Preparations

Li Qi rode his Old Ma swiftly to the battlefield where they had been.

In the center of the previous battlefield, the remaining, uninjured soldiers were cleaning up the battlefield.

There's really nothing to clean.

In a war of that intensity, it's difficult for corpses to remain, and even the soul is hard to preserve.

Li Qi is currently here, helping to soothe the remaining souls, and also bringing many medicines and... memorial tablets for these soldiers.

They're all white; all that's left is to carve the words onto them so they're ready to use.

When the White Rhinoceros Army soldiers saw Li Qi arrive with these things, they were both amused and exasperated.

I don't know whether to praise him for being considerate or scold him for being naive.

But no matter what... right now, we really need this.

It's just a bad omen, but in reality, there really aren't enough spirit tablets.

Soon, a quartermaster stepped forward to receive the items and expressed his gratitude to Li Qi.

Soon after he bid farewell to the quartermaster, another senior officer came to visit him.

It is obvious that this is Lie Kedi, the current commander of the White Rhinoceros Army, who was previously released from prison by Li Qi.

The general, who was clearly Dao injury, walked to Li Qi's side, knelt on one knee, and bowed to Li Qi, saying:

"Lie Kedi greets the young master... This is our first meeting, isn't it? The young master's wisdom and resourcefulness not only saved my life but also the lives of the people of an entire prefecture. Lie Kedi deeply grateful. But may I ask what brings you here, young master?"

Li Qi quickly helped him up. "General, please don't speak like that. We are both doing this for the sake of the people. There is no distinction between us, and there is no question of us being superior or inferior. On the contrary, I admire you greatly for your loyalty and righteousness. Please do not humiliate yourself and just treat me as an equal."

Seeing that Lie Kedi still did not get up, Li Qi said again, "I have only done the same thing as the general. According to the rules of the army, colleagues should be rewarded and punished equally. General, are you feeling ashamed because you think we did not do a good enough job?"

Since Li Qi had already said so much, Lie Kedi could not insist any further and could only bow again. "Young master is so righteous. If it weren't for you, Guangyang would probably have been devastated. Please accept this bow, though it has no meaning, it is just to express my heartfelt gratitude."

Li Qi had no choice but to accept the bow and then help Lie Kedi up.

Then, he invited Lie Kedi to sit down in the military tent and said to him, "Alright, General, please sit down. You asked me earlier what brings you here. In fact, besides delivering supplies, I have another request."

"Please speak, young master, is it another war to be waged?" Lie Kedi asked.

Aside from fighting, he really couldn't think of any other way he and his fellow soldiers could help the other side.

"That's not the case. The White Rhinoceros Army has already suffered heavy casualties. How can we send you to the battlefield again?" Li Qi denied this claim and then said, "General, have you seen the current situation in Guangyang?"

"The situation?" Upon hearing this, Lie Kedi pondered for a moment, "Is Young Master referring to the matter of the earth's energy?"

"I've also noticed this. After the Mountain and Water Formation is activated, there will definitely be a period of reduced production. However, if we mobilize the many wealthy Lineage in Guangyang and get them to open their granaries and distribute grain, then we should still be able to hold on."

At this point, Lie Kedi explained the situation to Li Qi: "Young master, you are new here and may not be aware of the situation in Guangyang. There is an organization in Guangyang called the Grain Alliance, which controls the grain business. Many wealthy and noble families have shares in it. They usually have enough grain to last for two or three years. If managed properly, there will be no grain shortage."

"I am considering mobilizing troops back to the city. If necessary, we may have to implement military control. If you, young master, also have this idea, that would be perfect. If this matter is handled well, no one in Guangyang should starve to death within two years."

Lie Kedi was no fool. He had some understanding of the Mountain and Water Formation and knew that grain production would definitely decrease afterward, so he was now making arrangements for what to do next.

However, his thinking was still too simplistic. After all, he didn't know that the Mountain and Water Formation wasn't something that would overdraw the earth's energy after normal use...

Instead, the mountain range and its waterways were shattered along with it by the dark-skinned monk.

Within ten years, all trees in Guangyang will wither, crops will fail, wild animals will become infertile, and rivers will dry up.

We absolutely cannot survive on grain reserves alone.

If we wait for natural recovery, the entire population of Guangyang will probably have to flee.

Tens of millions of refugees fled to other states of the Hundred Forests Kingdom.

When people leave their hometowns, they are as worthless as dogs. If a mass exodus of people were to begin, it would be considered lucky if five or six out of ten died.

Even if they escaped to other states, they would most likely only be able to sell themselves into slavery.

Otherwise, without food or land, how will they survive?

I'm afraid only wealthy families would abandon their fortunes and become rich in other states.

Li Qi naturally understood that Lie Kedi was actually unaware of this matter, so he gave a wry smile and said, "Things are probably not as simple as the general thinks."

"Actually, the situation in Guangyang is not just about reduced production. General, please follow me." Li Qi stood up, whistled, and Old Ma came running.

Lie Kedi also summoned his mount, a tall and magnificent horse. Although not Dragon Steed, it was still a rare and excellent steed.

Dragon Steed is still quite rare, and Dragon Steed like Old Ma is even rarer.

When Old Ma truly reaches the ninth rank, he can no longer be called Dragon Steed; he should then Form Transformation.

Of course, it doesn't take human form.

Instead, it transformed into the shape of a dragon.

Generally, when demons Form Transformation, they take on the form of a race with innate intelligence, so that they can also absorb some of that intelligence and become smarter themselves.

Generally speaking, demons choose human form because it is the easiest way to Form Transformation into a human, and humans are the most common.

However, there are other races with innate intelligence, such as the Golden-winged Great Roc, the Dragon, the Phoenix, and even the Jade Rabbit and the Golden Crow, which are Innate Variant.

They are not as common as humans, but they are actually one of the options for Form Transformation.

As Dragon Steed, the Old Ma Form Transformation after reaching the ninth rank, and will definitely move in the direction of a dragon.

In fact, there is already a trend now. The blue scales emerging from his body, as well as the auspicious clouds and thunder after he flies into the sky, are all characteristics of a dragon.

When walking with Lie Kedi, the Old Ma did not fly, but instead ran obediently on the ground.

The two rode horses, with Li Qi leading the way, and quickly crossed the plain.

It was originally a mountain road, but after the battle, the mountains here were basically flattened, and there was a lot of broken glass and large rocks on the ground.

Those are rocks that have just appeared after the magma cooled.

About half Chen later, the two horses had traveled more than a hundred miles and appeared in other mountains that had not been affected.

Upon arriving here, Li Qi dismounted and landed on the ground.

Lie Kedi also dismounted, bewildered and not understanding why Li Qi had come here.

"General, take a look." Li Qi walked over and put a little pressure on his foot, and saw that the ground had exploded into a large crater, about a meter deep.

Lie Kedi walked over and took a look, his pupils contracted and his expression immediately froze.

Normally, the soil one meter below the ground should be very moist and dense.

The ground is filled with moisture, which plants can only absorb by sending their roots downwards to grow.

When water vapor and earth vapor combine, they form moist and dense black soil. This type of soil is rich in nutrients and has abundant air, which allows plants to grow well.

If the water vapor is lost and the earth's energy exists alone, it will appear as a withered yellow color, which is the color of pure earth energy.

The yellowish-brown soil indicates that there is no water vein beneath or around this land, and the moisture and earth energy cannot mix to form fertile soil, making it unsuitable for cultivation.

It's quite normal to often see barren lands with only earth energy and no water energy in Lie Kedi.

But this was the first time he had ever seen... the soil that had turned white.

The soil here is like... saline-alkali land?

It's only a meter deep underground, so the soil should be very moist, but it looks deathly white.

Not only is there no moisture, but even the earth's energy has dried up.

Lie Kedi bent down, reached into the ground, scooped out a clod of soil, and gently rubbed it between his fingers, causing the soil to crumble immediately.

It's more like sand than soil.

"This... this, this?" Lie Kedi stammered, then suddenly looked up at Li Qi.

Li Qi sighed, "The master of Chanzhi, that black-skinned demon monk, shattered the Mountain and Water Formation. The mountain range and water veins were all destroyed. Now, Guangyang is completely depleted of earth energy and water energy. According to our estimates, there will be no harvest within ten years, and there will be a severe drought and famine."

Rain is also a manifestation of mountain energy, so a severe drought will inevitably follow, and not a single drop of rain will fall.

"And look again." After Li Qi finished speaking, he directed Old Ma to go up the mountain.

Old Ma nodded, then took off and sped up the mountain.

A short while later, Old Ma flew down with a giant eagle, bigger than a person, in his mouth.

Then, he threw Zuo Shandiao under Li Qi and took a few steps back.

Li Qi picked up the corpse of the mountain eagle and stretched it out. It was clear that its wingspan was more than five meters, far exceeding the size of a normal mountain eagle. It was obviously a demon, but its Yao Qi was very weak, and there was also a Fire Qi lingering around it.

This means abandoning the path of evil and embracing the path of divinity.

However, it's pointless to say anything now, because the mountain eagle has already become a corpse.

There were no wounds on the body, nor any signs of a struggle, but he died suddenly.

"This is... the mountain god of this place? How could he die here? Is it also because of the mountain and water formation?" Lie Kedi looked at Zuo Shandiao, his fingers and lips trembling slightly, in disbelief.

"The backlash after the collapse of the Mountain and Water Formation was immense. Even Bo Yue, who presided over the ceremony, almost died. It was only with the help of a fifth-rank deity that his injuries were healed. As for the other mountain and water gods, although the backlash they suffered was not as severe as Bo Yue's, seven or eight out of ten of them were still killed or injured. All the gods were filled with grief. Now, it is probably difficult to repair the formation by the mountain and water gods alone."

Lie Kedi remained silent.

He now realized that, given the current situation, all his original plans and contingency plans would be completely useless.

If his method is followed, then Guangyang will suffer immense devastation, and large-scale famine migration is inevitable.

The scene remained silent for several minutes before he finally raised his head to look at Li Qi, as if grasping at a straw. "Young Master, you've come to me with a solution, haven't you? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Li Qi nodded. "I've thought of a way to solve this."

"In Guangyang today, the mountains and rivers are desolate, and the spirits are greatly harmed, but the people are still relatively well preserved. I wish to hold a grand ceremony to gather the strength of everyone and heal the wounds of the land, so I need the general's help."

"Preparing such a sacrificial ceremony is not something I can do alone, so I need to ask the general for his assistance," Li Qi said solemnly.

"It is my duty!" Lie Kedi immediately clasped his hands in a fist and agreed.

Li Qi nodded. "I will arrange the specific details later. General, please go and take care of the aftermath in the army. The grand ceremony cannot be prepared in a day or two. I still need to notify the others."

"If the young master summons me, I will surely come," Lie Kedi promised, then watched Li Qi leave.

Li Qi continued searching one by one.

Next up is Zhang Lan.

Originally, after the matter was settled, Zhang Lan had already left quietly. He was preparing to leave Guangyang and head towards the Swallowing Heaven Demon Nest.

The evil monk has been slain, but there are countless demons in the world. It's time for him to embark on a new journey.

He slipped away quietly without even saying goodbye to anyone else.

This is exactly the ending Zhang Lan wanted.

He left after accomplishing his task, concealing his identity and name.

This is the ultimate journey for a chivalrous knight!

He's incredibly handsome!

Zhang Lan's personality has always been like this. You can tell from the fact that he and Li Qi started exchanging pleasantries as soon as they met that he actually quite likes this feeling.

They don't like to show off in front of others; they prefer to leave behind a legend quietly and then secretly enjoy it.

However, although he may seem a bit unreliable, he is genuinely public-spirited and willing to help those in need, a true chivalrous hero.

However, this time, he had only gone halfway when he suddenly saw auspicious clouds and blue thunder in the sky, rushing towards him.

"That's... Li Qi's Dragon Steed? Why is it coming this way?" Zhang Lan reined in his horse and stopped in place.

He was both happy and unhappy.

To his delight, Li Qi actually came all the way to see him off, which put him in a very good mood.

What made him unhappy was that his perfect departure had been marred by a few flaws.

Originally, he was supposed to accomplish a great task, then leave without a trace, without any cause or effect, leaving behind only the name and legend of the knight-errant.

But if there's a farewell scene, it seems drawn out and not so cool.

But since he was already there, he couldn't just send him away, so he reined in his horse and waited for Li Qi to land.

Li Qi arrived quickly and landed on the ground. "Brother Zhang!"

"Brother Li, why did you suddenly come to see me? Is it to say goodbye? When did you become such a wishy-washy, Mama person?" Zhang Lan spoke first, feigning impatience.

Li Qi smiled. He knew Zhang Lan's temperament, so he didn't waste time arguing with him about this and went straight to the point about his purpose.

He wanted Zhang Lan to help coordinate the people in the martial arts world.

An eighth-rank martial arts practitioner would certainly have influence in all aspects of the martial arts world, and he would also be familiar with the rules of the martial arts world. Li Qi would feel more at ease entrusting this matter to him.

"I see, then leave it to me!" Zhang Lan patted his chest and agreed.

Li Qi thanked him, then mounted his horse and turned back.

It's time to go find Wang Baiyan and Guangyang Prefect.

(I'm physically and mentally exhausted; I'll rest tomorrow.)

(A new volume is about to start, please recommend some books for me.)