evacuating Zhenwu Temple. They were all in a miserable state, and almost all of them were injured.

Such a big movement also alarmed others.

The first one to arrive was the Soldiers and Horses Command Department, whose responsibilities are to patrol thieves, sort out streets and ditches, and deal with prisoners, fire bans, etc. Therefore, fire fighting is the responsibility of the Soldiers and Horses Command Department. However, in the face of such a fire, the first The number of rescuers who arrived was too small, and a few water trucks were of little use.

After the spiritual officials withdrew, they gathered together.

The Jiangnan territory has been peaceful for a long time. The Jiangnan Daofu Lingguan responsible for peripheral security cannot say that his swords and guns are in storage, but he rarely experiences such changes, so he is inevitably a little at a loss. However, the spiritual officers of Tiangangtang are "border troops" transferred from the border of the Western Regions. They have experienced hundreds of battles. Although they suffered heavy losses in the "Tianting" raid, they did not panic at this time and have already begun to organize the treatment of seriously injured people. , and be on guard to prevent a second raid.

According to the rules of Tiangang Hall, if the command system is broken up, the highest-ranking spiritual officer or Taoist priest will take command. At this time, the person in charge will be a third-level spiritual officer.

This is also one of the functions of the Taoist sect's grade system, allowing the scattered Taoist sect disciples to quickly integrate into one place and regain their organization and combat effectiveness.

This is also one of the main reasons why Buddhism was completely defeated during the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism. The two sides once had an extremely important battle that was not planned by both sides. Due to terrain and other reasons, the two sides fought into a huge "whirlpool". All the establishments have been broken up, and the generals don’t know where the soldiers are, and the soldiers don’t know where the generals are. The situation is extremely chaotic, but the Taoist sect quickly consolidates one place by relying on the grade system, and gradually divides and eliminates the Buddhist people who are fighting each other with the advantage of their numbers. , and finally won.

During this process, Buddhist people naturally tried to reintegrate, but the situation at that time was that no one was convinced by the other. This one said who his teacher was, how he came from a noble family, and the other said that he had the highest level of cultivation, so how could he organize it? ? Mere wrangling has delayed the opportunity to fight.

On the other hand, in the Taoist sect, Xuan Sheng has set the rules to death. No matter what one's background is or what level of cultivation one has, one's grade is the most useful thing.

Of course, there are also situations where high-grade Taoist priests are not as good as low-grade Taoist priests. For example, high-grade Taoist priests lack experience, are not proficient in command, etc. But again, stability cannot be restored, reorganization cannot be completed, and command cannot be mentioned at all. Therefore, the most effective plan is to quickly move closer to the person with the highest rank. To choose the lesser of two evils, the rules must be firmly established. .

After gathering the remaining soldiers, the high-grade Taoist priest can completely authorize the low-grade Taoist priest who is good at command to take command on his behalf, thus completing the temporary reorganization.

After the initial integration is completed, the next step will be like a snowball. Many separated middle and high-level Taoist priests will quickly get closer and then perform their respective duties according to their level.

In this case, Buddhism, which is still a piece of loose sand, is bound to fail.

This battle directly led to the Buddhist sect beginning to imitate the Taoist sect in restructuring, and was also divided into nine and twelve grades internally.

The fire alarmed all the government offices. After the Military and Horse Command Department, the Qingluan Guards also arrived, but the Qingluan Guards were also helpless against the fire and could only evacuate some of the people who came to watch the excitement.

Fortunately, Zhenwu Temple is a relatively independent building. One side faces the lake, and the other three sides are streets. It is not adjacent to other buildings, so the fire will not spread.

At this moment, a group of cavalry rushed over quickly. The men and horses were all black. The knights' armor covered almost all parts, but it was not as heavy and oppressive as the heavy cavalry of the men in black. It was more like a group of heavy horsemen. The infantrymen, at a glance, were known to be elite spiritual officers affiliated with Jiangnan Daofu.

Bai Yingqiong, dressed in the formal attire of a Taoist priest, hurried over surrounded by more than a dozen high-ranking spiritual officials.

When such a big event happens, no matter what Bai Yingqiong thinks, he can't just sit back and watch.

Bai Yingqiong raised her head and observed the fire in Zhenwu Temple without saying a word, with no expression on her face.

One of the followers murmured: "This is the Zhenwu Temple, the Zhenwu Temple that has received the Grand Master."

Bai Yingqiong said softly: "Send people to put out the fire and rescue the wounded."

All the followers responded with a roar.

Bai Yingqiong took a deep breath and trembled slightly when she exhaled.

At this moment, there was no trace of schadenfreude in her heart, but only shock and anger.

Just now, my subordinates have found several surviving spiritual officials for questioning. According to the descriptions of these spiritual officials, the people who attacked Zhenwu Temple were actually equipped with "Sun-shooting Long Guns" and "Dragon Eyes Yiyi". Therefore, the spiritual officers stationed in Zhenwu Temple were only Not an opponent. Although Tiangangtang also has "Sun Shooting Gun" and "Dragon Eye Yiyi", these firearms will only be issued before the war and will not be equipped in normal times.

After Bai Yingqiong heard this, she was only shocked and angry. How dare they? How dare you break the rules so much?

This sneak attack happened to be timed when Zhenwu Temple's defenses were empty. It could be said that it was just right. If there was no internal and external cooperation, no one would believe it.

At the same time, Bai Yingqiong also saw Taiping Dao's huge ambition and determination, especially the determination to realize its ambitions, which was far incomparable to Zhengyiyi and Taiping Dao.

By this time, the little dispute between her and Zhang Yuelu was nothing, after all, no eggs were left intact after the nest was overturned. If the big tree like Zhengdao falls down, even if he can become Master Cihang, it will be meaningless.

A family-run Taoist sect is bad news for those who are not Li's direct descendants.

Even if we don't consider these trivialities, just talking about the facts, they dared to attack Zhang Yuelu and Zhenwu Temple today, and dared to attack her daughter, so what about tomorrow? Will they not dare to attack her?

When Bai Yingqiong thought of this, his five fingers tightly grasped the handle of the whisk, and all kinds of emotions intertwined in his heart. ..

Just then, a spiritual officer came to report: "Report to the Immortal, we found Deputy Hall Master Zhang."

Bai Yingqiong was stunned, and it was hard to tell whether she was happy or disappointed. She immediately said: "Where is Deputy Hall Master Zhang? Take me to see her."

"Don't bother me, Senior Sister." A voice said, and a team of well-preserved Tiangang Hall spiritual officers were walking towards this side, led by Zhang Yuelu.

Behind Zhang Yuelu were Qi Xuansu and Mu Jin, especially Qi Xuansu, because of the Immortal Donghua, Bai Yingqiong remembered him particularly deeply.

Then Bai Yingqiong found that Zhang Yuelu was holding a human head in her hand, and died with her eyes open.

Bai Yingqiong didn't know what to say for a moment. Perhaps because of her complicated mood, she didn't even want to pretend anymore. She asked Zhang Yuelu if she was injured, and simply asked directly: "Junior sister, who is this?"

Zhang Yuelu raised the head in her hand: "Marshal Lei of the 'Heavenly Court' was killed by me."

Bai Yingqiong was shocked.

The reputation of the two elders Feng Lei is not small, Bai Yingqiong has heard of it, but she didn't expect Marshal Lei to die here, and died in the hands of Zhang Yuelu.

She immediately realized one thing: "Junior sister has become a celestial being?"

Zhang Yuelu nodded.

Bai Yingqiong opened her mouth and could only say, "Junior sister is indeed a natural talent."

Zhang Yuelu, however, was not happy: "The 'Heavenly Court' sent out two celestial beings, and the other celestial being Marshal Tianpeng is temporarily missing. I was lucky to kill Marshal Lei."

Just then, someone else withdrew from the Zhenwu Temple, carrying a seriously injured person.

Qi Xuansu was the first to look at him, his eyes fixed.

I saw that this person was about forty years old, with a frosted face and a scar on his face. At this time, his abdomen was covered with blood, and even his intestines were flowing out. He was already on his deathbed.

He recognized this person, and he was an old friend who had worked with him before.

When Zhang Yuelu just took office, he appointed six deacons. This person was the oldest of the six deacons, named Zhou Bai, a sixth-rank Taoist priest.

This time he also came to Jinling Mansion, but he didn't expect to die in Zhenwu Temple.

Zhou Bai barely opened his eyes, his eyeballs moved slightly, and looked at Zhang Yuelu weakly, his mouth opening and closing.

Zhang Yuelu also recognized Zhou Bai, took the initiative to step forward, leaned forward, and asked softly: "Deacon Zhou, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?"

After a long while, an extremely weak voice came: "I, I only have one daughter...I am not yet an adult...I lost my mother when I was young, and now I have lost my father. I have become an orphan without a father or a mother... Please, deputy hall master...take care of me..."

Zhang Yuelu closed his eyes, opened them again, and said in a slow tone: "Don't worry."

Zhou Bai slowly closed his eyes, and after a while, his breathing stopped.

Zhang Yuelu stood up and saluted the body. The people of Tiangang Hall who followed Zhang Yuelu also saluted.

Mu Jin squatted down and took out a handkerchief to wipe the dust off Zhou Bai's face.