Zhang Jian, seeing the situation, also retreated, returning to the surface first.
He wasn't in a hurry to ask for benefits; this matter needed the other party to invite him first.
If the Canal Dragon Monarch truly didn't know how to handle matters, he could visit when the time was right.
At this moment, on the passenger boat on the water's surface, many advanced scholars noticed that the storm on the canal had finally calmed down.
It seemed the disaster had passed.
This inevitably made many scholars breathe a sigh of relief, and at the same time, feel an immense gratitude towards Zhang Jian.
A single word from Zhang Jian saved the lives of everyone on the boat.
On the passenger boat, the old boatmaster brought his young grandson to Zhang Jian's door and knocked.
"Young Master Zhang, you must accept the whole family's bow from this old man; without you, my family would have perished!"
"Brother Zhang, and us too! We have nothing to repay for the life-saving grace!"
Shi Lun also followed with several advanced scholars. He was astounded by Zhang Jian as if he were a celestial being.
All the scholars cupped their hands in salute, even those who had previously complained incessantly.
Zhang Jian immediately helped everyone up.
"There is no need, gentlemen. Since we are on the same boat, naturally, we should share the same fate!"
Everyone nodded.
The group didn't stay long at the shore; as soon as the river was completely calm, they set off again.
...
Meanwhile, the Canal Dragon Monarch emerged from the water, swiftly heading downstream.
As the Canal Dragon Monarch, he was the first to sense that a Daoist from the Xuan Du Sect was ambushing the Daqian Court's troop transport ships downstream.
As the Canal Dragon God, he naturally could not stand by.
It was not only about his incense offerings, but these cultivators had crossed the line.
He was furious, like a beast king whose territory had been violated.
However, when the Canal Dragon Monarch arrived at the narrow waterway between Jixian County and Shanyang County, his expression turned grim.
Most of the dozens of large troop transport ships were leaking and sinking to the bottom.
The surface was strewn with soldiers' corpses floating haphazardly.
Many of the bodies were swollen, pierced with arrows.
Countless were dead or wounded.
Out of the thirty thousand reinforcements, at least sixty percent had become water ghosts, with a few struggling to survive on floating barrels or planks.
Some were lucky enough to swim back to the shore.
At this time, only a dozen lonely troop transport ships were left on the water; the war generals on board were still loudly shouting, trying to save the soldiers who had fallen into the water.
"Xuan Du Sect!"
The Old Dragon Monarch had a grim face as he stared towards the mountains, realizing the Second Sect Leader of the Xuan Du Sect had learned about the unfavorable situation on the Dragon Palace battlefield early on and had already withdrawn his men.
The Old Dragon Monarch held his breath, with no way to vent his fury.
"Xuan Du Sect, this matter is remembered by this god, and this god will seek justice for the Canal Dragon Palace and these tens of thousands of water ghosts!"
He took a deep breath, a gleam of ruthlessness in his eyes.
Meanwhile, deep in the mountains, the numerous rebels were retreating in an orderly fashion. The Second Sect Leader of the Xuan Du Sect, called Puppet God, also noticed the Old Dragon Monarch's gaze but seeing that he wouldn't dare to cross over due to the Divine Law, he faintly smiled.
Although deities like the Dragon Monarch possessed immense divine power, most were constrained by Divine Laws and territory. Once they left the area governed by the Canal Divine Department, they could be weaker than opponents of the same rank.
Such a powerful being made him not the least afraid.
As for retaliation.
When the Xuan Du Sect sweeps through the Southern Provinces and establishes its base, who knows, the Canal Dragon Monarch might have to live by the Xuan Du Sect's favor.
"Humph!"
With a touch of pride, Puppet God swiftly left.
Next, it would only depend on the abilities of the Hidden Dragon chosen by the Xuan Du Sect, whether they could capture Jixian County and establish the foundation of the dragon's rise. If they couldn't take over the Southern Provinces before the Daqian Court reacted, the Xuan Du Sect would face big trouble.
...
What this Second Sect Leader of the Xuan Du Sect didn't know at the time was that the situation in Jixian County had already undergone great changes.
Shi Lun's letter home quickly garnered the Shi Family's attention, leading the clan leader, Shi Jun'an, to personally visit Governor Wu Hongqiao.
Wu Hongqiao realized the severity and immediately summoned County Captain Wang Gong, along with Black-clothed Guard Commander Jiang Chang, and Dong Shen Temple's Observatory Master Lv Daoist. While actively arranging defenses, they also requested Lv Daoist from Dong Shen Temple to warn Cai Hengxing, the Imperial Envoy and Governor of the Southern Provinces, far away in Shanyang County.
And as the battle on the canal concluded, within Jixian County, the Black-clothed Guard, in cooperation with the stationed county soldiers, began a rapid sweep to clear out the dark forces infiltrated by the Xuan Du Sect.
Countless killings started simultaneously.
...
Within Shanyang County's Commandery City, Cai Hengxing had been growing white hair.
He originally went to Fengyang County to investigate Governor Yu Tongguang's death, but unfortunately encountered unrest among Shanyang County's refugees, forcing him to take the role of Grand General of Pacification.
As if this wasn't enough.
During this time, not only had the bandits within Shanyang County not been eradicated, but they had grown in number instead.
The roving bandits quickly swept through over a dozen county towns, claiming to have tens of thousands of troops.
Sitting in the Master's Chair, he gently massaged his wrist. Dealing with official documents was already overwhelming enough, and he had to run around coordinating efforts to eradicate bandits.
Xue Daoist stood beside Cai Hengxing, frowning.
"Brother Cai, there's no need to worry. Reinforcements from nearby provinces are speeding up to come to aid. Once they arrive, disposing of those rebels will be easy!"
The rebellion within Shanyang County was primarily centered around Changli, who claimed to be the Ming King revived.
Xue Daoist also didn't understand how Changli, once just an ordinary laborer, managed to gather so many roving bandits in such a short time.
However, he did note a keen interest in the slogans Changli propagated.
Changli claimed to be the incarnation of the Ming King from within the Xuan Du Sect, a divine embodiment born specifically to address the suffering of the masses, promoting slogans about inequality and redistribution, which attracted many refugees and displaced persons, with the group still expanding.
Dong Shen Temple was sensitive to the Xuan Du Sect.
The Xuan Du Sect had long been labeled as a heretical, demonic sect by Dong Shen Temple, which persistently hunted it down.
Xue Daoist knew well how troublesome this sect could be!
Hearing this, Cai Hengxing nodded.
"I hope we can complete the mission from the Upper Emissary soon!"
The two were discussing in detail when they noticed a magnificent Cyan Falcon racing from the distance, landing swiftly in Xue Daoist's hand.
It was a rare bird specifically trained by the Daoists of Dong Shen Temple to deliver messages rapidly, capable of flying a thousand miles in a day.
Upon receiving the message, Xue Daoist's expression changed immediately.
"Brother Xue, what happened?"
Xue Daoist glanced at Cai Hengxing, looking troubled. Noticing something was off, Cai Hengxing quickly took the letter. Just one look made him feel as though struck by lightning.
"The thirty thousand reinforcements were taken by surprise mid-crossing and suffered over half losses?"
Cai Hengxing's eyes were filled with disbelief at that moment.
He couldn't help but be dumbfounded.
"How is this possible?"
Xue Daoist also realized the gravity, taking a deep breath and saying solemnly, "Governor, there's no doubt about this matter. We still need to be cautious and ready to respond, to prevent the wicked members of the Xuan Du Sect from exploiting the situation to assault Commandery City Shanyang County!"
Hearing this, Cai Hengxing felt dizzy, his footing unsteady, and he had to support himself with the Master's Chair, murmuring.
"Thirty thousand reinforcements!"
"Without reinforcements, how can Shanyang County's commandery city be defended!"
...
On the Grand Canal, the long river was clear, no other ships in sight for a thousand miles, only a single passenger boat drifting between water and clouds.
This situation made the many advanced scholars accustomed to the hustle and bustle feel somewhat strange.
But they also knew that under such disasters, surviving was already a blessing; the other vessels probably didn't have the same luck.
That day, on the river's surface, an unseen white mist suddenly began spreading from beneath the water, enveloping the surface of the Grand Canal.
"Divine Power?"
In the cabin, sensing the changes on the water's surface, Zhang Jian's expression shifted, and he couldn't help but walk to the cabin. At that moment, he noticed the white mist sweeping in, causing all the advanced scholars and even the old boatmaster in the cabin to fall asleep in an instant.
At this time, the water's surface was churning with waves, heavenly music faintly discernible, and a group of people silently emerged from the surface.
At a glance, they were all shrimp soldiers and crab generals, led by a handsome young man with dragon horns on his head.