The cow said, "Hey, I didn't praise you, so why shouldn't you accept it? I'm busy farming here, so I didn't see anyone coming."
Pei Ming said, "If that's the case." He took a step forward, and the farmers immediately raised their hoes and shouted, "He's been trampled to death! He's been trampled to death!"
Pei Ming frowned slightly and asked, "What did you step on to death?"
The cow said, "You trampled to death the crops they worked so hard to grow. Apologize."
Pei Ming looked down and said patiently, "If I'm not mistaken, this is just weeds."
The cow said in surprise, "You're a general who's known for fighting and killing. What do you know? Don't we farmers know better than you whether it's grass or crops?"
Although Xie Lian had already figured out that the people from Yushi Township were deliberately trying to harass Pei Ming, he couldn't help but wonder if it was grass or crops. Why would Pei Ming, the valiant Martial God of the North, apologize to a bunch of farmers for such a frivolous reason? He simply ignored them, took a few steps forward, and shouted, "Qingxuan, come out! Your brother's going through a tribulation, and things are going badly! Something bad's going to happen!"
“…”
Shi Qingxuan had originally decided to stay in the house, as Pei Ming wouldn't force his way in anyway. But when he heard this, he said, "What?!" and rushed out.
Pei Ming glanced at the cow and said, "You've come here again!"
Shi Qingxuan was stunned, then reacted in a split second, leaping back. "Don't scare me! How could it be so fast? This is too sudden! I thought it would take at least a few months." But just now in Xianjing, the water master had indeed left in a hurry, as if to attend to something urgent. He immediately put two fingers together and touched his solar plexus. This was the hand seal for spiritual communication. However, as he raised his hand, he remembered that he had completely lost his magical power. He didn't even care about the melancholy. He quickly grabbed Xie Lian and said, "Your Highness, please ask for me. Is this true?"
Xie Lian and Ming Yi both entered the spiritual communication array. As expected, it was already a chaotic mess, a disastrous scene. Many of the priests seemed to be watching the East Sea from the side, muttering, "My God... this scene... worthy of Shui Hengtian!"
"This, this, this, can we survive this..."
The higher the power of a priest, and the more times he has survived tribulations, the more dangerous the next tribulation he faces. Shi Wudu monopolized the waterways and dominated the financial system. This was his third tribulation, so one could imagine what this one would be like. Xie Lian said, "It's true."
The bull was still blocking the road, so Pei Ming couldn't force his way in. He said from a distance, "You're not a child anymore. Who would try to trick you with something like this? Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation isn't like having a meal. How can you just change into new clothes and go? It came so unexpectedly! He's currently in the East China Sea. Huge waves are rolling in there, and no one can get in or out. He was just fighting the waves when someone reported you'd escaped. How can he possibly survive the tribulation with peace of mind?"
Shi Qingxuan said: "Then quickly tell him that I'm in Yushi Township?!"
Xie Lian listened to the immediate report from the spiritual formation and said, “It’s no use. Right now, the entire sea area where the Water Master is undergoing his tribulation has released a chaotic mana field. He’s probably in a state of panic, and no one can talk to him!”
Shi Qingxuan rushed out and said, "Take me to see it!"
Pei Ming extended his hand and said, "Let's go!"
Ming Yi suddenly dodged and stood in front of Shi Qingxuan, his expression solemn. Shi Qingxuan asked, "Brother Ming, what's wrong?"
Ming Yi frowned and said nothing, but Xie Lian could probably guess what he was thinking and why he wanted to stop Shi Qingxuan.
Is it really the right thing to do now to help the water master survive this catastrophe?
If the fate-changing incident is true, the water master must be punished accordingly. So, is there really nothing wrong with helping him reach a higher level before holding him accountable?
He could guess this because Xie Lian was also pondering this question. Shi Qingxuan hesitated for a moment, then sighed deeply and said, "...Brother Ming, I...thank you very much. But no matter what, it's...I'm still worried. Let's get through this first!"
After saying this, he rushed to Pei Ming's side and turned to say, "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Master Rain! Thank you, Ox! Thank you, everyone! I'll report back another day!" The two of them hurried away. Mingyi stayed where she was for a moment, then followed. Xie Lian watched their backs without moving. Huacheng slowly emerged from the room and said, "Brother, aren't you going?"
After thinking for a moment, Xie Lian shook his head and said slowly, "I can't help this matter. Let's see how they resolve it themselves."
Shi Qingxuan, caught in the middle of this, still couldn't figure out what to do, feeling rather hamstrung. While Xie Lian understood Shi Wudu's insistence, he couldn't agree with it. The ideal outcome would be for Shi Wudu to confess his guilt and accept his punishment, and Mingyi likely hoped for that, hence why she stopped Shi Qingxuan. But given the arrogance and overbearing dominance of the water master, this was practically impossible. After so many years in such a high position, no one would willingly step down.
If it were someone else, Xie Lian would probably report this matter to the Heavenly Court immediately. However, thinking of Feng Shi's usual kindness and friendship, he couldn't turn his back on his brother in this critical moment. That would seem like taking advantage of his brother's misfortune, adding insult to injury, and showing no regard for their past friendship. He could only wait and see how they resolved the issue on their own. If the final solution was still not satisfactory...
Thinking of this, he said to Hua Cheng self-deprecatingly: "Sanlang, maybe your previous advice was right. Hey, this matter."
Hua Cheng smiled faintly and was about to speak when Xie Lian's expression suddenly changed. A voice within the spiritual array said, "What?! Hundreds of fishermen's boats have been swept into this? At this very moment?!"
Xie Lian was stunned and muttered, "Fishermen? Where did they get mixed up? The East China Sea?"
If the spiritual communication array was a mess just now, now it was like the porridge spilled onto the ground and fed to the dogs. Ling Wen didn't even have time to respond, but his voice remained calm: "Excuse me, which Martial God is on duty? Old Pei?"
Pei Ming said from within the formation, "Don't worry. I'm heading there with Qingxuan. Master Geomancer is also here. First, calculate how many hundreds of people have been trapped in the storm. We can bring them all back and try not to miss a single one."
Ling Wen said, "Thank you for your hard work. The Water Master has now opened the execution ground and will not allow anyone else to enter the area where he is undergoing the tribulation. The priests from the Central Heaven Court will definitely be beaten to pieces if they enter. The priests from the Upper Heaven Court may still be able to try to break through the barrier. There are probably more than two hundred people affected. The two of you alone may not be enough. We need a Martial God. Which prince is here right now? General Nanyang? General Xuanzhen?"
Someone responded, "Weren't the two generals punished for destroying the Immortal Capital and confined? They can't be called upon right now..."
"Where's Taihua? Has His Highness Taihua returned?"
"Not back! Sent out."
"Where's Qiying?"
"Who knows where he's gone? He's been blocking all communication with spirits for years and doesn't listen to anyone. You know that!"
Besides these few, which other Martial Gods in the Upper Heaven could rank high? Even in his anxiety, Xie Lian couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Could it be that his aura as the Broken God was so strong that everyone had forgotten that he was a Martial God? He hurriedly said, "I! I'm here. I'll go. Going to the East China Sea to pick up fishermen, right?"
Ling Wen said: "Your Highness, the waves on the East China Sea are very dangerous right now. Your magic power is useless. What if..."
Xie Lian said, “It’s alright. I’ve fished all over the world, and every time I go out to sea, I’ve encountered strong winds and waves. I’ve often been at sea for ten days or half a month, so I’m used to it.”
“…”
The priests couldn't help but think, "That's possible! What else have you done???"
The situation was critical, and there was no time for overthinking. Ling Wen said, "Okay. Thank you, General Pei, for your cooperation!"
Pei Ming said: "Okay!"
Xie Lian closed his spiritual channel and turned around, saying, “Sanlang, over there in the East China Sea…”
Unexpectedly, when he turned around, he saw Hua Cheng had changed into a refreshing fisherman's outfit. He threw a dice, caught it with one hand, and placed the other hand on the door, and said simply: "Let's go!"
Xie Lian was startled for a moment, then he smiled and said, “Okay!” and followed.
When I opened the door, what I saw was not the furnishings in the house, but a gray beach.
The two emerged from a small fishing hut on the beach, one of the most common resting places in the East China Sea. Beyond the beach lay the vast, boundless sea. The beach was gray not because the sand was gray, but because the sky and the sea were gray. The sky was dark, the clouds rolled in, oppressive and suffocating.
From time to time, a massive wave would rise from the distant sea, like a towering wall rising from the ground, then crumbling. Columns of water, like dragons, would rise into the sky, raging like tornadoes, rising and collapsing. A dark, dark thunderbolt crept across the horizon, twisted and hideous.
A brand new ship was moored at the beach. One couldn't have nowhere to land on the sea; if they simply flew through the air, they might be struck by lightning. Therefore, a boat was essential, and this was no ordinary boat. Shi Qingxuan, Pei Ming, and Mingyi were already on board. Upon seeing Hua Xie and the others emerge from the small fishing hut, Pei Ming called out, "Your Highness!"
Shi Qingxuan sighed, "Your Highness, you...ah! You've worked so hard. I'm so sorry."
Xie Lian boarded the boat and said, "It's just my duty. How do we sail this boat?"
Pei Ming saw Hua Cheng standing behind him, arms folded, looking quite relaxed. He warned, "Everyone, please retreat. This storm is no joke."
At this moment, Hua Cheng was wearing simple, patched clothes, but he still looked handsome and lively. He looked like a handsome little fisherman. He smiled and said, "I am not an outsider. I am just following my prince."
Xie Lian also said, "He is a member of my palace."
Pei Ming, however, had already drawn his sword and refused to give in. He insisted, "Back off."
Before Xie Lian could respond, Hua Cheng said to him with uncanny determination, "No. This time, I must accompany you."
The two sides were deadlocked for only a moment, but Shi Qingxuan, who felt as if four seasons had passed, said to Pei Ming, "General Pei, this guy is fine. Let's start the boat!"
As he spoke, a sudden bolt of thunder struck the sea. The entire water flashed with lightning, blazing and shimmering, turning a brilliant emerald green, as if a gigantic heart had suddenly begun to beat and breathe. The scene was both spectacular and terrifying. Pei Ming didn't want to wait any longer and shouted, "Open!"
The ship shook violently, and there was a sound of wheels turning. Without anyone operating it, the big ship actually left the beach on its own and sped towards the depths of the sea, opening up a path through lightning, thunder, and raging waves.
Despite the strong wind and waves, Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, Pei Ming, and Ming Yi all remained steady. Only Shi Qingxuan, held onto by Ming Yi, managed to stay afloat. Xie Lian shouted, "Can this boat withstand this kind of wind and waves?!"
Pei Ming said: "It should be barely possible now, but it's hard to say whether it will work in the future!"
The boat was already moving extremely fast, with the seawater splashing high on both sides, but Shi Qingxuan asked, "Can you go a little faster?"
Pei Ming said, "This ship is burning mana at the fastest rate!"
Shi Qingxuan clenched his right hand, which had originally held the Wind Master Fan. A single gust of wind could have suddenly sprung up, and with favorable winds, the boat could have sped at least 40% faster. But now, there was nothing there, and he couldn't help but sigh again. At this moment, Huacheng patted Xie Lian and whispered, "Brother."
Xie Lian turned his head, eyes wide open. He saw a small fishing boat spinning in the raging waves, about 25 feet away. A few figures could be seen on board, seemingly calling for help. However, their cries were drowned out by the roaring waves and thunder.
Fishermen in distress!
This was the purpose of his trip. Ruo Xie flew out, grabbed the fishermen by the waist, and pulled them up. The fishermen nearly collapsed on the deck of the large ship, but Pei Ming immediately opened the door of a cabin and threw them all in. When the fishermen opened the door again, they would find themselves on shore.
After Huacheng and Xie Lian pulled thirty or forty fishermen out of the water, the large ship, tossed and shoved, drew ever closer to the center of the storm and the surging waves. At this moment, many priests must have been watching this terrifying spectacle from afar, while many mortals were also marveling and terrified at the might of the heavens. More and more lightning bolts were striking the ship. These lightning bolts were attracted by the source of magical power and would strike those with greater magical powers. This was why it was best to stay away from others undergoing tribulations, as they would be harmed by the innocent.
Shi Qingxuan was a mortal at the moment, so Xie Lian's magic power was only enough for him to ask a question within the spirit communication array. Hua Cheng's magic power wasn't needed at this moment, so it was kept safe. Thus, the lightning bolts were directed solely at Pei Ming. Several times, he used his sword to strike back the lightning bolts with ease, a skill Xie Lian greatly admired. If a priest from the Central Heaven Court had been here, not only would they have been pursued and struck, they wouldn't have been able to retaliate, which was why they were not allowed in. Shortly after passing through this barrier, Shi Qingxuan suddenly shouted, "Brother!!!"
Xie Lian looked up and, as expected, saw Shi Wudu, his white robes fluttering, hanging in the air, his hands forming the fighting character mudra, among the seven or eight water dragons rising into the sky.
Although he still pressed on the waves, he seemed uneasy and unstable. The rampant water dragons would occasionally seize the opportunity to approach, waiting for the chance to devour him, and he narrowly avoided them several times. The ship was still dozens of feet away from him. If the Wind Master Fan was still there, Shi Qingxuan could suppress the wind and waves by a knot, but he was a mortal now, and even his voice could not be heard far, so he could only worry anxiously. Pei Ming's words were heard loud and far: "Brother Shui! Qingxuan has been found!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Wudu opened his eyes.
At the same moment, a massive wave surged upwards, then plummeted. The ship was lifted high into the air, but couldn't keep up with the wave's speed, leaving it suspended in mid-air, plummeting rapidly. Xie Lian used a heavy weight to steady himself, firmly grasping Hua Cheng's hand. "Be careful!" he cried.
It was strange. Hua Cheng was taller than him, and it was effortless for him to hold him up with one hand, but Xie Lian felt that he was so light and airy, as if he would disappear if he wasn't careful, so he held on tightly. Meanwhile, Hua Cheng had also grabbed him with his backhand. Over there, Pei Ming shouted, "Brother Shui, collect yourselves! If you don't suppress the waves, your brother will drown!"
Shi Wudu saw the boat coming here and heard his words. A green light flashed across his face, and his hand seals suddenly changed. It seemed as if a magic field was shaken out from his body. The seven or eight waterspouts that had been circling around him were instantly defeated and turned into heavy rain that fell from the sky with a crackling sound.
The rain fell like falling rocks, making the deck crackle and causing dull pain. But after that, the wind and waves subsided slightly. Shi Wudu slowly descended and landed on the ship. Everyone was soaked. Shi Qingxuan wiped his face and said hesitantly, "...Brother."
Shi Wudu's face was still green as he strode forward and said, "I told you to stay put, why were you running around?! Do you think you'd be happy if you pissed me off to death?!"
Shi Qingxuan really didn't know what to say. He was worried when he wasn't there, and now that he was there, he remembered that incident all over again. He couldn't get over it, so he said, "...Alas, I just... I..."
Finally, he scratched his hair and sighed, "It's good that you have survived the disaster. I think, I still feel..."
Shi Wudu interrupted him and asked, "Who said I have overcome the calamity?"
Shi Qingxuan was stunned and said, "Wasn't that what happened just now?"
Pei Ming wiped his hair with water and said, "Don't be too happy too soon. Your brother is going through his third heavenly tribulation. It's not that simple. It will take at least seven days and seven nights. What happened just now was just the beginning."
In reality, even the first heavenly tribulation wasn't that simple. It seemed that the "heavenly tribulation" Shi Qingxuan faced was far less severe than that faced by others. He must have thought of this, and his expression darkened again. Xie Lian, still thinking about the purpose of this trip, asked within the spirit communication array, "Lingwen? We've now entered the sea area where the water master is undergoing the tribulation. Could you please point out where the fishermen caught in the storm are?"
Ling Wen said, "Wait a moment." After a while, she said, "It's troublesome. Two hundred and sixty-one fishermen were swept into the area where he was undergoing the tribulation today, and they were spread too thin, scattered here and there..."
After a few words, her voice began to break up, and Xie Lian couldn't hear clearly. He asked, "What's wrong? Lingwen?"
He thought he'd run out of mana again, but looking up at Pei Ming's expression, it was clear he was feeling the same way. Before they could discuss anything, Xie Lian spotted a few dilapidated boats floating on the sea not far away. He said, "Perhaps the aftermath of the initial attack was too strong, so my spiritual connection isn't working well. It might clear up soon. The spiritual text says 261 fishermen were scattered by the waves. Let's save as many as we can."
Naturally, no one would object. Pei Ming said, "Brother Shui, please go in and rest for a while. You've only just gotten through the opening, and who knows when the next one will come. You're unlucky this time, having affected so many mortals."
Shi Wudu did seem a little tired. He nodded slightly, pushed open the door of another cabin, and went in to meditate. Shi Qingxuan seemed to want to say something serious to him, but since he hadn't yet overcome the tribulation, he couldn't say it at this juncture. He had no choice but to swallow it down. He was about to walk to the side with Mingyi in a sullen mood, but Shi Wudu opened his eyes again and said sternly, "Don't run around. Come here and sit over here."
Shi Qingxuan had no choice but to squat down beside him.
After most of the day and into the night, the ship drifted deeper into the East China Sea.
Although the spiritual communication was still sporadic, sometimes working and sometimes not, it was still manageable. During this time, Xie Lian and the others had rescued over two hundred fishermen. Those fishermen had been out fishing normally when a sudden strong storm swept them too far out to sea, making it impossible for them to return on their own. If they had drifted for days and nights, they might have died of starvation, thirst, or even dried up in the sun. The sudden rescue was a true resurgence, a resounding revelation, and they were overjoyed.
Drifting on the sea like this, it was unknown how many days and nights it would take to rescue all the fishermen. It was also unknown when Shi Wudu's third heavenly tribulation would officially begin. He was in danger at any time. Under such circumstances, Pei Ming still did not change his style. At night, he rescued several fishing sisters who were so scared that they cried until their eyes were blurry. He hugged them in his arms and comforted them softly, with such tenderness and affection, and then sent them to the cabin. The girls were reluctant to leave, hoping to see him again when they opened the door. Shi Wudu had been meditating for a long time, and his complexion had improved a lot. He opened his eyes and said, "Aren't you always very demanding?"
Although the fisherwomen were in their prime, they were only of average appearance and certainly far below Pei Ming's usual standards for beauties. However, after he embraced the women, his face instantly lit up. He stroked his chin and laughed, "I've rescued seventy or eighty bearded old fishermen in a row. Every time I see a woman, I find her incredibly beautiful. Hahahaha."
Upon hearing this, Shi Qingxuan and Mingyi both stopped wanting to look at him. Xie Lian shook his head, finding it rather amusing. He sat down beside Huacheng for a moment before suddenly feeling a pang of emptiness in his stomach.
No one else on the boat needed to eat. Although Shi Qingxuan was still a mortal, Xie Lian suspected Shi Wudu had given him some kind of elixir, one that could keep him full for days, so he didn't seem hungry yet. This wasn't a mortal ship built for seafaring, so there definitely wasn't any food on board. Xie Lian stood up and was about to go fishing when Hua Cheng handed him something. He looked down and saw a snow-white, soft steamed bun.
He sat back down and whispered, "Thank you, Sanlang."
Hua Cheng also said softly: "Brother, use this to hold it for now, it will be fine later."
They split a steamed bun in half and sat side by side, slowly chewing on it. Pei Ming heard their whispers from the other side of the boat and brushed his hair against it, saying, "Have you two discovered anything? Why don't you leave your little world and tell us about it?"
Xie Lian was about to respond perfunctorily when he suddenly frowned and said, “Don’t you think something’s wrong?”
Mingyi also frowned, then looked up and said, "Yes."
Xie Lian stood up and said, "This boat seems to be moving much slower. Is it because we're running low on mana?"
Pei Ming said, "How is that possible? The mana this boat was given before it set sail is enough to keep it going for two more days at sea."
Xie Lian walked to the side of the boat, put his hand on the side, and said, "But I can't help but feel that this boat has suddenly become very heavy..." Before he could finish his sentence, his voice suddenly stopped. Everyone except Shi Wudu gathered at the side of the boat and asked, "What's wrong?"
No need to ask, just looking at it told you what was going on. Even though it was dark, you could still vaguely see that the ship's draft had suddenly become unusually deep. And it was still getting deeper!
Xie Lian immediately asked, “Is there a leak under the boat?! Did it hit a reef? Or did something dig a hole underwater?”
Pei Ming said, "Impossible! How could we not notice it hit a reef? This ship isn't an ordinary ship, and ordinary things can't penetrate it, unless..."
He seemed to have thought of something and choked. Mingyi asked, "Unless what?"
Pei Ming said, "It's broken."
Shi Qingxuan asked, "What's broken?"
Pei Ming turned abruptly and said, "The boat is sailing through the ghost realm and sinks as soon as it hits the water. We've drifted into the Black Water Ghost Cave."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
