Unexpected Gain

"The winds and waves of the East Sea have weakened somewhat."

Di Xin's clone stood atop the city wall, his gaze fixed on the glittering waves along the horizon. A hint of amusement showed on his face.

He had been in Chentang Pass for ten days. Ever since accepting the unborn Nezha as his godson on the first day, he had been temporarily staying at the Li residence, teasing Jin Zha and Mu Zha all day long. While "deceiving" the children's feelings, he had also put Li Jing's mind at ease.

It was killing two birds with one stone!

"Ever since Great King came here, the winds and waves of the East Sea have weakened day by day. It seems even the evil demons of the deep sea fear Great King's majesty and no longer dare to stir up trouble."

Li Jing stood beside him in armor, one hand resting on the sword at his waist as he tactfully flattered Di Xin.

With a happy wife and children at home and a promotion and raise within reach, he naturally had to perform well.

"No. When something unusual happens, there must be a demon behind it."

Di Xin shook his head. His gaze was deep yet restrained. He touched the cloth bag at his waist, as if he had made some decision.

"Li Jing, guard Chentang Pass well. I am going to the East Sea to investigate. The lives of Chentang Pass's million residents will be in your hands!"

—Clang!

Li Jing dropped to one knee. His golden armor collided with such force that sparks flew from it.

"Great King, the sea is perilous. You are worth a thousand pieces of gold and are the pillar of the nation. You absolutely must not put yourself in danger! I, Li Jing, beg Your Majesty to remain in Chentang Pass while I go investigate. If I should unfortunately die for the nation, I ask only that Your Majesty treat my wife and children well."

Di Xin lowered his head and happened to meet Li Jing's raised eyes. In them, he saw determination born from hesitation.

"Hahahaha!"

Di Xin suddenly burst into laughter and helped Li Jing to his feet with both hands. Half gratified and half sighing, he said,

"My loyal subject, you truly have a good heart. However, I cannot exchange a subject's life for one of my clones.

"Besides, I am confident I can retreat safely. The seals on the Xuanyuan Bow and Sky-Shaking Arrow have already been removed by me. Take the bow and arrows and guard the city wall at ease. If enemies from the East Sea attack, you can use these treasures to repel them. However, the Xuanyuan Bow and Sky-Shaking Arrow contain too much baleful energy. Unless the situation is truly desperate, I permit you to fire only one arrow."

The Kongtong Seal was a supreme treasure of humanity. Even if this clone fell in the East Sea, no one would dare claim it for themselves. The only thing he could not preserve was the Human Seed Bag.

However, to make Li Jing's entire family wholeheartedly submit, this deal was still worth making.

"I, Li Jing, will never fail Great King's trust. I swear to defend Chentang Pass to the death!"

As Di Xin transformed into divine light and flew toward the East Sea, Li Jing fell with a thud, his knees striking the bluestone of the city wall.

A fine bird chose a tree to nest in. He, this "fine bird," had now clung wholeheartedly to the great tree of Yin Shang.

Ask any ruler throughout history—how many had ever been able to go this far? And among them, how many had not been sage kings possessing both virtue and ability?

"Soldiers, begin your drills! Protect the million people of Chentang Pass!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Di Xin had not yet flown far when he heard the soldiers shouting behind him. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he sped up his movement technique.

The original work had never recorded such a great disturbance in the East Sea, so he was very curious about which faction was causing trouble there.

East Sea

The waves surged until they touched the sky, and furious torrents thundered into the clouds.

In a "valley" near the shore, a giant several dozen meters tall was carrying a small mountain as he ran through the sea. His thick thighs whipped up raging torrents, and the waves continuously rushed westward through the valley's mouth, gradually forming layer upon layer of towering waves that mercilessly surged toward the coastline.

This was the true reason the East Sea's huge waves kept surging and roaring like thunder.

"Woof, woof! Master, it's time to eat."

At noon, a black bolt of lightning came from the east and finally stopped atop the valley's highest peak. It turned out to be a black giant hound over three meters tall, with fur like satin and a slender waist, yet covered in scars.

The giant hound glanced at the giant and set down the several-meter-long swordfish it had been carrying in its mouth. It hopped up and down on the mountaintop in a flattering manner, completely unconcerned that its wounds had split open, with thin streams of bright-red blood trickling out.

"Master, I brought back a real treasure this time! I had my eye on it for seven whole days, but it escaped every time. This time, though, it didn't get away! Woof, woof!"

Hearing the commotion, the giant carefully placed the mountain on his shoulder into the sea. Even so, he failed to control his strength, sending a thousand-meter wave surging outward.

The next second, golden light flashed over the giant's body. He shrank into a tender young man with sharp brows, bright eyes, a handsome face, and a slender build.

With one stride, the youth reached the giant hound. He reached out and stroked its lowered head, his voice filled with affection.

"Howling Celestial Dog, you've really worked hard."

"Woof, woof! Master is the one who works hard. Howling Celestial Dog isn't tired. If not for Master, I would have been skinned and eaten long ago."

As Howling Celestial Dog spoke, black light flashed, and it shrank several times over, barely reaching Yang Jian's waist.

"Master is cultivating the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts. Carrying mountains and driving back the sea in this valley requires large amounts of flesh and blood to temper his body. This is all Howling Celestial Dog can do for Master."

The handsome young man was named Yang Jian. He was the Erlang of the Yang family whom Di Xin had been thinking about constantly. Now, under the guidance of True Lord Yuding, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, he had come to the East Sea to cultivate the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts. Carrying mountains and driving back the sea was also merely to rescue his mother, who had been imprisoned beneath Peach Mountain.

It was precisely because he had True Lord Yuding's protection that he could cause such a great disturbance in the East Sea without being troubled by the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.

As for this black dog, there was no need for further explanation. It was the genuine owner of "Heaven and Earth Without Limit, Tracking Across Ten Thousand Miles"—Howling Celestial Dog.

"You need to take better care of yourself too. The exotic beasts in the sea are fierce, and there are many demons. You mustn't take such risks again just for a little food."

Yang Jian carefully stroked Howling Celestial Dog's back. There was a hole there that had nearly healed, running straight through its body from front to back. The aura of the fish beneath its feet still lingered on it.

"Master, I understand. Let's start eating."

Howling Celestial Dog grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp white teeth and an expression of ravenous anticipation.

After Yang Jian became True Lord Yuding's disciple, Howling Celestial Dog had risen in status alongside its master. True Lord Yuding had fed it large quantities of miraculous pills and medicines, activating the bloodline of a great demon within its body. Although its cultivation could not keep up with Yang Jian's pace, it still advanced by leaps and bounds.

Now that they had come to the East Sea, it took the initiative to hunt outside so that Yang Jian would not be distracted from his cultivation. One purpose was to provide Yang Jian with flesh and blood to eat, while the other was to hone its own combat skills.

Take the fish beneath its feet, for example. So what if its cultivation was half a realm higher? It had still fought the fish to mutual destruction and bitten it to death!

"Mm, good!"

Yang Jian nodded, a hint of a smile appearing on his face once more. At that moment, a voice filled with amusement drifted down from the sky.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I searched everywhere and couldn't find it, yet it came to me without any effort."