Never mind a mere prison barrier — even among all the barriers within the Silver Jiao Palace and the Jinjiao Palace, there was not a single one that could escape Meng Wanyue’s eyes.

As she drifted along until she could clearly see the great hall of the Jinjiao Palace, Meng Wanyue caught sight at a glance of Madam Jinjiao, imprisoned within the great stone pillar.

And yet, even now, when the group — just like Helian Shaoze — had stopped before the gates of the Jinjiao Palace, Meng Wanyue still had not so much as glanced directly at Madam Jinjiao.

She merely cast one look at Baili Weisheng, who carried Xiong Xiaobao on his back, a flicker of a cold smile crossing her phoenix eyes, before she carried on as if nothing had happened.

Madam Jinjiao froze.

No one had noticed her at all — not even a single glance!

Could it be that none of these people could see her?

Could it be that none of them belonged to the Dream Clan?

But then, why was the Dagger of Flowing Light — such an important object — in their hands? And who was that woman who possessed it?

Madam Jinjiao pounded with all her strength, shouted with all her strength, but it was useless — apart from Meng Wanyue, no one could truly see or hear her.

The moment Helian Shaoze reached the gate, he immediately ducked behind Madam Helian. Not a single guard could be seen anywhere nearby — only Jun Beiyue and his group standing face to face with the widowed mother and orphaned son of the Helian family. Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought Jun Beiyue’s group was the one bullying them!

“Mother, look at my hand — that man is the one who hurt it!” Helian Shaoze immediately went to tattle. Now that his mother was here, there was no way he’d keep meekly quiet any longer.

The instant Madam Helian saw her son’s hand, her once-calm face immediately turned dark and sinister. Without waiting for explanation, she said coldly, “Whoever hurt my son — step forward, now!”

Baili Weisheng rolled his eyes repeatedly. “You little brat, you really are still wet behind the ears! Look at you — the moment you see your mother, you’re already rushing to nurse!”

The moment those words left his mouth, never mind anyone else — even the corner of Jun Beiyue’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

Baili Weisheng, oh Baili Weisheng — just who exactly had the poisoned tongue here!

Madam Jinjiao, who had been ceaselessly pounding on the barrier wall, unconsciously stopped, only now noticing Baili Weisheng’s presence.

Compared to Jun Beiyue and Ziqing beside him, he didn’t have that same dazzling brilliance, but he possessed a warm luster of his own, like a pearl. Too bad — the moment he opened his mouth, that image was completely shattered!

This child — he was truly interesting.

Madam Jinjiao unconsciously calmed down, watching quietly. She could sense the restlessness stirring at the bottom of the sea, and couldn’t help but grow anxious for this group of people, murmuring in her heart, “Go quickly! Leave at once!”

Hearing this insult, Helian Shaoze was so furious he nearly charged forward to fight outright. “You! You… just you wait, don’t you dare—”

But before his warning could finish leaving his mouth, Madam Helian stopped him. She raised an eyebrow, sizing up Baili Weisheng, and said coldly, “My son’s hand — was it you who injured it?”

“No!” Baili Weisheng denied it fast enough, the word almost blurting out on its own. He narrowed his eyes into a grin and pointed at Jun Beiyue. “Not me — him.”

At those words, Madam Jinjiao laughed again. Thirty years — she had forgotten how to laugh for thirty years — and yet somehow, today, this unfamiliar child had made her laugh without meaning to.

Watching him grin, his eyes narrowing into two crescents, she felt an inexplicable warmth well up in her heart, as though — as though she knew this child.

Madam Helian, however, was infuriated by Baili Weisheng’s careless, flippant attitude. “You little brat, even if it wasn’t you, this old lady won’t let you off the hook!”

With that, she abruptly pulled Helian Shaoze back a step. But at that very moment, Jun Beiyue — who had remained silent and composed this whole time — suddenly flashed forward in an instant, appearing right in front of Madam Helian, and seized her by the collar!

This was clearly beyond anything Madam Helian had expected!

But in that same instant of pulling her son back, she had already triggered something — she had given a command, filled with agitation!

In a flash, a towering wave surged violently up from the depths of the sea, smashing straight through the barrier that separated the water, instantly throwing the once-calm space into utter chaos. White waves churned and roiled, a blinding whiteness everywhere — no one could see anyone else!

Clearly, Ziqing and the others hadn’t anticipated that a trap like this could be hidden in the empty waters beneath their feet!

Ziqing was the first to react, clutching Xiong Bao tightly and lunging toward Jun Beiyue, grabbing hold of the hem of his robe. Baili Weisheng was the first to grab Ziqing’s hand, and at the same moment, Baili Xiaosheng was the first to grab Baili Weisheng’s hand!

In that split second, Meng Wanyue — who had no such coordinated understanding with the others — was swallowed up by the white waves. Jun Beiyue kept his grip locked on Madam Helian’s collar, refusing to let go — not only refusing to let go, but violently yanking her downward!

The waves at the bottom of the sea kept surging upward without end, the water churning and rolling, wave after wave crashing and colliding, giving no one any time to react at all!

In the chaos, Ziqing clung desperately to the hem of Jun Beiyue’s robe, making sure the long line of people behind her wouldn’t be scattered and lost.

Everything now depended on Jun Beiyue!

No matter how skilled this woman’s martial arts might be, she could never be a match for Jun Beiyue!

And yet — Ziqing had miscalculated!

And it wasn’t only Ziqing who had miscalculated. Everyone had miscalculated!

In the midst of the towering waves, Madam Helian stood as steady as a mountain, as if the great waves had no effect on her whatsoever.

“Be careful, something’s wrong with her!”

Ziqing cried out in a voice pitched to carry only to their ears. At the same moment, Jun Beiyue also realized it and was just about to release his grip — but it was already too late. Something completely unexpected happened!

Madam Helian’s eyes sank, and her collar suddenly transformed into sharp, blade-like silver reverse scales, slicing straight through Jun Beiyue’s hand. Blood immediately sprayed from his palm!

But what Madam Helian hadn’t expected was that Jun Beiyue still didn’t let go — instead, he gripped even tighter, and violently yanked her further downward!

In one motion, he dragged Madam Helian down a full zhang’s depth!

Heavens — a full zhang deep! Just how monstrously powerful was this man’s internal energy!

Madam Helian was so shocked she nearly lost her composure, while Baili Weisheng, on the other hand, suddenly came to his senses and cried out in alarm, “She’s a jiaoren! A Silver Jiao! The long-vanished Silver Jiao, the guardian force of the Jinjiao — Silver Jiao!”

The moment those words left his mouth, the captured Madam Helian truly revealed her true form — a fish-tailed figure, gleaming all over in silver light, entirely covered in reverse scales!

Silver Jiao were an extremely special kind of jiaoren. Ordinarily, their silver scales could transform into clothing, but once they returned to their true form, those scales became reverse scales upon transformation — sharp beyond measure!

“Silver Jiao?” Jun Beiyue said coldly, in that same voice pitched only for their ears.

“You’ve realized it far too late!” Madam Helian snarled furiously. With that, her fish tail, covered entirely in razor-sharp reverse scales, suddenly whipped straight at Jun Beiyue!

Jun Beiyue immediately released his grip, pushed away, and at the same time pulled Ziqing and the others behind him back out of range.

But this retreat gave Madam Helian her opening. Rather than pursuing them, she suddenly shot upward, and with a wave of her hand, Helian Shaoze immediately let out a bizarre sound: “Ke ke…”

“Not good!” Baili Weisheng shouted. But no sooner had the words left his mouth than an enormous wave, impossibly massive, suddenly surged straight up. The force was so overwhelming that no one could hold onto the person beside them — even Ziqing was forced to let go, using both hands instead to shield Xiong Xiaobao!

In an instant, everyone was swept apart and scattered. Amid the churning, raging seawater, a massive black shadow flickered in and out of view — no one could tell what manner of monster it was.