Food System in Cultivation World

On Xiaofeng Mountain, beside the Water Mirror.

While the Ugly Monkey kept exclaiming "Ouch", the upheaval in the Northern Border was still rapidly unfolding.

As many disaster victims were flooded and drowned, someone on the shore cried out:

"Heavens! What Heaven River descends, what Immortal spirits? This is clearly the arrival of an evil star! This is cursed water, it's Yellow Springs! Help, help..."

The disaster victims crouched on the ground, rolling and crawling backward.

Their cries infected countless others around them, and in an instant, more victims panicked and wailed, one after another.

Voices connected, filled with resentment: "Heavens! How cruel you are, when we begged for rain, you didn't send any; now that we're about to die of thirst, you send us cursed water.

This water drowns people, we don't want this water!"

"Heavens, you're too late, hahaha... My father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, my wife and children... all died of thirst, only I remain.

Your water comes again and again, I'm not interested! I am filled with such hatred."

"Wuuu wuuu wuuu..."

Amid the cries, the wide water channel, which had been raging and turbulent, suddenly saw its water level drop sharply.

Whoosh——

In a flash, the surging torrents flowed as if absorbed by infinite grains of sand, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"Ah! The water is gone, the water, the water is gone, wuuu wuuu wuuu..."

Some victims screamed in agony, some laughed maniacally.

The entire Northern Border, from top to bottom, from sky to ground, was filled with despair at this moment.

It was as if a giant abyss enveloped the world, and every living creature in the Northern Border, regardless of who they were, couldn't escape.

Even the Great Demons native to the Northern Border, like the Wolf King or Serpent King, or powerful outsiders like Wen Daoyuan, Chen Xu, seemed powerless in the face of such a situation.

Scorching heat and drought engulfed the world; water couldn't penetrate, rain couldn't stay, even Great Demons found it hard to endure the thirst.

The Drought Demon was formless, and eliminating a few of its avatars was far from solving the issue.

Not to mention eliminating three or five, even eliminating thirty or fifty, or even three or five hundred, as long as this land continued to reject water, the problem would remain unsolvable.

Suddenly, Wen Daoyuan's expression changed, and he suddenly lifted his palm, grabbing at an old man who was still laughing maniacally among the victims across the air.

Bang!

With that grasp, a puff of black smoke erupted from the old man's body.

Then, a green-black ghost head emerged from the old man's neck, screeching:

"I am full of hatred, I am full of hatred, I refuse the water from the heavens, I've died of thirst, why should the heavens still send water? Waa waa waa... ah!"

Boom——

Wen Daoyuan struck with a bolt of lightning, angrily cursing: "What a vile Ghost of Resentment, resenting heaven and earth, deceiving people and harming lives."

As the lightning descended, the Ghost of Resentment tried to escape, but how could it be faster than the Great Scholar's golden lightning?

Amidst terrifying screeches, the ghost body burned to ash while fleeing.

Thus, the cries and wails at the scene fell silent.

The disaster victims no longer screamed or ran wildly, but the grand canal project, which had been in full swing, had to pause.

The South-to-North Water Diversion, though a magnificent plan.

But if the Northern Border couldn't hold any water, how could the water system of the Southern Border flow over?

Even if the Southern Border had abundant water reserves, facing such vast drought grounds, they would be helpless.

The greatest fear is insisting on diverting water from the Southern Border.

If the endless consumption of the arid land of the Northern Border causes water scarcity in the Southern Border, bringing drought from the north to the south, where in this world could there be a pure land left?

In the dry river channel, Shimmering Star Lake Water Monarch Bai Cang raised his serpent head and hissed softly.

A flash of white light, and this Great Demon transformed into a scholar dressed in ancient attire. He floated in the air, gazing at the craggy and vast land ahead, sighing silently.

The Wolf King, now in the form of a burly man, scratched his furry ear and spoke in a muffled voice from the riverway: "Alas, are we still digging this canal?"

This question challenged everyone present.

At the same time, the Emperor of Jade Capital Celestial City was finally persuaded by Liu Shao to decide to deploy the Xing Tian Guard to travel north and south, assisting Wen Daoyuan and Chen Xu in executing the South-to-North Water Diversion.

However, the Emperor's decree was far too slow.

Although the Xing Tian Guard was directly under the Emperor's command, now its internal personnel were occupied by various aristocratic families, already riddled with factions.

As a result, numerous conflicts arose over whom to dispatch, whom to select, whom to direct in which direction.

And Liu Shao, the apparent treacherous minister and power-wielding chancellor, on the contrary, showed extreme respect and cooperation before the Emperor in the Xuanhui Palace.

Not only did he not hinder or make difficulties, but on the contrary, at first glance, it would even give the impression that Liu Shao was a loyal minister, fiercely loyal!

Wang Zhen observed it all, feeling even more alarmed.

It should be known that Liu Shao's previous behavior wasn't like this.

No, that's not right either.

In the past, when the Emperor summoned Liu Shao alone, the attendant was not Wang Zhen but another chief eunuch, Shi Chunping.

And recently, when Shi Chunping claimed illness, he had been recuperating at the Regent's Office.

Therefore, what transpired when the Emperor summoned Liu Shao alone, Wang Zhen hadn't actually known.

Only because of Liu Shao's formidable reputation in the Imperial Court, manipulating power with awe-instilling conduct, did Wang Zhen subconsciously think Liu Shao must appear treacherous before the Emperor.

But in reality, Liu Shao was not.

Wang Zhen realized he had uncovered a unique secret.

Yet, for some reason, Wang Zhen felt not joy for uncovering more secrets, but rather an increasing trepidation within.

Why did Shi Chunping fall ill just at this time?

Will his illness be cured?

Could this old rival come back from the Regent's Office to return before the throne?

While Wang Zhen was filled with endless alarm, the latest news came from outside.

The visitor was the star-gazing officer of the Directorate of Celestial Observations, Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu hurriedly came, nervously speaking:

"Your Majesty, Master Wen and his entourage are blocked on the Jingheng Road. Although the canal has been developed, the Southern water cannot be diverted to the Northern Border.

Even if it is diverted, the rushing river water instantly seeps underground and dries up without a trace.

This Southern water diversion, I'm afraid there's no solution at all! I implore Your Majesty for a clear verdict, and guidance."

With Zhang Yu's words, the entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Wang Zhen held his breath, hardly daring to exhale. Due to extreme tension, he even forgot to be surprised by Zhang Yu's words about the "unsolvable Southern water diversion".

Perhaps, Wang Zhen was already psychologically prepared for this.

After all, the drought in the Northern Border has had the Imperial Court and various masters taking turns to try countless methods to solve the drought.

If it couldn't be solved before, why could it be solved now?

Wang Zhen sighed in his heart.

Only to hear the Emperor also sigh, saying:

"Enough, I anticipated this. Had the drought in the Northern Border been easily solved, it wouldn't have been dragged on until today.

This Chen Xu, his writing is exceptional, his cultivation is astonishing, definitely among the top in the world, yet ultimately too young, prone to assumptions.

Master Wen was also deceived by him, stirred by his provocations.

Thus, with such fervent enthusiasm, he ventured both North and South, engaging in this grand endeavor. Consuming countless physical strength, energy, mana, alas...

With this Southern water diversion failing, I'm afraid Master Wen's Dao Heart will be damaged, his cultivation may decline, and his lifespan may be shortened.

Oh dear, Liu Shao, quickly dispatch the Xingtian Guards to the Northern Border to support Master Wen; we can't leave Master Wen stranded injured and without aid..."

Just as these words were uttered.

Yet suddenly, a vast voice resounded throughout heaven and earth: "I am Wen Daoyuan, and now I vow by the Dao, sacrificing my achievements to assist fellow Daoist Chen Xu.

Shed the essence blood of the dragon, offering to the eternal river of heaven and earth!"

That voice came from the distant skies of Jingheng Road, vast and rolling, as if carried by heavenly winds.

The Jade Capital Celestial City is located at the very center of the Jingji Road, and is actually not far from Jingheng Road.

The reason why the Sixteen States of Beijiang suffered drought while the Jingji Road remained unaffected is due to the special status of the Jingji Road, protected by the national fate.

Yet at this moment, while the Emperor asserts the failure of the Southern water diversion in Xuanhui Hall, Wen Daoyuan is actually conducting a Dao ceremony in the Northern Border!

Everyone present, regardless of their depth of scheming, at this moment showed a drastic change in expression.

The Great Scholar conducts a Dao ceremony, heaven and earth resonate.

Henceforth, Wen Daoyuan's voice was not limited to being transmitted above the Jade Capital Celestial City.

Throughout the world, wherever any creature with knowledge of "Wen Daoyuan" existed, they could hear his voice.

And how many people in the Great Li are unaware of the Great Scholar's name?

And perhaps not only the Great Li.

In the north of Yin Mountain, the Five Barbarian Tribes' heavenly kingdom too heard this voice, equally shaken.

A Shijie Chanyu emerged from the grand tent, exclaiming to the heavens: "I have long heard of the severe drought in the northern border of Great Li, with possible dangers of national collapse, thus I've forbidden the tribes to send troops, waiting for its complete decline.

Could it be, this kingdom indeed has salvation?"

A herdsman knelt on the ground, murmuring in prayer: "Li Kingdom suffers great drought, may it not invade my tribe, O Holy Spirit in heaven, preserve my Uge Grassland..."

In the Jade Capital Celestial City, within the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor could not hear the voices of the Five Barbarian Tribes, only knew that upon Wen Daoyuan's words falling, suddenly a sound of rain pattering rang in his ears.

Whoosh, rumble—

This was a heavy rain, suddenly arriving, pouring over the entire Sixteen States of Beijiang!

Even the Jingji Road, also located in the Northern Border, was now experiencing heavy rainfall.

Within the Imperial Palace, when rain arrived, countless eunuch and palace maid could not restrain their cheers.

"It's raining! Heaven - it is raining, so wonderful..."

"Oh, it's raining, heavy rain, hahaha!"

Bear in mind, since the drought in the Northern Border, although the Jingji Road did not suffer from riverbed drying, pool drainage, well depletion, over these few months, Jingji Road too actually had no rainfall.

Heaven and earth did not bring rain, yet there were masters previously invoking winds and rain several times, praying for rain to irrigate the fields.

But those were mere light showers, barely soothing the people's hearts.

How can it compare to the current heavy rain, pouring down torrentially?

The entire Northern Border is now embraced by abundant moisture, an amazing cool sensation dispelling all heat and drought.

This is actually Chen Xu finally using the one thousand catties of dragon essence blood he had refined!

Six thousand jin of pseudo-dragon blood, refined into true dragon essence blood, yielding only one thousand catties.

Entry Hint: [If this essence blood is sprinkled onto rivers, cloud and rain can be summoned, guiding water strength to travel a thousand miles, without fear of exhaustion.]

Chen Xu had once considered withholding some essence blood for his own use, but ultimately he only drank two taels, and gifted two taels to Wen Daoyuan.

All the remaining essence blood was sprinkled into rivers, to summon clouds and rain, defying heavenly will!

What is heavenly will?

Is the drought in the Northern Border heavenly will?

No, if it truly were so, someone would indeed go to great lengths, to act against heaven.

In the Xuanhui Hall, the Emperor was nearly stunned.

He rapidly walked to the window, observing the torrential rain, feeling momentarily dizzy.

He smelled, he smelled the wondrous and abundant vitality in the current rain.

What a vast energy that is?

It can truly be called the Essence of Heaven and Earth, the glory of the ages.

Yet now, someone has shed it over the land, without a care.

The Emperor unsteadily stood, could only shout: "Wang Zhen, Liu Shao, come here! I, I command you..."