West Sea.
Qin Yun headed for Curmudgeon Blacktide’s lair in a form of a beam.
“Splash!”
After entering the sea, Qin Yun went straight for Blacktide Chasm. It was a deep valley at the bottom of the sea with a seemingly bottomless pit. Curmudgeon Blacktide had entrenched himself deep in the chasm.
There were many water demons in the region. There were also caves built beside the valley, fortified with array formations.
“Curmudgeon Blacktide!” Qin Yun shouted loudly. His voice transmitted through his sword intent domain, piercing right through the array formations. It resounded throughout the valley, giving many lesser Water demons a fright.
“There’s a cultivator.”
“A human.”
“To think he dares come to our Blacktide Chasm.” These Water race demons readied a large variety of weapons. Other demons went to report the matter.
Soon.
A gigantic octopus demon, who was escorted by more than a thousand water demons, flew out of the chasm. His massive body spanned more than two kilometers, making it resemble a tiny island. His tentacles were terrifyingly long and twisted. At that moment, the octopus demon’s black eyes were staring at Qin Yun but he was alarmed. It’s him?
Qin Yun became famous among the fiendish demons after the battle at Mt. Blue Granny. Even though Curmudgeon Blacktide was a powerful great fiendish demon, he was somewhat afraid of Qin Yun.
“Are you Sword Immortal Qin? We do not know each other. Why did you come to my Blacktide Chasm?” Curmudgeon Blacktide’s voice boomed.
“I came here to ask you something,” said Qin Yun.
“Speak, I’m listening,” replied Curmudgeon Blacktide.
“A hundred years ago, did a human cultivator at the Connate True Core realm from the Bai family named Bai Junchen die under your hand?” asked Qin Yun.
Curmudgeon Blacktide said with a frown, “Yes! I killed Bai Junchen. What’s the matter with you humans? Isn’t it very common for fiendish demons to kill cultivators? Why have you come to ask me time and time again for the past hundred years? Some even deliberately come to me for Bai Junchen’s corpse. Since it was I who killed him, he has naturally been reduced to dust!”
Qin Yun nodded. “I’m not asking for Bai Junchen’s corpse. You killed him and all his possessions fell into your hand. Did you obtain a Dharma treasure of Bai Junchen’s known as the Moon Bamboo Flute?”
“The Bai family have bought Bai Junchen’s Heavy Mountain Seal from me in the past. That was his Dharma treasure, so why would you want the Moon Bamboo Flute?” asked Curmudgeon Blacktide angrily.
“The Heavy Mountain Seal is a Dharma treasure for ranged attacks. Losing that does not necessarily mean that he’s dead.” Qin Yun asked, “I am willing to exchange his Intrinsic Talisman Amulet or the Moon Bamboo Flute for treasures.”
“Neither are left. Those were already damaged and I threw them out,” said Curmudgeon Blacktide.
“Nothing is left?” Qin Yun frowned.
Dharma treasures were not that easily destroyed.
“I did not hold back during that battle. I whipped him to death and ended up destroying the Moon Bamboo Flute, the Intrinsic Talisman Amulet, and other things. With all of them broken, I threw them away,” said Curmudgeon Blacktide. “Alright, I have entertained you long enough. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”
“You can’t produce anything? Not the Moon Bamboo Flute, the Intrinsic Talisman Amulet, the Dharma treasure robe, or any other personal items?” Qin Yun frowned.
“Hmph, is there a need for me to lie about killing a cultivator? Fine, if you think I didn’t do it, go ahead and think that way. Go seek out other murderers,” said Curmudgeon Blacktide. The surrounding array formation suddenly activated with a rumble. Water surged over and shielded the Blacktide Chasm. Following that, Curmudgeon Blacktide turned and flew deep into the Blacktide Chasm.
Qin Yun shouted, “Hold on.”
However, Curmudgeon Blacktide did not even turn back as he flew down into Blacktide Chasm.
“Oh?” Qin Yun frowned as he waved his hand.
A misty sword beam, accompanied by dozens of sword flashes, instantly penetrated the array formation in front of him. However, the flying sword seemed to enter a quagmire that impeded it greatly. The dozens of sword flashes dissipated totally while the Intrinsic Flying Sword flew a short distance within, scaring the distant Water race demons into fleeing to the deep depths of the chasm.
“Quick hide! That cultivator is too powerful!”
“That flying sword is terrifying.”
“What a powerful sword immortal.”
The lesser demons wailed.
Qin Yun could not be bothered with them. All he did was to probe the array formation’s strength.
“In the sea, my flying sword’s strength is reduced in by thirty percent! And inside the array formation, my flying sword’s strength is halved again.” Qin Yun shook his head secretly. “This Curmudgeon Blacktide approaches the Paramount realm in the water. His body is also extremely powerful. If he is bent on hiding in the array formation, I really can’t do a thing to him.”
“Although him not being able to produce any of the personal items is odd, there’s no reason for him to lie.” Qin Yun shook his head gently before turning to leave.
…
Deep in the Blacktide Chasm, there was an underwater residence.
Whoosh.
Curmudgeon Blacktide took human form and walked into the underwater residence. Along the way, many demonesses greeted him obsequiously.
“Patriarch.”
“Patriarch, you are back.”
“All of you are dismissed.” Curmudgeon Blacktide waved his hand and entered a private chamber alone.
In the private chamber, Curmudgeon Blacktide looked respectfully ahead. A phantom image had appeared in front of him, one of a man with blood-colored hair. He had patterns on his face and although he was male, his coquettish look made him a lot more alluring than many women.
“Fiendcelestial,” greeted Curmudgeon Blacktide politely.
“What is the matter?” The strange blood-haired man asked with a frown.
“You instructed me to proclaim that I killed Bai Junchen. The humans have never given up on the matter. Just today, Sword Immortal Qin Yun from Jiang Prefecture’s Grand Dominance came to me and asked about him. He also wanted me to hand over the Moon Bamboo Flute, the Intrinsic Talisman Amulet, and other items of Bai Junchen’s. All I could say was that I had destroyed them during the battle and later threw them away,” said Curmudgeon Blacktide respectfully.
The blood-haired man frowned slightly. “Oh? Qin Yun from Jiang Prefecture’s Grand Dominance?”
“I suspect it’s that Bai Junyue again,” said Curmudgeon Blacktide immediately. “She has never given up all this while. She has been using all sorts of means to investigate Bai Junchen’s outcome for the past hundred years.”
“Bai Junyue… sure is an infatuated woman.” The man nodded. “Alright, the matter regarding Bai Junchen involves some secrets. You just need to proceed as I have instructed. Ignore everything else.”
“Yes,” Curmudgeon Blacktide answered respectfully.
******
Above the sky in the West Sea, Qin Yun was flying on a cloud. He was reporting to Bai Junyue.
“Curmudgeon Blacktide is hiding in his lair and there are array formations protecting him. I can’t do a thing to him if he doesn’t come out,” said Qin Yun.
“He could not produce the Moon Bamboo Flute, the Intrinsic Talisman Amulet, Dharma treasure robe, or any personal items?” asked Bai Junyue immediately.
“He said that all of them were damaged or destroyed in the battle,” said Qin Yun.
Bai Junyue looked excited. “All of them were damaged? How can it be that coincidental? My brother must be alive. He’s definitely alive. I can sense that he is located somewhere in this world but he has no way to tell me.”
“That’s all I can do,” said Qin Yun.
“I’m already very grateful. If it were anyone weak, Curmudgeon Blacktide would have killed them instantly. He wouldn’t even be bothered with people that are his equal. He was only willing to tell you that much because he’s afraid of you,” said Bai Junyue.
Qin Yun nodded.
Both parties quickly ended the communication.
Not long later.
“Oh?” Qin Yun held the Inspect Heavenly Token, it projected an image of Patriarch Yi.
“Senior,” greeted Qin Yun.
“I have to thank you for saving the members of my Yi family,” said Patriarch Yi with a smile. “Also, congratulations on finding another array formation entrance to the Ancient Skydragon Palace.”
Qin Yun pricked up his brows.
“Don’t worry. I guessed it but I won’t spread the news,” said Patriarch Yi. “If you were wicked and merciless, you might have killed Yi Fenglai and Yi Fengqi to keep the secret.”
“I abhor the thought of doing something like that,” said Qin Yun.
“I’ll remember this favor.” Patriarch Yi added, “If you discover any treasures in the Ancient Skydragon Palace such as the Skydragon Blood Crystal, do not sell it easily to the Four Seas Dragon race. You tell me ahead of time and I can try to exchange for more benefits for you! Even one Skydragon Blood Crystal can make the old fogies of the Four Seas Dragon race go crazy.”
Qin Yun obviously knew.
For a Skydragon Blood Crystal, the West Sea Dragon race was willing to ignore the Dragon race’s rules and make an exception to release Ao Xue. That proved how attractive a Skydragon Blood Crystal was.
As the saying goes, nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards! Mortals had laws! Cultivators were bound by the regulations of the Inspector Heavenly Alliance. The Dragon race had their clan rules! Even the maneuvering of the Heavenly Dao had its rules! Once the rules were set, violation required punishment. And to make an exception? That was very, very difficult.
“Senior, how powerful was the ancient Skydragon?” Qin Yun was curious. He wondered at it because after the Other Realm Fiendcelestial, which was on par with the ancient Skydragon, died, just the fiendmonsters its arm produced were terrifying.
“Just know that he’s stronger than me,” said Patriarch Yi with a laugh. “Also, although I’ll keep it a secret for you, the Divine Firmament Chapter will probably guess from the fact that both of them returned alive. Perhaps, Connate Golden Core realm cultivators will be sent there soon.”
“Help me tell them,” said Qin Yun. “If they want to enter, even existences at the Paramount realm might lose their lives.”
“What!?” Patriarch Yi was stunned.