164: Gathering at Sanhai City

"Revered Master." Jian Chen bowed, his voice soft and gentle, fearing he might disturb his Revered Master's cultivation.

True Lord Wan Jian slowly opened his eyes, his gaze landing on Jian Chen with a hint of insight. "Have you received the communication from Jia Wenmo?"

Jian Chen nodded and handed over the Communication Jade Talisman. "Yes, Revered Master. City Lord Jia says that traces of a Black Dragon have been discovered near Three Seas City and hopes we can go to assist in slaying it completely."

True Lord Wan Jian took the jade talisman, his fingertips gently brushing over its surface, sensing the fluctuations of spiritual power within.

A moment later, he lowered his eyes in thought. The bronze sword on the table suddenly emitted a crisp " Buzz" (humming) sound, and the blade burst forth with a dazzling cyan light, instantly illuminating the solemnity in his eyes.

"As for that Black Dragon of the Yin Spirit Clan, when we joined forces to severely injure it back then, although we destroyed thirty percent of its cultivation, we failed to wound its foundation. Now that it dares to appear again, either its injuries have somewhat recovered, or it has found new support. However, since Jia Wenmo has found its tracks, now is the perfect time to pull up the weeds and dig out the roots—you must go on this trip."

Jian Chen felt a shiver in his heart, then bowed to accept the order. His gaze swept across the continuous Sword Tomb outside the hall, where the cenotaph of his Junior Brother, Jian Xin, was buried, and a sense of responsibility surged in his heart. "Rest assured, Revered Master. This Disciple will definitely not let the Black Dragon have another chance to wreak havoc; I will surely slay this scourge."

True Lord Wan Jian nodded and flicked his sleeve gently. A Jade Slip covered in runes floated in front of Jian Chen. "This communication Jade Slip contains a strand of my spiritual power. If you encounter danger, crush it, and I will be able to sense your location and rush over to support you as quickly as possible. I will hold down the fort here at the manor, and I have already reinforced the Mountain Protecting Grand Array. You just focus on your task; there is no need to worry."

Jian Chen reached out and took the Jade Slip. It felt slightly cool to the touch, and the runes on it seemed to have a life of their own, dancing lightly against his fingertips. He bowed once more, then turned and exited the Qingxiu Hall.

After bidding farewell to his Revered Master, Jian Chen returned to his residence, packed a few commonly used Magical Artifacts, and then, carrying his azure edge sword, arrived at the Sword Riding Platform of the manor.

He tapped his toes lightly on the ground, his body soaring into the air. Stepping onto his azure edge sword, a layer of pale cyan spiritual power instantly wrapped around his body, and he sped off like a shooting star in the direction of Three Seas City.

The sea of clouds along the way retreated rapidly beneath his feet. White clouds were churned into endless turbulence by the stream of spiritual power. Beside his ears, there was only the whistling wind, sounding like countless vengeful spirits whispering.

Jian Chen's brow was tightly furrowed, and a string remained taut in his heart—although the Black Dragon was severely injured, its Soul Transformation Realm cultivation could not be underestimated. Moreover, the Yin Spirit Clan had always been adept at concealment and sneak attacks; no one knew if some conspiracy was hidden behind this.

He subconsciously touched the communication Jade Slip in his robes, the warmth in his palm making him feel slightly more at ease.

Halfway through his journey, a plain white figure suddenly darted out from the clouds. Moving extremely fast, the figure flicked a horsetail whisk in his hand, and a gentle wave of spiritual power blocked Jian Chen's path.

Jian Chen felt a shiver in his heart and immediately slowed down. The azure edge sword stopped in the clouds, and his spiritual power instantly surged, preparing him for battle.

"Fellow Daoist Jian Chen, have you been well?" The plain white figure slowly descended, revealing an elegant face; it was none other than Shangguan Jing of the Beast Taming Sect.

He was dressed in a white Daoist robe, riding the Five Elements Bull Demon, his eyes clear and filled with a hint of surprise and familiarity.

Seeing that it was Shangguan Jing, Jian Chen lowered his guard slightly, reined in his spiritual power, and cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoist Shangguan, I did not expect to meet you here. I wonder if your journey is also for the matter of the Black Dragon?"

Shangguan Jing chuckled and nodded. "Exactly. Three days ago, I received a communication from City Lord Jia saying that traces of the Black Dragon had been discovered, so I set off immediately. I thought I would be traveling alone, but I did not expect to be able to travel with you, Fellow Daoist; that saves quite a bit of trouble."

The two stood side by side on the clouds. After some conversation, they confirmed that their objectives were the same and immediately decided to travel together.

With a companion to help, not only would they have an extra layer of security when dealing with the Black Dragon, but it also made them more convinced that the matter Jia Wenmo communicated was by no means false—after all, if the traces of the Black Dragon were not certain, their respective Sects, which were far apart, would not have coincidentally received the invitation at the same time.

Along the way, the two had perfect tacit understanding, both traveling at full speed. Jian Chen's azure edge sword was extremely fast, with pale cyan spiritual power spreading out like wings around him. Shangguan Jing rode the Five Elements Bull Demon; as his tamed beast, the Five Elements Bull Demon was also at the Mid Fourth Tier Stage, so their speeds were comparable.

The journey that originally required seven days was completed in just five days, thanks to their all-out efforts, as they arrived at Three Seas City.

Just as they reached the gates of Three Seas City, they saw that quite a few people had already gathered there, and at the head of them was none other than Jia Wenmo, the City Lord of Three Seas City.

He wore dark red City Lord attire, with a jade pendant carved with wave patterns tied at his waist. His face was handsome, but there was an undisguisable urgency between his brows.

Seeing Jian Chen and Shangguan Jing arrive, he immediately stepped forward quickly, a look of joy appearing on his face. "You two Fellow Daoists have finally arrived! Come with me into the mansion quickly; the matter of the Black Dragon brooks no delay and requires careful deliberation."

Following Jia Wenmo through the bustling streets, the common people of Three Seas City came and went, most with peaceful expressions, clearly unaware that a crisis was about to descend.

Jian Chen and Shangguan Jing exchanged a glance, both seeing a trace of solemnity in the other's eyes—if the Black Dragon were to wreak havoc in the city, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Before long, the group arrived at the Three Seas City Lords Mansion. The buildings within the mansion were magnificent, and the courtyard was planted with many exotic flowers and herbs, emitting a faint, lingering fragrance. Spiritual Tea had already been prepared in the reception hall.

The teacups were carved from fine white jade, and the tea soup was clear and bright. Before even tasting it, a refreshing fragrance wafted toward them—the kind of aroma that only Cloud Mist Tea grown beside a thousand-year-old Spiritual Vein could possess.

Yet, Shangguan Jing had no heart to savor this Spiritual Tea. As soon as he sat down in the guest seat, he looked impatiently at Jia Wenmo, his tone carrying a hint of urgency. "City Lord Jia, I wonder where the Black Dragon is now?"

"Since we have already arrived, why not hurry over to slay it as soon as possible, so as to avoid any complications arising from delay."

"This evil creature is extremely cunning; if it senses any movement, it will be difficult to find its traces again." Jian Chen nodded in agreement.

His gaze swept across the reception hall, but he did not see the figure of True Lord Sanhai, so he asked in confusion. "Fellow Daoist Shangguan is absolutely right. Furthermore, observing the situation in the mansion, it seems I do not see the figure of True Lord Sanhai? The True Lord is at the Late Nascent Soul Stage; with his assistance, our chances of slaying the Black Dragon would increase by a few points."

Jia Wenmo's hand, holding the teacup, paused for a moment. He then set the teacup down, a look of apologetic smiling appearing on his face.

He explained, "Do not be anxious, you two Fellow Daoists. After my Revered Master learned of the Black Dragon's traces yesterday, he said he needed to refine a Medicinal Pill for healing, saying that this pill could assist us in recovering spiritual power when fighting the Black Dragon. He is currently in seclusion in the pill room, and it is said that he will finish before long."

"As for the location of the Black Dragon, it is a matter of great importance. My Revered Master was worried about the news leaking out, so he only told me the general direction. As for the specific location, we must wait for him to come out of seclusion to tell us personally."

"My Revered Master's intention was for me to invite you two Fellow Daoists first; I ask that you wait a moment." With matters having reached this point, Jian Chen and Shangguan Jing could only suppress the urgency in their hearts and silently picked up their teacups to drink.

The Spiritual Tea was sweet upon entering the mouth, sliding down the throat. A gentle wave of spiritual power instantly spread through their limbs and bones, refreshing their spirits. Yet, even so, it was difficult to calm the anxiety in their hearts—the Black Dragon was exceptionally cunning, and its cultivation was unfathomable. If they delayed too long, and it sensed something amiss and fled back into the deep sea, then trying to find its traces again would truly be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Jian Chen unconsciously rubbed the edge of the teacup with his fingers, his gaze landing outside the window. The leaves of the old locust tree in the courtyard trembled slightly, as if even the wind carried a hint of unease. He always felt something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed, and there was still no movement from the pill room. Shangguan Jing finally could not hold back any longer. With a " Bang" (bang), he set down his teacup, his tone carrying a hint of urging. "City Lord Jia, so much time has passed; why has True Lord Sanhai not come out yet?"

"If we delay any longer, and the Black Dragon escapes, all our previous preparations will be in vain!" "At that time, not only will the common people of the East Sea Region suffer, but we, too, will have no face to face those souls who died because of the Black Dragon!"

His voice had just fallen when the temperature in the reception hall plummeted suddenly. A thick, chilling Yin energy spread out without warning, as if countless ice needles were pricking people's skin. Immediately following this, a low and disdainful voice echoed in the reception hall. The voice was hoarse and unpleasant, carrying the peculiar, eerie tone unique to the Yin Spirit Clan, as if it had come from the Nine Nether Regions: "Do not worry, I will not run."

Jian Chen and Shangguan Jing's expressions changed drastically, and they abruptly stood up from their seats. Their spiritual power surged instantly, and the azure edge sword and jade horsetail whisk simultaneously hovered in front of them, emitting a biting aura. They scanned every corner of the reception hall vigilantly, beads of sweat seeping from their palms—the chilling Yin energy in this voice was exactly the same as the aura of the Yin Spirit Clan; there could be no mistake!

Under their tense gaze, they saw the floor in the very center of the reception hall suddenly split open. Black mist continuously poured out from the crack, condensing into a huge black shadow in mid-air.

The black shadow gradually became clear, revealing the appearance of the Black Dragon—it had a massive body, its scales as black as ink, shimmering with a cold luster. A pair of scarlet eyes stared fixedly at Jian Chen and Shangguan Jing, and the corners of its mouth curled into a cruel smile.

"Myriad Spirits Manor and the Beast Taming Sect; the grudge from your two great factions some time ago can finally be repaid." The Black Dragon's voice carried a hint of mockery. Before the two could respond, it continued, "Rest assured, I will not let you two die easily; hehehe..."

That hoarse, mocking voice, as if coming from the Nine Nether Hell, echoed endlessly in the reception hall! Every word was like an invisible heavy hammer, smashing fiercely into the hearts of Shangguan Jing and True Lord Jian Chen!

"Black Dragon?!" In Shangguan Jing's eyes, which were filled with majesty, a terrifying brilliance instantly burst forth! The spiritual power within his body roared into motion! Streams of five-colored divine light swirled endlessly around him, setting him off as if he were a... deity in charge of the Five Elements!

Beside him, True Lord Jian Chen's pupils also contracted violently! Although he did not speak, the hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist already had veins bulging! A "sharp" Sword Intent capable of tearing the sky apart soared into the heavens! The tables, chairs, and tea sets throughout the reception hall actually cracked inch by inch under the pressure of this Sword Intent!

"How is this possible?!" "You... how could you be here?!" On True Lord Jian Chen's face, which had always been as calm as an ancient well, was finally written unprecedented shock and... disbelief!

They had never dreamed that this so-called "Dragon Slaying Plan", from beginning to end, was a complete and utter scam! And that so-called "target"—the Soul Transformation Realm Black Dragon of the Yin Spirit Clan! It actually... actually was hiding right here in this Three Seas City Lords Mansion!

In the blink of an eye! A thought that made their scalps tingle suddenly surged into their minds! A trap! This was a sure-kill situation aimed at the two of them! Three Seas City... had long been in cahoots with that Yin Spirit Clan!

"Jia Wenmo!!!" Shangguan Jing's roar, filled with endless fury, exploded! "You actually dared to collude with the Yin Spirit Clan demons and harm Fellow Daoists?!" "What about True Lord Sanhai?! Has he also betrayed the East Sea Region?!"

He couldn't understand it! He truly couldn't understand it! As a top faction of the East Sea Region, why would Three Seas City do such a thing of "digging its own grave"?!

"Hehe..." However, facing Shangguan Jing's questioning that was almost spitting fire, a smile filled with "pity" and "mockery" appeared on Jia Wenmo's face. That smile was as if he were looking at a... clown who was about to die!

"True Lord Sanhai?" He picked up the teacup and took a light sip, his calm and breezy appearance as if everything was under control! "Sect Master Shangguan, I'm afraid you have misunderstood something." "He..." The corners of Jia Wenmo's mouth turned up slightly, curling into a cruel arc.

"—is nothing more than a dog raised by Jia!" "As for now..." He paused, his gentle voice speaking the coldest words. "A dead dog, why mention him?"

Boom——!!!!!! Earth-shattering! Once these words were spoken, it was no less than a Nine Heavens divine thunder, smashing fiercely into the minds of Shangguan Jing and True Lord Jian Chen! The dignified Late Nascent Soul Stage, True Lord Sanhai! Actually... was just a dog raised by Jia Wenmo?! And! He was already... dead?!

"By the way, there is one more thing that Jia needs to correct." Just as the two were shaken to the core, Jia Wenmo's leisurely voice sounded again. He extended a finger, first pointing at the Black Dragon beside him, which was emitting monstrous demonic might, and then pointed to himself.

"It is not that Jia colludes with the Yin Spirit Clan." "But rather..." "It, now, is also a dog of mine!" Once these words were spoken, in the eyes of the Soul Transformation Realm Black Dragon, which were burning with netherworld ghost fire, a trace of displeasure and... humiliation clearly flashed! But! It ultimately said nothing at all! It coldly snorted, which counted as... tacit agreement!