Chapter 52: Twins

This sparring match.

Yu Qiye had taken advantage of an unprepared opponent, making his victory an unearned one.

However, he had no other choice.

Others might not have known.

Yet, because he and the Flood Demon King were on good terms, how could he possibly remain unaware of the Flood Demon King's true hidden cards?

One of them was the centipede-like spiritual beast resting upon the Flood Demon King's shoulder, named "Baxia," rumored to be one of the nine offspring of the dragon.

It could swallow the waters of the entire world, shatter all water-based spells, and possessed a natural restraint against the Four Seas Dragon Palaces, which excelled in water magic.

Though it might not inherently suppress Yu Qiye, if unleashed, even Yu Qiye would find it immensely troublesome.

The second was the supreme treasure wielded by the Flood Demon King—the "Sea-Overturning Bead." This precious orb was rumored to be a divine artifact used by Great Yu when he tamed the floods of old. It could manipulate the waters of the entire world, and coupled with the Flood Demon King's unfathomable water-based magic, even if the gods and Buddhas of the heavens descended, they might not necessarily come out on top.

"If my second brother were to unleash these two hidden cards, my chances of winning would probably not even be ten percent. Therefore..."

Sighing inwardly, Yu Qiye hardly knew what to say.

He didn't even pay attention to the trait he had just plundered.

Right at that moment, seemingly sensing Yu Qiye's thoughts, the Flood Demon King suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Eighth Brother, for you to have stepped into the Mysterious Immortal realm, your combat prowess is truly extraordinary."

"Second brother, if it weren't for the fact that I..."

Before Yu Qiye could finish, the Flood Demon King was already urging him to head toward the Sea-Overturning Palace.

"It was merely sparring, why dwell on it?"

...

The Flood Demon King brought Yu Qiye back to the Sea-Overturning Palace, then called upon the shrimp soldiers and crab generals to prepare a banquet in celebration of Yu Qiye's advancement to the Mysterious Immortal realm.

"I see you addressed me as 'Second Brother,' so you must be aware of the sworn brotherhood among us few. If you are displeased by it, you needn't take it to heart, for after all, that oath was made on a sudden whim," the Flood Demon King spoke first.

"Since we have already sworn brotherhood, you are my elder brother," Yu Qiye stated frankly.

"Hahaha..."

Hearing this, the Flood Demon King laughed heartily and raised his wine cup:

"Then I thank Eighth Brother for your high regard."

"Where are the other elder brothers?" Yu Qiye asked out of curiosity.

"They departed long ago. Ah, the Monkey King has already gone off to play in the grotto-heaven of our eldest brother, the Bull Demon King, and should not be back for a short while."

"I see."

Hearing this explanation, Yu Qiye finally understood why the Monkey King was nowhere to be found on Flower-Fruit Mountain.

So this fellow had been playing around to the point of neglecting his own home.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Flood Demon King arranged a side hall for Yu Qiye to rest in.

He knew that Yu Qiye had just broken through and still needed time to consolidate his foundation.

However, just as Yu Qiye was turning to leave, the Flood Demon King suddenly spoke up:

"Eighth Brother, I noticed that your primary cultivation is in wind-based spells?"

"Yes, Second brother."

Yu Qiye nodded.

"Do you know why the immortals, Buddhas, and even demons of this world rarely specialize in a single path? To phrase it differently, do you know why spells are mostly formidable in might, yet rarely reign supreme in this world?" the Flood Demon King asked.

"This..."

Yu Qiye fell silent.

"Magical treasures."

A simple two-word phrase sent a profound shock through Yu Qiye's heart.

"Some magical treasures are simply too powerful; a single item is enough to render a lifetime of bitter cultivation by the likes of us completely obsolete."

"As far as I know, the Fixed-Wind Bead in the hands of Bodhisattva Lingji is enough to completely neutralize your wind-based spells."

...

Listening quietly, Yu Qiye narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Wind-based spells are your greatest advantage, yet also your greatest vulnerability."

The Flood Demon King sighed, his expression extremely complex.

"Thank you for the reminder, Second Brother." Yu Qiye bowed in gratitude.

He understood the Flood Demon King's intent.

One must not rely solely on spells to assert dominance.

One must also remain wary of the boundless immortals and Buddhas in the heavens.

Had they not witnessed how the future Monkey King, when unable to defeat an opponent, would simply go and borrow treasures?

And borrowing them always proved successful.

If Yu Qiye were to fall out with the Heavenly Court or Mount Lêng-chu in the future, some immortal or Buddha might well go and borrow Bodhisattva Lingji's Fixed-Wind Bead to keep Yu Qiye in check.

"It seems I must cultivate a few other types of spells as well."

Yu Qiye made his decision internally.

Outwardly, he could appropriately display that his wind-based spells had already reached great mastery, causing others to tread lightly around him.

Then, behind closed doors, he would cultivate various other spells as well.

Should someone come to suppress him with the Fixed-Wind Bead in the future, he could unleash those other spells and catch them completely off guard.

"Hidden cards—I need even more hidden cards. In this world, no one ever complains about having too many hidden cards."

Muttering to himself, Yu Qiye had already arrived at the side hall.

He turned his gaze toward the trait panel.

[Ding! You have defeated the Flood Demon King. Randomly plundered trait: Worship of the Nine Rivers (Red). Do you wish to fuse it?]

[Worship of the Nine Rivers (Red) — You are the darling of the seas, born noble, commanding the worship of the nine rivers. You possess an affinity with water; your speed in cultivating water-based spells is vastly increased, and the power of water-based spells you unleash is vastly increased.]

...

Watching quietly, Yu Qiye could not help but smile.

It was truly a case of being handed a pillow just as one grew drowsy.

He had just been pondering how to cultivate other types of spells.

"With this trait, I can directly dive into cultivating water-based spells."

With this thought in mind, Yu Qiye initiated the fusion.

Boom!

In an instant, his entire body and soul felt as though they had plunged deep into the waters of an abyssal lake.

His body kept sinking.

Seemingly without end.

Yet at the same time, his comprehension of water continuously deepened.

Water nurtures all things...

Water can float a boat, but it can also overturn it...

Though water is utmost yielding, it is also utmost firm and utmost pure, capable of encompassing all things...

...

Meanwhile, deep within the Sea-Overturning Palace, the spiritual beast Baxia, resting upon the Flood Demon King's shoulder, suddenly spoke:

"He is beginning to touch upon the essence of water."

Hearing this, the Flood Demon King was taken aback.

"So fast? As expected, my judgment was not mistaken. This Eighth Brother of mine truly possesses extraordinary talent and astonishing brilliance."

"Your Seventh Brother, the Monkey King, is no slouch either. His natural talent can be described as rare through the ages. Unfortunately, he is playful and restless, lacking the composure of your Eighth Brother," Baxia chuckled.

"One Eighth Brother is already enough to astonish the mind. If the Seventh Brother were also like this, those high and mighty beings in the Heavenly Court and Mount Lêng-chu would probably find it impossible to sit in peace."

Saying this, the Flood Demon King shifted the topic directly:

"Still, it is just as well. With the Seventh Brother out in front drawing the fire, Eighth Brother will be able to enjoy peace for quite some time."

The very next moment, the Flood Demon King looked toward the Turtle Steward.

"Go, present some of the texts concerning water-based spells from our Sea-Overturning Palace to my Eighth Brother."

"At once, Your Majesty."

Acknowledging the command, the Turtle Steward immediately went to organize the texts.

At this moment, however, Baxia wore a puzzled expression.

"Why are you treating these little fellows so well?"

Having known the Flood Demon King for hundreds of years, he knew the latter to be loyal and righteous, yet he had never seen him treat any other demons with such favor.

First the Monkey King, and now this Crow King of the Heavens.

"I have never acknowledged myself as part of the Dragon Clan, but I do acknowledge that I am of the Demon Clan."

"And in these two little fellows, I see hope."

"The Monkey King carries vast karmic entanglement; even the gods and Buddhas of the heavens dare not move against him, so his rise is inevitable."

"As for this Crow King of the Heavens, he is profoundly mysterious, acting like the twin to the Monkey King—one in the light, one in the dark..."

"Perhaps our Demon Clan..."

The Flood Demon King did not finish.

The rest of the words he dared not speak, let alone entertain in his thoughts.

Yet, if there was even the slightest glimmer of such a possibility, he was willing to contribute his own meager strength.