Broken in an Instant

The eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs had already cleared the area around the docks. A thin, middle-aged man in a moon-white robe patterned with cranes walked up to Xu Zhiyuan. Looking toward Yang Ling with him, he frowned.

"A Curse Daoist's divine ability."

Xu Zhiyuan nodded slowly. "That must be it. Zhang the Seal Keeper, can you dispel the curse on him?"

Zhang the Seal Keeper shook his head slightly.

"The methods of the Nine Immortal Dao Palace are mysterious and uncanny, especially curses like this. Only the person afflicted can dispel them.

"Outside intervention will only make the curse worse."

He paused. "Though I have heard that every curse has a weakness. Find it, and you can temporarily ease the curse's effects."

Though their voices were quiet, everyone present heard their conversation clearly.

"A curse from the Nine Immortal Dao Palace..."

A trace of apprehension appeared in the eyes of Zhao Yingying and the others.

Ordinary martial artists might not know about such methods, but she was the daughter of the King of Calm Waves, Qin Kunlun was a prodigy of the Divine Sect, and Xu Qingnian's grandfather was a Third-Grade Great Grandmaster. They had all heard at least some discussion of the various methods employed by the four top-tier sects.

These curses in particular had left a deep impression on them!

Yang Ling looked at his arm. It, too, was covered in dense black markings.

Faintly, folds began forming across his skin, overlapping like fish scales.

"Did you encounter a Fourth-Grade Grandmaster from the Nine Immortal Dao Palace at sea?"

Zhang the Seal Keeper suddenly asked.

Xu Zhiyuan replied, "Qi Baiyan."

"Him... then that explains it."

Zhang the Seal Keeper nodded slightly and smiled at Yang Ling.

"Young Director Yang, this is the Deep-Sea Curse. It