Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 723 - 704: Riding the Raft Across the Azure Sea
Dead?!
When Yue Yongkang heard these two words, his heart was filled with joy, but he dared not show it.
If the fish demon, who would threaten to flood the common people at the slightest disagreement, was really dead, it would save a lot of trouble. Next, he needed to find a way to ask Mr. Jiang to protect East Lake Port.
"Can you be sure? Could it be just busy and unable to respond, should we try again?"
"Even if we try again with aromatic grass, or even if we return to East Lake Port to bathe, change clothes, prepare offerings, and burn incense to pray, it won't work. I can no longer sense any trace of its existence.
There are usually three reasons for such a situation. First, it's dead, so everything is empty and there's naturally no response; second, it's actively cutting off contact, meaning it will no longer accept worship and the relationship is severed; third, it has left this place, and gone very, very far away.
When I was still a priest, there were several times when the connection felt like it was hanging by a thread. Later, when I inquired with the Water Virtue Star Monarch, it was said he went to the other side of the world, and was too busy to respond.
Comparatively, the current feeling of complete emptiness suggests it might have to leave this world entirely."
The old lady glanced again at Qingfeng and Bright Moon, "Lord County Magistrate, since the Water Virtue Star Monarch is not present and not responding, we might as well take this opportunity to change our allegiance.
However, to make this happen, everyone must work together.
As the saying goes, 'unity is strength', if so many people together plead with Mr. Jiang for mercy, even if he doesn't accept incense worship, he will find a way to help us find a more reliable immortal to protect us.
Otherwise, when the flood recedes and we return to East Lake Port without protection, the arrival of nighttime wilderness would be extremely dangerous.
We have all been used to living under protection. Facing floods and then the dangers of the wilderness, while lacking survival skills, in just a few days, it's estimated that only two or three out of ten might survive."
"The Elder Lady is right, time is of the essence, I will go explain the pros and cons to everyone now. When Mr. Jiang returns, we will ask for his protection together!" Yue Yongkang connected the entire event in his mind, the more he pondered, the more he felt the fish demon must be dead.
And it should have been killed by Mr. Jiang!
After all, when he left in a hurry, he said he was going to find out the root cause of the flooding and solve it completely.
Judging by what the divine bird revealed about the fish demon's nature, he wouldn't proactively stand out to help the troubled and needy. He was too busy hiding from debt-collecting demons to intervene, how could he have stepped forward?
Thus, it's highly likely that it was Mr. Jiang who carried the moon and took away the flood.
Before returning to East Lake Port, he shouldn't have had the treasure to control the flood, otherwise, he wouldn't have used a broken boat to save people.
The divine bird said that the fish demon's treasure made it feared even by debt collectors, since it could cause flooding, it's naturally reasonable to be able to retract it.
Therefore, that round moon is the fish demon's treasure! For the supreme treasure to easily fall into Mr. Jiang's hands, it's unlikely he would have lent it willingly, he must have been either killed or severely injured and fled to another world, at least he won't return in the short term.
Yue Yongkang was excited by his inferences and went to seek verification from Qingfeng and Bright Moon. Once he got a definite answer that the immortal who lifted the moon just now was indeed Mr. Jiang, he immediately went to mobilize the people under his governance.
"The one who lifted the moon just now was actually Mr. Jiang?"
"As expected of the Little Immortal, truly formidable!"
"He's good-tempered and capable, the food he provides us is all delicious, much better than the Water Virtue Star Monarch."
"Didn't you hear what the Lord County Magistrate said? Elder Lady Li personally burned incense to ask for instructions from the Water Virtue Star Monarch, but there was no response at all. He probably left us on our own."
"Ah? What shall we do then?"
"What can we do? Living people can't be stifled by their urine, there are so many immortals we can worship, not just him!"
"You say it as if it's easy, worshiping an immortal requires divine instruction, it's not like crops in the field where you can just chop one down at will."
"Isn't there an option right in front of us? We can worship the Little Immortal!"
"Good idea, whatever abilities the Water Virtue Star Monarch has, none of us have seen them. But the Little Immortal's methods, everyone has witnessed firsthand!"
"The Lord County Magistrate previously had a great conversation with the Little Immortal, let's ask him to plead on behalf of the people, to help us connect with and worship the Little Immortal…"
...
First, the rescue with a broken boat, then the moon-lifting to swallow the water, the Little Immortal's methods were mysterious and unfathomable to the common people. The people of East Lake Port quickly agreed and patiently awaited the return of the Little Immortal, hoping to establish new patronage to worship a stronger protector.
Jiang Yuan continued flying along the direction of the flood's spread, finally reaching the Central Province as dawn broke.
The Vice Sect Leader of the Celestial Sword Sect, Ouyang Qing, and the Acting Sect Leader of the Haoyue Sect, Qin Yunfan, were jointly attempting to stop the flood.
For them, simply blocking the flood wasn't difficult, the hard part was deciding where to redirect the waters from the overflowing river channels to minimize the loss for the people.
"Look quickly, what is that?!" Qin Yunfan, with the highest realm at present, naturally had the strongest perception. Suddenly, a sense of overwhelming pressure came from afar, he squinted slightly and was startled, "The moon? No, no, it should be a giant magical treasure, it seems to be spitting water?"
Ouyang Qing looked over upon hearing the words, and while speaking, Jiang Yuan had already dashed over. The enormous Treasure Mirror he held absorbed all the overflowing floodwaters near the river channel in one gulp.
"The water's receding! Look, the flood's completely gone!"
"It must have been absorbed by that giant full moon!"
"I've never heard of such a Supreme Treasure; to think that spilled water can be retrieved!"
Amidst everyone's surprise, Jiang Yuan skillfully pressed pause, shrinking the Heavenly Water Mirror to the size of a car wheel. With his right hand holding his sword for control, he flew over to greet them, "I've been hurrying along the way trying to cut off the flow, preventing more water from rushing in, and I noticed the water level here has dropped considerably."
"Mr. Jiang?!"
Ouyang Qing and Qin Yunfan exclaimed in unison, their gaze inevitably falling on the glowing Treasure in his hand, feeling a sudden sense of relief.
"We've spent a great deal of effort trying to temporarily store the water in the abandoned pits in the Wilderness, and Mr. Jiang came and resolved the difficulty at once!" Qin Yunfan expressed utmost admiration, "We owe it to Elder Ouyang for seeking help in time; otherwise, who knows how much chaos this flood would have caused."
Ouyang Qing hurriedly inquired, "Was this disaster truly the doing of that Fish Demon? What kind of Treasure does it possess that it could cause the flood to spread all the way to Central Province, affecting hundreds of miles? Surely, many commoners are suffering."
After briefly explaining the process he had learned, Jiang Yuan felt a sense of relief, "Thankfully it's late summer. As long as the scorching sun bakes for a few days, and we organize manpower to clear and bury the animal carcasses, we won't have an epidemic.
Moreover, with the flood having spread for two days and nights, I worry the myriad shadows gushing from the Heavenly Water Mirror might have dispersed along the water regions.
I must trouble you two to relay the message to all Sects and families. Should you encounter something unusual and unsolvable, immediately report to the Celestial Sword Sect. At that time, I'll personally go to cut it down, preventing greater losses."
"How can there be vengeful spirits in the Celestial River?" Qin Yunfan was flabbergasted, lowering his voice considerably, "That is supposed to be the most pure and sacred river of the Celestial Realm... Could it be that the rumors are true?"
"What rumors?" Ouyang Qing, acknowledging his limited knowledge, hurriedly asked.
The other party's voice grew softer, "Before our world collapsed, there was a persistent rumor in the Cultivation Realm that the Celestial Realm had long since collapsed. Some even claimed to have found traces of Celestial River creatures in the Tongtian Sea, saying that when the Celestial Realm collapsed, the creatures in the Celestial River swam upstream to escape here."
Ouyang Qing was even more puzzled, "Does your world also have a Tongtian Sea?"
"Any world with Spiritual Energy suitable for cultivation has a Tongtian Sea. Legend has it that one can set sail every August, finding the floating raft that travels between the Sky River and Tongtian Sea, thereby entering the Celestial Realm!"
"Ascend without going through the Tribulation?"
"Taking the floating raft to the Sky River allows one to bypass the Tribulation. However, one can only borrow a breath of Immortal Energy and gaze distantly at the Celestial realm; without cultivation and Ascension, one cannot join the ranks of the Immortals, and it's best to hurry back, as the 300,000 Celestial Soldiers guarding the Celestial River are no trifling matter."
Jiang Yuan couldn't help but pause, wait? I've heard this story before even in the modern world!
I've forgotten the exact ancient book, but I vaguely recall it might have been called 'The Jade Sea Journey on a Raft,' narrating a youth's journey by a sea-traveling raft to the Celestial River, carrying only grain.
Since there are common stories, does it mean the real world also exists among countless other worlds?
Thinking of someday upgrading the Observatory, suddenly being able to search and find the modern world I grew up in, felt an indescribable absurdity.
"Mr. Jiang has been busy all night helping with the flood relief, and it will be dawn soon. I'm going to arrange for a proper rest at the Celestial Sword Sect." Ouyang Qing quickly invited him to stay and rest. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Jiang Yuan, however, graciously declined, "The people of East Lake Port are still camped outside, having fled hurriedly at night, and didn't bring anything. We should see it through to the end and send them all back. Without Demon Beast interference during the day, they have plenty to do with repairing houses and settling their families."
"Mr. Jiang's consideration is indeed thorough." Qin Yunfan furrowed his brows upon hearing this, "With harvest time approaching, the flooding has made life difficult for the commoners."
"Even if it's difficult, life must go on. At worst, us Sects can spare some effort, economize on Spirit Stones, exchange them for gold and silver, and buy grains from bountiful lands to ship back. It may not completely solve the famine, but it can ease it somewhat, avoiding too many deaths by starvation."
Having roughly estimated the number of disaster victims along the way, Jiang Yuan didn't dare boast recklessly, so he added, "I have a few acres of thin fields at my small courtyard, yielding abundantly. I also have a good amount of reserves in my granary. It would be my honor to work with you and other Sects and families for disaster relief. Feel free to reach out if needed."
After a brief discussion on disaster relief strategies, he circled around to confirm that the flood had been entirely controlled, then turned back to head home.
[Side Quest: Daughter of Fortune]
[Quest 1: Assist Yuan Man in identifying 50 traitors within the underground cave (50/50)Complete. Reward: Fortune +10 issued]
[Side Quest: Duplicate]
[Quest 2: Gift Qu Luming 30 premium incenses and wait for three days; completed. Reward: Acceleration Card +1 issued]
Scanning over several pieces of information running through, Jiang Yuan noticed there was no additional quest following Qu Luming's side quest, implying he would have to find his own way to maintain connections and opportunities with him.
"First settle the villagers of East Lake Port, then return to my small courtyard to tidy up the farmlands, and afterwards release the little bird to introduce everyone…" He thought to himself that he still needed to contact Qu Luming when he had the time.
Firstly, to see if he could trigger more side quests; secondly, the agreed virtual voyage with Tang Qin from Yin Mountain had been postponed for quite a while, as she couldn't find the time.
Just right to inquire the role-playing Leopard Tail, Qu Luming, if he has any inside information about what turmoil has occurred in the Netherworld. Additionally, see if he can help open a back door allowing Tang Qin some respite to accompany him on another Void expedition.
