"What a scene of prosperity! The people here in the Human Realm are actually able to live so happily—loving fathers, filial sons, harmonious families. They have enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, and resources in abundance, the likes of which I've never seen before. There isn't a single beggar in sight. It's simply unbelievable."
In the void, a voice filled with astonishment spoke—an echo of Rain God's divine will.
Beggar?
In Great Yi, there was not a single beggar. Within the immortal cities, the term "beggar" simply did not exist.
In any dynasty of the past, the word "beggar" was always present. The more chaotic the times, the more beggars there would be. Even in prosperous ages, it was nearly impossible to eliminate beggars entirely—it was like reaching for the stars. Yet Great Yi had accomplished it.
Why do beggars exist? Because they have nothing to eat.
But in Great Yi, hunger was a non-issue. Grain was piled like mountains; there was as much as needed. The government ensured everyone's most basic survival needs were met. Everyone could eat, everyone could cultivate. In such a society, only a fool would choose to be a beggar.
To be a beggar was not "cool"—it was shameful.
It was something despised by all.
"The humans of Great Yi are different from other regions. There is hope shining on their faces, blood surging in their veins. They dare to fight fierce beasts, dare to hunt in the seas. Even their physiques seem stronger than elsewhere. It's truly incredible."
Wind God also marveled.
Only by witnessing it firsthand could one truly feel the contrast between the people of Great Yi and those of other lands—as though they belonged to entirely different levels of existence. The difference was surreal.
"Heaven and earth apart. The most striking difference is in spirit and mindset—you can see it at a glance. I must admit, Emperor Yi is indeed a wise and enlightened ruler. To have achieved this, he is the first. If not for the orders of the Dao Sovereign, I would have loved to meet him in person."
Thunder God sighed as well.
But no matter how astonished they were, no matter how impressed by Great Yi's civilization, some commands still had to be carried out.
"Let's begin. Outside the immortal cities, in the wilderness, unleash random lightning strikes."
Thunder God was the first to act. His invisible will swept across the entire territory of Great Yi. He did not target the immortal cities directly—those cities were protected by formations and restrictions, and were not so easily breached. Any attack would first be blocked. Besides, this wasn't an actual attack, but rather the implementation of a rule change—enacted across Great Yi.
Civilians who ventured into the wilds would now be subject to random lightning strikes. If hit, they would at least be severely injured—survival would not be easy.
"In Great Yi, typhoons will now strike the coastlines at random. Tornadoes will sweep across the wilderness."
Wind God followed suit.
"Great Yi shall be drenched in torrential rains. Floods will wash across the land."
Rain God hesitated for a moment, clearly unwilling, but still executed the Dao Sovereign's orders—resistance would only lead to even more terrible consequences.
"Lightning will strike randomly across Great Yi."
Lady Lightning spoke quietly.
With the four divine wills empowered by the Four Divine Diagram, their influence spread across all of Great Yi at an astonishing rate.
On the surface, nothing seemed amiss. But in truth, the laws of heaven and earth had shifted. The Dao of Celestial Phenomena now blanketed the skies.
Green Willow City.
This region was famous for its lush willow trees—serene, refreshing. Every day, countless larks perched in the trees, singing sweetly—a hallmark of the city. Locals collected dew from the willows to make a spiritual essence known as Green Willow Elixir.
Outside the city lay the wilderness—dangerous lands filled with fierce beasts and tribes like the Jackal-people, Ratmen, and even a Flame Demon tribe that lived near a volcano. Numerous wild monsters also roamed the area. Yet despite the dangers, venturing out brought huge profits.
Beast blood could be used to craft talismans, bones for divine weapons, and all manner of precious materials. The nearby Elk Valley was filled with prize targets beloved by bounty hunters.
At this moment, a hunting team was heading out—three people: a healer, a body cultivator, and a qi cultivator. This was a classic and popular configuration. The healer offered medical expertise and herbal knowledge. The body cultivator served as a durable frontline, while the qi cultivator provided powerful magic support. With strong coordination, they could vastly improve their survival chances.
"Old Li, when we reach Elk Valley, the elk aren't our main goal. The spiritual herb growing in the valley is the true prize. One stalk can sell for thirty Eternal Coins. We can't miss it."
The body cultivator grinned as he clapped the healer on the shoulder.
"Right. Whether we get better food or cultivation resources all depends on this trip," added the qi cultivator.
The three laughed as they exited Green Willow City and stepped into the wilderness.
Crack!!
Just as they were about to enter the forest, a sudden lightning bolt tore through the sky—without any warning. It struck the body cultivator directly and chained into the other two as well.
In an instant, all three had their hair blown upward like brooms. Their skin was scorched black, their clothes ripped apart. Their bodies trembled violently as if in seizure, black smoke rising from their mouths. A scorched smell filled the air.
The healer collapsed. The qi cultivator followed. Only the body cultivator, with his robust physique, managed to stay standing—barely.
"Wha… what the hell… lightning!?" he muttered, dazed.
It made no sense. What were the odds? One in a million?
Luckily, none of them died. Just severe injuries.
Sea-Edge City.
This city lay near the sea. Most of its residents were marine hunters, relying on sea beasts for cultivation resources.
Suddenly, a massive storm formed out of nowhere. Gigantic waves began crashing toward the city, whipped up by powerful typhoons.
"Bad news! Typhoon! Everyone back to the city—this weather is no good for hunting!"
The marine hunters quickly turned back. As they watched the storm rage and waves surge skyward, they couldn't help but feel fear at nature's terrifying power.
Similar scenes played out across Great Yi.
In some places, dark clouds gathered and violent storms raged.
In others, those leaving the cities were struck by sudden lightning.
In the grasslands, tornadoes touched down—some laced with lightning.
Even levitating trains traveling through the skies were struck. Though protected by defense runes, they were still knocked from the air.
People flying through the skies were struck and sent plummeting.
All across Great Yi, chaos unfolded.
Almost none of it stopped.
And everything was strange and unnatural.
Through the Star Network, messages and reports began to spread rapidly. Citizens were hotly discussing the unfolding disasters.
"What's going on? I just went out to hunt, and a freak wind blew me right back. I'm a Fate Map cultivator—I couldn't resist it at all!"
"You're lucky. I got hit by lightning. My hair's fried!"
"You think that's bad? My white jade corn was just about to ripen—and a tornado carried it all away. My heart… it's broken…"
"This isn't normal. We have national fortune and divine artifacts protecting us. There's no way all this weird weather just happens suddenly. Is someone targeting Great Yi?"
"That's right! A few local storms would be one thing, but this is everywhere. The only time I saw something like this was during the Great Catastrophe. It may not be as bad yet, but if it continues, the damage will be devastating."
The people of Great Yi were boiling with concern.
Naturally, the authorities noticed.
The first to detect the anomaly was the Bureau of Celestial Observance. They quickly noted the massive changes in weather.
Unnatural phenomena appeared across the empire.
Even the seismograph began to register disturbances.
"Not good. The weather is acting up, and the seismograph is shifting. Something this widespread… someone is clearly targeting Great Yi," said Ji Kang, standing before the seismic monitor, his face serious.
He had joined the Bureau and now served as a Deputy Director.