Chapter 116: The Seized Water Spirit Divided into Three Sevenths
Chapter 116: Dividing the Seized Water Essence Three-Seven
Jinxin paused in surprise, then offered a reminder.
“Master, the way you speak sounds a bit like a villain.”
“Besides, five hundred years is too long; things are bound to change over such a span.”
Luofeng furrowed his brow slightly, pondering, then realized it was indeed true.
He came from the Purple Cloud Palace, the proud and orthodox sect of the mystical world, the very epitome of righteous Daoism.
Such words lacked prudence.
Jinxin solemnly cupped his hands and said,
“Moreover, every act leaves a trace; every word leaves a mark.”
“Carrying out an ambush is certainly safe, but it inevitably leaves something behind.”
Luofeng smiled faintly and asked,
“What do you think should be done?”
“My disciple believes that since the Water Department’s corrupt officials lack virtue, Heaven will take notice, and after a hundred years, they will be struck down by heavenly thunder to punish their evil.”
“The Water Department will deeply regret this and call upon the gods to learn from this cautionary tale.”
Jinxin swept his robe aside, his righteous aura shining fiercely.
Luofeng nodded with satisfaction. His disciple had finally grown up and learned to find and fix loopholes.
This was a good omen—when the student surpasses the master.
If each generation were worse than the last, decline was inevitable.
They then delved deeply into how to leave no trace, discussing the naturally occurring heavenly thunder and how to handle it.
After some time, they had arranged the former supervisors of the Inspection Department’s past and future lives clearly and securely.
“By the way, Master,”
Jinxin suddenly remembered, “there are still five department heads in the Water Department unaccounted for. Shall I take care of them?”
“They are no longer celestial officials of the Heavenly Court, so there are fewer taboos.”
Luofeng replied calmly,
“Let the King of Hell wait a while longer; their hiding places for the water essence have already been found.”
Jinxin was astonished,
“Master, when did you send out spies?”
Just now, everyone was openly in the Water Virtue Hall, under broad daylight, with no sign of Luofeng’s intervention.
Luofeng smiled but said nothing, instead pointing to the guardian puppets beside Jinxin.
Jinxin suddenly realized and understood.
On the way to the Archive Hall, Yang Sishui had four guardian puppets by his side.
Knowing his master’s character, at least two of the puppets were divine mind avatars, while the other two were real puppets.
—
In the Lower Realm, a vast mountain range stretched endlessly, with rolling green hills and continuous rugged peaks—typical of the prehistoric cosmos.
At the center stood a principal peak called Fire Smoke Peak.
Jagged rocks pierced the sky, green willows caressed the forest—a splendid landscape brimming with spiritual energy, a first-rate blessed land.
Earth Immortals were born from the blessed land, and blessed lands were created by Earth Immortals.
Atop Fire Smoke Peak dwelt the Fire Crow King, an Earth Immortal cultivator commanding a band of various demons, ruling the mountain range with ease and freedom.
One day, as the Fire Crow King was cultivating, a subordinate demon hurriedly reported that a demon king had come to seek alliance.
The Fire Crow King’s eyes darted, and he called out, “Invite him up.”
Passing through layers of defenses and bypassing numerous scouts, the visiting demon king finally reached the Fire Crow King’s domain.
Upon seeing him, the Fire Crow King’s pupils contracted—blue hair, blue skin, surrounded by water vapor, a remarkably refined cultivation.
He was also a mighty Earth Immortal of the water element.
The Fire Crow King’s heart sank slightly and loudly asked,
“Brother, what brings you to Fire Smoke Peak?”
The water demon king laughed heartily,
“Little brother heard that Brother Fire Crow was gathering forces here, naturally I come to join the lord.”
The Fire Crow King chuckled dryly,
“You are mistaken, brother. This is a fire demon cultivation site; water demons’ efforts here would be twice the toil for half the gain.”
The water demon king was unperturbed, speaking slowly and deliberately,
“Oh? I heard, Lord, that you possess many Heavenly Court water essences, supposedly accumulated over thirty thousand years.”
Such precise timing suggested a long-planned scheme.
The Fire Crow King paused, then put on a brilliant smile,
“How shall I address you, brother? Please come in and sit.”
With a wave of his hand, a stone chair appeared on the left side.
At that moment, murderous intent surged.
The water demon king laughed loudly,
“I am Cold Pool; no need for formalities, Lord.”
Saying so, he stepped forward to sit.
“Crack!”
With a thunderous sound, the Fire Crow King decisively struck.
A yin-yang orb of water and fire, nurtured for ten thousand years, was hurled straight at the Cold Pool king’s brow acupoint.
The Cold Pool king’s lips curled into a cold smile; he swiftly turned and conjured a cold mirror to block the orb.
Then, gathering his power into a sword, he slashed at the Fire Crow King’s wings.
Magic power surged, true energy collided, stirring up vast clouds of dust.
After a moment, the smoke cleared.
Feathers of the Fire Crow King lay scattered, smoke rising but no injuries.
Cold Pool king sat upright, unharmed but his hand holding the mirror trembled slightly.
The two demon kings exchanged a glance.
Suddenly, the Fire Crow King moved.
“Hahaha! Brother, what skill!”
“I, Fire Smoke Peak, have been lacking a talent like you!”
As a seasoned demon king, the Fire Crow King smiled and let bygones be bygones, wiping the slate clean with his words.
Cold Pool king paused, then laughed heartily as well—he too was a mature demon king.
“Brother Fire Crow, how could you say that? Just now, I was ambushed by some unknown demon, and only thanks to your help did I escape disaster.”
The Fire Crow King gasped inwardly; he had thought himself shameless, but it seemed there were shameless ones beyond him.
“Brother, please sit.”
The Fire Crow King laughed heartily, and the two sat, the atmosphere peaceful with no trace of the earlier tension.
“Tell me, brother, how did you learn I have Heavenly Court water essences?”
The Fire Crow King hinted.
Cold Pool king smiled faintly,
“I have admired you for a long time, lingering near Fire Smoke Peak for a thousand years until today when I finally decided to join you.”
“Please, elder brother, help introduce me to some celestial officials.”
The Fire Crow King sneered internally, suspecting surveillance.
Still, this fellow’s power was not inferior; better to soothe him well.
Once the celestial officials arrived, they would join forces to take him down.
His eyes twinkled as he sighed,
“Brother, you don’t know. This kind of business is troublesome.”
Cold Pool king pondered and said,
“Please, elder brother, do explain.”
The Fire Crow King chuckled,
“You can’t just seize water essence by force, I’ll tell you how. First, the Water Department fabricates a drought, claiming severe water shortage, then performs rain prayers under false pretenses.”
Cold Pool king nodded thoughtfully—no wonder so many little demons dwelled atop Fire Smoke Peak.
It was part of their demonic nature.
The Fire Crow King cleared his throat and continued,
“To steal the water essence without the Heavenly Court noticing, you have to win over the celestial officials, offering them rare treasures to feed their greed. Then, while the Water Department makes rain, we take the opportunity to rob them. After success, we pay a ‘hardship fee.’”
“The seized water essence is split three to seven.”
Cold Pool king frowned,
“Why only seventy percent?”
The Fire Crow King sneered,
“Seventy percent belongs to them. Getting thirty percent depends on the Water Department officials’ favor.”
Cold Pool king shouted angrily,
“Heavenly Court officials? I’ve come all this way just to grovel before them?”
The Fire Crow King nodded.
[Special busy during the Spring Festival; forgot to update yesterday, making up for it today.]
(End of chapter)