Chapter 164: Black Expanse

The whole place was utterly silent; that person could be called a heaven's pride, having reached the Second Layer of the Four Extremes at a young age, yet was beaten half-dead by a single blow.

Infinite Heavenly Venerable, why would you provoke him? Even a Daoist Sir wouldn't lose.

Duan De merely glanced at that person; he often stayed with the Black Emperor, so he knew their strength and temperament all too well—there were some things even he wouldn't dare joke about.

Upon seeing treasure, the Black Emperor would even scold his own allies, let alone an outsider daring to speak to him like that.

"Little Black, let's go."

Yang Zhu and the Yaochi Holy Maiden walked toward the depths; now that a flawless holy weapon had been unearthed from the stone coffin, he felt that whoever was buried here must certainly be an ancient saint.

"Coming."

Hearing that, the Black Emperor immediately tried to follow, but unable to contain his anger, he turned and pulled the stopper from the pitch-black gourd.

Boom! Instantly, scorching heat surged; a pitch-black flame capable of burning the void burst forth, its terrifying temperature instantly refining that person into nothingness.

What the Black Emperor most tabooed was being called a 'dog spirit'; moreover, it was a Four Extremes cultivator saying it, and in front of so many people.

"Damn it, if I were at my peak, I would surely annihilate your entire sect."

He shouted curses, disdainfully sweeping his gaze over the crowd, and then followed after.

"Brother Yang, see, even that dead dog can own a holy weapon; why don't you get one for this poor Daoist too? Rest assured, this poor Daoist will take nothing for nothing—I can offer something in exchange."

Duan De's face glowed red with a fawning expression; seeing the Big Black Dog obtain a holy weapon made him drool with envy.

"Woof! You shameless fat bastard."

After catching up, the Big Black Dog wore a sly grin, deliberately hanging the pitch-black gourd around his neck and swaying it back and forth in front of Duan De.

They continued deeper, yet encountered no rare treasures along the way, nor any killing formations to block them, which inevitably made them suspicious.

"Strange—normally a saint's remains are extremely dangerous, one slip and you'd die; have we been too smooth on this way?" Duan De wondered.

Before he could think it over, after a sharp turn, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

Rush! First came a torrent of water, and then into view appeared a vast, boundless expanse of water.

The space here was extremely vast, as if entering another world; a heavenly river stretched across, cutting off the path forward.

The sea surface before them was extraordinarily strange—the water was a rare black, pitch-black, with not a trace of life.

A breeze stirred the sea, making it sparkle like dazzling silver scales flashing.

But the brilliant light that had just risen was swiftly swallowed by endless darkness, vanishing without a trace.

"Damn it, why is this seawater black?"

The Black Emperor stared at the water, not knowing what he'd thought of, feeling a chill run down his spine and instinctively stepping back a few paces.

"A green sash at the waist, dragons frolicking in the mountains, giving rise to a dragon saliva spring—by rights this place should have a divine spring, so how could it be a pool of black water?"

Yang Zhu gazed out at the sea; looking at its surface, it seemed utterly lifeless, devoid of any vitality, even somewhat like the waters of the Yellow Springs.

As a Saint Body Dao Embryo, he was naturally favored by the Great Dao, making him highly sensitive to all vital energies and Dao patterns.

In Yang Zhu's eyes, these black waters contained rich spiritual energy, only with something else added.

In the invisible void, countless black lines intertwined, covering the lake surface above, thereby gathering and sealing away all vitality here.

"Any discoveries?"

The Yaochi Holy Maiden knew Yang Zhu was deducing, and without interrupting him aloud, only after he regained his senses did she softly ask, "That ancient saint was versed in formation arts, setting up a complex grand formation to gather all the spiritual energy of this place, in order to seal something."

Yang Zhu explained, his eyes immeasurably deep, fixed on the lake bottom as it continually evolved.

"Gathering the energy of the entire expanse…… the thing he's sealing must be tremendous!"

The Big Black Dog quickly realized, without a doubt, that something even an ancient saint had to seal with all his might was absolutely ferocious and yin.

If that thing were to break the seal, the consequences would be unimaginable—it would be a disaster! Fortunately, with Yang Zhu present, they could barely relax; otherwise they might have had to retreat, after all no one wants to accidentally trigger the seal.

By the sea, many forces and powerhouses had already gathered, each extraordinary in aura, none of simple origin.

A purple warship a hundred zhang long loomed into view, its hull shining with crystalline luster but covered in many scars, suggesting it had endured numerous great battles.

Besides, its surface, tougher than refined iron, bore many flashing runes; though worn by time, they still exuded a terrifying aura.

On the purple warship stood over ten people; at the forefront were three young men of extraordinary bearing, seemingly holy sons or the like, with cultivation not low.

The rest were white-haired elders, senior figures whose strength should not be underestimated.

They came from the Vermilion Bird Sect, a first-rate power in Central State, possessing considerable strength.

"Which faction do these people belong to? I have no impression of them."

The leading young man frowned, his gaze scrutinizing, fixed intently on Yang Zhu and his companions.

This man was Chen Xiao, Holy Son of the Vermilion Bird Sect, one of Central State's contemporary heaven's pride; though young, he already possessed formidable cultivation.

"We're all here to seek treasure—what does background matter?"

Not far off, on an ancient-style war chariot, a handsome man with arms crossed retorted.

This man was the Young Master of the Red Dust Sect, Si Yuan Dong, since the Red Dust Sect and the Vermilion Bird Sect are both first-rate powers.

Usually the two sides don't get along; though they don't openly break ties, they have frequently competed in secret.

In a moment, other great sects and powerhouses turned their gaze here; they were quite familiar with Chen Xiao and his ilk, but Yang Zhu surprised them greatly—"Holy Son Chen Xiao, this person's bearing is extraordinary, certainly not an ordinary figure; you had best not provoke him lightly."

Many peerless powerhouses present were deeply shaken by Yang Zhu, inexplicably feeling awe and helplessness.

Yang Zhu then went straight to the black lakeshore, never once paying any attention to Chen Xiao.

"Woof! Where did this brat come from, so lacking manners—watch out, I'll beat you until you defecate."

The Big Black Dog glanced at Chen Xiao, his gaze lingering on the purple warship for a moment, then wore a look of contempt.

"Even the holy sons of other great sects wouldn't dare slight me like this—you're being overly arrogant, aren't you?"

Although Chen Xiao was a holy son, he had never suffered such disregard, especially before so many eyes; his face instantly darkened.

Moreover, what angered him further was that Yang Zhu's disregard wasn't a deliberate act but rather a natural expression.

"And you, just a black dog, dare to speak to me like this?"

Then, Chen Xiao's eyes filled with killing intent; he wished he could flay the Big Black Dog and pull out its tendons.

Just looking at it exudes a greedy big black dog; sharp-tongued and full of contempt, it doesn't show an ounce of mercy!

(End of chapter)