Chapter 57

Dang Yu Shui Guo is located near the vast Eastern Sea, where the reefs are densely packed, and the mist shrouds the area year-round. The fish, beasts, insects, and birds here are all large in size and have peculiar appearances, exuding an aura of ancient wilderness. Beneath the ground, there is a geomagnetic force that not only renders all metal magical treasures useless but also disrupts spiritual energy, making it impossible to fly or escape.

Shui Guo is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with eight entrances, each different. Some are difficult for birds to cross, requiring one to climb ropes; some are deep in streams, necessitating swimming; and some are constantly battered by strong winds, requiring slow and steady movement.

The entrance Zhang Yan needs to enter is located halfway up a mountain, a cave over twenty zhang wide. Inside, there is a hidden river passage, winding and twisting, and without a guide, it would be impossible to find the true entrance to Shui Guo.

Whenever the tide rises, the boats moored in the shallow waters are lifted, and only when they are high enough to clear the cave walls can they enter smoothly.

The boat Zhang Yan is on is captained by Huang Bao, a human cultivator at the third level of the Ming Qi realm, from a minor noble family. He usually only transports rare goods at the entrance and does not ferry people. However, seeing that Zhang Yan was generous and seemed quite wealthy, and being a fellow human cultivator, he agreed to take them aboard.

At this moment, he looked ahead and sighed, "The tide has already passed today; we'll have to pay a bit more."

This entrance is relatively safe compared to the other seven, but there is one drawback: the geomagnetic force here is chaotic, and the tide times are not fixed, making it easy to miss. Therefore, some demon cultivators in Shui Guo came up with an idea to pull the boats up, charging a "toll."

Zhang Yan followed his gaze and saw two whale demons, each over ten zhang tall, standing on the high cave walls, slowly pulling a large boat up. At this rate, it would take at least half an hour before it was their turn.

At this moment, he noticed some demon cultivators on the deck of a nearby boat discussing something with great interest. He listened closely and smiled slightly.

"I heard that a month ago, Su Yi'ang of the Feng Cang Sect avenged his younger brother by slaying the chief of the Shen Jin Canyon, Qu Bo."

"This Qu Bo is also at the Dan Hua realm. What is Su Yi'ang's background that he could kill this person?"

"You must be ignorant. This person has outstanding talent and reached the Dan Hua realm in less than forty years of cultivation. Moreover, it is said that he is one of the rare human cultivators who practices the 'Way of Strength,' achieving the realm of inner and outer unity, making him invulnerable to magical treasures and flying swords. Qu Bo naturally could not match him."

"Heh, the Feng Cang Sect suddenly attacked the Qu Yue tribe. I wonder if the two sects will go to war again?"

"Not at all. This is a personal vendetta for Su Yi'ang. Besides, the ruler of Ji is celebrating his birthday. How could they start a war now? Impossible, impossible."

Hearing this, Zhang Yan signaled to Luo Xiao, who understood and the two moved to a corner where no one would notice them.

Zhang Yan held a piece of jade in his sleeve and said, "Junior Brother Su, what do you think?"

Su Yi'ang bowed in the jade and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, given my elder brother's character, he will not let you off easily. To ensure your safety, I suggest you make a public appearance in Shui Guo. This will protect you."

Luo Xiao, upon hearing this, bristled with anger and said coldly, "This person is spouting nonsense, trying to harm my lord. Let me scatter his soul." She made a move as if to act.

Su Yi'ang trembled in fear, bowing repeatedly in the jade and shouting, "Please, Senior Brother, see the truth. The heavens can bear witness, I have no such intentions."

Zhang Yan, however, smiled and said, "Junior Brother Su, there's no need to be afraid. I know your plan is sound."

Luo Xiao, hearing this, became anxious and said, "My lord, if you appear in Shui Guo now, and the Su family sends people to kill you, wouldn't that be extremely dangerous?"

Zhang Yan smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, Daoist Luo. I am here to celebrate the ruler of Ji's birthday. Once I arrive, my identity will be that of a messenger from the Feng Cang Sect. During the ruler's birthday, he will not let anything happen to me and will even send people to protect me. Otherwise, it would create a rift between the two sects."

If Zhang Yan were attacked on the way, both sides could find an excuse to cover it up. But if he were killed in Shui Guo's territory, the Feng Cang Sect would have to respond, or they would lose face.

Su Yi'ang quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, the situation has changed. My elder brother is also a smart person. Once you establish a foothold in Shui Guo, he will not provoke you again."

Zhang Yan nodded in agreement.

Although he and the Su family are enemies, compared to the family's grand plans, everything else is insignificant. After conquering Shen Jin Canyon, the Su family is fully focused on consolidating their control. They do not want any issues to arise at this time, especially the fear that Zhang Yan might know their secrets and expose them.

Therefore, if Zhang Yan can ensure his safety and make a public appearance in Shui Guo without mentioning this matter, it would be a signal of temporary reconciliation.

Even if the Su family wants to deal with him, they will not choose this time.

As for the other dead people, they are not true disciples. Perhaps in the future, someone might use this to make a case against Zhang Yan, but it is not something to consider now.

At this moment, they heard a loud shout from the shallow waters.

Everyone looked and saw a boat stuck in a shallow pit, in a very awkward position, right in the belly of a reef. If the tide rose tomorrow, it would surely be shattered.

Several dozen robust demon cultivators were trying to drag the boat out of the water, but the mud was too soft, and they could not apply enough force. After a while, they were stuck in the mud.

A young demon cultivator at the stern of the boat seemed impatient and jumped off, saying, "Move aside!"

His subordinates quickly moved out of the way.

The demon cultivator tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and inhaled like a giant whale, sucking up the seawater under the boat into a white water column, which he swallowed. Soon, his abdomen swelled.

He patted his belly, staggered to the side of the boat, and with a "ho" sound, spewed out a massive amount of water. The boat shook, creaked, and was finally pushed out of the shallow pit. It then spun on its side and righted itself.

The boat owner, Huang Bao, took a few steps forward and observed, "The 'Nine Phases Technique' of the Donghai Birei Mansion, this is the 'Whale Swallowing Phase.' Indeed, it is powerful. I see that this person has not yet reached the third level of the Ming Qi realm and has only combined three breaths of clear and turbid qi. If this technique is practiced to the twelfth breath, he could lift this large boat without water, just by using his strength to cross the shallow waters."

"Oh, so this person is practicing the 'Way of Qi'?" Zhang Yan walked to the railing and watched with interest.

Demon cultivators often practice the 'Way of Strength.' Some, to advance quickly, after reaching the second level of the Ming Qi realm, refine each breath of clear and turbid qi into their bones and meridians, integrating it with their body, and then advance to the third level.

If we exclude certain secret techniques, they are somewhat similar to human cultivators who practice the 'Way of Strength,' but the latter rely entirely on external objects, which are not comparable.

Huang Bao glanced at him and said, "The Donghai Birei Mansion is one of the few ten-thousand-year-old noble families among demon cultivators, so they have a wide range of techniques to choose from, unlike other wild tribes who have no other path but the 'Way of Strength.'"

He turned and looked Zhang Yan up and down, then smiled and said, "I see that you, my lord, have clear and turbid qi half-hidden, yin and yang not fully combined, still intertwining and pulsating in your aura. You are likely a cultivator at the second level of the Ming Qi realm, and if my judgment is correct, you will cleanse your bones and meridians within the year, reaching the 'Heavenly Rain Descending' level. Have you chosen your path yet?"

The boat owner has keen eyes. Zhang Yan smiled and was about to speak when Huang Bao suddenly darted forward, grabbed the edge of the boat, and leaned out, exclaiming, "It's our turn."

He called to the sailors and ran to the helm, ready to steer the boat forward, but then heard a loud shout nearby, "Human cultivators, step aside! The alchemist on my boat was invited by Lord Shentu of the Eastern Sea to meet the ruler of Ji. Let us go first!"

Huang Bao, upon hearing this, turned and his face changed slightly.

The person speaking was the young demon cultivator who had just used water to move the boat. Although this person's cultivation level is lower than his, Huang Bao knew that in a real fight, he might not be a match.

Moreover, Lord Shentu of the Eastern Sea is a significant figure, one of the eighteen demon kings of the sea. How could he dare to offend him?

In the demon cultivator world, unlike the human cultivator world, everything is laid bare, with the strong ruling and the weak being preyed upon. If you have the strength, you can act as you please; if not, you must yield.

Furthermore, Huang Bao is a human cultivator, and no one would stand up for him here. If he insisted, he might even lose his life.

He cursed inwardly and reluctantly steered the boat to make way.

However, before he could move, Zhang Yan reached out and grabbed Huang Bao's wrist, saying, "Wait."

Huang Bao was taken aback but did not show anger. Instead, he sighed and whispered, "My lord, don't force the issue. This is the land of demon cultivators. With our limited numbers, we cannot fight them. If the alchemist on that boat is truly an alchemist, he is a guest of the ruler of Ji and was invited by Lord Shentu. It's better to yield to avoid trouble."

Zhang Yan, however, smiled and said, "Captain Huang, just wait a moment."

He took something from his sleeve and handed it to Luo Xiao, saying, "Daoist, please give this to the alchemist."

Luo Xiao took it and in a flash was on the other boat. No one could see how she did it, and they were all amazed by her prowess.

She said a few words, and the attendants moved aside, letting her into the cabin.

Huang Bao looked back at Zhang Yan, seeing his calm expression, and his heart eased.

Soon, the door of the opposite cabin opened, and Luo Xiao and an old man with a youthful face and white hair walked out. The old man bowed to Zhang Yan from a distance and said, "I didn't know who the master on the opposite boat was. I apologize for my rudeness. May I have the honor of a conversation?"

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PS: No more words, just working hard to update.

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