Chapter 118: Chapter 118: The Monk Provides Disaster Relief
 

External Affairs Hall.

Zhou Yi erected a sign at the entrance.

——Inviting eight fellow sect members to subdue the Luoshui Serpent Demon, with a three-month deadline, the reward being five thousand spirit stones. The requirements are that the cultivators are at the Foundation Establishment Stage, obedient to commands, and well-versed in the ways of formation.

With short time, high remuneration, and no risk to safety, several true immortals soon stepped forward to inquire.

Zhou Yi took out a formation flag and had them try to activate it, quickly selecting two qualified individuals.

The Danding Sect was full of talented people, and in just half a day, Zhou Yi found eight Foundation Establishment true immortals skilled in formation.

After making a great oath of heart demons, Zhou Yi distributed a formation flag to each person and said, “This formation is called the Eight Gates Golden Lock, capable of trapping a false Core Formation cultivator. Once the serpent demon falls into it, no matter how exquisite its escape technique, it won’t be able to flee.”

“Junior Brother Zhu, the serpent demon is not strong; the difficult part is luring it into the formation.”

A fellow sect member asked, “The Luoshui River meanders for three to four thousand miles, and the serpent demon moves unpredictably and is good at hiding. In three months, we probably won’t even find its trace.”

“A few days ago, I heard from a friend who returned from Qing Kingdom that Tanzhou is suffering from a drought, with thousands of miles of barren land.”

Zhou Yi said, “The Luoshui River flows through Tanzhou, and during a drought, they are sure to hold a River God sacrifice, which is an excellent opportunity to slay the serpent demon.”

The eight fellow sect members suddenly realized and found the plan somewhat plausible, but they expected success without anticipating failure.

“Junior Brother Zhu, if we don’t find the serpent demon within three months, the spirit stones cannot be less.”

“Of course.”

Zhou Yi had been scheming ever since he learned that no one had completed the serpent demon task.

First, he spent more than a year refining the formation flags, then he consulted the county annals along the Luoshui River, collecting various rumors about the River God’s appearances, and waited three more years for the drought.

The time was ripe, it was time to slay the demon!

…

Daqing.

The thirty-second year of Taihe.

Tanzhou is stricken with a severe drought; disaster victims are everywhere.

The Emperor dispatched Imperial Censor Zhao Heng to provide relief, digging wells and canals, which proved very effective.

…

Tanzhou.

Nine escape lights flew across the sky, and as they approached the Luoshui River, they each used concealment spells.

Zhou Yi said, “That serpent demon has escaped several hunts; certainly, there must be its spies among the common people along the banks. Having spotted several escape lights passing through the sky, they would surely report to the serpent demon!”

Fellow sect member He asked, “The part of the Luoshui River in Tanzhou spans for hundreds of miles, how can you be sure where the serpent demon will appear, Junior Brother Zhu?”

Zhou Yi pointed down.

“Look at them.”

On the ground.

A group of ragged, emaciated, and weak villagers were being supervised by government officers to dig canals.

In the year of a severe drought, the water level of the Luoshui River had greatly dropped, and the original canals were ineffective, necessitating they be deepened and lengthened.

Imperial Censor Zhao Heng, around fifty or sixty years old with a clear and stern face, led the government officers to inspect the progress of the canal digging.

“The methods to combat the drought are nothing more than distributing life-saving food to the people, strictly preventing corruption among the officers, and organizing strong men to dig canals and wells! You who live on the royal stipend, must work together with all your might to help with the drought and save the disaster victims…”

While speaking, he made a few ceremonial digs himself, prompting many government officers to imitate him, praising Imperial Censor Zhao Heng for sharing the hardships with the people.

One of the officials skilled in poetry made several flattering poems in a row, ordering them to be carved into a stele and erected on the Luoshui Riverbank for later generations to admire.

In the sky.

Zhou Yi and the others hid among the clouds, watching from above the government officers’ actions, discussing amongst themselves.

“This canal’s length, even digging for three to five months might not bring the water, and by then it will be autumn and winter when irrigation isn’t even needed.”

“Not only that, but along the way here, many wells were dug with none showing water, yet the government officers are still urging people to dig!”

“This man looks like an honest official by appearance, so why waste so much manpower and resources?”

“…”

Elder Brother He said somberly, “Aren’t they constantly providing disaster relief?”

“Elder Brother He sees the bigger picture!”

Zhou Yi nodded and said, “The government officers must combat the disaster, so they cannot stop digging wells and canals, regardless of whether the people are saved or not. As long as they are fighting the disaster… they are the Imperial Court’s capable administrators!”

While speaking, he waved his hand to urge on a sword light, descending into a dry well.

“`

The Mystic Sword rotated as it pierced through more than twenty Zhang of soil, penetrated rock, and underground water burst forth.

The nearby villagers who were drilling wells and digging channels couldn’t help cheering as they saw streams of clear water erupting from the well.

“Water is coming out! Water is coming out!”

“Such sweet water!”

“It must be the blessing of the River God. Er Gouzi, do you still dare to curse the River God for not bringing rain?”

“I wouldn’t dare anymore, I’m going to offer incense to the River God right now!”

“…”

The appearance of water in a dried well was like a miracle. With tales of the River God along the banks of Luoshui River, the common folks naturally attributed it to the deity’s blessing.

Up in the heavens.

Brother He fell into a moment of contemplation before realizing, “Does Brother Zhu plan to provide disaster relief?”

“I was originally planning to find a suitable section of the river where disaster relief was ineffective and wait for the River God’s offering ceremony, but now it seems we need to take the initiative!”

Zhou Yi said, “Human blood and flesh are of no use to a great demon’s cultivation anymore. It’s either a matter of taste or for intimidating the common people. If there were only one place along both banks of Tanzhou where the River God is worshipped, the Serpent Demon might show up to maintain its authority.”

“An ingenious method indeed.”

His fellow disciples nodded in admiration. Once the Serpent Demon entered the Formation, it would have no chance of escape.

Brother He reminded, “If all the wells have water except for one that remains dry, that might arouse the Serpent Demon’s suspicion and all our efforts would be wasted.”

“Man proposes, Heaven disposes!”

Zhou Yi’s gaze swept across the common folk on the ground, “At the very least, we have relieved the people of Tanzhou. Even if the mission fails, we will have accrued some good karma.”

One of his fellow disciples commented, “That good karma doesn’t come cheap. Forty thousand Spirit Stones could be enough for Qing Kingdom to change a few emperors.”

Zhou Yi said with disdain, “What do I need that for? Toiling and moiling without the freedom to enjoy life?”

“How interesting!”

His fellow disciples looked at Zhou Yi with eyes that had shifted from seeing a mere transaction to a mix of admiration and appreciation, as to whether they secretly cursed him for being foolishly orthodox, that remained unknown.

They subsequently split into eight streaks of escaping lights, flying in all directions, casting spells to pierce the soil layers wherever they found a dried well.

Being at the Foundation Establishment Stage might not mean much within the Qi Refining sect but placed in the secular world, these cultivators are akin to true sovereigns of the state. This was probably the first time in the history of Qing Kingdom that Foundation Establishment cultivators had taken part in disaster relief.

…

In Yanhe Village.

In a humble civilian courtyard.

Niu Dazhu’s face beamed with joy as he locked the front gate and approached the shrine of the River God in the main hall.

He lit the Soul-igniting Incense and formed a spell with his hands.

“Reporting to our God, in three days, the villagers plan to offer you a sacrifice of boys and girls…”

Niu Dazhu was a mere mortal with a Spirit Root talent, meticulously selected by the Serpent Demon and taught a rudimentary cultivation technique.

The prayer followed the rising smoke of the incense, merging into the clay River God statue which gradually came to life, its lips moving as if speaking.

“If you devote yourselves faithfully, I shall indeed bring rain!”

“We bid our God farewell!”

Niu Dazhu bowed three times and kowtowed nine times, only rising to his feet once the incense had burned out.

At this moment, an unfamiliar voice reached Niu Dazhu’s ears.

“Are you still human?”

Niu Dazhu instinctively tried to harness his mana, but several rays of spiritual light flew towards him, sealing his meridians and Dantian.

Two figures appeared out of thin air, Zhou Yi and Brother He.

Brother He said, “Brother Zhu’s speculation is correct. The Qi Refining cultivator hidden near Luoshui River is indeed an underling of the Serpent Demon.”

After more than half a month of relief efforts, the drought situation in Tanzhou had significantly improved with only the area around Yanhe Village still not seeing a drop. Zhou Yi and his fellow disciples divided the regions, their Divine Sense sweeping over everyone. These cultivators with their rudimentary techniques and shallow mana couldn’t hide from detection.

Niu Dazhu’s expression shifted as he asked, “Are you the immortals from the legends?”

Zhou Yi replied, “We are not immortals, just cultivators here to subdue demons.”

“Subdue demons? There are no demons here, only the River God of Luoshui!”

The fear in Niu Dazhu’s expression vanished, and he questioned with a raised voice, “The River God has protected the Luoshui River banks for dozens of years, bringing rain to relieve droughts and saving countless lives. You cultivators, always so high and mighty, I have never seen anyone of you cast spells to help!”

Zhou Yi fell silent and slowly spoke.

“That is no reason to sacrifice boys and girls!”

“`