ATEG Chapter 64

“What happened?” Yu Jian asked instinctively.

A distant, resonant call came from the bottom of the well. “Although I personally experienced what happened at that time, my cultivation level back then was far from sufficient to participate. I only knew fragments and scraps. Later, as my cultivation deepened, I did try to investigate what happened in those years out of curiosity. But shortly after I began investigating, after touching upon some information, I gave up and never thought of continuing the inquiry again.”

“I understand,” Yu Jian said slowly.

If something would make even an existence of Meng Huai’s cultivation level speak so cautiously, then he shouldn’t be too curious about it either.

The river dragon condensed from vapor at the well’s mouth coiled and raised its head, looking toward the direction of the Daqing Mountain range. When that deity first came here, they had mentioned being able to break the seal in the well. Although this seal wasn’t set by the Great Celestial Venerable himself, it truly did contain the Great Celestial Venerable’s power.

The Great Celestial Venerable, the Divine Court, destiny qi, the great tribulation… Whatever unfathomable purpose that inscrutable deity had for remaining in this place, and whatever they intended to do in this great tribulation…

Meng Huai’s voice echoed low in the mist. “If I’m not mistaken… a Huai River Divine Lord trapped in a well is of no use.”

……

The unfathomable Li Chi at this moment not only knew nothing about the direction of this great tribulation, but was troubled by it.

Wisps of faith gathered around him through karmic connections, with faint sounds of prayer within.

…The deity ascends to heaven, can ward off great rains, stop waters and cleanse impurities. We are grateful for the deity’s virtue…

This was the village elder who regularly presided over sacrifices, now privately worshipping at home.

…With reverence we thank the deity for relieving suffering and resolving disasters. Though you accept no incense offerings, we can only respond to divine grace with sincere devotion. We pray for the deity’s protection, that my family and I may safely pass through this year of disaster…

This was Zheng Qian, who only half-understood the prayer texts, silently praying in his heart.

…Third Brother said you helped us again, thank you, deity! It rained a few days ago, so Big Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother didn’t go up the mountain to repair the railings for you. I asked them, and they said they won’t go anymore because you said not to let people come disturb you. They’ve all been unhappy these past few days, and so have Father and Mother. They don’t tell me, thinking I don’t understand anything, but I know everything. They’re unhappy because of the rain.

Is it because the deity is busy with rain matters that you told them not to come up the mountain?

Mother has only been making porridge these past few days. Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother asked to eat solid rice and got scolded by Mother. Sixth Brother secretly told me that the family is running out of grain. We were thinking it would be good if we could just not grow up. If we don’t grow up, we’d eat less, Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother wouldn’t get scolded, and Father and Mother wouldn’t be unhappy…

Only Tongdou prayed to him in such rambling plain speech.

Besides these clear prayers, there were also some hazy yet vivid thoughts—those were from creatures in the mountain forests whose spiritual awareness had just awakened but were still naive. They didn’t know solemn prayer words, nor could they express their thoughts in language, but their gratitude was deep and sincere.

Whether clear prayers or naive thoughts, all this faith was devout and pure.

Even though Li Chi didn’t need their incense offerings, they still made private offerings and worshipped, because beyond seeking help, what they felt more was gratitude.

Yet Li Chi knew in his heart that he hadn’t really done anything. From when the rain fell until now, he hadn’t even truly intervened.

When he sensed the three days of heavy rain about to fall, he had left the mountain to observe the situation, and also to see how the Divine Court would respond.

This great tribulation arose from destiny qi chaos and karmic severance. He saw the deities regulating destiny qi to deal with the great tribulation. At that time, Li Chi vaguely sensed that he too could influence this great tribulation. If only he could re-organize the karmic threads, he could greatly weaken this strange great tribulation.

Currently, the deities’ responses to the great tribulation across various regions were just two types: either assist the mortal world’s masses, or modify destiny principles and then leave them be, or combine both approaches.

But Li Chi noticed something unusual: he had originally thought that the deities’ means of observing destiny principles was a spell they cultivated themselves. He didn’t expect to see in Liang region many deities working together to modify the destiny principles of the masses.

Although observing destiny principles was a technique anyone could cultivate, observing destiny principles and modifying destiny principles were completely different concepts. Even just adding a single violent death disaster to a destiny principle wasn’t something easily accomplished. Yet why could all these deities do it?

After Li Chi investigated, he discovered that the deities’ destiny principle abilities came from the Divine Court’s seal. It wasn’t the Divine Court’s gods who could modify destiny principles—it was the deity who created the Divine Court’s seal.

This inevitably reminded Li Chi of a name—Taiyin.

In his dream, the owner had clearly said that Taiyin was versed in destiny principles.

Since coming to this world, Li Chi had never seen any cultivator who could touch upon karma as he could. Not to mention detecting it—even when he displayed karmic methods right in front of the Huai River Divine Lord, helping Yu Jian be able to remain in this place, this dragon lord of such ancient age and deep cultivation hadn’t noticed anything. He had also manipulated karma, drawing out the Ghost King in the Black Water Pool at Shekou Cliff to see if the records in the Examination of Mountain and Wilderness Oddities were accurate, and even that Ghost King who suppressed an entire region with such imposing might hadn’t detected his methods.

Cultivators might more or less have concepts of karma in their hearts, but this didn’t mean karma was a realm that could be easily peered into—just as someone who could listen to music didn’t necessarily know how to play it, and someone who could use a jar didn’t necessarily know how to make one. Destiny principles were the same.

Perhaps only Taiyin alone was proficient in destiny principles.

But what kind of realm would allow one to incorporate destiny principle methods into a divine seal, placing them upon countless thousands of deities, enabling them to use these methods as well?

Just how high was Taiyin’s cultivation realm? And what about the “self” from the dream who was friends with Taiyin? How powerful must the enemy be who could wound this body nearly to death?

Although Li Chi had never formally fought anyone and could only estimate his strength by his recovery progress, he currently couldn’t distribute his karmic methods for others to use, not even his divine messenger Ding Qin.

Given his current state, he could in no way oppose the enemy who had wounded this body and forced it to flee here.

He hadn’t yet reached the time to expose his existence.

This body’s special quality lay in karma. His own aura and spell usage wouldn’t reveal anything. Small-scale use of karmic methods wouldn’t be very dangerous—few in this world could see through his methods. But large-scale reorganization of karma to influence the great tribulation would cause the tribulation to change, inevitably triggering massive movements of spiritual essence and drawing attention from all quarters.

Yet aberrations had no heart, couldn’t distinguish good from evil or karma. In tribulation, all living beings suffered.

Should he just watch innocent creatures be tormented in the calamity?

Li Chi lowered his eyes, pale cyan incense smoke curling around his fingertips.

…May I be able to protect the Yun family safely through this tribulation. May Shuoyue and I also safely pass through the coming disasters. This minor deity is greedy, praying that all worldly affairs be peaceful, and all living beings without worry…

This was Wangyue’s prayer.

Greed…

Mortal masses prayed to deities for peace, prosperity, and freedom from disaster and tribulation. Yet deities also prayed to be able to protect the masses and protect themselves.

In this world, could there be a way to have both?

……

On the withered yellow earth, shallow-rooted flowers and grasses were already barely clinging to life. Only plants with deep and wide roots could draw from beneath the earth a bit of water not yet polluted by the bitter rain, barely maintaining their vitality.

A tit seemed extremely thirsty, and stretched its head to drink raindrops remaining on tree leaves.

Ding Qin beckoned, and the little tit was carried by wind into her palm.

She stroked the tit’s ruffled neck feathers, and gentle divine power made the suddenly startled bird slowly relax.

Ding Qin cupped the little tit in one hand while forming a bowl shape with her other hand. Water droplets condensed little by little in her palm, slowly gathering into a small pool of clear water.

The extremely thirsty little tit buried its head in Ding Qin’s palm. After drinking its fill, it affectionately rubbed her fingertips, shook its feathers, and flew away. Ding Qin looked around—under tree leaves, beneath shrubs… countless small creatures were hiding. Their throats were parched and dry, pairs of eyes confused and uneasy.

Ding Qin sighed inwardly. She found a large stone, carved it into a deep stone bowl, and filled it with clean water.

She continued walking forward. Not far behind her, rustling sounds gradually arose. Some bold little animals had already gone over and begun using the clean water in the stone bowl to moisten their parched throats.

Yet Ding Qin couldn’t feel happy. Malevolent qi permeated heaven and earth. Countless thousands of creatures had died, been injured, fallen ill, or suffered because of the bitter rain. What she saw was only a small part. She could help for a moment but not for the long term; she could help those before her eyes but not everyone.

Ding Qin pressed her lips together and continued walking toward the manor. That was property Mister Li Feng had purchased outside Shuigu Town. With such a major event occurring, she should come take a look.

As she walked, another young woman appeared in the distance, walking toward her. She looked even younger than Ding Qin, and seemed to be heading in the same direction. When the young woman saw Ding Qin, she actively approached, speaking enthusiastically and curiously, “Are you also going to attend classes at Teacher Wei’s?”

“Teacher Wei?” Ding Qin couldn’t help asking.

“You don’t know?” The young woman looked at her in surprise and explained, “At the manor over there, there’s a female teacher, gentle and beautiful, named Wei Qiuning. We all call her Teacher Wei. She opened a girls’ school specifically to teach us female students.”

Ding Qin suddenly understood—that was Mister Li’s wife.

The young woman continued explaining, “After each class, Teacher Wei gives us food to take home, sometimes flatbreads, sometimes grain. My family originally didn’t want to let me come, but Teacher Wei doesn’t charge tuition and even gives food, so they agreed to let me come.”

When the young woman said this, her eyes sparkled, filled with heartfelt respect. “Teacher Wei is so good. Da Ya who sits next to me was almost sold. Her family lied to the teacher saying Da Ya was sick, and had her brother come instead, saying he’d go back and tell her about it, and they wanted to collect two portions of food at once. But Teacher Wei only teaches female students and said she’d only give food to Da Ya—others can’t collect it for her. Her family had no choice, so the next day they let Da Ya come back.”

“When Da Ya came back, she told us that her family had locked her up, preparing to sell her! Later they calculated and felt that coming to the teacher’s place was more worthwhile, so they let her out.” The young woman spoke indignantly, “None of her family are good people, and her brother is bad too! He caused trouble everywhere, clearly not wanting to study, just wanting to trick the teacher out of grain. And our families only let us come because the teacher’s place only has female students. If he had stayed, we would’ve had to leave.”

The young woman chattered all the way, arriving with Ding Qin outside the manor.

For miles around was a scene of withered yellow devastation. Yet here preserved a rare patch of verdant green. The pervasive malevolent qi and scorching heat were gone; the air itself seemed refreshed.

Ding Qin sensed vibrant life force. The small creatures on this land were busy and bustling, full of vitality as before the great rain.

“The deity that Teacher Wei’s family worships must be very powerful, right?” The young woman looked at this large expanse of greenery, her tone both envious and proud.

It’s not the deity Teacher Wei worships—it’s Mister Li. Ding Qin thought silently.

This manor bore traces of formations. Mister Li must have relied on formations to protect this small manor from the great rain.

“That’s the school I mentioned.” The young woman pointed to a building not far away, her eyes shining. “Do you want to come study here too? Teacher Wei should be there now. She’s so good—if you speak with Teacher Wei, she’ll definitely agree.”

Ding Qin gazed at the school, from which faint sounds of young, spirited reading voices could be heard. She withdrew her gaze and said to the young woman, “You go ahead. I need to find someone. It sounds like reading has already started over there.”

The young woman exclaimed “Oh my!” and hurried toward the school, still turning back to wave at Ding Qin as she ran. “I’ll go first. If you encounter trouble, be sure to come here!”

Ding Qin couldn’t help smiling and waved back at her.

“Qiuning wanted to establish a girls’ school. It only just started not long ago.” A gentle male voice came from beside her.

Hearing the voice, Ding Qin turned. “Mister Li.”

Li Feng, dressed in brilliant red robes, stood not far away, his gaze looking remotely toward the school, tender and gentle. He withdrew his gaze, looked at Ding Qin, and smiled. “I was just planning to go up the mountain. How fortuitous that you’ve come.”

“Is it about the three days of bitter rain?” Ding Qin asked.

Li Feng nodded. “This great rain was no small matter. Did High God Li Chi say anything?”

“The High God said this was this year’s final rain,” Ding Qin pressed her lips together. “He said nothing else beyond that.”

“The final rain…” Li Feng murmured, his brows furrowing, not knowing what he was thinking.

Ding Qin’s heart sank heavily. She couldn’t help asking, “Mister Li, do you understand anything about this calamity?”

Li Feng shook his head. “Qingqiu sent word that we Qingqiu fox clan, if we lack confidence in dealing with the great tribulation, may return to Qingqiu to temporarily take shelter. Tushan urgently recalled its disciples back to the mountain and has now sealed the mountain.”

Ding Qin couldn’t help being shocked at these words.

The world’s fox demons had two great ancestral lands: one was Qingqiu, one was Tushan. The Qingqiu fox clan was romantic and free, the Tushan clan was hierarchical and orderly. Though both were fox clans, and though their philosophies and conduct differed somewhat, they had always maintained mutual contact—they were famous powers throughout the world.

As one of the fox clan’s two great ancestral lands, why had Tushan suddenly sealed the mountain? After this great rain, could something even more terrible occur?

Li Feng saw her unease and comforted her. “Don’t be afraid. Qingqiu and Tushan have similar strength—they’re just reminding us to be careful of the great tribulation. The Tushan clan has a different style from us. Their sealing the mountain should be due to other arrangements and plans.”

Ding Qin suppressed her turbulent emotions and asked, “Mister Li, will you return to Qingqiu?”

“Qiuning’s school has only just been established. How could I leave at this time?” Li Feng saw the worry and unease in her eyes and smiled. “I’ve accumulated quite a bit of resources over these years. Protecting this one manor is no problem. If it truly reaches a point I can’t handle, it won’t be too late to return then. You needn’t worry so much either. You’re High God Li Chi’s divine messenger, so if…”

Li Feng suddenly stopped his next words. He saw the conflicted, worried expression on Ding Qin’s face. This wasn’t the expression that a divine messenger with a powerful deity to rely on should have when thinking of the deity behind them.

But Ding Qin’s heart truly was both conflicted and worried.

She knew High God Li Chi intended to protect the masses, yet the High God had never truly intervened. Was it because if he acted, it would produce some adverse effects? This calamity was too strange, and she knew High God Li Chi was wounded.

All along this journey, seeing countless creatures who died in the bitter rain, Ding Qin couldn’t make herself turn a blind eye. Yet she also didn’t want High God Li Chi to be injured because of this, or fall into some other adverse circumstances.

“Is it because High God Li Chi hasn’t intervened?” Li Feng suddenly asked.

He lived in this vicinity. After the three days of great rain, he only needed to deduce slightly to know that High God Li Chi hadn’t acted during those three days.

“The High God’s realm is profound. Where his gaze reaches must be far deeper than ours. What we worry about is how to preserve ourselves in the great tribulation or even protect one region, but what the High God contemplates may be the entire great tribulation. Great compassion has no favoritism—like the vast sun in the sky, it won’t shine on only one place,” Li Feng said.

Ding Qin knew he had misunderstood, but the matter of High God Li Chi’s injury shouldn’t be spoken of, so she could only vaguely pass over it and ask. “Can this great tribulation… be resolved?”

“I’m not sure,” Li Feng said. “But if one wishes to resolve this great tribulation, I don’t know what price must be paid…”

Price…

Ding Qin thought of what High God Li Chi had said before she left—that no one should come up the mountain to disturb him. Great unease suddenly arose in her heart. “If… if High God Li Chi wanted to…”

Li Feng froze.

Ding Qin pressed her forehead, where a divine seal was hidden, its divine power within thick and mellow. She bit her lip and asked, “If a deity needs to pay a price, can the divine messenger help share the burden?”

“I know I’m still very weak now, and there are many things I can’t do, but I’ll become strong in the future.” She lifted her head, looking at Li Feng with urgent eyes, as if seeking a definite answer.

Li Feng smiled, something ineffable—whether melancholy or peace—in his gaze. He slowly patted Ding Qin’s head. “You once saved me at the Wei clan’s ancestral lands in Langyue City.”

“At that time, I already knew that if I wanted to be with Qiuning, I would face the disaster of my Dao path being severed, and if Qiuning wanted to be with me, she would suffer the pain of separation from her family.”

“I had already made my choice. Since my disaster was unavoidable, then I would try, I would strive, to see if I could secure a way to have both for Qiuning.”

“The result… you know.”

“There is no true way to have both in this world. Walking one path means inevitably abandoning another. That isn’t something others can replace.”

“Whatever choice High God Li Chi wants to make, that is his choice.”