Heishi City moved quickly. In just two days, they had decided on the demon clan members who would journey together to the Ruins of the Golden Gate.
It wasn’t that Bujiang was impatient, but rather that the current situation in Duzhou no longer allowed anyone to continue delaying.
News from outside reported that many cities and even entire territories had been submerged by floods. People fled to higher mountains, but the rising water waves would submerge entire mountaintops – it was only a matter of time.
In times of life and death, past grievances seemed less important. Whether the demon clan and human clan would fight or kill each other, they had to first survive this crisis before having the opportunity. Otherwise, they need not live together, but they would truly die together.
The water of the Nether River had risen considerably, and the dam appeared less imposing than before. Towering river waves roared from the distance like an overwhelming water wall, ready to surge into the city with overwhelming force. One couldn’t help but worry that in a few more days, when the river waves broke through the city walls, this pitch-black water would submerge all of Heishi City.
The rain continued falling without cease.
The giant stones were washed clean and gleaming. Bujiang stood atop the city wall, gazing at the churning river waves while scattering a large handful of demon pills from a jar.
In the surging river waves, there was suddenly a tremendous “splash” as a pitch-black dragon fish broke through the water, its giant tail lightly slapping the river surface and splashing enormous waves.
It swam to the riverbank.
Bujiang turned back: “Get on.”
The demon clan members behind her climbed onto the black dragon fish’s body one by one. The vast crowd became a tiny presence on the dragon fish’s body.
Shaoyang Zhenren stood beside Bujiang, with a prepared teleportation array before them. Bujiang casually walked over, glanced at him, and with a flash of faint light, a drop of blood emerged from her jade-white fingertip and fell into the array.
A fierce wind suddenly arose from the ground.
The strong wind blew the rain curtain askew, almost obscuring people’s vision. Gradually, cacophonous sounds reached their ears.
On the black dragon fish’s spine, another dense crowd of people appeared. These people wore sect disciple clothing and held spirit artifacts. Before they could steady themselves, upon seeing the demon clan before them, they immediately treated them as mortal enemies, raising their spirit artifacts in a tense confrontation between the two sides.
Although they had greeted each other beforehand, when sworn enemies met face to face, their eyes were particularly bloodshot.
Bujiang watched coldly with a sarcastic smile.
If not for opening the Ruins of the Golden Gate, she would never want to deal with these sect cultivators in this lifetime.
At her tender fingertip, there were still unwiped-away traces of blood. Only the Heavenly Demon blood containing Bujiang’s spiritual consciousness could allow those cultivation clan members to come onto the dragon fish and gain the black dragon fish’s recognition. Seeing this, Zanxing wanted to find a handkerchief to wipe Bujiang’s hand, but then saw Ming Jing from the other side walk to Bujiang’s side and quietly offer a clean white silk handkerchief.
Bujiang smiled charmingly at him: “Thank you.”
Shaoyang Zhenren’s gaze moved slightly, but he said nothing.
Taking all this in, Zanxing was speechless for a moment, thinking that this world really could produce any kind of situation. Even at this critical juncture, when everyone might perish together if not careful, there were still people with the leisure to compete for affection and be jealous, truly having eaten their fill with nothing better to do.
Both human and demon clans boarded the black dragon fish’s spine.
Rongshuang and Lingxin Daoren stayed far from them, their gazes toward the demon clan also filled with disgust. Besides the Taiyan Sect people, only those from the Yinfeng Sect didn’t care about the demon clan’s identity. Fu Ronghua smiled at Bujiang with an admiring tone: “Haven’t seen you in years, Your Highness, still maintains the same graceful bearing.”
The corner of Bujiang’s lips curved: “But Sect Master Fu seems to have aged quite a bit. How is it – are the sect’s days not prosperous?”
Fu Ronghua’s smile stiffened, then he forced another smile: “These times are hard for everyone. However, Your Highness,” he opened his mouth somewhat puzzled, “we’re going to the Ruins of the Golden Gate – why do we need to ride on this dragon fish?” He nervously gripped the dragon fish’s protruding spine. Although the Taiyan Sect had vouched for them, trusting the demon clan was still ultimately difficult. Not even goose feathers could float on the Nether River – if Bujiang played any tricks, their entire group would fall into the Nether River and be annihilated.
Bujiang seemed to see through his thoughts and lowered her voice with a laugh: “Afraid?”
“How could that be?” Fu Ronghua smiled reluctantly, “I’m just somewhat unclear.”
“Don’t worry.” Bujiang glanced at Lingxin Daoren and Rongshuang, who were looking this way from a distance, smiling faintly: “Though we demon clan follow unorthodox paths, we’re not as skilled at using certain despicable methods as people in your sects. As long as you don’t harbor any crooked thoughts, this fish boat won’t capsize.”
The implication was that if they dared harbor crooked thoughts, everyone on this boat-no, this fish-would join hands to meet the King of Hell together.
Fu Ronghua couldn’t smile and could only turn his gaze to Shaoyang Zhenren.
Shaoyang Zhenren said, “Your Highness.”
“Understood,” Bujiang replied lazily. She turned slightly: “Water Lord.”
Water Lord stepped forward and raised his hand. In an instant, a blue fruit appeared before everyone, each fruit only thumb-sized.
“Shatang fruit. Place it at your chest – it can repel water and prevent drowning.” Water Lord explained.
Zanxing also picked up a blue fruit and put it away, with Mimi sitting at her feet. Bujiang looked at her: “Are you ready?”
Zanxing nodded.
The two walked to the very center of the fish’s spine, extended their palms, and concentrated their Heavenly Demon power. Those blue-black demon essences slowly emerged from within their bodies like a long mist, gradually enveloping the entire dragon fish. Between heaven and earth, the heavy rain was blocked out by this smoke-like, long veil.
The cultivation world people were on high alert.
Such surging Heavenly Demon power was terrifying. They were all on this demon clan’s giant fish now – if Zanxing and Bujiang played any tricks, even though there were many people from the cultivation world, in such circumstances, they would still be at a disadvantage. Everyone gripped their spirit artifacts tightly, guarding against possible dangers.
However, this worry didn’t last long.
In just a moment, that mass of permeating mist suddenly contracted, the demon essence becoming solid like a huge inverted basket covering both the black dragon fish and everyone together. The dragon fish suddenly swished its tail, and from the center of the Nether River’s waves, a massive whirlpool suddenly appeared. This whirlpool was like a bottomless abyss, howling as it sought to devour all living things in the world. From within came whistling, icy cold winds that seemed to tear apart human souls.
The dragon fish plunged fiercely into the depths of the whirlpool.
“What—”
The cultivation world people hadn’t yet had time to cry out when they felt a tremendous pulling force dragging everything around them into that abyss. Towering waves from the horizon crashed down like a wall, smashing everyone into the center of the whirlpool!
The rain continued falling.
On the surface of the Nether River, there was no longer any trace of that black giant fish, along with the hundreds and thousands of people on its body – they seemed to have vanished into thin air. Only the sound of rain remained, carrying great waves surging toward the horizon’s end.
Not a trace was left behind.