Ancient Kun Fish, Buddhist School Garrison

Little Black nodded blankly, its tail fin gently sweeping across the Primordial Spirit Sea, splashing up tiny droplets of water.

Before long, a warm feeling slowly spread from the depths of its body, like snow melting in spring, seeping into its entire body little by little along every scale, as if the instincts deep within its blood were being awakened.

It slightly raised its head, and a faint white light quietly appeared on its originally jet-black scales, appearing and disappearing like the feathers of a roc hidden in the clouds.

Little Black slowly closed its eyes.

boom--

The next moment, a devouring force several times greater than before suddenly emanated from its small body.

The water flow, extending for tens of meters above and below the river, was as if stirred by an invisible hand. All kinds of water currents surged wildly towards the Yu Tunzhou, like rivers flowing backward and all streams converging.

The Water Fortune Profound Qi, which was originally so thin that only those with strong qi perception and who Meditative Concentration state could sense it, now seemed to have "form" and "color," transforming into a wisp of light white mist visible to the naked eye, which entered the mouth and nose of the Yu Tunzhou.

The white mist traversed the Great Spirit Courtyard route, pausing briefly at the Dantian, where the Inner Qi Seed suddenly grew stronger. Finally, it flowed through the Shendao Acupoint, nourishing the Primordial Spirit.

now.

The [Spark Instruction] activated spontaneously, and the four-foot vortex suddenly expanded to twice its original size. The eight layers of constraints were completely unimpeded, and the Inner Qi flowed as smoothly as eating and drinking, becoming increasingly powerful.

However, Yu Tunzhou's mind and attention were not focused on this at the moment.

He stood in the Primordial Spirit Heaven and Earth, lost in thought.

That small figure, standing tall and proud, now truly displayed the demeanor of the overlord of the Northern Dark Sea and the Primordial Kun Fish after cultivating the [Heavenly Peng Essence-Devouring Instruction].

With a single gulp, it swallowed Water Fortune Profound Qi within the river channel, spanning dozens of meters, regardless of size or whether it was visible or hidden, leaving not a trace.

The only regret is that Little Black's Qi Ingestion Method did not yield any Inner Qi Seed; it seemed to have only increased the efficiency of his breathing.

After a complete breathing exercise, Yu Tunzhou now had sixteen water-transporting beads in front of him, including the five he had previously used.

The little guy swam wearily to his feet. Yu Tunzhou gently stroked its head and could sense that Little Black wasn't just tired, but had reached some kind of limit.

He fed ten water-transporting beads to the greatest contributor of the night.

This little guy could have swallowed it whole, but instead it condensed into a pearl and presented it to him like a treasure, so adorable that it was truly endearing.

After taking the water transport, Xiao Hei's condition immediately improved a lot, with traces of water transport profound energy emanating from his body, blending into the sea water, heaven and earth.

Instead of resting, it swam energetically towards the distance, and with the help of the water, waves rose again in this area of sky and sea, sweeping into the distance.

And it is the "leader" that sets the trend.

Yu Tunzhou stood still, gazing at the small figure heading into the distance, seemingly about to create the world, and his heart was stirred.

Little Black is working so hard, how can I slack off?

Within seven days, he aims to secure at least nine floors and look forward to ten.

He will reign supreme in the first battle for destiny!

The townwide fighting has long since ended.

Contrary to Xie Linchuan's assumption, Old Mo, the town's guardian, did not refrain from intervening in the boy's "cruel" actions because of his relationship with Yu Tunzhou.

Entrusted by the eminent monk Xuanku, he left the grotto to welcome that person's junior brother, the eminent monk Xuanzang, into the grotto.

Currently, Luofu Grotto-Heaven is closed and is in a state of exit only, with no entry allowed.

This Xuanzang was supposed to enter the grotto a month ago, around the same time as Li Jingxuan, to welcome the change of fortune. However, it is said that he encountered unforeseen circumstances along the way and had to postpone it until now.

But at this moment, the person standing in front of Old Mo had a thin face and some gray hair at his temples, but he did not look decadent. Instead, he had a gentle and refined air that came from maturity.

His blue robe had been washed again and again, yet he bore no trace of the air of a bald Buddhist School monk. Instead, he exuded a scholarly air, as gentle and refined as an old, well-worn book.

Old Mo looked the man up and down, rubbed his eyes, but still couldn't tell that the man in front of him was a monk.

A while ago, a fortune teller who was neither a monk nor a Daoist priest came in; today, a monk who looks like a scholar has arrived?

"Are you the new Buddhist garrison?" Old Mo asked doubtfully, "Are you the Yin God? Where are the Yang God and me?"

The other person smiled and asked in return, "So you're Mo Laoliu?"

Old Mo gave a thumbs up and said heartily, "You have good taste."

The man seemed somewhat saddened. "I have long admired the name of the Great Hero Mo, and sent people to search for him for a long time, but to no avail. I never expected to meet him here."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Hearing that long-lost address, which sounded both familiar and distant, Old Mo couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

"It's a good thing, and a bad thing." The man gave a bitter smile, his tone complex, as if he had a thousand words to say, yet found them difficult to express.

Old Mo shook his head. Since he's a smart man, let's get back to business.

Where is Master Xuanzang?

"On my way here, I met Master Xuanzang. After a long and heartfelt conversation, the Master, with a compassionate heart, decided to go to the Northern Dark Continent to save all living beings. I have come here on behalf of the Master to temporarily take over the post of the Buddhist School," the man said sincerely.

Old Mo raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe it at all. You don't look like an honest man."

"To be honest, Great Hero Mo, entering this place is like returning home." The man clasped his hands in a salute. "If Great Hero Mo does not believe me, I have another way to prove my identity."

"Call me Old Mo, not some kind of 'Great Hero'." Old Mo waved his hand, showing some interest, and asked, "You've been to Luofu Grotto-Heaven before, which sect's disciple are you?"

The man did not answer, but simply looked up at this familiar yet unfamiliar world, his gaze distant and full of reminiscence.

After a long silence, he burst into laughter and exclaimed, "Gentlemen, Lu Huaiqing is back!"

A moment later.

Within the town, furious shouts echoed continuously, like thunderclaps resounding through the sky!

Simply because ninety years have passed.

The once nameless cowherd has returned to this secluded paradise.

The Jiang Household mansion.

In a quiet room.

Jiang Yungu awoke amidst a piercing, excruciating pain.

He tried to sit up, but as soon as he moved, he froze on the bed. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt, and pain shot through his limbs. His pupils dilated as the events of not long ago flashed through his mind.

"Woke up?"

An aged and indifferent voice slowly echoed in the room. Jiang Yungu shuddered, and the roar that had risen to his throat was abruptly suppressed by this voice.

An old man walked to the bedside. He was hunched over and had white hair, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, exuding an air of authority that made Jiang Yungu dare not look him in the eye.

"... Elder," Jiang Yungu trembled with pain, his voice hoarse, "Was it that Yu Tunzhou who did this?! He crippled my limbs?!"

The old man didn't answer, but spoke slowly:

"I deliberately didn't treat your injuries, thinking I'd let you experience what it feels like to have all four limbs severed."

"How are you feeling?"

Jiang Yungu gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his cheeks, and remained silent.

The old man continued, "Before this hunt, did you scout out the surrounding terrain beforehand? Did you believe that the six of you working together were enough to overwhelm the enemy in both combat strength and strategy? Or did you think that your martial arts, Jiang Yungu, were unparalleled and enough to suppress your peers?"

Seeing that the young man in the clan was still gritting his teeth and enduring the pain of his broken limbs without making a sound, his forehead already covered with sweat, the old man nodded almost imperceptibly. Being able to endure some hardship was not entirely useless.

He changed the subject abruptly. "Jiang Yungu, where do you think you went wrong in this battle? Was it because you were unfamiliar with the terrain, or because that kid lacked martial ethics and ambushed you?"

Jiang Yungu's breathing was heavy, and the last images before he fell into a coma were clear and distinct.

In this battle, he was not defeated by the opponent's sneak attack, but by the suppression of his Primordial Spirit perception!

Ultimately, it all came down to his carelessness. Relying on his innate near-Nascent Primordial Spirit Dao Infant, he believed that no one in the town could rival him in terms of Primordial Spirit. As a result, he was deceived by Yu Tunzhou's perception of Primordial Spirit, which allowed him to be ambushed...

The old man, seeing the clarity in his eyes, said with a mocking expression:

"Very good. It's good that you have a good understanding of the situation. I was afraid that some people would die without even knowing how they died. The clan's decision to send you here was definitely the right one."

"If someone like you isn't properly trained and is recklessly released from the clan to venture into the martial world, he's bound to die sooner or later. He's just a waste of the clan's resources."

Jiang Yungu accepted the elder's harsh words without question, forcing himself to keep from shouting out loud while recalling Yu Tunzhou's face in his mind.

That guy, that guy...

The old man suddenly raised his hand and pinched the spot where Jiang Yungu's leg was broken.

The latter's body suddenly arched, trembling all over, and finally, unable to hold back, it screamed out in a blood-curdling scream.

"Don't hold back, call out when you should," the old man nodded. "Cherish the time you still have to call out."

Jiang Yungu's eyes reddened. He no longer avoided the old man's gaze, looking directly at him, his voice hoarse but firm:

"Please, elders, heal my wounds!"

The old man asked patiently, "What should I do after the injury is treated?"

"Cultivation, and revenge!"

"What grudge could there be? Come to think of it, I'm quite curious why you hate that kid surnamed Yu so much."

Jiang Yungu glared angrily and said, "Lu Huaiqing has so humiliated my Luo River Jiang Clan! We, the descendants of the Jiang Clan..."

"What does Lu Huaiqing have to do with Yu Tunzhou?" the old man interrupted him. "Since you're so dissatisfied with that beast surnamed Lu, why don't you take a few people to the Northern Dark Continent to find him?"

"Is it because you're afraid?"

"Not daring to cause trouble for Lu Huaiqing, I'll find a country boy whose past circumstances are similar to Lu Huaiqing's, and that will serve as a declaration of my resolve?"

Whether due to the intense pain or some other reason, Jiang Yungu's face was somewhat pale.

The old man shook his head in disappointment.

"I won't mention the mediocre ones from other families, but you lot— Cao Jianjia, Zhang Buyu, and now you—when will you juniors ever understand that the great path is never like this—"

And just then...

That familiar voice came from behind.

The elders of the Jiang Clan, who had been stationed here for over a century, suddenly turned around and saw that familiar yet unfamiliar, weathered face.

In the end, that youthful spirit was gone...

Logically speaking, the old man should be the one in this grotto who hates the cowherd the most.

But at this moment, he remained silent for a long time.

The next instant, he seemed to discover something, and suddenly flew into a rage, his hair and beard bristling, his voice booming like thunder:

"You... are dead?"

The old man trembled all over, just like Jiang Yungu, and gritted his teeth.

How could you die?

"How dare you, Lu Huaiqing, die?!"

"If you, Lu Huaiqing, are dead, who will guard the Northern Frontier?!"