Chapter 1716: The Riddle Of Mansion Water (II)

Zeng Zan stared at him for a long while as Chi Buzi continued calmly, "Lakes and marshes are places where water is nurtured, with gathering and confluence supporting one another. If I truly succeed, could a noble descendant of Mansion Water such as you possibly be left with no one to rely upon?"

Zeng Zan pondered aloud, "But the Dragon Monarch and Mansion Water..."

The green-robed man stepped forward and said calmly, "I know that the Dragon Monarch does not wish to see Mansion Water grow powerful. An Intercalary Position alone may pose no concern, but once I pursue it, I will possess both the ambition and the possibility of pursuing a Fruition Position. Under ordinary circumstances, the Dragon Monarch might prefer to abandon me rather than allow Mansion Water to become powerful. But the present situation is different.

"What the dragons now seek through their pursuit of Truth is the Dao of the True Dragon!"

His eyes remained clear as he said, "If they fail, the consequences will overturn the world. They may not even retain the strength to defend the Eastern Sea, so how could they spare any attention for Mansion Water? Mansion Water will inevitably slip from their grasp. At the very least, I will have risen with their support, so our interests will align and we will share a measure of destiny.

"If they succeed, they will have even less reason to worry about me. Converging Water will no longer need to be synonymous with the dragons, and what would it matter if Mansion Water flourished? They will already stand one level above me, so naturally, I will have to remain perfectly obedient. There will be no need to concern themselves with such matters any longer."

The man gathered his sleeves and continued calmly, "This is also why I am certain that you will continue cultivating Mansion Water in your next life. You have deliberately remained at this step all this time to avoid provoking the Dragon Monarch, waiting until the greater situation is settled before pursuing Mansion Water."

Zeng Zan studied him for a long time before asking quietly, "Since you have calculated everything so clearly, and understand that my destined opportunity will come after the dragons seek the Dao, are you not afraid that my ambitions may be greater still? That I might resent you for taking the first step and stealing my opportunity for Fruition Attainment?"

Zeng Zan's tone had already changed, but Chi Buzi merely smiled. "Of course not. The Profound Softshell Turtle was grievously betrayed back then, and as its descendant, you remain deeply afraid... Who knows whether the dragons would even permit you to ascend to that position? No matter how one considers it, I am a more suitable candidate than you."

He stepped forward, the depths of his eyes impossible to fathom, and smiled faintly. "I came here today to make you understand one thing. Only after I attain the Dao will an opportunity arise for you to do the same."

Zeng Zan stared at him for a long time. At that moment, his resolve began to waver as he thought, He... may truly possess that sliver of opportunity!

The old demon replied darkly, "What do you want?"

Chi Buzi's eyes brightened slightly as his gaze shifted from Zeng Zan's face to his forehead. "I want a pair of horns from you."

The old demon fell silent, while Chi Buzi continued with undisguised ambition, "I am currently cultivating Mansion Water's [Morning Cold Rain]. It resembles [Clear Dusk Rain], and originates from a lone surviving ancient text. It harmonizes the Daos of Pristine Water and Mansion Water, and is indeed exceptionally well suited to me. Unfortunately, I have no mastery of Mansion Water, so my cultivation progresses extremely slowly.

"If I can obtain your horns, grind them into powder, brew them into a decoction, and consume it every year, they will first increase the mana of my divine abilities. Second, through your bloodline as a descendant of the Profound Softshell Turtle, they will grant me a greater affinity with Mansion Water."

He made no attempt to conceal the greed in his eyes as he spoke. Zeng Zan raised his head, stared at him intently, and said darkly, "I do not begrudge you a pair of Profound Horns. However, you have always treated human lives like blades of grass, Chi Buzi. You break your word, and are both greedy and vicious. You claim that you will help me after attaining the Dao, but how could I possibly trust you?"

Chi Buzi was briefly taken aback. His handsome features twisted before he burst into laughter. "You certainly would not believe any promise I made, and your concerns are entirely justified. Whether I will help you is indeed difficult to say. But senior! If you refuse to help me, I will take revenge once I attain the Dao!"

He shrugged, and his immortal bearing finally vanished altogether, replaced by an amused smile. "Or perhaps I... will simply take them myself!"

Zeng Zan silently stared at him as a strange feeling suddenly welled within his heart, Chi Wei was a petty man, yet even he acted openly and honorably at times... This junior of Chi Wei's, however, acts openly and honorably while scorning both morality and propriety. He is an evil man who will stop at nothing, a true fiend who commits his wickedness openly and without shame!

The two silently faced each other over the sea as the thunder overhead grew ever louder. Dense purple lightning covered the sky, while roiling clouds were drawn by [Heavy Murk] and poured downward like a waterfall.

Rumble!

Towering waves crashed back into the sea with an earthshaking roar. The treasure cauldron's radiance abruptly contracted, and a pair of Profound Horns appeared in Chi Buzi's hand.

The horns were originally each as large as a mountain peak, but divine ability mana had reduced them until they resembled two short swords that he could grasp in one hand. Profound patterns resembling waves upon a lake spread across their surfaces, emitting halos of pale white light. They were clearly treasures of extraordinary profundity!

Yet Chi Buzi did not spare the horns in his hand a glance. Instead, he watched Zeng Zan intently, seemingly probing his condition. The enormous green cauldron in the sky continued radiating light, while [Heavy Murk] emanated waves of lethal energy.

The young man stared absently at the old demon before him without saying a word. His expression held a trace of amusement, as though he were concerned, yet also harboring some deeper intention.

He asked darkly, "Old senior... Are you quite all right?"

A green-backed softshell turtle would inevitably be weakened after losing its horns. What were two mere Profound Horns compared to an entire green-backed softshell turtle? As for everything he had just said... What did it matter whether it was true or false?

Yet Zeng Zan remained calm and replied, "I shed those horns when I crossed the Purple Mansion Threshold."

"Oh."

Every phenomenon in the sky receded at once. Chi Buzi showed not the slightest embarrassment at having his scheme exposed. Instead, he smacked his lips in disappointment, clasped one hand behind his back, and smiled while holding the pair of horns in the other. "I have such profound respect for you, senior. It was merely a little joke, so please do not take it to heart."

Despite his words, the treasure cauldron in the sky showed no sign of being withdrawn.

Zeng Zan remained expressionless as he leaped into the air and transformed, once again becoming an enormous green-backed softshell turtle the size of a mountain. He unleashed an earthshaking roar, and the pair of brilliant green Profound Horns upon his head radiated vast Mansion Water light.

Rumble!

Only after seeing those Profound Horns with his own eyes did Chi Buzi reluctantly put away his spirit treasure. With a gentle sweep of his sleeve, he reappeared some distance away, effortlessly evading every pale illusion that swept toward him.

He said with perfect courtesy, "Safe travels, senior!"

The waves roared with earthshaking force as the green-backed softshell turtle spanning the sky vanished at the same time. Chi Buzi patted his sleeves and dispersed the Mansion Water mystics clinging to his body, lamenting, "He has lived too long. He is not easy to fool..."

He brought the two long horns in his left hand before him and examined them carefully. There was not the slightest joy in his expression at obtaining such crucial treasures. Instead, he regarded them with cold, condescending scrutiny.

The surrounding wind and rain ceased in an instant. The confidence and uninhibited arrogance he had displayed while discussing the Mansion Water Dao lineage vanished from him as though they had been nothing but an illusion. Chi Buzi shifted his gaze away from the Profound Horns in his hand and toward the tranquil surface of the sea.

A silver figure stood in the distance. This man had a face as flawless as polished jade, brows extending toward his temples, a prominent nose, and a broad forehead. A pair of long silver horns grew from his head, and his pale blue eyes gazed into the distance.

Behind him, an enormous beast as massive as a mountain floated low upon the sea, with an unbroken expanse of palaces rising across its back. Chi Buzi's expression gradually turned solemn.

A Dragon King...

He had long suspected that the dragons were watching him, so his expression remained unchanged. Circulating his divine ability, he reappeared ten paces away from the enormous beast. No Demon King came forward to stop him. The descendant of the Hornless Dragon appeared to be standing alone upon the water, continuing to admire the distant scenery.

Chi Buzi narrowed his eyes slightly as he thought, Such imposing grandeur... Even an ordinary Dragon King would not travel upon a mount of this scale... He is probably a crown prince or someone who serves at the Dragon Monarch's side...

Wariness rose within him as he slowly stepped forward and bowed. "This humble cultivator greets the Dragon King!"

The silver-robed young man did not turn around. He merely gestured for silence, watching the distance with considerable interest.

Chi Buzi could not fathom the dragon's intentions. He bowed lightly and followed the direction of the man's gaze. As he narrowed his eyes, his divine ability mana immediately brought the distant, hazy scenery into clear view.

This is... Merging Fire...

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