Free Web NovelChapter 445: Chapter 76: Dragon King, Get Out Here
’To think that even the Celestial Court is so cold and unfeeling...’
Before he could finish his thought—
BOOM!!
The great doors of the Emperor’s Palace were violently shoved open, and several Immortals walked in. Leading them was an enormous Divine Spirit whose steps made the Emperor’s Palace rumble.
"Mmm, this one’s not bad. I’ll tear it down, take it back, and refine it into a fine weapon!"
The Giant Spirit God wrapped his arms around a Golden Jade Divine Pillar supporting the Emperor’s Palace. With a sudden exertion of force, the Divine Pillar swayed and was ripped straight from its foundation!
"What are you doing?!" Cui Yin cried out in shock and anger.
The few Immortals glanced over in surprise. It took them a good moment to recognize Cui Yin. The Giant Spirit God let out a "yo" and chuckled.
"Steward Cui? Why are you still here in the Profound Yellow Palace?"
"Put that pillar down!!"
Cui Yin was furious. He finally understood what had happened to the other missing Golden Jade Divine Pillars!
"I call you Steward out of courtesy, but do you really think you’re the master of this Emperor’s Palace? Your master is already dead!"
The Giant Spirit God was no Matchmaker; he was a Grand Grade Immortal skilled in combat. Why would he pay any mind to Cui Yin?
He put his strength into it, yanking the Golden Jade Divine Pillar completely free. Then, with a single backhand, he swatted the enraged Cui Yin away as he rushed forward, warning,
"Don’t go looking for trouble!"
The few Immortals from the Dou Division swaggered away.
And now, having lost half of its supporting Golden Jade Divine Pillars, the Emperor’s Palace swayed, finally unable to hold itself up any longer. It collapsed with a thunderous crash!
Dust and smoke billowed.
Amidst the ruins, Cui Yin watched as the ’home’ he had lived in for a hundred years was destroyed in an instant. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over him, and he finally couldn’t hold it in any longer, breaking down into loud sobs.
.........
「By the shores of the North Sea.」
"Oh, Heaven, please let it rain..."
Countless people surrounded an altar, praying. They were all sallow and emaciated, with cracked lips. Some were even showing signs of dehydration.
A young man wearing a mask walked down the long street, his expression beneath it grim. Nine thousand years had passed for the Qin Dynasty, but for him, it had been less than a year.
This North Sea City looked somewhat familiar, retaining a shadow of its former self, but the prosperity of the past was long gone, replaced by a scene of decay and desolation.
’This small glimpse is a reflection of the greater whole.’ Coupled with the laments he had overheard along the way, something about a seventeen-year-long drought across the land...
Another spark of fury ignited in Lu Xuan’s heart. He wished he could march to the North Sea Dragon Palace right then and there, drag out the North Sea Dragon King, and demand an explanation!
When he left, the weather across the land had been perfect. It was a time of peace and prosperity, with every household’s granary full. But now...
As Lu Xuan’s heart grew heavy with frustration, he caught sight of a rough-hewn man striding onto the Rain-Seeking Platform out of the corner of his eye. The man’s voice boomed:
"Everyone, listen to me!"
The weak, listless prayers for rain gradually died down. The pale-faced, chapped-lipped crowd all looked up.
The rough-hewn man bellowed:
"For seventeen years, the heavens have been dry and the earth parched! This is because Heaven is furious! But does anyone know why Heaven is so furious?" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
The man was full of vigor, his qi and blood robust. His voice exploded across the open space. Many of the suffering commoners looked at each other in confusion.
Lu Xuan frowned deeply, watching in silence.
Before the suffering people could think, the rough-hewn man continued to boom, answering his own question:
"It is because of the Qin Emperor’s wickedness, the Qin Emperor’s tyranny! For thousands of years, the Qin Emperor has built three hundred sixty-five Heaven-Reaching Platforms, constructed the Apang Palace, erected the Great Mausoleum, and raised the Great Wall! He has exhausted the people and wasted resources, shown no respect to the Immortals and Buddhas, and angered Heaven!"
The man puffed out his chest, full of righteous indignation, and paced back and forth.
"And now, Heaven is enraged! We have no way to survive! Right here in North Sea City, many families have already been wiped out!"
He roared with all his might:
"What is to be done?! What is to be done?!"
The suffering commoners exchanged glances, but no one spoke.
After a long moment, a little old man shouted curses at him:
"Where did a dog like you come from, spreading such malicious lies?! Get down from there! His Majesty is wicked? How can you even say such a thing??"
He put his hands on his hips and continued to rail:
"Since the drought began, how many granaries has His Majesty opened for disaster relief? How many land taxes has he waived? How many benevolent policies has he enacted? He even abolished the corvée labor! I worked on the Great Wall back in the day! We were fed fish and meat at every meal and got eighty coins a day! My grandson even gets to go to school for free!"
On the Rain-Seeking Platform, the rough-hewn man’s brow twitched. He said angrily:
"Old man! You’ve been on your knees for so long you can’t stand up straight anymore! You’re a running dog for the tyrant! A traitor to the people!"
He leaped down from the high platform, striding forward step by step, his eyes wide with rage.
"I’ll beat you to death, you running dog!!"
With that, amidst a chorus of gasps, the rough-hewn man raised his massive fist. His qi and blood surged, generating a Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound, and he was about to smash the little old man to death—
Suddenly, the masked young man appeared in front of the little old man. Without any visible movement, all four of the rough-hewn man’s limbs were broken. He collapsed to the ground, letting out a horrific scream!
"Who sent you."
Under countless terrified gazes, the young man looked down, his eyes fixed on the screaming man. The man’s mind was seized, and he began to speak involuntarily:
"My lord sent me. For spreading the word in one city, he promised one Immortal Elixir, a hundred Spirit Fruits, and countless riches..."
Many of the commoners erupted in an uproar. The little old man peeked his head out from behind Lu Xuan and spat heavily on the ground.
"Pah!!"
Lu Xuan’s expression was glacial as he stared at the rough-hewn man. All manner of causes and effects swirled in his eyes as he traced the connection back to its source, seeing a Cultivator at the Earth Immortal Level.
He pointed a finger, shattering the rough-hewn man’s Soul. A murderous intent followed the thread of Cause and Effect and annihilated the Three Souls and Seven Spirits of that Earth Immortal as well.
Then, without a second glance at the now-silent man, Lu Xuan destroyed the Rain-Seeking Platform with a palm strike and said calmly:
"All of us in the Human Race, we do not beg Immortals, nor do we plead to Buddhas."
With that, he looked up and uttered softly:
"Wind. Clouds. Rain."
As the words fell, a fierce wind suddenly rose, dark clouds gathered, and rain began to pour down in sheets!
"It’s raining... It’s raining! It’s raining!!"
The countless suffering people were overjoyed. They held out their hands to catch the rain, pouring it into their mouths. Their cheers were continuous, gradually echoing throughout all of North Sea City.
"Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal!!" The little old man was the first to kowtow, and soon all the nearby commoners were prostrating themselves before Lu Xuan.
But he shook his head and said,
"I am no Immortal, only a man."
After a moment’s thought, Lu Xuan added,
"I come from the imperial court."
The little old man grew excited and exclaimed,
"You were sent by His Majesty?"
"I was."
The commoners’ cheers changed. They no longer shouted for the Immortal, but cried out "His Majesty’s great fortune!", "Long live His Majesty!", and the like.
Only then did a smile appear on Lu Xuan’s face. He said with a laugh:
"You shouldn’t shout ’Long live His Majesty.’ If he really only lives ten thousand years, that’d be dying young... Alright, alright!"
When he finished speaking, the commoners looked up again to find the masked young man had vanished without a trace.
「At the same time, high above the North Sea.」
Lu Xuan’s figure materialized. No longer able to suppress the rage in his heart, his voice thundered:
"Dragon King, get out here!"
The roar shook the entire North Sea. The ocean tides surged and rolled, but no True Dragon emerged.
A long time passed.
The Turtle Prime Minister emerged from the bottom of the sea, trembling with fear. He bowed his head low.
"Greetings, Upper Immortal!"
"Where is the North Sea Dragon King?" Lu Xuan demanded.
The Turtle Prime Minister stammered,
"Reporting to the Upper Immortal, His Majesty... he made it rain without permission seventeen years ago and was taken away by the Celestial Court long ago!"
Lu Xuan’s expression fell drastically.
.........
「The Celestial Court.」
"Hm?"
An Immortal frowned, glancing in the direction of the North Sea.
"Some creature made it rain without permission. How audacious! Pass the order! Send Celestial Soldiers to the Lower Realm and capture the one responsible!" freewebnoveℓ.com
"Yes, sir!"
A Divine General acknowledged the order, summoned his troops, and descended to the Lower Realm with murderous intent.
Then, the Immortal seemed to recall something and turned his head to ask,
"Has the North Sea Dragon King confessed to his crimes?"
"Reporting to you, my lord, not yet."
"Hmph. In that case, keep him imprisoned for another century. Torture him day and night, then release him in a hundred years!"
