12: conflict.

Just as the Lin Family Old Ancestor was enraged by the theft and pointed the finger directly at the Zhu Family, an unusual tension indeed permeated the Pig Dragon Zhu Family's internal affairs. However, this tension didn't stem from any guilty conscience but from a major event concerning the Family's future—

Of their two Second Order Pig Dragons, which served as the Family's guardian Spirit Beasts, the female one had a fully developed Spiritual Fetus in its belly and was about to lay eggs!

Reproduction for High-Rank Yao Beasts is already difficult, especially for Pig Dragons whose bodies contain a trace of Azure Water flood dragon bloodline. Every successful conception and egg-laying is a huge blessing and a massive challenge for the Zhu Family.

The newborn Pig Dragon Young possess immense potential and are the guarantee of the Family's future; however, during the egg-laying period, the female Spirit Beast becomes relatively weak and requires strict protection, while the newly laid Beast Eggs and Young are highly susceptible to covetousness.

The Zhu Family Old Ancestor had long ago ordered the Clan members to keep an extremely low profile, restrict their range of activity, and strengthen the defenses of the core area, hoping to pass this sensitive period peacefully.

However, the Lin Family's sudden and clearly hostile actions—sending additional Scouts to monitor, secretly offering rewards, and mobilizing forces—rang out in the Zhu Family like a clap of thunder.

"Old Ancestor! The Lin Family's sudden shift must be aimed at us!" a Core Elder of the Zhu Family reported worriedly. "Could it be... that the news of our Spirit Beast about to lay eggs has leaked?"

The Zhu Family Clan Chief, seated at the head, had a face so grim it looked like it could drip water. He heavily slammed the armrest of his chair, his voice filled with suppressed fury:

"It must be! That old dog from the Lin Family definitely got the news!

He either wants to take advantage of our Clan Spirit Beast's weak egg-laying period to attack and settle grudges hundreds of years old!

Or... he's eyeing the Beast Eggs and Young Beasts that are about to be laid!"

In his view, the Lin Family choosing this precise moment to set up such a Formation, neither early nor late, made their intentions obvious!

That so-called "Fish Demon Theft" is simply a clumsy excuse they deliberately fabricated to cover up their true intentions!

Perhaps that so-called "Fish Demon" is just a trick the Lin Family concocted themselves to distract attention!

"What a vicious scheme!" The Zhu Family Old Ancestor grew more alarmed the more he thought about it. "If the Spirit Beast or the Beast Eggs are lost, our Zhu Family Foundation will be shaken, and his Lin Family can seize the opportunity to annex us!"

Thinking of this, he hesitated no longer and sternly commanded:

"Pass down the order! Immediately recall all Clan members who are outside! Activate the Family Protecting Great Formation to the highest alert level!

Release all domesticated Pig Dragons, including those at the First Rank Peak, to patrol the outer perimeter of the Family's Waters and give warning!

Immediately contact the Envoy under the Demon King Fushui, explain the situation, and request that the Envoy, for the sake of past relations, provide assistance if necessary!"

Instantly, the Zhu Family Island Formation glowed brightly, and streams of water vapor ascended, forming a thicker layer of protection.

Pig Dragons, enormous in size, covered in thick Scales, resembling Giant Crocodiles but bearing a unicorn horn on their heads, let out deep roars as they swam in the water, their scarlet eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings. The entire Zhu Family was like a startled hedgehog, raising all its spikes, ready for battle.

The Zhu Family's reaction, as if facing a formidable enemy, was naturally observed by the Lin Family's Scouts and quickly reported back.

"Old Ancestor! The Zhu Family has suddenly gone into full alert, with all Formations activated, even releasing those Precious Treasure Pig Dragons!

Judging by this posture, they clearly have a guilty conscience and are preparing to fight us to the death!" A Lin Family Elder reported urgently.

Upon hearing this, the Lin Family Old Ancestor's eyes shone with even colder light, and he sneered, "It's exactly as I expected! They've been exposed and are jumping the gun!

Pass down my order: raise the Family's Combat Readiness Rank, and all Disciples must be ready for deployment at any moment!

At the same time, increase the reward amount by thirty percent! We must find that 'Fish Demon' and secure the evidence before the Zhu Family can make a move. Then let's see what that Old Ghost Zhu has to say!"

Thus, the Lin and Zhu Families were completely trapped in a logical deadlock: "You suspect me of stealing fish and plotting ill intent, and I suspect you of using an excuse to steal my Beast Eggs."

Both sides believed the other harbored malicious intentions, aiming to deliver a fatal blow when they were most vulnerable.

The atmosphere in this area of Dongting Lake instantly became tense, thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Loose Cultivators and Minor Families keenly sensed the abnormality between the two Foundation Establishment Families and quickly steered clear, fearing they would be dragged into the impending conflict.

And the true instigator of all this—Gao De—was currently hiding deep beneath the lake, feeling the tension and murderous Qi in the water that had almost solidified, and his heart was also solemn.

"Have they started fighting? Or are they about to?" He couldn't know the exact reason, but he could sense that the waters had been stirred up considerably by his theft.

"Danger, but also opportunity..." A calculated gleam flashed in his cold Vertical Pupils.

If the two Families truly engaged in a major battle, they would inevitably be preoccupied. Both the Lin Family's search for him and the possible Water Purification patrols might significantly decrease in intensity.

Perhaps... he could even take advantage of the chaos to gain some more benefits?

However, the top priority remains hiding himself and increasing his strength.

He once again calmed his mind, circulated the Dragon Transformation Merit, absorbing the sparse Spiritual Qi in the water, while silently familiarizing himself with the combined use of Size As Desired and Water Escape.

He was like a pebble thrown into a torrent; though small himself, he had inadvertently changed the flow of the entire lake.

And he himself had to strive to swim deeper and farther within this turbulent undercurrent he had created... Feeling the significantly increased Demonic Power in his body from consuming the Golden Scale Carp, and the various mysterious changes brought about by his Bloodline Breakthrough past 30%, Gao De had a clearer perception and plan for the road ahead.

He lay coiled in a hidden Cave, the light of calculation flickering within his cold Vertical Pupils.

"Based on the current progress and feeling, if I can find resources similar to the Golden Scale Carp, or even better Nourishing Resources containing flood dragon bloodline, raising my Bloodline to fifty percent should allow me to naturally Break through to the Second Order Wisdom Attainment Realm!" This goal made his heart burn.

The Second Rank not only meant the complete awakening of Intelligence and a qualitative change in Demonic Power, but more crucially, reaching half Bloodline concentration would likely trigger a Preliminary Morphological Evolution!

"Even if it's just growing a pair of true Flood Dragon Whiskers, or a unicorn horn sprouting from the top of my head, it will be a qualitative leap!" Gao De yearned.

The ultimate goal of the Dragon Fish Bloodline is Dragon Transformation, and the Flood Dragon is a vital form on the path to True Dragon.

Even manifesting a trace of the Flood Dragon Form would bring about an increase in strength and a natural coercion over the Water Race that would far surpass his current state.

However, opportunity always coexists with risk. The greatest immediate concern was the Green Wave Sect's damned Water Purification operation. Through the information continuously provided by Lin Xiaofan and his own analysis, he gained a deeper understanding of the nature of this operation.

This so-called Water Purification, nominally intended to clean the water and maintain the Purity of the Spiritual Veins, was actually more like an unspoken agreement and contest between the Green Wave Sect and the forces deep within Dongting Lake.

The scope of the operation is usually controlled within a Hundred Li of the shore, without venturing too deep into the Lake's Center. Its deeper purpose is probably to regularly clear out and deter the spies and moles that might be sent or planted by the Demon Kings in the lake, maintaining the Green Wave Sect's absolute control over the Near-Shore Area, while not overly provoking the powerful entities in the center of the lake.

"The scope is within a Hundred Li... won't go too deep..." Gao De seized upon the crucial detail. This meant he wasn't without a place to escape.

A clear countermeasure formed in his mind: "When the time comes, I'll just run towards the Depths of Lake!"

Dongting Lake is vast and boundless. The deeper one goes, the thicker the Spiritual Qi might be, but it also means fewer traces of Human Cultivators, more unknown waters for hiding, and potentially encountering other Yao Race forces.

That area is the edge of the Green Wave Sect's influence and the territory controlled by the truly powerful Demon Kings in the lake.

Although venturing deep is also dangerous, potentially encountering more formidable Water Race Essence Spirits, it undoubtedly offers a greater chance of survival and maneuverability than being precisely located and ruthlessly cleared out by Green Wave Sect Cultivators.

"I must plan my route in advance and find several Deep-Water Areas or Complex Waters suitable for temporary concealment."

Gao De made up his mind. He no longer confined his attention to the relatively familiar Near-Shore Area but began, consciously or unconsciously, to gather information through Lin Xiaofan about the waters deeper in the Lake's Center, the direction of undercurrents, and potential danger zones.

At the same time, he practiced Water Escape and Water Control Art even more diligently, striving to possess faster speed and more flexible adaptability when fleeing.

The tense standoff between the Lin and Zhu Families temporarily diverted some of the Lin Family's attention from him, this "Small Fish," but this was only temporary.

He had to utilize this precious time window to make full preparations for the impending Water Purification and his future Deep-Water Journey.

The path to dragon transformation is long and arduous. The current crisis might just be the catalyst forcing him to leave his Comfort Zone and swim toward a broader world.

He calmed his mind and immersed himself in Cultivation once more, the Golden Patterns on his Scales flickering faintly in the dark water.