42: The Demon Lord Crocodile Demon... has already chosen a path to his death.

Inside the house.

The three looked at each other, a strange thought emerging in their minds.

"Is that old Dragon's heavy water bead really about to be refined?" Golden Turtle broke the silence, his tone filled with disbelief.

Hearing this, Consort Bang's face showed a hint of sadness: "My father was originally the River God of this Green Wave Pool. Among his innate Dao techniques, there is a method to nourish Magical Artifacts using the essence of water veins.

Hundreds of years ago, that old Dragon attacked and conquered the Water Race, captured my father, and threatened to refine the heavy water bead by coercing him with the lives of the clam demon race.

Counting the days, it should be almost done."

These words immediately made Li Jiangchen's heart sink.

This Dragon Lord of the Green Wave Pool was already a Peak Demon Lord, and being born a Flood Dragon, he was among the best of the demons.

If he were to possess another Spiritual Artifact, his combat power would rival a Demon King, and the people along the riverbanks would surely suffer.

'Doesn't the Demon Suppression Division guarding the Green Wave Pool banks have any inkling...' Li Jiangchen frowned secretly, glancing over to see a hint of greed flash in Golden Turtle Demon Lord's eyes, and an idea formed in his mind.

"This heavy water bead must not fall into that old Dragon's hands," Li Jiangchen suddenly said, drawing the attention of the other two.

"Oh, does Brother Sword Flood Dragon have a good plan?" Golden Turtle Demon Lord asked, puzzled.

"Simple. It's nothing more than two paths: theft or destruction."

"How do you mean?" Golden Turtle Demon Lord's eyes darted around.

Li Jiangchen looked at Consort Bang: "First, theft. During the day, I observed a deep blue water curtain in the depths of that Mysterious Water Cave. Although its power differs from the water curtain outside Consort Bang's door, it originates from the same source.

To steal it, we must first break through the water curtain.

Consort Bang, do you have a way?"

"Jiaolang has good eyes." Consort Bang opened her mouth and spat out a deep blue water bead, from which faint sounds of waves could be heard.

"This item was a treasure my father secretly left for me back then. It can control the Formation within the hall and open that barrier.

However, I believe that if we are to act, it would be best during the auction. That old Dragon will secretly appear to exchange Magical Artifacts for water-element Heaven And Earth Treasures.

It would be best to create some commotion outside the hall to attract attention.

At that time, the two of you can quietly leave, enter the Mysterious Water Cave, and take the heavy water bead. My only request is to rescue my father."

"The chances are not small, let's do it!" Golden Turtle Demon Lord's face showed ferocity.

"If theft fails, then we can only destroy it, making that old Dragon's efforts go to waste. That's still better than him holding the spiritual bead and lording over us."

Li Jiangchen's words carried a hint of Killing Intent, causing Golden Turtle and Consort Bang to nod secretly.

At this moment, in the Mysterious Water Cave.

A giant clam demon was bound by black iron chains, surrounded by streams of water vein essence.

Whoosh—

The giant clam opened, revealing a lean old man sitting cross-legged.

A deep blue water bead floated above his head, with countless brilliant lights faintly surging within it.

He manipulated a Dharma seal, and immediately countless spiritual liquids were absorbed by the heavy water bead. The next moment, the heavy water bead seemed to gain sentience and tried to escape, but it crashed heavily against the water curtain.

The Dragon Lord opened his dragon claw, and the heavy water bead steadily landed in his grasp.

"Cough cough, the heavy water bead is only one step away from becoming a Spiritual Artifact: the blood sacrifice and soul absorption... Soul absorption, especially from Demon Lord level Yao Race, is superior.

The stronger the Bloodline, the more Restrictions will be born within the Spiritual Artifact, and the higher its grade," the lean old man said with difficulty.

"Oh, a Demon Lord's blood sacrifice and soul." The Dragon Lord's gaze was ferocious as he looked into the distance: "Old Clam, your daughter has been quite active lately.

But she has saved me a lot of trouble. Hehehe, let their flesh and souls welcome the birth of this Dragon Lord's natal Spiritual Artifact."

The next day.

Demons swept into the main hall of the Crystal Cave.

"So many demons..." Li Jiangchen looked on enviously. The weakest demons present were at the Dao Entry level, and there were dozens of Aperture Opening Realm great demons.

If he could kill all of them, the Lifespan he would gain from these demons would probably allow him to open dozens more dark meridians.

At this moment, three Demon Lord auras approached, sweeping into the second-floor cave.

Before long, Consort Bang, dressed in a deep blue water robe, arrived at the center of the main hall.

Beside her, several clam maidens carried a golden tray covered with red silk, which seemed to have a shielding ability. Li Jiangchen secretly scanned it with his spiritual sense, but received no feedback, as if it had fallen into darkness.

"Welcome everyone to my Crystal Cave. Our Yao Race is nurtured by heaven and earth, with noble Bloodlines, yet we lack suitable weapons.

In battles with the Human Race, we often suffer considerable disadvantages.

My husband feels deeply pained by this and has specially spent twenty years refining a batch of Magical Artifacts for everyone to bid on.

There is no reserve price; bids will be made with water-element Heaven And Earth Treasures and other spiritual materials."

Saying this, she lifted the red silk, revealing a peculiar coral-shaped staff, from which deep blue water light emanated.

"The Water Dividing Staff, a Medium Grade Magical Artifact, refined from century-old coral from the cold pool. When activated, it can condense water vapor into an ice crystal water escape.

Its defensive power is sufficient to withstand a full-force attack from a Quenching Fiend Realm Human Race Martial Artist," Consort Bang introduced.

As soon as these words were spoken, the Yao Race in the hall immediately became boisterous.

Medium Grade Magical Artifacts are often possessed by Human Race Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artists.

However, the Yao Race is not skilled in Artifact Refining, and their refining methods are extremely crude. Often, even Quenching Fiend Realm Demon Lords only have one Medium Grade Magical Artifact.

Most of the Yao Race in the hall were at the Aperture Opening great demon level, and the first item being a rare defensive Medium Grade Magical Artifact naturally attracted much covetousness.

"Three jin of Cold Pool Ice Sand from the Water Dividing Cave!"

"Hmph, Cold Pool Ice Sand is merely a ninth-grade Heaven And Earth Treasure. This is a Medium Grade Magical Artifact; don't bring out something so embarrassing.

My Falling Water Peak offers ten purple ice crystals."

"I offer..."

Heaven And Earth Treasures are ranked in nine grades, and each grade difference means a tenfold difference in value.

Tens of breaths later, the Water Dividing Staff was ultimately acquired by a demon hidden in a cloak, for a Cold Spring Water Vein.

As soon as the demon got it, they quickly left the venue. However, Li Jiangchen noticed that several auras were firmly locked onto the demon who had won the Water Dividing Staff, following them out of the hall.

"This Yao Race is truly a naked display of the law of the jungle... However, that Cold Spring Water Vein is a seventh-grade, extremely rare item.

To exchange it for a mere Medium Grade Magical Artifact is truly exorbitant profit."

Li Jiangchen sighed.

With the Human Race's Artifact Refining methods, a seventh-grade Heaven And Earth Treasure could be exchanged for more than three Medium Grade Magical Artifacts.

For rare Heaven And Earth Treasures like water veins, it would probably be more than five.

After this, several more auction items appeared, eliciting cheers from many demons present.

However, the Quenching Fiend Realm Demon Lords in the second-floor cave did not make a single move.

The Dragon Lord had held auctions many times, and they had already accumulated a batch of High Grade Magical Artifacts, so there was no need to compete with the Aperture Opening Realm great demons present for a Medium Grade Magical Artifact.

A moment later.

"The next item is quite special. This is a section of leg bone from a Human Race God Observation Realm Sword King." Consort Bang unveiled the red cover, revealing a golden thigh bone, with wisps of golden Sword Qi attached to its surface.

"The Human Race is frail, yet they are favored by heaven and earth. In just a few decades, they can achieve what takes us Yao Race hundreds or thousands of years to Cultivate.

Moreover, after entering the God Observation Realm, they can even materialize their developed Dharma Body, allowing their Bloodline to be passed down.

This leg bone contains the true meaning of the Sword Dao. If a fellow Daoist of the Yao Race who follows the Sword Dao were to acquire it, they might even gain insights into one or two Dao techniques."

Suddenly, the atmosphere became somewhat quiet.

Demons specializing in the Sword Dao have always been rare, not as numerous as water, earth, or wind attribute demons.

At this moment, the Crocodile Demon's voice came from the second floor: "Hehehe, Sword Flood Dragon, this item suits you perfectly, why aren't you bidding yet?

Could it be that you're waiting for others to bid on it, and then you'll secretly plunder it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, many demons who had been contemplating bidding quickly ceased their thoughts, not daring to speak.

'You talk too much.' Li Jiangchen rolled his eyes inwardly.

He naturally wanted this sword bone.

The Sword Intent on that leg bone gave him a familiar feeling.

However, the Heaven And Earth Treasures he had previously obtained had already been integrated into his body, and he was truly strapped for resources now.

Seeing Li Jiangchen not respond, the Crocodile Demon was annoyed: "Are you looking down on me... I want this sword bone. Twenty jin of South Sea Sunken Water."

The entire hall was silent, secretly anticipating something, but until Consort Bang announced that the Crocodile Demon had won the bid, Li Jiangchen remained motionless.

"Demon Lord Crocodile Demon... has already chosen the path of death." Li Jiangchen's spiritual sense swept over, silently leaving a mark on the Crocodile Demon's body.

This was a method unique to spiritual sense, undetectable unless one reached the God Observation Realm.

Soon, this wave passed, and several more High Grade Magical Artifacts appeared, finally prompting the Demon Lords on the second floor to bid repeatedly.

However, Li Jiangchen still did not speak.

"Counting the time, Ancient Spirit should be almost ready..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a brilliant beam of light pierced through the water pool, instantly striking the Immortal Cave. Accompanied by an earth-shattering roar, the Crystal Cave shook violently, giant rocks fell, crushing many demons to death.

In an instant, the demons panicked.

This was an attack from a Demon Lord level being.

Someone actually dared to cause trouble right under the Dragon Lord's nose.