Chapter 53: A Thousand Miles of Scorched Earth

Even if Baie Hou wanted to investigate who destroyed the centipede spirit, it would still take some time to trace it back to me, so there is still some leisure time to prepare.

It really is chaotic, and my intelligence on this world is insufficient; I know very little about the Heavenly Court war and the disorder.

Thinking of this, Su Yuanshan pondered.

"Wen Qing, speaking of the disorder in the Heavenly Court, do you know the main reason for it? Why has it lasted for nearly ten thousand years? By this calculation, hasn't the Heavenly Court turmoil started since the Middle Ages?"

Wen Panguan nodded.

"What the Prefecture Lord says is correct. This human world is currently in the first year of Kaicheng. If we count backwards, let me see..."

He pinched his fingers to calculate.

"Da Feng, Taiyan, Chang Ping, Shangluo, Hongyan... a full two thousand four hundred and eighteen years! The Heavenly Court is gradually declining, while the various gods are becoming increasingly powerful. It can be said that the master is weak and the subjects are strong, and the tail is too big to wag. In this subordinate's view, this is the root of the disaster."

At this moment, Wu Panguan Zhai Burang interjected.

"Prefecture Lord, why should we worry about the affairs up there? In my view, we should think more about how to take over Tushan Xian. I heard that nine out of ten houses there are empty, fox spirits are everywhere, white bones are exposed in the wilderness, and for a thousand miles of scorched earth, there is not a single cock crow or dog bark. It can be called a human purgatory."

Su Yuanshan's eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Oh, why is that? Why is there a thousand miles of scorched earth?"

Wu Panguan Zhai Burang, with the official wings on his black gauze cap swaying slightly, flicked his bright red demon-deterring official robe, glanced at Ji Wenqing, and said in a muffled voice.

"You have to ask Old Ji about this; I heard it from him."

Su Yuanshan looked toward Ji Wenqing.

Ji Wenqing gently stroked the three strands of long black beard on his chest and said pedantically.

"Reporting to the Prefecture Lord, what Judge Zhai said is all true. For some unknown reason, this place has suffered from a long drought without rain, resulting in the suffering of the masses and a thousand miles of scorched earth!"

Su Yuanshan was somewhat surprised and asked with a frown.

"Bringing clouds and rain to nourish the people is the duty of the Rain-Master Dragon God. Why does he refuse to bring rain to Tushan Xian?"

"This..." Ji Wenqing gave a bitter smile.

"As far as this subordinate knows, the Heavenly Court does indeed have such regulations for the Dragon God's rainmaking. Which season and which day to rain, when to spread clouds, when to strike thunder, when to rain, when to stop, and how many feet, inches, and points of water to fall are all regulated. But for some reason... the Rain-Master Dragon God responsible for this Tushan Xian has not brought rain for many years.

It seems that if you want to get to the bottom of this, you will have to trouble the Prefecture Lord to go there in person. After all, Tushan Xian has already become your jurisdiction."

Su Yuanshan nodded slightly.

"You are right. It seems I must make a trip to Tushan."

In his ears was the whistling wind, and beneath his feet was the white mist! Looking out, the mountains and rivers were all in view.

This was the first time Su Yuanshan had performed this after being granted the 【Cloud-Raising】 divine office. Although it could not be counted as riding the clouds, he could at least ride the mist.

The little white fox lay curled up on the mist, looking around with a face full of excitement; it was clearly its first time riding the mist.

Also standing on the mist was Wu Panguan Zhai Burang, who was much more relaxed. He wore a black gauze cap with wings, a bright red evil-warding official robe, a large jade belt at his waist, and a demon-slaying sword hanging horizontally at his side. However, at this moment, he was sitting casually on the mist, sensing the movements around him.

Besides them, the Yinchai Xia Buqian also followed. Compared to Judge Zhai, he appeared much more reserved, standing respectfully to one side.

In fact, this was also his first time experiencing cloud-raising and mist-riding. Previously, when he traveled in all directions, he relied on ghostly winds, which were much slower than this.

After an unknown amount of time, Su Yuanshan said softly.

"We're here!"

The ghosts and gods looked down, and sure enough, the cracked earth was right before their eyes, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Rivers were dried up, the earth was split open, the mountains were barren, and withered grass and trees were everywhere. Only a few towering giant trees were still struggling to hold on; Su Yuanshan could even hear their cries and pleas in his heart.

Su Yuanshan could not help but sigh slightly. It was not just these plants; perhaps because this place had been assigned to him, as soon as he entered Tushan Xian, countless voices of pleading, praying, crying for help, and weeping emerged in his mind.

"City God, please save our family! Our family hasn't had water for three days, and we've even finished the dirty water we had stored!"

"Heavens, how is one supposed to live like this!"

"Old Heaven, please open your eyes..."

"Ten thousand forms and images are empty, reflecting water and hiding mountains, layer upon layer.

Infinite withered seedlings are about to perish, leisurely creating strange peaks. Haha, haha, is this what you immortals do? Answer me, immortal, answer me, Heaven!

In a year of great drought, corpses of the starved fill the fields. The civil cannot establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, the martial cannot establish a life for the people. What is the use of me reading these scriptures? What is the use! Oh, Heaven!"

Sounds of Buddhist chanting,

Sounds of great bells and drums.

These were the rain-praying ceremonies held by both Buddhist and Taoist followers. Whether they were Buddhist or Taoist disciples, they seemed to be trying their best to communicate with the gods, hoping for a heavy rain to resolve the crisis. But at this moment, their power of vows all drifted to Su Yuanshan and were absorbed by him.

He could sense the golden characters on the spirit bead inside his Spirit Void Ring beginning to emerge again, appearing in his mind.

"Vow Power +1"

"Vow Power +1"

"Incense +1"

"Incense +1"

Bitter pleas!

Devout prayers! They made his brow furrow slightly.

When he arrived above the Tushan Xian Chenghuang Miao and descended, landing on the roof ridge, what he saw was a sea of black heads. They were devout men and women who had come from all over. There were men and women, old and young, children who could barely walk or babble, and elderly people who were tottering and white-haired. Their only wish was to kowtow to him, this City God, and pray for him to bring rain to resolve this life-and-death crisis!

Some had traveled thousands of miles, kowtowing every step of the way, their heads bloody to show their sincere wishes. This scene made the little white fox's eyes fill with tears; it couldn't help but wipe them with its little paw and say in a low voice.

"Prefecture Lord, they are too miserable. Won't you bring down some rain to save them?"

Xia Buqian also spoke up.

"Yes, some time ago when I went to Tushan Xian on official business, the Yinchai of this county told me privately that there are many more wandering ghosts and puppets here than in previous years, mostly dead from hunger and cold, and thirst. It is indeed very miserable."

However, Wu Panguan Zhai Burang said in a muffled voice.

"That is incorrect. As the saying goes, life and death are fated, and wealth and honor are determined by Heaven. As law-enforcement gods of the Underworld, how could we let emotions sway our judgment and cause us to rain indiscriminately? Even if the Prefecture Lord holds the divine offices of 【Rainwater】 and 【Cloud-Raising】, he can only bring about a light, scattered drizzle that cannot resolve the drought here. To resolve this drought, it requires the Heavenly Emperor to issue a decree, the Three Officials to lift their brushes, and the Taiyi to transmit the order. Only with the assistance of the Thunder Duke, Lightning Mother, Wind Master, Cloud Youth, and Rain Uncle, and the Rain-Governing Dragon God in charge of this region, can a torrential downpour lasting several days be brought down!"

"Therefore, the most urgent matter at present, in my humble opinion, is to find the cause of the drought in Tushan Xian!"

Su Yuanshan nodded slightly.

"Judge Zhai's analysis is not without reason. It seems the key to resolving this crisis lies with this Rain-Governing Dragon God. I wonder which Dragon God is in charge of rain for Tushan Xian; I would like to meet him... Hm?"