Shulong Daojun

The moon sets and the sun rises; five days pass in the blink of an eye.

In the medicinal herb field, the five elements of spiritual herbs are growing vigorously, with full leaves, and the surrounding area is naturally filled with the energy of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, indicating that they will soon be ripe.

With Lu Youzhi's help, Mu Qiushui's care for the medicinal herbs became easier, but her brows remained furrowed all day, like a crescent moon hanging on a branch, never falling.

Zhang Ziling was the same.

The two buried themselves in ancient books, searching for the commonalities between the Qi of Heaven and Earth and the Qi of all things, and using their respective lineage techniques to try to harmonize the two Qi.

After Lu You obtained the Qi of the Five Elements Elixir, he prepared a rudimentary blend of elixirs based on their properties, pharmacology, and the principles of mutual generation and restraint among the Five Elements. He then joined the two of them to discuss the matter together.

As a result, three more sorrowful faces appeared in the rear hall of the main temple, with sighs rising and falling, and the sorrow growing stronger day by day.

Seeing this, Lin Shu could only sigh helplessly.

Lineages have varying lengths, and professions have their specializations. As an outsider, he shouldn't offer too much advice, otherwise it would only cause trouble and disrupt the reconciliation process.

Besides, I'm busy with my own things too.

Thinking of this, Lin Shu softly called out, "Qing Min."

A small green dragon, about a foot long, swam up to my shoulder in an instant, perched on my shoulder, and let out a soft chirp, its vertical pupils brimming with joy.

Although Qingmin has not transformed into a dragon, he has truly seen one. He changed his appearance based on Zhuyin's, concealing his fierce appearance and leaving behind a body of green scales, thus becoming what he is now.

Its entire body is blue, and it has the appearance of a dragon. In the eyes of the people of Chuxian County, how could it not be a blue dragon?

At that moment, Lin Shu stroked the dragon horns that Qing Min had transformed into, rolled up his sleeves, wrapped his body in a gentle breeze, concealed his aura, and fled towards Chuzhou County.

At this moment, just as dawn was breaking, the sky was divided into two parts, half-dark and half-light. The people in the county had all woken up and had been working in the fields for half an hour.

On the day the uprising began, the people stormed into the county in the middle of the night. They were a huge, swarming mass, armed with spears and arresting local strongmen, which terrified the villagers.

Therefore, everyone kept their doors and windows tightly shut, not daring to make a sound, and peered at the street through the cracks in the doors and windows.

However, as dawn broke, after some time, it was discovered that... the county had changed, yet it also seemed that nothing had changed.

The county magistrate still governed Chuxian County. Although the garrison was replaced by refugees from outside the county, they still went to the fields to help and were very skilled at it.

With the reassurance of the county magistrate and the local earth god, they gradually calmed down.

Most importantly, the period after spring plowing is even busier than before, as it is time to harrow the soil to conserve moisture and check seedlings for replanting.

No matter what happens in the county, it's good that things are stable.

However, at some point, a rumor began to circulate in the county: Chuzhou is a blessed land, and people of the Wood element are here. Soon, a blue dragon will appear, ripening rice and wheat, and bringing a bountiful harvest.

Upon hearing this, the people of the county did not agree.

What kind of place is Chuzhou? They've lived here most of their lives, how could they not know? Where is the fortune?

As for the Azure Dragon theory, it seems to be utter nonsense, mere hearsay from the streets, and not to be believed.

But deep down, I still had a tiny thought: what if?

As the date drew closer, this longing became increasingly uncontrollable.

Until a streak of green appeared on the horizon, swept across the sky, broke through the darkness, and landed in the fields, emitting a surging green light.

Because the sun had not fully risen, the people in the county could not see it very clearly, but they could still tell from its appearance that it was a dragon, without a doubt!

They left the field carefully and hurriedly, swallowing hard as they thought of the legend of the Azure Dragon, and couldn't help but look back frequently.

At the same time, another thought kept popping into my mind: Lord Qinglong, take a closer look at my land!

In the fields, Qingmin noticed this. Long Tong blinked, full of doubt: He came to help, so why did all the people run away?

It looked puzzled, let out a clear, low hiss, and then opened its mouth to breathe in and out, using the energy of the wood element to stimulate the roots of rice and wheat, helping them to sprout, grow, and bear ears.

With her experience in tending medicinal herb fields, Qingmin was very adept at ripening rice and wheat.

Before long, the rice and wheat in the fields all sprouted ears and filled with grains, each ear glistening with a bluish light.

The people were overjoyed when they saw this. They rushed to the fields, broke open the wheat ears, took out the raw rice, and tasted it.

It's tough to chew—the rice and wheat are ripe, really ripe!

Alas! By the Azure Dragon Lord!

Chuxian is indeed a blessed land!

They bowed in the direction of Qingmin, then suddenly felt a jolt and ran home.

When the wheat is ripe, it's time to harvest it. Only when it falls into your own pocket can you truly feel secure.

Not far from the field, Jiang Heng saw this scene, his eyes brightened, and his heart was at ease.

Earlier this morning, he was still thinking about how to win over the local gentry who were in a good or neutral position towards the refugees, in order to better appease the people of Chuxian County.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he looked up, he saw the god of enlightenment walking towards him with a smile, saying the words "The Azure Dragon is coming."

He then ordered himself to go to the fields quickly and wait in advance to stop Gu Changming and the others so that Qingmin could accelerate the ripening of the rice and wheat.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng dared not delay and hurried to the field before he could even finish tidying up.

Sure enough, a short while later, Gu Changming suddenly appeared, his face filled with surprise and uncertainty, looking hesitant.

Jiang Heng knew the reason, so he stepped forward and explained that the Azure Dragon was related to him. He had prayed in a dream and came to Chuzhou to help the people, not to cause harm.

After listening, Gu Changming pondered for a long time, then stared intently with a mixture of belief and doubt.

After a long while, seeing that it was indeed so, he breathed a sigh of relief, looked at Jiang Heng beside him, and praised, "Young friend Jiang is truly blessed with good fortune, which I greatly envy."

The Azure Dragon governs wood and is in charge of growth and development, unlike us, whose ability to ripen rice and wheat is its own, not the result of consuming accumulated incense offerings.

Jiang Heng smiled slightly, then changed the subject and asked, "What has Gu Zhengshen thought about that matter?"

Gu Changming's heart sank, as if he remembered something, and his expression suddenly hardened.

In the past few days, Jiang Heng had visited me alone at the Zhengshen Temple and revealed a secret: the Zhengshen of Pingjiang City would soon be leaving office.

The news came so suddenly and so shockingly that it left him trembling and restless.

Gu Changming initially didn't believe it.

However, upon hearing Jiang Heng say that it was the words of the City God himself, he immediately believed it to some extent.

He then lit a stick of incense and subtly inquired about the best landowners in Pingjiang City, and was already nine-tenths convinced.

The world is in turmoil. The city god of Pingjiang has left so easily, but what are we county gods and local deities supposed to do?

Gu Changming couldn't think of a solution for the time being.

But then she heard Jiang Heng smilingly say that he had a method and ask if she wanted to hear it, and she felt inexplicably afraid.

At such a critical juncture, how could Gu Changming not understand what that method was?

Therefore, he resolutely refused that day.

But today I heard Jiang Heng ask about it again...

Thinking of this, Gu Changming remained silent for a moment, then sighed, "...Let me think about it for a few more days."

What you said, young friend Jiang, is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly.