At first, the mountains were shrouded in mist, but gradually the mist dissipated, the forests turned yellow, the humidity dropped, and the earth cracked.
Now, even Zhenjiang is drying up.
The land was parched, not a drop of rain fell, rivers dried up, and the earth cracked.
Disasters strike from the heavens, and the people suffer greatly.
People's lips were pale and cracked. Due to the lack of rain, many crops died of drought. There was no food, and people were emaciated from hunger. Disaster was imminent.
"Is it really a severe drought? Or is some kind of monstrous evil appearing, bringing chaos to the world?"
"That doesn't make sense. The Jade Emperor rules over the Three Realms, how could this happen? Or is it that the Dragon King has neglected his duties and failed to send rain as ordered?"
"That doesn't make sense either. Disobeying an imperial decree would probably get you executed on the Dragon Execution Platform. There shouldn't be a Dragon King who's that fearless!"
Xiao Ning realized the seriousness of the situation, and his expression became extremely solemn.
He listened carefully to the information around him, and soon got the answer, so he walked forward quickly.
Clearly, the "national advisor from the Tang Dynasty" mentioned by the villagers is the key to the problem; even if he didn't do it, he's still involved.
After passing through several villages that were also suffering from severe drought, Xiao Ning finally arrived at a county town called Lingyun County, which was the location of his target!
Stepping into the county town and walking on the streets, you can see few pedestrians. Their lips are not so dry that they are about to peel or crack, as if the drought here is less severe.
However, although these people are better off than people in other places, they are not much better off.
These people looked gloomy and listless, and their vitality was even scarcer than that of people in other drought-stricken areas.
The large county town felt lifeless.
Something unusual must be going on!
"The immortal master is here! The immortal master is here! Everyone get out of the way!"
Just then, a loud shout suddenly rang out.
"Ah, it's actually the Immortal Master who has arrived..."
The pedestrians on the street were stunned at first, and then a deep fear appeared on everyone's face. Everyone moved away and knelt down on both sides of the street, not daring to raise their heads.
Xiao Ning stood on the street, his face ashen as he stared in the direction from which the sound came.
He was surrounded by kneeling people, yet none of them could see him.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
At the street corner, a series of loud gong sounds rang out.
Hundreds of attendants appeared first, and surrounded by them, an exceptionally magnificent carriage, carved with countless animal patterns all over its body, slowly came into view.
The carriage was not completely enclosed; instead, it was built on a base with a large lotus platform on top, covered by snow-white curtains that were half-open.
Xiao Ning could clearly see a Taoist priest with an ethereal air sitting cross-legged on the carriage.
The man's lips parted slightly, emitting a tremendous suction force.
The pedestrians kneeling on the street were all enveloped in invisible spiritual energy that rose up and flew towards the Taoist priest, where it was inhaled. However, none of the people were aware of this.
Each time the Taoist absorbed a wisp of human essence, his aura grew slightly stronger.
"I wondered who was causing trouble, but it turns out to be a little sheep demon who dared to come to my human territory and stir up trouble."
Looking at the Taoist priest on the carriage, Xiao Ning's face turned cold, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"You audacious beast, how dare you drain human life force! Reveal your true form!"
Seeing this situation, Xiao Ning could no longer hold back and revealed himself, letting out a loud shout.
boom!
The moment Xiao Ning's loud shout rang out on the street, everyone on the street, including his hundreds of followers, was greatly shocked.
At this moment, everyone saw Xiao Ning suddenly appear.
Whoosh!
The sheep demon suddenly opened its eyes and discovered Xiao Ning's whereabouts.
To everyone's surprise, he did not get angry, but instead looked wary.
Because he was originally a goat transformed into a human, and the other party saw through his true form at a glance, it was likely that they had ill intentions.
Moreover, the key point is that the sheep demon cannot see through the opponent's cultivation level at the moment, and he does not want to make a move unless he is absolutely certain of success.
Having considered this, Immortal Yangli narrowed his eyes and slowly said, "Hold your hand. You are also a member of our Daoist sect. Don't let the flood wash away the Dragon King's temple. Let's talk things over. My two brothers and I will definitely accompany you to the end!"
After he finished speaking, he pointed to a square in the center of Lingyun County.
In the central square stood a tall altar.
On the altar, a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a white robe sat cross-legged, performing a ritual to the heavens, holding a wooden sword, with runes swirling around him, and chanting incantations.
Under his spell, a light mist seemed to be gathering in the sky.
The sheep demon shouted, "That's my second brother, he's performing a rainmaking ritual right now! We three brothers are here to summon wind and rain, to bestow blessings, so don't mistake him for someone else!"
Xiao Ning followed the sound and looked towards the altar. He immediately recognized that the middle-aged Taoist on the altar was a deer demon in disguise.