Chapter 767: Shock

“That Demoness!?”

Upon hearing this, Ruan Lingxiu’s brows knitted tightly, his voice filled with dread.

It was no wonder Gong Nansong hadn’t arrived when they first sent the signal.

“That’s right.”

Gong Nansong nodded, his expression grave. “The very daughter of the Demon Sect Leader, Qi Xun Nan. Her cultivation… has grown considerably. I fear she has now reached the level of Six Times of True Essence Refining, and her techniques are bizarre and unpredictable. I let my guard down for a moment and suffered for it.”

“Six Times of True Essence Refining…”

Chen Qing’s gaze sharpened, and he committed her name to memory.

‘To injure Elder Gong and force his retreat… Qi Yu’s strength probably far surpasses that of Lü Hanyin. She’s an extremely dangerous person.’

Gong Nansong said in a low voice, “Qi Yu is still lingering here; she hasn’t left. She wouldn’t appear without a reason. I’ve already sent a secret missive to the Sect. Experts of the Earth Balance Position will arrive to provide support, perhaps even to surround and eliminate her.”

“Experts of the Earth Balance Position?” Chen Qing and Ruan Lingxiu’s hearts both stirred.

The Earth Balance Position of the Dubhe Pavilion… that meant experts who were at least in the Late-stage True Essence Realm, having completed Six Times of True Essence Refining or more. They were the true pillars of the Sect.

Dispatching figures of this caliber showed just how much importance the Sect placed on capturing or killing Qi Xun Nan’s daughter.

Chen Qing’s thoughts raced. ‘Qi Xun Nan is the Demon Sect Leader; his only daughter’s status is no small matter.’

‘If we could capture her, it would be a huge blow to the Demon Sect’s morale and grant the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect a massive advantage in any subsequent negotiations.’

‘But the risks are just as immense. The Demon Sect would never sit idly by and watch her fall into enemy hands.’

‘If word got out, it would likely incite an immediate, frenzied counterattack from the Demon Sect’s experts. Even Qi Xun Nan himself might disregard his status and act personally.’

‘At that point, Longze Lake would likely become a battlefield—a gathering storm of hidden killing intent.’

“Elder Gong, do you know why Qi Yu and the other Demon Sect experts have come to Longze Lake?”

Chen Qing asked.

Gong Nansong shook his head, his brows knitted. “It’s unclear at the moment. Even the Sect’s intelligence hasn’t determined their exact purpose. It might be related to a Secret Technique she’s cultivating, or perhaps… Longze Lake truly hides some great fortuitous encounter that none of us have yet discovered.”

He cast his gaze toward the center of the lake, which was shrouded in a dense, smoky mist, his tone turning grave. “Longze Lake is vast, spanning hundreds of miles. Its core, the Smoke Wave Marsh region, is shrouded in a bizarre haze year-round. Not only does it obstruct one’s vision, but it even makes probing with Divine Sense incredibly difficult.”

“The islands within are scattered like stars in a night sky, the waters are treacherous, and undercurrents, whirlpools, and underwater caves are innumerable. It’s even rumored that there are hidden channels connecting to the subterranean Yin River. Over the centuries, people have occasionally stumbled upon century-old Treasure Medicines and rare Spiritual Materials here.”

He pondered for a moment before his tone shifted. “Qi Yu’s movements are unpredictable, and it will take time for the Sect’s reinforcements to arrive. We shouldn’t linger here. For now, let’s head to Black Water Giant City.”

“Black Water Giant City?”

Chen Qing was taken aback for a moment. Remembering Zhang Huaguo, whom he had just killed, and Feng Yu, who had escaped, he couldn’t help but feel a little puzzled.

‘Is it really a good idea to go to Black Water Giant City right now?’

Gong Nansong saw his hesitation and explained, “Don’t worry. While Black Water Giant City is full of all sorts, it has its own rules. The true masters are the one City Lord and two Vice City Lords. As long as you don’t kill their Direct Lineage Children or Direct Disciples, people like Zhang Huaguo and Feng Yu—these so-called ‘Thirty-Six Celestial Spirits’ and ‘Seventy-Two Earth Fiends’—are, to put it bluntly, nothing more than ‘Guest Ministers’ with a bit of skill who use the city for refuge. They collude for profit, but they also guard against each other.”

“As long as you have the strength, it doesn’t matter how many of them you kill. Black Water City’s leadership couldn’t care less. In fact, they’d be happy to see it happen, since it opens up spots to recruit new ‘talent.’ There, strength and profit are the only eternal laws. The dead have no value.”

At this, Chen Qing nodded, understanding completely.

‘So these Celestial Spirits and Earth Fiends are just tools and figureheads for Black Water Giant City, used to maintain order and handle its dirty work. They look impressive on the surface, but in reality, they have no real backing.’

‘As long as one doesn’t touch the interests of the core ruling class, their lives and deaths are no different from those of ants in the eyes of Black Water City’s leadership.’

“Alright, then let’s go take a look at Black Water Giant City,” Chen Qing agreed.

‘He also wanted to see Yan Country’s famously chaotic city for himself. Perhaps he’d make an unexpected discovery there.’

Ruan Lingxiu also chimed in, “I haven’t been there in years, either. The Ghost Market is quite famous; they say you can buy almost anything there if you can pay the price. My Ruan Family has some businesses in Black Water Giant City, so I’ll be the host this time. That way, we’ll have some support.”