The crowd fell silent. Hundreds of thousands of eyes stared in unison at Lord Azure Ripples.
Their eyes held hatred, resentment, fear—and a flicker of anger that had just reared its head, so new that even they themselves scarcely dared believe it.
"I noticed you long ago."
Lord Azure Ripples' voice sank. "Who are you?"
The entire square was already carpeted with kneeling people.
Only two people had not moved since the deity appeared, not even lowering their heads.
At that moment, Xu Changqing also walked over. The kneeling people around him raised their heads one after another, their gazes following his footsteps.
Once the two stood together, they spoke at the same time. "People of the Dao Sect."
The crowd in the square first fell quiet, then erupted into commotion.
"The Dao Sect?"
"Those strange immortal cultivators?"
"I heard they specialize in standing up for ordinary people!"
Listening to the discussions below, Lord Azure Ripples immediately understood.
No wonder these mortals had been growing increasingly unruly. So it was the Dao Sect stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
Xu Changqing said with a half-smile, "We did not come with any other intention. We only hope the two tribes will suffer a little less oppression from now on.
"Especially the yearly jade offering—it must be relaxed somewhat.
"Once a year is too frequent. Change it to once every five years, or once every ten years.
"Life is not easy for mortals. This request is not excessive, is it?"
Lord Azure Ripples was silent for a moment, then laughed.
The laughter spread out, impossible to tell whether it was delight or mockery.
"Heh heh!"
"Five years? Ten years?"
"Do you know how long the position over the three-thousand-li Flood River has stood vacant?"
"If this god does not hasten to accumulate