Chapter 515: Please Junior Sister Take the Big Picture into Consideration!

Chapter 515: Please, Junior Sister, Put the Big Picture First!

A single leaf boat, swift as an arrow, skimmed across the water, churning up patches of spray.

Jiang Yunxi, cleaver in hand, waved her delicate little hand through the air.

It was like she was twirling a flower.

This thrust didn't lift her off her feet, but it made the little boat speed even faster.

After slaughtering the strange fish in that area, Jiang Yunxi didn't linger. Instead, following Qi Yuan's advice, she prepared to press on and kill as many strange fish as possible.

"The strange fish are multiplying. You need to kill more, head straight for their lair, and catch them off guard!"

Those were Qi Yuan's exact words.

"To become the world's greatest chef, having the world's finest cleaver isn't enough—you also need to chop up enough ingredients."

At that moment, Jiang Yunxi, full of bravado, twirled her hand and headed deeper into Yeshan Lake.

Just then, a large ship suddenly cut through the wind, blocking her path.

On the ship, Xie Danran, clad in a green robe, wore a haughty expression. He looked at Jiang Yunxi and said coldly, "Ahead lies the forbidden zone of Yeshan Lake. No unauthorized personnel may enter!"

Now that the Heavenly Sect was dealing with the Water Lord, they had not only convened the Artifact Masters' Assembly but also sealed off the waters to prevent the Water Lord from stirring up trouble.

At the same time, they aimed to keep out any ill-intentioned individuals who might venture deep into the waters and collude with the Water Lord.

In this world, there were always those who wished for its destruction.

Seeing a stranger, Xie Danran immediately stopped her.

What's more, he was so overbearing that his large ship nearly capsized Jiang Yunxi's little boat.

Fortunately, Jiang Yunxi dodged in time, but even so, her hair was covered in droplets, damp and dripping.

"Hey, how do you steer a ship? If I were an ordinary fisherman, I'd have been knocked over and fallen into Yeshan Lake by now!" Jiang Yunxi said angrily.

Xie Danran glanced sideways at Jiang Yunxi. Seeing her dressed like a cook, with a floral apron tied around her waist, he said condescendingly, "Fishermen can swim; they won't drown. Besides... you're fine, aren't you?"

Jiang Yunxi was furious.

"If you knew what I was here to do, it would shock you!"

Jiang Yunxi planted her hands on her hips.

"Hah..." Xie Danran sneered, as if looking at an idiot.

That expression made Jiang Yunxi very unhappy.

At that moment, she finally understood the feelings of the protagonists in those biographies and novels.

Clearly, she was going to save the world, yet she was being mocked and misunderstood.

And those protagonists, though they had mouths, never spoke up.

"Right now, the strange spirits are running rampant here. I'm going to slay them and save the world—don't stop me!" Jiang Yunxi, having a mouth, directly stated her purpose.

Xie Danran sized her up, his sneer deepening. "A mere beginner at the Profound level, and you dare talk of saving the world? The Heavenly Sect is guarding this place—where are there any strange spirits?"

Jiang Yunxi felt bitter and wronged.

Was this what it felt like to be misunderstood?

The protagonist was about to save the world, only to be blocked by a petty villain.

Just then, Qi Yuan's voice came through.

"If he blocks you, chop him dead with one strike. I don't like the look of this villain NPC."

Now that the cleaver's performance had reached two-thirds, Qi Yuan was no longer like a lifeless object, and his perception had surpassed before.

Even before arriving, he had detected this Xie Danran "harassing" his wife.

Meanwhile, on a distant ship, Shen Lingxuan, in a blue dress, combined her cheerful appearance with an icy demeanor.

Ye Zhen stood beside Shen Lingxuan, frowning. "That person... seems to be Yunxi. Why is she here?"

She was puzzled. With a wave of her hand, the ship moved in the direction of her gesture.

"Yunxi, is that you? What are you doing here?" As the ship approached, Ye Zhen asked curiously.

Hearing this, Xie Danran was somewhat surprised. "You know each other?"

His gaze toward Jiang Yunxi changed.

"It seems to be a misunderstanding," Xie Danran said, his earlier arrogance giving way to deference.

Ye Zhen was the granddaughter of an elder of the Artisan Hall, a person of no ordinary status.

Seeing Xie Danran's sudden change, Jiang Yunxi felt even more disdain. Cleaver in hand, she ultimately refrained from carrying out Qi Yuan's suggestion.

"Sister Ye Zhen, I'm going inside to kill some... fish! He stopped me from entering!" Jiang Yunxi said.

Ye Zhen smiled. "The Heavenly Sect has set up defenses here to prevent villains from entering and ordinary people from straying in. Yunxi, you're not in that category. If you want to come in and kill fish, go ahead. By the way, the Town Mountain King is in the waters ahead, about ten li from here."

Xie Danran, upon hearing this, did not refute or block her.

What Ye Zhen said was true. It was just that Xie Danran was lazy; the Heavenly Sect's orders, he simply enforced with a one-size-fits-all laziness.

No matter who, no entry.

"My father is inside too?" Jiang Yunxi was a bit delighted. "Sister Ye Zhen, I won't chat long. I have urgent matters, so I'll go in now."

With that, she hurriedly steered her boat toward the depths of Yeshan Lake.

Xie Danran watched Jiang Yunxi's retreating figure. "She's the Town Mountain King's daughter? Just as the rumors say—foolish and naive!"

Ye Zhen glanced at Xie Danran. "The Town Mountain King is up ahead. Go tell him that yourself."

Xie Danran shrugged. "She said the strange spirits are rampant in Yeshan Lake and she's going to save the world. Ridiculous. With the Heavenly Sect guarding this place, where are there any strange spirits?"

Xie Danran laughed scornfully.

The birth of strange spirits was random, but the conditions were indeed extremely stringent—they didn't just appear at will.

In this area, having one Water Lord was already extraordinary; it was hard to imagine any other strange spirits emerging.

"Senior Brother, it's bad! We've discovered a strange spirit in the waters!"

Just then, an urgent voice rang out. A young man, stepping on the lake surface like a dragonfly skimming water, landed on Xie Danran's ship.

Xie Danran's mouth twitched. Was the slap in the face coming so quickly?

But he dared not delay and quickly asked, "What kind of strange spirit?"

Shen Lingxuan and Ye Zhen also turned their gazes to the newcomer.

"It's a fish...!" He took a dead fish from his storage artifact.

The fish was small, looking like a whitebait.

But at this moment, it was anything but white. Its dead eyes were pitch black, like ink.

"The strange spirit aura is faint. Is this a newly born strange spirit?" Ye Zhen judged, her expression turning serious.

"It is indeed a newborn spirit of deceit... matters have grown complicated." Xie Danran felt a sense of urgency as well.

Ye Zhen had actually hit the mark.

"This must be reported to the sect—this affair is truly suspicious!"

"How could a spirit of deceit appear out of nowhere? The infamous Blood of Thorns may have a hand in this!"

"Could there be a nurturing ground for spirits hidden here?"

"Where one spirit of deceit appears, it means there are many more here!"

The few present were all growing anxious.

A Water Lord was already difficult to deal with, and with the Blood of Thorns involved, the situation was extremely unfavorable for the Heavenly Sect.

...

Half a day later, aboard a dragon boat.

A gathering of powerful figures.

Wei Kun, the Mournful Wind, stood at the head, his expression solemn: "Over a hundred deceitful fish have been discovered in Ye Mountain Lake—I trust you all are aware of this."

Wei Kun, the Mournful Wind, ranked among the top twenty on the Ning State Earth List and was one of the top three experts in the Heavenly Sect.

His strength had reached the peak of an Earth-level Weapon Master, making him the strongest present.

"Alas, we couldn't even handle a Red-Pupil Water Lord, and now... there are traces of the Blood of Thorns. It seems this time... will be very, very difficult." The head of the Tu family spoke, his aged face full of helplessness.

"The Artificer Assembly has yet to convene, but the Earth-level artificers and some talented youths have already examined the Mighty Dragon Xuan and found themselves powerless." Elder Wang Qingyi of the Heavenly Sect spoke, also looking worried.

The Artificer Assembly had not yet begun, but the promising artificer seeds and various masters had all seen the Mighty Dragon Xuan and shook their heads at the prospect of repair.

The situation had become extremely dire—the Heavenly Sect was nearly helpless against the Red-Pupil Water Lord.

In Ye Mountain Lake, even an ordinary Heaven-level Weapon Master would likely be unable to slay the Red-Pupil Water Lord.

"Are we just going to sit by and let the Red-Pupil Water Lord merge with Ye Mountain Lake and flood Jining Prefecture?" someone asked grimly.

If it flooded, the casualties would be in the millions.

"Should we start... evacuating the downstream populace now?" Shen Wanshan said heavily.

He had already prepared for the worst.

"Absolutely not—how much panic would that cause? What harm would it do to Jiangzhou and Jining Prefecture?" one person quickly objected.

Many echoed the sentiment, insisting it was unwise to incite panic.

Others felt that worrying about panic at such a juncture was absurd.

Arguments rose and fell in waves.

Everyone had their own ideas and views on how to deal with the Red-Pupil Water Lord.

"When the sky falls, the tall ones bear it—but unfortunately, we are the tallest and cannot stand aside!"

"Those mortals will die anyway; if this flood comes, the Heavenly Sect will suffer a grievous blow. How much will we lose?"

"Silence!" Finally, Wei Kun, the Mournful Wind, slammed the table, and for a moment, the boat fell quiet.

All eyes fell on Wei Kun.

Wei Kun looked at the Mountain Guarding Prince and said softly, "Your Highness, please speak."

The others were somewhat surprised, wondering why the prince had been sought out.

The royal family's capabilities were inferior to the Heavenly Sect's.

Rely on the royal family?

"Some days ago, some Heaven-level Weapon Masters arrived from the Central Land Raksha Kingdom. These Heaven-level Weapon Masters are extraordinary in strength. If we could enlist their aid, the Red-Pupil Water Lord would be nothing!" The Mountain Guarding Prince's voice was aged.

A glimmer of joy appeared in the eyes of the Weapon Masters present.

"Visitors from the Central Land Raksha Kingdom?"

"The Central Land is the holy land of the Green Mountain Realm, rumored to be a sacred place for cultivators, but it's far away..."

"Heaven-level Weapon Masters—if we can get them to act, what is a Red-Pupil Water Lord?"

"We might not even need to repair the Mighty Dragon Xuan to solve this!"

At this, the head of the Tu family stood and asked, "Your Highness, how can we persuade those Heaven-level Weapon Masters to help?"

The others were also curious.

Heaven-level Weapon Masters from the Central Land Raksha Kingdom were no ordinary Weapon Masters; they likely looked down on common treasures.

"The treasures of our Ning State are indeed beneath their notice.

But... they came to Ning State for an important matter.

If we help them resolve that matter, they will likely be willing to lend us a hand."

"What is this important matter?"

"If they cannot accomplish it, can we?"

"They came to Ning State to find a deity." The Mountain Guarding Prince's gaze was grave.

"What? A deity?"

"A deity, no less?"

"Could a deity have appeared in our Ning State?"

The Weapon Masters and artificers present all breathed rapidly.

A deity—that was a legend! If Heaven-level Weapon Masters were legendary, and in Ning State one could occasionally glimpse traces of such masters from other states,

a deity was truly something that existed only in tales.

At that moment, the expression of the Third Young Master Tu shifted sharply—he thought of his light sword.

"A deity?"

Was that one... a deity?

And that mysterious man who appeared at Red Cloud Stockade—was he also connected to a deity?

Thinking this, the Third Young Master Tu's breathing grew rapid.

Could that person really be linked to a deity?

"Someone, distribute the records on that deity to everyone present." The Mountain Guarding Prince raised his hand, and immediately a group of maids entered carrying paper folders.

These folders contained information about that deity.

Everyone immediately began to read them carefully.

After about a dozen breaths, the elder of the Zhan family said, "If such a deity had appeared, we would surely have known by now. Finding them is too difficult."

"Yes, there's no time, and moreover, they might not be in Jining Prefecture or Jiangzhou."

"This can only be considered a last resort."

A crowd buzzed with discussion.

At that moment, the eyes of Third Young Master Tu gleamed.

"Holding light, as if my god descends... This must be that deity. I never imagined he was the legendary first divine artifact, Divine Descent, the God of Judgment!"

His heart was both tense and excited.

He had actually been in close contact with a deity.

Just then, the voice of the Tu family head reached his ears.

"This seems connected to the spirit-summoning in your light sword."

"Father, indeed there is a connection!" Third Young Master Tu leaned in and whispered, "But from what the Town-Suppressing King said, the two waves of Heavenly-rank Weapon Masters who came don't all seem well-disposed toward that deity. And since the deity is hiding his identity, he likely doesn't want us to reveal him. If we speak out, the deity's wrath would be far more terrifying than that of the Luotong Water Lord."

Offending the Luotong Water Lord might at most flood Jining Prefecture, drowning a dozen counties.

Offending a deity, well... the Ning Kingdom would be annihilated.

Third Young Master Tu dared not expose Qi Yuan's identity at all.

"Alas, this is a helpless move—seeking a thread of possibility amid countless impossibilities," said Wei Kun, the Sorrowful Wind.

He also knew how difficult it was to find a deity; he was only speaking aloud, hoping someone present might have a clue.

But judging by their reactions, no one seemed to know.

Just then, Xie Danran stepped forward, his posture upright, a resolute expression on his face: "If that's the case, I too have a plan... but this plan is too sinister and vicious. If I speak it, I fear those present will condemn me. Yet for the Celestial Sect, for the millions of innocent people, I still step forward!"

Xie Danran was righteous and indignant, impassioned, like a martyr heading to his death.

"Senior Brother Xie, speak freely!"

"We won't blame you!"

"We are all for the Celestial Sect, for Jiangzhou!"

Seeing this, Third Young Master Tu's eyes flickered with disdain.

Among the Celestial Sect, the one he detested most was Xie Danran—a shameless petty man, narrow-minded and vengeful.

Xie Danran stepped forward, head bowed: "The ordinary treasures of our Ning Kingdom might not catch the eye of the Raksha Kingdom's Heavenly-rank Weapon Masters... but what if they were extraordinary?"

"What treasure?" someone asked curiously.

Others' expressions shifted sharply, as if a thought struck them, glaring fiercely at Xie Danran.

Xie Danran's gaze fell on Shen Lingxuan, a flash of resolve in his eyes.

Since I cannot have her, that useless son-in-law shall not have her either!

"Junior Sister Shen Lingxuan possesses the Profound Yin Constitution, a physique of extraordinary significance. If a peak Earth-rank Weapon Master unites with her, they can comprehend the unity of heaven and man and step into the Heavenly-rank. Even a Heavenly-rank Weapon Master, by uniting with her, can enhance their enlightenment.

Why not offer Junior Sister to those Heavenly-rank Weapon Masters from the Central Plains' Raksha Kingdom? Once they obtain this treasure, they will surely lend their aid!" Xie Danran's voice was fervent, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "Junior Sister, do not blame your senior brother. I do this for the greater good."

As these words fell, the boat erupted into a cacophony of heated arguments.

Shen Lingxuan's Profound Yin Constitution was no great secret.

This constitution was a coveted prize, coveted by countless powerful figures.

However, since Shen Lingxuan had not yet become an Earth-rank Weapon Master, the full effect of her Profound Yin Constitution had not been unleashed. Coupled with the protection of the Celestial Sect and the Shen family, she had always been safe.

"Xie Danran, do you know what you're saying?" Shen Wanshan's eyes blazed with fury; his murderous intent was unmistakable.

Xie Danran ignored Shen Wanshan and looked at Shen Lingxuan: "Junior Sister, you have the world in your heart. For the greater good, for the millions of innocent people, please humble yourself.

Even if you unite with a Heavenly-rank Weapon Master, your life will not be in danger—at worst, you will lose your chastity.

Better to give your body to maximize benefit than to waste it on that useless son-in-law!"

Xie Danran was thick-skinned, his tone impassioned.

"Xie Danran, why don't you offer yourself?" Ye Zhen couldn't help but say.

"If the Heavenly-rank Weapon Masters from Raksha Kingdom desire it, what harm is there in me offering myself?"

Xie Danran didn't have a million, so he wasn't afraid of donating.

"This is indeed a good method," someone from the Shen family's rival clan chimed in.

"The Profound Yin Constitution... counts as a special treasure. Even Heavenly-rank Weapon Masters would hardly refuse," another said, apparently endorsing Xie Danran's words.

"This plan, though immoral, is effective."

"If there is no other way, this is not a bad option."

Some murmured, but more remained silent.

At this moment, Third Young Master Tu's eyes widened.

Countless thoughts surged in his mind.

This Xie Danran... already deserves death!

He knew that Shen Lingxuan's husband, Qi Yuan, had a deep connection with that deity—even more than that...

His suggestion to offer Shen Lingxuan to the Raksha Kingdom's Heavenly-rank Weapon Masters was sheer suicide.

"Father, stop Xie Danran quickly!"

"Trust me, I'm sure of it. I can't disclose the specific reason!"

Third Young Master Tu urged hastily.

The Tu family head's expression shifted several times before he finally said in a deep voice: "Hold on. I disagree with this. How can we sacrifice an innocent woman for peace?"

Shen Wanshan cast a grateful look at the Tu family head, though he was also puzzled.

Because of Shen Lingxuan, the Shen family had developed at an astonishing pace in recent years, seemingly on the verge of surpassing the Tu family as the leading clan of Jining Prefecture.

Logically, the Tu family would be eager to see Shen Lingxuan gone. Their defense of her now caught Shen Wanshan off guard.

"Sacrificing one to save the world—I think it's worth it. If I were the one to be sacrificed, I would go to my death gladly!" Xie Danran began his moral coercion.

The Tu family head sneered: "Fine then. If you commit suicide now, I won't stop your plan.

But if you don't, hmm, no woman from Fengshan County will be taken away on my watch!"

Xie Danran's face paled.

He hadn't expected the Tu family head to say that.

"What, afraid to die?

Didn't you say sacrificing one to save the world is worth it? Sacrificing one more would probably seem worthwhile to you. Why don't you sacrifice yourself?" The Tu family head pressed step by step. Seeing Xie Danran's ashen face, he sneered, "A clownish figure—cowardly and foolish. Just because you have a bit of cunning, you think yourself a sage?"

Xie Danran's face was pale, head bowed, as scornful glances fell upon him from all sides.

"Senior Brother, how about dying?" someone mocked.

"If you die, we won't oppose it," another laughed.

Of course, whether they would oppose it after his death was another matter.

After all, the most powerless voices in this world belong to the dead.

How many have gone to their deaths gladly, hoping to trade their lives for clarity or the attention of those above?

Pity, you are already dead, worthless now—who would part the clouds for you?

“Alright, let’s set this aside for now.” Wei Kun of the Mournful Wind Hand looked at Xie Danran with contempt, restoring silence to the place.

Just then, someone rushed in from outside the cabin—it was Yun Li and Yun Hu.

They had lost track of Jiang Yunxi, searched separately for a long time, and now finally came to see the Town Mountain King.

“Your Highness, it’s bad—the young lady, she…”

Hearing this, the Town Mountain King’s face changed abruptly: “What happened to Yunxi?”

“The young lady—she chopped many fish to death with one knife!”

“…” The Town Mountain King (speechless).

“No, she electrocuted them. After shocking the fish, she disappeared!”

...

Deep in the waters of Yeshan Lake, a small skiff drifted.

Jiang Yunxi, cleaver in hand, kept chopping and stomping as if mincing vegetables.

Crackling and popping, purple currents surged into the water, killing hundreds of eerie fish.

“You have slain an eerie fish. Experience points slightly increased.”

Jiang Yunxi kept blasting fish, her mood quite cheerful.

“Old Cai, they’re all dead again. They’re too weak—can’t even withstand a slaughter!”

“Indeed, this killing is too inefficient. Come, let’s go to their lair and sweep them all away.” Qi Yuan said calmly.

The role-play level had reached 80, only twenty percent away from perfection.

Qi Yuan speculated that if he finished off all the eerie fish here, or minced a delicious ingredient to create a sublime dish, he might achieve perfection, gain astonishing rewards, and unlock the next character to role-play.

He was quite looking forward to the next role.

Now at the peak of the Purple Mansion, he had already formulated a plan for his path of the Yin Spirit.

Only by knowing all things and all beings can one create beings.

Without creating a world, how dare one claim to be a god?

Moreover, after creation, he could link it with his own underworld, forming a closed loop to forge a perfect world.

“Sweep them away? Face the Luo Tong Water Lord?” Jiang Yunxi’s face turned pale with fear.

“How confident are you?” Qi Yuan asked.

“I… have no confidence at all.” Jiang Yunxi said weakly.

After all, killing eerie spirits only gave Old Cai experience; she gained none.

“Not even one point? That means you have ninety-nine points of confidence.

Not bad, worthy of the cook I had my eye on. Come, let’s go sweep away the Luo Tong Water Lord together!” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

“…Ah?” Jiang Yunxi’s face flushed, and she wanted to explain.

But Qi Yuan gave her no chance to explain.

With a splash, the boat capsized. Jiang Yunxi, still clutching her cleaver, fell into the depths of Yeshan Lake.

“Confident cook, fear no hardship—charge!” Qi Yuan rallied her spirits.

“Saving the world depends on you!”

“Ah… mmm…” With water filling her mouth, Jiang Yunxi finally calmed down, still a bit scared. “Old Cai, can I really do it?”

That was the Luo Tong Water Lord, a terrifying eerie spirit that even the Heavenly Sect could not handle.

“So-called eerie spirits are just oversized ingredients. Chop it up and make the old man some buns to eat.” Qi Yuan said considerately.

(End of chapter)