The River That Did Not Exist

Spend 10 Favor Points to form a contract?

The system's announcement rang out.

"Yes, form the contract."

With a thought from Su Mu, a beam of white light enveloped the Dolphinfish.

Contract successful!

Successfully contracted "Dolphinfish." Congratulations, you have received 10 Favor Points!

The Favor Points he had spent were immediately returned to him.

After being contracted, the Dolphinfish's gaze toward Su Mu changed from fear to gentleness.

It kept swimming by the shore without leaving.

Su Mu looked at the Little Mahi and said, "Go on. Catch a few treasure fish for me to eat."

After receiving the order, the Little Mahi dove into the water. "It should be able to understand what I'm saying, right?" Su Mu muttered.

After finishing all this, Su Mu continued along the riverbank, clearing away weeds and loose stones. He had no idea why, but even though he pulled the weeds along the bank every day, after a night's sleep, they would grow back in abundance.

Not only that, but on the first day, a great many loose stones would also inexplicably appear along the shore.

Still, that was a good thing. Clearing these weeds and stones could earn him Favor Points.

Cleared weeds, Favor Points +1

Cleared weeds, Favor Points +1

Cleared loose stones, Favor Points +5

Cleared loose stones, Favor Points +5

.

Su Mu busied himself for an hour and earned roughly fifty Favor Points.

At the same time, on the Tiannan Continent, at the Fallen Cloud Sect.

"Elder Han, good morning."

As Han Xiaopao walked down the path, disciples passing by respectfully greeted him. He nodded back at every one of them.

By now, he had been in this world for over two hundred years. Starting from the Mortal Realm and rising from humble beginnings, he had advanced steadily step by step. He had now become an elder of the Fallen Cloud Sect, a figure second only to one and above tens of thousands.

Sometimes, in his dreams at night, he would recall the man he had encountered during his transmigration more than two hundred years ago, the man who had signed a contract with him.

Whenever he thought of it, it felt unreal.

Back then, after he had ridden the Small Boat to a certain place, it had suddenly capsized, and he had lost consciousness. By the time he woke up,

he had already arrived on a continent called Tiannan.

Later, as he gradually grew stronger, he began inquiring bit by bit about that dark river. He searched countless places, yet not only could he not find it, there was not even the slightest trace of it. There were not even any records of that river in ancient texts.

Thus, Han Xiaopao began to wonder whether he had merely been dreaming back then. As time passed, he had long since forgotten about it.

He had already received word that a divine treasure was said to have appeared in the Land of the Far West. He intended to go alone and see if he could get a share of the spoils.

Han Xiaopao had always been this sort of person. Whether seeking opportunities or exploring secret realms, he always went alone.

The reason was simple: it was easier to run away by himself!

So this time, he also planned to travel to the Land of the Far West alone.

He had now reached the Nascent Soul Realm. His traveling speed no longer required an ark or flying shuttle, and using the Fallen Cloud Sect's ark would only draw attention. Traveling alone, he could arrive in three or four days.

Han Xiaopao changed into a different outfit, then quietly descended the mountain and headed for the Land of the Far West.

Above the Ink Sea in the Land of the Far West, countless powerful cultivators stood suspended in the air, staring at a square stone gate on the surface of the sea.

The entire stone gate was pitch-black and extended up from the seabed. Like a dragon gate, it emitted an aura that made hearts tremble. The countless experts around it did not dare approach, only watching from afar.

Han Xiaopao stood behind the crowd, his brows tightly furrowed as he studied the stone gate upon the sea.

At that moment, a Nascent Soul expert descended from the sky and stood at the very front. He addressed the crowd, "This sea is the territory of my Bone Profound Sect. Isn't it inappropriate for all of you to intrude upon our sect's territory?"

As he spoke, the formidable pressure of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator burst forth, making the sea churn without end.

Then, a blue-robed middle-aged man who was likewise at the late Nascent Soul stage chuckled. "Vice Sect Master Wu, when did the Ink Sea become the territory of your Bone Profound Sect?"

"And besides, when a divine treasure appears, those with the ability may claim it. When did it become the property of your Bone Profound Sect alone?"

The moment those words were spoken, many people voiced their agreement.

"That's right, Sect Master Wu. When a secret treasure appears, the capable may possess it."

"Sect Master Wu, are you saying you intend to drive all of us out of the Ink Sea?"

With just two sentences, the blue-robed middle-aged man had placed Wu Zhongkui in the crosshairs.

Hearing this, Wu Zhongkui was so furious that even his beard trembled.

The Ink Sea had belonged to the Bone Profound Sect for three hundred years. What sect in the Land of the Far West did not know that?

Now that a secret treasure had appeared, everyone suddenly refused to acknowledge it and brazenly trespassed onto the Bone Profound Sect's territory.

Although he knew the other party was doing it deliberately, if conflict broke out now, it would only put him at a disadvantage.

As Han Xiaopao looked at Wu Zhongkui, he secretly laughed as well.

This Sect Master Wu was quite the blockhead. With a secret treasure appearing, people from all over the world could come and fight for it. To think he wanted everyone to turn back and withdraw from the competition just by saying, "This is my territory"—that was plainly wishful thinking.

At this moment, more and more cultivators arrived above the Ink Sea.

Han Xiaopao concealed his aura as he assessed the current situation.

There were two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, five mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and including himself, another ten early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm were not within Han Xiaopao's consideration.

If there was only one secret treasure, Han Xiaopao would most likely return empty-handed.

After all, the gap in strength between a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator was simply too vast. Han Xiaopao's plan was to see whether he could fish in troubled waters amid the chaos and snatch a treasure for himself.

Because the aura emitted by the stone gate protruding from the sea was far too terrifying, no one dared to be the first to try. Everyone was waiting.

With so many pairs of eyes watching, who would be foolish enough to go first?

They would be nothing but cannon fodder! Thus, all the cultivators above the Ink Sea waited silently. No one made a move, and the atmosphere became exceedingly strange.

Suddenly, the stone gate began to tremble, sending wave after wave surging across the sea.

The next moment, a cluster of dark-purple Immortal Light condensed at the center of the stone gate. Everyone's eyes fixed upon it.

Wave after wave of pressure erupted, making the seawater churn continuously. A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

"Since none of you are moving, this old man will gladly take it!"

At that moment, a mid-stage Nascent Soul elder circulated his cultivation technique. Golden Law Seals swirled around him as his entire body turned into a streak of light and shot toward the cluster of Immortal Light.

After the mid-stage Nascent Soul elder made his move, the others also began to act.