Chapter 249

This secret realm... was far from ordinary.

Fang Qing stood before a broken wall, silently examining the intricate patterns etched across its surface.

Nearby, Zhan Hongxiu was casting a spell to harvest a stalk of Thousand-Year Phoenix Cry Grass. The herb resembled a rooster's comb, and a spiritual pattern shimmered faintly across its leaves, giving it an extraordinary appearance.

“Fellow Daoist?”

After carefully storing away the Phoenix Cry Grass, Zhan Hongxiu turned toward Fang Qing. Seeing him studying the fractured wall so intently, she asked curiously, “What is it?”

“This wall is anything but ordinary. When it was forged, materials such as Sky's End Silver and Wind-Nirvana Gold were likely mixed into it.”

Fang Qing let out a sigh.

“Materials of this caliber would be sufficient to serve as the primary ingredients for a Core Formation cultivator's natal dharma treasure today. Yet the owner of this place merely used them to construct walls and furniture. It is difficult to imagine such extravagance.”

“The master of this place was likely an important figure within the Zhoutian Star Palace.”

Zhan Hongxiu spoke slowly.

Senior Turtle had never told her anything more than that. He had only instructed her to return after reaching Core Formation, saying that a great opportunity awaited her then.

“So that's how it is.”

Fang Qing nodded slightly.

The two continued forward and soon came upon a black river.

Splash. Splash.

The dark waters flowed quietly, carrying an indescribable aura.

“This is...”

Zhan Hongxiu instinctively sensed danger. Raising a hand, she released a streak of light.

Splash!

The streak of light lost its brilliance the moment it reached the sky above the black river, revealing itself to be a supreme-grade spiritual artifact.

Its spirituality was rapidly drained away as it plummeted into the pitch-black waters below.

With a soft plop, it disappeared without a trace.

“A flight restriction?”

Zhan Hongxiu looked somewhat surprised.

“I'm afraid it's more than that.”

Fang Qing walked to the riverbank and stared into the dark waters.

“If my senses are correct, this should be the famed Three Thousand Weak Waters.”

“The Weak Water said to be so heavy that even a feather cannot float upon it?”

Zhan Hongxiu pondered for a moment.

“If this is not a restriction and cannot be broken, then... we'll have to swim across?”

“That is likely the intention of whoever placed the Three Thousand Weak Waters here.”

Fang Qing spoke seriously.

“If I were the one who designed this place, I would certainly hide dangers beneath the Weak Water and wipe out every intruder in one stroke.”

“For example... raising demon beasts that can survive within the Weak Water.”

The moment he said this, Zhan Hongxiu felt a chill run down her spine.

Just moments earlier, she had been considering releasing the Longevity Turtle.

“Let's test it first.”

With a wave of Fang Qing's hand, several puppets appeared and stepped onto the river.

Unable to float, they immediately sank to the bottom one after another.

Soon afterward, shapes resembling serpents and flood dragons churned beneath the black waters, sending countless bubbles to the surface.

“There really are demon beasts down there.”

Fang Qing smiled.

“And they are no ordinary beasts either.”

“Most likely third-rank high-grade.”

“This... Even if we join forces, we might not be able to defeat such a creature within the Three Thousand Weak Waters while it holds the advantage of terrain.”

Zhan Hongxiu's expression changed dramatically.

Senior Turtle had told her to come here only after reaching Core Formation. He had probably intended to guide her personally. Given his experience, he likely knew every detail of this secret realm's layout.

“We still have a chance. Prepare for battle.”

Fang Qing's aura shifted subtly as several dharma treasures appeared around him.

In one hand, he held the Miraculous Spring Pure Vase.

Turning the mouth of the vase downward, he activated its power.

An inexplicable force spread outward.

The surging Weak Water immediately began spiraling upward like a massive waterspout, pouring endlessly into the Miraculous Spring Pure Vase.

“All things beneath heaven restrain one another. Fellow Daoist, you actually possess a treasure that counters Weak Water?”

Joy flashed across Zhan Hongxiu's face.

She became even more convinced that inviting Fang Qing had been the correct decision.

Immediately, she released the Longevity Turtle from her spirit beast pouch and summoned the temporary dharma treasures she had recently refined: the Scenic Wind Pearl, the White Jade Sword, the Turtle Shield, and several others.

Ready to face battle at any moment, she muttered, “I wonder whether these dharma treasures can withstand the Weak Water...”

But in the next instant, her eyes widened.

“The Weak Water vein... it's been stirred?”

“The Miraculous Spring Pure Vase is profound enough, but it still falls short when facing the Three Thousand Weak Waters.”

Fang Qing smiled faintly.

“Fortunately, I have never lacked water-aspect treasures.”

With another wave of his hand, he summoned the Devouring Sea Bottle.

This treasure claimed it could swallow entire seas.

What were mere Three Thousand Weak Waters in comparison?

Splash!

Massive amounts of black water vanished, revealing the dried riverbed below.

Broken puppet fragments could be seen scattered throughout it.

Most had rotted away, as though they had endured countless ages of erosion.

Although the surrounding waters continued surging inward from all directions, they could not overcome the pulling force of the two treasures, creating a temporary vacuum zone.

Roar!

Mud and shattered stones exploded upward.

Accompanied by a dragon's roar, Fang Qing and Zhan Hongxiu finally saw the demon beast lurking within the Three Thousand Weak Waters.

Its body resembled a serpent, its tail a carp's, and four claws extended from its abdomen. A single horn protruded from its head, while dark green scales covered its entire body.

Most striking of all, it possessed three eyes.

It was a three-eyed flood dragon.

Boom!

The overwhelming demonic aura unique to a third-rank high-grade beast erupted outward.

“A mutated flood dragon? And a third-rank high-grade one at that?”

Zhan Hongxiu bit her lip, silently cursing Senior Turtle.

A third-rank high-grade demon beast was equivalent to a late Core Formation great cultivator.

Cultivators of that level could easily overwhelm those in the early and middle stages of Core Formation, even killing early Core Formation cultivators with ease.

Only those possessing such strength were worthy of the title of great cultivator.

And flood dragon-type demon beasts were far stronger than ordinary demon beasts to begin with.

“A third-rank high-grade mutated flood dragon?”

Fang Qing stared at the creature's third eye, his expression turning somewhat strange.

“Fellow Daoist Zhan, it's time to stop holding back.”

A flash of light appeared in his hand.

A jade ring as green as emerald materialized.

It was none other than the Purple Mansion dharma treasure, the Water-Parting Ring.

Splash!

The azure radiance of [Ji Water] descended in a seamless expanse, instantly severing the vast black river flowing beneath.

This was the profound power of Water Parting!

This mutated flood dragon had hidden itself within the Weak Water, giving it an overwhelming environmental advantage. To slay it, the first priority was naturally to separate it from the Weak Water.

Holding the Water-Parting Ring, Fang Qing's expression was icy.

The Purple Mansion treasure was enveloped in a brilliant emerald glow as it suddenly crashed toward the three-eyed evil flood dragon.

Roar!

The dragon extended its claws as streams of black water surged forth.

It was none other than the Three Thousand Weak Waters!

No wonder this mutated flood dragon could survive within the Weak Water. Its innate divine ability was intimately tied to the power of Weak Water itself.

A thought flashed through Fang Qing's mind before he let out a cold laugh.

'What a pity. My Water-Parting Ring is a Purple Mansion treasure, not some ordinary Core Formation treasure!'

Boom!

The light of [Ji Water] surged from the Water-Parting Ring, forcibly parting the black waters. Not only did it remain unaffected by the corrosive power of the Weak Water, it expanded dramatically in size before smashing down onto the flood dragon's head.

Roar!

The flood dragon bellowed in fury as several palm-sized dark green scales, mixed with droplets of dragon blood, scattered through the air.

Rumble!

In an instant, countless water thunderbolts appeared, surrounding the three-eyed evil flood dragon from all directions. Amid the storm, a wind spirit darted about, unleashing pale cyan wind blades without pause.

Zhan Hongxiu had made her move!

Standing atop the back of the Longevity Turtle, she held the Scenic Wind Pearl in her right hand while secretly clutching something in her left.

As she looked at the Water-Parting Ring displaying such overwhelming might, her expression shifted slightly.

'A rare treasure? Such terrifying power. It may even rival Nascent Soul treasures. Fellow Daoist Bai truly has an extraordinary background. To think he carries such a precious treasure for protection.'

Clang!

Fang Qing lightly tapped the Wolfbreaker.

Man and sword became one, transforming into a dazzling streak of sword light like a white rainbow piercing the sun.

The monstrous strength of his third-rank body refinement erupted without reservation.

At the tip of the white rainbow, a layer of mysterious flame blazed fiercely.

When a sword cultivator struck, victory or death was decided in an instant!

The sword tip moved.

It had already arrived beneath the flood dragon's jaw, striking the single reverse scale hidden there.

The Ignorance Illuminating Ashes erupted instantly!

The flood dragon let out a miserable howl as the scale was torn free. Its aura plummeted sharply.

A single sword strike had grievously wounded it.

"Attack!"

After landing his blow, Fang Qing did not press the advantage. Instead, he rapidly retreated while shouting a warning.

His expertise lay in heavenly calculations, and his intuition had long warned him that this three-eyed evil flood dragon was anything but ordinary.

It definitely still possessed a hidden trump card.

"Do not worry, Fellow Daoist Bai. I'll assist you!"

Zhan Hongxiu formed a hand seal. The Scenic Wind Pearl trembled slightly as the wind spirit transformed into a raging cyclone, wrapping itself around the flood dragon.

At the same time, the object hidden in her left hand shot out amidst the countless water thunderbolts.

It was the Myriad Transformation Thunder Pearl!

This was her greatest trump card.

Once detonated, its power rivaled a full-force strike from a late Core Formation cultivator.

Rip!

The wind spirit was instantly torn apart by the evil flood dragon's claws.

Then wave after wave of water thunderbolts exploded across its body.

Boom!

Within the endless flashes of lightning, an even stranger bolt of thunder erupted.

The Myriad Transformation Divine Thunder!

'It's done!'

Zhan Hongxiu's sleeves fluttered as delight surged through her heart.

The flood dragon had already been severely wounded by Fellow Daoist Bai's sword strike. After taking a direct hit from the Myriad Transformation Thunder Pearl, there was no way it could survive.

"Watch out!"

Yet in the next instant, a sharp warning rang out beside her ear.

"What?"

At the same time, she heard the furious roar of the Longevity Turtle beneath her.

Crash!

Amid the light and smoke left behind by the thunderstorm, a massive figure burst through the barrage and charged directly toward the Longevity Turtle.

Terrified, the Longevity Turtle instinctively shrank its neck.

Then, remembering that its master was still on its back, it forced itself to gather its demonic power, forming a cyan shield shaped like a turtle shell in front of Zhan Hongxiu.

The one standing before her was the three-eyed evil flood dragon. Its condition, however, was utterly miserable.

More than half of its majestic dark green scales had been shattered.

A large portion of its body was simply gone.

Even its remaining dragon claw had lost two toes.

Only its head remained relatively intact.

At this moment, the third eye on its forehead stared viciously at Zhan Hongxiu.

'This is... a divine sense attack? Not good!'

The moment the thought crossed her mind, her vision spun.

Not only her, but even the Longevity Turtle let out a mournful cry before collapsing.

The three-eyed evil flood dragon opened its enormous maw, preparing to swallow Zhan Hongxiu whole.

Whoosh!

At that very moment, a streak of sword light flashed past.

Confusion flickered across the flood dragon's eyes.

Then its massive head fell from its neck.

Blood erupted like a fountain.

"Such a waste. This is third-rank upper-grade dragon blood. It's extremely valuable."

Fang Qing hurriedly produced the Pure Spring Cleansing Bottle to collect the dragon blood.

Every part of this flood dragon was a treasure.

Dragon tendons, dragon scales, dragon bones, and even its dragon pearl.

Its entire body was priceless.

'After consuming this flood dragon's essence core, dealing with ordinary third-rank flood dragons should not be nearly this troublesome.'

Fang Qing landed atop the severed dragon head and formed a hand seal.

The third eye embedded in the dragon's forehead suddenly detached itself.

Only then did he realize it was not a flesh-and-blood eye at all.

It was a treasure!

The flood dragon had somehow obtained it and refined it into its body as its final trump card.

Its appearance and form felt strangely familiar to Fang Qing.

Even the mana produced by his converted Devouring Sea Art began stirring restlessly.

"Abyss Eye Pearl?"

The flood dragon's third eye was actually an Abyss Eye Pearl treasure!

Its original quality appeared extraordinarily high, perhaps even reaching the fourth rank.

However, it had suffered damage and fallen in quality. At present, it was only around third-rank mid-grade.

Zhan Hongxiu was fortunate.

Had this been a fourth-rank Abyss Eye Pearl, her soul would have been annihilated on the spot.

Fang Qing turned to look at her.

Her condition was extremely poor.

Two streams of bloody tears ran down her face.

As for the Longevity Turtle, it had already fallen unconscious.

Had her life-bound spirit beast not absorbed most of the attack, Zhan Hongxiu would likely have died as well.