On the deck of the large ship, pairs of eyes were all focused on the second floor.

Without a doubt, many were eagerly anticipating the appearance of Chen Xu at that moment.

However, in his cabin on the second floor, Chen Xu showed no intention of revealing himself.

It wasn't that he feared the Shimmering Star Lake Water Monarch outside, but rather that the other's demeanor was unfriendly, yet suddenly changed after Chen Xu crafted the dragon bone waterwheel, generating a phenomenon.

Such abrupt courtesy after previous aloofness—how could Chen Xu easily go out to meet him?

Calling him "Water Monarch" out of politeness is due to the tales that this demon has cultivated a presence in Shimmering Star Lake for decades.

To this day, stories of the Water Monarch frequently circulate around Shimmering Star Lake.

A decade ago, when the Yuan Cang River breached its banks, many islands on Shimmering Star Lake were spared great flooding damage, reportedly due to the Water Monarch's protection.

Though the truth of these tales is unknown, Chen Xu still wishes to maintain his demeanor.

But beyond that, he cannot.

This act of not showing himself is, in fact, a form of resistance to the previous attitude of the Shimmering Star Water Monarch.

The other arrived through the waves, opening with "Where is Chen Xu of Jichuan County?"

Even though his demeanor shifted abruptly later, should Chen Xu go out merely to say "thank you"?

If the other had any sense, he would pretend nothing happened, laugh a bit, and dutifully sink to the bottom of the lake, returning to the deep water as his "Water Monarch" self.

Not showing himself, this is the signal Chen Xu gives to the other, also a form of probing.

The confrontation actually began the moment they exchanged words—

No, it truly started the moment the Shimmering Star Water Monarch's solitary boat broke through the waves to arrive!

On the deck, the crowd's gaze was intense.

Pairs of curious eyes moved excitably and tensely between the sky and the water.

In the sky, there was Chen Xu.

The second floor of the tower ship was at a height, and people needed to look up to see.

On the water, there was the Shimmering Star Lake Water Monarch.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat inexplicably awkward, as Chen Xu had not answered the Shimmering Star Water Monarch's second question.

The Shimmering Star Water Monarch asked: "I wonder how Mr. Chen designed such a waterwheel?"

Chen Xu remained silent for a moment, one breath, two breaths, over a dozen breaths…

An indescribable tension silently spread across the deck as time passed.

Why didn't Chen Xu respond, what was he doing? What did he want to do?

The hearts of everyone on the ship began to race, and although the water outside had been calm for some time, invisible waves stirred within people's hearts, unable to be quieted.

Until, at some unknown moment, the sunset in the sky cast a layer of golden light over the vast lake.

A gust of evening wind suddenly blew, and within the cabin, Chen Xu's voice leisurely echoed out:

"Have you ever heard, Water Monarch? After the demise of the God Farmer, the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun made adaptations, such that the people were not wearied, they performed divinely, transforming to suit the people.

The meaning is, when squalor leads to change, change leads to communication, and communication lasts.

I come from Yunjiang Prefecture, traveling north to take the examination, having seen many farmers troubled by irrigation.

When the water source is at a high altitude, irrigation is relatively easy, but once there is excessive rain and the water level rises significantly, the fields face the risk of flooding.

If the water source is at a low altitude, although there is no longer a concern about fields easily flooding, fetching water for irrigation becomes laborious.

Farmers have only two legs and two hands and can only carry one load.

They have limited strength and stamina, yet for the year's harvest, they must toil back and forth under the scorching sun.

With shoulders chafed, legs fatigued, their stomachs grow hungry and thirsty, sweat-soaked clothes stick.

But they have no choice, as they rely on nature for their sustenance, unable to miss a single farming season.

Yet farming is indeed too laborious, and how many, carrying their loads, suddenly fall in the fields during each water transport for irrigation.

Water Monarch, have you seen this?"

On the solitary boat atop the water, the high-crowned figure standing with arms folded was momentarily speechless.

Of course, he hadn't seen it; not only because as a Water Demon, he didn't particularly care about the Human Race's farmland growth, but also because in the Shimmering Star Lake area, they always had favorable geography.

Ignoring the fact that spiritual veins encircled the lake.

The many islands of Shimmering Star Lake are mostly owned by aristocrats from various regions of Pingyang Prefecture.

Although the islands are primarily farmed by tenant farmers, they are mortals. But as spiritual fields, would their aristocratic family masters behind them merely allow tenant farmers to rely on nature for sustenance?

Therefore, in a way, the Shimmering Star Water Monarch actually got along quite well with various forces in Pingyang Prefecture.

Though not like a true dragon with the ability to command the heavens, he could adjust wind and rain to some extent.

With certain tacit understandings, the Shimmering Star Water Monarch was able to reside and cultivate in the Nine Hundred Miles of Shimmering Star Lake year after year.

This time, urged by Chi Jie, he came to test Chen Xu, but his real intention wasn't exactly as Chi Jie said, to capture Chen Xu and devour his soul and flesh.

The Shimmering Star Water Monarch is not that foolish.

If he truly acted in such a manner, swallowing the pride of the Human Race openly on vast waters, with a fabricated crime, was he practicing cultivation to seize fate?

No, that was seeking death!

Though people often have a viewpoint: a dead genius is nothing at all.

But openly assaulting a candidate genius undeniably slaps the Imperial Court in the face.

The Shimmering Star Water Monarch did not wish to die.

Since he did not want to die and wasn't truly clouded by Chi Jie's instigation, why then did the Shimmering Star Water Monarch still arrive by boat with a provocative stance, calling out to Chen Xu?

This comes down to the token in Chi Jie's possession.

Where did Chi Jie obtain this token?

Yes, it was borrowed from the Mo Family!

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