Having absorbed enough Rain Essence, Black Snake lay coiled in the sunshine, watching the chaos and strife below the mountain.
Black Snake had thought the rain would bring peace, but reality was rather different. Everything was a mess, so tangled that Black Snake could make neither head nor tail of it.
Black Snake had also heard a little about the Yin Souls and Demon Spirits approaching Azure Cloud Monastery lately.
In times of turmoil, foul energy flourished.
It was just the right season for Heretic Cultivators to fish in muddy waters.
Besides, some humans and demons had only just begun cultivating and learned a few scraps of magic. Inevitably, they thought too highly of themselves. Whether showing off or seeking profit, they knew nothing of the dangers and acted without restraint. A few deceptive words from Heretic Cultivators could coax them into anything.
Finding someone was not their main purpose, and they could do nothing to Azure Cloud Monastery anyway.
It seemed more like a deliberate attempt to stir up trouble and make a nuisance of themselves.
With Black Snake guarding the mountain, they made a racket for a few days, discovered they could not raise so much as half a ripple, and could only retreat in frustration.
The mountain remained peaceful, a world apart from the chaos below.
By day, Black Snake occupied the heights and watched coldly from above; by night, Black Snake went to observe the crossroads. Whatever happened, Black Snake firmly refused to get involved. Human wars were human affairs. Rashly getting swept into them might cost Black Snake over two hundred years of cultivation.
In truth, Black Snake could not tell government troops from bandits.
Apart from those in charge, most dressed much alike, wearing the same ragged clothes they had left home in, perhaps