Chapter 1277: Chapter 1275: Hero Mountain
East Victory achieved a great victory!
When this news arrived, the entire world of East Victory was stunned, like a condemned person awaiting execution, just waiting for the guillotine blade to fall.
But just as the blade was an inch away from the neck, the executioner was killed.
The whole world erupted in jubilation!
The first reaction of the people was disbelief, suspecting it was a conspiracy by the Outer Heaven Demons, intended to prevent them from fleeing, making it easier to concentrate and slaughter them all.
Many experts from various sects, unaffiliated warriors, and countless citizens still crazily fled to the remote mountains and wilderness, leaving many cities deserted and nearly causing a collapse in order.
In response to this situation, several major intelligence organizations immediately joined forces, sparing no expense, working overtime around the clock, from intelligence gathering, information confirmation, to publishing the accounts of the events, with the military at all levels executing their duties diligently.
In only half a month, they issued three editions, each disclosing the frontline battle situations, with each edition more detailed and comprehensive than the last, and supported by various kinds of evidence.
The people of the world were half-believing, half-doubting.
Another half month passed, and the world of East Victory was overall calm, with no news of any invasions by the Outer Heaven Demons. If the defenses of the heavenly pit had been broken, it wouldn’t be like this.
So, are the messages on the Martial World bulletin true?
Of course, they are true; these intelligence organizations have channels more connected than the others. Would they still have time to publish on the Martial World bulletin if the Outer Heaven Demons were truly attacking? They would have long ago fled to who knows where.
"May the heavens bless East Victory, may the heavens bless East Victory!"
"Hahaha, let us honor the heroes who fought tirelessly on the front lines!"
"I always said, the heavens wouldn’t be so cruel; there was no need to flee at all."
In the streets and alleys everywhere, one could see people rushing to share the news, lively children hopping about, and adults, too, gathered in groups, discussing the Martial World bulletin, with nothing but gratitude to the heavens and relief that disaster had not come.
Everyone’s face wore a smile, today visiting your home, tomorrow drinking at mine...
Pitter-patter...
In all the major cities and towns, one could hear the sound of celebratory firecrackers all day long, the atmosphere rivaled that of the New Year, ten times more festive and jubilant.
Countless taverns, inns, and shops also joined in this frenetic revelry, either offering half-price drinks or opening for free, pushing this celebration of survival after calamity to an even greater height.
A month after the great battle ended.
Those who had run into the mountains and forests each returned to their homes. Soon after, numerous sects in the Martial World fueled the celebratory fire even more ardently.
Top-tier powers from various states and regions announced one after another that they would widely recruit disciples in the coming years, and would lower the corresponding entry requirements to replenish the strength of their sects.
Countless common people who yearned to learn martial arts and had no background rejoiced beyond measure.
Then the several great dynasties added to the sentiment by announcing that, in the next ten years, the taxes in all states and regions would be halved, to celebrate this unprecedented and extraordinary victory!
The world became a roiling sea of celebratory excitement.
Later generations would name this special period "The Flourishing Three Months." For these three months, there was universal celebration, with countless activities emerging everywhere, with harmony among merchants, and closeness between officials and the public, even bandits and mountain robbers ceased their disturbances temporarily.
One day, out of nowhere, a public sentiment arose—someone proposed that at the very center of the East Victory mainland, a Hero Mountain should be built to honor the heroes who had made outstanding contributions in this war, with statues erected for future generations to worship and commemorate.
The sentiment swirled into a frenzy.
Eventually, several top-tier powers from the mainland of East Victory, the South Sea, and Miaojiang took the lead, recruiting people from all directions to work together, and after multiple site selections, construction finally began on a secluded mountain ridge within the Daxia Dynasty.
In just three months.
With nearly a million craftsmen working in shifts, tirelessly laboring day and night, this Hero Mountain, destined to exude eternal brilliance in the history of the East Victory world for countless years, was completed.
Hero Mountain stood nine hundred and ninety-nine zhang tall, with steep cliffs on three sides, and a smooth pathway built directly to the peak on the southeast, a total of nineteen thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps, carved entirely from white marble.
When you reach the top of Hero Mountain, you will find a vast square. A round stone wall, ninety zhang high, perfectly encloses it.
Engraved on the stone wall are a variety of figures, men and women, young and old, some refined and cultured, some rough and dusty, some composed and serene... In short, any image you can think of can be found there.
This is the Wall of Heroes.
So many warriors had sacrificed their lives in this great war; it was impossible to list them all. After much discussion, it was decided to create this wall encompassing a variety of people, in memory of those unnamed heroes.
Walking through the passage to the square above, one can see lifelike statues of white marble standing erect, each with a unique form.
Based on the origins of these statues’ prototypes, they are divided into three camps of East Victory mainland, South Sea, and Miaojiang, arranged in concentric circles, divided into nine rings.
The outermost statues were the most numerous, representing the current Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors, among which there were even three extraordinary figures.
The closer you walk to the center, the fewer the statues, and the distinction between the camps from the three regions becomes more blurred.
In the fourth ring, the statue of Xin Zhuliu appeared. Below it, a four-sided stone wall provided a detailed introduction to Xin Zhuliu’s life.
In the third circle, the South Sea had the White Cloud Emperor, the Sun and Moon Emperor, and the Leisurely Martial Emperor, while the East Victory mainland featured figures such as the Illusion Orchid Tower Master, Hua Yiyun, and Ci Xin Yao.
The second circle contained only a few hundred statues, and one could easily find legendary masters like Xuanyuan Di, Liu Ruofei, the Heavenly Martial Emperor, Mu Yuanhao, the Undying Ancestor, each exuding an extraordinary aura, looking down upon the world, inspiring reverence.
As for the innermost circle, there were only six statues, which were noticeably larger than the eight outer circles and stood in a single line; however, upon closer inspection, one could see they actually formed two rows.
The five figures in the back row, from left to right, were Che Renzhong, Sect Leader of the Demon Exorcism Sect, Great Battles Emperor, Wind Wave Ancestor, and Spirit Ink Emperor.
The sculptures of these five, in their demeanor and temperament, bore a six to seven tenths resemblance to the actual persons, whether they were resolute and peerless, fierce and fiery, or immovable as mountains. Anyone who came here would be intimidated by the aura emanating from the statues.
But the most eye-catching part of Hero Mountain was the sculpture in front of these five figures.
This sculpture, standing at nine zhang and nine feet, with a fluttering robe and a long sword in hand, had a face that seemed chiseled from stone, decorated with eyes like cold stars, piercing straight ahead. It appeared like an unrivalled swordsman slicing through hordes of demons, slaying all evil, and vanquishing all foes with his moves.
Below it, on the stone wall, there was a text introduction.
"The Mountain Master of Nine Profound Mountain, the Great Villa Master of Divine Sword Villa, the unparalleled genius of East Victory, the premier swordsman—practiced martial arts from the age of fifteen, soared to the skies, undefeated from the start, ascended to the pinnacle of the martial world of East Victory at the age of sixty-seven..."
Beneath each sculpture, there was a name, but this one had none.
For in the eyes of those responsible for building Hero Mountain, to inscribe this person’s name would be a great disrespect. Given his tremendous contributions to East Victory, who had the right to call him by name?
In today’s world, anyone who saw the sculpture at the center of Hero Mountain would know who it represented. But, as the responsible parties thought, standing here, probably no one would dare to shout out that name.
Shi Xiaole!
Now, these three characters were no longer just a simple name but a faith, an inviolable sanctity!
Originally, there were quite a few people named Shi Xiaole in the world, but after the great war ended, those with this name felt immense pressure and unrest, and within a month, they hurriedly changed their names, finally finding some peace of mind.
It could be said that Shi Xiaole’s fame in the world of East Victory had reached the utmost peak a person could achieve, perhaps only comparable to the Holy Monarch from sixteen thousand years ago.
...
Inside the pit.
Countless people buried the bones of their relatives, friends, and mentors, erecting tombstones on the ground and weeping bitterly.
After the great battle, the dead were numerous, unrecognizable; less than one percent could actually be identified.
Thankfully, due to the Great Array of Bright, few mistook Outer Heaven people for their kin, but to find the remains of their own dear ones was incredibly difficult; most could only guess.
As long as the feeling in their hearts remained, those who had gone underground, certainly, would bear no grudge.
"Master, I’m leaving. Don’t worry, I will surely revive our sect and live up to your hopes during your lifetime."
"Farewell, my Senior Brothers and Sisters."
"Dad, Mom, I will visit you often."
"Husband, I will raise our child to adulthood."
That day, groups of martial artists left the pit, saying their tearful goodbyes, leaving behind forest after forest of towering tombstones. Beneath those markers, loyal souls and brave bones lay forever sealed as proof of the once-sung and wept for.
Many Elders and disciples from Nine Profound Mountain had perished. Shi Xiaole stood at the forefront with a solemn expression, sighing softly.
With war comes death; the only thing the living can do is seek vengeance for them, and then to never forget.
Most of the pit was emptied, but not everyone had left. After all, the Outer Heaven Demons had not been completely exterminated. To prevent their return, some people needed to stay behind.
After consultation between the major experts, a decision was made: each sect would allocate a number of experts to guard the area. From then on, people from each sect would rotate on a regular basis until the Outer Heaven Demons were thoroughly eradicated.
Thus, for a long time to come, the pit gradually developed an Array System, and a fledgling giant city emerged. The city wall almost bisected the pit, named East Victory City!
...
"Although we have achieved a temporary victory, the people from Outer Heaven will not give up easily. Sixteen thousand years ago, they deployed a group of Sky Origin Realm Supreme Lords, some of whom did not die in the battle."
Because of the great war, a number of peaks had formed around the pit, and atop the tallest peak, the current four strongest individuals of East Victory had gathered together.
Upon hearing Shi Xiaole’s words, the faces of the others underwent a dramatic change.
"Does the Great Villa Master mean that the Outer Heaven Demons have not yet used their full strength?"
Spirit Ink Emperor’s voice trembled slightly.
He didn’t think Shi Xiaole was being groundless. In fact, everyone had the same concern: sixteen thousand years ago, the people from Outer Heaven had sent their Supreme Lords; it made no sense that they wouldn’t have them this time.
Only, everyone deliberately avoided mentioning it because they were powerless to do anything.
"The spirit energy of heaven and earth is growing denser, and the capacity of East Victory to endure increases day by day. I fear it won’t be long before we see the emergence of Supreme Lords," Shi Xiaole said.
Spirit Ink Emperor inhaled sharply.
Great Battles Emperor asked, "If a Supreme Lord appears, does the Great Villa Master have a plan?"
Hearing this, Spirit Ink Emperor also fixed his gaze on Shi Xiaole, now having blind faith in him. If anyone in the world could save East Victory, it had to be Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole shook his head, "No, I’m no match for a Supreme Lord."
Dead silence fell over the mountain peak.
