Water-Cleaving Technique

Zhu Ying pulled Wang Chong along and fled into the vast ocean.

Under Zhu Ying's magic power, the seawater parted into a crystal-clear sphere. Through its watery walls, they could see countless swimming fish. There were ten times more living creatures in the sea than on land, bustling and teeming with life.

Zhu Ying said softly, "This is the Water-Cleaving Technique from the Myriad Demons Formula. Like the Little Beckoning Spell, it only works if you stir the twelve acupoints within your body."

"Once you learn the Water-Cleaving Technique, you'll be able to come and go freely in the sea."

Following Zhu Ying's instructions, Wang Chong silently recited the Water-Cleaving Technique, focusing on the twelve acupoints within his body. After trying seven or eight times, a strange force arose within him, pushing aside the seawater. Like a fish or dragon entering the sea, he swam as freely as he pleased.

Zhu Ying feared that when they returned to the Dragon Palace to "steal" the flying sword, they might become separated. Since Wang Chong did not know the Water-Cleaving Technique, he would not survive on the seabed. That was why she passed on this secret art of the Dragon Palace to him.

Though the Myriad Demons Formula was cultivated by all manner of demons across the mountains and waters, ravines and rivers beneath heaven, the inheritances of every race, clan, and sect differed.

For instance, Black Wind Temple excelled at the Black-Wind Spell, which the Dragon Palace did not know. The Dragon Palace excelled at arts of gathering clouds and spreading rain, which other factions did not know either. Even Xiao Nan had needed to beg the old Dragon King to help bring rain.

The Dragon Palace's secret Water-Cleaving Technique was an exceedingly confidential inheritance. Unless one was of dragon blood, even ordinary sea-dwelling demons did not know it. They merely relied on their innate affinity with water to range freely through the boundless ocean.

The Water-Cleaving Technique did not simply part the seawater; it was a water-element spell. When cultivated to profound mastery, one could travel thousands of li a day beneath the water, faster even than ordinary cultivators flying through the air.

Seeing Wang Chong learn the Water-Cleaving Technique so quickly, Zhu Ying felt slightly relieved and said with a smile, "The Dragon Palace is not actually in the deep sea. It lies amid the embrace of forty-nine immortal mountains in the near seas. If we take the water route, we should arrive in about a day."

Wang Chong knew nothing of the geography of the forty-nine immortal mountains overseas and assumed they were quite close. Yet the moment Zhu Ying finished speaking, she suddenly accelerated, raising an invisible swell through the sea. She was several times faster than when they had ridden clouds and mist on their way here.

Zhu Ying was born of dragon blood, and she had cultivated the Water-Cleaving Technique since childhood, making her far more proficient in it than cloud-riding arts. As she hurried at full speed now, she was truly faster than the newly learned Soaring-Cloud Technique.

After they had moved far from the coast, Wang Chong saw countless strange creatures on the seafloor: monstrous fish as large as mountains, enormous beasts capable of stirring up towering waves, and innumerable aquatic plants that grew a hundred times larger than trees on land.

There were also vicious demonic beasts in the sea, but upon scenting Zhu Ying's dragon might, none dared approach. Dragonkind naturally suppressed all living creatures in the sea; such was the destiny bestowed by heaven.

The two traveled through the water along the seabed for a day and night. Zhu Ying remained radiant and energetic, while Wang Chong secretly felt ashamed. Sister Zhu's cultivation is far deeper than mine. Yet he did not know that Zhu Ying was dragonkind. Moving through water was practically an innate divine ability for her and consumed very little magic power.

After silently calculating the distance, Zhu Ying said to Wang Chong, "Further ahead, we'll encounter the Dragon Palace's sea-patrol soldiers and generals."

"We must be careful not to let them see us, or there will be much trouble."

Wang Chong thought for a moment, formed a hand seal, and released the invisibility spell from the Celestial Stele. It was one of the five Celestial Stele spells he had mastered. "Since we're afraid of being seen, I know an invisibility spell. We can use it."

Zhu Ying asked in surprise, "We were taught by the same master, so how do you know an invisibility spell?"

Unruffled, Wang Chong replied, "I learned it at Youxuan Mountain, at the place where Master found the treasure. If Sister Zhu likes it, I can teach it to you. It isn't any particularly important spell."

Zhu Ying thought, Every school has invisibility spells. I wonder what path the one Brother Chong learned belongs to?

She also knew that their master, Xiao Nan, had obtained the Primordial Sect's Dao arts along with several treasures. The Primordial Sect's spells naturally had some pedigree. She immediately said, "All right! Teach me quickly!"

Wang Chong immediately taught Zhu Ying the invisibility spell composed of nine talismans on the Celestial Stele. He did not know that this invisibility spell had been passed down from the Heavenly Realm and differed from those circulated among mortal sects.

Zhu Ying did not possess Wang Chong's ability to remember everything at a glance. Though she learned the invisibility spell, she could not successfully visualize it at once or cast it. She merely committed it silently to heart, intending to cultivate it gradually in the future.

Concealed by Wang Chong's invisibility spell, Zhu Ying no longer had any reservations. She used the Water-Cleaving Technique like a dragon swimming through the sea. Before they had traveled far, they came upon a patrol of shrimp soldiers.

Zhu Ying was initially worried, but she soon discovered that these shrimp soldiers truly could not detect them. Brother Chong's invisibility spell is indeed wondrous.

After bypassing that patrol of shrimp soldiers, they had not traveled far when another group of demon soldiers transformed from great fish passed by. Zhu Ying was secretly astonished. Why are there so many patrolling soldiers in the sea today? Normally, everyone patrols only once every few days. Encountering two or three groups of demon soldiers along the way would already be considered frequent. How have we encountered two patrols in so short a time today?

Though Zhu Ying could not puzzle it out no matter how she pondered, she did not think anything could have happened in the Dragon Palace. She led Wang Chong as an old horse that knew the way, familiar with every route. After circling about for half a day and consecutively encountering more than ten groups of sea-clan demon soldiers, they finally saw in the distance a great plain on the seabed. Upon it stood a palace, its beams and pillars cast from crystal, its golden eaves and jade tiles gleaming. Its grounds were vast, with countless palace halls, corridors, pavilions, and courtyards—far beyond anything a mortal emperor could possess.

Zhu Ying pointed ahead and said softly, "That is the Crystal Palace."

"Eighteen great secret dragon-clan formations guard the Crystal Palace. Though it appears utterly open and unguarded, even ordinary celestial immortals could not force their way inside."

"However, I know the Dragon Palace's secret method and can pass through without obstruction. Follow me."

Rather than taking the main gate, Zhu Ying went around to the southeast of the Crystal Palace. At a side hall, she easily used a spell to pass through the formation and sneak into the palace.

She had lived in the Crystal Palace since childhood and knew every path within it. After bypassing several heavily guarded places, she headed straight for the Dragon Palace's treasure vault.

As the two passed a small mountain within the Crystal Palace, a voice drifted over from afar. "What fellow Daoist is passing by? Save me."

Zhu Ying was slightly startled. No one had managed to see through Wang Chong's invisibility spell along the way, yet now someone had exposed their whereabouts. She hurriedly grabbed Wang Chong and signaled for him not to speak.

After a while, the voice called again, "I have been suppressed for a thousand years. If the passing fellow Daoist is willing to rescue me, I am willing to offer a magical treasure. This treasure was refined over a thousand years and possesses boundless power."

Zhu Ying secretly pondered, I have lived in the Dragon Palace for many years, and I played everywhere as a child. I don't remember there being a mountain here before, nor do I remember anyone being suppressed here. Could it have been moved here recently?

She pulled Wang Chong away, intending to leave, when the voice cried out again, "The Langhuan Celestial Stele awaits one fated to receive it; the young mistress of the Dragon Palace goes seeking immortality. Without my guidance through the maze, the day will come when the paired swallows fly apart."

Wang Chong and Zhu Ying were both startled. Wang Chong had heard the secret of the Langhuan Celestial Stele revealed, while Zhu Ying's heart shook violently at the words "young mistress of the Dragon Palace" and "paired swallows fly apart." They both stopped.