In the global desert, I have a spring of spiritual water.

"No way?"

"How is this possible?"

Feng Yu and Wu Qian both looked at Hong Zhu'er with shock. Top-quality water sources are very rare, and without exception, the places where top-quality water sources are found have formed large cities with a population of millions.

Of course, many high-quality water sources have also been occupied by sand monsters and turned into their lair.

If Taiping Village truly discovers a superior water source, wouldn't it have the potential to become a major city? After all, water is the source of all things, and both humans and demons will unconsciously flock to places with high-quality water sources.

In this era, high-quality water is even more important. It is not only a matter of survival, but also related to spiritual cultivation. Two people with the same conditions, one who drinks inferior water all year round and the other who drinks superior water all year round will have a very different speed of spiritual cultivation.

Because high-quality water has very few impurities, while low-quality water has many impurities, during the same hour of practice, a person who drinks low-quality water year-round may spend half an hour expelling impurities from their body, while a person who drinks high-quality water may complete the expulsion process in just fifteen minutes, making much more efficient use of time.

Moreover, impurities in the body are not so easy to eliminate. The more impurities there are, the more difficult it is to eliminate, and the slower the cultivation speed will be. Therefore, the impact of water quality on cultivation is not a matter of quantitative change, but a matter that may trigger qualitative change.

"There is no reason for Taipingzhuang to use 1000 jars of top-quality water to redeem people, unless this is the only water they have, and judging from their straightforward attitude, it seems that Taipingzhuang is not short of water."

As she spoke, Hong Zhu'er took out a crystal-clear jade pendant from her storage ring and handed it to Wu Qian: "Give this communication jade pendant to the captured people and have them take it to the new master of Taiping Manor."

"yes!"

Wu Qian accepted the jade pendant, took his orders, and left.

Taipingzhuang.

Council chamber.

Chen Chuan sat in the main seat, observing Ma Baoquan, the owner of Daxing Manor, and Guo Longyuan, the director of the Demon Suppression Division.

Both of them had high cultivation levels; the former was a first-order nine-star cultivator, while the latter was a second-order cultivator, though their star level was unknown.

However, Hu Changhe had previously mentioned that Guo Longyuan of Daxingzhuang had only been promoted to the second rank this year, so he was probably only at the first or second rank.

However, according to the information in my memory, the first and second levels are like an insurmountable chasm, and only one in ten thousand cultivators can advance to the second level.

Based on the other party's cultivation level, Chen Chuan carefully examined Guo Longyuan. This person looked to be in his thirties, with very dark skin. This was a characteristic of ordinary people in the desert era. After all, water resources were scarce and the sun was intense, so almost no one who was constantly on the move was not dark-skinned.

However, Guo Longyuan's skin was not dry and cracked like that of ordinary people, so it was clear that he was not lacking in moisture.

"Master Chen, I won't beat around the bush. With the arrival of the hot summer season, my Daxing Manor is facing a severe water shortage. I heard that Taiping Manor has discovered a new water source, and I would like to borrow some water."

Chen Chuan was silently observing Guo Longyuan when Ma Baoquan spoke first, stating his purpose directly.

It was only then that Hu Changhe, who had been traveling with them for half the journey, realized that the people of Daxingzhuang actually wanted to borrow water. He couldn't help but think of the group of people he had sent to Daxingzhuang for help a few days ago. Not only were they driven out of Daxingzhuang, but two of them were also seriously injured and died in the mouth of the sand demon on their way back.

Hu Changhe remembered this grudge and planned to settle it later, but unexpectedly, Ma Baoquan took the initiative to come to his door.

"How much water does Master Ma want to borrow?"

Chen Chuan asked calmly. He naturally remembered that the people from Taipingzhuang went to Daxingzhuang for help and were beaten. Although Hu Changhe sent them out before he took office, the demon-suppressing team members who returned reported to him. At that time, he had just taken office and had a deep impression of this incident.

"The more the better, of course."

Ma Baoquan squinted and said, "However, we only brought 18 camel carts with us on this trip. Each camel cart has ten water tanks. Let's fill these 180 tanks with water first."

"In addition, Taipingzhuang will lend Daxingzhuang all the camel carts and water tanks it has. Please have Master Chen count them. They will be returned after use."

After saying that, Ma Baoquan looked at Chen Chuan with a smile in his eyes.

Inside the council chamber, chaos erupted as officials and clerks from Taipingzhuang began to complain.

"180 vats of water? That's almost ten thousand jars! How can you even say that!"

"Who asks for water like that? It's outrageous!"

"You want to lend me all the camel carts and water tanks from Taipingzhuang? This isn't borrowing water, it's robbing water!"

Hu Changhe was already furious, and after hearing Ma Baoquan's arrogant words, he immediately strode forward, pointed at his nose, and said, "Ma Baoquan, have you forgotten the time when the people from Taiping Village came to our door asking for help? Not only did you refuse to lend us water, but you also severely injured two of our men. Because they were injured, they were powerless to fight back when they encountered the sand demon on their way back and died in its mouth. I haven't settled that score with your Daxing Village yet, and you still have the nerve to come to our door asking for water?"

"You yourself said they died at the hands of the sand demons; what does that have to do with our Daxing Village!"

Ma Baoquan snorted coldly, his gaze falling on Chen Chuan again: "Master Chen, will you lend me this water or not?"

As he spoke, Guo Longyuan stepped forward, and a surge of powerful spiritual energy enveloped Chen Chuan, rendering him unable to move.

Meanwhile, Geng Hu drew his long sword with a swift motion. He was already at the peak of the first tier, nine stars, just one step away from the second tier. He could sense the fluctuations in spiritual energy and knew that Guo Longyuan was attacking Chen Chuan.

Hu Changhe also drew his long sword and shouted, "Ma Baoquan, are you really trying to steal the water?!"

The other officials of Taipingzhuang, who were not as powerful, all spoke up to condemn it.

"Robbers, they're absolute robbers!"

"You are both under the jurisdiction of Shanghe Commandery, but this is a violation of the commandery's laws!"

"Your Daxingzhuang village is short of water, but does that mean our Taipingzhuang village isn't?"

Enveloped in powerful spiritual energy, Chen Chuan frowned and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: This second-tier cultivator is different; he can easily hold a weakling like me, a first-tier six-star cultivator, hostage without even using a weapon.

However, Chen Chuan knew that Guo Longyuan was simply showing off his strength and trying to intimidate him and the people of Taipingzhuang with force.

"Master Chen, should we lend you the water or not?"

Ignoring the condemnations around him, Ma Baoquan pressed on with a forced smile.

"Of course we'll lend it!"

Chen Chuan replied with a smile, "Daxing Village and Taiping Village have always been on good terms. Now that Daxing Village is short of water, Taiping Village will do its best to help. Let's do as Master Ma said. First, fill 180 vats of water, and then Taiping Village will send 20 camel carts to carry 200 vats of water."

"Changhai, go and make the arrangements right away!"

As he spoke, Hu Changhai, who was standing next to Chen Chuanchong, gave him a wink.

"Master, this..."

Hu Changhai was completely dumbfounded; he hadn't expected Chen Chuan to agree.

"Master, we can't lend you this water!"

"Master, this isn't borrowing water, this is robbery!"

"Please reconsider, Master!"

The officials of Taipingzhuang all spoke up to stop them.

Seeing this, Chen Chuan glared and shouted sternly, "Are you the manor lords, or am I the manor lord?!"

"Changhai, hurry and fill up the water tank at Daxingzhuang! Get there quickly!"

"yes!"

Although Hu Changhai was unwilling, he thought that the manor lord would not be so humiliated, so he agreed and left the council hall.

Seeing Chen Chuan agree so readily, Ma Baoquan burst into laughter: "Master Chen, as expected of someone from Shanghe City, you have a much broader perspective than these country bumpkins. Thank you!"

As he spoke, he gave Guo Longyuan a wink, and the latter immediately withdrew the released spiritual power, and Chen Chuan's body regained its freedom.

"Master Ma, there's no need to be so polite. The water in Taiping Village is the same water in Daxing Village. Use as much as you want."

"If Taiping Village can't withstand the sand demons' attack on the city in the future, I'll have to go and seek refuge with Master Ma. Master Ma, you must take me in then!"

Chen Chuan put on an act of being afraid of death.

"Sure, sure!"

Ma Baoquan patted Chen Chuan on the shoulder with a big smile, thinking that this playboy was intimidated by the strength Guo Longyuan had shown.

Chen Chuan's face was full of smiles, but in his heart he was thinking: They're trying to steal my water, let's see if they can withstand the Overturned Water Demon-Slaying Formation!