Chapter 402 - 400: Looking for the Fiancée

Li Qiye brought Lu Baiqiu to the shore of Thousand Carp Lake. Before them were surging green waves and crashing surf. Looking out, they saw endless islands within the lake, a sea of green dotted with Ancient Halls, jade pavilions, Divine Bridges, and towering peaks...

Within Thousand Carp Lake, rows of buildings stood tall upon the islands, while Ancient Halls floated in the air above them. Treasure Towers were submerged beneath the lake, emitting bursts of treasure light. Giant Ships, as large as islands, came and went in the skies overhead. Divine Bridges connected the islands, and ancient trees formed natural pathways between them...

The center of Thousand Carp Lake was even more extraordinary, suffused with auspicious energy and a faint treasure aura. It was as if it were veiled, exuding an incredible mystery that tempted one to venture in and see its true face.

But what was truly eye-opening was not the scenery, but the various demons that moved about this watery expanse. Within Thousand Carp Lake, among its many islands, numerous Great Demons patrolled the entire area. In these patrols were Great Demons with human heads and snake bodies, Demon Kings with fish heads and human bodies, and even Great Demons with thick tortoise shells on their backs...

It was said that Qianli River had a great many demons. It was the largest sect in Nanyao Yun that combined the Demon Race and the Human Race, and also the most powerful symbol of this union in the Ghost Sacred Realm!

Within Thousand Carp Lake, from the deep ravines between the islands, the roars of dragons could occasionally be heard. Sometimes, a Flood Dragon would leap from the lake, kicking up astonishing waves.

"Is that a True Dragon?" Lu Baiqiu couldn’t help but ask, moved by the sight, as a Flood Dragon leaped up with a thunderous splash from a deep ravine before immediately diving back into the water.

"That’s just a Flood Dragon. Its bloodline is worlds away from a True Dragon’s," Li Qiye said with a smile.

There were simply too many demonic creatures in Thousand Carp Lake. A single glance revealed schools of Phoenix Fish. When these schools flew out of the water, they resembled a flock of Phoenixes in flight, their Immortal Light illuminating the lake.

On a reef in the lake, an old tortoise sat, breathing in Heaven and Earth Essence Qi and holding a Pill Core in its mouth. Although the old tortoise had not yet achieved the Dao, its Creation was already astonishing.

Beneath the lake’s surface, giant crabs blew bubbles. Each bubble that landed on the ground turned into a Treasure Pearl, which disciples immediately collected.

Perched on an island’s cliff was a Divine Simurgh. The Divine Simurgh had built its nest with rare grasses. Although it rested within its nest, its Five-Colored Divine Light illuminated the entire island...

Seeing all the strange phenomena within Thousand Carp Lake, Lu Baiqiu was left dumbfounded. She was like Granny Qi visiting the Grand View Garden. Although she often saw the sea at the Thousand Islands, it lacked the splendor of Thousand Carp Lake, let alone its miracles!

Although the demons of the Thousand Islands belonged to the Sea Race, they were nowhere near as astonishing as the ones in Thousand Carp Lake.

In fact, this was not surprising. Many of the disciples and experts of Qianli River originated from Thousand Carp Lake. The lake was a treasure ground where many creatures that grew up there could eventually attain the Dao and become demons.

After many of the creatures in Thousand Carp Lake underwent Enlightenment, they had the opportunity to join Qianli River and become its disciples. Furthermore, disciples who became demons within the lake held a great advantage. Perhaps because they grew up and were nourished by this treasure ground, their future Dao paths were extremely promising. In fact, half of Qianli River’s high-level experts were powerhouses who had attained the Dao as demons from within the lake.

For this very reason, many in the Ghost Sacred Realm considered Thousand Carp Lake to be an incredible treasure ground. Some great figures even believed that a peerless Mountain Treasure was buried beneath it.

Standing by the shore of Thousand Carp Lake, Li Qiye was filled with emotion. ’Thousand Carp Lake... what a familiar feeling. A watery expanse overflowing with Spiritual Qi... It truly makes one nostalgic.’

’Standing here by the lake, how many people know that Thousand Carp Lake wasn’t always like this? Before Qianli River established its sect here, who would have thought this place was a treasure ground?’

As Li Qiye and Lu Baiqiu stood watching by the shore, a small patrol boat immediately approached. On the boat was a Shrimp Demon with a human head and a demon’s body, holding a Treasure Fork. As he neared the shore, he asked, "Are you two Fellow Daoists here for sightseeing, or to pay a visit to the sect?"

For Qianli River, this lake was rich in treasures and Immortal Treasures. It had attracted the covetous gazes of countless cultivators. Therefore, any outsiders approaching Thousand Carp Lake would immediately be questioned by patrolling disciples.

"Inform your elders. Tell them that Qianli River’s son-in-law has come home to visit," Li Qiye said with a broad smile.

Li Qiye’s words immediately made the Shrimp Demon’s expression change. He said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, you can eat recklessly, but you cannot speak recklessly. Be careful, or you’ll bring disaster upon yourself!"

Lu Baiqiu, who was standing nearby, had good intentions and whispered a reminder, "This is Bamboo Fairy’s fiancé. He has come this time to meet the Elders of Qianli River."

Lu Baiqiu was indeed being kind. She didn’t want to see this Shrimp Demon fail to recognize the situation, offend Li Qiye, and get himself killed.

The Shrimp Demon was greatly shaken and stared at Li Qiye in disbelief. In their Qianli River, only one person was known as the Bamboo Fairy—their Young Master, Lan Yunzhu!

The Shrimp Demon found it incredible as he looked at the unremarkable man before him. Their Princess was the most beautiful in all of Nanyao Yun. Countless successors from Great Teaching Territories had come to propose marriage, not to mention the many geniuses within Qianli River who adored her. Yet, no matter how outstanding these geniuses were, none had ever managed to win their Princess’s favor.

And now, a fiancé had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. No matter how you looked at him, he was thoroughly average—average looks, average disposition, and average Dao Practice!

Faced with such a monumental matter, the Shrimp Demon didn’t dare to make a decision rashly. He took a deep breath and said, "Please wait a moment. I will report this immediately!" After speaking, he rushed off and vanished into the mist in an instant.

After the Shrimp Demon left, Li Qiye looked at Lu Baiqiu and said with a grin, "It seems you’re quite kind-hearted after all."

Lu Baiqiu gave a dry laugh and said in a low voice, "Do we really have to become mortal enemies with Qianli River? If everyone just took a step back, wouldn’t the situation open up?"

Of course, Lu Baiqiu was different from Li Qiye. She came from a humble background, and Jingxi Country was only a second-rate sect. If she were to make an enemy of a behemoth like Qianli River, she truly wouldn’t have an ounce of confidence.

"Take a step back?" Li Qiye smiled and shook his head gently. "It’s not my position that matters, but theirs. If they want to make an enemy of me, there’s no reason to back down!"

Lu Baiqiu sighed softly in her heart. Although she hadn’t followed Li Qiye for long, she had some understanding of his personality. She knew he responded to kindness, not coercion.

The Shrimp Demon didn’t dare to conceal the report and immediately passed on the news of Li Qiye’s arrival. Soon, the message reached the Elders of Qianli River.

In fact, as the report made its way up, some Hall Masters and Guardians who received the news were stunned. ’Lan Yunzhu’s fiancé!’ Their first thought was that it was impossible.

Lan Yunzhu was their Qianli River’s Heavenly Pride Girl, their Princess. Even the successor of an Emperor Immortal Gate wasn’t worthy of her, so how could a fiancé suddenly appear out of nowhere?

Nevertheless, the matter was of great importance. Even the Hall Masters who didn’t believe the news still reported it up the chain.

"He’s got some nerve, coming here himself." After an elder from the Thousand Carp Sect received the news, a meeting was immediately convened. One of the disgruntled elders snorted coldly.

An elder who was more amicable to resolving the engagement peacefully thought on the bright side, saying, "Perhaps this Li Qiye intends to dissolve the engagement. If he’s a cultivator who’s been around Nanyao Yun, he should know his place and understand the immensity of the world."

"It would be for the best if he’s willing to dissolve the engagement. Hopefully, he knows what’s good for him," another elder said. "Hmph, if he gets greedy and asks for too much, his little scheme will fall apart."

A more radical elder said in a low voice, "Why should our Qianli River negotiate with some nameless Little Ghost? Whether he’s willing or not, this engagement must be dissolved! Give him some small benefit and send him away. Hmph, if he doesn’t know what’s good for him, we’ll just take him down immediately!"

"Let’s not be so quick to turn hostile." Seated at the head, the Sect Leader of Qianli River, Treasure Turtle Daoist, shook his head and said slowly, "We should discuss this with Yunzhu first and see what she thinks."

"Sect Leader, Yunzhu is a promising sapling of our Qianli River and our successor! She absolutely cannot be married off to an outsider!" an elder immediately protested.

Another elder chimed in, "That’s right, Senior Brother. Yunzhu is our Qianli River’s hope for vying for the Celestial Mandate in this generation! She has a great chance of becoming our sect’s second Immortal Emperor. Besides, even if Yunzhu were to marry, it wouldn’t be to some random, nameless junior. He would have to be the successor of an Emperor Immortal Gate at the very least!"

Treasure Turtle Daoist just smiled and shook his head gently. "Regardless, let’s see what Yunzhu thinks first. You all know that girl’s personality. Besides, perhaps the other party has come with good intentions. Why resort to force from the very beginning?"

"Hmph! For a nameless junior like him, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—a carp leaping over the Dragon Sect. How could he possibly give up a chance like that!" one elder said, hostile towards Li Qiye from the start. After all, Lan Yunzhu was Qianli River’s promising sapling, with a great chance of becoming this generation’s Immortal Emperor!

"Let’s settle the guest first. We can ask Yunzhu for her opinion and then decide. It won’t be too late," Treasure Turtle Daoist said with a smile. "Our Qianli River is a respectable sect; we won’t go back on our word. The visitor is a guest. Have the disciples treat him as an honored guest. There must be no negligence."

Although some elders were displeased, since the Sect Leader had made his decision, they couldn’t say anything more.