Chapter 474: Chapter 474: Scenes of Tragedy

Regarding Mo Huai’an’s sigh, Zhang Yuan merely smiled it off.

He came to the Upper Scenic Celestial for the higher pursuit of Martial Arts, with no intention to truly join this Sect.

In a few years, when he breaks through the Tier Seven level, Zhang Yuan is definitely going to leave.

Once one becomes a Protector War General or a Divine General, they would be greatly constrained by the Sect and couldn’t leave as they wish.

Therefore, even if he were given this opportunity that others dream of, he would refuse without hesitation.

Of course, there was no need to emphasize this point to Mo Huai’an.

That night, he stayed at the entrance of the ancestral hall, trying to cultivate the "Six Harmonies Qilin Body" with the newly obtained Fire Demon Stone.

The Fire Demon Stone, similar to the Evil Infant and Beast Core, contained a large amount of Flame Sun Power within.

If this power were to erupt instantly, it could certainly incinerate Zhang Yuan into ashes!

So Zhang Yuan was extremely cautious.

Luckily, the knowledge Mo Huai’an possessed helped him avoid countless detours.

To extract the energy from within the Fire Demon Stone undoubtedly required skill and technique.

Though Mo Huai’an had never used a Fire Demon Stone before, he provided Zhang Yuan the corresponding Magic Technique.

In fact, such a Magic Technique, placed within many families or factions, could serve as a method of inheritance.

Its value is exceedingly high.

Yet Mo Huai’an was utterly generous, holding nothing back and speaking freely.

With the understanding of these magic techniques, Zhang Yuan activated Primordial True Power, slowly infiltrating the Fire Demon Stone to draw out strands of Flame Sun Power.

He integrated them into his Qi Sea Dantian and refined them!

At first, Zhang Yuan frequently failed, nearly causing the energy within the Fire Demon Stone to spiral out of control.

But through repeated trials, his technique became more skilled.

His understanding of the Fire Demon Stone’s characteristics deepened continuously.

Ultimately, he successfully refined a trace of Flame Sun Power.

The refined Flame Sun Power turned out to be an excellent "fuel" for cultivating the "Six Harmonies Qilin Body."

With successful experience, the subsequent refinement process went smoothly.

Zhang Yuan immersed himself in it, unconsciously waiting until daylight.

When the morning light shone upon the village, he reluctantly put away the Fire Demon Stone.

The cultivation had ended.

And Zhang Yuan’s gains were considerable, with his long-stagnant "Six Harmonies Qilin Body" advancing in Realm.

This was undoubtedly an excellent beginning.

After having a simple breakfast, Zhang Yuan and Mo Huai’an left the village.

They continued forward.

Since Mo Huai’an suspected that a Drought Fiend appeared within Yongzhou, he didn’t hurry to Yong’an City but instead conducted a detailed investigation of the surrounding villages.

Looking for more useful clues.

Meanwhile, this Young Mage also sent out a Communication Talisman to the Sect.

To know the place they were at was already very far from the Upper Scenic Celestial.

The high grade of the Token Mo Huai’an used was evident!

However, Zhang Yuan and he continued searching several villages but found nothing.

There were no people, no weirdness, let alone deceitful monsters like the Fire Demon Stone.

It was as if all the demons had vanished or gone into hiding.

After two more days, when they were not far from Yong’an City, they finally saw the presence of people.

However, neither Zhang Yuan nor Mo Huai’an felt any joy, instead growing increasingly heavy-hearted and oppressed.

Amid the great drought, famine spread everywhere.

There were finally people in the villages beside the official road, no longer deserted and desolate.

However, these villagers were ravaged by the severe drought, each emaciated and slow in movement, resembling the living dead.

Some lay in the shadows before and behind houses, eyes vacant and expressions numb, with no sign of life evident except for the slight heaving of their chests.

Flies and mosquitoes landed on their bodies with no response.

Some had lit fires, unknown what they were roasting, with the air exuding an unpleasant odor.

The village Zhang Yuan entered appeared to be alive, but in reality, little distinguished it from death.

Even the appearance of Zhang Yuan and Mo Huai’an failed to stir any reaction from these villagers.

They were too thirsty, too hungry, too helpless, unable to utter even a word of begging.

They could only roll their eyes, revealing a thread of yearning for life.

"How could this happen?"

The human tragedy before them pierced through Mo Huai’an’s defenses, prompting him to ask, "Where has the Daqian Government Office gone, why is nobody stepping out to provide relief?"

To know this place was not far from Yongzhou’s state city, and yet such scenes of starvation everywhere still appeared.

What path of survival was left for the civilians farther away?

"Master, have mercy~"

At this moment, a desiccated, skinny woman rushed out of a clay house, falling at Mo Huai’an’s horse’s feet.

She held a frail child, lifting her head with all her might, pleading, "Save my child!"

The child was unbelievably thin, eyes shut tight, with a bare belly distended high, breathing weak to the extreme.

Mo Huai’an did not hesitate for a moment. He immediately dismounted.

He pinched a Talisman and swiftly placed it on the child.

With a flash of spiritual light, the child’s whole body quivered, emitting a low groan, and surprisingly woke up!

Mo Huai’an turned to look at Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan wordlessly took off the water bag he carried and tossed it over.

Mo Huai’an caught it, uncorked it, and brought its opening to the child’s mouth.

The latter immediately drank greedily!

After quenching his thirst, the child struggled in the woman’s arms, sobbing, "Mother~"

However, the woman could no longer respond to his call, her head drooping with no trace of life left.

In the next instant, a middle-aged man with a ghastly complexion hobbled out from the house, leaning on a wooden stick, upon seeing his dead wife and crying child, revealing an immensely sorrowful expression.

He staggered forward, collapsing onto the woman, emitting a low growl from his throat.

"Accept my condolences."

Mo Huai’an stuffed the water bag into the man’s arms, then looked at Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan silently tossed over two pancakes.

Mo Huai’an patted the middle-aged man’s shoulder, about to say something, when suddenly a rush of galloping hooves echoed in the distance.

Upon hearing this sound, the middle-aged man, who had just cradled the child, suddenly showed a change in expression.

Summoning unknown strength from somewhere, he leapt to his feet, dragging a crippled right leg, running back inside the house, shouting, "The Grain Collection Team is coming again!"

"Quick, run away!"

At this moment, the entire village descended into chaos.

Some villagers rushed out of their houses, running around like headless flies.

Some fled to the nearby fields.

Only those who were dehydrated and debilitated remained indifferent, quietly awaiting death’s arrival.

Not far away, a column of dust billowed, rapidly approaching the village!