Chapter 277
During war, under the oppressive influence of this vast cloud formation, other paths would be suppressed to varying degrees.
The paths under the Lamp's Principle were suppressed particularly severely, while the paths related to the Forge Principle were the opposite—they were also severely affected before the Fourth History, but after World War I, the suppression became negligible.
By the time World War II broke out, Authority Path even inadvertently fueled the development of the Forge Principle.
This is, of course, thanks to the September Archon · Skyflint.
But Hebe did it even better.
She used the Heavenly Demon Path under the Cup Principle to create the influence of the Authority Path of the Blade Principle.
The pale clouds moved forward, while Tianshi charged ahead, unleashing a storm and rain of arrows powerful enough to cover the entire Kurukshetra.
"How could this happen? How could things have turned out like this!"
Arjuna wailed as he fired arrows with all his might, but could barely withstand the attacks of the Tianshi.
"Because this is your destiny, Partha."
Krishna drove his chariot, circling the center of the battlefield in a semi-circular arc.
"What did you say?"
Arjuna roared, "I can't hear you!"
"I said, this is your fate."
Krishna's voice rang calmly in his ear, "You think all this is happening too fast? Absolutely, because according to the original history, you were going to lose everything in that gamble."
Krishna casually picked up the vajra beside him and smashed it down on the head of the warrior charging diagonally towards him.
His voice remained steady, like a calm lake, yet the profound meaning it conveyed sent chills down one's spine.
"Madhava, what are you talking about... what established history?"
Arjuna's voice trembled.
"—Don't you understand, Partha?"
Krishna smirked, "After that gamble where you lost everything, you will be forced to live in anonymity and wander for thirteen years."
The splattered blood, flesh, and bone fragments brushed past Arjuna's eyebrows and eyes, stinging his eyes.
"... After the exile ended, you went to war with the Kuru Dynasty. Friends and relatives turned against each other, good friends killed good friends, and blood relatives slaughtered blood relatives."
The mutilated head fell before Arjuna's eyes like a ripe fruit, crashing to the ground and turning into a pulp.
"After that, King Yudhishthira abdicated again. You five brothers went on a pilgrimage to the Snow Mountain Pure Land, and one by one you died."
Krishna whip. "Partha, you will die by the roadside like a wild dog, as will your brothers. In the end, only through Yudhishthira can you reach the gates of the Snow Mountain Pure Land."
Why... why?
Arjuna asked hoarsely, "Why is all this going on forever?"
"Because this is the Dharma, and long ago, Bharata's Dharma was corrupted."
Hebe's voice rang out on the battlefield.
Another chariot roared in, and riding in it was none other than Karna, carrying a bow and spear.
The warriors clashed with each other, while in front of the two chariots, the two "charioteers" also looked at each other.
"Vyasa".
Krishna said with a deep gaze.
"Eris".
Hebe spoke calmly.
"I never expected you to call me by that name."
Krishna smirked. "Is this a reminder to someone—that the outcome of this battle is already decided, no matter what?"
Hebe raised an eyebrow slightly.
The outcome was indeed decided long ago, but the cause of this result was the August Archon · Remnant Wolf.
When He chose to tear Himself apart, Eris was also affected, and the Swarm split apart as a result.
—Some of them remained in the future after Third World War.
The part that symbolizes power remains trapped in this Lostbelt.
Eris certainly did not die from this; He was not even injured.
But the longer time goes on, the greater the risk of conflict and division there is for the Swarm that has been divided into two parts.
Moreover, Hebe and the other ruling parties would not let go of this opportunity to kick a man when he's down.
That's why Eris was so eager to push for the Kuru War.
Just as Hebe had a reason to do so, so did Eris.
Chapter 328 Snow Mountain Pure Land.
The present world.
Cathay, a high-altitude snowy region.
The sun shone brightly through the clouds, illuminating the snow-covered, verdant grasslands; the compassionate wind fluttered the five-colored prayer flags along the roadside, and the seed syllable of the six-syllable mantra was carved on a white boulder.
Led by their guides, the tourists walked slowly along the newly built road—the high altitude of the Snowy Plateau is undoubtedly a tough challenge for the residents of eastern and southern Cathay.
After crossing a mountain pass, the tour guide stopped, pointed to the snow-capped mountains in the distance, and smiled.
"We've arrived."
The tourists were immediately invigorated and quickened their pace, standing beside the tour guide and exclaiming in amazement.
How beautiful! How magnificent!
A middle-aged man sighed.
"Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Supreme World Honored One -Honored One, Namo Manjushri Bodhisattva..."
Among the tourists, those who believed in Buddhism knelt on the ground and worshipped devoutly.
The tour guide, who had lived on the Snowy Plateau since childhood, remained silent, gazing instead at the distant snow-capped mountains shimmering with golden light.
The tourists kneeling on the ground found it strange. "Guide Sangzhu, we've seen pilgrims kneeling and worshipping all along the way, but why are you behaving like this... this..."
The tour guide chuckled and pointed to the snow-covered palace, which was equally sacred and white in the sunlight.
What do you think this palace is?
A devout woman clasped her hands together and said, "Of course, it's a sacred place that can purify the body and mind."
"This is the oldest Demon King's Castle, which has existed since the age of mythology. Until half a century ago, the Bodhisattva who was sent to defeat the Demon King saved this place, and now it is a scenic spot that ordinary people can freely visit."
The tour guide said.
He stretched out his wrist, revealing a string of colorful beads on his rough skin.
"What's this?"
A tourist asked.
"This is Tianzhu."
A knowledgeable tourist burst out laughing, "How can this be Tianzhu? Tianzhu are gemstones with eye-like patterns. This is clearly just a rubber-coated electrical wire."
"Yes."
The tour guide took the string of Tianzhu made of discarded electrical wires off his hand, saying, "But these are Tianzhu."
"This is because these are leftover power lines from when the Snowy Plateau first electrified decades ago, which we have braided into this shape."
"It is Tianzhu."
The tour guide repeated for the third time, "Because it brought us light."
Bharata's Lostbelt.
Just as Hebe was about to speak, Tianshi's furious roar came from not far away.
He was stopped by the Drona father and son.
Of course, Ashvasena was only responsible for clearing out the miscellaneous soldiers on the battlefield; the main force fighting against Tianshi was still the great Brahmin Drona.
"Master Drona! The Kuru Dynasty has treated you well, don't you feel ashamed?"
"Tianshi to be regent! I am Brahmin, and I rely on the supreme Dharma of the World Honored One."
Drona dodged the arrow that came straight at him, saying, "All of this is the result of my own hard work, so how can I not feel at ease?!"
"... He deserves to die! He deserves to die!"
Unable to win an argument with Drona, Tianshi could only vent his frustration through pure violence.
Along with the wrath of the Tianshi, he felt his spirit resonating with this vast plain. The lingering wishes, grief, and tears that had haunted this place for so many years were boiling over because of the same spirit.
The fog churned and rolled, and before anyone knew it, an old man with white hair and beard, his hair tied up and his shoulders bare, appeared on the warhorse beside Tianshi.
The old man's face was filled with hatred, and two lines of hideous bloody tears streamed down his empty eyes.
He raised his hand and, without any warning, shot an arrow at the Ashvasena.
"The Immortal Jiyu?!"
Drona had just dodged the rain of arrows from the Tianshi and was completely focused when he witnessed this horrifying scene.
What shocked him even more was that the one who shot this fatal arrow was actually a great sage who had died long ago in the Vedic Age.
"Ashvasena neighing! Get out of the way!"
Drona roared at the top of his lungs.
But the Immortal Jiyu's Vedic Archery was too exquisite; the gray-black arrow pierced through light and sound, about to strike Ashvasena's head and heart simultaneously.
At that moment, Tianshi unleashed another devastating barrage of arrows, forcing Drona to tumble away in a very sorry state.
You should worry about yourself first!
When Drona looked up again, he didn't see the heartbreaking scene.
An old man with a bristling beard and hair was glaring angrily at the Immortal Jiyu.
His gaunt body seemed to hold a sorrow that transcended time.
"My Immortal Zhongyou..."
Drona was amazed.
The great immortal who should have passed away in the previous era has also appeared here.
Yes, this Kurukshetra was originally formed by the deadly battle between the two great immortals, Zhongyou and Jiyu!
The two immortals, who should have been dead, exchanged a glance and then vanished simultaneously.
Hebe turned his head and met Krishna's gaze.
"Exquisite."
Krishna's voice was slightly hoarse, "So you've taken away the spirits of your friends..."
"I didn't expect that the Immortal Jiyu wasn't your pawn."
Hebe retaliated.
"That's it now."
Krishna answered.
Both Arjuna and Karna were inexplicably shocked.
It turns out that their "coachman" had already used the two immortals as chess pieces in the first round of the game!