Plainlands, Flat Lake.
The lake was clear, its waters untroubled by wind or waves. Pines lined the shore in an unbroken sweep of green. A man in a pitch-black robe stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the Jade Flow Mountains with a heavy, intent look.
Zhu Yucheng seemed uninterested as he turned to look behind him.
To his right stood a young-looking Daoist in a green robe. His face was pale, his brows sharp and eyes narrow, like a venomous snake hidden beneath rotting leaves. Images of the five grains-rice, millet, broomcorn millet, wheat, and beans-adorned his broad, dark-green sleeves, from which drops of blood slowly seeped.
"When a nation is about to perish, monsters are sure to arise. There's one over in Green Peaks, and now you've come along. No auspicious omen."
Zhu Yucheng's voice was steady and powerful, resonating like great bronze bells. His somewhat fierce gaze swept over the Daoist, bearing down with considerable pressure.
"You jest, fellow Daoist. My Green-Wasteland Abbey distributes seed grain, helps the people reclaim wasteland, and feeds tens of thousands of Witchfolk. How does that make us monsters?"
The Earth Desolation Daoist smiled faintly, unoffended by his words. With a light shake of his broad sleeves, drops of blood fell to the ground and sprouted into several green wheat seedlings.
"Wei Fengnian, don't you find those words laughable? For every person you feed, you kill three to fertilize the soil. You certainly are an expert farmer."
Zhu Yucheng gave a scornful laugh. Had he not needed Nurturing Earth Daoist arts, someone with the other man's record who stirred up trouble in Plainlands would long since have been slain by him, just like the monsters of White Azure Cavern.
Wei Fengnian, the Earth Desolation Daoist of Green-Wasteland Abbey, shifted his