Chapter 46

In Dongcheng of Miaoxian County, Li Junde and Governor Li led the people of Qinglong City to come to the rescue.

Originally, Lady Li did not want her husband and son to take risks. However, as Governor Li had his duties, he had to go, and Li Junde, driven by a sense of righteousness, was unwilling to stay in Qinglong City after Xun Yi ran off to chase Liu Zhenying.

When Lady Li quietly followed Governor Li, it was too late by the time she found out.

The magistrate of Miaoxian County came forward to greet them: "This official greets the governor."

"Where is Xun Yi? Why isn't he here?" Seeing that no one from the Xun family was among those welcoming them, Li Junde shouted loudly.

Governor Li gave Li Junde a stern look, first helping the magistrate to his feet. After dismounting, he inquired about the situation in Miaoxian County.

"All the uninfected people in the city are concentrated in Dongcheng," the magistrate said cautiously. "There are three thousand people in Dongcheng. With the remaining food supplies, we can only last three days."

"Three thousand people?" Governor Li frowned. "So few?"

"Cough, cough..." The magistrate looked around and cleared his throat. "To ensure safety, this official did not allow those confirmed to be infected to enter Dongcheng."

In other words, those people were abandoned. From the beginning, the magistrate's plan was to protect only those who were not infected.

"..." Governor Li looked deeply at the magistrate. "Do you understand the consequences of this action?"

"This official understands, but at this moment, we cannot be overly sentimental. It's better to cut off the root of the problem from the start rather than let the infected continue to spread the disease," the magistrate said seriously. "Even a gecko can sever its tail to save itself. As the local magistrate, I must prioritize the health of the people. The source of the epidemic is unknown, and we cannot contact the land god temple. The doctors in the city cannot treat the disease, so we have no choice but to abandon them."

Although it was harsh, it was a wise decision. It was better than bringing those people in and having the entire city infected.

"What about the situation in Dongcheng?"

"Since the isolation, no one has fallen ill," the magistrate said. "After the doctors from Qinglong City examine the situation, we can consider relocating them."

Governor Li instructed the doctors behind him to go and check the situation, and the two Fangxian Dao cultivators to use their Daoist techniques to help examine the source of the epidemic.

"Xun Yi arrived early, but where is he?" At this point, Governor Li mentioned Xun Yi's situation.

"Xun Yi is kind-hearted and could not bear to see the people in the city die. He led the Xun family to go and save them," the magistrate said somewhat disdainfully, clearly not approving of Xun Yi's cheap kindness. If he failed to save them, he might end up causing trouble for his own group. Such a soft-hearted person was not fit for great deeds.

"What? He's in the city?" Li Junde immediately wanted to go find him. Governor Li quickly gave instructions and sent the two Daoists with Li Junde.

At this moment, Xun Yi had already ordered the infected people who were waiting to die in other parts of the city to be gathered near the land god temple.

Bai Shan, Liu Huai, and others were helping Xun Yi. He occasionally instructed them, "Be careful. Wear masks soaked in medicinal liquid. Don't touch anything in the city casually. When you come into contact with patients, avoid skin contact, and don't get injured to prevent infection."

"Remember, we are here to save people, not to die!" Xun Yi diluted the medicinal liquid given by Aunt Xue and soaked white cloth to prepare masks for the others.

On the other side, Ma Jingyi was boiling water and using it to disinfect the used gauze.

When Li Junde and the two others arrived, they saw that Xun Yi had everything well-organized. There were dozens of medicine pots boiling.

"Xun Yi!" Li Junde ran over and punched Xun Yi in the stomach. "You're really brave, causing trouble during an epidemic, and you still dare to run around."

"What can we do? We can't just watch three thousand people die, can we?" Xun Yi looked at the Daoists behind Li Junde and his eyes lit up. "Two masters, do you have any solutions?"

The scope of Lingdao cultivators is very broad. Apart from those who choose the path of a deity and gradually uncover the mysteries of divinity, others, whether demons, ghosts, or scholars, can all be considered Lingdao cultivators.

Lingdao, replacing the ancient witches as the bridge between the mundane and the divine.

This is a cultivation system derived from the ancient witchcraft.

Among them, Fangxian Dao cultivators study witch medicines and spells, focusing more on alchemy and medicine than on casting spells using primordial energy.

In the case of an epidemic, these Fangxian Dao cultivators can also be relied upon besides doctors.

The two Fangxian Dao cultivators looked at each other, and one said, "We felt something when we entered Miaoxian County. This epidemic is likely caused by a plague beast. To control the epidemic, we must address this beast."

The other added, "Generally, using the inner core of the plague beast with medicinal herbs can eliminate the disease. However, we don't know where this plague beast is or what kind it is."

"Rest assured, I anticipated this and have already sent someone to slay the plague beast. I believe we will have results soon."

"Deal with a plague beast? Its power is vast, not something a mortal can handle."

"I didn't send a mortal." Xun Yi did not elaborate and asked Li Junde, "Did you see Liu Zhenying when you came?"

"No, he hasn't returned yet?"

"Master! Master!" Qiupu ran over hurriedly. "Liu Zhenying just returned."

"Where is he now?"

"He rushed out after learning the situation. I don't know where he is now."

Jiang Yuanchen placed the bodies of the Liu family in the old house and had Qiupu guard the door, waiting for Liu Zhenying to return.

Sure enough, Liu Zhenying rushed home, saw the bodies of his loved ones, and was overwhelmed with grief and anger. After learning the details from Qiupu, he took his sword to seek revenge on the plague beast.

"How can a mortal have the means to take revenge?" Xun Yi was very worried and quickly contacted Wen Pan and others.

Wen Pan and Wu Pan led a group to track the plague beast and met up with Meng Han.

Meng Han was standing on a large tree, which had regained its vitality due to the effect of the "Spring Revival" spell, which had previously been withered and dead.

Standing on the tree, he surveyed the surroundings and communicated with Wen Pan and others.

"Release the Yunduizheng birds and let them catch the plague beast by instinct. This is better than searching place by place."

Wen Pan used his magic to activate the card, and a majestic divine bird spread its wings and flew high, crying out in the sky. The dark clouds dissipated with the bird's cry.

The sky was clear, and the sunlight shone brightly. The divine power of the Yunduizheng bird increased, and it swooped down toward a field below.

Its wings stirred up dust, and a monster shrouded in black mist reappeared.

The plague beast growled at the Yunduizheng bird. The monster depicted by Wen Xiangjun was so lifelike that even the instinct to fear its natural enemy was perfectly mimicked.

Under the gaze of the Yunduizheng bird, the plague beast's momentum gradually weakened. It continuously spewed black mist to fight the bird, but the Yunduizheng bird, being highly toxic, was not afraid of the plague beast's smoke.

"The plague beast controls the epidemic, the Yunduizheng bird is highly toxic, and the principle of mutual restraint suppresses it. I can secretly shoot it," Meng Han thought and whispered, "Old ghost, lend me your battle soul!"

"Sure thing!"

A tall and robust figure appeared behind the young man. With a sword-like brow and star-like eyes, he was exceptionally heroic. He transformed into a suit of armor and a black longbow, which Meng Han put on.

Wen Pan and Wu Pan created realms through calligraphy and painting, while Wu Pan used the battle soul to stabilize the world.

This battle soul represented the achievements of a martial cultivator, with a fierce fighting spirit and a bloodline like a rising smoke, continuous and unending.

"Stealth and concealment." Meng Han silently recited, and one of the fruits on the merit tree on his spiritual platform glowed, making his body and the battle soul disappear.

Meng Han was also a merit deity, following the same path as Xun Yi, with the only difference being the methods they used to obtain their merit powers.

"This gentleman seems to be close to the third level of a blessed deity, almost becoming a reserve blessed deity," Wen Pan looked down at the young man. "In comparison, our young master is a bit lacking."

"That's not the case. Have you forgotten? The condensation of the merit seed is entirely based on one's existing merit. This young man's merit tree is well-planted, but it clearly doesn't match our young master's," Wu Pan chuckled. "How much merit has Young Master Yi accumulated over the years? Including the incident when he was seven, his merit is so substantial that after being fully converted into a merit seed, it will definitely be the highest level. His future is boundless, and perhaps he can even aspire to the position of a blessed deity."

"Blessed Emperor?" Wen Pan shook his head. "That goal is too distant. Let the young master choose his blessed deity position first. Whether it's a positive or negative blessed deity, the God of Life, the God of Plague, the God of Wealth, or the God of Literature... if he makes a wrong choice, he will have a long and difficult path ahead."

"Wen Pan, Wu Pan, did you see a man while catching the plague beast?" Xun Yi used the power of the city god to project an image of Liu Zhenying.

"No, but we and Young Meng have found the plague beast and are about to slay it."

"Good, kill the plague beast and extract its inner core to help us lift the epidemic." Xun Yi felt relieved after transmitting his message. Since Liu Zhenying didn't encounter the plague beast, it should mean he is safe.

Wen Pan cut off contact with Xun Yi and continued to watch the Yunduizheng bird and the plague beast.

In the distance, a bright yellow light shot out from where Meng Han was hiding: "Divine power, Mountain-Shaking Earth-Shaking!"

Meng Han had mastered another great divine power, compressing the divine power into his finger. An arrow formed from the power of the earth condensed. He tightened the bowstring, and the battle soul within him took control: "The Way of the Bow—Piercing the Clouds and Shooting the Sun!"

The battle soul within Meng Han was a martial cultivator who practiced the way of the bow. He controlled the bow and arrow, shooting the Mountain-Shaking Arrow at the plague beast.

The arrow pierced the sky, tearing through space with a hissing sound. The plague beast turned its head and saw a blur, and the arrow firmly nailed into its eye.

"Moo—Moo—" The plague beast let out several惨叫声，山震箭的威力爆发。那足以撼动山河的大地之力在体内爆炸，整个身体化作肉沫四溅。

“文判大人，注意接收内丹！”

文判听孟翰高喊，低头去取瘟兽爆炸后遗留的内丹。

血雾随风而散，文判突然一愣。别说内丹了，原地连瘟兽的尸骸都没有，只有一张画卷落在地上，上面画着一头瘟兽图像。

“这……”孟翰脸色大变，自己等人费尽心思对付的瘟兽竟然只是画卷？

“该死！”孟翰体内的战魂骂道：“文道修士的丹青妙笔，看境界这应该是江山如画的层次？白费功夫了！”

千里之外，文襄君正扮作画师给一位女子画肖像。心血来潮，抬头看向北方：“瘟兽图已经被破了？想必晴隆城那边应该有成果了？”

“先生？”被画的女子娇滴滴地喊话，文襄君笑笑，提笔慢悠悠给她画像。破了又如何？区区一幅画，难道你们还能从画里挖出一个内丹？

A thousand miles away, Wen Xiangjun was disguised as a painter, drawing a portrait of a woman. Feeling a sudden surge of inspiration, he looked northward: "The plague beast image has been broken? I suppose there should be some progress in Qinglong City?"

"Master?" The woman being painted called out sweetly. Wen Xiangjun smiled and slowly continued her portrait. So what if it's broken? It's just a painting. Could you possibly dig out an inner core from a painting?