Taiyi Dao Fruit

The Nuo mask had a slightly yellowed luster, appearing to be of someone in their thirties. Except for the absence of eyebrows and eyes, it looked no different from the face of a doctor.

And as the face was removed, the Taiping Sect doctor completely lost his vitality, evidently deceased.

"This..." Jiang Li hesitated, "Isn't this a bit too cruel?"

It wasn't that he disdained such acts. Jiang, although he had a bottom line, wasn't particularly saintly; he was the same man who had shackled his own tribespeople. It's just that generally, anything cruel tends to have side effects, and Jiang Li certainly didn't want to test things on himself.

"There's no choice. Witchcraft is too ancient. Back then, survival was the priority, and there wasn't much talk about benevolence, righteousness, or morality."

Feng Manlou tossed the Nuo mask in his hand and said, "Moreover, dear brother, you seem polished on the outside but dark-hearted inside; you don't strike me as a good person, so you probably won't mind these things, right?"

"How dare you slander the good?"

Jiang Li was angry, "In vain was I planning to inform my master about the brotherhood oath after returning, and to find an opportunity to pay a visit to my brother's wife. I didn't expect my brother to see me this way."

"I am sorry, dear brother, I spoke too loudly just now," Feng Manlou immediately bowed his head in apology.

The brotherhood matter was, indeed, something Feng Manlou was very proud of recently.

But the one at home didn't know the significant meaning behind his actions; she would only think that she had lost face and was consequently looked down upon by Elder Tianxuan. If Jiang Li were to bring his master for a visit, that scenario... it's hard to say.

'It seems that this Dragon King's Son-in-law and the Princess have true affections.' Seeing Feng Manlou admit his mistake so decisively, Jiang Li pondered in his heart.

True affection was good. With affection, it meant that it was a genuine union, not one of convenience. If conflicts arose in the future, they could be resolved starting from there.

His thoughts quickly twisted and turned, but on the surface, Jiang Li simply nodded and said, "Let's postpone the visit. For now, please demonstrate how to use this Nuo mask, brother."

Although there was a pledge between them not to harm each other, out of caution, it was best to let Feng Manlou try the Nuo mask first.

"As long as we don't visit your sister-in-law, everything else is fine."

Feng Manlou let out a sigh of relief, then went on to enter a restriction into the body of a Yellow Turban Warrior, subduing it, and then processing it accordingly.

After another operation, a Nuo mask with an expression as determined as stone appeared in Feng Manlou's hand.

He put the mask on his face, and his body suddenly expanded, nearly reaching ten feet tall, with his clothes transforming into a large yellow robe, and his head bound with a yellow turban.

"Dear brother," Feng Manlou's voice became deep and resonant, like that of stone, "How do you find it?"

He lightly swung his fist, bringing fierce winds, his physical strength rivaling that of the previous Yellow Turban Warriors.

'Because all the Essence Elements have been refined into the Nuo mask?'

Jiang Li glanced at the doctor's corpse, and with the Emperor's Qi Observation Skill, he could clearly see that the faceless body had become an empty shell. All Essence Elements had been refined into the Nuo mask, and the True Qi and Divine Soul were nowhere to be found.

'This witchcraft, although ancient and cruel, can also be said to be profound and vast, its power no less than that of modern practices.'

Jiang Li judged in his heart, took the doctor's Nuo mask, and placed it on his face.

In an instant, he felt the mask on his face suddenly grow tendril-like flesh, piercing into his own face, a stream of Essence Element connecting with his own. His shape changed, and in a blink of an eye, he had taken on a new appearance.

'The True Qi is also within the Nuo mask, but this True Qi has become a pure consumable, expendable but not replenishable. Additionally...'

Jiang Li suddenly spoke in the doctor's voice, "My name is Meng Yuanzhi."

He had just formed the thought, wanting to know the identity of the doctor, when he found himself speaking it out loud.

"The Nuo Mask still contains the divine soul of the practitioner, but he has completely lost his self-awareness and will only respond according to the user's thoughts, ensuring that you don't risk being discovered by others. Additionally, the response can be controlled to be a mental return," Feng Manlou explained.

"Just like this, you now inject your divine thought into the Nuo Mask and then silently consider what Meng Yuanzhi should do next?"

Jiang Li did as he was instructed.

Then, a thought emerged in his mind.

——Erect the statue of Primordial Lord Rain Master, prepare to divert water from other counties, and bring rain to Fufeng County.

'Tearing down the east wall to repair the west wall, damaging the water sources of other counties to bring rain to Fufeng County—Taiping Sect really does things no decent person would do.' Jiang Li received this response and couldn't help but mutter in his heart.

Even someone as flexible as he could not do such a thing; if Taiping Sect managed it, it just proved that the sect's strength was formidable.

If this plan worked, the situation in Fufeng County would indeed improve, but it would completely worsen for the other counties.

Although there is already a drought, it is not yet truly severe, and although life is somewhat hard, people can still bear it and get through the tough times.

But if the situation continued to deteriorate, it would be more than just suffering—it would lead to a lot of deaths.

When that time comes, Fufeng County may be safe, but Yong Province would be thrown into chaos.

······

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Jun City, governor's mansion.

Ji Chengye and others were discussing matters in the main hall when someone suddenly reported that Zhong Shenxiu had arrived.

Ji Chengye and Ming Yang hurried out of the hall and ran quickly, indeed seeing the figure of the scholar with the sword at the front courtyard of the residence.

"Senior Brother Zhong."

The two of them hurriedly went forward to greet him.

Zhong Shenxiu nodded slightly, acknowledging them, and then directly asked, "With the Praying for Rain List published, Taiping Sect, Dinghu Sect, as well as Daode Sect and the other sects have all come to Yong Province. Seeing an opportunity, Buddha Country will also send people. Cheng Ye, tell me, why did you do this? You should know that Yong Province is not in need of rain prayers, but water."

Zhong Shenxiu held no official position, nor was he born of nobility like Ji Chengye, but as he spoke, he commanded the scene, prompting the others to unconsciously obey.

"Reporting to Senior Brother," Ji Chengye lost all of his previous arrogance and respectfully said, "I only intended to lure the snake out of its hole, to tempt the demonic people of Taiping Sect to reveal themselves and perform their magic, seizing their leader to calm the population and prevent Taiping Sect from causing trouble during the drought. I did not expect that Mystic Sect's Sanqing Sect and the Three Emperors Sect both would send representatives, and even Buddha Country has been mobilized. This move was shortsighted of me."

Zhong Shenxiu looked at Ji Chengye, his indifferent eyes as if they could penetrate his flesh and see directly into his soul, causing his heart to tense unconsciously.

Facing this Senior Brother Zhong put more pressure on him than the instructors at the Imperial College.

After a short pause, as if he had seen enough, Zhong Shenxiu slightly lowered his eyes and said, "Since the list has already been posted, let's continue with the original plan."

"But what about the other parties······"

"I am here now and am not afraid that they will act discordantly."

Zhong Shenxiu spoke indifferently, "Should there be discord, I shall strike it down."