Chapter 1385

"Heroes are born in the four wilds, heroes thrive in all directions—how many heroes under heaven! The hegemon of the Eastern Sea, his fame is no empty boast.

After repeated battles in broad daylight, though I, the king, have indeed won, I am nonetheless weary. I failed to notice this—allowing the Blue-Cover King's flesh and blood to be seized by the National Preceptor, who intends to refine it into pills. Only now, upon the Preceptor's offering, have I learned of it. This is my fault; I shall punish him later. For now, I come to make amends." Bai Yuan held aloft the gelatinous flesh and blood with both hands, presenting it upward.

"No, no, the Water King is too courteous. The National Preceptor merely had a momentary lapse—I too had suspicions earlier, but now that it's clarified, there's no real harm. Among the demon kings of the world, none bears a demeanor like the Ape King's." The Blue-Cover King took the flesh and blood, offering repeated praise.

"Exactly, exactly." The Pot King muttered gloomily.

"Hahaha, Blue-Cover King and Pot King, your courtesy is noted. The hour is late—I have come merely to explain, to return the flesh and blood, hoping to avoid any misunderstanding. I will not linger further. May you two kings rest early—please, do not see me out."

Bai Yuan clasped his hands in farewell to the Blue-Cover King, then nodded toward the Pot King atop the umbrella canopy, gave a slight smile, revealing his canine teeth.

Seeing the sharp canine teeth, the Pot King instinctively shuddered, his heart startled, and waves of sudden anxiety kept rising.

That gaze—again, that gaze!

It was just like this at the daytime banquet.

It always felt as if Bai Yuan harbored some extra thought toward it, some extra scheme!

Why?

When the "River-Middle Stone" shifted, Bai Yuan suddenly emerged from the Long Gong, meeting with the Blue-Cover King and the Pot King—naturally drawing the attention of many demon kings, for the matter of the position was of great importance. Yet Bai Yuan came swiftly and departed just as swiftly, with no other action, as if truly only here to explain the flesh and blood affair.

After Bai Yuan departed, the Pot King hastily asked the Blue-Cover King: "Quickly check your flesh and blood—has it been tampered with? Just throw it away——"

"What could possibly be done to it?"

The Blue-Cover King glanced briefly at the fragments, then directly absorbed them into his body.

"Oh dear, Blue-Cover King, you—what are you doing? How can you be so careless? Absolutely not! You truly believed Bai Yuan's words, took them as truth? Long ago, the flood dragon was defeated by him—rumor says he poisoned it; contact brings weakness and limpness, hence the defeat. Who's to say old tricks won't return, to paralyze us both and seize the position?"

The Pot King exclaimed in alarm, crying out repeatedly.

It believed the Blue-Cover King was no brainless fish—how could his earlier action be so rash? Or was that earlier stiffness truly some kind of change?

"Hah." The Blue-Cover King felt tears in his heart, his face unmoved: "How could Bai Yuan dare to tamper directly? Wouldn't that make him the target of everyone? I've checked—Pot King, you're overly suspicious."

"I'm overly suspicious?!" The Pot King exclaimed in astonishment.

"Naturally, you're overly suspicious. I know you've strained yourself to shed the Weakness of the Vessel Clan, to escape the flask tribe's frailty, pouring in much effort—only to find it useless, your Dao-heart shattered. But there's no need to be so neurotic, doubting everything, fearing everything—just think of another way to compensate, won't that do?

Look at you—from the end of battle to now, how many times have you muttered about wanting Bai Yuan's divine power? Is it Bai Yuan eyeing you, or you eyeing Bai Yuan? Never mind—battle-fatigued, meditation won't restore me; I'll sleep first."

Light and shadow faded.

The umbrella canopy floated in the water, emitting a faint, dim glow of its own.

The Pot King, feeling everything was off, called out several times, but the Blue-Cover King gave no response, as if truly asleep—it could only follow the canopy's rise and fall.

It doubted itself?

"What's happening? How could the change be so great?"

A faint unease spread; the Pot King felt the Blue-Cover King was too relaxed.

It now clung to the Blue-Cover King, unable to detach—his strangeness magnified its fear, though it truly could not comprehend.

"Could it really be that I'm overly suspicious?"

Bubbles rose slowly, the dim light illuminating the waterweeds in the corner. The Pot King lingered in darkness, beginning to doubt himself—was it truly that his reaction had been excessive?

The daytime battle had suddenly seen Bai Yuan restrained, hundreds of years of effort reduced to nothing—its blow to him was indeed great.

This time, too, it acted only upon the impulse of the Heart-Moving Sovereign, attached to the Blue-Cover King, yet in truth the Blue-Cover King possessed none of the divine power it wished to attach—truly years of delay. The demon kings before two hundred years of age, and after three hundred—it had already lived over five hundred; how many years could remain?

"Could it truly be so——"

The Pot King murmured to himself, his head growing heavy and dazed. Great joy, great sorrow, a great battle—what immense toll on the spirit! Even a demon king would wish for a long sleep.

Perhaps it truly is its own problem?

Suppressing the unease.

Toward the latter half of the night.

"No, no, that's not right."

The Pot King suddenly startled awake.

Looking down at the Blue-Cover King beneath it, unease exploded into overwhelming fear, enveloping it—whole body trembling, a great sense of helplessness surging in its heart.

"The Blue-Cover King has a problem."

"Over two-thirds, slightly more."

Liang Qu estimated the occupied capacity of the sea of consciousness.

He did not seize the opportunity just now to act directly.

After dispatching Xiao Xing, he had long ceased commanding water beasts—sporadically appearing were Jiang Tun, dragon-men, dragon-sturgeons. He did not expect, later on, to face such a force—this year, directly the Haiya King and the Blue-Cover King, together occupying——

two-thirds, the remainder, compared, amounts to little more than a fraction.

That remaining bit is clearly insufficient to command the Pot King.

Whether the capacity can or cannot hold the Pot King is one matter—even if it could, it would likely be like pouring water into a cup: no overflow, but under sufficient tension, a ring might spill over the rim—perhaps causing some malign effect.

"No rush—once we rise two levels, it'll be fine."

Now it is September; the Heaven-Ordering Immortal said the immortal pill will be ready in autumn—not far off.

The Blue-Cover King has already been subdued; the Pot King adheres to the Blue-Cover King, unable to detach for years—truly a turtle in a jar, with no escape!

Even if it saw through it all, should the Blue-Cover King remain still, the Pot King would cry to heaven and earth in vain. Over hundreds of years, dozens of Pot Kings have collected and screened miraculous divine powers—now they are his storehouse!

Even——

Liang Qu just thought of another method, faster in effect.

His spiritual growth is somewhat slow—or he could directly, bit by bit, erode the Pot King's spiritual resistance!

Send a message to the Blue-Cover King, simply nudge one or two.

Liang Qu's lips curled upward.

The embryonic form of the position fruit has arisen; the right arm has already been refined; the post of the Huai River Water King is secured.

The technique is ready, the Dao is ready, the Qi is more than sufficient.

Never before had there been such clear direction as today, just waiting to crack the whip, spur the horse, and gallop forward.

The two jiazi are approaching, facing the great master above the nine heavens, for the first time there is a hint of hope for resistance.

Following one of the many connections, Liang Qu, in high spirits, directly performed 【Summon Spirit】.

Nanjiang, Qinggu Valley.

The cool breeze passed through the green trees, the window gauze tied together on both sides fluttered up and down, reflecting the moonlight.

Bai Awei kicked open the red-gold centipede and slept soundly with loud snores.

Under the table, the maid half-squatted, holding Bai Xi's foot, pinching the small brush, dipping it in pigment, and dot by dot dyed the toenails apricot-colored.

Suddenly.

The foot kicked forward, striking the chest, the maid fell sitting on the ground, letting out an "aiyo".

Li Xianghan stretched like a lazy cat, finally lifting her foot to glance at the polished nails, feeling satisfied, she waved her hand; the maid, not minding the buttock pain, hurriedly bowed and retreated.

"So comfortable~"

Li Xianghan curled up in the chair, her toes spreading and then closing, quickly air-drying.

After the demon king's attack at the beginning of the year, the old tusi returned, the Insect Valley Festival proceeded as usual, the books and shadow puppets of Dashun could enter again, it was again a top-tier enjoyment, everything seemed to return to the right track, with no difference at all, even as if the somewhat rotten flesh had been dug out and new flesh grown, making it better, and Li Xianghan was especially elated by the spring breeze.

Since entering Shouhu, her promotion speed has been rapid, coinciding with the great disaster in Nanjiang, needing to boost morale, plus the grandmother's deeds, the old tusi directly took her as a role model to promote for the younger generation.

One old, one young, the two great heroes of Nanjiang.

Upon reaching the peak of Shouhu, she directly went to sit and perform the ritual identical to that of Dashun's Heavenly Altar, comprehending the opening of the profound light, the Changqi family had already prepared everything, only lacking the smelting of the hundred meridians, then she could successfully become a grandmaster; in a few more years, she could become the Five Poisons and Nine Toxins, which is not impossible; look, tomorrow she received another invitation to go dance the Insect Dance.

She just didn't know where the hope for smelting the hundred meridians lay; if only it could fall from the sky.

While fantasizing, Li Xianghan's lower dantian suddenly burst with a surge of electric current, nearly making her lose bladder control, and painfully she fell to the ground; she had wanted to instinctively curse, but realizing something, she scrambled up and knelt in panic.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Unbeknownst when, Bai Awei, who had been snoring loudly, had already crawled up, extended his limbs, and under the shadow looked like a huge spider.

"Your little life is not bad, Holy Maiden, my lord." "Bai Awei" said lightly.

"I dare not, I dare not; the little girl being able to reach today is all thanks to your great fortune, my lord; otherwise, I wouldn't know who would have stepped on me; your great kindness and virtue, I will never forget." Li Xianghan forced a smile, "Not knowing your majesty's arrival, lacking preparation, today is cultivation, or perhaps there are orders?"

"Both; I want you to go find a Holy Mother Toad!"

"Holy Mother Toad?" Li Xianghan was dazed, she thought for a long time, had never heard of such a thing in Nanjiang, she probed, "Dare I ask Your Majesty, what does this thing look like?"

"Nanjiang has a Holy Maiden, but no Holy Mother Toad?"

"

"

"I don't care, anyway there must be this, and it must be female, and moreover beautiful."

Li Xianghan was dazed upon dazed, finally gathering courage: "Dare I ask Your Majesty, what kind of toad counts as beautiful?"

"

"You ask me about everything, what use are you?" "Bai Awei" suddenly shouted, "Every day I help you cultivate, yet you are still so useless, I really must control you!"

"No, my lord, oh no!!"

Moment.

Li Xianghan clutched her stomach and lay on the ground, sweat pouring down her head, calling out bitterly: "Xianghan————receiving the order, determined to find the Holy Mother Toad for Your Majesty————"

"Very well." "Bai Awei" turned in a circle, glanced twice at Li Xianghan, extended his limbs, and tapped the tabletop, "I say, you remember."

"Yes."

Li Xianghan wiped her sweat, took out paper and pen, hurriedly recorded, listening while writing, occasionally mishearing, also being corrected; originally she thought it was the characteristics of the Holy Mother Toad, but as she wrote, she found something off, this is————a cultivation method?

Finished copying everything down.

"This method is called Body Recognition, must not be transmitted externally, otherwise it will surely control you; its effect is to replace the smelting of the hundred meridians; you must cultivate well, strive to enter Zhen Xiang within this year; the old tusi values you so greatly, as long as you succeed in entering Zhen Xiang, you will surely be able to become a high-ranking official of Nanjiang; do you understand?"

Li Xianghan was dazed for a moment, her pupils dilated, staring at the paper, her heart surging with tumultuous waves.

Bang!

A headbutt struck the ground, shattering the wooden planks.

"Xianghan will surely not fail the trust, to find the Holy Mother Toad for Your Majesty! Assaulting soup and treading fire!"

"Very well." The shadow stretched, limbs raised, "You, are the Nanjiang Tusi!"

The words fell to the ground.

Fierce fire flowed from the lower dantian, bursting and opening the limbs and bones, rushing to the limbs and bones; Li Xianghan dared not delay, immediately she sat cross-legged to cultivate.

The next day, the merpeople offered song.

Lan Gai Wang raised his cup in a toast, Hu Wang was dazed and confused, his mind recalling yesterday's fright.

It lifted its head upward, seeing sharp canine teeth, a crimson great mouth; it moved forward, the Frog King's gaze seemed greedy, the Hai Fangzhu's tentacles appeared to be enticing; to the left, the Whale King, the Sea Kelp King———

It seemed as if all the demon kings were secretly eyeing it, all wanting to plot against it.

"Ah, ah!!!!"

The sharp cry broke the peace.

The merpeople's song ceased abruptly.

All the demon kings in unison turned their gaze to the Hu Wang.

Huai Wang Liang Qu wore a look of surprise: "Hu Wang, what are you doing? Could there be some dissatisfaction?"

Hu Wang shouted loudly: "Yuan Wang! Hai Lie Wang! Lan Gai Wang! Jing Wang! Huai Wang! You, you all, I will fight you to the death!"

Before Hu Wang could become agitated, Lan Gai Wang pressed down on Hu Wang with one hand, apologizing to all around: "Sorry, embrace, Hu Wang is no match for Yuan Wang; after hundreds of years of building divine powers, in one moment sealed by Yuan Wang, I also did not expect that it would actually be a collapse of the Dao heart, speaking nonsense here; last night he kept shouting about wanting to parasitize Yuan Wang to obtain Yuan Wang's divine powers; I advised him a few times, then he said I am also a running dog of Yuan Wang, disturbing everyone's elegant interests."

The demon kings suddenly understood.

Lan Gai Wang and Hu Wang were actually one entity, never imagining it would be like this.

Hu Wang was still shouting loudly, angrily accusing the demon kings of hypocrisy, demanding to kill and cut————

Bai Yuan asked with concern: "Then what should we do?"

Lan Gai Wang sighed: "I don't know either, but first take Hu Wang away, sorry for the disturbance."

"No problem, no problem."

Lan Gai Wang led Hu Wang out of the hall.

The demon kings looked at each other, none expecting this to happen, but since Lan Gai Wang said so, they didn't think much of it, even feeling a bit contemptuous.

As a water creature, which clan doesn't dislike barnacles?

"Too bad Hu Wang can't regulate his emotions, so we'll have to wait until tomorrow, come on, everyone, please continue, please continue." Bai Yuan called out.

After leaving the Long Gong, Hu Wang grew increasingly desperate, feeling that heaven and earth were full of enemy fish, himself deep in the enemy fish's stronghold, with nowhere to escape, he immediately shouted: "Lan Gai Wang! You white ape lapdog, hurry and fight me to the death!"

"Hu Wang, you're drunk!"

"I'm not drunk!"

"Hu Wang!" Lan Gai Wang shouted loudly, his words earnest: "What on earth are you doing? Yesterday after your defeat you shouted for the Ape King's divine powers, now in broad daylight you've gone mad again—are you truly mad? Even if you've suffered a blow, why go to such extremes! Calm down a bit!"

Hu Wang stood frozen in place, then fell silent again.

Could it be, or am I just being paranoid?

But, but——

Yesterday, today——

"Ah, do as you see fit, I'm going to cultivate, a temporary setback is easily said, but Hu Wang, be careful not to suffer qi deviation."

Entered the cave.

Lan Gai Wang entered meditation himself, emitting light on his own.

Hu Wang, dazed, startled and asked: "Is your light not as bright as before?"

Lan Gai Wang glanced: "Is it? It's always been this bright, you must be mistaken."

"I'm mistaken?" Hu Wang hesitated.

"You're mistaken." The dimmed Lan Gai Wang said firmly: "It's always been this bright, you're really tired, you should rest properly."

Hu Wang reconsidered, recalling the Sea Mane King and Whale King at the banquet, feeling he might truly be hallucinating.

"Calmed down yet? Calmed down, then you could go apologize." Lan Gai Wang suggested.

Hu Wang hesitated for a moment.

"Hahaha, so that's it, no problem, no problem." Bai Yuan laughed heartily: "Just a small matter, no need to worry, keep sitting, keep sitting."

Seeing Hu Wang apologize, the demon kings instead looked down on him even more.

Everyone present were defeated underlings, no one said anyone had lost their composure.

Hu Wang glanced around, increasingly feeling he himself was muddle-headed.

Cups and chopsticks interchanged, precious fish arranged in rows, all carefully bred big fish of the frog clan, purchased internally.

By noon, suddenly stones in the river moved again, this time not the East Sea, but the South Sea.

Approaching the Long Gong.

"Everyone, I'll go and come back soon." Bai Yuan put down his wine cup, about to leave.

The other demon kings, seeing this, all sighed, one sigh for the other's bravery, the East Sea overlord completely defeated yet still daring to come, two sighs for the other's overestimation of himself.

Who would have thought, the "river stones" reached the sky above the Long Gong, only to hear a loud shout.

"We, the Three Kings of the South Sea, today congratulate the Ape King!"

"Hahaha, good, good, good! Hurry and take your seats!"

The demon kings were startled, vaguely feeling Bai Yuan's might had reached this extent.

Actually, like the Jade Qilin, not coming to challenge, but to congratulate!

At the banquet, three more demon kings were added!

The second day, no challenges, but well-wishers numbered no less than six, the Long Gong demon kings, for a time approaching thirty in number!

By the third day, all dust settled, no more challengers.

"Qilin King, take your leave slowly!"

"Thank you, Ape King, for your hospitality, in the future I will come to the North Sea and surely hold a grand banquet, awaiting the Ape King to achieve new accomplishments as ruler, and I will certainly come uninvited."

"Hahaha, what's not possible, welcome, it should be so, it should be so!"

The Jade Qilin, full of smiles, stepped through the air and departed.

Arrived at the North Sea.

The Jade Qilin halted, his abdomen suddenly bulged, continuously rising, until it reached his throat.

With a gurgling sound.

A large mouthful of filth was spat out, smashing onto the ground, ice crystals spreading and growing.

All that was eaten over three days, frozen here.

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