No one spoke up, remaining sullenly silent.
Even the short-tempered Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow and the Old Monster of Cold Mountain naturally averted their gaze.
Those fellows from the North Sea—every single one of them—had lived longer than all of them combined. No one truly wanted to provoke them.
Especially the one before them, one of only three surviving auspicious beasts in the world: the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox.
Born with nine lives.
Of course, that wasn't the main reason. The primary issue was that they didn't dare set foot in the North Sea in the first place.
It wasn't that they feared they couldn't enter, but rather that they feared they would end up like those within—never to return.
Imagine provoking these people and fighting her. If you won, she would merely lose a single spirit body.
Her realm might suffer, but it would take nothing more than some time to recover.
However, once a grudge was formed, she could manifest a spirit body whenever she pleased just to mess with you. What could you do then?
You couldn't strike at her homeland, yet she could show up at your doorstep to fight you at any time.
The situation was completely asymmetric.
One would live in constant fear.
As the saying goes, one does not fear the thief stealing, but the thief's constant plotting. It was the same logic.
Provoking her? One might as well just choke themselves to death.
Besides, there was official business to attend to.
Tu Sisi maintained her overbearing aura, but she did step aside to clear the path.
At that moment, from a thousand miles away, a great river surged from the north to the south, soaring through the sky.
A giant beast was sprinting across the surface of the water, treading upon the waves.
In the blink of an eye, that great river hung across the horizon.
An ancient, strange, and powerful aura rippled out, permeating the surroundings.
Inside and outside the mountain gate, everyone looked toward the source.
They saw a giant beast standing atop the great river.
The Water Qilin had arrived.
Whether they were from the Wendao Sect, the Three Sects and Six Schools, the hidden sects, the great demons, or the various monsters of the North Sea, everyone felt a sense of wariness and caution.
A giant beast they had never seen before.
A powerhouse they had never heard of.
Appearing out of nowhere.
Who was it? Where did it come from? Why was it here?
The Water Qilin looked down from above, gazing over heaven and earth. He clicked his tongue and sighed, "Tsk tsk. This tiny Fanzhou truly is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. To think there are so many little monsters here. Hahaha, interesting. Truly interesting."
The crowd remained silent, their scrutiny unyielding.
No one responded.
With lingering dread in his eyes, Yao Xiqiao spoke up, "It's him... the Ancestor of the East Desolation..."
The members of the Wendao Sect realized the newcomer was a foe rather than a friend, and their caution intensified.
Just as the Water Qilin arrived, Bai Ze reached the mountain gate ahead of the beast tide, accompanied by several powerhouses in the beast god stage.
Unlike the Water Qilin's arrival, which was met with cold silence and suspicion, Bai Ze's appearance inevitably drew a wave of hushed exclamations.
No one present failed to recognize Bai Ze.
Seeing him appear unharmed, many felt a tinge of regret.
What a pity. This fellow actually wasn't killed by Yun Zheng.
It seemed the Wendao Sect still had a fight ahead of them today.
Not only between them and the Wendao Sect, but even among themselves, a struggle for the prize was likely unavoidable.
After Bai Ze appeared, he did something that left everyone baffled and surprised: he respectfully led his followers to the Water Qilin's side.
Standing there as obediently as a junior, he did not forget to bow.
"Ancestor."
Disdain still lingered in the Water Qilin's eyes. He gave Bai Ze a brief glance and teased, "Little thing, it seems you're quite famous. These people all seem to know you?"
Bai Ze replied humbly, "It is merely an empty reputation."
The Water Qilin snorted and said no more.
The second lord of the North Sea, the Azure Dragon Ao Tian, asked from across the distance, "Brother Bai, might I ask who this is?"
Bai Ze subconsciously looked at the Water Qilin.
The Water Qilin held his head high, still arrogant and acting incredibly full of himself.
Bai Ze answered, "The Ancestor of my race."
Ancestor?
Hearing Bai Ze's answer, many people began to discuss in low voices.
"Ancestor? Which one?"
"Never heard of him."
"Does the East Desolation even have such a figure?"
"No wonder that little white-haired brat who plays with fire failed. This Qilin is likely not simple..."
The Azure Dragon Ao Tian scrutinized the Water Qilin once more but remained silent.
For some reason, he smelled the same aura on him as that of the North Sea's Phantom Emperor.
Did the two of them come from the same place?
Of course, it could just be an illusion.
Ao Tian wasn't the only one who felt this. The other spirit bodies of the demon immortals had the same suspicion.
The qingluan, the Golden Soft-shell Turtle, Tu Sisi...
Their gazes became even more intense as they scrutinized him.
Although the Water Qilin looked down on Bai Ze and the little youngsters before him, he quite liked the way Bai Ze addressed him.
Ancestor. It sounded domineering and high-class.
He was also quite satisfied with their reactions. This was exactly the effect he wanted for his entrance.
His vanity was slightly satisfied.
However, now was not the time to show off; official business was more important.
This body of his couldn't last much longer. Most of his time had already passed, so he had to settle the main task first.
The Water Qilin looked at the Wendao Sect's mountain gate, which was already in a desperate situation, and got straight to the point.
"Where is Xu Xian?"
"Tell him to come out and meet his death!"
The crowd stirred in surprise.
Naming him specifically.
Xu Xian? This giant beast wasn't here for the Wendao Sect, but for Xu Xian? This caught them off guard.
What was going on? You came all this way just for a teenager?
Even Bai Ze was surprised.
He wondered if the Ancestor had, like himself, divined the future of the East Desolation and thus awakened from his slumber specifically to suppress Xu Xian.
The members of the Wendao Sect were equally confused.
It was unexpected, yet it also made sense.
Jiang Wanyin stood atop the bridge, her gaze meeting his directly as she questioned, "Who are you?"
The Water Qilin asked a question he already knew the answer to, "Are you Xu Xian?"
The crowd was speechless.
What kind of eyesight was that? Even if he was face-blind, he shouldn't be unable to distinguish between a man and a woman, right?
Jiang Wanyin knew the other party was doing it on purpose and that the intruder was an enemy. Naturally, she had no kind words. Her face cold, she said, "I am the one asking you."
The Water Qilin was startled for a moment, then he laughed, his smile sinister. "You actually dare to speak to me like that? You've got guts. Are all the people in your sect this brave?"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to glance at Yao Xiqiao inside the mountain gate.
Jiang Wanyin said, "If you can't speak properly, then shut your mouth. If you have the courage, then attack!"
The Water Qilin was truly amused now.
What kind of situation were they in? And she was still this arrogant?
Surrounded by the enemies of the world and trapped in a desperate situation, yet still so defiant.
Was he mistaken, or had the world gone mad?
She really had some damn guts!
He showed a rare bit of patience and spoke a few more words.
"You don't truly believe this tiny sword array can stop me, do you?"
Jiang Wanyin remained neither humble nor arrogant. "Even if it can't, so what?"
The Water Qilin shook his head, truly at a loss for words. He laughed and said, "Fine, you've got spirit. I admire that. Since you're all so brave, hand over Xu Xian. I can promise you that once the fighting starts, I'll help you kill the rest of them. How about it?"
The crowd was silent.
Great, another one showing off.
First it was Tu Sisi, then the Azure Dragon Ao Tian, and now this Water Qilin...
What kind of freaks and monsters were these?
Inside Jiang Wanyin's sleeve, her long sword lowered. Her voice was cold as she said, "I told you to stop wasting words. If you have the balls, then attack."
What else could the Water Qilin say? He had given her a chance, but she refused it and insisted on acting tough.
Then they would see who was truly the toughest.
He bared his sharp teeth and said overbearingly, "All of you, stay back. I'll kill anyone who moves."
"Today, I shall crush this mountain gate with a single arm."
"I'll show you what happens when you try to act tough with me!"
Rate on N.U.
