Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Chapter 381 Yang Jian Meets Shennong at the Fire Cloud Cave
Black mist churned within the Plague Array, and countless hideous ghost faces could be vaguely seen roaring within it.

Lu Yue stood at the center of the formation, holding the Plague Umbrella, a sinister smile on his face.

Each time he shook the Plague Umbrella, the black mist spread outwards by a mile, instantly turning the grass and trees yellow and even the soil a strange bluish-black color.

“Master, this Plague Formation is indeed powerful. We can finally avenge our three senior brothers.” Yang Wenhui stood behind Lü Yue, his eyes flashing with hatred.

Lu Yue snorted coldly: "How can the lives of your three senior brothers be sacrificed in vain? Today, I will let the disciples of the Daoist sect know the consequences of offending me, Lu Yue."

The black fog had spread to the outer perimeter of the Shang army camp, and the guards suddenly began to cough violently, with bluish-black spots quickly appearing on their skin.

Some people collapsed, clutching their throats, black blood gushing from their seven orifices. Others frantically scratched their skin until it was a bloody mess.

"Retreat! Retreat back to the main camp!"

Zhao Gongming shouted, and the thirty-six Sea-Stabilizing Pearls swirled above his head, forming a pale blue light curtain that temporarily blocked the invasion of the black mist.

However, fine cracks have already appeared on the light screen, and it is clear that it cannot hold up for long.

Fairy Yunxiao, supporting the still-healing Zhang Guifang, said to Zhao Gongming with a grave expression, "Brother, this Plague Formation is even more terrifying than rumored; even the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl cannot completely withstand it."

"We must not confront them head-on now. It would be better to have the army retreat to outside Sishui Pass first. We can make further plans after Yang Jian returns from Huoyun Cave."

Master Yu Ding frowned and said, "This is the only way now, otherwise hundreds of thousands of Shang soldiers will be destroyed."

Left with no other choice, the troops had to retreat temporarily. However, they dared not let the army get too close to Sishui Pass, lest the plague spread to the five passes.

Meanwhile, Yang Jian, transformed into the Golden-Winged Roc, had already flown thousands of miles away. His wingspan was over ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), and each flap of his wings could sweep over several mountain peaks.

In less than half a day, Yang Jian had already arrived outside the Fire Cloud Cave.

Fire Cloud Cave is not just a mountain cave, but a blessed land. It was originally the cave dwelling of the most benevolent person in the prehistoric world, the leader of the Intercepting Sect, Old Ancestor Hongyun.

Later, Chen Xuan used a scheme to forcibly take it from Ancestor Hongyun. Now it has become a sacred place for the human race.

Not only did the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the human race reside in the Fire Cloud Cave, but countless other sages of the human race also lived there, working together to suppress the destiny of the human race.

Yang Jian reverted to human form, knelt on the ground, and respectfully performed a grand salute before speaking: "Disciple Yang Jian humbly requests an audience with the Earthly Emperor Shennong."

Soon, the gate to the Fire Cloud Cave appeared out of thin air, and several ancient sages of the human race walked out of the Fire Cloud Cave and led Yang Jian into the Fire Cloud Cave.

As soon as Yang Jian entered the Fire Cloud Cave, he saw an old man with two horns on his head and holding a medicine hoe slowly walking out.

This old man was none other than Shennong, the Earth Sovereign, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the human race.

Upon seeing Shennong, Yang Jian hurriedly bowed again and said, "Yang Jian, a disciple of the Daoist sect, pays respects to the Earthly Sovereign of the Human Race."

"Now that the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods has begun, the Shang army and Xiqi are fighting outside Xiqi City. Unexpectedly, Lu Yue, the Plague God of the Jie Sect, has set up the Plague Formation outside Xiqi City."

"They even used plague pills to bring down a plague, putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Shang soldiers in imminent danger. Yang Jian was ordered to come to Huoyun Cave to see the Earth Emperor and ask him to grant a way to break the plague."

Shennong helped Yang Jian up, sighed, and said, "The human race has suffered such a great calamity. If it weren't for the protection of the Daoist disciples, the human race would probably be doomed." "The Daoist disciples risked their lives for the human race. As the Earth Emperor of the human race, I, Shennong, naturally cannot stand idly by and watch the human race suffer."

"Although Lü Yue's plague is potent, I have three Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pills here that can cure all poisons. However, to completely eradicate the plague affecting hundreds of thousands of people, we still need to use the Three Lights Divine Water."

As he spoke, Shennong, the Earth Emperor, took out three pills and handed them to Yang Jian. As for the Three Lights Divine Water, Shennong didn't have any; Yang Jian would have to find a way to get it himself.

If it were to search for other spiritual items, Yang Jian truly wouldn't know where to look, but the Three Lights Divine Water was no difficult task for him.

After all, the Three Lights Divine Water Pool on Qinglian Island contains inexhaustible Three Lights Divine Water.

So Yang Jian put away the three pills and then asked Shennong, "Earthly Emperor, Yang Jian has another request."

"Now a plague has appeared in the primordial world. This time, the Emperor's Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill has saved hundreds of thousands of Shang soldiers. But what will happen to humanity if a plague were to ravage the world in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Shennong, the Earthly Sovereign, nodded. He then took out a bundle of bamboo slips and handed them to Yang Jian.

He then said, "This is the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, which contains methods to control plague. You can take it back and teach it to human physicians."

Yang Jian respectfully accepted the Shennong Herbal Classic and bowed again to the Earthly Emperor Shennong to express his gratitude. Then he took his leave and withdrew from the Fire Cloud Cave.

After leaving the Fire Cloud Cave, Yang Jian transformed into the Golden-Winged Roc once more. However, he hadn't flown far when he encountered the Four Dragon Kings who had rushed over.

It turned out that Chen Xuan already knew that Lü Yue had set up the Plague Formation. He then sent a telepathic message to Ao Ping, the patriarch of the Dragon Clan, instructing him to order the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas to go outside the Fire Cloud Cave and follow Yang Jian's instructions.

Unexpectedly, the Four Dragon Kings were too slow; before they even reached the outside of the Fire Cloud Cave, Yang Jian had already returned from inside.

Fortunately, they didn't get separated because of this, and they actually met on the way.

After both sides explained their purposes, Yang Jian was overjoyed. He then spoke to Ao Guang.

"I have obtained the elixir to cure the plague, as well as the Shennong Materia Medica for treating the plague. Now all that is needed is the Three Lights Divine Water to cure the Shang army of the plague."

"Originally, Yang Jian planned to return to Qinglian Island first, but now that he has encountered the Four Dragon Kings, he can only trouble the Four Dragon Kings to make a trip to Qinglian Island and bring the Three Lights Divine Water to the Shang army camp."

"Then, using the dragon race's ability to control the clouds without rain, the Three Lights Divine Water, which was infused with the elixir, was brought down over the Shang army camp."

After hearing this, Ao Guang nodded and then said to the other three Dragon Kings, "I will handle this matter myself. I will go to Qinglian Island to see Father."

"You shall immediately return to the Dragon Palace, gather your forces, and proceed to the outskirts of Xiqi City. Prepare to cooperate with young friend Yang Jian to send down a rain of medicine to eradicate the plague."

The other three Dragon Kings simultaneously agreed and headed towards their respective Dragon Palaces. Yang Jian also transformed into a Golden-Winged Roc and once again headed towards Xiqi City.

Meanwhile, the Shang army had retreated to Jinji Ridge and set up a large camp at the foot of the ridge.

However, the camp was now filled with cries of agony, and very few soldiers were still able to move. If Xiqi were to send a large army to launch a surprise attack at this moment, the consequences would be unimaginable.

As the saying goes, what you fear most will come to pass. This is an undeniable fact. The pursuers from Xiqi have already arrived at Jinji Ridge.

(End of this chapter)