92: A Taoist priest requests an audience with the God of the Jingyue River! Open the altar! Pray for rain!
That night.
The heat wave receded, and the cool evening breeze drew in the clouds, plunging the entire world into darkness.
The deep night covered the mountains and forests, from which rustling sounds could be heard.
At the edge of the Taihang Mountains.
Several Monkey Demons arrived at the riverside outside the jungle, carrying baskets of various spirit fruits.
They cautiously and furtively surveyed their surroundings.
“Little Carp, we're here. Come out quickly.”
One of the Monkey Demons took a few fruits from its bosom and threw them all into the river water.
With a “plop.”
The spirit fruits suddenly disappeared, and a light Yellow Carp appeared, complaining to the Monkey Demon in front of it, “They're a bit sour.”
The carp's name is Yellow Jade, a minor demon taken in by the Jingyue River God, serving as her personal maid.
“Alright, the Mistress will definitely give you a few of these fruits. Hurry and take them back, don't keep our Mistress waiting anxiously.”
The Monkey Demons put all the fruits into the river water and handed several Jade Bottles to the carp.
“The Great King asked me to pass on a message: Be frugal with these newly refined Spirit Pills, as one of the main ingredients is running low!”
“Got it.” The carp opened its mouth to spit out several letters, adding, “It hasn't been peaceful around here lately, you should leave quickly.”
With that, the Yellow Carp flipped over and, using a water Spell, wrapped up the numerous spirit fruits and dove into the riverbed, disappearing from sight.
“Hey, did you guys notice? Why does the river seem much shallower?”
“It really is. Alright, hurry up and go, it would be terrible if someone saw us!”
The Monkey Demons didn't linger and quickly scurried into the jungle.
On the other side.
Yellow Jade sped along the entire way, not daring to waste a single moment.
Before long.
She returned to the Immortal Cave at the bottom of the Jingyue River.
“Master, I have brought back all the spirit fruits.”
Before she finished speaking.
The entrance to the Immortal Cave instantly opened, and a young girl with two long braids standing up behind her head, a delicate face, and a slight baby fat on her cheeks suddenly appeared beside Yellow Jade.
“This... *gasp*... This Young Lady... *gasp*... was starving!”
The Jingyue River God, sporting a slightly bulging belly, held three spirit fruits in one hand, and had already eaten two Vermillion Fruits while speaking.
“Master, only two hours have passed since you last ate spirit fruits!”
Yellow Jade reminded her from the side.
“What do you know?”
The Jingyue River God shook her head, ate the remaining spirit fruit in her hand, and then said, “This Young Lady is troubled right now!”
“Troubled about what?” Yellow Jade looked at the spirit fruits piled up next to her, wondering if the River God's appetite had grown again.
“Yunzhou is suffering a great drought, and Fengyang is no exception. Haven't you noticed that the water in our Jingyue River has started to decrease?”
The Jingyue River God casually picked up a bottle of Spirit Pills, tossed one into her mouth, and chewed vigorously as if eating candy beans.
As the Spirit Pill entered her mouth, the worry on her pretty face lessened considerably.
“Many, many people might die. I really don't understand what those fellows in the Fengxian Division are thinking!”
The River God Girl continued, “The banks of our Jingyue River are still okay; people can survive on fish catches. But I heard people are starving to death in other places.
The crucial thing is, if this continues, the refugees will start moving around, and the villages along the riverbanks will likely suffer.
If they suffer, no one will offer sacrifices to This Young Lady, and then This Young Lady will suffer too, understand?”
“If things get truly bad, we can go into the mountains. Didn't you say the Crouching Dragon Pool is quite large?” Yellow Jade comforted her.
“Do you think This Young Lady doesn't want to? It's just that the time isn't right... going there would cause him trouble.”
As the Jingyue River God said this, a hint of yearning and sorrow appeared in her bright, jewel-like eyes.
However, as the Spirit Pill entered her mouth, it instantly vanished again.
“The Great King said that the main ingredient for these Spirit Pills is scarce lately, and asked you to be frugal when eating them,” Yellow Jade reminded her upon seeing this.
“Wrong, Yu'er, you are completely wrong.” The Jingyue River God shook her head, her two braids stirring the river water. “You must remember, it's not that I want to eat; it's that the child is too greedy. Do you understand?”
Yellow Jade said nothing more, turned around, and began moving the spirit fruits into the Immortal Cave.
And just then.
“Li Xuanxiao of Miaozhen Daoist Temple requests an audience with the Jingyue River God!”
A voice traveled from above the river surface down to the bottom.
“Li Xuanxiao?” The Jingyue River God raised her head, took a bite of a fruit, and suddenly found the name somewhat familiar.
At the same time.
Under the moonlight, beside the Jingyue River bank, a Daoist with graying temples stood quietly, carrying a long sword on his back.
Li Xuanxiao had previously been severely wounded while fighting the evil female corpse in Jiangning Village, so he simply stayed in Yunzhou to recover.
His injuries had just healed a few days ago, but after leaving seclusion, he encountered a great drought in the Northern Region.
He knew well that if Cultivators did not intervene in such a natural disaster, several areas in Yunzhou would turn into a living Hell.
Li Xuanxiao immediately went to see the City God and the local Land God, questioning why they weren't using Spells to bring rain, but they all refused to see him.
Seeing the situation where people were Resorting to Cannibalism, Li Xuanxiao, bound by Daoist morality, could not stand idly by.
Therefore, he made a decision.
The rain that the City God and Land God dare not bring, this Daoist Master will bring!
Even if the Imperial Court investigates, death is the worst that can happen.
All he sought in this life was peace of mind.
How could the Dao Heart be swayed by life and death?
The Daoist school possesses the Art of Bringing Rain, but to increase the intensity of the rain, one needs to find a place rich in water essence.
The Jingyue River was naturally the first choice.
However, Li Xuanxiao was worried that seizing the water essence here would be obstructed by the Jingyue River God, so he specifically came to inform her.
Splash---
Water waves rippled, and the River God poked half her head out from under the water, staring warily at Li Xuanxiao, asking, “What do you want?”
“Li Xuanxiao greets the River God.”
Li Xuanxiao respectfully cupped his hands and bowed, saying, “I wish to perform the Art of Bringing Rain here...”
He explained everything thoroughly and said seriously, “Please rest assured, River God. I am not asking you to take action; I merely hope that you do not interfere.”
“You Daoist, are you perhaps looking for death?”
The River God Girl stared at Li Xuanxiao, her eyes filled with surprise and doubt.
It is a capital offense for the City God and Land God to bring rain without authorization, and the same applies to Cultivators.
If discovered, the light punishment is having their cultivation crippled, severing their Path to Immortality forever.
The heavy punishment is being directly imprisoned in the Zhenyu Division, where death is preferable to life!
“Humans are destined to die anyway,” Li Xuanxiao said calmly. “Rather than living a constrained life, it's better to die a quick and satisfying one.”
“...What a lunatic.”
The Jingyue River God looked at Li Xuanxiao, suddenly raised her hand, and tossed out a spirit fruit. “This is for you. Just stay far away from my Immortal Cave when the time comes.”
A splash of water rose, and the River God Girl vanished.
Li Xuanxiao looked at the spirit fruit in his hand, the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes crinkling as he suddenly smiled.
“Thank you, River God.”
The Old Daoist tucked the fruit into his bosom and turned to leave.
era name Twenty-First Year.
The seventh day of the fifth lunar month.
Li Xuanxiao, a Wandering Daoist from Miaozhen Daoist Temple, set up an Altar in Fengyang County, Yunzhou, to perform rites and pray for rain!
The common people personally witnessed the Old Daoist standing on the Altar holding a Ritual Sword, Bleeding from Seven Orifices, and as his figure swayed, the long sword in his hand stirred up the wind and clouds.
On that day, Black Clouds covered the sky around Fengyang County, Yunzhou, the rain poured down heavily, and the fierce wind howled!