Chapter 840: This Dog Food Is Being Spread

The moment Ji Yuan's thought arose, the old dragon shivered, finding even the sky's rumbling thunder more unsettling than usual. As a close friend, the old dragon knew Ji Yuan's true temperament, despite his usual peaceful smile; he was capable of delivering harsh blows.

Despite knowing he had achieved his goal, the old dragon couldn't immediately notify Ji Yuan. Moreover, having just endured that strike of heavenly lightning, he was curious to experience Ji Yuan's thunder magic, so he decided to bear it.

Fortunately, the subsequent lightning strikes were not as intense; instead, like the first, their power was divided, remaining formidable but not as overwhelming as the second bolt had been.

Approximately half an hour later, the lightning in the sky finally subsided, and the vortex formed by the tribulation clouds gradually calmed. Though thunder still echoed, it was now merely the ordinary sound of thunder amidst a downpour.

This signified that the lightning tribulation had successfully passed.

In the sky, a Chi Dragon and a Li Jiao flew side by side. The Chi Dragon's glazed red hue was slightly dull, but its brilliance quickly returned as the heavy rain washed over it.

“The beginning is always the hardest; the most perilous first thunder cloud has passed. Ruoli should be fine with the rest, right?”

The old dragon's voice carried an inexplicable blend of emotion and relief. The Dragon Mother naturally nestled against the Chi Dragon's body, gazing at the surging Tongtian River with expectant eyes.

“Ruoli should be able to make it!”

At this very moment, a Chi Jiao in the Tongtian River raised its head above the surface. Its gaze turned skyward, where it witnessed the Chi Dragon and Li Jiao nestled together, their postures radiating harmony and natural ease.

The sight of the Chi Jiao raising its head from the river was likewise reflected in the eyes of the old dragon and the Dragon Mother. It seemed the Dragon Maiden's long-held emotional burden had finally been lifted.

“A mighty roar—”

The Chi Jiao's roar at this moment was exceptionally high-pitched, accompanied by a surge of dragon energy. Three-zhang-high waves rose on the river's surface, yet remarkably, they did not surge towards the banks due to the rising water level; instead, they propelled the Chi Jiao steadily onward.

Witnessing this scene, the old dragon and Dragon Mother transformed from their dragon forms into human figures. The old dragon carefully put his arm around the Dragon Mother's waist, and she did not resist. Together, they stood upon a cloud, watching their daughter ride the colossal waves into the distance.

At this moment, Ji Yuan also stood high in the sky, his spiritual eyes piercing through the clouds, mist, wind, and thunder. He saw Ying Ruoli riding the waves and undergoing her transformation, and witnessed his friend and the Dragon Mother's reconciliation.

“Heh heh, not bad at all!”

Ji Yuan chuckled softly, then extended his hand, summoning the 'Edict Lightning Charm' before him. He examined the four characters, 'Expel Evil, Bind Demons,' which had regained a hint of lightning and were now encircled by faint flashes, a stark contrast to their previous dullness. Tucking the charm into his sleeve, Ji Yuan added,

“This move wasn't bad either.”

In the Golden Palace of the Great Zhen Imperial Capital, the morning court had already been in session for over an hour. Great Zhen was currently in a period where both the emperor and his officials were dedicated to diligent governance and grand aspirations, leading to numerous matters being discussed at each major morning assembly.

However, at this moment, the Golden Palace was quiet. The emperor and his courtiers listened to the fierce thunder outside; some were unconcerned, others uneasy. Yin Zhaoxian, the chief minister, stroked his beard thoughtfully. Although a scholar, he could sense the profound stirring of heavenly might.

“Teacher, you mentioned this thunder is extraordinary. Do you know what has occurred?”

The emperor on the dragon throne inquired of Yin Zhaoxian, who, after a moment's thought, bowed and began to reply.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this old minister does not oversee mystical matters. Let us await reports from the Bureau of Astronomy and the Celestial Masters' Office.”

“Very well.”

After only a short wait, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng arrived briskly outside the Golden Palace and then entered together.

“Your subject Yan Chang greets Your Majesty!” “Your subject Du Changsheng greets Your Majesty!”

The two men proceeded to the center of the Golden Palace and bowed solemnly to the emperor seated on the dragon throne.

“Yan Ai Qing and National Preceptor, you may forgo the formalities. Have you discovered the reason for this sudden outburst of wind and thunder? Is it connected to our Great Zhen, a harbinger of disaster, or a sign of good fortune?”

Yan Chang glanced at Du Changsheng, giving him a slight nod, whereupon Du Changsheng stepped forward to answer.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has ascertained the cause of the fierce winds, torrential rain, and the preceding terrifying thunder. It is due to Lady Ying, the goddess of the Tongtian River, undergoing her 'walk of water' transformation. The entire length of the Tongtian River is experiencing relentless heavy rain and raging winds. I urge Your Majesty and all ministers to prepare for flood prevention, as there is a risk of severe flooding along the Tongtian River.”

“Oh, it's Lady Ying?” “How could this be...?”

“Lady Ying is the deity of the Tongtian River; would she really cause such a commotion?”

“Indeed…”

Upon hearing this, the ministers murmured amongst themselves, and the emperor's brow furrowed in a deep frown.

“National Preceptor, what precisely is 'walk of water'?”

The term 'walk of water' had long existed in popular folklore, but the emperor, of course, couldn't solely rely on hearsay. Wishing to understand more clearly, Du Changsheng promptly answered.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, 'walk of water' is a Jiao-dragon's method of transforming into a dragon, also known as the tribulation of dragon transformation. Lady Ying, whose full name is Ying Ruoli, is the goddess of our Great Zhen's Tongtian River. She is also a Chi Jiao with profound cultivation who, for many years, has protected the riverbanks, overseen aquatic creatures, and ensured favorable weather for the people. Now, her cultivation is complete, and she has begun her 'walk of water' on the path to becoming a true dragon!”

“National Preceptor, can you and the esteemed figures from the Celestial Masters' Office cast spells to prevent the floods, or perhaps speak with Lady Ying and instruct her not to cause such disturbances?”

Du Changsheng's heart trembled. He certainly had neither the courage nor the ability for such a task and hastened to reply.

“Your Majesty, Lady Ying possesses profound cultivation and immense divine powers; her magic is unfathomable. Furthermore, 'walk of water' to transform into a dragon is the lifelong aspiration of a Jiao-dragon. If your subjects were to rashly intervene, it would undoubtedly provoke a dragon's wrath. Even if Lady Ying is kind and gentle by nature, such an act would create a mortal enmity. At that point, there might be chaos that overturns rivers and seas, and it would no longer be a localized disaster…”

Hearing Du Changsheng speak so gravely—a statement that was certainly not entirely false—the emperor couldn't help but sigh.

“What can be done...?”

The emperor on the dragon throne fell into sorrow. All the courtiers in the Golden Palace, whether genuinely distressed or feigning it, also displayed worried expressions. The Tongtian River's flow was exceptionally wide, and a flood would undoubtedly lead to severe disaster, potentially damaging countless fields and displacing untold numbers of people.

Yin Zhaoxian sighed. Stepping forward from the line of ministers he led, he bowed and spoke.

“Your Majesty! This old minister is willing to proceed to the Tongtian River's path and reason with Lady Ying.”

“Teacher!”

“Chancellor Yin!” “This...!”

“Chancellor Yin, please reconsider!”

Yin Qing, standing nearby, opened his mouth but remained silent. Yin Zhong, among the military officials, had initially intended to step forward but was subtly gestured by his elder brother with a look to not interfere.

Du Changsheng's expression shifted. He quickly took two steps forward, positioning himself half a pace behind Yin Zhaoxian, and stood beside him, bowing once more towards the dragon throne as he spoke.

“Your Majesty, your subject Du Changsheng is also willing to accompany Chancellor Yin! Chancellor Yin embodies immense righteousness, revered by both ghosts and gods. If he steps forward, even the river's true deity would not dare to be disrespectful!”

The emperor's expression grew excited, and a sudden thought sparked in his mind.

“That would be excellent. I, too, wish to meet this goddess of the Tongtian River. How about I accompany you?”

“Ah, Your Majesty, you mustn't!” “Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

“Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot do this!”

Du Changsheng and the courtiers were all startled. If the Jiao-dragon's 'walk of water' were to cause a flood, and anything were to befall the emperor's invaluable person, what would become of Great Zhen?

Yin Zhaoxian's brows furrowed.

“Your Majesty, please prioritize the stability of the realm.”

The emperor, unable to disregard his ministers' opinions and respecting his teacher, could only abandon the idea.

Subsequently, the morning court temporarily postponed other matters to first deliberate on how to respond if a large-scale flood erupted in the Tongtian River basin and how to provide relief to the victims. Meanwhile, Yin Zhaoxian and Du Changsheng departed the Golden Palace ahead of time, racing against the clock to reach the flood-affected region.

Outside the Golden Palace, Du Changsheng bowed to Yin Zhaoxian.

“Chancellor, I am about to summon the wind; please stand firm.”

Yin Zhaoxian simply smiled faintly.

“Please, National Preceptor, cast your spell.”

With a surge of determination, Du Changsheng gently cast his spell, conjuring a gust of wind that enveloped both him and Yin Zhaoxian. Under the almost worshipful gaze of the imperial guards, they ascended into the sky, rushing towards the path of the Tongtian River's flow.

Normally, Du Changsheng would never be able to match the Dragon Maiden's speed. However, with her currently undergoing the 'walk of water'—one enduring immense pressure as she swam, the other flying above—catching up was certainly not an issue.

As Du Changsheng and Yin Zhaoxian flew through the air, despite continuous torrential rain and incessant howling winds along their route, and the Tongtian River being highly turbulent, they observed no significant water overflowing onto the banks. After flying for over an hour, they finally spotted the colossal, terrifying wave on the river surface ahead.

At this point, the colossal wave was five zhang high, stretching for several li. Bolts of lightning from the sky lashed the river, and countless streams of water merged into the tumultuous currents. Occasionally, a dragon's roar echoed through the thunderous storm.

Though fearsome to behold, this colossal surge of water did not sweep towards the banks of the Tongtian River. At most, it overflowed less than a li beyond the riverbanks.

“National Preceptor, did you not state that Lady Ying would cause such a commotion leading to severe flooding in the Tongtian River basin? To me, it doesn't appear so.”

“Uh, normally, a Jiao-dragon's 'walk of water' does indeed manifest in this manner…”

Du Changsheng was at a loss for how to reply, and certainly dared not fabricate an answer.

As Du Changsheng spoke, little did he know that he and Yin Zhaoxian had already garnered considerable attention, including that of the old dragon, the Dragon Mother, and naturally, Ji Yuan.

There was no helping it; wherever Yin Zhaoxian went, his vast righteousness shone brightly, making him exceptionally conspicuous within the dim storm.

The Dragon Mother watched the two figures carefully riding the wind below with great curiosity, asking the old dragon,

“Hong Ge, who are those two?”

“Call me husband!”

Hearing the old dragon's words, the Dragon Mother's face flushed, and she softly murmured,

“Husband…”

The old dragon, beaming, pointed at the two figures below.

“The one casting spells isn't particularly remarkable, and I don't know who he is. But the one beside him is truly extraordinary: Yin Zhaoxian, the chief minister of Great Zhen, a great Confucian scholar of the human realm. He is an envoy of the Wenqu Star, imbued with vast righteousness, and is one of the most formidable scholars in all the world.”

“Scholars can be this powerful?”

The Dragon Mother was slightly surprised. Weren't scholars typically delicate, easily crushed?

“Hmm, there weren't any before, but now there are. As for the future, it's hard to say…”

As he spoke, the old dragon looked up towards a spot in the sky, seemingly seeing Ji Yuan through the clouds. Ji Yuan, in turn, shifted his gaze from Master Yin back to the old dragon and Dragon Mother, smiling wryly to himself.

‘What a public display of affection...’