Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 813 The End of Dongting Lake
The Yunmeng Marshland during the pre-Qin period stretched for thousands of miles, its vast expanse of misty waters resembling a battlefield between gods and demons.

At that time, the waters here were vast and boundless, with no bottom in sight.

A dragon coils in the abyss, swallowing the essence of the sun and moon; a giant turtle carries a celestial island on its back, floating and sinking among the clouds; ancient demons vie for supremacy here, stirring up towering waves, and where the water meets the sky, lightning often strikes down, as if the heavens are enraged.

But now, the sea has turned into land, and the sand has become silt.

The mighty waters were fragmented, transforming into numerous lakes and marshes.

The main channel of the Jingjiang River, like a rebellious dragon, suddenly tilts southward amidst the uplifting of the northwest-southeast earth veins, pouring its surging waters and rolling silt into Dongting Lake.

The lakebed was raised by silt, and islets rose from the water like scabs, breaking the once intact lake surface into a cluster of lakes resembling lotus root segments.

The aquatic creatures wailed, the great demon lay dormant, and the spiritual veins were in disarray, like a broken spider web.

The water spirits called this the "Crack in the Sky".

Little Green King's conquest is now being hampered by these scattered lakes.

We can't ignore it.

If left unchecked, those roaming water monsters will really eat people!

A crab that has become a spirit can easily break a fisherman's wooden boat; a water snake demon over ten feet long lurks in the swamp, dragging children into the water; even the lowest-ranking shrimp soldiers can stir up waves and capsize the ferry, causing an entire village to perish in the belly of fish...

To cultivators, these are nothing more than minor demons and monsters. But to mortals—they are utterly annihilated!
Therefore, this is not a simple conquest.

It's not about conquering!

Conquer the waters, suppress the demons, untangle the waterways, and restore order!
At the same time, she is also collecting the spiritual remnants of these lakes.

The path of the Water Lord has its own unique characteristics—only by completely ruling over a body of water can one mobilize the power of water elements to enhance oneself and achieve true authority!

Legend has it that in ancient times, Wuzhiqi, a creature from the Huai River, could constrict water into a divine weapon that could cut off an entire province and send it into the East China Sea with a single sweep of his staff!

Although the post-mythological era is unverifiable... this news was personally said by that "big shot with the surname Bai".

Then it can be basically considered true.

Xiaoqing stood atop the waves, wisps of water elemental light swirling around her fingertips. Gazing at the shattered lakes in the distance, a flame of ambition ignited in her eyes.

The optimal strategy is to gradually encroach upon the water system and eventually gain complete control over all rivers.

As the battle progressed, her cultivation level also increased day by day.

While it can't be called a leap forward, it's far beyond what ordinary demons can absorb and exhale spiritual energy.

For every body of water subdued, the power of the water element is replenished; for every great demon suppressed, its demon core is transformed into resources for cultivation.
Furthermore, with the special elixirs supplied by Baoan Hall, the speed of cultivation growth can be described as taking off!
Five hundred years before her transformation, she was a "traditional demon." She lived a simple life, subsisting on the wind and dew, and diligently cultivating the essence of the sun and moon, making progress as slow as a tortoise crawling.

After meeting Xu Xuan... the style of the story changed drastically!
Because—times have changed!
Nowadays, anyone in the Qiantang circle with a name or reputation, who still follows the traditional path of cultivation? Who doesn't have some amazing skills?

Even the previously touted speed of demonic cultivation seems overly conservative and cautious in this era.

The righteous heroes of Baoan Hall are reshaping the entire history of cultivation with their faster and stronger cultivation philosophy!

Let's get back to reality.

It has been a full three months since the Dragon Boat Festival before the Taihu Lake army finally left the Miluo River and officially entered the Xiangjiang River basin.

Hundreds of waterways and dozens of lakes along the way were all incorporated. Shrimp soldiers and crab generals submitted, and the great water demon clan surrendered.

And now we have finally made progress to the main water system of Dongting Lake.

The original guardian demon king of this place was the infamous Crocodile Dragon King. Unfortunately, he was beaten to death by Little Green King and his men before the Dragon Palace instance even opened.

They even created the famous scene of "marching on land and fighting in dry water".

Now, revisiting this place, Xiaoqing stood on the riverbank and felt a pang of emotion.

She held half a scroll of military strategy book in one hand and had the other hand behind her back. The river wind blew her robes, making them flutter.

The majesty of the Taihu Lake Water Lord was on full display at this moment.

"The longsword is useless, and the heroes are helpless..."

He sighed softly, his tone carrying three parts loneliness and seven parts pride.

"In this vast Jiangnan region, it's a pity that we can't find a single opponent... Do you understand?"

All of a sudden!
An aura of arrogance surged into the sky, soaring over three zhang high! Even the surface of the river was dented by this force!
You can even see the shadow of a certain Xu-surnamed demon king.

Yu Bai, who was on the right, immediately stepped forward and smoothly continued the conversation:

"Our leader is decisive and a master strategist! This insignificant Dongting Lake is ignorant of the times, naturally—"

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, it's courting its own destruction!" "Like an ant trying to shake a tree, it's laughable and overestimating its own strength!" "As the saying goes, those who follow the will of Heaven prosper, and those who defy it perish..."

After reciting this long-winded monologue, Yu Bai was quite pleased with himself. He had already prepared seven or eight similar sets of flattering lines, just waiting for Xiao Qing Da Wang's sigh.

After saying that, he deliberately glanced at Turtle on his left, his eyes full of provocation: See? That's what you call professional!
Turtle, however, ignored such petty tricks and said with utmost seriousness:
"Even if Master Xu himself came, it wouldn't be any different."

One decisive blow!

No matter how much you boast, as long as we dare to drag out the big boss to put down, we're guaranteed to win this match.

As for what happened afterward... While the Great Demon King is magnanimous, our ace agent's value is still worth some of it.

He gave Yu Bai a look, and then sneered at the shock on the other's face.

Try to mess with me!
You should cultivate for another five hundred years!

The two secretly clashed, and Turtle emerged victorious with an overwhelming advantage.

Of course, the biggest winner is the one who is being praised.

As expected, although King Xiaoqing tried her best to control her facial expressions and maintain her aloof demeanor.

But the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her secret delight. If it weren't for the formidable enemy at hand, she would have even wanted to recite a poem on the spot, amidst the surging river!
But in the end, he suppressed his overwhelming joy, coughed lightly, and said in a deliberately profound tone:

"Cough cough..."

"The Stone King of Lishui does have some skill, but after several exchanges, it seems his abilities have reached their limit."

Of the eight demon kings, only this single garlic clove escaped. All the subsequent arrangements that hindered the Taihu Lake demon soldiers were orchestrated by the Stone King.

He even personally launched several surprise attacks, achieving remarkable results.

The most tragic one is Yu Bai.

As a strategist, he personally went to the front line to supervise the battle, but ended up being trapped in a valley by the Stone King along with General Mud Dragon and beaten half to death.

Thanks to Li Xianfeng and his men who arrived just in time.

A large group of experts rushed forward, overwhelming the stone king with their numbers, and managed to shatter one of its legs and one of its arms before barely managing to force it back.

In terms of combat power alone, this giant rock, which is known as "half of Yun Zhongjun's body," is indeed outrageous!
He is proficient in combat techniques, the art of concealing his aura, and even has a rudimentary understanding of the secrets of heaven, making him a well-rounded warrior.

It can only be said that even stones that have come to life are extraordinary.

However, at this stage, the Stone King of Lishui was beyond saving.

King Xiaoqing is not a reckless demon king who only knows how to act blindly.

As Xu Xuan's best comrade-in-arms, he was naturally well-versed in military strategy.

The deployment of troops and the establishment of camps were all done in accordance with the orthodox methods of the great human military strategists.

They must arrange their troops in formation, using the elite forces of Taihu Lake to advance step by step, thus limiting the space for Shi Wang to maneuver.
A surprise attack was launched, with the Water Ghost Battalion secretly sabotaging the Lishui River's spiritual veins and severing its foundation.

They even learned from Xu Xuan's "propaganda warfare" tactics, having Gui Da spread rumors among the demon race that "Yun Zhongjun is dead," causing the enemy's subordinates to become disloyal...

When the orthodox and the unorthodox are combined, nothing is more likely to succeed!

Now, the Taihu Lake army has advanced to the Xiangjiang River, its sword pointing directly at the last core territory of Dongting Lake.

Meanwhile, several other detachments advanced rapidly along the Haozhu River, heading straight for Ruanjiang.

If successful, it would completely sever the "four waters" tributaries of the Dongting River basin.

As for the remaining four waterway exits?
The little green chicken is very cunning—it didn't send out any main force to guard the area, only leaving a few little demons to make a show of it.

Because that is the territory of the Dragon King of the Yangtze River, which is even more dangerous than the abyss of hell.

The Dragon King ignored the little demon as it passed by, but would his main force dare to cross the border and start a war? They'd probably end up on the death list the very next day.

Marshal Qing's cunning is a trait he inherited.

The Dragon King of the Yangtze River knew he was being used, but he couldn't retaliate. After all, it was a green snake with the potential to transform into a dragon, so there was no need to be too harsh on it.

Xu Bailian's personal reputation has been further damaged.

At this moment, beneath Mount Junshan, the severely wounded Stone King of the Lishui River knelt in a damp cave, awaiting his final fate.

Once upon a time, how prosperous were the demons of Dongting Lake?
Commanding eight hundred miles of waterways, with countless demon generals, his might shook the Jiangnan region.

But now, in just three short years, it has declined to this extent!
Who would have thought?

The Stone King looked up at the starlight shining through the cracks in the cave ceiling, his heart filled with bitterness.

For thousands of years, I have observed the stars, witnessed the three stars of Killing, Breaking, and Wolf shining brightly together, seen Mars fall to earth, and even seen the Purple Star, the imperial star, dim...

But I have never seen such a violent and rapid change in the heavens!

It was so fast that there wasn't even time to react!
"This is calamity..."

The Stone King sighed, his rock-hard body showing a hint of dejection.

All the demons know that the Stone King of Lishui is a magical stone that was transformed from a stubborn rock at the bottom of the river, but no one knows why it became the confidant of the Lord of the Clouds.

That past has long been lost in the first thick fog over Dongting Lake.

No demon dared to investigate, nor was any demon able to investigate.

As a stone spirit that has lived for ten thousand years, it witnessed the chaos during the last "disappearance of the celestial beings".

At that time, Dongting Lake was also filled with calamity, and the demons went mad. It was the emperor who used his supreme divine power to suppress the calamity and forcibly extended the life of Dongting Lake.

At the same time, the Stone King is the only demon who knows Yun Zhongjun's thoughts.

The emperor didn't care about the demons in Dongting Lake at all, or even about the waters themselves.

Its gaze was always fixed on a higher and more distant place... so high that even this ancient rock could not see through it.

But it cares.

Its roots have been deeply embedded in this body of water since the time of Yunmengze.

Having witnessed the clashes of ancient demons, seen the torrents of the Milky Way, and endured the vicissitudes of time, they have endured for millions of years.

Perhaps stones are all stubborn.

It loves the majestic waves that surge into the sky, the tranquility of the scattered islets, and even the slight itch on its head when the rice dumplings scattered by humans hit it during the Dragon Boat Festival races every year... It doesn't want any outsiders to change all of this.

Therefore, even knowing that the situation was hopeless, they still charged forward regardless of everything.

So what if legs are broken or arms are snapped? So what if a demon core is shattered?
In the end, they gave their all for this body of water.

The Stone King, his soul burning, knelt beneath Mount Jun, his low, hoarse voice chanting the ancient ballads that the human race had composed for the Cloud Lord.

(End of this chapter)