Chapter 262 - 136: Refining Magical Power, a True Master’s Arrival? Capturing the Profound-Scaled Dragon Carp, Treading the River Like Flat Ground

Chapter 262: Chapter 136: Refining Magical Power, a True Master’s Arrival? Capturing the Profound-Scaled Dragon Carp, Treading the River Like Flat Ground

A True Master.

They can fly through the heavens and tunnel through the earth, they can go about Refining Illusion into Truth, but the most obvious sign of all is—

For a Daoist who has reached this level, their Divine Soul has already transformed into a Yang Spirit. It can condense into a solid form in broad daylight, possessing the power to reach the clouds above and descend into the netherworld below.

Even if their physical body decays, they can use the life force of their Divine Soul to defy the natural order, reviving themselves by taking a new mortal vessel!

This heaven-defying technique is what Buddhists call ’rebirth’ and Daoists call ’Reincarnation’.

But to put it bluntly, it’s Possession!

Legend has it that a True Master once waited for a powerhouse with a Title to be on the verge of death. The True Master then seized their body and spent a decade of secluded cultivation tempering it.

In that instant, they became an unparalleled expert whose Divine Soul had attained the level of a True Master and whose body had opened the Seven Limits. They had a chance to shed the title of ’Demi-Immortal’ and touch the true threshold of immortality!

’This little wench... oh no, this Female Immortal, she’s not some High Merit expert who’s refined Magical Power. She’s a living, breathing True Master, on par with someone holding a Title!’

’Oh my god, Boss Ji, what the hell are you still looking for a patron for?’

’Once you’ve latched onto a patron this powerful, who cares how many enemies you’ve made in Jiangyin Prefecture? As long as this grand lady isn’t nursing some deep-seated grudge of her own, once she recovers a bit more...’

’...the moment she reveals her power, won’t she be able to crush them all with a single finger?’

’Forget Jiangyin Prefecture. Even if Young Lord Bai Shuo himself showed up, he probably wouldn’t stand a chance against a Female Immortal like her.’

Cangming Monarch was utterly floored.

And what was even more terrifying was...

’This woman was likely from Great Xuan.’

’The Great Xuan Celestial Universe is home to the Human Immortal Martial Dao. Most Martial Artists there prioritize the Martial Dao, with Dao Skills being secondary. This Female Immortal’s Divine Soul is already on par with a Titled powerhouse. If that’s the case, then before her demise, her physical body must have been...’

’The more Cangming Monarch thought about it, the more his draconic heart trembled with a chilling fear. He was afraid that if he continued down this train of thought, he would abandon any idea of returning to the Water Monarch’s Mansion and simply bow down at her feet right then and there.’

Of course, Ji Xiu had no idea what was going through the flood dragon’s mind.

But since Jiang Li had put it that way, he could hardly say anything more.

"In that case..."

"Let’s be on our way!"

With that, his decision was made. The group of three was carried by Cangming Monarch. They departed from Anning Pier, riding the wind and parting the waves under the fading twilight, surging toward Jiangyin!

...

「On the East Canghai, upon the Wumeng River.」

"Find it yet? Have you found it!"

"Get off the boats, all of you! We have to catch that Spiritual Treasure Fish that just surfaced—the one that’s about to transform into an Auspicious Omen—and offer it to the Six Celestial Kings!"

"His Lordship was injured trying to avenge the razing of Chaotic Heaven Lake. He was hunting down that disciple of Wang Xuanyang’s and took a blade strike that damaged his internal organs. He’s in critical need of recovery right now."

"For a Treasure Fish as valuable as a top-tier Spirit Pill to appear here in a tributary of the Wumeng River... it’s priceless! We can’t let it get away!"

More than a dozen large, black-awning boats spread out across the river. Ropes were cast off on deck as numerous muscular Martial Artists leaped into the water.

A blade-wielding Martial Artist with a powerful aura, clad in an Immortal Robe, stood upon the lead ship, shouting commands. Banners hung from the masts of these vessels, each emblazoned with two words: "Vigilante Justice."

Any merchant ship in the vicinity that caught sight of them steered well clear, avoiding them like the plague, terrified of crossing their path.

These were the Chaotic Heaven Thieves, the most troublesome faction of the nigh-inextinguishable Eighteen Water Bandits of the eight-thousand-li East Canghai.

Over a decade ago, at the height of their power, the Chaotic Heaven Thieves were led by ten great bandit lords who had sworn an oath of brotherhood under the Red-Beard Celestial King. With the sole exception of the youngest, all of them were Qi Cultivation Grandmasters!

At the time, the Chaotic Heaven Thieves had amassed a Navy of three thousand. They occupied Shuipo Lake, their military might aimed directly at the Jiangyin Prefecture Garrison Camp. They were so powerful in their heyday that even Luo Daocheng was helpless against them!

Unfortunately, after being crushed by Wang Xuanyang, their organization fell apart. It was a classic case of rats abandoning a sinking ship. With five or six of their ten leaders gone and the majority of their elite forces decimated, they had long since lost their former influence, barely managing to survive.

Even so, they remained a behemoth on the East Canghai, an incredibly troublesome force to deal with.

"Found it! I found it!"

SPLASH!

Just as the leader of the Chaotic Heaven Thieves was shouting orders, one of his men who had been diving in the river suddenly burst from the surface, his eyes filled with excitement.

Directly in front of him and not far off, a school of fish was in a frenzy. A hundred silver-scaled, white-tailed fish thrashed about, splashing wildly as they rushed forward in a panic.

Mixed in with them was a strange, rare creature, shimmering with iridescent light, its body covered in profound scales and sporting dragon-like whiskers. It led the churning tide of fish, surging into the distance as if it would vanish in the blink of an eye!

"Quickly, quickly!"

"Cast the Spirit Nets! Ready the Spirit Rods! Throw out the Spiritual Food!"

"That’s a Profound-Scaled Dragon Carp, one that’s about to transform into an Auspicious Omen! Its whiskers, when used in medicine, are said to extend one’s life by a decade! Every single tiny scale can be used as Spiritual Weapon Materials! Its entire body is a priceless treasure!"

The leader roared with excitement, rolling up his sleeves, wishing he could dive into the water and catch it himself.

His words drew the attention of all the Chaotic Heaven Righteous Army. Their eyes gleamed as they converged on the spot. Some swam in hot pursuit, while others cast Spirit Nets, readied Spirit Rods, and tossed out Spiritual Food.

But the Spirit Fish of the East Canghai are notoriously difficult to catch. Once startled, they can move even faster than a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster. Combined with their small size, they are almost impossible to hook without special techniques, unless a powerhouse with a Title were to personally intervene.

At the very least, the members of the Chaotic Heaven Righteous Army could only watch helplessly as the Profound-Scaled Dragon Carp swam further and further away...

Until!

A black dot in the distance suddenly dove from the sky. A massive palm spread open, descended upon the water’s surface, and with unerring precision... snatched the fish in its grasp!