Chapter 770: A Life for a Life

The Jianghuai Great Marsh.

A deep-water area one hundred li south of Jiangchuan County.

Boom!

The earth groaned, and schools of fish fled in panic.

Thick, brown mist surged and poured out, and silt rose from the entire riverbed. Before the obstructive smoke could dissipate, a dragon's roar exploded, and two white dragons broke through the silt, circling out.

Crack, crack, crack!

White light expanded, and the water dragons circling the perimeter froze in mid-air in an instant, their fangs sharp and lifelike.

Long Eying raised her hand and pointed.

The ice dragons shattered, like Prince Rupert's Drops being crushed by their tails. The sky filled with ice crystals flashing with a chilling, ghostly light, forming diamond-shaped ice awls that shot out violently!

Hiss!

Bai Yuan gasped, raising his hands to protect his head, clearly feeling the stinging sensation of the sharp blades grazing his body.

Severed fur drifted through the water.

More ice awls pierced his body, bone-chillingly cold. The frost spreading from them was like rust growing inside a machine, causing joints that should have been flexible to become stiff.

In the midst of the pain, golden light surged.

Ice shards struck his skin, the sound of metal clashing ringing out. But before Bai Yuan could roar and charge out of the ice-shard storm, a wide flash of white light passed by, and endless frost spread, freezing everything within a radius of several li into an ice domain!

Cold!

The leaping Bai Yuan was frozen in mid-air, unable to stop shivering. His knotted muscles exerted force, struggling desperately before the frost could fully invade and freeze his limbs solid.

Crack, crack, crack.

The golden light grew more brilliant, and countless cracks spread from within the ice walls.

Wave after wave of white light flashed, constantly repairing the cracks.

After struggling for who knows how long.

Bai Yuan gave up.

Long Eying, her chest rising and falling slightly, released the ice cage.

The ice prison shattered. Bai Yuan, regaining his freedom, crashed to the riverbed. His eyes flashed, and his legs suddenly exerted force, charging forward like a sneak attack. Long Eying did not dodge or evade, voluntarily letting Bai Yuan grab her palms and press her onto his shoulders, only to feel her bottom get a pat.

"Awoo!"

Bai Yuan's neck shrank, and from the corner of his eye, he saw a few strands of broken white fur drifting in the water. He obediently put down Long Eying, who had been tugging at the fur on the back of his neck, and sat down on a rock himself.

"No more fighting, no more fighting. I lost, I lost. Is there really still a gap?"

Liang Qu looked up, disappointed.

Orange-yellow water ripples flowed, and the setting sun spilled across the horizon.

Today's sparring was to determine his own strength positioning.

It was still daytime outside. Although it was evening and the 【Sun】 bonus wasn't much, the situation would inevitably reverse at night, and he would lose even faster. Other long-breath techniques weren't as violently strength-enhancing as 【Yin-Yang Sun】, but they had their own unique properties.

"The Elder didn't use divine abilities, and many things weren't used at all. It's already not bad; controlling the Elder is not an easy task."

Long Eying landed on Bai Yuan's shoulder and gently stroked his head to comfort him.

"You didn't use your full strength either, did you?" Liang Qu stretched out his palm, fingers gathering and then spreading. "If it were ice, you could do this in the water, right? Or the other way around? Turn it into a prison and pierce through?"

Long Eying did not deny it.

She extended her fair hand, and an ice awl appeared in her palm, which then suddenly spiked outward, turning into an ice caltrop that looked painful just to see.

Liang Qu asked, "Do you think I can go fifty-fifty with an ordinary Perfected Form Jiang Zongshi?"

"During the day, if they take low-grade long-breath and don't have special divine abilities, yes. There are many divine abilities in the world that aren't good for combat, and it's very difficult for other Grandmasters to deal with the Elder."

"About what I guessed."

Long Eying was so formidable mainly because the situation was special. Her frost divine ability, like his own, had miraculous effects in underwater combat and even had a certain suppressive effect. Based on the realm gap, he simply had no way to control the frozen ice blocks.

If it were another Jiang Zongshi, and it were noon during the day...

The lotus seeds weren't eaten in vain.

Liang Qu's furry hand gently stroked the long leg on his shoulder, his mind communicating with the Ze Ding.

【Ding Master: Liang Qu】

【Refining Ze Ling: Water King Ape (Purple) (Fusion Degree: 7.5%)】

【Innate Divine Ability: Water Travel for a Thousand Li, Nether Sea Prison】

【Water Ze Essence: 71,000】

【River Favorability: 10.5008】

To prevent the Eight-Clawed King's reincarnation time from advancing, the August lotus seed quota was settled at the beginning of the month, just like last year.

The two-month quota had all arrived, totaling over 110,000 Water Ze Essence. Added to the balance, he had 170,000. Before today's sparring, Liang Qu had digested a full 100,000.

The first layer of the Hunting Tiger Heavenly Dragon was successfully established, with five layers remaining, and the fusion degree also rose by 0.5.

It was a full double what it was when he encountered a Jiang Zongshi's ambush in the first half of last year!

He was only a small step away from the Jiang Zongshi strength he had expected, but combined with 【Yin-Yang Sun】, he could completely make up for the gap.

"The 'cannot move' halo hasn't been added yet. Once added, I can wield my innate abilities even more wantonly.

My powerful attack methods are a bit lacking, but I am fully prepared. Confronting an ordinary Jiang Zongshi is not an issue, let alone not fighting, just grazing against one..."

Liang Qu thought over the advantages he could utilize one by one.

Everything that could be prepared had been prepared.

It was now mid-August. Barring any accidents, the Eight-Clawed King would definitely make a move within two months.

Worried that the Eight-Clawed King would sneak away, the old toad, having sunk a large amount of time into it, moved directly near the Sea Abyss Palace, with A-Fei accompanying to pass messages at any time.

"Let's go. Let's go to the government office to finish the day, then go home."

"Mm."

Liang Qu supported Long Eying, and with a flicker of 【Water Travel】, they arrived at the shallow water area and changed back into human form.

Unexpectedly, just as they went ashore.

The entire River Po Office was desolate and quiet.

"Yo, Old Li, what's the matter? Today isn't a holiday, why finish the day so early?"

"Liang Hengwei!"

The sweeping river official looked up and was not surprised to see Liang Qu and Long Eying coming out hand in hand.

After sending pastries once last year, everyone in the River Po Office, from Su Guishan down to the sweeping official, knew the relationship between Liang Qu and the Dragon Lady. As for why they came out of the water, who's to say martial artists don't like to play differently?

"My lord, don't you know?"

Liang Qu was puzzled and looked back: "The boats are all in the port. What happened?"

"It's not us. Something bad happened at the Pingyang Prefecture Office! Prefect Jian has also come out of seclusion and become a Jiang Zongshi!"

A Jiang Zongshi?

Liang Qu was even more puzzled: "An extra Jiang Zongshi in Pingyang Prefecture, how could that be a bad thing?"

"It must be a bad thing. The year before last, the Huazhu County levee burst and flooded. Do you remember? It's been exposed! It wasn't the Sand River Gang at all; it was Prefect Jian inciting it from behind! I don't know what method he used, this old man doesn't know much, but in short, all our leaders have run to the Prefecture Office to watch the excitement! It happened just half an hour ago. If you go now, you might still make it!"

"?" Liang Qu was greatly shocked. "How did it break?"

"Don't know. It seems Prefect Jian went to the Three Judicial Departments to confess himself."

Long Eying pulled Liang Qu's hand.

Liang Qu, in a daze, understood and immediately rushed home, preparing to ride a horse to join the excitement.

Passing through the shadow wall.

"Master?"

The old monk stood in the courtyard, twisting his prayer beads and looking up at the sky.

Regardless of what Jian Zhongyi had done, Liang Qu was simply surprised today: "Master, did you succeed?"

The old monk shook his head: "Not yet. I just felt the disaster energy and came out to take a look. Prefect Jian is not simple..."

"What does Master mean?"

"Do you know that if a Jiang Zongshi commits a heinous crime, the elders in the clan can pay with their lives?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 771 =====