Azure Wave Jade Carp

The next day, Fang Huai and the others, guided by a member of the Zheng clan, set out for the place where the Azure Wave Jade Carp was trapped.

The four of them rode a Corpse Sha Bird, flying with the wind, while the Zheng cultivator piloted a small Dharma artifact called a Fish Leap Boat.

This artifact could only hold a single person, was extremely agile, capable of diving into waves or riding the spray to launch into the air.

Looking down from the sky at these Fish Leap Boats, they truly resembled fish, now leaping above the water, now sinking beneath the surface.

Before them, the blue waves rippled, the scenery like a painting, but Fang Huai had no heart to enjoy it.

Though he and Liu Xiange had tried their utmost to refuse, unwilling to get involved in this matter, Lin Qian was blinded by greed.

Even when Liu Xiange brought up Shen Yuan, he still insisted the two of them come along.

After a heated argument, Lin Qian finally compromised, promising only to have Fang Huai and Liu Xiange assist with harassment, not participate in the main battle.

Even so, Fang Huai remained deeply worried.

"Senior Brother, don't worry. We'll stay far away later; it should be fine." Liu Xiange, seeing Fang Huai's brows tightly knit, spoke to comfort him.

"Junior Sister Liu, the Azure Wave Jade Carp is a true aquatic demon beast, and at the late Qi Refining stage. We must treat it with caution."

For cultivators, two hundred li was not far.

In just a few hours, the group arrived at the edge of the formation.

The formation was circular, with six sky-blue stone pillars standing at its periphery, while inside, broken-down houses were scattered here and there.

[Algae Adhered], [Long Unrepaired], [Human Sacrifice Foundation], [Clan Power]...

Four labels appeared on the six pillars. Aside from Clan Power, nothing else was worth noting.

[Clan Power: This is a formation pillar that requires clan bloodline to activate. Occasionally, it can be used for paternity tests.]

The depths of the water were pitch-black, as if some massive creature lurked below, with large strings of bubbles rising and gurgling to the surface.

"What do you all think?" Approaching the formation, Lin Qian himself grew a bit hesitant.

Fang Huai spoke up: "There are many ruined houses here, looking like the remains of a clan settlement. Judging by the degree of decay, it's been about ten years since anyone lived here."

Lin Qian nodded and called out to Zheng Fengzu on the Fish Leap Boat: "Trouble Clan Head Zheng to arrange your clansmen into formation. Once I lure out the Azure Wave Jade Carp, join me in killing the demon beast."

After a pause, he continued: "I'll only take the Water Spirit Pearl and the Fish Eyes. The rest of the corpse is yours to handle, Clan Head Zheng."

Fang Huai cursed inwardly: Yesterday he said he'd only take the Water Spirit Pearl, and today he's added a pair of Fish Eyes.

The most valuable parts of the Azure Wave Jade Carp were the Water Spirit Pearl and the Fish Eyes, and Lin Qian wanted to claim them all for himself.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Fengzu didn't hesitate at all and agreed immediately.

Seeing Zheng Fengzu's agreement, Lin Qian wasted no more time. He slapped his storage pouch, and a black whip thick with Sha Qi appeared in his hand.

At the same time, he slapped his spirit beast pouch, and from it emerged a Demon Ape two zhang tall.

A Qi Refining Layer 4 demon beast, a Great Strength Ape?

Fang Huai was puzzled. This demon beast was not adept in water and moved slowly. It might be useful for planting Spirit Fields or construction work, but in a water battle, it was nearly useless.

What was Lin Qian summoning this demon beast for?

"I subdued this demon beast half a year ago and trained it for a long time to remove its wild nature. I planned to keep it as a laborer, but I never thought I'd have to use it as bait today."

Seeing Fang Huai and the others looking at him, Lin Qian let out a low shout: "Petrification Hand!"

A earthy-gray light flashed through his palm, and he drove it straight into the Demon Ape's abdomen, tearing open a bloody hole.

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

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

The Demon Ape howled and struggled in agony, its crimson blood spreading all the way, staining the blue waves beneath it a bloody red.

The black shadow under the water, drawn by the scent of blood, grew restless. A flood of bubbles emerged, and the calm surface began to churn violently.

"Greedy fish, take the bait quickly, and let me claim your life!"

Finally, the shadow could hold back no longer. It burst up from the depths, lunging straight at the Great Strength Ape.

Its massive maw gaped wide, and a stench-laden blast of air hit the four on the Corpse Sha Bird, making them frown.

The group looked at the aquatic demon beast. Its entire body was covered in scales with a pale green sheen—it was indeed the Azure Wave Jade Carp.

[Azure Wave Jade Carp]

[Qi Refining Layer 8]

[Spiritual Power Decay (White)][Water Combat Proficiency (White)]

[Spiritual Power Decay: Long-term lack of spiritual power replenishment has caused a decline in spiritual power intensity.]

[Water Combat Proficiency: Combat power increases on the water's surface; combat power soars underwater.]

Just as Zheng Fengzu had said, this demon beast's strength had greatly declined.

But the fierce and overbearing stench of its breath had absolutely nothing to do with its elegant name, Azure Wave Jade Carp.

The great mouth opened wide, swallowing the Demon Ape along with the long whip. The Azure Wave Jade Carp now looked exactly like a fish that had taken the bait.

Its massive head stared at the group atop the Corpse Sha Bird, as if pondering something.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

Several ice arrows shot toward the Corpse Sha Bird—this was the Azure Wave Jade Carp's innate spell, the Ice Arrow Technique.

Lin Qian had prepared for this and deftly maneuvered the Corpse Sha Bird out of the way.

Seeing its attack miss, the Azure Wave Jade Carp slowly sank back into the water.

"Hmph, men die for wealth, beasts die for food. My Great Strength Ape wasn't eaten for nothing."

"Explode!"

Lin Qian barked, spiritual light flickering at his fingertips.

Following his words, a series of explosions sounded beneath the water, and at the same time, a massive spray of water shot into the air.

After the explosions, a large patch of foul, bloody water surged to the surface.

After a brief moment of calm, a tremendous pulling force dragged the long whip sharply downward into the depths, causing the Corpse Sha Bird to wobble precariously.

"Help!" Lin Qian roared.

Fang Huai immediately took out a Spirit Stone and gripped it in his palm, stepping forward to channel spiritual power into the long whip, helping to haul it back.

Liu Xiange took over Lin Qian's role, controlling the Corpse Sha Bird's body.

Wu Sanli, however, was frozen in place, stunned.

"Senior Brother Wu, are you just going to watch that Azure Wave Jade Carp swallow us all whole?" Fang Huai snapped.

This Wu Sanli looked big and burly, like a reckless brute, but who would have thought he'd be such a coward.

Wu Sanli finally snapped out of it. Seeing Fang Huai's murderous glare, he shuddered and hurried forward to help.

The three worked together and finally halted the Corpse Sha Bird's downward plunge.

The Azure Wave Jade Carp was gradually dragged to the surface as well.

Its mouth was full of foul, bloody gore, the long whip firmly hooked into its intestines. The moment the beast's head broke the surface, it went completely berserk, dragging the Corpse Sha Bird in a frantic charge across the water.

"Zheng clan members, if you keep watching the show, I'll wipe out your entire family first!"

Lin Qian was frantic. He had already cast several spells and expended spiritual energy to haul the Azure Wave Jade Carp, draining his reserves heavily.

The Zheng family, from the start of the battle until now, had made no move at all—they were simply spectating.

Zheng Fengzu, upon hearing Lin Qian's words, finally gave the order: "Launch the Fish Leap Boats. Harass it from all sides and exhaust the beast's stamina!"

The Fish Leap Boats were exceptionally agile, and the cultivators coordinated seamlessly.

The cultivators on the boats used small spells like fireballs and wind blades to draw the beast's attention. Whenever it charged or fired its Ice Arrow Technique, they dove into the water and vanished.

With the Zheng clan cultivators lending a hand, the beast's stamina drained rapidly, and its speed noticeably slowed.

At that moment, Lin Qian on the Corpse Sha Bird seized the opportunity, striking repeatedly at the Azure Wave Jade Carp's eyes and the weak points around its mouth.

Finally, the Azure Wave Jade Carp could hold out no longer. Its belly rolled white, and it floated motionless on the water's surface.