On Mount Changqing in Chengping Prefecture.

Atop the mountain, an old man opened his eyes.

In mortal dynasties, some officials possessed spiritual roots and could cultivate.

Those cultivating officials who did many good deeds during their lifetimes and were revered by the people could, after death, be worshipped by the people in temples and be canonized by the emperor as mountain, water, and river gods.

Unless the dynasty collapsed and the mountains and rivers changed hands, these mountain, water, and river gods could exist indefinitely.

Of course, under normal circumstances, most officials wouldn't choose this path.

Because no matter what, reincarnation symbolized new hope. After several reincarnations, one might ascend to the Great Dao but if you became a mountain, water, or river god, you would be bound to the dynasty.

And after the dynasty's collapse, you would perish completely, with no possibility of reincarnation.

Looking at the entire world, even sects couldn't exist forever, let alone the ever-changing mortal dynasties but some officials were still willing to become mountain, water, and river gods.

Because who could say for certain what would happen in future lives?

Perhaps they might perish in their second life.

Moreover, some officials truly dedicated themselves to the people and couldn't bear to abandon them.

This old man named Wei Yuan was the mountain god of Mount Changqing in the Qi Kingdom.

Wei Yuan looked toward a nearby stream.

In the stream, a white giant python was charging toward the Dragon-Slaying Sword hanging beneath an arched bridge.

The Dragon-Slaying Sword flew out, slashing toward the white giant python's body.

"Hiss!"

The white giant python's body was cut with several bloody marks by the long sword.

"Clang!"

The Dragon-Slaying Sword seemed enraged and stabbed toward the giant python's forehead.

However, she swung her long tail, sending the Dragon-Slaying Sword flying to embed itself in a rock on the shore.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Bai Ruxue hurriedly passed through the arched bridge and swam toward Siming Lake.

"This giant python has good talent."

Wei Yuan stroked his beard and nodded but this was only the first trial.

The Dragon-Slaying Swords weren't limited to just this one.

Bai Ruxue swam past the arched bridge and looked back. That Dragon-Slaying Sword indeed hadn't followed.

Xiao Mo was right, just pass each trial one by one and swim forward.

Swimming through Sixian Stream, Bai Ruxue successfully entered Siming Lake.

When Bai Ruxue soaked in the waters of Siming Lake, she felt the scales on her body gradually heating up, and the blood in her body constantly surging.

Moreover, her body seemed to be gradually growing larger, and four positions on her abdomen seemed like something was about to grow out.

Bai Ruxue remembered the lessons Xiao Mo had given her before and knew she was undergoing ancestral regression.

At each stage, her body would evolve partially toward that of a flood dragon.

When she entered the sea, she would transform into a flood dragon, also called a potential dragon. Then, as long as she survived the Nine Dragons Mysterious Thunder Tribulation, she could obtain the Dragon Thunder Liquid.

Taking a deep breath of water, Bai Ruxue passed through Siming Lake and swam into the Chunsong River.

"Why is this snake so eager in its tribulation?" Wei Yuan said in surprise.

He wasn't unfamiliar with snake clan tribulations.

Usually, snake clans would rest for a period after passing each trial.

This was the first time he had seen a white python so anxious to undergo tribulation.

"Forget it, this official should also make a move."

Wei Yuan shook his head, stopped overthinking, and prepared to intercept and kill this white python.

Admittedly, this white python seemed relatively gentle in temperament, not like other evil snakes that caused floods and devastation to all living beings on both shores.

However, if he slayed this snake within his territory, her corpse would nourish thousands of li, which would be far more beneficial than the later dragon rain.

"Rumble!"

When Bai Ruxue entered the Chunsong River, raindrops as large as beans poured down, and thunder continued roaring in the sky.

The waters of the Chunsong River kept surging.

Massive waves crashed against Bai Ruxue's body.

Although Bai Ruxue was clearly swimming downstream, the river water flowed backward, preventing Bai Ruxue from continuing forward.

In Chunsong Town, every household closed their doors and stayed inside.

Everyone watched the lightning and thunder in the sky, watched these violent raindrops.

Each person was startled, as if the world had reached its end.

"Mother, why is today's rain so heavy?"

A little girl with pigtails nestled in her mother's arms.

From childhood to now, this was the first time she had seen such heavy rain.

"Mother doesn't know either." The young beautiful woman shook her head and gently patted her daughter's back.

"Mother, Grandfather Wang said that heavy rain would bring floods. Will we be in trouble?" the little girl asked anxiously.

"No, we won't." The girl's father answered. "Our Chunsong River, over ten years ago, old Prime Minister Xiao personally supervised the river regulation and built the Chunsong Weir. Although the rain is heavy, it can withstand it. Moreover, the county magistrate has already taken officials and soldiers there. Don't worry, little one."

"Oh."

The little girl nodded.

The little girl didn't understand what her father was talking about but the little girl knew that old Prime Minister Xiao was very capable. It was because of old Prime Minister Xiao that Chunsong County became fertile land, and she could have enough to eat every year.

At Chunhe Weir, the county magistrate had already brought two thousand officials and soldiers transferred from the prefecture, carrying bags of earth and moving back and forth, prepared for battle.

"It's thanks to these projects left by old Prime Minister Xiao!"

Looking at the surging river water, the Chunsong County magistrate sighed inwardly.

Otherwise, this torrential rain would really have washed away his official hat.

"Speaking of which, how did the prefecture governor know there would be torrential rain these days?" the Chunsong County magistrate wondered, stroking his chin.

"Sir, look!"

At this moment, a county assistant beside him shouted.

The Chunsong County magistrate raised his head and saw a white python over twelve zhang long rising from within the Chunsong River!

Thunder flashed, illuminating that enormous snake head.

"My goodness!"

The Chunsong County magistrate was so frightened he fell to the ground.

In the next moment, the Dragon-Slaying Sword and Dragon-Binding Locks under the Chunsong River Bridge flew out.

Everyone saw two phantom-like old men appear.

Mountain and river fortune and people's incense offerings swirled around them.

The two respectively grasped a Dragon-Slaying Sword and Dragon-Binding Locks, stepping through the air toward that giant snake.

The two old men were respectively the Chunsong River god, Gai Sanqiu, and the Mount Changqing mountain god, Wei Yuan.

"Evil creature! Don't be arrogant, we've come to capture you!"

Gai Sanqiu and Wei Yuan manifested dharma forms over twenty zhang tall and attacked Bai Ruxue.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Just as Bai Ruxue was preparing to face the enemy, an old man's coughing sound spread throughout heaven and earth.

"Roar!"

In an instant, an ink-colored long dragon thirty zhang in length knocked the river god and mountain god to the ground.

An old man in a blue robe appeared in the air, looking calmly at the mountain and river gods.

"Xiao Mo!" Gai Sanqiu stood up, recognized the visitor's appearance, and said angrily, "You are a human sage of the mortal world, holding the position of prime minister, yet you're helping an evil creature walk the river!"

Xiao Mo raised his head, hands clasped behind his back, rain soaking his blue robe.

Between heaven and earth, only the old man's calm voice was heard, "What's wrong with that?"