The Eternal Way-Chapter 213 Preparations

Li Qi rode his old horse, speeding towards the previous battlefield.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

At the center of the former battlefield, the remaining uninjured soldiers were cleaning up.

Actually, there wasn't much to clean up.

In such intense warfare, bodies were hard to leave behind, even souls were difficult to preserve.

Li Qi was now here, helping to comfort the surviving souls and bringing many medicines and... spirit tablets for these soldiers.

All white, ready to be inscribed with names.

Seeing Li Qi bring these items, the White Rhino Army soldiers felt a mix of emotions—unsure whether to praise him for being considerate or scold him for being naive.

But no matter what, they were indeed short on these items.

It was just an ominous sign, but in reality, the spirit tablets were truly insufficient.

Soon, a quartermaster came forward to receive these items and expressed gratitude to Li Qi.

After bidding farewell to the quartermaster, another high-ranking officer soon came to visit.

Clearly, this was the current commander of the White Rhino Army, Li Kedi, whom Li Qi had previously rescued from prison.

This clearly injured general approached Li Qi, knelt on one knee, and said:

"Li Kedi, at your service... This is our first meeting, right? Your strategic brilliance not only saved my life but also saved the people of this state. I am deeply grateful, but may I ask why you have come?"

Li Qi quickly helped him up: "General Li, please don't speak like that. We both act for the people, there is no hierarchy or obligation between us. But your loyalty and righteousness are admirable, please do not humiliate yourself by bowing to me, treat me as an equal."

Seeing Li Kedi still kneeling, Li Qi added: "I merely did what you would have done. According to military rules, colleagues should share rewards and punishments equally. If you feel we didn't do well enough, then you dishonor us both."

With those words, Li Kedi couldn't persist further and bowed again: "Your noble intentions are commendable. Without you, Guangyang would have been devastated. Please accept my bow, though meaningless, it expresses my inner feelings."

Li Qi accepted the bow and helped Li Kedi up.

Then, he invited Li Kedi to sit in the military tent and said: "Please, General, take a seat. You asked why I came; besides delivering supplies, I need your help with something."

"Please tell me, are we going to war again?" Li Kedi asked.

Apart from war, he couldn't think of anything else they could assist with.

"Not so, the White Rhino Army has suffered heavy losses, how can we send you back to battle?" Li Qi denied the idea and continued: "Have you seen the current situation in Guangyang?"

"The situation?" Li Kedi pondered: "Are you referring to the land energy?"

"I've noticed that after using the Great Mountain and Water Array, there will be a period of reduced production. However, if we mobilize the various families and wealthy households in Guangyang to open their granaries, we should be able to manage."

Li Kedi explained the situation: "You're new here, so you might not know that Guangyang has an organization called the Grain Alliance, controlling the grain trade. Many noble families hold shares in it, and they usually store enough grain for two to three years. If managed properly, famine shouldn't occur."

"I'm considering recalling troops to the city, possibly implementing martial law if necessary. If you agree, it would be perfect. If handled well, no one in Guangyang should starve within two years."

Li Kedi wasn't foolish; he knew about the Great Mountain and Water Array and anticipated reduced food production. So he was already planning accordingly.

However, his understanding was superficial. He didn't know that the array hadn't just depleted the land's vitality...

But rather, the mountain and water veins were shattered by the black-skinned monk.

For ten years, Guangyang would face barren lands, failed crops, infertile beasts, and dried rivers.

Relying solely on stored grain wouldn't suffice.

Waiting for nature to recover would mean all residents of Guangyang would have to flee.

Millions of refugees would escape to other states of the Bai Lin Kingdom.

People leaving their homeland become cheap laborers. If mass exodus began, most might perish, and survivors would likely end up as servants.

Without food or land, how could they survive?

Only the wealthy might abandon their estates and move to other states as rich households.

Li Qi understood Li Kedi didn't know the full extent of the damage, so he sighed: "The situation isn't as simple as you think."

"In fact, the land energy of Guangyang isn't just suffering reduced production." Li Qi stood up, whistled, and his old horse responded.

Li Kedi summoned his own mount, a tall horse, though not a dragon steed, it was a rare thousand-mile horse.

Dragon steeds were rare, especially one like Li Qi's old horse.

When the old horse reached Rank 9, it wouldn't be called a dragon steed anymore—it would transform into a dragon.

Not human form, but dragon form.

Typically, demons chose humanoid forms for ease, but other naturally wise species like golden-winged great pengs, dragons, phoenixes, jade rabbits, and golden crows were options too.

The old horse, being a dragon steed, would transform into a dragon upon reaching Rank 9.

Signs were already showing—green scales appearing, clouds and thunder when flying.

With Li Kedi, the old horse ran on the ground instead of flying.

They rode across the plains, originally mountains flattened by the battle, covered with glass shards and large rocks.

These were newly formed rocks from cooled lava.

After about half an hour, they reached unaffected mountains over a hundred miles away.

Li Qi dismounted, followed by Li Kedi, who didn't understand why they stopped here.

"General, observe," Li Qi stepped forward, pressed down slightly, and the ground exploded into a deep pit.

Li Kedi looked closer, his eyes widening in shock.

Normally, soil below one meter should be moist and dense, allowing plants to absorb moisture for growth.

Water vapor and earth energy combine to form fertile black soil, rich in nutrients and conducive to plant growth.

If lacking water vapor, the soil turns yellow, indicating lack of water and unsuitability for farming.

Li Kedi often saw such dry soil, but this was different—it appeared white.

Like saline-alkali soil.

Despite being a meter underground, it was dead white, devoid of water and earth energy.

Li Kedi scooped up some soil, crumbling it easily.

More like sand than soil.

"This... What happened?" Li Kedi stammered, looking at Li Qi.

Li Qi sighed: "The demon monk with black skin, Chan Zhi's master, shattered the Great Mountain and Water Array, breaking the mountain and water veins. Guangyang now lacks water and earth energy. Based on estimates, there will be no harvest for ten years, severe drought and famine."

Rain, derived from mountain energy, would cease entirely.

"Look again," Li Qi directed the old horse to fetch a vulture.

The old horse returned with a giant vulture, larger than normal, indicating it had become a demon, albeit weak, with a hint of incense aura.

Choosing the path of a deity, abandoning the demonic path.

But it was now a corpse.

No wounds, no signs of struggle, just sudden death.

"Is this... the local mountain god? Why died here? Also because of the array?" Li Kedi examined the vulture, trembling in disbelief.

"After the array shattered, the backlash was immense. Even Bo Yue, nearly died, healed only by a Rank 5 intervention. Other mountain and water deities suffered similarly, with seventy to eighty percent casualties. The remaining gods cannot repair the damage alone."

Li Kedi fell silent.

He realized his plans were futile.

Following his methods, Guangyang would face disaster and mass exodus.

After several minutes, he finally looked at Li Qi, desperate: "You must have a solution! How can I help?"

Li Qi nodded: "I have a plan."

"With Guangyang's mountains and waters destroyed, spirits severely injured, but humans relatively intact, I want to hold a grand sacrifice, gathering everyone's strength to heal the land. I need your help."

"Such a ceremony requires more than one person, so I need your assistance," Li Qi solemnly requested.

"With pleasure!" Li Kedi immediately agreed.

Li Qi nodded: "I'll arrange details later. Focus on post-battle cleanup for now. The ceremony takes time to prepare, and I need to notify others."

"At your call, I'll be there," Li Kedi promised, watching Li Qi leave.

Li Qi continued his search.

Next was Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan intended to leave Guangyang quietly, heading towards the Swallowing Heaven Demon Nest.

Having slain the demon monk, he sought new adventures.

He left without telling anyone, preferring anonymity.

A true hero, completing tasks and disappearing silently.

Cool beyond measure!

Zhang Lan enjoyed this style, evident from his initial interactions with Li Qi.

Preferring legends over fame, enjoying quiet satisfaction.

Though seemingly casual, he was genuinely heroic, willing to help the oppressed.

But halfway through his journey, he saw auspicious clouds and green lightning approaching.

"That's... Li Qi's dragon steed? Coming towards me?" Zhang Lan halted his horse.

He felt mixed emotions—happy yet disappointed.

Happy that Li Qi personally came to see him, yet disappointed that his perfect departure was marred.

Just as he was about to leave heroically, untouched and legendary, now it seemed less cool.

But since Li Qi was here, he waited.

Li Qi arrived swiftly: "Brother Zhang!"

"Brother Li, why visit? Saying goodbye? When did you become so sentimental?" Zhang Lan teased, feigning impatience.

Li Qi smiled, knowing Zhang Lan's character, directly stating his purpose.

He needed Zhang Lan to coordinate among martial artists.

An Eighth Rank martial artist could influence the martial world, familiar with its rules, making him ideal for this task.

"Understood, leave it to me!" Zhang Lan confidently accepted.

Li Qi thanked him, mounted his horse, and headed back.

Next, he needed to find Wang Baisan and the Sīkōng of Guangyang.