"This treasure is too strong!" Qiu Yongsi shouted. "Let's go!"
The Sacred Swords collided with the Five-colored Divine Light one after another. With each collision, the Five-colored Divine Light would be consumed. Just as it was about to be mercilessly torn apart, Ah Tai chanted an incantation behind them. It was a string of Sassanid words. It was as pleasant as singing, and it resounded through the sky.
Ba Si roared furiously. On the altar, Atay's body glowed with white light. He was wearing leather armor, and his brown curly hair turned golden. The Zoroaster statue behind him shattered and turned into dust. Then, a tall figure rose from the ground.
Shocked shouts came from within Telos City. In the dark sky, the sacred swords circled around Telos and gathered at the center. Hongjun withdrew the five-colored holy light and staggered back with Li Jinglong and Qiu Yongsi.
On the ground, Zoroaster's silhouette appeared. Atay finished chanting and said in a low voice, "Brothers, thank you."
Then, Atay raised his right hand and pressed it on the altar. The sacred fire reignited and rose into the sky, turning into a pillar of fire!
Everyone exclaimed in unison!
Atay raised his eyes and looked at the sky. At this moment, his glass-like eyes dimmed. Flames spread out from his back and turned into six wings. Zoroaster's tall figure stood behind Atay. The next moment, a huge shadow of a god appeared behind Ba Si …
Angels flew in the sky, and bright lights gathered in the sky to form meteors that fell to the ground. In the meteor shower, Ba Si held a scripture in his hand. The god that he summoned was wearing a white robe that fluttered in the wind. His divine light was faintly discernible. He reached out his right hand and grabbed the huge holy sword in the sky. He said something in the sky.
Zoroaster replied in a low voice.
Hongjun was speechless.
For a moment, everyone forgot about the battle. They looked up at the sky in disbelief. This was no longer a battle between Ba Si and Atay. It was a battle between two great sects and two prophets! The heavens shook, but on the ground, no one could understand the words of the gods. Tens of thousands of divine lights flashed in the sky. A sword slashed down. Zoroaster raised his bow and stepped forward. He flipped his left palm and closed his right palm. The sacred fire burst out.
Ba Si attacked, and Atay caught the sword with a flip of his palm!
The moment the prophet showed his divinity and clashed, a hurricane swept up from the flat ground. The shockwave swept out, causing the murals behind the altar to instantly disintegrate and shoot out in all directions like meteors. The bricks and tiles were all sent flying. The moment the shockwave swept out, it almost brushed past the heads of the 200,000 people on the ground and destroyed Talos into ruins!
.. now...... cet...
. In the next moment, Li Jinglong and Qiu Yongsi each cast their spells. Hongjun knew that this was his only chance to obtain the Great Sun Golden Wheel.
Qiu Yongsi shouted, "We can't go up! Their power is too strong! "
Even when they faced An Lushan, it wasn't as terrifying as the clash of their divine powers. The center of the explosion was the center of the shockwave. No one could get close to the shockwave.
The Great Sun Golden Wheel was within their reach. How could they be willing to give it up now?
Yu Prefecture took half a step back and looked at the sky. Then, he turned his head to look at Hongjun.
"Do you have a way?" Hongjun shouted at Yu Prefecture.
"Yes … but …" Yu Prefecture frowned.
"No buts! Hurry! "Hongjun shouted.
Yu Prefecture looked back at Li Jinglong. Li Jinglong seemed to feel something. He shouted, "Yu Prefecture! Thank you! "
Yu Prefecture finally made up his mind. He grabbed Hongjun's hand and dragged him into the sky. They rushed towards the collision between the sacred sword and the divine flame. Hongjun only saw a flash of light in front of his eyes. It was as if a giant dragon had swept past him.
Qiu Yongsi and Li Jinglong were stunned. They even forgot to cast their spells.
Qiu Yongsi: "This …"
There was a loud boom. The silver scales in the center of the collision shone with a bright light. A fish nearly ten meters long shot out from the ball of energy. Hongjun suddenly realized that he was riding on the fish's back. Just like that, he crashed into the ball of energy!
In the next moment, Yu Prefecture seemed to say something amidst the blinding light, but it was drowned out by the sound of the explosion. Immediately afterwards, Hongjun was sent in front of Ba Si.
Ba Si's eyes widened. Hongjun had already raised his Mo Sword. He swung the Mo Sword between his arms, cutting off his entire right upper arm. Ba Si roared. Blood spurted out in the air. The Great Sun Golden Wheel fell to the ground. Hongjun tilted his body in the air and quickly caught the wheel. Ba Si immediately grabbed his right hand with his left hand. However, he lost control of the sacred sword and the Spirit Bestowment disappeared. The divine flame on the ground exploded into a tsunami-like wall of fire. It came back and pushed Ba Si away.
Hongjun had just grabbed the Great Sun Golden Wheel when the divine flame suddenly appeared in front of him. Yu Prefecture had already returned to his human form. He appeared in front of Hongjun and carried him to the altar.
The divine flame was retracted, but Zoroaster did not disappear. Atay was clad in armor and his body was covered in flames. He was like a god of fire and light in this long night. The dark clouds gradually retreated, illuminating Talos, which had been destroyed by the divine hurricane, once again.
Atay opened his mouth and said something in the Sassanid language. His voice seemed to have come from the prophet Zoroaster behind him. The sacred city was completely silent. Everyone was kneeling on the ground. In the next moment, Atay said something again. When Hongjun landed on the ground, he exchanged glances with Li Jinglong. Both of their eyes were filled with shock.
Many of the ambushing soldiers were covered in blood. They walked out of the crowd and arrived at the altar. Their hands formed the shape of flames as they held them in front of their chests.
Then, Atay said a third sentence. The 200,000 people were in an uproar.
"What did he say?" Hongjun muttered.
In the next moment, Zoroaster disappeared. The divine flame on the altar was extinguished. Embers rose. Atay's fingers flashed. He closed his eyes and fainted on the ground.
"Let's go." Qiu Yongsi made a prompt decision. "We've gotten what we deserve! Now's the time! "
Li Jinglong immediately led everyone to break out of the encirclement. However, the so-called "breaking out" was unnecessary. Who would dare to stop them in such a huge city? La Shan prepared the horses and had everyone quickly get on them. Many black-clothed guards followed behind them. Everyone spurred their horses and quickly left Talos City in this short period of silence.
It was raining.
Hongjun raised his head and looked at the sky. The rain in the valley was as big as soybeans. It covered the sky and covered the earth. In a short while, water accumulated on the ground.
"Where are we going now?" Hongjun turned around and asked.
"The rendezvous point!" Qiu Yongsi said. "We're almost there!"
Hongjun and Li Jinglong looked at each other. Li Jinglong gave him a thumbs up, indicating that he had done well.
La Shan and the others dragged a cart and followed behind. Atay lay in the cart. The rain fell and washed his bony body. The injured Qiu Yongsi was in charge of taking care of Atay.
The rendezvous point was a dry riverbed. After the rain, the place had gradually accumulated water. When they arrived, a bloody battle had just ended. Amman's hands and feet were tied and placed in the middle of the riverbed. The rain washed away the blood on the corpses on the ground.
Ashina Chong stood in front of Amman with a scimitar in his hand. His black clothes clung to his body. Behind him, the soldiers of the Ramadan army took off their black robes, revealing the orange-red robes of the Zoroastrian army that covered half of their left shoulders.
There were still more than a hundred soldiers following Ashina Chong. At this moment, they were scattered throughout the valley. They quietly watched as Ashina Chong carried out the execution on Amman. When Li Jinglong and the others arrived, they did not approach. They stood far away in the valley. Their bodies were soaked as they looked at the center of the valley.
La Shan untied the cart and dragged it to the front of the valley with a group of Zoroastrian soldiers. They took off their black robes, revealing their inner attire.
The soldiers' robes were soaked and stuck to their bodies. The outline of their flesh and blood could be seen everywhere. Atay was still unconscious in the cart. The Great Sun Golden Wheel was placed in front of his chest and the ring on his finger. Ashina Chong raised his scimitar and shouted.
The soldiers wiped the rain off their faces and shouted in grief and indignation. They placed their hands in front of their chest and kneeled on one knee.
Ashina Chong glanced at Amman. Amman raised his head and looked at him quietly.
Li Jinglong stood in the valley. He stretched out his hand and grasped Hongjun's hand. Then, he used his fingers to separate Hongjun's five fingers and interlocked their fingers. The two looked at each other. Hongjun leaned in front of Li Jinglong.
Ashina Chong said something with a sobbing tone. The soldiers shouted in unison. Obviously, they were executing Amman. Mo Rigen hugged Lu Xu's waist with one hand and quietly watched everything. No one spoke.
The rain was pouring down. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky. Hongjun could not help but exclaim. Rather than lightning, it was more like a huge pillar of fire that fell from the sky. In a split second, Amman was burnt to a crisp. Amman maintained his kneeling position and remained motionless in the valley.
Ashina Chong put away his scimitar. The few remaining Sassanid soldiers stood up and gathered towards him. Ashina Chong walked to the front of the carriage and led the remaining Sassanid soldiers to kneel in front of the carriage. They pledged their loyalty to the unconscious Atay and then came to inform them that they could leave. Li Jinglong then gave the order to gather and set off.
No one spoke along the way. Their mood seemed to be very heavy. Even Li Jinglong did not expect that Atay's journey to restore the country would end like this. Whether this meant success or failure could not be judged. The rain became heavier. When they arrived at Bazin City, the exorcists were exhausted. Ashina Chong suggested that they stay in the Holy Temple temporarily. Li Jinglong agreed. Everyone followed the mountain path and rested in the abandoned Holy Temple.
"Alright." Li Jinglong sat in the middle of the Holy Temple and said to his subordinates, "Everyone has worked hard."
He felt that he needed to boost their morale. After all, this journey was really too tiring. Then, he flashed the Great Sun Golden Wheel to everyone and said seriously, "We got another one. Atay and Qiong are also safe and sound. We even made so many new friends. This is an honorable victory. Have a good rest. When we return to Yuzhou, it will be the New Year soon. Let's celebrate!"
According to the practice of the exorcism division, after every difficult battle, there would be a simple celebration banquet. Although this journey to Tarot had been very tiring and everyone was very tired, it was the first time they had truly participated in a battle since the Chang 'an. The exorcists all laughed and went to find a place to rest.
The caravan delivered food and water and bought a few sheep from the locals. After killing them, they handed them to the Zoroastrian guards. Bazin was far from the Islamic center of Baghdad and had not been exposed. There were still many Zoroastrians in the local area. When they heard that Zoroaster had appeared in Tarot, they came in the rain to worship and offer food as tribute.
Han Ba was locked up in the basement of the Holy Temple where Ashina Chong was previously imprisoned. When Hongjun was inspecting the Demon Binding Rope, Han Ba, who was wrapped in a gunny sack, suddenly spoke.
"Let me go." Han Ba said, "Little Peacock, or you will regret it."
Hongjun stopped what he was doing and looked at the gunny sack.
"Sleep." Hongjun said, "There will be no worries and no pain in sleep."
"I have never really slept." Han Ba said in a low voice, "Do you know what your human lover wants to do?"
Hong Jun furrowed his brows.
Han Ba said, "Yuan Kun schemed against you. Why wouldn't the human want to scheme against Yuan Kun too? He already knew about the twists and turns. If I'm not wrong, the exorcists will take action to get rid of Qing Xiong. "
Hongjun replied, "I won't let him do that."
Han Ba laughed strangely and said, "Are you a human or a demon? Think carefully."
"I am nothing." Hongjun replied, "I am only myself. I don't side with humans or demons. "
"So?" Han Ba said meaningfully, "Which side will you side with? Now it seems that you are still siding with your human lover. "
Hongjun did not say anything else and left the underground secret room.
Li Jinglong and the others rested in the temple and had a full meal. Atay was still unconscious. Ashina Chong was followed by several Zoroastrian guards in orange martial arts. He had regained his identity and had the aura of a general.
"I'm dead tired from fighting."
However, the moment he opened his mouth, the sloppy Ashina Chong seemed to show his true colors. Li Jinglong gave him some wine and the two of them looked at the wine in the silver wine cup in silence.
"Are you alright?" Li Jinglong asked.
Ashina Chong shook his head and smiled bitterly, "What do you plan to do?"
When Li Jinglong heard this, he vaguely guessed Ashina Chong's plan to part ways. He said, "Return to the Central Plains and search for the last artifact. What about you?"
"Hongjun doesn't look good." Ashina Chong said.
"I will take care of it." Li Jinglong said, "Don't worry."
Ashina Chong said again, "Atay will follow you. Now is not the right time."
"Where do you want to go?" Li Jinglong understood the meaning of Ashina Chong's words. "Not the right time" meant that Atay was weak and had found the Sun Golden Wheel. The Exorcism Division still needed him. "Not the right time" meant that Ashina Chong planned to do next. It was best not to let Atay follow.
"Migration." Ashina Chong drew a topographic map of Asia Minor on the ground with his scimitar and explained, "There are still many of our people in the periphery of Tarot, Bazin, Homs, and even the Persian Gulf."
"Where is the destination?" Li Jinglong asked.
"Diu." Ashina Chong said, "The legendary place where the Pantheon was first built, the end of the world. Your wife is right. We have to live our own lives. "
"The West of India." Li Jinglong remembered that Master Xuan Zang once mentioned in "Chronicles of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" that the rich land was once called "Sindhu", then "India", and now it was called "India". It was the birthplace of Buddha.
Ashina Chong nodded, and the two fell into silence.
"You will come back." Li Jinglong said, "Promise me that the next time you come back, you will bring your little friend. No matter who it is, I will be waiting. "
Ashina Chong smiled and said, "Of course I will. Even if there is no little friend, I will still come back. After all, His Majesty, the Empress, and the Crown Prince are all in your hands. How can I not come back?"
"Then, it's a promise." Li Jinglong raised his hand. Ashina Chong high-fived him and stood up.
Li Jinglong: "You are leaving just like that?"
Ashina Chong: "Anyway, I have to come back. There is no need to say goodbye."
He turned and walked out of the door. It was obvious that he had made up his mind. He did not wait for Atay to wake up, nor did he say goodbye to his companions. His body seemed to have lost a lot of weight in the wind and rain. When he executed Amman, Li Jinglong seemed to have seen another Ashina Chong.
Before leaving, Ashina Chong turned his head and looked at Li Jinglong. He wanted to say something but stopped.
"Hongjun …" Ashina Chong said.
Li Jinglong: "I will."
"Take care of my two little brothers for me." Ashina Chong suddenly said. His eyes seemed to have become extremely gentle. Li Jinglong just nodded. Ashina Chong did not say anything else and turned to leave.
It was evening and the rain had stopped. Ashina Chong changed into an orange-red warrior robe and led a group of people away from the Sacred Mountain by the Aral Sea. The twilight seemed to have lit up the sky. A large patch of red light shone down on the Sacred Mountain. Hundreds of Zoroastrian guards were like dancing flames as they meandered towards the south of Bazin.
Li Jinglong watched Ashina Chong leave.
"I always feel that he likes either Hongjun or Lu Xu." Mo Rigen's voice sounded. At this time, he was sitting high up on the wall. Li Jinglong pressed his hands on the railing outside the Sacred Mountain and muttered, "He has a lot of secrets in his heart."
"Which one do you think he likes?" Mo Rigen said.
Ashina Chong was different from Qiu Yongsi. Qiu Yongsi treated Hongjun and Lu Xu like real brothers. Even if he joked, there was no ambiguity. When Ashina Chong often joked with Lu Xu and Hongjun, he liked to look into their eyes. How could Li Jinglong and Mo Rigen not see the affection in his eyes?
"I feel that he likes both of them." Li Jinglong said, "He likes Hongjun's clarity and also likes Little Lu's restraint. Unfortunately, fate does not belong to him."
Mo Rigen shook his head. His expression was very complicated. It was unknown whether he was happy or jealous.