Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Aquatic Clan

Boss Ma could see the mocking expression on his face and finally put down the pistol, saying with self-deprecation, "What, you can't tell? Just because I'm a sleazy, fat man... Let me tell you, Xun'er is the illegitimate daughter of the Lady Witch and me. We were forced apart since she was little. I could have been the greatest sorcerer in Huaxia, but that's none of your concern."

"What I want to tell you is: Xun'er won't fool around with you anymore. You, big monk, should give up your improper thoughts about her." Boss Ma laughed again, raising the pistol and pointing it at Wujue.

Wujue stepped forward, grabbing the barrel, and said, "Sorry, but to me, Xun'er is also family. Asking me to abandon family is not so easy. Whether you're her father or anything else, I won't surrender to you easily."

The two stubbornly glared at each other, neither willing to back down, until Xun'er shrieked, "Enough! I won't follow anyone. I will decide my own future, so you two can rest assured!"

She turned and ran off into the distance, disappearing from sight.

Seeing this, Boss Ma quickly signaled a few women in the crowd, who immediately went to intercept Xun'er. He stepped back a few paces, sat down, and said, "Honestly, it seems the two of us have been worrying for nothing. Wujue, to be honest, I disliked you from the first moment. You're not from this era, are you?"

Wujue smiled coldly, neither confirming nor denying, and glanced around, saying, "These people don't truly submit to you either. They're just afraid of your sorcery, right?"

Boss Ma looked up, his face kind, but then suddenly turned indifferent. "Let's talk terms. You help me with something, I'll give Xun'er back to you, and neither of us owes the other."

"Terms?" Wujue asked bluntly. "Then what about Ling'er's grandfather?"

"Life for life. How about it?" Boss Ma suddenly pointed the gun at his own head, pulled the trigger with a loud click, and the bullet shot out the other side, hitting a distant tree.

This was sorcery—terrifying sorcery.

"I can make Ling'er forget her grandfather's death, but you must help me seize the territory of the aquatic tribe beneath Dragon Lake. You know, with so many people, we need a peaceful place to live."

Boss Ma finally revealed his true purpose—he was eyeing the aquatic tribe. Wujue felt more convinced that this fat man was cunning and sinister.

If Xiao Yang were here, perhaps he and Boss Ma would make quite a pair.

"Unless you let Xun'er return with me first, this deal is off." Wujue tried to bargain, having learned some tricks from Xiao Yang.

Boss Ma sat on the ground. "Xun'er can't leave, but I can offer you another bargaining chip. Look at your friend."

Immediately, someone pushed a ragged figure out of the tent, who collapsed at Wujue's feet. He helped him up and saw it was Xiao Han, missing for some time.

He couldn't help but laugh. "You really put me in a tough spot."

"You calculated all this long ago, didn't you?" Wujue carried Xiao Han on his back, hoping to resolve these matters quickly.

As Wujue walked away, Boss Ma called out, "Don't forget our deal. If you take too long, I might not be willing to let my daughter go."

Wujue walked away step by step, a chill growing in his heart: "A daughter, used as a bargaining chip for exchange? In the apocalypse, can people truly become so fractured, so split in mind!"

Xiao Han, barely conscious on his back, whispered, "Master, did I drag you into trouble again?"

"Not at all. You must remember, we are the closest family," Wujue said, pulling Xiao Han tighter onto his back. "No matter when or where, I will never abandon my family."

***

Above Lake Tai, after much effort, Xiao Yang finally finished organizing the airship.

Once everything was packed up, he gulped down a large bottle of mineral water and said, "Honestly, we need a pilot. Otherwise, I'm going to die from exhaustion."

An Yi laughed nearby, "Want to hire a beautiful woman? That way, you'd be even more comfortable."

Xiao Yang chuckled, "Just don't let it be a princess like you. I'd rather suffer alone. Isn't that right, Xiu Lun?"

But Xiu Lun was gazing at the scenery on the lake, unresponsive until Xiao Yang called him several times. He turned and said, "I sense Wujue and the others might be in danger. Princess, do you want to go help?"

An Yi's expression became somewhat awkward. She thought for a moment, stood up to leave, but suddenly heard someone shouting on the shore, "Everyone, look who's back!"

Wujue was waving to them, carrying the injured Xiao Han. Xun'er was nowhere to be seen.

An Yi and Xiu Lun hurried over, helping bring them back, and asked Wujue, "What happened? Xiao Han is so badly hurt. Where did you find him?"

Wujue recounted his encounter with Boss Ma and Ling'er. Hearing this, An Yi frowned, "How could you leave Xun'er there alone? How could you be at ease?"

Wujue hung his head in silence. "It was my oversight. Maybe I shouldn't have taken Xun'er away, but I believe she's safe. Boss Ma won't harm his own daughter for now."

"What conditions did they set?" Xiao Yang asked, immediately suspecting there was more to the story.

Wujue looked down at the lake and said, "They want us to negotiate with the aquatic tribe below."

"So that's it—they're searching for a paradise!" Xiao Yang laughed, "Master, what's your plan?"

"Of course, I won't do as they wish," Wujue replied, rising and patting Xiu Lun. "Take care of Xiao Han. The trouble I caused, I'll resolve myself."

With that, he dove into the lake, swimming alone toward the depths. Xiao Yang remarked, "Honestly, we could solve this together."

He glanced at An Yi, who showed no hesitation. She stood up, stretched, and said, "I'm going with him!"

She too jumped into the water, following after Wujue.

Once underwater, Wujue swam downward. The lakebed was unfathomably deep, with hidden currents making the descent increasingly difficult.

Soon, he sensed a powerful aura from the depths, likely from the aquatic tribe dwelling below.

Wujue adjusted his breath, probing below, and soon spotted a green turtle swimming toward him.

He spun quickly, brushing past the turtle, then grabbed and mounted it. Just then, Princess An Yi arrived, and together they subdued the turtle and rode it deeper toward the lake bottom.

After swimming for some time, unable to find a way forward, suddenly the lakebed shook violently, opening a fissure that flashed with dazzling light. From it emerged the young man they'd seen before.

The youth looked at them with displeasure and asked in a distorted voice, "Why did you come down here? What are you trying to do?"

Unable to speak underwater, Wujue used hand gestures to indicate they meant no harm. The youth swam up and pointed at the green turtle under them, "You're riding my family's turtle and claim no harm? Let it go. I'll send you out. If my father finds out, it won't end well."

They immediately got off the turtle. Wujue grabbed the youth, pointed at his mouth, then upward, meaning they needed a place to talk.

Unexpectedly, the fissure's light grew blinding, and as the three tangled, they were pulled into the crack by a powerful force.

Wujue felt dizzy, then his vision cleared. He found himself inside a transparent crystal palace. Legends spoke of the Dragon Palace beneath the sea, home of the Dragon King, a mythical place—could it be real?

He stood up alertly and looked around. An Yi was beside him, equally puzzled, while the youth was stomping his feet in frustration, certain his father would be angry.

Apocalypse Divine Martial 57—Apocalypse Divine Martial Full Free Reading—Chapter Fifty-Seven Aquatic Tribe Update Finished!