Currently, the Lord of All Locusts has drawn billions of locusts, devouring fire grain, causing widespread fires, leading to the collapse of this economic pillar of the Wangchuan Underworld.
The Lord of Wanchuan chose not to retaliate; the forces he deployed recently were already numerous.
Since the fire grain is already lost, there's no point in saving it. The only concern is that if this fire spreads, it will cause more damage in the surrounding areas.
"We must dispatch a capable official to handle the disaster. Otherwise, if we completely ignore it, the people's morale will plummet, and we will fall into the enemy's trap."
The Lord of Wanchuan thought of this, his brow slightly furrowed.
The capable officials and generals under his command, who could have guarded the Heavenly Ghost Transformation Sacrifice Ceremony very securely, now had to be reassigned to maintain overall stability.
Just after the Lord of Wanchuan made the difficult decision, selected candidates, and issued orders, another urgent report came in.
"Grand Duke Tie!" This time, the Lord of Wanchuan could no longer stay calm, striking the desk with his palm, scattering the pen and ink messily.
Grand Duke Tie was a former elder statesman. Before the previous prefect died, he passed the position to the Lord of Wanchuan, instructing him to treat the greatest contributor, Grand Duke Tie, well.
The Lord of Wanchuan agreed to this condition and indeed treated Grand Duke Tie well, gradually sidelining him, making him retire to his hometown.
Of course, the Lord of Wanchuan also did not forget to station people to monitor Grand Duke Tie's daily activities at all times, as he was very experienced and held a royal decree from the previous prefect.
Now, Grand Duke Tie suddenly rebelled, killing the surveillance team the Lord of Wanchuan had stationed nearby, rallying his old subordinates under the banner of "Correcting the Chaos."
If this is not handled properly, and the rebel army gains the upper hand, the position of the Lord of Wanchuan would be severely shaken.
"We must dispatch a general to confront them!"
After much consideration, the Lord of Wanchuan could only send his most trusted beloved general.
This person had meritorious service from following the Lord of Wanchuan step by step to his current position, showing considerable talent.
But this talent was not as great as Grand Duke Tie's.
The latter's battle achievements were unparalleled under the Lord of Wanchuan.
"You are to hold the city and defend it at all costs, pinning down the rebels, until I can send reinforcements!" the Lord of Wanchuan sternly instructed in the order.
In the afternoon, a subordinate hastily reported: "Bad news, my lord! Gunniwan has suddenly awakened and appeared in the northwest, currently moving toward Nine Nether Mountain."
The Lord of Wanchuan's expression froze.
Gunniwan!
This is a demon born from mountains, extremely ancient. Initially, it was just a peak, but through continual devouring, it augmented itself.
Now, it has become an entire mountain range.
Yet it's still unsatisfied, eager to devour other mountains to enhance its foundation.
Clearly, this time its target is Nine Nether Mountain.
The Wangchuan Underworld already has few mountains, and the mineral veins within Nine Nether Mountain are very rich, being the largest source of minerals for the Wangchuan Underworld, accounting for eighty percent of the total extraction!
If it were to be devoured by Gunniwan, the Wangchuan Underworld would be extremely passive in the future, forced to purchase large quantities of minerals externally.
"They want me to use the White Tiger Golden Light Seal."
This magic treasure is one of the trademarks of the Lord of Wanchuan, indeed a prized possession.
Only by deploying this treasure in conjunction with the grand formation in Nine Nether Mountain, can the boundless Gold Qi of the mineral veins be summoned to form a sharp offensive, breaking Gunniwan's mountainous form and causing it enough pain to retreat.
The Lord of Wanchuan has seen through the enemy's plot but had no choice but to comply.
By evening, another subordinate came to report, saying that a name card had suddenly appeared in the main hall of the City Lord's Mansion.
The name card was from Zeng Jide.
This person was well-known, in life a cultivator of the Bukong Sect, and in death turned soul cultivator, infamous for grand theft in the Netherworld.
His style was flamboyant. Every time he intended to steal, he would send a notice card to the owner beforehand, stating when and what he would steal.
"Well, well, even the renowned Loose Cultivator dares to provoke me now." The Lord of Wanchuan took a deep breath, knowing he was inevitably entangled.
All these tidings of doom had already drawn away most of his nearby forces, whether capable generals or trademark magic treasures, all were entangled out.
"Fortunately, these are not natural disasters, but manmade calamities."
"These can all be handled or temporarily ignored, merely pawns to entangle my strength."
"The true troublemakers... Yinying would be first, followed by Beigu, and Wuyin. I'm just not sure if the Painted Skin Rakshasa is still roaming outside and might not have time to return."
"More than half of these manmade calamities, should stem from the hands of these three or four individuals."
The Lord of Wanchuan was very aware of who his true mortal enemies were, those with unresolvable grudges that posed serious threats.
These were the genuine strong adversaries he needed to face.
"No, these are Netherworld's opponents, there should be another calamity from the Mortal World."
Realizing this, the Lord of Wanchuan suddenly felt his scalp prickling.
He suddenly awakened, realizing that this was a Kings' Order warning!
He could take on the role of the Underworld Lord naturally due to the Kings' Order.
"I executed the Sacrifice Ceremony this time, serving Netherworld sky, angering the Mortal World."
"Therefore, in the Netherworld, only manmade calamities block my path, no natural disasters."
"But in the Mortal World, it's different."
"However, even if Mortal World sky wants to deal with me, natural disasters cannot reach me, only evolving into manmade calamities could."
"Now it seems this calamity is extraordinary!"
After a moment of silence, the Lord of Wanchuan made up his mind: "Go ask the Grey Bone Elder, promising heavy rewards, whatever the cost, let him calculate the manmade calamity from the Mortal World!"
Mortal World.
White Paper Immortal City.
Li Xiangshang was awakened by Ning Zhuo.
He stepped out of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat, gently patting its hull with gratitude: "What a treasure."
"Young Master Jiao Ma, this treasure needs some good repairs."
The hull of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat was covered with cracks.
Ning Zhuo said: "Indeed it needs repairs. But currently, I can't find an excellent artifact refiner, and I'm afraid to try myself and fail."
Li Xiangshang suddenly fished out a jade pendant from his bosom and handed it to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo looked surprised and refused: "I said, Senior Li, letting you use the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat was my gratitude for your innate assistance in building the army."
Li Xiangshang replied: "Now the Qing Jiao Army is already established, yet you still allow me to use the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat for cultivation."
"To be honest, it helped me tremendously!"
"I was originally an ordinary fish, with limited cultivation talent and insufficient physical foundation, holding back my practice of 'Rising Dragon Transformation.' But this cultivation session compensated for the shortcomings of my physical body."
"Therefore, you've shown me great kindness, which I must repay!"
Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, refusing once more.
However, Li Xiangshang insisted seriously: "Friend Jiao Ma, this jade pendant is extraordinarily significant, you must keep it well."
He continued, "This time, by command of the Dragon Lord, I was sent out. But before leaving, the Minister Turtle stopped me to forge a good fate, specifically divining for me."
"He told me, this trip to White Paper Immortal City is an opportunity for my cultivation, if I act well, I can meet a benefactor to compensate for my cultivation shortcomings."
"At the same time, he told me to maintain this benefactor's fortune by being generous."
"He suggested that I should give my most precious treasure to the benefactor."
"I thought it over, the most valuable item I have is this Dragon Qi Jade Pendant bestowed by the lord."
"I hope you accept it!"
Saying this, Li Xiangshang, a dignified Golden Core, actually bowed to Ning Zhuo.
Recently, Ning Zhuo increasingly understood the mysteries of lifespan, hearing about the Minister Turtle's divination, his interest was piqued, and he valued it greatly: "What is the use of this jade pendant?"
Li Xiangshang candidly said: "It seals a strand of Dragon Qi from my lord, for me to be influenced by while practicing the 'Rising Dragon Transformation' as a model to refer to."
"As for its other functions, I am unaware."
After hearing this, Ning Zhuo quickly refused, "This is your path to Dao treasure, how can I take it?"
But Li Xiangshang's attitude grew firmer, insisting on letting Ning Zhuo accept it: "Minister Turtle is a truly good person, I don't think he would harm me. Since maintaining the benefactor's fortune is necessary, the thing I give away must be what the benefactor needs. Otherwise, how to maintain the benefactor fortune?"
"This jade pendant, Jiao Ma, you must need it!"
Ning Zhuo hesitated, and at this moment, the mechanical ring gently contracted.
He immediately felt a chill down his spine, wanting to refuse, the mechanical ring began to constrict. The moment he contemplated accepting it, the mechanical ring relaxed.
Ning Zhuo understood instantly: "This is the sky's lifespan helping me, remarkable indeed!"
He nodded slightly, finally taking the Dragon Qi Jade Pendant into his arms.