128: Return home
The murky water, carrying a faint scent of blood, flowed slowly within the dark cave.
Gao De coiled in the driest corner, his true form as a Purple Lightning Flood Dragon filling nearly half the space. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, his powerful Divine Sense spreading out like an invisible net, meticulously scanning every inch of the waters outside the cave.
After confirming that the Three-Headed Black Water Python had not pursued them and that no tracking marks remained on the three demons, his tense dragon body relaxed ever so slightly.
"My Lord, that three-headed beast shouldn't have followed us."
Green Edge's voice was raspy as his thick snake tail slapped the water surface impatiently. The wound on his ribs, corroded by poisonous miasma, still emitted a bloody stench, but he seemed not to care. In his crimson snake pupils, there was only the coldness of having escaped death and a lingering trace of ferocity.
Iron Pincer was nearby, using his intact giant pincer to clip the cracked edges of the shell on his other pincer with a "click-clack" sound that set one's teeth on edge. He grumbled, "A pity. We didn't even have time to search that place thoroughly before we were scared off by that crazy python's commotion."
As for the ten Demon Soldiers who failed to keep up, neither Green Edge, Iron Pincer, nor Gao De cared in the slightest.
In the Yunmeng Marsh, the demise of the weak was like a bursting bubble, an occurrence so common it wasn't worth mentioning.
To scout the path or cover the retreat for the strong was one of the reasons for their existence.
Gao De opened his vertical pupils, and a cold flash of Purple Lightning flickered deep within his eyes.
A faint light shimmered between his claws as a warm jade box and a spirit-absorbing jade bottle appeared out of thin air.
In an instant, a soft and pure radiance dispelled the gloom of the cave. An extremely pure botanical spiritual aura spread out, causing Green Edge and Iron Pincer to lift their heads almost simultaneously, their gazes fixed intently on it.
"thousand-year ethereal reed essence and reed heart jade marrow," Gao De said in a flat voice, as if describing ordinary items. "That long worm guarded these things, intending to use them when he attempted a Breakthrough to the fourth rank. Instead, we've benefited."
His gaze swept over the wounds on the two generals, and he casually tossed two small jade bottles to them. "Take these and tend to your wounds."
Green Edge's tongue flicked out, accurately wrapping around a jade bottle. A hint of greed and excitement flashed in his snake pupils as he tossed the entire bottle into his mouth.
Iron Pincer also hurriedly caught one with his giant pincer, his shell grinding with a dull thud.
Gao De ignored them and put away the main reed essence and jade marrow. Feeling the majestic energy contained within, he felt joy in his heart.
Losing a few Demon Soldiers in exchange for such natural treasures—this trade couldn't have been more worthwhile.
After meditating for about half a day, Gao De suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the cave. "It's time to move. We've been out for a long time; follow this King back to the Water Mansion."
Green Edge looked up, a subtle hint of doubt and curiosity flashing in his crimson snake pupils.
The Water Mansion? He wondered what this new master's lair was like. Having struggled on the outskirts of the Yunmeng Marsh for a long time, he didn't know much about that relatively "orderly" region.
Iron Pincer also stopped clipping his shell, his compound eyes rolling, clearly curious as well.
Gao De had no interest in explaining, his tone brook no argument. "This place is not safe to stay. Follow me."
The group left the cave silently. After sending a communication message back to the lair, they headed toward the outskirts of the Yunmeng Marsh under Gao De's lead.
As they advanced, Green Edge and Iron Pincer could clearly feel the changes in the surrounding waters.
The scattered Demonic Qi gradually grew sparse, replaced by a faint, planned sense of order.
The concentration of Spiritual Qi in the water was slowly thinning, seemingly constrained by some invisible force within the Yunmeng Marsh, preventing it from spreading outward.
When a vast area of water shrouded in the hazy spiritual light of a Formation appeared ahead, Gao De slowed down.
Green Edge and Iron Pincer instinctively slowed their swimming, warily and somewhat scrutinizingly observing this unfamiliar territory.
Beneath the Formation's light barrier, they could see the faint outlines of palaces and the towering stronghold known as "Qianjiao Cliff" at the distant intersection of water and land.
The patrolling squads of Demon Soldiers were well-organized, their Evil Qi restrained, far superior to the disorganized stragglers on the outskirts of the Yunmeng Marsh.
The spiritual plants in the water were arranged in an orderly fashion, and they could even see scenes of Human Cultivators and the Yao Race active in market areas.
"Such thin Spiritual Qi... and this Formation..." Green Edge hissed in a low voice, a flicker of surprise in his snake pupils.
He had originally thought this master was just a powerful, solitary Flood Dragon King, but he hadn't expected him to manage such a large-scale enterprise.
Iron Pincer's giant pincer opened and closed slightly as he felt the pressure in the water from the former Green Wave Sect's mountain-protecting Formation. He grumbled, "This place... is quite solid."
Gao De ignored the two generals' reactions, merely saying indifferently, "From now on, this is my territory. You can move your homes here later, but remember to follow the rules." Having said that, he led the way through the soft yet highly resistant Formation light barrier.
Green Edge and Iron Pincer dared not delay and followed closely behind.
The moment they crossed the light barrier, a more pure and surging Spiritual Qi rushed toward them, lifting their spirits and even seeming to alleviate their physical pain.
They looked back at the wider and more dangerous Yunmeng Marsh behind them, then at the orderly and resource-rich territory before them. An indescribable feeling grew in their hearts—perhaps surrendering to this master was the greatest fortune of their lives.
Returning to the familiar secret chamber at Qianjiao Cliff, Gao De immediately entered a long period of secluded cultivation, preparing to digest the gains from this expedition.
Inside the secret chamber, he carefully guided the reed heart jade marrow floating in mid-air.
As the jade marrow entered his body, it was like the purest nectar of heaven and earth, quietly soaking into every inch of his dragon body, cleansing the deep-seated ailments within his Bloodline and solidifying his Demonic Power Foundation.
He could feel his Bloodline slowly condensing and improving bit by bit under the power of the medicine... Before his seclusion, he had summoned the two demons, Green Edge and Iron Pincer.
Two small jade bottles floated before the two generals, the emerald-like liquid inside swirling with an enticing luster.
"You both played a significant role in this harvest. This portion is granted to you; I hope you use it well and strive for an early Breakthrough," Gao De's voice echoed through the water.
Green Edge and Iron Pincer's bodies trembled as they prostrated themselves respectfully. "Thank you for the gift, My Lord! We will not fail your expectations!" Their voices quivered slightly with excitement.
This small bottle of jade marrow was enough to save them decades of hard work.
Half a month later, after calming the agitation from consuming the jade marrow and feeling the medicine's power subtly nourishing his Bloodline, Gao De focused his attention on the thousand-year ethereal reed essence.
This was a rare and precious material, excellent for Artifact Refining and enhancing Magic Treasures, which happened to be exactly what his Magic Treasure needed.
He summoned the thunder fire from his Dantian and carefully refined the main stem of the reed essence, integrating it strand by strand into that ferocious thunder fang formation-breaking halberd.
Lightning and the jade-white radiance of the reed essence intertwined. The halberd's form became increasingly menacing, and amidst the swirling Purple Lightning, there was now an elusive, ethereal Concept; every swing seemed capable of swaying the mind.
As for that strange reed flower, he entrusted Green Edge to deliver it back.
In the deepest part of the Giant Demon Beehive, beside the Bee Queen, the calming radiance emitted by the reed flower quieted the busy swarm, making the royal jelly they produced even more crystal clear.
Ten years passed quietly in secluded cultivation and management.
The Giant Demon Beehive on the Flower Burial Plain had expanded into a towering complex of buildings, its obsidian-like hive structure breathing in massive amounts of Spiritual Qi under the Formation's glow.
Under Gao De's intervention, the bee colony had successfully split into new hives. The Spirit Medicine garden of the former Green Wave Sect and the Deep Pool Water Mansion became increasingly lively due to the arrival of the bee swarms.
Turtle Three Thousand managed the Human Cultivators under his command in an orderly fashion. The alchemy room's fires never went out, the spiritual fields were lush, and the underwater market gradually grew in scale. Through his coordination, various resources continuously supported the entire organization's operation.
Crab Eighteen and Shrimp No Shadow drilled the newly arrived Demon Soldiers. With ample resources and rigorous training, they had long since shed their undisciplined nature as wild demons. Evil Qi condensed within their ranks, and they obeyed every command, becoming a truly elite force.
Everything was developing in a positive direction, and the territory's map was quietly being solidified amidst its stability.