C22 Going up the Mountain to Find Water

The villager reassured by Lin Xiaoqiang's protection finally stood up with ease.

Those who had been angrily shouting at Zhang Lili and her son earlier rushed to their side and helped them to their feet.

Two quick-thinking women dashed into their uncle's house and emerged with a bench, promptly lifting Zhang Lili onto it without a word.

"Your health isn't good; we'll carry you," they said.

The whole village rallied around them and headed towards the courtyard that Lin Xiaoqiang had once been expelled from.

But as they took their first steps, the ground beneath them rumbled ominously, and the earth began to shake violently.

Caught off guard, the villagers were knocked to the ground as a gaping chasm split the earth beneath them.

The chasm reached towards the sky, swallowing the snow from the ground, and in seconds, the New Village was transformed.

After a brief moment of shock, the villagers erupted into jubilant cheers.

"Long live Lin Xiaoqiang! Long live Lin Xiaoqiang!"

They believed Lin Xiaoqiang was responsible for this miracle.

High above in the Eternal Heaven, the Abyssal Lord leapt from his seat.

He turned to Zhang Zijin with a puzzled look.

"Was this your doing?"

But Zhang Zijin was just as bewildered by the events unfolding in the village below.

"Ancestor, this wasn't my work. You mentioned a minor punishment; how could I enact such a harsh one?"

Just then, a sly chuckle echoed at the doorway of the Abyssal Lord's chamber.

"Abyssal Lord, didn't you want to punish their village? I took the liberty of doing it for you."

A shadow flickered, and a Taoist priest accompanied by a large black snake materialized in the room.

"Demon Lord? You've broken the rules?" the Abyssal Lord challenged, readying himself for an attack.

"Abyssal Lord, have you lost the bearing of an elder? It's just a small trial; what's the fuss?" another voice interjected.

At the entrance, the resplendent Three Thousand Ancestor, enveloped in a golden aura, stepped forward.

"Greetings, Three Thousand Ancestor."

Both the Demon Lord and the Abyssal Lord bowed respectfully to the Three Thousand Ancestor.

"Alright, everyone's up now," the Three Thousand Ancestor said with a benevolent smile.

"Ancestor Three Thousand, his actions could lead to more deaths..." The Eight Pinnacles Ancestor began, but was interrupted as the Three Thousand Ancestor raised his hand and spoke, "The Demon Lord has assured me that this will recreate an environment where they can thrive as they did before. They'll be grateful to the gods. Just watch their response below."

The Eight Pinnacles Ancestor and Zhang Zijin looked down to see the villagers indeed celebrating with joy. The Eight Pinnacles Ancestor gave a resigned nod, choosing to remain silent.

Behind the Three Thousand Ancestor, the Demon Lord's lips twisted into a malevolent grin. "The real spectacle is yet to come, foolish mortals..."

As dawn broke the next day, the long-missed pale light of morning illuminated the village, where tendrils of smoke curled upwards. A woman stepped into her courtyard, tied a bucket to a rope, and lowered it into the well. There was a clang; the bucket had hit something. Peering into the well, she saw no water, just a jumble of rocks at the bottom.

The same discovery was made throughout the village as every well had mysteriously run dry overnight. Ten minutes later, the villagers sat in silence beside the millennia-old well at the village entrance, with Lin Xiaoqiang and some of the elders examining the ancient well, which, for the first time in thousands of years, was bone dry.

Feeling helpless, they gathered around the well, uncertain of their next steps for survival. In the midst of their despair, someone suddenly exclaimed, "Look over there!"

The villager pointed towards the back of the village. All eyes followed to see an imposing mountain, towering into the clouds, that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. A waterfall cascaded from its peak, its roar as it collided with rocks just audible in the distance.

A spark of inspiration struck Lin Xiaoqiang, and a daring plan formed in his mind: to redirect the water back to the village. Standing up with newfound resolve, he addressed the crowd, "Don't worry, everyone. I've decided to scale the mountain and bring water back to our village. Just wait for the good news."

After Lin Xiaoqiang bid farewell to the villagers and made sure everything at home was in order, he determinedly set out toward the mountain that loomed in the distance.

High above in the Eternal Heaven, a sinister smile crept across the Demon Saint Lord's somber face. "Lin Xiaoqiang, in seven days, the Abyssal Lord will likely be burning paper for you."

Unaware of the peril awaiting him, Lin Xiaoqiang pressed on tirelessly toward the mountain.

He noticed that, at his current level, walking was much easier and his pace had quickened significantly.

As he left the village, Lin Xiaoqiang kept a vigilant eye on his surroundings. Beyond their community, there was no sign of life, just desolation.

The thick snow was gone, but the earth was barren, mostly covered by desert and rocks.

After a full day's journey, as dusk fell, Lin Xiaoqiang reached the base of the mountain he had seen from the village.

Bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, he gazed up at the mountain, which was lush and vibrant with greenery—a stark contrast to the lifeless land around him, and a sight that lifted his spirits.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiaoqiang pushed through the underbrush at the mountain's base, eager to ascend. But as he took his first step, the ground beneath him gave way, and he tumbled down.

Stuck fast by a viscous substance, Lin Xiaoqiang was immobilized, his limbs ensnared. On closer inspection, he realized he had unwittingly stepped into a swamp. This swamp was unlike any from the days before the Ice Age; its stickiness was so intense that any creature caught within had no hope of escape.

With everything above his chest submerged, Lin Xiaoqiang clenched his teeth and struggled to free himself. But his efforts only hastened his sinking.

Just then, a chilling blue light drifted toward him from the woods opposite. Soon after, a pair of massive red spiders with deep blue eyes emerged, stopping a mere five meters from Lin Xiaoqiang.

The spiders moved swiftly, but as their forelegs touched the swamp, they halted abruptly.

One of the spiders hissed at Lin Xiaoqiang, whose head was all that remained above the mire. In a swift motion, it parted the two sets of antennae on its mouth and shot out thick strands of spider silk, swiftly ensnaring Lin Xiaoqiang's head.

The red spider's blue eyes shimmered with an eerie glow, excitement evident as it gazed at Lin Xiaoqiang. Its two front limbs worked feverishly, drawing in the strands of web that had ensnared him.

Incredibly, Lin Xiaoqiang was gradually dragged out of the swamp by the relentless strength of the red spider.

A surge of joy filled Lin Xiaoqiang's heart. It appeared that with the Ice Lord's protection enfolding him, his fortunes had indeed taken a turn for the better.