Azure Wave Jade Carp

The next day, with members of the Zheng Family leading the way, Fang Huai and the others set out for the place where the Azure Wave Jade Carp was trapped.

The four of them rode the Corpse Sha Bird through the air, while the Zheng Family cultivators rode a small magical artifact called the Fish Leap Boat.

The artifact could carry only one person, but it was extremely nimble. It could dive beneath the waves, then ride the spray back into the air.

From above, the Fish Leap Boats looked just like fish, now leaping above the surface, now sinking beneath the water.

Below them, the waves shimmered and the scenery was picturesque, but Fang Huai had no mind to admire it.

Though he and Liu Xiange had done their utmost to decline and avoid getting caught up in this matter, Lin Qian had been blinded by greed.

Even when Liu Xiange brought Shen Yuan into the argument, Lin Qian still insisted that the two of them come along.

After a long dispute, Lin Qian finally relented, promising that Fang Huai and Liu Xiange would only help distract the beast and would not join the main fight.

Even so, Fang Huai remained deeply uneasy.

"Senior Brother, don't worry. We'll keep our distance later, and we should be fine." Seeing Fang Huai's brows knitted together, Liu Xiange tried to reassure him.

"Junior Sister Liu, the Azure Wave Jade Carp is a true aquatic monster beast, and it's at the late stage of Qi Refining. We must be careful."

Two hundred li was not far for cultivators.

After just a few hours, they reached the edge of the formation.

The formation was circular. Six sky-blue stone pillars stood around its perimeter, while the inside was dotted with scattered, ruined houses.

[Covered in Algae], [Long Neglected], [Human Sacrifice Foundation], [Lineage Power]...

Four labels appeared on the six stone pillars. Other than Lineage Power, none of them seemed worth noting.

[Lineage Power: This formation pillar can only be activated by someone with the bloodline of a lineage. It can occasionally be used for paternity testing.]

The depths of the water were pitch-black, as though some enormous beast lurked there. Now and then, great strings of bubbles rose to the surface.

"What do you think?" As they reached the formation, Lin Qian suddenly hesitated.

Fang Huai said, "There are many ruined houses here. It looks like the remains of a lineage's residence. Judging by the damage, it really has been uninhabited for ten years."

Lin Qian nodded, then called out to Zheng Fengzu, who was aboard a Fish Leap Boat. "Please have your people form up, Patriarch Zheng. Once I draw out the Azure Wave Jade Carp, help me kill the beast."

After a pause, he continued, "I'll take only the Water Spirit Pearl and its eyes. Patriarch Zheng may dispose of the rest of the carcass."

Fang Huai cursed inwardly. Yesterday, Lin Qian had said he wanted only the Water Spirit Pearl. Today, he had added a pair of eyes.

The Water Spirit Pearl and the eyes were the most valuable parts of the Azure Wave Jade Carp, yet Lin Qian wanted to claim them both.

To Fang Huai's surprise, Zheng Fengzu agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing that Zheng Fengzu had agreed, Lin Qian no longer hesitated. He slapped his Storage Bag, and a black whip, thick with Killing Intent, appeared in his hand.

At the same time, he slapped his Spirit Beast Bag. A Demon Ape, two zhang tall, crawled out.

A fourth-layer Qi Refining monster beast, a Great Strength Ape?

Fang Huai was puzzled. This monster beast was not suited to water, and it moved slowly. It might be useful for cultivating Spirit Fields or construction work, but it would be nearly useless in a water battle.

Why had Lin Qian summoned it?

"I subdued this monster beast half a year ago. It took a long time to tame it and get rid of its wild nature. I'd planned to keep it as a laborer, but I never thought I'd have to use it as bait today."

When Fang Huai and the others looked his way, Lin Qian barked, "Petrification Hand!"

A gray-brown light flashed over his palm as he thrust it into the Demon Ape's belly, tearing open a bloody hole.

The Demon Ape writhed in pain. Lin Qian produced several black talismans and stuffed them into its belly, then wrapped the whip around its body and flung it from the Corpse Sha Bird onto the water.

Lin Qian controlled the whip, dragging the Demon Ape across the surface.

The Demon Ape howled and thrashed in pain. Bright red blood spread behind it, staining the waves crimson.

Drawn by the scent of blood, the black shadow beneath the water grew restless. Bubbles surged to the surface, and the still water began to churn violently.

"Greedy little fish, take the bait! I'll have your life!"

At last, the shadow could hold back no longer. It shot up from the depths and lunged at the Great Strength Ape.

Its gaping maw unleashed a foul, stinking gust that made the four people aboard the Corpse Sha Bird frown.

They looked at the aquatic monster beast. Its scales shimmered pale green. It was indeed the Azure Wave Jade Carp.

[Azure Wave Jade Carp]

[Qi Refining, Eighth Layer]

[Depleted Spiritual Power (White)] [Skilled in Water Combat (White)]

[Depleted Spiritual Power: After a long period without replenishment, its spiritual power has weakened.]

[Skilled in Water Combat: Its combat strength increases on the surface of the water and surges beneath it.]

Just as Zheng Fengzu had said, the monster beast's strength had greatly declined.

But the stench of its breath was fierce and overpowering, utterly at odds with the elegant name Azure Wave Jade Carp.

It opened its enormous mouth and swallowed the Demon Ape, whip and all. Now, the Azure Wave Jade Carp looked just like a fish that had taken the bait.

Its huge head stared at the people on the Corpse Sha Bird, as if pondering something.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

Several Ice Arrows shot toward the Corpse Sha Bird. They were the innate Ice Arrow Technique of the Azure Wave Jade Carp.

Lin Qian had been ready. He deftly maneuvered the Corpse Sha Bird out of their path.

When its attack missed, the Azure Wave Jade Carp slowly sank beneath the water.

"Hmph. Men die for wealth, birds die for food. This Great Strength Ape wasn't a free meal."

"Explode!"

Lin Qian shouted, spiritual light flickering at his fingertips.

At his command, a series of explosions rang out beneath the water. At the same time, a great splash shot into the air.

After the explosions, a large swath of foul-smelling, bloody water surged to the surface.

After a brief lull, an immense force yanked on the whip and dragged it sharply downward, nearly pulling the Corpse Sha Bird out of the sky.

"Help!" Lin Qian roared.

Fang Huai immediately took out a Spirit Stone and gripped it in his palm. He moved closer and sent his spiritual power into the whip, helping to pull.

Liu Xiange took over controlling the Corpse Sha Bird for Lin Qian.

Wu Sanli, however, was so frightened that he stood frozen in place.

"Senior Brother Wu, are you going to stand there and watch the Azure Wave Jade Carp swallow us all?" Fang Huai shouted.

Wu Sanli looked like a burly bruiser, but who would have thought he'd be such a coward?

Wu Sanli finally came to his senses. Fang Huai's murderous glare made him shudder, and he hurried over to help.

Working together, the three of them finally stopped the Corpse Sha Bird from sinking.

The Azure Wave Jade Carp was gradually dragged out of the water.

Its mouth was full of foul, bloody fluid, and the whip was hooked deep in its guts. The moment its head broke the surface, the monster beast went berserk, dragging the Corpse Sha Bird as it raced wildly across the water.

"Members of the Zheng Family, if you keep sitting back and watching, I'll wipe out your whole family first!"

Lin Qian was frantic. He had cast several spells and was using his spiritual energy to drag the Azure Wave Jade Carp, depleting his reserves rapidly.

Yet the Zheng Family had done nothing since the battle began, sitting back as if they were watching a show.

At Lin Qian's words, Zheng Fengzu finally gave the order. "Take your Fish Leap Boats and harry it from all sides. Wear down the beast's strength!"

The Fish Leap Boats were exceptionally nimble, and the cultivators worked together with perfect coordination.

The cultivators aboard used small spells like Fireball and Wind Blade to draw the monster beast's attention. When it charged at them or used Ice Arrow, they would dive underwater and vanish.

With the Zheng Family cultivators joining the fight, the monster beast quickly tired, and its speed noticeably slackened.

Meanwhile, Lin Qian, aboard the Corpse Sha Bird, seized his opportunity and attacked again and again, targeting the Azure Wave Jade Carp's eyes and the vulnerable soft tissues in its mouth.

At last, the Azure Wave Jade Carp could hold on no longer. Its belly turned upward as it floated motionless on the surface.