Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew (I)

Luoyang, Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The incense sticks burned unevenly, and their brightness was inconsistent.

The old man guarding the temple knelt before the ancestral tablets, his forehead touching the ground, and remained kneeling for a long time.

Behind him, Sima Honglin stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the incense stick with a deep look in his eyes.

"What about the ancestor?"

The old man did not look up.

"Before the ancestor went into seclusion, he said, 'The secrets of heaven are shrouded in chaos and cannot be revealed, so there is no basis for deductions in all directions; everything depends on human effort.'"

Sima Honglin nodded.

That's good.

He turned and walked outside.

Stepping out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the sunlight was blinding.

The city of Luoyang was deserted, a stark contrast to its former prosperity.

The streets were deserted, the shops were closed, and the few pedestrians who passed by hurried along, heads down and silent.

Disasters and anomalies occurred frequently, causing widespread anxiety.

Sima Honglin gazed at the desolate capital, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"A good time," he said softly.

Behind him, Sima Canglan hurriedly arrived.

"Third Brother..."

"What's wrong?"

Sima Canglan lowered his voice. "News from all over the country has spread, causing unrest among the people. The Luo River has stopped flowing, its riverbed has cracked, and white bones lie scattered everywhere. The people kneel and weep, all saying that the fate of our Sima Clan is about to end."

Sima Honglin laughed out loud.

"His destiny is coming to an end?" He looked at Sima Canglan. "Sixth Brother, do you believe it?"

Sima Canglan did not answer.

Sima Honglin raised his hand and pointed to the sky.

Look at the sky.

The sky was overcast; although the strange phenomenon of three suns appearing in the sky simultaneously had dissipated, its lingering effects remained.

The Greater Yang was dim, with dark clouds swirling around its edges.

"Heavenly Dao's will is in its warning, destiny is manifesting, and people's hearts are wavering. Ambitious and ruthless figures throughout the land are stirred by the news, yet remain hesitant and uncertain."

"If we remain indifferent, the cycle of Heavenly Dao will continue. Now we must use swift and decisive measures, sparing no expense, to temporarily suppress all the chaos!" Sima Honglin said slowly.

Sima Canglan remained silent for a moment.

"What Third Brother means is..."

"Time? The Sima Clan is still lacking some time." Sima Honglin smiled meaningfully.

"You will go and oversee Huainan. The imperial edict is ready; you must demonstrate some effective measures."

"At the beginning of the establishment of the Great Jin by the Sima Clan, the ancestors absorbed the essence of the Greater Yang Dao Lineage and the Principle Divine Ability."

He created an imperial technique called "[Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew]". Based on the element of water, its domain covers all things, capable of nourishing them and reversing the fate of the nation.

He looked at Sima Canglan.

"This technique requires the attainment of the Pill Formula before it can be used. You are now at the Purple Mansion Perfection, only a step away from the Golden Core stage."

If this technique can be performed in Huainan, it will not only eliminate calamities and influence the overall situation, but also bring the favor of Heavenly Dao, and perhaps even allow one to attain the Golden Core Heavenly Rank.

A glint flashed in Sima Canglan's eyes.

"As has been said since ancient times, thunder and rain are both forms of imperial favor."

If there were lightning as a catalyst, that would be even better! But Third Brother, I haven't been cultivating for long, haven't made any great contributions, my resources are meager, and my purse is empty..."

"Hehehe... Third Brother, we're brothers, no need for formalities."

Sima Honglin raised his hand, and a wisp of purple light flickered in his palm.

Within that light, the faint sound of thunder could be heard.

"Spring belongs to the extreme of Yang, and thunder is the command of spring. In the name of [Spring Rain Hong Dharma Heaven], I lend you a ray of spring thunder."

He handed the wisp of purple light to Sima Canglan.

Go. Huainan needs you.

Sima Canglan received the wisp of purple light, felt the immense power contained within it, his heart raced, and he knelt down, shouting in worship.

"Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you, Third Brother."

Sima Honglin waved his hand.

"No need, no need. My brothers, you govern a region, protect the various tribes, and serve as the wings of our Great Jin. Your stability in Huainan is enough to thank me."

Sima Canglan nodded solemnly, then turned and left.

Sima Honglin watched his retreating figure, the smile on his lips gradually fading.

"The Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew..." he murmured, "Nourishes all things, and also nourishes people's hearts."

"Given the will of the people and the prevailing trend, Huainan will henceforth Huainan to Sima Honglin."

He turned around and walked deeper into the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Luo River.

The people knelt on the riverbank, burning incense and praying, their cries shaking the heavens.

Sima Canglan stood on a high platform in the distance, gazing at the dried-up Luo River.

He raised his hand, and in his palm, the wisp of purple spring thunder pulsed slightly.

"The Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew," he said softly. "Today, let the world see the methods of the Sima Clan."

He closed his eyes, and a deep blue light slowly spread around him, growing brighter and wider until it enveloped the entire sky.

Within the light, a domain of power was condensing.

The imperial way established by the water element was one of the foundations laid by the Sima Clan at the beginning of the Jin Dynasty. The moment the legal domain took shape, the world changed drastically.

The gray sky suddenly cracked open.

Raindrops dripped from the cracks, the pale golden rain containing the Principle of the imperial way. As the rain fell, the parched land quickly became moist, the cracked riverbed slowly healed, and the withered crops stood up again.

The dying people looked up at the sky, stretched out their hands, and caught the golden rain.

It's raining...

"What heavy rain!"

"The Luo River... the Luo River has risen!"

Some people knelt on the ground, kowtowing frantically.

Some people hugged each other, crying and laughing at the same time.

Someone gazed at the sky and murmured, "Heaven will not forsake Jin... Heaven will not forsake Jin..."

Sima Canglan stood in the rain, closing his eyes to feel the power surging into his body.

The Dharma Domain is expanding, and the threshold for Golden Core is loosening.

His aura was steadily rising.

Purple Mansion Peak--

Half-Step Golden Core --

Boom!

A thunderclap boomed.

Purple lightning descended from the sky and struck him.

He didn't dodge.

The lightning entered his body, merging with the spring thunder, transforming into a new power that was injected into the embryonic form of his Golden Core Dao Domain.

He felt he had gained a new understanding of his Divine Ability.

His own Divine Ability are more in line with the Principle governing the flow of heaven and earth, and his control has reached a profound state, with every detail revealed and precise.

It is said that the Golden Core is formed by using my own form to bind the rules of heaven and earth, thus achieving the Dao Domain. Once I have completely controlled Huainan, I will surely succeed!

Sima Canglan opened his eyes.

In his eyes, a mixture of deep blue and purple hues mingled, with faint flashes of lightning.

He raised his hand and waved it gently.

The rain intensified.

Then the golden rain also headed towards Huainan.

The Luo River rose again, and then returned to its previous calm.

It's raining in Huainan.

The imperial edict was issued, and news of Sima Canglan's arrival at his post had already arrived.

The rain was no ordinary rain; it carried a faint, ethereal glow. The raindrops were fine and dense, and with each drop, visible green shoots emerged from the soil.

The misty rain makes Huainan incredibly beautiful.

A massive convoy slowly approached, its banners obscuring the sun, its ceremonial guard imposing.

At the forefront were thirty-six black-armored knights, each exuding an aura of profound depth, all at the Foundation Establishment Peak.

Following them were twelve ornate carriages, each pulled by four dragon horses that seemed to tread on air, their hooves creating clouds beneath their feet.

In the center of the procession was a royal carriage pulled by four golden dragons.

The chariot was extremely large, ten zhang in circumference, and entirely gilded, carved with dragons and phoenixes.

A huge pearl hangs from the roof of the car, emitting a faint blue light. Wherever the light reaches, the rain automatically avoids it, as if making way for its owner.

Inside the carriage, Sima Canglan sat upright on a soft couch.

He was dressed in a black brocade robe, with a handsome face and a resemblance to Sima Huanyu in his features, but he lacked some of the majesty and had more of a gentle demeanor.

He gazed at the continuous rain outside the window, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"The rain in Huainan feels gentler and more comforting to me than the Luoyang."

Beside him, an old servant bowed and said, "With Your Highness taking control of Huainan, great things are on the horizon!"

Sima Canglan smiled but said nothing.

He simply raised his hand and gently placed it on the soft couch.

In that instant, his divine sense spread out, enveloping the entire Huainan land.

The mischievous spirits trembled in the rain. The ghostly wails at midnight gradually subsided in the rain.

"The Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew," he murmured.

Water is the foundation, and the emperor's favor is the guiding principle. Wherever rain and dew reach, it is all the king's land. When this art is mastered, it can reverse the fortune of an area, cleanse disasters, and restore vitality.

He had witnessed this technique being used when he was young. It was his second elder brother Sima Huanyu, who was high in the sky, Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew and dominating the region, suppressing the Jiangnan.

Then Sima Canglan shook his head.

Water without thunder is not majestic, and thunder without lightning is not powerful. Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew's grace, can only soothe; only thunder can demonstrate its authority.

"It'll be soon." He felt the throbbing of spring thunder within his body, and a strange meaning flashed in his eyes.

"Even after I attain Heavenly Position, I will still have to seek the thunder of the nine heavens."

"This hidden danger of spring thunder... Third Brother still doesn't trust me. For now, things will remain this way. Third Brother should also know the vastness of the world; a true man cannot remain subservient to others for long. The world belongs to the Sima Clan, not just you..."

"Huainan will surely be in my hands!"

The convoy continued its journey.

Ahead, the majestic city gradually comes into view, Huainan, the southern Firmament Heaven of the Sima Clan.

Whether beneath the Firmament Heaven or outside the southern capital, countless people stood in the rain, awaiting the new ruler of Huainan.

At the very front was a middle-aged man dressed in a purple official robe.

He stood with his hands behind his back, letting the rain soak his robes, a gentle smile on his face.

Ye Zhanxin.

The fourth master of the Cloud Mist Ye Clan, governor of Yangzhou in the Great Jin Dynasty.