42: mutation

Follow-up news on the forum stated that immediately after its Breakthrough, Demon King Fushui disappeared without hesitation, abandoning the Dongting Lake foundation it had built for a thousand years!

Witnesses swore that they saw the Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon that appeared in Black Water Stream a few years ago, carrying overwhelming rage, transform into a streak of green light and chase toward the Southern Hundred Thousand Mountains!

"An ordinary man is innocent, but harboring a treasure makes him guilty." Gao De understood instantly.

Demon King Fushui obtained a heaven-sent Opportunity, but also became a target for all, especially that Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon which also thirsted for the Dragon Pearl; it would never let him go.

He could only abandon his foundation and flee to the ends of the earth.

On the forum, various analysis posts emerged one after another.

Some "relevant individuals" speculated that Demon King Fushui had occupied the bottom of Dongting Lake for a thousand years and knew the underwater topography like the back of his hand; he likely discovered the entrance and exit of a certain Dragon Palace Ruins long ago and, relying on his Baxia Bloodline or some Opportunity, obtained a high level of access.

Only then could he ultimately profit from the battle for the Dragon Pearl among Fourth-Rank existences, quietly hiding with the treasure until his Breakthrough today.

"Dragon Palace entrance... high access..." Gao De firmly noted this information.

This confirmed some of his previous guesses and provided ideas for his future exploration of other potential Dragon Palace Ruins at the bottom of Dongting Lake.

Currently, although Demon King Fushui has disappeared, he had after all operated for a thousand years and left behind several descendants with Third-Rank strength, barely maintaining the Dongting Lake Yao Race forces from collapsing instantly.

But anyone with a discerning eye could see that without a top-tier Demon King presiding, the "Family business" left behind by Demon King Fushui had already become fat prey in the eyes of countless forces.

The specific follow-up is still evolving.

"An Opportunity! A real Opportunity has come!" A sharp light burst from Gao De's eyes.

The sudden departure of Demon King Fushui and the potential pursuers created a massive power vacuum in the top-tier combat strength of the Dongting Lake region!

The absolute power that originally maintained order has vanished!

What did this mean for the Lin and Zhu families?

For the Lin Family, this was simply a godsend!

If the Family could add a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator while their opponent the Zhu Family's greatest reliance—Demon King Fushui—suddenly disappeared, under these shifting tides, the Lin Family would never pass up this chance to crush their old rival in one fell swoop and monopolize more resources and influence!

They will certainly seize the time and might even strike early!

For the Zhu Family, this was undoubtedly a disaster! Having lost the protective talisman of Demon King Fushui, relying solely on two clan-guarding Pig Dragons to fight against the Lin Family's Late Stage Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor and the Green Wave Sect behind him, the chances of winning were slim!

They would never sit and wait for death; they would either seek outside help or take extreme measures, such as... launching a preemptive strike to fight to the death before the Lin Family is ready!

The situation in Dongting Lake instantly changed from surging undercurrents to an impending storm!

And the center of this about-to-erupt storm revolved precisely around the target Gao De had long coveted—those two Pig Dragons with the Bloodline of a flood dragon!

Whether the two families engaged in a fierce conflict or the Zhu Family launched a desperate preemptive strike, those two Pig Dragons would inevitably be thrown into the battlefield, and it was highly likely they would be injured or even... fall!

The best Opportunity Gao De had been waiting for—to fish in troubled waters and pull chestnuts out of the fire—seemed to be arriving!

He acted immediately, giving strict orders to Turtle Three Thousand.

Use all networks of connections at any cost to fully monitor all movements of the Lin and Zhu families, especially the tracks and status of those two Pig Dragons!

Urge the Demon Soldiers under his command to strengthen battle Formation drills, maintain the highest state of alert, and be ready to strike at any time!

He hurried to adjust his own state, temporarily slowing down his deep research into the Power of Thunder, focusing his main energy on consolidating his cultivation, restoring Demonic Power, and adjusting his condition to ensure he could meet any sudden hunting Opportunity with Peak combat strength.

Gao De sat coiled in the dark Water Mansion, a predator's light flashing in his cold vertical pupils.

Demon King Fushui's departure was like removing the largest stone pressing down on his head, allowing him, who had always been cautious and patient, to finally see the dawn of taking the initiative to seize resources.

"The storm has risen; the hidden dragon should emerge." He murmured to himself as the Demonic Power around him surged like an undercurrent... The news of Demon King Fushui breaking through to the Fourth Rank and fleeing with the Dragon Pearl was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a boiling pot of oil, instantly causing the entire Dongting Lake region to explode with activity.

The fragile balance that had been maintained for hundreds of years was completely broken at this moment.

Through the tianji mirror and the constant news sent back by Turtle Three Thousand, Gao De clearly sensed this tense atmosphere of an impending storm.

On the Lin Family's side, movements significantly accelerated and became bolder.

The frequency of their Family Cultivators' outings increased, and they began to consciously clear and occupy some spiritual lands and fishing grounds located at the boundary of the two forces' territories, which they previously dared not touch due to concerns about Demon King Fushui.

All signs indicated they were actively preparing for the upcoming conflict, or rather, expansion.

The Core Disciple in seclusion attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment, according to the cryptic news from Lin Xiaofan, seemed to have reached the most critical moment; the Spiritual Qi vortex above the Immortal Cave had persisted for several days without dispersing.

The Zhu Family was in a state of extreme nervousness.

Having lost their greatest backer, the faces of the Zhu Family Cultivators were shrouded in gloom in the face of the Lin Family's aggressive posture.

They began to contract their defensive lines, strengthening patrols and Formation protection in the core area.

The two Pig Dragons serving as Clan-Guarding Spirit Beasts had recently been hidden by tight Formations, and even their daily patrols in specific waters were completely canceled; they were clearly being treated by the Zhu Family as their final trump card and hope, for fear of any accidents before the battle.

"Is the Zhu Family planning to hole up and defend to buy time, or... are they preparing some kind of trump card?" Gao De analyzed calmly.

Delaying would not benefit the Zhu Family; once the Lin Family's Foundation Establishment succeeded, their advantage would only grow.

Thus, the Zhu Family was likely secretly planning a proactive, do-or-die counterattack, with the goal probably being to interrupt the Lin Family's Foundation Establishment process!

"Let it be chaotic, the more chaotic the better," Gao De thought to himself. Only when the water was muddy enough would he, this "fish," have a chance to grab what he wanted.

He ordered Turtle Three Thousand to focus reconnaissance on the Zhu Family's potential secret mobilizations, especially paying attention to any signs of strange Cultivators or Yao Race contacting the Zhu Family.

At the same time, he also told the Demon Soldiers under his command to increase their vigilance; the Water Mansion's defensive Formation was kept active at all times to avoid being affected by the impending flames of war.

Days passed, and the atmosphere on Dongting Lake was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

One day, late at night.

Turtle Three Thousand hurriedly reported an urgent piece of intelligence to Gao De through the Water Mansion's internal communication Formation: "Master! There's movement! Our scouts on the outskirts of the Zhu Family's water stockade reported that about half an hour ago, there was an abnormal fluctuation in the Zhu Family's core area Formation. Although it quickly subsided, two powerful bursts of Demonic Qi were vaguely felt flashing by, heading... seemingly toward Lin Family Fort! Moreover, the Zhu Family Old Ancestor and several Late Stage Qi Refining Elders disappeared at the same time!"