Chapter 58: Battle Against the Demonic Cultivator!

"Bang!" The sword aura from the Flowing Cloud Sword burst forth, shattering the ice and blasting through with unstoppable force.

Zhao Ruoxu’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Bang!" Another explosion rang out. Zhao Ruoxu let out a miserable cry, blood splattering across the sky. His forearm was skewered by the Flowing Cloud Sword, as though strung through like meat.

It was exactly as expected.

"Bang!" Shen Yan had just wounded Zhao Ruoxu, but his flesh and blood suddenly began to heal rapidly.

Shen Yan was startled—this Zhao Ruoxu possessed spiritual energy.

Seeing this, Shen Yan lost all desire to continue the battle. Though powerful and unafraid of being beset by many, he had no wish to become a target, wasting his spiritual energy on so many opponents.

"Bang!" With a single sword strike, he broke through the encirclement and, in the blink of an eye, escaped.

"This..."

"Damn it! Could he be from one of the sects?"

"His cultivation appeared to be at the peak of Qi Refinement."

"Now that the King of Fish is gone, we must search for the hidden treasure, or else, if we return empty-handed, the Ancestor..."

"The hidden treasure is not so easily found—it only surfaces once every few centuries..."

"Better to return first."

"So, we give up?"

"How dull, how dull!" On the Xu family’s boat, Xu Jingyang shook his head repeatedly.

Beside him, Xu Shengnan remained calm and steady, saying, "That man’s strength is overwhelming. We cannot confront him head-on."

"Quite right," Xu Jingyang smiled. "They’ve gone. Let’s return as well."

Xu Shengnan frowned. "What about the remaining spirit fish?"

"With the King of Fish gone, the spirit fish will disperse. Within three days, they’ll vanish completely," Xu Jingyang said lightly. "In these last three days, give orders—catch as many as you can."

...

Shen Yan found a small island and halted, but the next moment, his brow furrowed.

"Hmm?" Over the surface of Lotus Lake, a ferocious aura surged, boiling in the void.

"What is this..." Shen Yan looked up, his expression growing more grave and suspicious.

...

A grand ship sailed northward.

"King of Fish, hidden treasure..." In the gilded, opulent cabin, Zhao Ruoxu’s face was dark and gloomy, unable to shake off the shadow.

Chen Hongyu was silent, her beautiful eyes betraying a deep worry.

Their mission was to seek out the hidden treasure for Little Lan Mountain—a matter of utmost importance, especially at this critical juncture.

Now, the other sects had learned of the hidden treasure in Lotus Lake. If they were late...

"No matter what, we must seek out the hidden treasure quickly!" Zhao Ruoxu said in a deep voice. "If we gain the legacy within, our three families might transform into a sect!"

"Establish a sect?" Chen Hongyu murmured, her gaze reflecting longing, then she forced a bitter smile. "It’s not so easy."

"No matter how difficult, we must try!" Zhao Ruoxu’s expression was icy, his words resolute. "Only those at the Golden Elixir stage are qualified to found a sect. Otherwise, we’ll remain subject to their control."

"Let’s hope we find it soon," Chen Hongyu shook her head, saying no more.

Just then—

"Bang!" A loud crash shook the ship.

"Hmm?"

"What’s happening?" Zhao Ruoxu frowned, glancing outside.

Chen Hongyu also frowned. "Perhaps we struck a reef?"

"A reef?"

"Impossible!" Zhao Ruoxu’s frown deepened, unease growing within him. He immediately headed out.

A cultivator hurried over to report, "The hull collided with something. I’ve sent men to investigate underwater."

Zhao Ruoxu said nothing, soaring directly outside the ship.

But just as he stepped out—

"Whoosh!" A cold wind swept by, carrying the scent of rust.

The reek of iron.

Zhao Ruoxu’s pupils contracted, his body freezing in mid-air.

Ahead, the waters were shrouded, an ominous mist surging forth.

Black fog swept in like a tide, quickly filling the space and blocking all vision.

In the blink of an eye, the waters ahead were enveloped in endless dark mist.

No, not just ahead—looking around, he saw the dark fog surging on all sides.

The mist was so dense it seemed tangible, turning the lake pitch-black, spreading like blood.

Zhao Ruoxu’s body remained suspended in mid-air, eyes wide with terror, fear, and growing despair as he stared at the surging darkness.

"Could it be... the hidden treasure has leaked?"

"Impossible, impossible!"

"Hongyu, run!"

His cry was the last act of righteousness—then, without regard for his mana, he became a streak of cold light, shooting straight into the sky.

...

"This..." On the ship behind, everyone was at a loss.

"A ferocious aura?"

"Damn it!"

Hearing the commotion, Chen Hongyu emerged and her face changed dramatically. Immediately, she leapt up, becoming a blazing red flash, following Zhao Ruoxu straight upward.

At the same time, in Lotus Lake, countless fishermen were contaminated by the ferocious aura, instantly losing all intelligence.

Moments later—

"Damn it, damn it!" Blue and red streaks of light returned in quick succession.

It was Zhao Ruoxu and Chen Hongyu, back so soon.

The two beams landed on the ship, revealing their figures—faces twisted with fury and despair.

"The hidden treasure has surfaced before, but why has the ferocious aura leaked this time?" Zhao Ruoxu was beside himself, unable to control his rage, slamming his palm against the railing, shattering three yards of it.

Chen Hongyu saw the same despair, but as a cultivator, she quickly composed herself. "What’s the use of saying this? The ferocious aura has already leaked. Our only hope is to find shelter and hold fast—perhaps we can survive."

Gritting her teeth, Chen Hongyu ordered, "Pass the command—retreat along the original route, quickly!"

"Yes!"

Soon, the ship began to move, retreating toward the center of the lake in panic.

And at that very moment...

From within the dark mist, a silhouette slowly emerged.

Focusing their eyes, the shape became clearer—a lone skiff.

Upon the skiff sat a solitary figure at the prow.

"Tap! Tap! Tap!" The figure resembled a monk, his head smooth and shining, free of earthly worries, yet his face was hidden.

A white monk’s robe, stained with bright red blood in blotches and splashes.

He seemed unconcerned, sitting alone at the prow, tapping an object and producing the clear, resonant sound of a wooden fish.

...

On the Xu family’s grand ship, Xu Jingyang finished his arrangements and dismissed everyone, leaving only Xu Shengnan at his side.

Xu Shengnan looked at Xu Jingyang, whose face was pale and sweating, hesitant to speak.

Sensing her gaze, Xu Jingyang turned, his eyes cold. "Have you done everything I asked?"

Xu Shengnan was silent for a while before replying, "Brother, I’ve tried to gather as much as possible, but there are too few commoners..."

"Then use cultivators!" Xu Jingyang growled, his eyes bloodshot, stripped of his usual carefree demeanor, consumed by hysteria.

Despair drove him, survival instincts overtaking him, making him almost unrecognizable.

To this, Xu Shengnan could only remain silent.

Within the ferocious aura, all spiritual energy in heaven and earth was tainted—cultivators could no longer draw breath.