Taiyi Dao Fruit

The rain gradually weakened, and three Transformation Snakes slithered out of the forest, surrounding the body of the battered Transformation Snake.

The one in the middle was clearly larger than the other two, and its coiled body exuded a chilling Evil Qi.

At the same time, a bolt of Thunder Light raced along the official road, approaching rapidly from a distance and arriving nearby in the blink of an eye.

When the Thunder Light faded, two figures appeared, one taller than the other. The taller one, clad in a dull yellow robe and wearing a Yellow Turban, had a face as stoic as a Stone Statue, marked with yellow runes, identifying him as a Yellow Turban Warrior.

The other, about seven feet tall, wore a yellow cloak and a hood that covered his face, revealing only his chin, and held a yellow staff, with yellow runes flickering around his body intermittently.

In the Taiping Sect, those who carried staffs were Doctors, who traveled far and wide, generously spreading rune water to save lives, treat illnesses, and disseminate teachings.

The higher echelons of the Sect's main temple were Great Doctors, who used the teachings of Daoism to educate the masses.

Even the Sect Hierarch, Zhang Zhixuan, could be considered a Doctor, having once roamed the Nine Provinces with a Nine-Section Staff, saving countless lives and earning tremendous renown everywhere.

Doctors held a special status within the Taiping Sect; seeing him arrive, the two Transformation Snakes slightly bowed their heads as a sign of respect.

Then, the leading Transformation Snake's body wriggled, its Snake Scales gradually disappearing as its tail split into two legs, and its gray fur and wings also gradually vanished. After about ten breaths, the Transformation Snake leader had fully transformed into a human shape.

However, unlike the legendary demons transforming into humans, the Transformation Snake leader's human form was completely naked, not having conjured clothes out of thin air, which was quite scientific.

He took a robe from his storage bag and draped it over himself, speaking with a hint of a sibilant voice, "Cao Yuanlong has been captured, his accompanying Powerful Warrior and the other twenty-six Eighth Rank individuals summoned were all killed, and one of my subordinates as well. This connection has now collapsed, we need support."

If they engaged in combat as Transformation Snakes, they wouldn't be able to maintain the rain, thus requiring someone else to screen travelers and make interceptions. Now with Cao Yuanlong and his men wiped out, without support, this route would likely be compromised.

"Now that we've been exposed, we should sever ties instead of getting more involved," the Doctor said, shaking his head, "the time isn't right, our Sect isn't ready for a full-force action, what then, do we need you for?"

Using the demons to control the rain was precisely to facilitate disassociating, to shift the blame to the Demon God Sect. Should there be an urgent revolt, it should result in an all-out outbreak, not just deploying these agents.

"This is just a simple act of spreading our teachings," the Doctor declared.

The methodology was to create natural disasters followed by the Doctors from the Sect administering benevolence widely, thus quickly gathering followers; this was the current method of spreading teachings by the Taiping Sect.

Hearing this, the leader of the Transformation Snakes couldn't help showing a frantic expression, "So our people died in vain? And how can we spread teachings if we've been exposed? In my opinion, we should just revolt outright, strike at the Divine Capital, seize that curséd Emperor's position, instead of being this timid."

"What of it if we are exposed?" the Doctor emitted an ambiguous chuckle, "Who provides immediate relief after the disaster? It's us. Who dispenses porridge and cures diseases? Also, us. Tell me, do those simple folk trust us, or high-and-mighty Sects and those slow-acting bureaucrats?"

"The people can be led, but not informed. The management policy of the Great Zhou for hundreds of years has bred countless simpletons, hence the rise of our Sect."

This statement had been found in ancient texts by the Imperial College centuries ago and stated, "People may be made to follow the path we guide them on, there's no need to let them know why."

Reportedly, the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer centered an essay on this principle, presented it to the Emperor, and received high praise. Thus, Confucianism became mainstream in court.

Though nobody knew the credibility of this account, the governing principles of the Great Zhou indeed subtly aligned with this idea, turning it into a jest among those dissatisfied with the court.

Unfortunately, the leader of the Transformation Snakes was not well-read and clearly did not know this reference. The Doctor's sarcasm thus only met with six bewildered gazes from the three Transformation Snakes, leaving him feeling like he was playing the lute to a cow.

Just then, a white vapor rose from the ground, and the figure of Ren Zihe, the County Magistrate of Jingyun County, slowly materialized.

As soon as he appeared, he wore a grim expression, "An Upper Envoy has come, questioning this place's anomaly to me. You all better come up with a policy, or if I fall, you all won't fare well either."

"Why the panic?" the Doctor said calmly, "Just stall them for a day, I assure you that all matters will be cleaned up. By then you can report to the county government, blaming it on the demonic people's mischief. At most, you'll be charged with negligence, penalized a bit of salary, no need to beg for mercy."

Hearing this, Ren Zihe felt somewhat reassured.

At most his negligence in checking the abnormal weather would be exposed, no grave error indeed. Even if the Upper Envoy was powerful, reason had to prevail.

Moreover, although the heavy rain was not limited to one location, in Yu State, it only occurred here because Yu State bordered only this place with Yong Province. Hence, the inability of the County Magistrate to hear of similar anomalies from his colleagues in Yu State was excusable.

With this thought, just delaying the Upper Envoy a little bit would resolve the situation.

Ren Zihe nodded, "Alright, I'll stall for one day, but I count on you not to break your word."

"As promised," the Doctor smiled.

After securing the promise, Ren Zihe was preparing to go underground again, heading back to the county government, when suddenly—

His expression froze, his face turning ashen, "Something's happened."

The Doctor, "?"

"Just now, my secretary prayed to my shrine, saying countless leaflets floated down over the county town······" Ren Zihe clenched his teeth, "It said that the Taiping Sect was moving clouds to create the drought."

Things escalated severely.

Revealing everything, there was no longer a chance to delay the news. Most importantly, it failed in distancing the Taiping Sect from the issue.

As the Doctor had said earlier, the people were blind followers; once the news spread, regardless of the benevolence the Taiping Sect might later offer, once the public confirmed the authenticity of the news and the occurring drought in Yong Province, the news would have a market.

And now, the Divine Travel Grand Protector must already be aware and would notify the county government at the earliest for further investigation. The day of delay was gone.

At this moment, not only Ren Zihe, but the Doctor couldn't hold his smile either.

"Who did this?" he couldn't help but shout angrily.

Unfortunately, those present couldn't answer this question because even the ones responsible had acted on impulse, who could have anticipated it first?

At that moment, up in the sky, a streak of Sword Light flashed, and countless leaflets fluttered down like snow.

Vaguely, two figures could be seen on the sword, one of them even saying, "Don't touch my waist."