Could it be that Xiao Bai’s lies were so convincing that they made her boss believe he was indebted to her?
This wouldn’t do. Xiang Haikui, who had originally planned to explain later, couldn’t sit still anymore.
The more grateful her boss felt now, the angrier he would be when he learned the truth.
“Senior, please don’t thank me. I was the one who chopped you in two…”
Glancing at the situation, she realized she couldn’t take action for a while.
Xiang Haikui made the resolute decision to confess honestly.
The situation here had indeed reached a stalemate.
The Blue Heaven Sword Sect was still using their sword formation to contain the little black sphere.
Neither Demon Lady Qing Ni nor Jian Chou made a move, both intending to drain the sword cultivators’ energy. At the same time, whoever acted first would give the other an opportunity.
So they just flexed their verbal muscles, exchanging meaningless words.
Of course, they had noticed the two black-robed figures who had appeared at the back of the group, but seeing it was Dao Chen, they paid no attention.
Meng Xilou stood apart, constantly urging in his consciousness: “Why hasn’t my sister arrived yet? Have you found out the origin of this treasure?”
The elder: “Strange, there’s no corresponding record even in the ‘Encyclopedic Chronicle of Heaven and Earth.'”
Meng Xilou was about to rebuke him for his incompetence.
The elder: “Wait, there’s an illustration in the ‘Classic of Mountains and Seas’ that looks quite similar to this black mud ball…”
Meng Xilou was slightly surprised: “So it’s a treasure of the Mountain and Sea Tribe?”
Information about the Mountain and Sea Tribe had always been a taboo subject in the Upper Realm.
As early as Meng Xilou’s great-grandfather’s generation, the Mountain and Sea Tribe, refusing to submit to Upper Realm control and repeatedly provoking them, had their leaders either killed or imprisoned.
At that time, the consensus was to completely exterminate the tribe, but the late Emperor was virtuous and issued a celestial decree: those willing to surrender would be ordained as Celestial Beasts.
Those who refused were sent to various barren lands to be kept in captivity.
Now, many expensive mounts in the Upper Realm were descendants of the Mountain and Sea Tribe.
Although the people of the Upper Realm enslaved them, they did not look down on the Mountain and Sea Tribe in their hearts.
Because those who surrendered were merely the weaker members of the tribe, they did not represent the true meaning of the words “Mountain and Sea Tribe.”
Like Meng Xilou, though his generation had never witnessed the true capabilities of the Mountain and Sea Tribe, they had all heard about it privately. In that battle years ago, the Upper Realm suffered severe damage and heavy losses.
Most terrifying was that the number of Upper Realm combatants was hundreds of times that of the Mountain and Sea Tribe.
Among them was a Qiongqi beast, apparently surnamed Qi, who used the power of nature as a sword and earned the title “Myriad Phenomena Sword Emperor,” unmatched in the three realms.
The Mountain and Sea Tribe’s eventual defeat seemed to result from “conspiracies and schemes.”
Meng Xilou believed this because if the Celestial Race had won gloriously, they wouldn’t have concealed this battle.
Thinking of this, he became even more covetous of the treasure before him: “Quickly research how to subdue it. My sister must get her hands on it!”
…
“Senior, that’s how things happened.”
Xiang Haikui emphasized that she was just hungry.
After finishing her explanation, she prepared her emotions, ready to cry and repent, hoping her boss would remember her current grief once his memory returned.
Yin Changli: “You like eating snake meat?”
From his voice, Xiang Haikui couldn’t discern his emotions. Trembling, she replied: “I swear, Senior, from now on, even if I’m starving to death by the roadside, even if a snake crawls into my mouth to commit suicide, I’ll spit it out!”
Absolutely no “actually quite delicious” moments!
Yin Changli’s voice carried a faint smile: “I’ll remember that.”
Indeed, still her boss, noting it down for future reckoning. Xiang Haikui wiped away non-existent tears from her face.
Yin Changli: “You like eating snake meat.”
Xiang Haikui: Why is he asking again?
Yin Changli: “If you like it, eat it. As long as you don’t eat me, it doesn’t matter.”
Is this not just angry talk?
She extended her spiritual sense, but he had already pulled down his hood, preventing her from seeing his expression.
She asked softly, “Senior, did you understand what I just said?”
He didn’t respond.
After a long while, he finally said: “Back then, Miss Xiang didn’t know the black snake’s true identity, yet rescued it with her own hair. When reciting the Buddhist mantra, her sincerity was profound. I sensed it… it was the young lady’s kindness and gentleness that gave me a second life.”
After speaking, as if knowing Xiang Haikui was trying to peek at his expression, he pulled up his hood again, revealing his face.
Those eyes resembled the early spring sunshine melting winter snow.
Xiang Haikui: …
Confirmed—her boss’s mind was truly broken.
Repenting now probably wouldn’t help.
Xiang Haikui decided to stop wasting words and focus on seizing the little black sphere, making up for her wrongdoings during her boss’s amnesia, accumulating goodwill and merit to exchange for a get-out-of-death-free card.
After the three factions remained deadlocked for half the night, Fang Zhiyou finally made a decision: “Withdraw the formation!”
He wasn’t confident in defeating both sides if they joined forces.
So, rather than hold onto the treasure, he’d release it and let the three sides compete based on their abilities, constraining each other.
Having nearly had it in their hands, only to let it go and waste so much spiritual energy, the Blue Heaven Sword Sect disciples felt extremely reluctant.
They resentfully withdrew the sword formation.
Once freed, the little black sphere immediately tried to burrow into the sand, but the surrounding sand seemed to have solidified, preventing it from going down.
So it began rolling frantically on the sand.
“Why isn’t anyone making a move?” Qing Ni looked mockingly at Fang Zhiyou and Jian Chou.
Jian Chou brushed that strand of hair at his temple again: “I already said, I’m here to join the excitement. I have no interest in this treasure, I just want to oppose the Blue Heaven Sect.”
Fang Zhiyou gave a cold laugh.
Qing Ni also laughed coldly.
Opposition was one thing, but claiming no interest in the treasure was pure nonsense.
“Fine, I’ll go first then.” Qing Ni was straightforward. She took the bow from her back and, using spiritual energy as an arrow, shot toward the little black sphere.
Xiang Haikui nervously watched from the side, fearing she might pierce a hole in the little black sphere—what would happen if her boss’s possessions spilled out?
Unexpectedly, just as the spirit arrow was about to hit the little black sphere, it seemed to suddenly open a parachute, transforming into a glowing net that wrapped around the little black sphere.
A spirit line connected the net to Qing Ni, which she held in her hand.
Instantly, the little black sphere’s freedom was restrained.
The little black sphere revealed its saw-like teeth, gnashing and tearing.
Fang Zhiyou also drew his sword, and sword energy whirled up like a tornado, accompanied by yellow sand, covering the little black sphere.
Jian Chou finally made his move. This arrogant master indeed used no weapons, but he took out a jar and released a swarm of poisonous insects!
The insects flew toward the little black sphere like a dark cloud.
The little black sphere quickly closed its mouth, seemingly afraid the poisonous insects might fly into its belly.
The three eighth-grade cultivators formed a triangle and began a contest of internal strength.
The three remained motionless as mountains, but around them, a storm raged.
Everyone—people, demon lizards, camel beasts—all retreated.
Xiang Haikui prayed inwardly for the storm to grow larger, even larger. The more chaotic, the easier it would be to act!
Thus, the three remained deadlocked until dawn.
Suddenly, an explosion occurred at the point where their powers converged, the tremendous force blasting the little black sphere skyward.
The little black sphere’s power was completely drained, its originally huge body shrinking to the size of a soccer ball.
After landing on the sand, it began bouncing.
The three then started grabbing for it.
The three factions also drew their weapons and joined the battle.
In an instant, waves of light crisscrossed as everything fell into chaos.
Xiang Haikui, who had already retreated several hundred zhang from the battle circle, watched a grand and peculiar game of “football,” her gaze following the little black sphere up and down, left and right.
Meng Xilou suddenly retreated.
Because Xiang Tianqing had finally arrived.
Sensing the “earth-shaking” commotion from afar, and seeing it up close, Xiang Tianqing was shocked pale: “Senior Brother, what happened?”
Meng Xilou extended his hand to her: “A great treasure has appeared, and they’re fighting over it.”
Xiang Tianqing gathered her red gauze skirt and, taking his hand, dismounted from the camel beast: “Then why did Senior Brother call me here? You should have notified Second Senior Brother and Third Senior Brother to bring forces! This is our Yin Sha territory. Father has always forbidden them from causing disputes in our jurisdiction.”
Meng Xilou felt many worries: “That’s not important.”
Xiang Tianqing was dissatisfied: “How is it not important? This is the rule Father established. How can we let them break it so easily?”
Meng Xilou was already annoyed: “Just do what I tell you to do!”
Xiang Tianqing was stunned, biting her lip: “Senior Brother, are you scolding me?”
Meng Xilou had been irritated to confusion today. He hurriedly adjusted his emotions and softened his tone: “Xiao Qing, I’m not Father after all, and I’m afraid I can’t handle this well. The best solution is for us to subdue this treasure, and then they will disperse.”
Xiang Tianqing reacted slightly: “I will subdue it?”
Meng Xilou nodded: “Yes.”
Xiang Tianqing looked at the little black sphere being tossed up and down, puzzled: “I don’t even know what that thing is. How can I subdue it?”
“I’ll teach you.” Meng Xilou had already prepared a short dagger and grabbed Xiang Tianqing’s wrist. “Bear with it a bit.”
He carefully cut a line of blood, then took out a jade bottle, dripping the blood into it. “Just do as I say.”
Xiang Tianqing frowned in pain and spotted Xiang Haikui in the distance: “Why doesn’t Senior Brother subdue it himself? Little Junior Sister is also here. Why call me from so far away?”
Meng Xilou smiled: “From childhood to adulthood, haven’t I always saved the best things for you?”
Xiang Tianqing bit her lip: “I thought Senior Brother…”
Xiang Haikui’s gaze was fixed on the little black sphere until she sensed Xiang Tianqing’s spiritual sense and realized Meng Xilou had disappeared from her side.
Tracing back, she saw Meng Xilou taking Xiang Tianqing’s blood, and her eyelid twitched heavily.
This was bad!
Meng Xilou knew how to subdue the little black sphere and wanted to teach Xiang Tianqing.
He truly was a good brother.
“Xiao Bai, we can’t wait anymore. I must act now,” Xiang Haikui communicated telepathically with Bai Xingxian. She had originally planned to wait until they were somewhat exhausted before making her move. “When I transform into a flood dragon, seize the little black sphere, and flee, you must immediately release the Tianbao Sword to make their magical weapons and treasured swords malfunction, buying me time.”
“Little Sister Kui, are you sure you can transform into a flood dragon?” Bai Xingxian was somewhat worried.
“I have enough berserk energy, so it should be fine. Tian Kuang approves of my plan.” Xiang Haikui took a deep breath, holding Tian Kuang, and silently recited—
Tian Kuang, my precious, this is my first time merging with you as one. Please don’t let me down.
Tian Kuang trembled, as if saying: Hurry up, don’t dawdle!
Xiang Haikui closed her eyes.
The black flood dragon coiled around Tian Kuang’s silver-white blade slowly came to life.
Originally, the flood dragon’s head faced the sword tip, but now it turned around, coiling back to the sword hilt, and slipped into her body from her wrist.
In an instant, heaven and earth seemed to vanish.
Xiang Haikui could hear her blood boiling in her veins.
Bubbling like hot water in a boiler.
Her skin tore layer by layer, sprouting hard scales like emerging buds.
Her tailbone and the areas above her eyebrows felt like they were being drilled, causing almost suffocating pain.
Then, dragon horns burst through her skull, lifting her blue headdress.
After that came the tail…
At the moment of complete fusion with Tian Kuang, she absorbed her clothes, storage ring, sword case, and even the snake jar on her back into her belly.
She had successfully transformed into a flood dragon.
Majestic and imposing, with prominent horns.
But she tried—she couldn’t fly?
Why couldn’t she fly?
What was going on with Tian Kuang?
Unable to fly actively, did she have to rely on the wind to blow her into the sky?
Now that she shared a mind with Tian Kuang, though she complained inwardly, Tian Kuang could sense it.
Xiang Haikui seemed to hear it saying disdainfully: This little bit of berserk energy you’ve accumulated is only enough for you to transform into a dragon.
Want to fly?
Fine.
That costs extra.
Xiang Haikui nearly fainted, cursing loudly in her heart: Stupid sword, damn you!
By this time, many people from the three warring factions had noticed.
A flood dragon had suddenly appeared nearby, jumping up and down on the sand as if it were burning its feet.