683: Chapter 683 Let's Make Friends

A few days later.

Yuan Hua had thoroughly researched much of the recent intelligence regarding the Joyous Union Sect, with a particular focus on the individual named Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan's cultivation level was unknown. He originated from the Azure Profound Sect in the Southern Border, later joined the Beast Taming Sect, and had a close relationship with the newly emerged Peach Blossom Demon Saint of the Southern Border. Not long ago, he arrived at the Yin-Yang Branch of the Joyous Union Sect as the Saint of the Joyous Union Sect, personally established a Teleportation Array spanning from the Southern Border to the East Sea, and recently became a Dao Companion with the Daoist Yin-Yang, styling himself as the Sect Master of the Joyous Union Sect...

After reading all the information on Liu Xuan, Yuan Hua felt somewhat bewildered. It was as if this person was shrouded in a layer of mist, making it impossible to discern his true foundation.

Yuan Hua was now unsure whether he was truly the Joyous Union Dao Monarch who had been missing for thousands of years.

However, some things were certain: the boy named Fourth Young Master Liu Daocheng, whom she had captured, was indeed Liu Xuan's son, and the Five-Grade High Grade Bloodline Three-Headed Demon Python was indeed Liu Xuan's mount.

"Liu Xuan still holds an identity in the Beast Taming Sect; it is impossible for him to have misidentified the Bloodline of the Three-Headed Snake. It is highly likely he intentionally sent the Three-Headed Snake to me."

"But why would he have his son form a contract with the Three-Headed Snake and send them over together?"

"The Long Whale Clan sent me a message—was someone cooperating with Liu Xuan? Or were they schemed against by Liu Xuan?"

There was only Yuan Hua in the great hall, yet she was not talking to herself; it seemed as though she were speaking to someone else.

A moment later, a somewhat ethereal voice truly drifted from above the great hall, "Is it possible that this matter was an accident, merely an action taken by the Long Whale Clan against the Joyous Union Sect, and they simply miscalculated the grade of the Three-Headed Snake's Bloodline?"

No one appeared in the great hall. The voice was ethereal and unfixed; it was unknown who was speaking, or who the speaker was.

"It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?"

Yuan Hua frowned and retorted, "It's a Five-Grade High Grade, and a mutated Bloodline of water, fire, and ice at that, perfectly compatible with our East Sea Yao Race. Could it really just be a spirit pet for a Golden Core True Person son with mediocre Aptitude?"

"I don't believe it!"

The crystal hall fell into silence. Clearly, the owner of that voice also agreed with Yuan Hua's assessment.

A Five-Grade High Grade Yao Race Bloodline was something even a Late-stage Spirit Transformation great Cultivator would covet. Using it as a spirit pet for a Golden Core True Person was indeed too excessive.

She had carefully examined Fourth Young Master Liu Daocheng's talent: his Spiritual Root was average, but his Comprehension Ability was high, his Sword Intent was pure, and he had achieved Core Formation before the age of a hundred, making him a Prodigy of his generation.

However, being a Prodigy was only relative; in the eyes of a Dao Monarch, he was barely worth noticing.

The Cultivation World was vast and expansive, with bottom-tier Cultivators like grains of sand. In the long river of time, a batch of Prodigies emerged every year, but how many could ever achieve the status of a Dao Monarch?

Prodigies and geniuses were only enviable among their peers; there was no guarantee that some Golden Core Realm Prodigies would ever become a Nascent Soul True Lord in their lifetime.

But the Three-Headed Snake with a Five-Grade High Grade Bloodline was different. A High Grade Yao Race Bloodline held more value than any Genius Cultivator; as long as resources were not lacking, it was guaranteed to reach at least the Late-stage Spirit Transformation Great Saint Realm.

If Fourth Young Master Liu Daocheng were a Nascent Soul Realm Prodigy, it might be barely justifiable, but he was merely a Golden Core True Person; that was purely a waste of a heavenly treasure!

After a long silence in the great hall, that ethereal voice suddenly carried a hint of amusement, "The one to resolve our confusion has arrived!"

Yuan Hua looked around in confusion, just about to ask a question, when she suddenly sensed a silver-white spatial fluctuation light up outside the hall, instantly expanding into a spatial mirror.

A man dressed in sky-blue Daoist robes, dashing and elegant, handsome as an immortal, stepped out from the mirror.

When Yuan Hua saw Liu Xuan, she was momentarily dazed, because he was simply too handsome!

That kind of handsomeness was not merely a refined and pretty face, but a mysterious sense of harmony, as if he had been born in accordance with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. A single glance could make one's body and mind feel comfortable, and one could not help but develop a favorable impression.

"I am Liu Xuan of the Joyous Union Sect. Greetings, Shark Queen!"

Liu Xuan stepped into the hall and bowed with cupped hands.

Before coming, he had already inquired clearly: this place was the territory of the Shark People, and the owner was named Yuan Hua, known as the Shark Queen, with a cultivation level of early-stage Soul Transformation.

The Shark Queen also belonged to the Long Whale Palace, but not to the Long Whale Clan. Her territory was quite far from the true Long Whale Palace, which was why he had been able to arrive so quickly.

While performing the salute, Liu Xuan naturally looked up at the Shark Queen sitting on the crystal throne.

The first thing that caught Liu Xuan's gaze was Yuan Hua's short, neat, light-gold hair, and the coral crown atop her head, which, combined with her fair, tender, and pretty face, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Liu Xuan was accustomed to all kinds of beauties; ordinary beauties could rarely catch his eye, but this Shark Queen still made his heart stir slightly.

There were millions of beauties in the world, and there was no unified standard to rate them; it was more about the feeling at the time. Liu Xuan felt quite drawn to the Shark Queen the moment he saw her.

"You are not the Joyous Union Sect Master!"

After looking Liu Xuan over, Yuan Hua spoke indifferently.

She had not met the Joyous Union Sect Master, but she had met the Ethereal Great Saint, and the aura on Liu Xuan had nothing to do with the Joyous Union Sect Master.

Liu Xuan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and explained, "I am indeed not the previous Joyous Union Sect Master, but I am the current Sect Master."

The confusion on Yuan Hua's face deepened. If Liu Xuan was not the missing Joyous Union Sect Master, then things were even more complicated and completely chaotic.

She also could not understand the aura on Liu Xuan; despite clearly having only a Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, he was able to directly ignore her crystal palace array and teleport in. His cultivation was hidden too well; it was simply flawless.

Not dwelling on Liu Xuan's identity, Yuan Hua put aside her confusion and feigned a calm demeanor as if she had seen through everything, asking, "Fellow Daoist Liu, you have great spirit. To give away a Five-Grade High Grade Bloodline Yao Beast so casually—I admire you!"

Liu Xuan was startled, looking bewildered, and then gave a wry smile, "You may have misunderstood. The Three-Headed Demon Python is a spirit pet I gave to my son Daocheng. It wasn't a gift; it was captured by you."

"Oh?"

Yuan Hua did not argue with Liu Xuan and leaned back slightly, "So, Fellow Daoist Liu has come to retrieve people?"

Liu Xuan nodded slightly, "Fourth is mischievous. If he has done wrong, I will apologize on his behalf. I ask that you spare him!"

Yuan Hua did not believe Liu Xuan had come only for his son and said coldly, "There are no outsiders here; you might as well be frank."

Yuan Hua's reaction caused Liu Xuan's gaze to turn serious. He asked, "My son was captured as soon as he arrived at the front-line sea area. I wonder if this was a long-planned scheme by you, or if someone sent you a message?"

Throughout the entire process of investigating the matter over the past few days, Liu Xuan felt that something was very abnormal.

Fourth being captured by a Spirit Transformation Dao Lord as soon as he arrived at the front line was likely not a coincidence, but premeditated.

Judging by the Shark Queen's words and actions, she was likely not the mastermind, and there were others involved behind the scenes.

Seeing Yuan Hua lost in thought, Liu Xuan already had an answer in his heart, so he waved his hand and said, "Regardless, I have come to take Fourth back. Name your conditions!"

Yuan Hua stared at Liu Xuan for a long while and asked, "What about the... Three-Headed Demon Python?"

Liu Xuan laughed softly with his hands behind his back, "If you like it, I will give it to you. Consider it us making a friend."