Those Who Came to Lend a Hand

"Your Majesty, why not use your magic and divine powers to burn down three million miles of barren hills?"

"We wiped out that gang of thieves."

"That would be a permanent solution."

Black water filled the air, and the void opened up.

Amidst the thick, sticky mist, a hunchbacked old man in a black robe emerged from the void. He picked up a white jade fruit platter and silently walked to the side of the Mingyan Goddess. On the platter were three spiritual fruits emanating the aura of water.

"This fruit comes from the Nine-Sectioned Jade Fruit Tree beside the Spiritual Spring Water Eye of the Tongtian River. Your Majesty, please have a taste."

The Mingyan Goddess picked up a fruit and played with it in her hand, her phoenix eyes sparkling with emotion.

"Shui Yong, do you know the origins of this group?"

The River God of the Tongtian River smiled bitterly:

"This humble demon was able to take human form from the lake in the backyard of Red Maple Mountain thanks to the grace of the goddess."

"To be able to take control of the Tongtian River waterway."

"For hundreds of thousands of years, they have worked diligently, caring only for that small plot of land by the Tongtian River."

"We truly have no idea where these thieves came from."

The Mingyan Goddess gave a soft snort and said indifferently:

"I doubt you know his background."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't dare to spout such nonsense here."

"Let me burn down three million miles of barren hills and take the lives of Wu Zhiqi and his Daoist soldiers."

Upon hearing what the Mingyan Goddess said, the River God of the Tongtian River was filled with fear.

'Although the Empress Secluded Cultivation on Red Maple Mountain.'

'But he has been enlightened for many years.'

'Even among Innate Dao Lord, he is a formidable figure.'

What makes her so cautious?

'Who, then, stands behind Wu Zhiqi?'

'I refuse to relinquish my position as the River God of the Tongtian River. I have specifically sought the Empress's assistance. Has this thwarted the schemes of that powerful being?!'

The mere thought of being targeted by a powerful being no less formidable than the Mingyan Goddess was enough to provoke me.

The hunchbacked old man felt a chill creep into his heart, a coldness sweeping through his body.

He knelt tremblingly on the ground, pleading:

"Your Majesty, please tell me, who exactly is behind Wu Zhiqi?!"

"Which sir?"

The Mingyan Goddess lowered her gaze, a hint of awe appearing in her eyes:

"It's naturally the one from In Wuyi Mountain!"

Boom!

Like a bolt from the blue, it blasted the hunchbacked old man, Tongtian River Shui Yong, until he was charred and cracked inside and out.

Which one from Wuyi Mountain?!

Even if he was completely out of touch with the world, he still knew about the deeds of that person in Wuyi Mountain.

In just a few eons, he attained the Dao of the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal, becoming the supreme Quasi-Saint Heavenly Venerate among all the heavens.

Now he holds a high position in the Mystic Gate Immortal Path, being one of the nine patriarchs of the Ancestral Court of Mystic Gate, and in charge of the Earth Immortal Path and the Ghost Immortal Path.

He is truly a great figure standing at the very top of the pyramid in the Primordial Great World.

Such a being, if angered, would be no match for a mere Tongtian River God.

Even someone as powerful as the Mingyan Goddess was already an extremely important figure in his eyes.

But in that person's eyes, what did it matter?

They can be easily killed at any time!

"Your Majesty, you mustn't! You mustn't!"

"We can't keep this Tongtian River."

"I beg Your Majesty's mercy to act as my intermediary."

"I will personally go and invite Lord Wu Zhiqi here to offer him wine and tea and to apologize."

If only Wu Zhiqi would speak up and absolve himself of his guilt.

Even if it meant offering up all the cultivation resources he had accumulated over the past 100,000 years in the Tongtian River.

Shui Yong was completely willing, and even wanted to express his deepest gratitude!

The Mingyan Goddess saw the hunchbacked old man trembling, his face turning deathly pale.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, marveling at the awe-inspiring reputation of that Celestial Venerable.

But this time, I can't back down.

"Shui Yong."

The world is like a tide, and human relationships are like water.

Even the highest-ranking celestial beings have their own unavoidable circumstances, let alone us?

The Mingyan Goddess was ethereal yet accurately imprinted in Shui Yong's mind.

"Now, everyone on Red Maple Mountain has no other choice."

"If we don't retreat, there's still a chance to survive."

"If they really retire..."

"Then death is not far off."

"..."

Finally, Shui Yong felt that his mind was in a state of utter chaos.

Surrender is out of the question.

It's even more impossible for him to openly confront Wu Zhiqi with fire and weapons.

He could only stagger down Red Maple Mountain and go to the Tongtian River to recuperate.

To live or to die.

It's all up to fate.

Watching Shui Yong's departing figure.

Empress Mingyan sighed softly to herself.

'I hope it's really as those people say.'

'As long as it doesn't involve killing Wu Zhiqi.'

'The one from Wuyi Mountain would be mindful of the divine beings of the heavens and therefore could not personally intervene.'

'Otherwise...'

Empress Mingyan gave a bitter smile.

She lived a life of constant anxiety, and after becoming Innate Dao Lord, she secluded herself on Red Maple Mountain, detached from worldly affairs, and devoted herself solely to cultivation.

If it weren't for the sake of the Daoist path, why would they risk offending the Taiyuan Heavenly Venerate to obstruct Wu Zhiqi's northward journey?

'If I were to die and perish because of this...'

'I accept it too!'

Lady Mingyan gazed intently at the flickering flame within the golden cup in her hand, her eyes filled with piety and unwavering resolve.

It's like doing it again.

She would choose to do the same.

"What my heart desires, though I die nine times, I will not regret."

The path to enlightenment is arduous, but those who seek it dare not waver!

The Old Man Qingrong has relieved the poisonous fire from its calamity.

Then they returned to the central army camp.

"Young master, why is this Daoist Master of Red Maple Mountain preventing us from heading north?"

"Doesn't she know the teacher's name?"

Hearing the Old Man Qingrong ask questions.

A savage glint flashed in Wu Zhiqi's dark golden eyes:

"Snort!"

"How could this goddess not know her master's name?"

"They're just pretending not to know."

Judging from this, this Daoist Master only dared to obstruct the people of the Wuyi Mountain Dao Lineage, giving them a small lesson, but did not dare to truly kill them.

Then it becomes clear that its inner workings are quite straightforward.

"I suspect there's someone else behind her."

"Otherwise, we wouldn't dare to be so bold."

Wu Zhiqi looked thoughtful, toying with the stick in his hand, and said softly:

"It seems that some powerful being is plotting against Master!"

Old Man Qingrong raised an eyebrow.

After a moment of contemplation, he nodded and said:

"If that's what you're saying, young master..."

"That's not entirely unreasonable."

"Since this involves these sacred and powerful beings, we should inform our teacher as soon as possible."

So the two of them set up an incense table and lit incense.

Then they kowtowed to the ancestral tablet, requesting help.

Amidst the rising smoke.

A voice resounded in their hearts.

"Don't be impatient!"

"Someone will come to resolve this calamity!"

After a long while, Wu Zhiqi straightened up.

He touched his chin, lost in thought.

'Our master certainly cannot personally intervene.'

'If that's the case, which Daoist master will we need to invite to lend a hand this time?!'

The Western Land.

In a certain valley.

The deer cry out, and the cranes soar to the heavens.

The white crane and Blessing and Virtue white deer, surrounded by endless spiritual light, frolicked and played in the valley.

"Senior brother, it's so boring here."

"You said we used to be kings of Mopan Mountain, but now I wonder how the children in the mountains are doing?"

"How about we take some time to go out and have a look?"

The white deer and the white crane met on a mountaintop in the valley, where two beams of white light flashed.

Two young Daoist boys in white robes appeared.

They were Crane Child and Deer Child.

Seeing that Crane Child's eyes were darting around, it was clear he was playful and wanted to leave the valley.

Deer Child couldn't help but smile helplessly:

"Ten thousand years have passed."

"As the master said."

"This senior brother in the valley should also be approaching the crucial moment of his recovery."

"If I were to ruin the master's affairs for my own selfish reasons."

"The consequences are beyond what you and I can bear."

The white cranes are used to roaming freely in the In Wuyi Mountain and have never ventured outside.

After following Zhou Yuan's directions, they found this valley.

She then took the Deer Child on a tour around the area, and even became a mountain king, indulging in the fantasy of being a Demon King.

Deer Child followed her through everything in the past.

But now the time has come, a ten-thousand-year period, a critical juncture for completing the mission.

Seeing that Crane Child was still wavering in his worldly desires, Deer Child couldn't help but shake his head slightly and threaten:

"Although the master is compassionate..."

"But after all, he is Quasi-Saint Heavenly Venerate- level figure."

"If he truly becomes enraged."

"I'm afraid we can't even be Daoist acolytes anymore."

These words completely subdued Crane Child and made him behave.

And so after that...

The two then found an open space in the valley and built a thatched hut.

I meditate and cultivate myself day and night, patiently awaiting the opportune moment.

This day.

As usual, the Deer Child and the Crane Child attended their morning lessons and recited some Daoist scriptures.

But my mind was not as peaceful as usual.

Instead, a sense of irritability arose from within.

Rumble!

Thunder roared in the void.

All things come to life.

The Deer Child and the Crane Child exchanged a glance, both seeing joy in each other's eyes.

"Outside this valley, there is Innate Magic Array protecting it."

"The climate is like spring all year round, with no wind, rain, thunder, or lightning."

"Yet, thunder rumbles in the vast emptiness."

"It must have been caused by that senior brother."

After speaking, Deer Child and Crane Child rode the clouds into the void.

In the vast emptiness, winds rose and clouds surged, and in an instant, dark clouds covered the sky and the sun.

Amidst the dark clouds, rolling lightning bolts surged ceaselessly.

Crane Child felt a chill run down his spine after just one glance, as if he had seen his natural enemy.

'Such a rich aura of the Heavenly Dao.'

'Just who is this senior brother?'

'Why has it caused such a commotion so soon after its birth?'

As she thought this, her gaze involuntarily drifted downwards.

Thus, amidst the dark clouds, in a corner of the valley, a soft ball of light shimmered with emerald green.

The light flickered intermittently, swaying like a candle flame amidst the thunder and gale, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

Yet it is brimming with vitality.

This glimmer of life seemed to have violated a taboo of heaven and earth.

The instant it appeared.

The thunder that had been brewing in the sky for so long seemed to have found its target.

The next moment.

Razer snakes danced wildly, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

The purple lightning, as vast as Primordial Divine Mountain, broke through countless dimensions from the sky and crashed down, striking directly at the soft ball of light.

The void shattered, and the laws of nature trembled.

Even if the divine lightning in the void precisely struck that soft ball of light.

However, the aftershocks of their collision caused the earth to churn and the mountains to shatter, as if it were the end of the world.

If it weren't for the Innate Magic Array suppressing this place...

This area has probably been reduced to dust long ago.

The thunder roared incessantly, like a sea of lightning.

That vibrant green sliver, like a lone sail in the sea of thunder, drifted with the current, unable to control itself, yet firmly holding onto its ecological niche, without fear of capsizing.

But this completely enraged the thunder in the void.

Rumble!

A purple lightning dragon swept across the sky and earth, striking down once more.

This is repeated eighty-one times.

The stark white light harbored boundless killing intent, filling the entire world without any concealment.

The Deer Child and the Crane Child standing to the side were already pale with fright.

Under the protection of the divine light emanating from the [Three Lights Jade Ruyi].

They stared blankly at the dark clouds in the sky, still flashing with lightning, as if brewing the next round of thunder.

He couldn't help but swallow hard.

'The power of thunder and lightning in heaven and earth is terrifying, truly terrifying!'

If it weren't for the protection of the [Three Lights Jade Ruyi].

They couldn't even handle the aftershocks of the thunder.

"Senior brother, look!"

Suddenly, it seemed as if Crane Child had discovered something.

Deer Child followed her hand and looked in the direction she was pointing.

I was immediately startled.

Where the thunder struck, amidst the vibrant green land teeming with life, lay half a massive, withered tree trunk.

The trunk was over a hundred meters in diameter, and its entire body had been charred black by lightning.

Only a few delicate branches remain, radiating vibrant life. Although the leaves on these branches are sparse, each one seems to be carved from jade, with soft rays of light spreading in all directions.

Under the heavy, dark clouds.

The branches on the withered tree resembled a green divine chain, crisscrossing the void and scattering endless celestial radiance, making this place seem like a fairyland dwelling in the mortal world.

"This is a willow tree!"

Deer Child gazed at the withered tree, lost in thought.

"This must be the senior brother the master was referring to."

As the dark clouds in the sky grew thicker, the murderous intent in the void became increasingly severe and terrifying.

Crane Child and Deer Child exchanged a glance, not daring to delay.

They each performed hand seals, jointly activating the [Three Lights Jade Ruyi] floating above their heads.

Buzz buzz buzz~

The [Three Lights Jade Ruyi] soars above the universe, illuminating all directions and time.

The sunlight shimmered.

The moonlight shone brightly.

The three lights twinkled like stars.

After being illuminated three times, the three lights merged into one, and a mass of [Three Lights Divine Water], imbued with vitality and creation, was formed.

"Go!"

The Deer Child's expression was serious, and he spoke softly.

Then the [Three Lights Divine Water] quickly fell from the void.

It landed directly on the pitch-black, withered tree trunk on the ground.

Boom!

The next moment.

Then, an endless aura of vitality emanated from the willow stump, which had originally shimmered withered color, and swept across the entire space in an instant.

Then, countless willow branches, shimmering with celestial light, sprouted from the withered tree stump and drifted out into the endless dimensions around them.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the Deer Child and the Crane Child.

In an instant, a willow tree, entirely verdant, appeared in the void, filling endless space and dominating the entire universe.