Chapter 2284

This Xian Sect chose literary debate over martial combat, showing they have foresight. He Lingchuan's eyes flickered slightly: "A few days ago, Zhu Xiuer captured a sky centipede stealing xuanjing in the mining town of Tongyue Mountain—it was dispatched by Qixia Sect. It identified Qixia Sect's garrison as being on Guyey Mountain."

I also heard Zhu Xiuer mention that they would bring the sky centipede along this time to have it identify the sect's location. Liu Qingdao nodded: "For this operation, Qixia Sect had stockpiled considerable xuanjing beforehand. Their actions are indeed more organized than those of other Xian Sects."

He Lingchuan instructed: "Send a few more monsters skilled in water and earth evasion techniques so I can clearly see what magical artifact Qixia Sect is using to cut off the flow!"

……

In the Wei'ancheng section of the Luo River, the water level has essentially reached its lowest point.

A city of a million people suddenly losing its water supply is no laughing matter—order within the city collapsed instantly.

Residents, merchants, and livestock all need water,

and production, transportation, and commercial activities cannot function without it.

Aside from during the Dragon God War several years ago, Wei'ancheng has never faced such hardship.

Even if water teams were organized to fetch water from the Lu River forty or fifty li away, for Wei'ancheng it would be like trying to extinguish a cartload of fire with a cup of water—utterly futile in alleviating immediate thirst.

This matter is of great importance; Cangyan will have a proper discussion with the instigator.

When Liu Qingdao arrived at the northern gate of Wei'ancheng, he saw the Luo River had already exposed its mid-river stone—a bluish-black boulder resembling a giant turtle, with tail and legs, and a tuft of dark red atop its head.

This mid-river stone is also known as the drought stone; whenever it appears, it signals the arrival of drought.

However, this time it is man-made disaster, not natural calamity.

The riverbanks were lined with citizens, their faces etched with anxiety. Liu Qingdao also saw a long convoy at the northern city gate preparing to travel several dozen li to the Lu River to fetch water. Authorities also used various storage spaces to transport water, but for a city with over a million inhabitants, it was far from sufficient.

Moreover, river transport on the Luo River is crucial—daily, vast quantities of goods should be shuttled between Bingjiang and the Luo River, then distributed nationwide. Now, everything is blocked downstream of Bingjiang, unable to move, and who knows how much trade has been severed out of nowhere.

After assessing Wei'ancheng's situation, Liu Qingdao rushed to the incident site:

Bingjiang.

The flood season is approaching; the narrowest stretch of Bingjiang's surface has already exceeded eighty zhang in width. Normally, the river rushes forward, with part of its flow entering the Lu River and another part entering the Luo River.

Liu Qingdao also wanted to see exactly what method Qixia Sect used to block the upper reaches of the Luo River!

Now that Cangyan's spiritual energy is abundant and powerful, Liu Qingdao finds it hard to imagine that Qixia Sect's artifacts could withstand a coordinated assault by military forces.

Yet when he reached the junction of Bingjiang and Luo River, he was genuinely startled:

What should have been a rippling river channel has now "grown" a mountain!

This mountain is not tall—only thirty-five zhang—but it more than suffices to block the river. Its width exceeds fifty zhang, and its length? It has just connected with the two mountains flanking the riverbank, seamlessly joining to form a colossal mountain barrier!

The river water reaching this point finds no opening; helpless, it is forced to carve a large backflow bend, rushing toward the Lu River.

"Truly a masterful method."

Wei'ancheng will not stand idly by—it has already dispatched two Jin Jia divine generals to dig frantically at the mountain, hoping to re-excavate the river channel.

He Lingchuan, who previously lacked the funds to construct Jin Jia divine generals, can now easily produce two for an entire city, and these war machines, instead of being deployed on the battlefield, are here serving as laborers.

These two colossi stand over five zhang tall—one has fists comparable to boulders, delivering punch after punch against the mountain, its effect akin to blasting, aiming to loosen the soil layers; the other has hands as large as shovel buckets, lowering its head to dig, dig, dig into the mountain.

The two Jin Jia divine generals work in seamless coordination, their efficiency remarkably high—clearly, their operators are masters.

Trying to excavate a large mountain, human artisans' efficiency is too low; nothing compares to the Jin Jia divine generals.

The garrison commander of Wei'ancheng's outer walls was already on site; Liu Qingdao asked him: "How long have you been digging?"

"More than a day, without a single moment of rest." The garrison commander was also anxious beyond measure, "But this mountain grows too fast—whatever the Jin Jia divine generals dig, it regenerates just as much."

After observing here for over two moments, Liu Qingdao discovered that no matter how hard the two Jin Jia divine generals labor, this mountain simply cannot be leveled.

They dig on one side, while the mountain grows on the other.

"What about Qixia Sect?" Liu Qingdao asked the garrison commander, "Didn't I tell you to bring the sky centipede to find the sect's garrison?"

This mountain is difficult to excavate, so they must seek a solution at the source.

Sometimes, if you cannot solve the problem, you can solve the one who created it—the sect, that is.

"We took the sky centipede to Guyey Mountain, but found no entrance." The garrison commander shook his head, "We punished it, but it swore solemnly, pointing to a pit at the mountain's base and saying that was it."

The Blade Elder of Yingshan Sect arrived just then, having overheard this, and immediately said: "Perhaps it has been sealed."

"The entrance to a cave paradise is usually well concealed, often not just one—this is to guard against heavenly demons and foreign invaders." Liu Qingdao said, "Over the years, heavenly demons have scoured the world seeking immortal abodes. The latter, for their own safety, would hide the entrance's location, sometimes even those within the sect do not fully know it."

One function of spiritual energy is to pierce illusions. But some cave abodes become self-contained worlds; without finding the entrance, no one can enter.

"No wonder." No wonder Qixia Sect remains so calm—originally confident in their safety, they've settled in to outlast Wei'ancheng, waiting to see who breaks first.

"First, we must clarify what this mountain's foundation is." Liu Qingdao pondered, then turned and ordered: "Send Wu Chuanjia and the vortex worm to burrow into the mountain's base to investigate—pay attention to safety."

Wu Chuanjia is a colossal rhinoceros beetle, moving like an oversized mining cart, with a prominent horn on its forehead that makes tunneling through mountains effortless; the vortex worm, meanwhile, is a giant insect demon native to deserts and forests, innately skilled at digging.

The specialties of these two monsters are earth evasion and burrowing—they were specially recruited by the Bureau of Elemental Affairs.

Afterward, Liu Qingdao said: "Let's go—let's find Qixia Sect and talk."

Qixia Sect's move cut off Wei'ancheng's water supply, and they certainly have their own agenda.

Liu Qingdao returned once more to the Luo River, leapt onto the mid-river stone, where someone was already waiting for him.

It was a person in blue robes.

Liu Qingdao did not extend his hand, for he saw that this figure before him was merely an illusion, not a real human.

The Qixia Sect individuals are still hiding within their own barrier, merely using divine powers and artifacts to project an illusion here to negotiate with Cangyan.

If a True Person were to come in person, they would likely be surrounded instantly.

"State your name?"

Liu Qingdao smiled: "I am Liu Qingdao of the Huan Sect—Yuan Sect Master should still recognize me."

The name "Huan Sect" carries considerable weight; moments later, the blue-robed figure's image vanished from the mid-river stone, replaced by that of a gray-robed, white-bearded scholar.

"Elder Liu."

"Sect Master Yuan."

Both parties performed their respective rites of respect.