Li Xuan lit three sticks of incense in his hand, the incense smoke paved into a winding golden path. He stepped upon it, soaring through the air, appearing to mortals as a heavenly rainbow.

This time, he deliberately chose to fly over a bustling town, hence many witnessed it, resulting in mixed opinions.

Until someone well-informed said, "I heard the Buddha in Cyan Wood Province descended in a similar way," others remained in disbelief; fake monks and fake Buddhas are rampant these days, who would dare trust such true divine abilities?

However, someone immediately brought up the "wishes coming true" story, causing many skeptics to waver in their disbelief.

North of Hundred Flowers Mansion, Yan Fujing and his group exchanged uncertain glances; initially, they planned to travel with the Demon Buddha, but he instructed them to go to the royal city.

"Is he protecting us?" a Triple Cultivator martial artist asked.

Yan Fujing shook his head, pondered for a moment, and said, "The Demon Buddha cannot attend to every matter personally; he’s not protecting us, but wanting us to protect the Yu Sect, after all, apart from Cyan Wood Province, where else does he have incense offerings? Nonetheless, this is indeed a sign of goodwill."

Having spoken, he appeared somber again.

’Monsters can distinguish the situation and not act recklessly; Great Yin is in danger, the Human Race is in danger.’

A vision of that youth in dragon robes flashed through his mind, a sense of helplessness rising in his heart.

’Can Prince Qing truly turn the tide? Though Prince Qing’s talent is exceptional, how can one deal with such cunning monsters?

The so-called one wrong step leading to more, by the time Prince Qing grows, these monsters may have reached an unimaginable level.’

The use of incense, Yan Fujing didn’t fully understand, but he grasped one thing: there’s no profit without early rise.

The fact that the Demon Buddha cares so much about a stable incense source indicates incense is crucial for him.

Yan Fujing sighed deeply.

What can be done when the heavens are collapsing?

Decades of busy efforts and accumulation can’t even block the steps of that East Sea monster; were it not for the Demon Buddha, he would be dead, and Cyan Wood Province a living hell.

He’s a person who is free-spirited and unrestrained.

Thus, he was among the first in Great Yin to delve into Secret Martial Arts.

Now, he is forming new ideas.

’Perhaps, only monsters can deal with monsters.’

A martial artist nearby, noticing his prolonged silence, inquired, "Prime Minister, should we enter the royal capital now?"

Yan Fujing came to his senses and replied, "Of course, enter."

"Prime Minister, do you think the Buddha... he will succeed?"

"Whether he does or not, he is the only ’being’ willing to ally with us, the only one to truly protect all beings. Given this, should we not assist him, strive for him?"

Yan Fujing laughed heartily, seeming suddenly enlightened, saying, "Though times are changing, if it benefits all beings, why not do it?

Even if history brands us as accomplices to monsters a thousand years later, what does it matter? Hahaha!"

Speaking thus, the white-haired Prime Minister felt clear-minded.

Laughing boisterously, he grabbed the reins and rode forward.

Today, he aimed not only to secure Cyan Wood Province for the Demon Buddha but also to claim Luoshui Province.

Combining Cyan Wood and Luo River then creates a path.

The path is named Shannan.

Three provinces of Great Zhou, one path supporting the Demon Buddha with incense, such sincerity counts as repaying kindness with kindness.

Though it’s uncertain how many "children" the Demon Buddha feasts on.

Let him eat.

In the Prime Minister’s mind, when choosing between "one person’s death" and "hundred people’s deaths," he would invariably choose the former.

If "a few deaths" could save "hundreds," he would unhesitatingly allow those few deaths.

Of course, if that person were his friend or family, he would switch.

He doesn’t discuss morality, only interests.

Interest is about choosing minor losses over major losses, sacrificing others over family.

Initially, he hadn’t decided thus, but a small gesture of goodwill and rational action from the Demon Buddha made him see the latter could be communicated with, allied with; thus, he changed his mind.

...

...

For Li Xuan, transforming incense into a rainbow, distance isn’t much of an issue.

In no time, he arrived at the land two hundred miles west of the royal city.

The height of summer is yet to come, but the ground is unbearably hot, the earth loses moisture, the surface lifted by winds into dusty sand, fertile soil turned to desert, and farmland devastated.

Homeless, exiled people formed long queues, trudging with difficulty, seeking a way out.

Yet, all here is gravel, nowhere with rain or streams...

Some walked and suddenly collapsed sideways, lips blackened, bodies darkened, as the earth siphons water from them.

Further away lay numerous skeletons, mummified remains.

This scene, compared to the flood-stricken Cyan Wood Province, is especially moving.

If it were truly natural disasters, it could be endured, but this is clearly monster calamity.

Li Xuan stood on high, overlooking the yellow sand path that was once fertile farmland.

He had already confirmed the Drought Demon was nearby.

Yet, he wasn’t in a rush to act.

Firstly, he knew little about the Drought Demon;

Secondly, the timing wasn’t right.

Until the blade touches the neck of Great Yin’s royal nobility, they would become forgetful; even if he resolved problems now, it wouldn’t be long before Great Yin’s nobility stirred trouble anew.

As for why he didn’t immediately enter the royal city, abolish the old royals, and install a puppet randomly.

The reason is simple too.

He didn’t wish for the world to rise against him, for chaos to ensue, for endless troubles, endlessly dealing with suppressions here and there.