The Innate Spirit Treasure Emerges, and All Three Clans Set Their Sights on It

The commotion caused by the emergence of the Northern Dark Water Palace grew greater and greater.

A deep-blue pillar of light pierced through the seabed.

Countless undercurrents in the Northern Sea were drawn by that power, forming enormous whirlpools one after another.

At the center of the whirlpools, an ancient water palace flickered in and out of view.

The palace gates stood half-open, while the two stone beasts before them had already crumbled for the most part.

The stone beasts were covered in vicious patterns. Even after being weathered by countless years, they still emanated a heart-palpitating aura.

Those were traces left behind by the Beast Tribulation.

In that era, order had yet to take shape in the Primordial World, and ferocious beasts roamed unchecked between heaven and earth.

The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans were now engaged in the Three-Clan Hegemony, and the conflict was already brutal enough.

Yet compared to the Beast Tribulation, it still lacked some of that chaos and madness.

The fact that the Northern Dark Water Palace had survived from that era until today proved that extraordinary treasures lay within.

What was more, the aura of an Innate Spiritual Treasure had emerged from the depths of the palace.

The Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl.

As soon as that name spread, none of the races in the Northern Sea could remain calm.

This treasure could stabilize water fortune, anchor sea veins, and suppress turmoil across an entire body of water.

For the Dragon Clan, it could strengthen the foundation of their water palaces.

For the Phoenix Clan, it could suppress conflicts between water and fire, aiding the cultivation of the Frost Phoenix Lineage.

For the Qilin Clan, it could stabilize places where earth veins and water veins converged.

For Guixu, it was even more important.

The Guixu Womb Membrane was expanding.

The spiritual veins, waters, cities, and Dragon-Suppressing Pass within the inner realm all needed a treasure truly capable of stabilizing water fortune.

If the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl could be integrated into Guixu, the Guixu Inner Realm would inevitably undergo a transformation.

That was also why Lan Shuang had personally led the team.

Outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

The Guixu party had already assembled.

Lan Shuang held the Book of Cause and Effect, her expression cool and composed.

Lady Mingzhu accompanied them, responsible for identifying treasures and the water palace's restrictions.

Han Jue led three hundred elite Realm Guards.

Ao Lie had been stationed at the outer gate, but he eventually took human form and followed them as well.

He was familiar with the Dragon Clan's methods. If Dragon Clan experts appeared within the water palace, he could immediately determine their origins.

Ancestor Xuan Jia leaned on his dark-black cane as he slowly walked at the rear.

Yet everyone knew that he was the true powerhouse anchoring this expedition.

Early Daluo Golden Immortal realm.

His defenses were exceptionally strong.

As long as he was there, the Guixu party had the confidence to retreat unscathed.

Lu Chen's decree had already been delivered.

If they could not get it, they were to run.

If they encountered a powerful enemy, they were to retreat.

They were not to reveal his name.

Lan Shuang naturally remembered those words perfectly.

However, everyone in Guixu had their own interpretation of those three sentences.

Han Jue believed the Emperor was testing their judgment on the battlefield.

Ao Lie believed the Mysterious Abyss Emperor did not wish to reveal Guixu's true strength too early.

Ancestor Xuan Jia believed their ancestor wanted them to prioritize caution and not let the innate spirit treasure cloud their Dao hearts.

Lady Mingzhu believed the Emperor was benevolent and did not wish for them to suffer losses over a treasure.

Lan Shuang believed that entrusting Guixu's first expedition beyond its borders to them meant Guixu had truly gained the qualification to stand on its own from this day onward.

Of course, Lu Chen's true thoughts were simple.

Do not die.

Do not cause trouble.

Do not draw the great powers of the three clans to Guixu's doorstep.

Before departing, Lan Shuang bowed toward the depths of Guixu.

"Please rest assured, Emperor."

"On this journey, we will uphold your decree."

Lu Chen felt slightly more at ease upon hearing that.

He trusted Lan Shuang more, after all.

At least she was more reliable than Han Jue.

After leaving Dragon-Suppressing Pass, the party headed straight for the Northern Dark Water Palace.

Along the way, quite a few aquatic cultivators had already appeared in the surrounding waters, watching them in secret.

When these aquatic cultivators saw the Guixu party, their expressions changed slightly.

"Guixu is here too."

"Is that Fate Overseer Lan Shuang?"

"And that Ice-Scaled Tribe prodigy Han Jue from Dragon-Suppressing Pass."

"Look at that young man in black beside them. Isn't he Third Prince Ao Lie of the Blackwater Dragon Palace?"

"Ao Lie is actually in Guixu's camp?"

"Ancestor Xuan Jia is here too! Guixu brought a Daluo expert this time!"

The discussions continued to spread.

Many cultivators from smaller clans who had originally intended to fish in troubled waters immediately backed farther away after seeing Ancestor Xuan Jia.

What a joke.

A Daluo Golden Immortal was anchoring the field.

This was no longer a contest they could interfere in.

Han Jue listened to the surrounding discussions, a faint smile rising at the corner of his lips.

"Looks like after the battle at Dragon-Suppressing Pass, Guixu's reputation really has changed."

Ao Lie replied blandly, "The greater the reputation, the greater the trouble."

Han Jue glanced at him.

"Are you worried about us?"

Ao Lie snorted coldly.

"I am worried that without a thorn like you at Dragon-Suppressing Pass, it will be too quiet to be interesting."

Han Jue laughed.

"Don't worry. I'm hard to kill."

Ancestor Xuan Jia slowly spoke from behind them.

"Bickering before battle can easily weaken one's momentum."

Han Jue immediately fell silent.

Ao Lie stopped speaking as well.

Neither of them particularly wanted to listen to Ancestor Xuan Jia's nagging.

The Northern Dark Water Palace drew closer and closer.

When the Guixu party arrived at its outskirts, three groups of powerful figures had already gathered there.

The Dragon Clan had arrived first.

At their head stood a middle-aged man clad in azure-black Dragon armor. He had two horns on his head and a sinister gaze.

When Ao Lie saw him, his brows furrowed slightly.

"The Blackwater Dragon Palace's Second Elder, Ao Yin."

"At the Supreme Unity Golden Immortal Peak, only half a step away from Daluo."

"He is my father's trusted subordinate."

Lan Shuang nodded and committed the name to memory.

On the other side was the Frost Phoenix Lineage of the Phoenix Clan.

At their head stood a woman wearing icy-blue feathered robes. Her features were cold and elegant, and the phantom of a Frost Phoenix faintly appeared behind her.

Lady Mingzhu said softly, "Feng Li of the Frost Phoenix Lineage."

"She is one of the rare talents among the Phoenix Clan's branches who cultivates both water and fire, at the late Supreme Unity Golden Immortal realm."

The final group was the Qilin Clan.

A tall young man stood before the water palace's stone gate, water-blue Qilin patterns flowing around his body.

Ancestor Xuan Jia said slowly, "A descendant of the Water Qilin, Lin Yue."

"Supreme Unity Golden Immortal Peak."

"All three clans sent experts from their branches. It seems they do not wish to make too great a fuss either."

Lan Shuang understood what Ancestor Xuan Jia meant.

The main branches of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans were building strength for the Great Tribulation.

Although the Northern Dark Water Palace was important, it was not yet enough to make the great powers of their main branches personally enter the fray.

These branch experts were therefore the most suitable contenders for the treasure.

When Ao Yin saw the Guixu party, his expression immediately darkened.

His gaze first landed on Lan Shuang before shifting to Ao Lie.

"Ao Lie, you still dare appear before this elder?"

Ao Lie remained calm.

"Why would I not dare?"

Ao Yin sneered.

"You carry Dragon Clan blood, yet you stand in Guixu's camp."

"You have disgraced the Blackwater Dragon Palace beyond measure."

A trace of coldness flashed through Ao Lie's eyes.

"I trespassed into Guixu and was punished with guarding Dragon-Suppressing Pass."

"My punishment has not ended, so naturally I must follow the rules."

Ao Yin's voice turned abruptly cold.

"The Dragon Clan's rules are greater than Guixu's rules."

Ao Lie looked at him.

"Then you can go to Dragon-Suppressing Pass and ask the Emperor."

Ao Yin's expression stiffened.

News of the battle at Dragon-Suppressing Pass had already spread within the Blackwater Dragon Palace.

He knew full well that even the Blackwater Dragon King had suffered a loss in Guixu.

Go ask the Mysterious Abyss Emperor?

He was not tired of living yet.

Han Jue chuckled beside him.

Ao Yin immediately turned to look at him.

"What are you laughing at?"

Han Jue held his long spear horizontally.

"I am laughing because you do not dare go to Dragon-Suppressing Pass, yet you only dare lecture Ao Lie here."

Killing intent flashed in Ao Yin's eyes.

"Young brat of the Ice-Scaled Tribe, are you seeking death?"

Han Jue's battle intent immediately surged.

Lan Shuang raised a hand to stop him.

"The Emperor's decree says to retreat when facing powerful enemies. Do not fight out of anger."

Han Jue took a deep breath and suppressed his battle intent.

Ao Yin sneered at the sight.

"Guixu is nothing special after all."

Lan Shuang's expression remained calm.

"At least Guixu does not force subordinate small clans to offer up children to forge armor."

Ao Yin's expression completely darkened.

Ancestor Xuan Jia lifted his eyelids and slowly looked at him.

Ao Yin said nothing more.

Ancestor Xuan Jia was a Daluo Golden Immortal.

If that old turtle truly made a move, Ao Yin might not leave alive.

Just as the tension between the three sides grew increasingly severe, the Northern Dark Water Palace suddenly shook violently.

The broken stone gates slowly opened.

An ancient, decayed, and vicious aura surged out from the depths of the water palace.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the entrance of the water palace at once.

Ao Yin said coldly, "The Water Palace is open."

Feng Li said softly, "Everyone, the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl will go to whoever is capable enough to claim it."

Lin Yue stepped forward.

"Whoever gets it first, gets it."

Han Jue said quietly, "Fate Overseer Lan Shuang?"

Lan Shuang looked toward the dark entrance of the Water Palace and slowly spoke.

"Enter the palace."

"Remember the Emperor's decree."

"Avoid battle if you can."

"The treasure is important, but people are more important."

Everyone from Guixu answered in unison.

The next moment, the four factions entered the Northern Dark Water Palace at the same time.

Deep within the dark Water Palace.

A pair of scarlet eyes slowly opened.

"The Black Tortoise's aura..."

"That old thing is still alive?"