Chapter 516: Jiang Yunxi Was Here!

Chapter 516: Jiang Yunxi Was Here!

Within the underwater palace.

The Water Serpent Elder writhed his body, gazing at the endless stream of phantom fish ahead, a fierce and excited expression twisting his face.

“Once the momentum is set, with the merits here, I might yet be transferred to the core of headquarters, and ultimately… even journey beyond the heavens, truly becoming one of them!”

At this thought, the Water Serpent Elder’s demeanor burned with fervor.

Behind the Thorn Blood lay an organization of immense antiquity, mystery, and power.

Rumor had it that joining them could grant one eternal life, achieving immortality and indestructibility.

Such immortality was no mere simple, prolonged existence like that of phantom spirits.

Indeed, the phantom spirits of the Qingshan Realm, and those of all realms, were deeply connected to it.

“Elder, the phantom fish are increasing. In time, this entire stretch of water will become a paradise for them!”

The gray-robed elder spoke with devout reverence; his body, half-modified, was already infinitely close to a phantom spirit. As he spoke, the gills on his face opened and closed, a rather unsettling sight.

“But lately… many newborn phantom fish have died, and some have been discovered by the Celestial Sect!” The gray-robed elder’s eyes held a trace of worry as he mentioned this.

“With so many phantom fish, discovery is inevitable. As long as we produce them quickly, they’ll come in an endless stream. What does it matter if some are found and killed?” The Water Serpent Elder dismissed it entirely.

“The elder speaks wisely.”

“How many have died? A few dozen, or a few hundred?” the Water Serpent Elder asked casually.

“Approximately… seventy thousand.”

“Seven—wait, seventy thousand?” The Water Serpent Elder was startled. “Almost all that were released are dead? How is that possible?”

These were seventy thousand phantom fish, incredibly agile in water; even an Earth-grade Weapon Master would struggle to slay them all.

“Who killed them?” the Water Serpent Elder demanded, a chill in his heart.

“Unknown,” the gray-robed elder shook his head.

“Could something have gone wrong?” The Water Serpent Elder twisted his body, then shook his head again. “The Mighty Dragon Xuan Yuan is broken. With Ning State’s current strength, no one can threaten the Luotong Water Lord. Even if something goes awry, it’s nothing.”

With that thought, the Water Serpent Elder breathed a sigh of relief.

The Luotong Water Lord was his greatest reliance.

In Yeshan Lake, the Luotong Water Lord was the true master.

With the Mighty Dragon Xuan Yuan unrepaired, even if the Celestial Sect’s leader came, they would have to retreat in defeat.

“Keep an eye on the number of phantom fish released. Inform me immediately if anything unusual happens,” the Water Serpent Elder commanded.

“Yes… Elder, it’s bad. The thirty thousand phantom fish just released… are gone.”

“Hmm?”

“Just now, another twenty thousand phantom fish… also vanished!” Cold sweat broke out on the gray-robed elder’s forehead.

The phantom fish created here were being continuously discharged into Yeshan Lake through the currents.

Their numbers were in the hundreds of thousands.

Yet now, the fish that left kept dying.

How could the gray-robed elder not be terrified?

It was as if a peerless powerhouse was blocking the entrance, slaughtering fish without end.

“It seems… as soon as they go out, they’re gone,” the gray-robed elder said with difficulty, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The Water Serpent Elder’s expression shifted slightly. “Someone blocking the entrance? Or… some other mishap?”

He was utterly baffled.

“Come, let’s go see!”

Without hesitation, the Water Serpent Elder led the gray-robed elder toward the fish discharge outlet.

Meanwhile, at the discharge outlet, Jiang Yunxi stood holding a cleaver, a radiant smile on her face.

“I never imagined phantom spirits would be so easy to kill!”

She stood motionless, simply placing the cleaver into the small pool before the discharge outlet, then waiting for the phantom fish to swim in.

The cleaver crackled with lightning, the hum of electricity constant.

Every phantom fish that entered the pool was electrocuted, then swept into Yeshan Lake.

“Now this is a true chef—cleaver in hand, using Yeshan Lake as a wok, stir-frying electric fish,” Qi Yuan couldn’t help but remark.

“Don’t just stand there electrocuting fish. As a qualified chef, you also need to debone, descale, and remove the spines,” Qi Yuan reminded her.

“Old Cai, you have a point, but… who would dare eat these fish?” Jiang Yunxi occasionally still had some sense.

Hardly anyone dared to eat phantom fish.

Even so, she followed Qi Yuan’s advice and began deboning the electrocuted fish.

“The old man will eat them,” Qi Yuan said seriously.

Chen Kangbao would even take a bite out of a Winged Serpent Elder, let alone these electric-cooked fish.

“Old Cai, there are so many fish. Good thing you’re here—effortlessly frying them without wasting any strength!” Jiang Yunxi was in high spirits, swinging the True Chicken Vegetable Cleaver to slice the phantom fish.

But suddenly, Jiang Yunxi’s pupils contracted, and her trembling body betrayed her fear.

“Old Cai, have you ever seen an old man with a fish head?”

“A fish-headed man?” Qi Yuan was surprised. “I’ve seen a fish-headed woman, a shrimp-headed woman, and a shrimp-headed man, but a fish-headed man is a first.”

In the Mountain and Sea Scroll, Qi Yuan had seen the Xijiang Fish Woman—a great figure, topped with two massive thunderbolts and a fish head.

“Who are you?”

Just then, the Water Serpent Elder’s voice rang out. He glared at Jiang Yunxi, his face burning with fury.

For the woman held a cleaver that crackled with lightning, and every phantom fish that came near was electrocuted to a crisp.

“A talking snake?” Jiang Yunxi was startled, then her expression shifted. “Are you an elder of the Thorn Blood?”

She was terrified.

Because in the many storybooks she had read, the Thorn Blood were always the great villains, and powerful ones at that.

Were all these phantom fish the work of a Thorn Blood elder?

“Old Cai, what do we do? This is a Thorn Blood elder, a terrifying great villain.

They commit every evil, are wicked and strong, and do all kinds of mischief!” Jiang Yunxi had nearly exhausted the idioms in her head.

“Great villain? They’re clearly decent-looking ingredients,” Qi Yuan transmitted casually. “You’re a chef, a chef who saves the world. How can you shrink back when you see delicious ingredients?”

“Ingredients?” Jiang Yunxi hesitated.

At that moment, the Water Serpent Elder’s eyes gleamed as he fixed his gaze on the cleaver. “What kind of artifact is this? Could it be a legendary Heaven-grade artifact?”

Jiang Yunxi’s strength was plainly negligible—she seemed to be merely a Profound-grade Weapon Master.

But the cleaver she held was extraordinary, radiating lightning, killing any phantom fish that touched it.

This was not the power befitting an Earth-grade artifact; it must be Heaven-grade!

The Water Serpent Elder grew ever more convinced of his own good fortune.

Yet just then, a wondrous sight unfolded before him—the cleaver actually spoke.

"Divine spirit lost heart, thorns stained with blood. I am the Debt-Collecting Sect's cleaver. Hand over the silver on your person!"

"...??" The Water Serpent Elder's eyes bulged.

Some time ago, he had received a message from headquarters: if anyone uttered this secret phrase, he was to remember that person's details and hand over all the banknotes on him.

Never did he expect the other party to be a cleaver.

The Water Serpent Elder's thoughts turned, and then the delight on his face deepened: "An artifact that can speak—this is no ordinary Heaven-grade tool!"

Rumor had it that certain special artifacts could emit human speech, possessing intelligence no less than that of a child.

Such artifacts, even within their own rank, were treasures, rare across the realm.

And he had encountered one!

What incredible luck!

First he met the Water Lord, and now this artifact.

Could it be that heaven's favor rests upon me?

Thinking thus, the Water Serpent Elder looked at Qi Yuan, his gaze greedy: "You follow me, and all the banknotes on me are yours."

"You want to keep me?" Qi Yuan was taken aback. "Pity, though you barely qualify as my white moonlight—you don't like bathing and you're old—but this cleaver doesn't care for being kept."

Having said this, he secretly reported through the Divine Wood Token to the staff of Thornblood.

"Your Thornblood is no good. I asked an old man for silver, spoke the secret phrase, and he not only refused but said he wanted to keep me. I can't stand such crooked practices, so I'm cleaning house for you."

After sending this message, Qi Yuan spoke to Jiang Yunxi.

"Cooking must be fast, precise, and ruthless. Let the food die swiftly; otherwise, it's not cooking—it's slaughter."

Jiang Yunxi mustered her courage.

She was a brave kitchen maid, meant to save the world like the heroines in storybooks.

How could she be stopped by mere ingredients?

The elders of Thornblood were all cut from the same villain mold!

Meeting a savior like her, shouldn't they obediently die and add to her renown?

With that thought, Jiang Yunxi charged at the Water Serpent Elder, cleaver in hand.

"Hmph, a mere Profound-grade Weapon Master—courting death!" The Water Serpent Elder's eyes were full of mockery.

Not to mention a Profound-grade Weapon Master; even if Jiang Yunxi were Earth-grade, he would not fear.

That artifact was indeed powerful, wreathed in lightning.

But its wielder was a complete novice.

He struck out—no, he swung his serpent tail, for he no longer had hands.

Yet the next moment, his eyes widened in disbelief.

In stark contrast, Jiang Yunxi's eyes blazed with ecstasy: "I'm this strong!"

The cleaver in her hand landed precisely on the Water Serpent Elder's body, cleaving him in two in one stroke.

"Shredding potatoes requires thin, even, continuous strips. Your knife skills still need improvement," Qi Yuan said lazily.

Jiang Yunxi was indeed weak in strength, but the cleaver was too fierce.

The Water Serpent Elder died believing he faced Jiang Yunxi wielding a Heaven-grade artifact.

Little did he know, a good cleaver can guide its cook.

He faced not only Jiang Yunxi but also the cleaver, Qi Yuan.

"There's one more. Don't waste it," Qi Yuan said.

Jiang Yunxi's confidence now soared.

"Right!"

Cleaver in hand, she charged recklessly at the fish-headed old man.

Poor old fellow, his legs too stiff, was hacked to death by Jiang Yunxi's wild slashes.

"Hahaha, the elders of Thornblood are nothing!" Jiang Yunxi panted, cleaver in hand, her ample chest heaving.

She thought to herself, when she returned today, she would record her heroic feats in her diary, using many idioms—the more obscure, the better.

Qi Yuan couldn't be bothered: "Let's go. Keep killing fish. There are plenty of strange fish here."

"Okay." Jiang Yunxi nodded obediently.

...

Five days later, aboard the great ship, King Zhenshan's expression was especially worried.

"Still no sign of Yunxi?"

Three days had passed since Yunxi's disappearance.

He had sent all his subordinates to search Yeshan Lake, but there was no trace of her.

He had even sent men to capture Chen Kangbao, but aside from a courtyard full of steamed buns, nothing useful was found, and Chen Kangbao himself had vanished.

"No." Yun Li hung his head, pale-faced. "It's my fault for losing track of the princess. I am willing to die to atone!"

"Hmph, wait until we find the princess before you die to atone!" King Zhenshan snorted, his eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights. "In this vast Yeshan Lake, where could Yunxi have gone?"

He was deeply worried.

"Blame that old swindler, always telling Yunxi she was meant to be a savior!" an Earth-grade Weapon Master spoke, his voice angry.

Days earlier, Yun Li and Yun Hu had reported Jiang Yunxi's electric fishing, shocking King Zhenshan and drawing the attention of many Weapon Masters.

But then, losing track of Jiang Yunxi had filled King Zhenshan with anguish.

"That cleaver, even if it's a peak Earth-grade artifact with special powers, how could Yunxi control it? If she accidentally falls into the water and encounters the Water Lord..." King Zhenshan's expression was fraught with anxiety.

These past days, many great events had occurred on Yeshan Lake.

First, the Artificer Assembly convened, and as the elders and sages of the Heavenly Sect had predicted, no one could repair the Mighty Dragon Xuanyuan.

Though a young genius artificer proposed a method, following it would take a hundred years to complete the repair.

This left the entire Heavenly Sect anxious and the great families of Jining Prefecture unsettled.

Xie Danran's proposal once again stirred much discussion.

Many secretly fanned the flames, wanting to send Shen Lingxuan to the Central Land's Raksha Kingdom as a Heaven-grade Weapon Master to save Jining Prefecture. To everyone's surprise, not only did the Shen family resist fiercely, but the Tu family, Jining's foremost clan, opposed just as strongly.

With both families against it, the proposal had to be dropped.

"Alas, today is Yunxi's birthday, but I... I..." King Zhenshan was full of regret and self-reproach.

"Do not worry, Your Highness," urged an Earth-grade Imperial Soldier Envoy. "The Princess is blessed by heaven. Even if captured by the Water Lord, she will survive!"

The Prince of Zhenshan glared at the man.

If you cannot speak, say nothing!

What do you mean, "captured by the Water Lord"?

Could she not have simply lost her way while touring Yueshan Lake?

Just then, suddenly, a figure appeared in haste.

"Your Highness, it is dire! We captured a member of the Blood of Thorns. From his mouth we learned that there is a Spirit Nurturing Ground of the Blood of Thorns at Yueshan Lake, and the Water Serpent Elder of the Blood of Thorns is within that ground!"

The newcomer was an elder of the Heavenly Sect.

"What? The Blood of Thorns' Spirit Nurturing Ground? Those strange fish... indeed their doing!" Prince Zhenshan's thoughts turned swiftly.

He thought of something, and the worry in his eyes deepened.

Some time ago, his daughter had used that peculiar cleaver to slay strange fish.

Could it be... that this drew the attention of the Blood of Thorns?

And so, the Blood of Thorns sent men to abduct his daughter?

"Where is the Spirit Nurturing Ground? I will go myself!" said Prince Zhenshan.

Though this was merely speculation, his daughter's life was at stake—every possibility must be tried.

Moreover, the Blood of Thorns was the poison of Qingshan, an enemy to be slain by all.

The Red-Eyed Water Lord was already difficult to deal with; if the Blood of Thorns meddled, Jining Prefecture would be beyond saving.

The Heavenly Sect elder quickly said, "We have already located the site—it lies beneath Yueshan Lake. Our Heavenly Sect has assembled strong warriors, ready to strike like thunder and destroy the Blood of Thorns' Spirit Nurturing Ground!"

"Good!" Prince Zhenshan nodded.

About half an hour later, on a small boat, ten Imperial Soldier Envoys of varying builds gathered together.

Their auras were concealed, but it was still clear they were not to be trifled with.

These ten were among the strongest Earth-grade Imperial Soldier Envoys near Yueshan Lake.

Sad Wind Hand Wei Kun's eyes blazed with killing intent: "The Blood of Thorns dares to meddle in Yueshan Lake affairs? They are truly seeking death!"

As one of the strongest in the Heavenly Sect, he possessed the combat power of a Grandmaster, and his words carried an imposing force.

"This time, we must succeed—failure is not an option!" said Wang Qingyi, her expression grave.

"Right. The Red-Eyed Water Lord is already extremely difficult to handle. If the Blood of Thorns' scheme succeeds, there will be no Jining Prefecture left in this world!"

"I fear that even if our Ning Kingdom produced a Heaven-grade Imperial Soldier Envoy, they could not lift the siege of Jining Prefecture."

"Alas..."

These Imperial Soldier Envoys sighed, feeling the immense pressure.

"Prince Zhenshan, if the Princess has truly been abducted by the Blood of Thorns, we will prioritize rescuing her," said a Heavenly Sect elder, currying favor with the Prince.

"Thank you, everyone," Prince Zhenshan said with a cupped fist salute.

"The Princess is kind-hearted, punishing evil and promoting good. She worries about the plight of Yueshan Lake and thinks of slaying the Water Lord. Such a good person should not meet with misfortune," said one Imperial Soldier Envoy.

He had heard from Xie Danran about Jiang Yunxi's matter—that she intended to slay the Water Lord and save the world.

In his heart, he naturally thought the Princess was overreaching, but he could not say such words in front of Prince Zhenshan.

And which of the other Heavenly Sect elders did not share the same thought?

In Yueshan Lake, even the Heavenly Sect's Dao Chief was no match for the Red-Eyed Water Lord, let alone a mere young girl like the Princess.

"Let us go. Conceal our auras, enter the Spirit Nurturing Ground, strike like thunder, kill the Blood of Thorns' elder, and rescue the Princess!"

"We must be quick, and not attract the Water Lord's attention, or many of us may fall here."

"Good!"

"Good!"

The group agreed, their hearts heavy.

About half a quarter of an hour later, the ten Imperial Soldier Envoys disembarked and made their way toward the Spirit Nurturing Ground.

"Such a strong smell of blood..."

"Why do I smell a burnt, scorched fragrance?"

"It is clearly a fishy stench!"

"Be careful."

The ten men carefully masked their auras and advanced through the underwater palace.

The underwater palace was a large magical artifact, with all water sealed away, allowing people to walk inside.

The faces of those present were somber.

"This underwater palace... judging by its age, it has been here for thirty years!"

"Hiss! Thirty years? That means the Blood of Thorns has been laying plans for thirty years?"

The expressions of those present grew even more worried.

If the Blood of Thorns' scheme had only been in place for a few months, or even a year or two, the situation would still be manageable.

But thirty years... unthinkable.

Could it even be that the appearance of the Red-Eyed Water Lord was the work of the Blood of Thorns?

If so, then the matter was truly enormous!

Sad Wind Hand Wei Kun's eyes flickered with a complex expression: "Let us go!"

He quickened his pace, and the others swiftly followed.

But after only a dozen breaths, everyone present held their breath.

Ahead, there were dense piles of strange fish corpses, stacked together like a small hill.

Sad Wind Hand Wei Kun's eyes narrowed: "Water Serpent?"

The others also looked at the several corpses on the ground, their expressions shocked.

"This is the Water Serpent Elder of the Blood of Thorns—he is dead!"

"He was at the peak of Earth Grade... who killed him?"

A chill ran through everyone present.

Looking at the Water Serpent Elder's wound, it was a single fatal cut.

This meant the killer was very, very strong.

Could it be internal strife?

Many guesses arose in their minds.

"Let us be careful..."

They exchanged glances, then swiftly made their way toward the underwater palace.

The deeper they went, the more their hearts trembled.

This underwater palace was densely packed with the corpses of eerie fish everywhere.

“So many eerie spirits—if they were ever released… Jinan Prefecture would truly be finished!”

“Are they all… dead?”

One of the imperial guards couldn’t help but look toward the Mountain-Calming King.

For the manner of these fish’s deaths was rather peculiar.

“More bodies!”

“So many corpses—all members of Thornblood, killed with a single blow!”

The deeper the party ventured, the more their hearts shuddered.

No fewer than a hundred Thornblood members had perished within the underwater palace.

Every single one had been slain with a single stroke.

The Mountain-Calming King’s brow grew heavier with worry; he had not seen his daughter.

What lay before him was eerie and beyond comprehension, exceeding all he knew.

He feared that some terrifying, nameless eerie spirit had been born, slaughtering every living thing here.

Time ticked by, second after second.

The underwater palace was vast; the group had walked for three full hours and still not reached its end.

At intervals, they would discover more corpses of Thornblood members, along with countless bodies of eerie fish, eerie shrimp, and eerie turtles.

Those present were filled with deep unease.

Suddenly, Wei Kun of the Mournful Wind Hand’s pupils contracted sharply: “This is…”

His body could not help but tremble.

The others all looked over, their eyes revealing expressions of horror.

“This is… the Pupil Water Lord of the Luo Eye!”

“It… is dead!”

All stared at the colossal creature before them, their gazes shocked and bewildered.

They had imagined encountering the Pupil Water Lord, but never expected to meet its corpse.

The Pupil Water Lord now lay immense, like a house, built of piled soft flesh and crystalline bodies that formed a single pupil, utterly horrifying.

At its neck was a massive gaping wound.

The flesh all over its body seemed to have been crushed.

It bore no trace of life, as if it had died only a few hours ago.

All present were shaken, each in their own way.

The Pupil Water Lord, which the full might of Jinan Prefecture could not contend with, had died here so simply—it was too surreal.

“The waters here run deep. Who killed the Pupil Water Lord? Who killed the Thornblood people? And for what purpose?” Wang Qingyi took a deep breath, a chill running down her spine.

Some among them felt relief, while others sensed a hidden conspiracy.

The Mountain-Calming King grew restless, for he had not seen his daughter.

Just then, a startled voice rang out.

“Look! There seem to be words on the back of the Pupil Water Lord!”

The other earth-rank imperial guards, upon hearing this, quickly moved past the Pupil Water Lord’s corpse.

“The Empire’s Finest Chef, Savior of the Ning Kingdom… Jiang Yunxi slays the great villain, visits the underwater palace!”

All present wore expressions of shock, some unable to believe it.

Everyone involuntarily turned to look at the Mountain-Calming King.

The Mountain-Calming King blinked.

“That’s Yunxi’s handwriting…”

“The princess slew the Pupil Water Lord?” The elder of the Heavenly Sect, who had once looked down on Jiang Yunxi, felt a surge of absurdity.

This was too… ridiculous, wasn’t it?

The Mountain-Calming King was also dumbfounded.

His subordinates reported Yunxi’s daily activities to him—she had been tricked by an old man into learning cooking, and was supposed to save the world; he knew this best.

He had even looked forward to mocking her later, asking what cooking had to do with saving the world.

But now, it seemed she had actually learned real skills? And done something great?

He was utterly bewildered, wanting to see his daughter and ask what had truly happened.

The other earth-rank imperial guards shared similar thoughts; the scene here had completely surpassed their imagination.

……

Meanwhile, on a small boat, a young girl in a green dress stood with her hair flowing, holding a kitchen knife, looking valiant and spirited.

“Master Cai, am I impressive?”

“Impressive!”

“Hehe, I never thought that I, Jiang Yunxi, would one day be the protagonist.” Jiang Yunxi beamed with pride, then suddenly thought of something and looked at the kitchen knife. “Master Cai, you…”

“Don’t call me Master Cai anymore. I don’t lay eggs.” Qi Yuan replied casually.

The kitchen knife’s role-playing had reached its limit; he was no longer a kitchen knife.

It was time to leave.

This role-playing had been completed perfectly, and Qi Yuan had gained much, even unlocking a new character to play.

The joy in her heart dissipated, and Jiang Yunxi felt a mix of loss and uncertainty.

Was Master Cai about to leave?

“Brother Cai… actually, today is my birthday…”

“You’re the brother Cai!”

“Are you angry with me? Do you blame me for being selfish? I should have added your name too—‘Jiang Yunxi and the Kitchen Knife Travel Together’!” Jiang Yunxi stole a glance at Qi Yuan, a hint of panic in her voice.

(End of this chapter)