Chapter 117: Strange Changes in Yunguan County

Third Reflection.

"Judging by past experience, the third reflection should be the fixed, unchangeable reality. But..."

The three of them continued galloping along the official road.

Meanwhile, Li Shun quietly withdrew his consciousness into the Fangcun space and arrived before the Threefold Self-Reflection stone statue.

The knowledge he had stolen from the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth regarding the Threefold Self-Reflection divine ability surfaced once more in his mind.

"'Three' signifies multiplicity, complexity, and number."

"'I examine myself...'"

"'I examine myself thrice each day!'"

Focusing his mind, Li Shun attempted to activate the Threefold Self-Reflection divine ability once again.

In the past, the stone statue would never have responded in the slightest after the third reflection.

But now...

Buzz...

The statue trembled ever so slightly.

It had actually responded to him.

'Just as I expected!'

Joy flashed through Li Shun's heart.

But immediately afterward, crack after crack rapidly spread across the stone statue.

It looked as though it would shatter at any moment.

"So it really is possible to activate a Fourth Reflection, or even a Fifth Reflection. However, the statue is already in a damaged state. The Third Reflection is practically the limit of what it can withstand."

"If I continue beyond that, the damage to the statue will increase dramatically..."

Two stalks of Lengshan Venerables flew out from the spirit field, dissolving into streams of icy radiance that rapidly repaired the statue.

"Fortunately, I spent more than twenty years inside the Imperial Mausoleum. I've already accumulated over a thousand stalks of Lengshan Grass, so I don't need to worry about the consumption for the time being."

"Even so, I can't afford to waste them recklessly. I must prepare for danger even in times of peace."

"Under normal circumstances, Threefold Self-Reflection is already sufficient. Use the first two rewinds to gather intelligence, then retreat safely during the third while maximizing the benefits. Just like what happened in Lihuo County."

"But sooner or later, I'll encounter a desperate situation where even multiple rewinds fail to reveal a way out."

"I must store enough Lengshan Grass in advance."

After completely repairing the Threefold Self-Reflection stone statue, Li Shun withdrew from the Fangcun space.

Everything that happened today was nearly identical to yesterday.

There were only a few subtle differences.

He still paid his respects before Lord Ge's stone statue.

Only this time, already knowing the outcome, Li Shun naturally had no intention of attempting to collect the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth again.

As a result, he never exposed himself.

The three of them did not remain in Lihuo County for long before departing, leaving only the Great Siming behind to continue searching for the "little thief."

This time, however, Duan Xiuqi did not chase after them.

"He probably found the Great Siming and completely forgot about his father."

"I wonder what changes will occur now that Duan Jiuzhang never gave him that lecture."

"It probably... won't make much of a difference."

That was what Li Shun believed.

About half a day earlier than during the Second Reflection, the three of them entered the borders of Yunguan County.

Yet just the same...

"This mountain was opened by me..."

A figure descended from the sky and blocked their path.

With Duan Jiuzhang, a Celestial Phenomena cultivator, present, Li Shun naturally had no concerns about his safety. Instead, he leisurely sized up the newcomer.

The man possessed a towering physique, like a small mountain.

Yet rather than appearing fierce or intimidating, he somehow looked rather simple and honest.

"In broad daylight beneath the clear heavens, you actually dare commit highway robbery?"

"Leave immediately, and I'll spare your life!"

Li Qing shouted sternly.

"N... no! Either leave behind some food, or... or..."

The burly man waved the enormous axe in his hand while trying to sound threatening.

Unfortunately, perhaps because he was simply too fat, instead of looking intimidating, he came across as rather comical.

"Food?"

The moment Duan Jiuzhang heard those two words, the killing intent in his eyes vanished.

He asked coldly, "You are a grown man with healthy limbs and even possess considerable physical strength. Why would you resort to breaking the law like this?"

An aura as heavy as a mountain instantly descended upon the man.

Although the burly fellow looked imposing, his strength was likely even inferior to Li Shun's.

Large beads of sweat immediately rolled down his forehead.

His body became completely immobile.

Yet he stubbornly repeated the same words.

"Leave... leave behind some food!"

Duan Jiuzhang let out a cold snort.

The burly man was sent flying backward.

"Tie him up."

Li Qing immediately stepped forward.

Within moments, the man had been securely bound and dragged before Duan Jiuzhang.

"Yunguan County may not compare to the fertile lands south of the Yangtze, but it is still far better than Jiuyi. Why would a healthy young man like you choose to become a bandit instead of earning an honest living?"

"Answer truthfully, and I'll give you one more chance."

"Otherwise..."

"I'll kill you."

Although Duan Jiuzhang spoke those words, Li Shun could tell there was no actual killing intent in his eyes.

He was merely trying to frighten the man.

And it proved surprisingly effective.

The burly man was genuinely terrified.

After struggling internally for a while, he finally muttered, "My old mother hasn't eaten for two days. If I can't find food soon, she'll starve to death."

"I... I truly had no other choice..."

"I even wanted to cut flesh from my own body to feed her."

"But Mother absolutely refused."

"She said that if she ever saw me carving off my own flesh..."

"...she would smash her head against a wall and die instead!"

The man's eyes turned bloodshot.

He could no longer hold back his sobs.

"Hm?"

Li Shun sensed a chilling wave of killing intent surge from Duan Jiuzhang.

He immediately kicked the burly man and hurriedly asked, "Ridiculous! With your strength, how could you possibly fail to find food?"

"You outsiders don't know."

"A terrible disaster has struck Yunguan County recently."

"Every crop has contracted some strange disease. They all wither and die overnight."

"The price of grain has soared through the roof."

"My family's savings were exhausted long ago."

The man looked utterly aggrieved.

"I've cultivated a little, so I can barely hold on for now."

"But my old mother..."

Unable to continue, the burly man broke into loud, uncontrollable sobs.

Li Shun and Li Qing exchanged astonished glances.

Neither of them had ever imagined that such a tragedy could occur within the territory of Great Qian.

Even back when they had served in Lengshan, although they had been forced to sacrifice their blood essence, at least they never had to worry about starving.

But now...

As the Director of Imperial Agriculture, however, Duan Jiuzhang's attention focused instead upon the mysterious disease itself.

He immediately began questioning the man in detail.

"Every night, all the crops start crying."

"A man's voice and a woman's voice."

"By dawn, they've all withered."

"They say the county officials tried every possible method, but nothing worked."

"At first, it only affected the wheat."

"But then it gradually spread to every crop."

"Even the trees on the mountains have started withering."

The burly man was not stupid.

Realizing that Duan Jiuzhang was clearly someone of extraordinary status, he honestly explained everything he knew.

"Such a calamity, yet it was never reported to the Sacred Capital."

"They're occupying their positions without fulfilling their duties..."

Duan Jiuzhang let out a cold snort.

"Take me to see those withered crops."

Not long afterward, they arrived at a mountainside terrace field filled with dead crops.

Duan Jiuzhang raised one of the withered stalks and gently stroked it.

The instant his fingers touched it, the crop turned into drifting ash.

At the same time, a shrill voice echoed out of thin air.

It sounded like a curse.

Like sobbing.

Like venomous abuse.

The voice spread like a spark landing in dry grass.

In an instant, every crop within sight turned into countless drifting ashes.

Boundless cries of grief erupted throughout the fields.

After casually suppressing those bizarre voices, Duan Jiuzhang calmly spoke, "It seems the strange happenings in Yunguan County... are related to your brother as well."

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