Zhongshan Shenzhu Chi

When three pairs of clear yet foolish eyes fell upon her, Huai Nian couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

To expect these monsters, who think of almost nothing but eating, sleeping, defecating, and fighting, to understand the course of the underground water veins of Zhongshan...

I think I've been a bit too demanding of them.

"Why are you looking for underground water veins?" Bloodhound suddenly asked.

The red serpent remained silent for a moment.

After much deliberation, it chose to speak frankly: "A great drought, a great drought three hundred years ago."

Upon hearing this, the three men, who had been completely bewildered and hesitant to speak, fell silent at the same time.

Although there are no written records of Zhongshan, the Snake God itself is a history book spanning thousands of years.

Almost all the intelligent demons in Zhongshan knew that it was the great drought three hundred years ago that caused the Snake God's body to be sealed inch by inch by the Xuan Stone.

"Why has the drought returned?" The Golden Ape King pondered for a moment, meeting the Red Serpent's eyes. "Since you knew the drought was coming, why didn't you destroy what was causing it?"

"We can't beat them," Red Serpent replied.

"What about us, and all the monsters of Zhongshan?" Bloodhound added. Although Black Bear didn't speak, the three of them showed the same question in their eyes.

"Let alone us, even if we include..." The red serpent suddenly stopped speaking.

My mother is indeed powerful, her breath is long and even comparable to a mountain, but she is still insignificant in the face of the laws of nature and the cycle of cause and effect.

Just because Huai Nian can accept reality doesn't mean these three people in front of her can either.

After all, in their eyes, the snake god is the embodiment of power and wisdom. Simply stating the future outcome might inspire them to cultivate diligently.

But once the real reason was revealed... even Huai Nian herself felt down for a while back then.

Just like that mischievous frog, let them discover the truth for themselves.

"Who should we include?" Bloodhound followed up with a question.

"Zhongshan currently has no powerful demons, so it's impossible for it to combat the source of the drought." After a moment's thought, the Red Serpent changed its tune, "The three of you should focus on your cultivation in the valley. When you become powerful demons, there will naturally be a use for you."

Having said that, without waiting for the three men's reaction, he turned and left, heading deeper into Zhongshan.

The Golden Ape King stood still, gazing in the direction the giant serpent had departed, remaining silent for a long time.

"Monkey, what are you thinking about?" the black bear asked, somewhat surprised.

"We...are indeed too weak," the Golden Ape King suddenly uttered his true feelings, accompanied by a sigh.

Since its birth, it has never heard a single word about an impending drought.

But now, the giant serpent has suddenly come to inquire about the underground water veins...

This can only prove one thing.

The Serpent God acknowledged the power and character of the Candle.

Just like what Zhu said in the rain on the day of the Awakening of Insects: "Whether the people at the foot of the mountain worship or not, the snake god doesn't care at all. She only wishes for peace on Zhongshan Mountain and for all things to flourish."

Right now, I am just one of all things that the Serpent God wants to protect...

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Black Bear asked, completely bewildered, shaking his head. "Even though I don't think you're anything special, you're still one of the top guys in Zhongshan, right?"

"We're not perverts like Candle."

The Golden Ape King turned to look at the black bear, then glanced at the bloodhound, whose face was full of doubt and who seemed to want to say something but couldn't.

At this moment, it seemed to have transformed into a candle, and now, the black bear bore the shadow of its past self.

"I find you kind of adorably stupid." Instead of answering the question directly, the Golden Ape King made a rare teasing remark.

"you--"

"Fine, say whatever you want."

Just as the black bear was about to retaliate, he suddenly caught a glimpse of the bloodhound looking at him, almost exactly like the Golden Ape King.

The way Zhu looked at the three of them just now was exactly like that.

"The three of us are the boss, no need to mention who's second. Since I'm stupid, then you guys are stupid too. At least I'm adorably stupid," the black bear muttered, then lay back down in his den.

"Remember to call me to practice the essence of the sun tomorrow."

*

*

*

After leaving Golden Ape Valley, Red Serpent intended to find Hell Wolf and Mountain Lord and ask them questions.

But then I thought, even if the wolves and tigers are far more intelligent than the three in Golden Ape Valley, what good is that?

They are the overlords of the land, ruling over the mountains and rivers on a daily basis. Why would they care about how the Zhongshan water system is distributed?

It is also impossible to know the information about the underground water veins hidden deep in the rock strata.

"Should I ask Mother?" The giant snake stopped in its tracks, the thought flashing through its mind.

But the thought was extinguished by itself in the next instant.

Mothers are also living beings on earth.

Even if she could use her authority to investigate the course of the underground water veins of Zhongshan...

Does the deeper one's understanding of Zhongshan mean that she is assimilated into the surrounding mountains?

If Huai Nian were to ask directly, she would only receive a negative response.

"Fortunately, there's still time; I can figure it out myself..."

The red serpent murmured to itself, slowly turning its head and body, intending to begin exploring the underground water veins from the Luo River basin.

But as soon as he turned his head, he saw a white fox, squatting upright in the same spot behind him.

It seemed to have arrived long ago and had been waiting quietly.

Seeing that the giant snake had finally finished thinking and turned around, the white fox immediately followed and asked softly, "Candle, are you troubled?"

"Why did you come here?" Red Serpent asked in return.

"You left the Luo River and rushed headlong into the Golden Ape Valley. I think you must have something very important to do."

The white fox licked its front paws, its bushy tail swaying behind it: "I followed along to see if I could be of any help."

"..."

The giant snake's gaze sharpened, its perspective shifting, and the white fox's internal energy was laid bare to the snake's perception.

After obtaining that emerald light, it seemed that it did not deliberately cultivate, and its aura remained at the level of barely breaking through the life force.

At least for now, there's no change in sight.

However, since the various cultivation techniques have vastly different functions, the giant serpent could only suppress its doubts and ask, "Are there any creatures in Zhongshan that might have knowledge of the underground river?"

His tone was calm, yet it revealed a seriousness rarely seen in the white fox.

It dared not reply immediately, and as it swayed its tail, it went through all the creatures it knew that were related to the underground.

Finally, the answer was obtained.

"I know her, the Gray Rat Queen." The white fox nodded. "They've lived underground since birth, and they even told me they can dig a hundred meters in an instant."

"Candles, what do you need them for?"

"Find out the hidden underground water system for me, as long as it's within the Zhongshan area." The giant snake flicked its tongue.

It really hadn't considered the rats in the mountains...

After all, apart from the first two or three years, he hadn't seen a single one around him for the next twenty years.

"Understood, I'll go find the Gray Rat Queen right now. Zhu, you just focus on your cultivation."

Seeing that it could be of use, the white fox swayed its tail even faster.

Having said that, it disappeared into the dense forest and quickly left.