Yu Abyss.
Seven thousand li out to sea, Flowing Wave Mountain.
The distant seawater was an inky black, but around Flowing Wave Mountain, it deepened into a dusky blue.
Under the sunlight, faint blue-green halos shimmered across the surface.
Flowing Wave Mountain was also one of the Eastern Sea Demon Race's settlements, brimming with Demon Qi.
Its mountain lord, however, was elusive and rather mysterious, rarely showing himself.
Even among the Sea Kingdom's many Great Yao, few had ever seen his true face.
Yet at this very moment, the lord of Flowing Wave Mountain had indeed welcomed a rare guest.
Deep within Flowing Wave Mountain.
In a secluded valley cut off by a Water Curtain stood a three-story pavilion, built entirely in the architectural style of the Human Race.
The surroundings were empty, without a single member of the Demon Race in sight. Only in the open hall on the top floor did two figures sit facing each other across an Ink Jade go board.
One looked like a middle-aged man, dressed in loose blue-green robes, a dim gleam showing as his eyes opened and closed.
He was none other than the lord of Flowing Wave Mountain.
Opposite him sat an old man in gray, his presence barely perceptible, as though he had merged with the surrounding light and shadow.
It was actually Mirage.
The lord of Flowing Wave Mountain played black, while Mirage played white. Black and white stones interlaced across the board, the game locked in a stalemate.
The white stones looked scattered, yet faint connections linked them, each answering another from afar, trapping several groups of black stones with murderous intent hidden within.
For some reason, however, Mirage seemed distracted.
"You old thing. I know you've always liked playing at refinement like those Human Race cultivators."
"For