339: Chapter 339 Tripartite Convergence

On the other side, in the reef belt on the outskirts of the Heavenly Pool.

Chu Sheng, Jiuer, and The Bald Monk were moving rapidly, the water waves beneath their feet parting as they passed, leaving behind fleeting white lines.

They had just rounded a dense coral thicket when a figure suddenly blocked the curtain of water ahead.

The figure was not tall, but stood very firmly, like a wooden stake driven into the middle of the path.

Chu Sheng stopped abruptly.

Jiuer and The Bald Monk also halted their movements at the same time.

The person behind the water curtain slowly turned around, revealing a face with a hint of heroic spirit.

Princess Zhu Xue.

She was wearing a martial outfit already soaked by the water, the hem of her clothes still dripping, but her gaze was very calm.

Seeing Chu Sheng, she raised her eyebrows slightly.

"It really is you."

Chu Sheng did not respond, his gaze falling on the hilt of her sword.

Princess Zhu Xue seemed to notice his wariness and took the initiative to explain.

"I came out to check on the activity on the outskirts. It's too chaotic inside now, and staying there just gets in the way."

Her tone was very casual, as if she were stating something that had nothing to do with her.

Chu Sheng said, "Then what does Princess Zhu Xue intend to do now?"

Princess Zhu Xue was silent for a moment, then smiled.

The smile was faint, carrying the unique interest of a martial arts fanatic seeing an interesting opponent.

"I originally came out to investigate. But since I've run into you..."

She took a step forward, one hand already pressed onto the hilt of her sword.

"The last fight wasn't finished, and you deliberately held back. I know."

"This time, don't hold back."

Chu Sheng looked at her without speaking.

He knew that without dealing with her, it would be difficult for them to pass through this area smoothly.

He turned to look at Jiuer; she did not speak, only nodded slightly.

Chu Sheng withdrew his gaze and drew the zhu xian sword.

"Very well. Then I will offend you."

Princess Zhu Xue did not wait for him to strike first; her figure had already moved.

Her speed was faster than last time, her fist breaking through the water curtain with a sharp and direct force.

Princess Zhu Xue did not pull back, her punches continuous and relentless, as if trying to force Chu Sheng back behind the reef.

But Chu Sheng did not retreat.

He drew his sword, harder and more direct than last time, with no unnecessary flourishes.

The two exchanged over a dozen moves; the water curtain was shredded by Sword Qi, and several nearby reefs were sliced in half.

Princess Zhu Xue felt more and more that something was wrong as they fought. Although Chu Sheng's sword style lacked Killing Intent, every strike precisely pressed against her openings.

On the twelfth move, Chu Sheng suddenly changed his technique, the sword blade turning sideways.

Chu Sheng did not stop, his other hand already striking her shoulder and neck, the force controlled just right.

Princess Zhu Xue's body stiffened for a moment, then, like a severed log, she fell toward the shallows behind the reef.

Chu Sheng reached out to support her shoulder, leaning her against a smooth reef so she wouldn't fall directly into the water.

He sheathed his sword, looked down at her, and confirmed she was still breathing before turning to nod at Jiuer and The Bald Monk.

"Let's go."

The three continued on their way, dashing toward the direction of the treasury.

Meanwhile, on another path on the outskirts of the Heavenly Pool, a figure was moving at high speed.

He wore a black cloak and his face was obscured, but he moved extremely fast, each step precisely landing in the gaps between the reefs and the water flow.

His destination was also the treasury.

He was Wan Qiba.

He had just emerged from a hidden reef cave, originally intending to rendezvous with Zhu Yin.

But he had not received a response from Zhu Yin for a long time, so he immediately thought of the worst-case scenario: Zhu Yin was trapped, the conspiracy had been discovered, and the old Dragon was not dead.

He immediately changed his route.

He did not go to save Zhu Yin, nor did he pay any more attention to Jiuer.

He knew that once Zhu Yin was trapped, the so-called "Joint Respect for the Western Regions" had already become empty talk.

And he had already paid too high a price.

He could not afford to lose anything more.

He had to enter the treasury as quickly as possible and take what he needed before everyone else realized what was happening.

His face appeared exceptionally pale beneath the black robe, yet his eyes flashed with a near-manic light.

"Success means becoming the master of the Western Regions; failure means..."

He muttered to himself, but did not finish the second half of the sentence.

He quickened his pace, his figure receding further into the night, as if trying to beat everyone else to open that door.

Deep in the Dragon Palace, the entrance to the treasury was getting closer and closer.

Chu Sheng, Jiuer, and The Bald Monk could already vaguely see that stone door in the distance.

At the same moment, at the end of another water corridor, a black shadow was also dashing in that direction.

And further away, the old Dragon, shrouded in Death Qi, was also dashing toward the direction of the treasury.

Three parties, each with different goals, were converging on the same place from different directions.

No one knew that the other two parties were also on the way.