The Royal Family Was Shaken

"So this saber is still unfinished?"

"You could say that. As for how to put an edge on it, you'll have to figure that out yourself. The Wang Family can't help you."

Hearing Zhao Ping'an's question, Wang Yuanzheng answered uneasily.

"Fine, I'll take the saber. Once you're back, if you run into any trouble you can't handle, ask my Master to resolve it. If he can't, I'll step in personally.

"Remember, you only get three chances. Think carefully before you use them."

"Three times? Wonderful! Thank you, Young Master Zhao!"

"Thank you, Young Master Zhao!"

Hearing Zhao Ping'an agree to take the Treasure Saber and grant him three chances to call on his help, Wang Yuanzheng immediately stood up, delighted, and offered his thanks. The other six who had come with him rose and thanked Zhao as well.

"Mm, then that's settled. I'll write a letter to my Master later and tell him. I still have things to do, so I won't keep you. Butler, see our guests out!"

"Gentlemen, this way, please..."

"Then I won't trouble you any longer, Young Master. Farewell. Please, stay where you are!"

Under the butler's guidance, the Wang Family party quickly left Wu'an Mountain.

Zhao Ping'an didn't get up to see them off. They weren't worthy of such an honor.

Or rather, no one in the entire Profound Water Dynasty was worthy of it.

"Outer Realm Meteorite Iron? A meteorite? Probably not. A meteorite is just iron ore. It couldn't possibly be this heavy.

"Never mind. I'll see if this thing can withstand the impact of True Essence."

He acted at once, taking the long saber and darting away from Wu'an Mountain at top speed.

He wouldn't dare test it on Wu'an Mountain. One wrong move, and he might bring the whole mountain down.

With his cultivation at the second level of the Martial Venerable Realm, his True Essence could extend almost thirty zhang when fully released—that was more than ninety meters.

In other words, if he wanted to, he could wield a giant saber nearly a hundred meters long and slash wildly in every direction.

[PS: The range of True Essence when released in the Martial Venerable Realm: first level, from ten zhang to just under twenty; second level, from twenty zhang to just under thirty... ninth level, from ninety zhang to just under one hundred.]

The Nine Forms of Hegemonic Saber he cultivated only strengthened the power of his attacks after releasing his True Essence and reduced the amount of True Essence they consumed.

They did not increase the distance his True Essence could reach.

As Zhao Ping'an moved away from Wu'an Mountain and began testing how much True Essence the Nameless Treasure Saber in his hand could withstand,

in the capital of the Profound Water Dynasty—Profound Water City—

inside a grand, lavish palace in the Royal Palace,

a weary, authoritative voice suddenly rang out. "Have you found the Old Prince?"

"Your Majesty, we're still searching everywhere. We have no news yet."

"Useless! More than a month has passed—an entire month—and you haven't found a single useful clue! What do I keep you for?

"Has the Prince of the First Rank of the Profound Water Dynasty simply vanished without a trace?"

The current ruler of the Profound Water Dynasty, Shui Gaoxing, growled furiously.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We discovered that a little over a month ago, the Old Prince suddenly received a letter. Not long afterward, he disappeared with two squads of Black Underworld Guard.

"We also found that four Grandmaster Realm peak experts from Zhongzhou Prefecture vanished at the same time.

"They were Shangguan Xing, the Surging Waves Palm; Jia Chengzhi, Hall Master of Thunderclap Hall; Guan Liang, the Mountain Breaking Fist; and Qian Yingying, the Viper Lady.

"But when experts of this caliber travel, it's difficult to determine where they're headed unless someone keeps them under constant watch.

"However, we've confirmed that all four disappeared after receiving letters from the Old Prince, and we've largely identified the direction they went. I believe we'll have results soon!"

Wen Jiamu, the Undercurrent Guard Commander kneeling below, immediately poured out his report in a rapid stream.

The Undercurrent Guard was the Royal Family's Intelligence Agency, though it also handled some dirty work.

Like raging currents beneath the water's surface, they could strike at anyone at any moment.

Every member of the Undercurrent Guard had a hidden measure planted in their body by the Royal Family. Whether they lived or died depended on a single thought from the Royal Family, so none of them dared betray it.

"Send more men. I'm giving you three more days! If you still have no news, bring me your head! Get out!"

"Yes, yes!"

Wen Jiamu immediately stood and hurried out of the great hall.

He was a peak Grandmaster Realm expert, a man who would have been revered by thousands wherever he went.

Unfortunately, he'd gotten drunk and lost control ten years ago, committing a grave crime. The Royal Family caught him and planted a Heart Devouring Gu in him. From then on, his fate had been in their hands.

"Haah..."

Wen Jiamu let out a long sigh and walked away.

He understood why the current Profound Water King was so furious. The Royal Pillar of the Nation, the Younger Brother of the Previous Profound Water King and Shui Gaoxing's uncle, Shui Wuwei, had been ambushed and gravely wounded. The Royal Family's fighting strength was now depleted.

And Shui Gaoge, the Prince of the First Rank, was already a sixth-level Great Grandmaster and the third most powerful member of the Profound Water Dynasty's Royal Family. At this critical moment, he too had vanished without a trace.

It was salt in the wound.

Now, the enormous Royal Family was relying on only one seventh-level Great Grandmaster, the Old Ancestor.

Of course, the Royal Family still had several experts at the third and fifth levels of the Great Grandmaster Realm, but clearly that wasn't enough.

After all, the Royal Family wasn't the only force in the Profound Water Dynasty with Great Grandmasters. Several Great Noble Families and Sects with centuries of history had Great Grandmasters guarding them, too.

If they joined forces to overthrow the Royal Family, the people it had now would never be able to stop them.

Fortunately, Shui Wuwei had killed the assassin with a single palm strike on the spot. Otherwise, Shui Gaoxing wouldn't just have been anxious and furious—he would have been terrified.

Profound Water City was now under strict lockdown. Soldiers searched the streets from end to end for spies.

The court, too, was seething with undercurrents. Civil and military officials were choosing sides left and right, each trying to keep the disaster from reaching him. Quite a few even hoped to seize the opportunity to make a profit.

Two days passed quietly.

Early on the third day, Wen Jiamu took a report and hurried to see Shui Gaoxing.

"Your Majesty, the Undercurrent Guard has found where the Old Prince's party was headed: South Ridge City, in Tannan Commandery, Southern Prefecture.

"Our scouts found the warhorses ridden by the Old Prince's party near Thousand Guts Valley, outside South Ridge City. The horses bore the marks of the Black Underworld Guard.

"But we found no trace of the Old Prince's party, and, and..."

As he reached the end, Wen Jiamu began to stammer. He simply didn't dare speak the rest of the report.

"And what? Speak!"

The current Profound Water King glared at Wen Jiamu and barked.

Looking at Shui Gaoxing's changing expression, Wen Jiamu steeled himself and continued:

"Local villagers told us a rumor: more than a month ago, terrible screams rang out from Thousand Guts Valley for a long time. My subordinates suspect the Old Prince's party may have met with disaster.

"At the same time, a major incident that shook the whole city occurred in nearby South Ridge City, the closest city to the valley.

"A peak Grandmaster Realm expert's relative was kidnapped in the city. According to the City Lord, the last place that Grandmaster went was Thousand Guts Valley.

"Moreover, he returned safely with his relative. After comparing the two incidents, the times they occurred were almost exactly the same."