Yu Shaoling led Zhao Fu toward a tall building.
The guards at the entrance lit up with surprise when they saw Yu Shaoling return. They bowed. "Greetings, Holy Maiden!"
Yu Shaoling nodded and led Zhao Fu inside.
As they proceeded, people along the way bowed to them one after another.
At last, Yu Shaoling brought Zhao Fu into a palace built from ice crystals. Above sat a woman in an icy-colored gown, her figure alluring, her long hair the color of ice, and her exquisite face bearing a world-weary look. At a glance, she looked exactly like a villainess.
She was Yu Fenghua, the chief of the Water Fish Clan.
Yu Shaoling bowed. "Greetings, Clan Chief!"
Yu Fenghua stared at Yu Shaoling with cold eyes. "Did you bring back the Eightfold Water World?"
"No," Yu Shaoling replied.
Yu Fenghua said coldly, "You were gone for so long, yet gained nothing at all?"
"I had been searching for the previous generation's Holy Maiden," Yu Shaoling said. "I discovered that she had already died, and the Eightfold Water World's whereabouts were unknown. I searched for a long time without finding anything, so I returned."
Yu Fenghua gave a cold snort. "That bitch got lucky."
Yu Shaoling looked at Yu Fenghua and said, "Clan Chief, I also heard something."
"What did you hear?" Yu Fenghua asked.
"I heard that the Clan Chief wanted to obtain the Eightfold Water World to perform our clan's forbidden art."
Yu Fenghua's expression did not change. Looking at Yu Shaoling, she asked, "Where did you hear that?"
"From other people," Yu Shaoling said. "But I did not believe it."
"Did you hear it from the Auspicious Fish Clan?" Yu Fenghua asked.
Yu Shaoling shook her head. "No. I do not know who they were either."
"Mm. You may