Chapter 817: Inclusive and Integrative

"Didn't think you'd be into jewelry, kid?" Wu Wu Cangshou landed beside the abalone pearl. "I could talk to the Turtle King—if you're willing to pay a real price, I could sell it to you. This abalone pearl's been sitting in the Bi Shui Pond for years; it's not fresh anymore."

Liang Qu shook his head: "No need. I just like handling jewels for the sheer pleasure of it—I don't collect them."

"Really?" Wu Wu Cangshou frowned. "That's unusual. I've met plenty who hoard jewels, but never anyone who just enjoys touching them. What's the point?"

"You're mistaken, Uncle Wu. Think about it—why do other people hoard pearls?"

Wu Wu Cangshou paused, thinking. "For appreciation?"

"Exactly! Others love jewels, hoard them, lock them away in ivory boxes, only opening them occasionally to glance at them, terrified of scratches or dust. But I just hold them in my hands—don't you think that's more satisfying?"

Wu Wu Cangshou fell silent.

It made sense.

"Go ahead and touch them—just don't rub off your skin."

"Uncle Wu, you're truly generous!"

He had given permission.

Liang Qu eagerly picked up the abalone pearl and began playing with it.

The entire abalone pearl was the size of a fist, irregularly shaped like the shell itself—narrow at one end, wide at the other. Its iridescent colors shimmered and shifted with every angle, glowing with radiant hues.

【Water Essence +127】

【Water Essence +152】

Indeed, there are some!

Quite a few!

Liang Qu couldn't put it down.

His genuine joy was unmistakable.

Wu Wu Cangshou scratched his head and paddled his limbs deeper into the water.

Moments later.

The blue tide within the Zé Ding surged violently.

【Water Essence: 368,600】

Another 60,000 essence gained!

Shumusuiburuhaiyuangonglidebangzhu ， Danyeshiyidengyidezhenbao ， Dengtongyuershiyukejiaorenlei ！

Visiting the Turtle Clan was truly an unexpected windfall.

After double-checking that he hadn't missed any essence, Liang Qu wrapped the abalone pearl in his sleeve, gently wiped away his fingerprints, and carefully set it down.

Plop!

Splash! Splash!

Wu Wu Cangshou placed four clamshells down and stirred them like tossing a wok.

Inside the shells:

Dozens upon dozens of perfectly round pearls rolled and piled along the edges, lustrous, plump, and flawless—not as enormous as fists or human heads, but each roughly the size of an eyeball. Each shell held a distinct type: gold, black, pink-purple, and orange-gold like flickering flames.

Damn!

All top-grade pearls!

Just one alone could fetch hundreds of taels on the market!

Liang Qu nearly drooled, instinctively wiping his mouth.

"Uncle Wu, these—"

Wu Wu Cangshou tapped the edge of the shells.

"Touching them won't cost you anything. I went and gathered them myself. The gold ones are South Sea gold pearls, from the southern frontier—their mother shells are golden-lipped oysters, with golden rims, hence the gold pearls.

The black pearls come from black-lipped oysters, ranging from black to gray with strong iridescence; the freshwater pearls come from triangle sail mussels, in shades of pink and purple; and the last one—the conch pearl—I think it's called the coconut conch?"

They're all just trinkets—after all these years in Western Water trade, I've seen every kind of great beast from the northern and southern seas; I even heard some southern tribes use golden pearls as currency, so I just quietly accumulated them.

"Can I touch them all?"

"Go ahead! Today, I'll let you have your fill—consider it the Turtle Clan's hospitality."

"Uncle Wu, you're truly generous!"

Liang Qu beamed and plunged headfirst into the sea of pearls.

【Water Essence +56】

【Water Essence +27】

Each pearl the size of an eyeball yielded little essence individually, but the sheer quantity was staggering—over a thousand pearls across the four shells!

Splash! Splash!

Pearls tumbled and shifted, gold and black swirling together, ensuring not a single one was missed.

Before the wooden rack, Long Long Eying released her fingers and quietly set down the white jade vial, continuing to "select" pills.

Mozhenzhu ， Daditongmojiaorenleiyigedaoli 。

If she picked too early and left Liang Qu alone in the treasure chamber, it would be awkward.

Long Long Binglin noticed Long Long Eying's subtle gesture and realized the issue—but he'd already taken the item in hand; putting it back now…

"Brother Long Binglin, if you have time, you might help Long Yanrui pick one," Long Long Eying reminded.

"Oh, I forgot about Long Yanrui!"

Long Long Binglin slapped his forehead.

He had finished playing with all the pearls in the four shells.

【Water Essence: 402,000】

Another 40,000 added!

Two waves of 100,000 each!

Liang Qu was utterly delighted from start to finish, as if waking from the most perfect, natural dream.

Long Long Eying returned to the rack where she'd placed the jade vial and picked up the large pill.

"Uncle Wu, I've chosen."

"I'm done too."

Wu Wu Cangshou looked up.

"I saw you hesitate several times—are you sure you won't change your mind?"

"No changes."

"Good. Let's go up."

"Wait," Liang Qu called out. "Uncle Wu, could I buy a few of these pearls?"

The black, gold, purple, and flame-colored pearls were stunning—perfect gifts for Long Eying or his master's wife.

"How many do you want?"

"Four or five of each kind?"

"No need to buy. I've already given you three great herbs—would you really charge me for a few little pearls? That'd be laughable. Just take them."

Wu Wu Cangshou had often come to Liang's home to bask in the sun; their bond was deep. Hearing this, Liang Qu no longer hesitated and reached into each of the four shells, grabbing a few from each.

All were flawless—no need to pick.

They exited the Bi Shui Pond.

"Hahaha! What a marvelous legless frog!"

Laughter echoed thunderously.

The Turtle King looked up.

In the center of the lawn, sunlight shimmered softly, and over a dozen giant turtles, like small hills, surrounded the plump catfish as it undulated through the water. From afar, it resembled a black-field chicken—vivid and lively.

Seeing the Turtle King delighted, the giant turtle with spiral patterns on its back shouted:

"Thirteen! Reward him!"

"Yes!"

The giant shrimp, with its sword-like antennae topped with a string of precious fish, swung its long pincers and sliced off a large fish like slicing noodles.

Splash!

The fat catfish leapt into the air, opened its huge mouth, and sucked the precious fish in like a storm.

"Excellent!"

The giant turtle cheered.

The round-headed turtle's eyes gleamed with envy—he wanted to try too, but couldn't bring himself to act like a frog.

What's going on?

Street performance?

Liang Qu stood stunned.

The Turtle King turned. "Did you pick everything?"

Liang Qu raised both hands. "Great Turtle King, I took a few extra pearls."

The Turtle King paid no attention to the extra pearls.

"Your water beast is quite unique. What kind of creature is this fat, black fish? Is it the spirit of the Huai River?"

"It's a Mo Catfish—the spirit of the Huai River. It's lived among frogfolk since it was young; sometimes people confuse them..."

The fat catfish spirit had long been close friends with the Toad King; given its growth rate, saying it had lived with them since youth wasn't an exaggeration.

"Mo Catfish..." The Turtle King mused, then sighed. "The vastness of the Huai and Jiang rivers still holds creatures unknown to us. Very well. You're off to meet Ao Qing now—I won't keep you for lunch. Come visit often in the future."

"We won't disturb the Great King!" *3

The three spoke in unison and withdrew together.

Wu Wu Cangshou returned to his spot and resumed basking his back.

"Let's go, Fatty!"

The fat catfish turned back, gazing at the few remaining precious fish still clinging to Magistrate Jian Yishisan's blade, deeply regretful.

Splash.

The ink tail flicked.

Leaving the Turtle Clan's territory.

"Why did the Turtle King ask that just now?"

"The Turtle King's forces include not just the Three Great War Clans; countless aquatic beast tribes dwell across the Western Waters. Elder Long often suspects the Turtle King has a penchant for collecting species," Long Long Binglin replied.

"Collecting species?"

Liang Qu was greatly enlightened.

General Yuan, the Frog King, the Turtle King—each truly different.

Long life, wealth, leisure—they've grown fond of whimsy.

"It's good to live long."

Liang Qu sat cross-legged atop the fat catfish's forehead, sighed, and sorted through the pearls brought from the Azure Pond, categorizing them into small leather pouches.

"Long Binglin, how long will it take us to reach Long Yuan Road?"

"Long Yuan Road lies at the heart of the Western Waters, farther than the Turtle Clan's territory—two or three hours, perhaps."

"Half a day. That's fast..."

Having packed the pearls, Liang Qu slipped the small pouch into his robe and casually unscrewed the lid of the Insect Jar.

The cocoon remained motionless.

Asleep soundly.

The remaining traces of xuan-huang hues on the cocoon had faded; its entire length now gleamed increasingly like the interference colors of a abalone pearl.

The Long Qi was about to coalesce.

He turned his inner gaze inward.

The Three Dragons of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

The first dragon's eye shone brilliant gold.

The second dragon's eye was soft and ink-washed.

The third dragon's eye was utterly empty.

Ten days had passed since returning from the Imperial Capital; the third Tiger Hunting Divine Skill seed had yet to be planted. Not planting it meant falling behind others by one skill—unacceptable. Yet though the Taiqing Dragon was excellent—capable of piercing armor, breaking Gang, and shattering hardened flesh—it still felt somehow lacking compared to the first two.

Moreover,

The Qinglong Killing Scripture's nature is compatibility—it works with blades, swords, and fists alike. To neglect its amplifying compatibility would be a waste. At least the Water Dragon Spear and Zhouyou Zhouyou Liuxu are both tied to dragons; integration may be possible.

"Just need a breakthrough."

"I wonder what changes the fourth layer of the Yinglong Mark will bring..."

(End of Chapter)