Treasure-Filled Daoist nodded slightly, stroking the mustache above his lip as he pondered.
"The Heavenly Emperor's Treasury from Ancient Antiquity is a legendary secret realm, after all. We can't be too careful."
"Old Ant goes without saying. What storms hasn't he weathered?"
As the short, stout Daoist spoke, he turned toward Wang Zai.
A chill ran down the burly man's spine. He had taken human form from a snakehead fish, and he hastily said, "Rest assured, elder brothers. I won't let anything go wrong."
Daoist Ant spoke at just the right moment. "Treasure-Filled True Person, set your mind at ease."
"I recommended Brother Wang myself. He's dependable and never shirks hard work. You can trust him."
"Indeed. Only his true snakehead-fish form can carry us safely through the spatial turbulence."
Lady Qingshan joined in softly, wearing a rare smile. "Fellow Daoist Wang, your pure-blooded snakehead-fish body can swim through the void. We'll have to trouble you to do much of the work on this expedition."
Wang Zai was overwhelmed by the honor.
After all, he had only just survived the First Nine Heavenly Tribulation. The three before him were figures he could only look up to.
He cupped his fists. "I owe it all to Brother Ant's support. I won't fail your expectations."
"And Lady Qingshan, your words honor me far more than I deserve."
Wang Zai looked thoroughly humbled.
Ant True Person and Treasure-Filled Daoist exchanged a glance, then grinned in shared understanding.
The two had become friends through fighting years ago. Neither had managed to overcome the other, and from then on, they had admired each other as worthy rivals.
Though Lady Qingshan had brought this expedition to the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury together, the three had a deeper connection. A thousand years earlier, Bai Ze, the former king