"Rumble!"

Thunder after thunder echoed from the sky, as if it would shatter the entire firmament.

Dark clouds continuously gathered above Ganyue Lake, as if the thick black clouds might press down from the heavens at any moment.

The daylight had already been obscured by the dark clouds.

Each bolt of lightning that tore through the sky was like a dagger slicing through the night fabric.

"Rumble!"

Another thunderclap resounded through the clouds.

In Locust Tree Village, the closest to Ganyue Lake, women hurriedly collected their laundry while men drove their chickens and ducks back to their pens.

"Wah wah wah wah!"

Babies, startled by the thunder, wailed in their mothers' arms.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's alright, it's alright."

A young mother comforted the child in her embrace, holding the baby tightly in her arms. She raised her head and looked through the window toward the direction of Ganyue Lake.

It had been clear and bright not long ago, so why was there suddenly thunder?

Before long, a gentle drizzle began falling from the sky.

"Village Chief, the weather was fine just now. Why is it suddenly raining?"

In the village, a sturdy man asked his village chief what was happening.

He had originally planned to go to the river to catch a couple of fish, but now it seemed he would have to delay.

The village chief stroked his graying beard, gazed at the cloud-covered Ganyue Lake, and spoke with deep meaning, "Looking at this, I'm afraid there's a snake about to walk the river."

"Walk the river?" The sturdy man was startled. "Walking the river brings heavy rain, heavy rain brings great floods. Should we call the villagers to take shelter?"

"No need." The village chief shook his head. "Previously, that Prime Minister Xiao came here and built some waterways, dredged some river channels. The water from Ganyue Lake won't overflow."

"That's right. I also saw snake clans walk the river when I was young," the village chief said, leaning on his walking stick. "But somehow, this snake's tribulation feels different. The commotion is also quite big."

...

Ganzhou’s Moon God Sect.

The Moon God Sect was an established sect in Ganzhou, located seven hundred li away from Ganyue Lake. The sect master was a great cultivator at the Jade Simplicity realm.

On this day, Master Ye of the Moon God Sect was sitting in meditation and self-observation in his courtyard.

Suddenly, Master Ye sensed something and abruptly opened his eyes.

In the next moment, the courtyard was empty. Master Ye had appeared at the peak of the Moon God Sect's highest mountain. He gathered spiritual power in his eyes and gazed at the thick dark clouds seven hundred li away.

"Sect Master, there's a snake clan undergoing tribulation in the direction of Ganyue Lake."

In less than half a tea time, five elders appeared beside Master Ye. An elder named Long Biao spoke.

Elder Wu Xi stepped forward, frowning, "Ordinary snake clans that have just entered the lake shouldn't cause such a big commotion. This snake clan has just begun walking the river, yet the thunder tribulation is gathering but not striking. It's truly rare."

Another elder spoke, "This python must have ancestral characteristics. Its entire body is treasure."

"The Sect Master is now at the peak of Jade Simplicity realm, about to break through to the Immortal realm. This snake's demon core will surely help the Sect Master greatly!" another one-eyed elder said excitedly.

The others nodded as well.

If the Sect Master advanced to the Immortal realm, it would be extremely beneficial for the Moon God Sect's development.

A sect with an Immortal realm cultivator presiding would be worry-free for at least ten thousand years!

"Heh heh heh."

Master Ye chuckled.

"Snake clans walking the river to transform into dragons is stealing the creation of heaven and earth. Wherever they pass, they will inevitably cause floods. If we take action, we are also acting on behalf of heaven.

However, there's no rush now.

This snake has just begun walking the river, and its strength is at its peak. Why not let some ignorant rogue cultivators go and die first, exhausting its strength, then we can make our move.

Moreover, when this snake reaches the river and its bloodline gradually purifies, its demon core will transform into a dragon core, which will be most precious.

Go and prepare well. When the time comes, this snake's flesh and blood will also nourish you all."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

...

Atop Clear Breeze Mountain.

Only fifty li away from Ganyue Lake.

Two women wearing Daoist robes stood at the mountain peak, looking in one direction.

"Master," Li Sisi raised her head, looking at her master beside her, and asked worriedly, "Can Miss Bai really successfully walk the river and enter the sea?"

"Successfully?"

Fuchen slowly shook her head.

"Snake clans transforming into dragons, hundreds of birds becoming phoenixes, if it were successful, so many demon cultivators wouldn't have perished, let alone the fact that Ruxue has just entered the lake and already caused such celestial phenomena. Do you think those sects won't notice?"

Li Sisi was speechless.

Fuchen continued, "To use their words, snake clans walking the river and undergoing tribulation is stealing the creation of heaven and earth, causing devastation to the people along the way.

In reality, this is somewhat exaggerated.

Which snake clan capable of walking the river is foolish?

The places they choose to walk the river have certainly been surveyed multiple times, striving to minimize the impact on mortal people to avoid attracting more karmic consequences that would affect their own tribulation.

So when snake clans walk the river, unless they are evil-hearted,

Otherwise, most snake clans walking the river at most damage property, rarely harming people.

Moreover, everything has two sides.

After snake clans walk the river, they will bring down a rain of dragon fortune. Ten years after they pass, where won't there be favorable weather, fragrant rice for thousands of li, and outstanding talents?

Those cultivators speak of eliminating harm for the people.

In reality, do they truly care about ordinary people in their hearts?

This is merely their excuse. They don't care about mortal people, they only care about their own gains and losses."

"But Master, although Miss Bai's river walk is difficult, hasn't Mr. Xiao's preparations over all these years been just for this one day?" Being told this by her master, Li Sisi became even more nervous.

"Yes."

Fuchen looked in one direction.

"Forty-eight years, everything he's done is not only for the people of the world, but also for her.

So, Xiao Mo, you think that with your death, time will eventually let her let go.

But can she really let go?"

...

In Locust Tree Village, the rain grew heavier.

The working adults and children playing in the fields all hurriedly ran home to avoid the rain.

At the village entrance, an old man sitting on a stone stood up.

He patted the dust off his body, used the ground-shrinking technique, stepped out, and instantly disappeared from his spot.

A child looked at the empty stone, blinking his big eyes curiously.

Where did that old grandfather go? How did he suddenly disappear?

At the same time, many cultivators sensed the towering demonic energy and terrifying thunder tribulation from Ganyue Lake, knowing it was a snake clan undergoing tribulation. They all came to hunt, trying to compete for this opportunity.

Most of these cultivators were rogue cultivators.

The biggest characteristics of rogue cultivators were fearlessness of death, unscrupulous methods, and greed.

Now, with such an opportunity, even though they knew there was danger, even though they knew this snake might be targeted by other sects, they just couldn't control the greed in their hearts.

What if?

What if this snake clan walking the river was hunted by them?

Therefore, many rogue cultivators gathered together to jointly hunt this great snake walking the river.

Just when a group of twenty rogue cultivators was only ten li away from Ganyue Lake, an old man wearing a blue robe blocked their path.