Chapter 121: Creation Appears Once More

Li Shun did not know much about the School of Agriculture.

The reason the thought had suddenly occurred to him was simply because he had spent half his life cultivating the Spirit Division and Life Transformation technique. Upon hearing those eight words, an instinctive association naturally arose in his mind.

"Come to think of it, not every one of the Hundred Schools is righteous and noble. I've heard that some schools hold doctrines so extreme that the world finds them utterly unacceptable. The School of Agriculture..."

Recalling the expression on Duan Jiuzhang's face just now, Li Shun became several degrees more certain of his speculation.

But just as he had said before, a clash between Celestial Phenomena realm experts was far beyond the ability of cultivators like them to interfere in.

Over the following several days, he and Li Qing remained inseparable from the granary, devoting themselves entirely to distributing rations and maintaining order.

Thanks to the protection granted by the golden wheat stalk, the minds of the townspeople, once clouded by the tribulation aura, gradually recovered.

In order to survive this seemingly hopeless catastrophe, many of the county's remaining capable officials and influential gentry voluntarily stepped forward.

As the saying went, 'The talent of a single county is enough to govern a nation and bring peace to the realm.'

With these local leaders lending their support, Li Shun was spared from dealing with countless trivial matters. However, as surviving refugees poured into Yunguan County like a rising tide, the city's already limited food supply gradually became insufficient.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day since they had entered the city.

Fourth day of the Third Month.

"I'm afraid... at most, we can only hold out for another two days."

Li Qing gazed at the nearly empty granary and let out a faint sigh.

"Ever since that day, Senior Duan has disappeared without a trace, as though he had sunk into the sea."

After a long silence, Li Qing suddenly turned toward his brother, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

"Brother... if Senior Duan still hasn't returned two days from now... what should we do?"

Li Shun did not answer directly. Instead, he silently gazed into the distance.

"Don't worry. Since Senior Duan entrusted this city to us, with his character, he'll certainly give us an explanation."

His gaze finally settled upon the towering stalk of wheat standing before the granary.

It was no longer as plump and golden as when it had first appeared. Its once upright stalk had begun to curl slightly, while the heavy ears drooped withered toward the ground, radiating an unmistakable air of fading vitality.

The warm radiance that had enveloped the entire city likewise grew increasingly faint as the wheat dimmed.

At the horizon, the tribulation clouds that had previously been forcibly driven away now slowly pressed toward Yunguan County once again like sharks that had caught the scent of blood.

Having witnessed a Celestial Phenomena cultivator advance into the Creation realm for the second time, Li Shun gradually began to understand why Great Qian's officials had always adopted a policy of noninterference whenever someone attempted such a breakthrough.

Likewise, the other cultivators capable of sensing the tribulation all avoided it as though fleeing from the plague.

"There are only a handful of Creation realm experts in all of Great Qian. Every one of them occupies a position of immense authority. Naturally, none of them would involve themselves in something like this."

"As for Celestial Phenomena realm experts..."

Li Shun's gaze swept across the dark clouds churning in the distance.

'Anyone daring to attempt a breakthrough through tribulation is almost certainly already at the upper ranks of the Celestial Phenomena realm. With cultivation of that level, if they deliberately hide themselves, and use the all-encompassing tribulation aura as cover, then even another cultivator of the same realm would have no better chance of finding them than searching for a needle in the ocean.'

'Concealing oneself is simply too easy.'

'Just like the disaster in Lengshan. If Zhou Xunzhen hadn't successfully broken through at the very last moment and revealed himself of his own accord, I probably would never have learned who the true mastermind was, even until my death.'

'Furthermore, anyone who enters the game must not only face a Celestial Phenomena madman fighting desperately for survival, but must also constantly resist the overwhelming tribulation force that has been diverted onto them. This tribulation was originally a death trap created by the Heavenly Dao specifically for Celestial Phenomena cultivators.'

'Trapped in a quagmire while confronting an enemy of equal realm, or perhaps even stronger, who remains hidden in the shadows. More often than not, such a battle ends in defeat.'

'Even if the one interfering succeeds, there is almost no tangible reward to be gained.'

'And if they fail...'

'They will earn the eternal enmity of a Creation realm expert.'

'No matter how you look at it, it's simply not worth it.'

'It's only natural that no one wants to get involved.'

Li Shun sighed softly.

The more reasonable his deductions became, the more admirable Duan Jiuzhang's willingness to step forward appeared.

Yet the lingering doubt in Li Shun's heart refused to disappear.

Why had Duan Jiuzhang chosen to involve himself without the slightest hesitation?

Was it truly only for the sake of the people of Yunguan County?

Or was there another hidden reason behind it all?

'I have Threefold Self-Reflection protecting me. I should be able to preserve myself. Even if everything falls apart, at worst I'll merely waste a few opportunities to turn back time.'

With that thought, Li Shun quietly steadied his mind.

...

Fourth day of the Third Month.

"Hehehe..."

"Duan Jiuzhang, Great Qian's Director of State Agriculture. Is this all you're capable of?"

A sinister laugh echoed across the skies above Yunguan County.

The next instant, Duan Jiuzhang's figure abruptly appeared in midair before losing all balance and crashing heavily toward the ground.

"Senior Duan!"

Li Qing cried out in alarm.

His figure shot forward like an arrow, catching Duan Jiuzhang before he struck the earth.

"Cough... cough... I'm... fine."

Duan Jiuzhang barely managed to steady himself before gently pushing Li Qing away.

Though he spoke lightly, Li Shun could clearly see that Duan Jiuzhang had already reached the end of his strength.

His complexion had turned so pale it was nearly transparent.

The qi throughout his body was hopelessly chaotic.

The clearest evidence stood directly before the granary.

The golden stalk of wheat that had remained planted there all this time had now completely withered and carbonized, leaving behind nothing but a blackened, hollow stalk.

Meanwhile, the protective radiance that had once enveloped the entire city had contracted until it covered only the tiny area surrounding the granary, flickering as though it might disappear at any moment.

"I told you long ago."

"The teachings left behind by the Agricultural Sage are fundamentally flawed!"

"Rather than regulating the growth of all living things, it is better to seize the life essence of every living being directly!"

"Heaven and earth are the fields."

"All living creatures are the seeds."

"And slaughter is the true harvest of the School of Agriculture!"

The arrogant voice rang throughout the heavens, openly slandering the Agricultural Sage before countless witnesses.

"Today, I, Zuo Yan, shall feast upon the people of an entire city."

"I shall break through the Celestial Phenomena realm and step into Creation!"

Within the rolling sea of dark clouds, a hideous face large enough to cover the entire sky slowly took shape.

Under its gaze, the tribulation known as Owl God Seizes Food was driven to its absolute limit.

Every surviving citizen throughout the city involuntarily raised their heads like puppets on invisible strings, staring fixedly into the heavens.

Their eyes gradually lost all focus.

The vitality, fortune, and even the intangible opportunities within their bodies transformed into visible streams of radiant light that were forcibly stripped away and drawn into the dark vortex hanging in the sky.

All of it became nourishment for Zuo Yan's ascension.

In only a few breaths, the expressions of the townspeople turned vacant and lifeless.

It was as though their souls had been ripped away, leaving behind nothing but walking corpses.

"You fiend..."

Duan Jiuzhang's eyes split with fury.

He forced his battered body to rise and attempted to unleash another divine ability.

Instead, he suddenly doubled over and spat out a mouthful of thick blood.

The blood was not red.

It was an eerie black.

As it splashed onto the stone pavement, it hissed loudly, rapidly corroding deep pits into the ground.

Duan Jiuzhang laughed bitterly.

"I miscalculated."

"This tribulation was never directed solely at you."

"It was aimed at me as well."

"He knows my temperament inside and out."

"He knew I would inevitably purify the polluted blood accumulated within the granary."

"So he secretly hid a poison within that blood, one capable of destroying the very foundation of my cultivation."

Only then did he reveal the true reason behind his grievous injuries. Looking toward Li Shun and Li Qing, guilt flashed across his eyes.

"I've dragged the two of you into this."

One life after another within the city continued to wither away.

Perhaps wishing to force Duan Jiuzhang to witness this horrific harvest with his own eyes, Zuo Yan deliberately spared this tiny sanctuary.

Everyone gathered before the granary remained unharmed.

Yet terror filled every face as they stared at the monstrous visage hanging above the heavens.

At last, after sacrificing the lives of an entire county's population, the tribulation clouds above the city walls finally dispersed.

Unlike Zhou Xunzhen, who had recited poetry upon stepping into the Creation realm, Zuo Yan appeared cold and deathly silent.

He slowly descended from the clouds before stopping directly above Duan Jiuzhang.

Looking down upon him.

Even the slightest trace of pressure naturally emitted by a Creation realm expert caused Li Shun's entire body to stiffen, leaving him utterly incapable of movement.

Zuo Yan calmly regarded Duan Jiuzhang.

His eyes brimmed with the playful amusement of a cat tormenting a mouse.

"You're still the same."

"Forever so self-righteous."

"Forever unwilling to admit defeat."

He slowly turned his gaze toward the silent ruins of Yunguan County before smiling faintly.

"So there are still a few survivors."

"In that case..."

His long fingers gently pinched together.

Far away, one of the townspeople who had only just regained awareness suddenly exploded without warning.

Every trace of life was erased in an instant.

A look of profound enjoyment appeared upon Zuo Yan's face.

"You!"

Duan Jiuzhang's expression changed drastically.

Just as he was about to act, another mouthful of black blood erupted from his lips.

Zuo Yan had already entered the Creation realm.

Duan Jiuzhang, meanwhile, was grievously wounded.

How could he possibly be his opponent?

He could only watch helplessly as Zuo Yan mercilessly stole the lives of the remaining townspeople.

Pop.

Pop.

Pop.

Each dull sound marked another life extinguished.

Zuo Yan remained expressionless, as though he were casually crushing ants beneath his fingers.

Duan Jiuzhang's eyes had turned bloodshot.

He struggled desperately to move, yet the overwhelming pressure of Zuo Yan's aura held him firmly in place.

He could only watch the massacre unfold before his eyes.

Every passing moment felt unbearably long.

By the time it was over, the vast Yunguan County contained only four living people.

Those standing before the granary.