Chapter 235: Taking Yin Yang Fish, Life Soul Breakthrough, The Legend of Liu Tianning

"What? Liu Tianning?!" Xiao Baoyu immediately tensed up. As someone who constantly flaunted his own background, he naturally valued others' backgrounds as well. Among the people his father, Marquis Wucheng, had warned him 'never to offend,' Liu Tianning was one.

"Elder brother, is your name Zhao Xing?" Xiao Baoyu's attitude took a complete 180-degree turn.

"This humble one is indeed Zhao Xing, but I am not worthy of being called 'elder brother' by you."

"Oh, you certainly are, you certainly are!"

"Elder brother, it is I, Xiao Baoyu, who was blind. I never imagined I would meet you here." Xiao Baoyu was quite a character; completely unguarded, he flew over, trembling slightly.

"Hmph," Long Xiao snorted. He wasn't against wealth; he deeply respected scions like Xia Jing and Ji Ziyun because they dedicated themselves to arduous training and were ambitious and hardworking. Xia Jing, despite his noble status, had managed to master the Gluttonous Devouring technique! How much torment and hardship must he have endured? Even without the Heavenly Gate encounter, he still possessed four layers of cultivation! Yet, this Xiao Baoyu had no talent whatsoever. Despite being a seventh-rank cultivator, he couldn't even fly steadily. With no personal ability, relying solely on his father's status, he had been so arrogant earlier and was now so obsequious. It thoroughly disgusted Long Xiao.

"Elder brother, my father also has some connections with the Liu clan of Taihe Commandery. I deeply offended you just now; please allow me to come in and personally apologize." Xiao Baoyu bowed obsequiously.

"Young Master Xiao, there's no need for a formal visit," Zhao Xing said. He wasn't going to hold a grudge, but he also didn't intend to socialize with him. "We still have to travel; please move aside, Young Master Xiao."

"Alright, alright," Xiao Baoyu bowed repeatedly. "Of course, of course." He waved towards the silver shuttle airboat behind him: "Quickly, clear the way!" The silver shuttle airboat indeed moved aside, and Zhao Xing quickly departed in his airboat.

After Zhao Xing left, Xiao Baoyu couldn't help but wipe away a bead of sweat. "Oh my, I actually ran into that freak's disciple... thank goodness, thank goodness."

His father, Marquis Wucheng, was a fourth-rank cultivator. Yet, even so, when mentioning Liu Tianning, he still said, 'Never offend him.' Xiao Baoyu had once asked, "Father, what if I accidentally offend him so badly that he wants me dead?" Xiao Baoyu remembered his father's reply: "Baoyu, if you truly offend him to the point of no return, your father will simply have to have another son." Heaven help him! Xiao Baoyu had always been doted on by his father, cherished as if he might melt in his mouth or break if held too tightly. But receiving such a reply that time had utterly astounded Xiao Baoyu!

Xiao Baoyu had foolishly asked at the time, "Father, why?" Marquis Wucheng had remained silent for a long time before replying with a hint of distress, "Because your father can't defeat him. Even if you had another father, both of us together couldn't defeat an enraged Liu Tianning." His fourth-rank father claiming he couldn't defeat a fifth-rank Liu Tianning — Xiao Baoyu couldn't understand the logic. Nevertheless, Xiao Baoyu deeply ingrained Liu Tianning's name in his memory.

Of course, his father had also said: "Liu Tianning is an upright person, not evil, and it's difficult for ordinary people to offend him fatally because he doesn't care about money or personal gain. There are only two things... never mind, knowing those won't benefit you."

"You just need to remember, if you encounter someone close to Liu Tianning, treat them with respect. If you can't, then avoid them. Absolutely do not offend them! If you do offend him, apologize immediately! As long as you haven't offended him fatally, there's a chance to salvage the situation, because among the noble families and powerful figures, he is still reasonable."

That's why, as soon as Xiao Baoyu arrived at the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, he immediately inquired about everyone close to Liu Tianning. The name Zhao Xing was thus recorded by Xiao Baoyu. Because Liu Tianning was a member of the Military Affairs Department's Supervisory Office, he rarely handled ordinary matters and didn't need to earn military merits. He merely held a leisurely position as a teacher at Taicang Academy within the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven. Yet, for his student Zhao Xing, he personally made a trip to Soul Sacrifice Pass. That's why Xiao Baoyu was startled when he heard the words, 'My teacher, Liu Tianning.' He was terrified of his father having another son, so he promptly acknowledged defeat and apologized.

"Young Master, Young Master? We should continue our patrol," an elder said.

"No more patrolling, no more!" Xiao Baoyu declared, patting his chest. "That guy surnamed Xing gave me next to nothing, yet he made this young master take such a huge risk! Do you know my father almost had to have another son just now?!"

"Huh?" The elder was trying to comprehend his young master's logic when he heard him speak again. "Let's find a random iceberg nearby, stop there, play cards for two hours, and then go back and report."

"Young Master, you just said you wanted to accomplish something great..."

"Don't mention it! That's final!" Xiao Baoyu got onto the ship, fuming. The elder gave a wry smile and could only do as he wished.

"No passage! This area has been blockaded by the United Exploration Team!" Less than a quarter of an hour later, Zhao Xing encountered another Blood Shadow airboat blocking his path.

"I am also a high-level scout! The seven great alliances agreed that the southwestern line was originally occupied by Pei Yuanchang, the direct grandson of King Lingshuang. Why are you going back on your word?!"

"It's precisely because you're in a Hailing Airboat that we haven't attacked you!" the bearded general who stepped out to speak retorted. "As for any agreement, how would I know? Go ask Pei Yuanchang yourself!"

Helpless, Zhao Xing had to bring up another identity: "You don't recognize Pei Yuanchang, but do you recognize Liu Tianning?"

"Liu Tianning's exploration team?" The bearded general eyed Zhao Xing suspiciously. "May I ask what your relationship with Lord Liu is..."

"My teacher is Liu Tianning, and I am Zhao Xing, deputy envoy of his team! Can we pass or not?"

The bearded general's expression changed. He immediately pulled out a ground mirror. After careful verification, he found that among the members of Liu Tianning's team recorded in the ground mirror, there was indeed one named Zhao Xing, whose appearance matched the person speaking before him.

"So it's Lord Liu's esteemed disciple! You may pass, you may pass! We'll clear the way immediately!" The bearded general immediately gave the order for the Blood Shadow airboat to move. Zhao Xing wanted to ask what connection he had with old Liu, but to his surprise, the other party not only cleared the way, they simply sped away!

Zhao Xing: "..."

He never expected such an effect. Old Liu's name was so effective now? The *Chronicles of Marquisates* didn't mention how formidable Liu Tianning was in his youth. The *Noble Families* only mentioned the Liu clan of Taihe Commandery and their unparalleled Straw Effigy Art. When Zhao Xing knew old Liu well, Liu Tianning was already a ruthless first-rank grand figure. How did he become so famous now? Zhao Xing realized he didn't fully understand this 'major antagonist' from his previous life. Firstly, old Liu was not only not heartless, but also a bit sentimental! Princess Youruo was one thing, but Murong Qing was someone else's wife... Secondly, while old Liu was decisive in his actions now, he wasn't exactly ruthless. At least Zhao Xing hadn't heard of him killing many people or handling any major cases with severe brutality.

"It seems I still don't know enough about old Liu," Zhao Xing mused.

After the bearded general ordered the Blood Shadow airboat to travel twenty or thirty li, his friend and deputy general asked, "Brother, why are we running?"

"He really is Liu Tianning's disciple," the bearded general said.

The young deputy general asked, "Even if it's Liu Tianning, do we need to be this afraid?"

"You're still young and inexperienced, so it's normal that you don't know about him," the bearded general shook his head.

"Brother, how powerful is he exactly? You're also a fifth-rank cultivator!"

The bearded general scoffed, "My fifth-rank status was forcibly granted by the imperial court; how can I compare to Liu Wanfa?"

The young deputy general grew even more curious: "Brother, tell me, how formidable is this Liu Tianning?"

The bearded general said, "During the Dingxin Calendar... hmm, I can't recall the exact year, but I once served in the Guizong Grotto-Heaven, which is under the jurisdiction of the Military Affairs Department. At that time, I must have been over fifty, and I was still only an eighth-rank Spirit Bridge Realm cultivator. But Liu Tianning, he was under twenty years old at the time, yet he was already a seventh-rank Earth Fiend Realm expert at the peak! You know, children of noble families often have titles or honorary ranks, so their cultivation realms aren't as strictly limited. Liu Tianning held no official position or title back then; his strength was entirely self-cultivated!

"He was traveling through Guizong Grotto-Heaven and happened to pass through 'Liangcheng' within the grotto-heaven. The governance at the time, especially internally, was not as clear and just as it is today. There was a notorious corrupt official in Liangcheng who colluded with the garrison commander, engaging in bribery and corruption, and even harboring a gang of bandits! Somehow, that gang of bandits set their sights on Liu Tianning and his friend. As a result, a mountain stronghold of nearly two thousand people was utterly destroyed by Liu Tianning alone, including seven Heaven Net Realm bandit leaders and over fifty seventh-rank Earth Fiend Realm cultivators. All of them were wiped out!"

The young deputy general retorted stubbornly, "How strong could common bandits be? Even seven sixth-rank, over fifty seventh-rank, and thousands of bandits are just a disorganized mob; it's easy to break their morale."

"Do you think those were ordinary bandits? Many of them were retired military officers. Furthermore, he killed them all; he didn't just defeat them!" The bearded general scoffed, "If you look down on bandits, do you respect the regular army of Guizong Grotto-Heaven?"

The young deputy general replied seriously, "Of course, the Guizong Army is among the top 300 strongest armies."

The bearded general said, "At that time, the corrupt official, upon learning the news, feared exposure and colluded with the camp commander to send regular troops to apprehend Liu Tianning. The battalion I was in at the time was also deployed and participated in the encirclement. As a result, Liu Tianning, right in front of our three battalions and over three thousand people, decapitated that sixth-rank peak general!"

"What?" The young deputy general couldn't help but be moved. "Such a thing happened?"

"Three regular battalions of strong soldiers!" the bearded general exclaimed, "To be honest, I almost peed myself then... Fortunately, Liu Tianning only killed the commander and didn't touch us ordinary soldiers. After that incident, I never saw him again until many years later, when I heard his name once more in connection with a battle at the head of the Xunyang River..."

The young deputy general was waiting for his elder brother to continue, but then he saw his elder brother's ground mirror vibrate. It was a message from 'Xing Ming,' issuing new orders.

"Let's go! To the Darkstone Coral Reef on Icefire Island, something good is appearing there!" The airboat traveled for another quarter of an hour, and Icefire Island was now close at hand.

Eight airboats once again blocked Zhao Xing's path. This time, before the other party could ask, Zhao Xing proactively raised old Liu's banner.

"This is Lord Liu Tianning's exploration team flag! Who dares to block our way?!"

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh*

The eight airboats instantly vanished without a trace.

Long Xiao was stunned: "Your teacher's reputation is incredibly effective, isn't it?" Chen Shijie was also surprised; for a Military Agricultural Official to achieve this level of influence was unheard of. Logically speaking, in terms of combat, a Military Agricultural Official shouldn't be an invincible presence among those of the same rank. For instance, both Xia Jing and he were sixth-rank, but he couldn't defeat Xia Jing, nor could he defeat Long Xiao. Liu Tianning having such an effect couldn't be purely due to his background, because here, all are top exploration teams, and their connections and backgrounds aren't too different. If not status and background, then it must be raw strength! Only with enough power can one make others obey in such a free-for-all environment.

"Don't ask me, I only became his disciple recently," Zhao Xing said, also confused. He genuinely didn't know what glorious deeds Liu Tianning had accomplished in the past. As for Liu Tianning's strength, he had a rough guess. Old Liu was a Military Agricultural Official of the True Self Sect, and his Straw Effigy Art was unparalleled. His situation was an extreme anomaly; a fifth-rank cultivator likely possessed fourth-rank combat power. He wasn't sure what specific level of fourth-rank strength he could match, as old Liu had only taken action once at Soul Sacrifice Pass and hadn't truly fought. However, judging by the number of straw effigies in the Myriad Arts Palace, Zhao Xing estimated that Liu Tianning could be invincible even among fourth-rank cultivators. Fourth-rank Primordial Soul Realm cultivators don't have many soul-damaging techniques, and as long as Liu Tianning's Fated Soul couldn't be severely wounded, he would be invincible! How much combat power he could exert depended on how many Myriad Arts Avatars old Liu possessed and what percentage of his true body's strength they could wield.

Xia Jing spoke up: "I have heard my father mention him."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing grew interested. "Quickly, tell me what Marquis Xia said."

Xia Jing recalled: "He said that Liu Tianning was already a fifth-rank cultivator before the age of thirty. For the next ninety years, he remained at this realm, reportedly dedicating himself to the family's legacy and specializing in the Liu Clan's Straw Effigy Art."

Zhao Xing nodded. Liu Tianning was currently 127 years old. As a young genius who reached fifth-rank before thirty, only by delving into the most challenging Myriad Arts Effigies of the True Self Sect could he have spent so much time. If it were any other faction, there would be nothing left to study; once everything was thoroughly understood, they would proactively seek to advance their rank. However, there seemed to be another hidden reason. Why had Liu Tianning remained at fifth-rank? If he wanted to ascend to fourth-rank, it should have been relatively simple. Zhao Xing felt a hint of doubt.

Xia Jing continued: "When he was sixty years old, there was a rather famous incident: the battle at the head of the Xunyang River."

"Xunyang River?" Zhao Xing recalled in his mind. "The Xunyang River, the fourth largest inland river?"

"Yes," Xia Jing said. "It was in Daoyuan Continent. That year, Liu Tianning passed by the Xunyang River on his way to assume office, and coincidentally encountered a natural disaster. The Xunyang River underwent a massive upheaval, with towering waves rolling across the surface. It's said the highest waves reached a hundred zhang."

"A hundred zhang?" Chen Shijie couldn't help but exclaim, "That must be a provincial-level catastrophe!" One zhang is 3.3 meters, so a hundred-zhang wave is over 330 meters high!

"The legends might be somewhat exaggerated; a maximum wave height of over 300 meters doesn't necessarily reflect the full intensity of the disaster," Zhao Xing said. "Brother Xia, please continue."

Xia Jing nodded: "Yes, this disaster was not accidental but man-made, initiated by an outsider sect. At that time, Liu Tianning was passing by and took action to quell the flood and the raging waves. At that moment, one fourth-rank and eight fifth-rank cultivators ambushed Liu Tianning, who was busy controlling the waters. Behind him was Xunyang City, and in front were the massive waves. If he dodged, Xunyang City would surely be devastated. If he didn't dodge, he would face a combined attack."

"What happened then?" Long Xiao quickly asked.

"Then, Liu Tianning supported the colossal waves with one hand and pointed at the nine outsider demon cultivators with the other. Those demon cultivators transformed into nine salamanders. The massive waves were also suppressed by him."

"That's the Transformation Technique!" Chen Shijie couldn't help but exclaim. "His Transformation Technique is actually that powerful?!"

"Is that true?" Ji Ziyun said, "Kirin Child, why haven't I heard of it?"

"I don't know if it's true or false; my father just told me," Xia Jing said. Zhao Xing wasn't surprised; if Liu Tianning had done this, its authenticity would be very high. He was a genius Military Agricultural Official rarely seen in several dynasties.

"My father said that he had just returned from being a guest at the Prince of Xunyang's residence when he received a letter from the Prince mentioning this incident. The letter was full of lingering fear, so it should be true," Xia Jing said.

"Who is the Prince of Xunyang?" Zhao Xing vaguely felt the name was familiar but couldn't recall who it was.

"He is Princess Youruo's maternal uncle," Ji Ziyun said. "He's also a descendant of the Azure Water Sect."

"Hmm?" Zhao Xing pondered after hearing this: "Old Liu is 127, Princess Youruo is 79. When he was sixty, Princess Youruo was twelve. Could it be that they already knew each other then?" Zhao Xing immediately imagined a scenario of a proud loli falling in love with a cool uncle.

Xia Jing said: "My father also mentioned a secret: Liu Tianning once challenged thirty-two Daoist academies because of a certain matter. However, this matter is quite secret, with no recorded images like those from Mirage Beads, so it cannot be verified."

"Out of the Great Zhou's seventy-two Daoist academies, he challenged almost half?" Long Xiao's eyes widened, filled with immense envy. "If that's true, he must be a divine figure!"

"This should be true," Zhao Xing knew this, as the *Chronicles of Marquisates* mentioned Liu Tianning had sparred with various Daoist academies, and in his later years, he was even invited to teach at 'Creation Daoist Academy.' It was a secret now because it was not glorious, but when Liu Tianning became the Grand Military Agricultural Official, it would be a beautiful story. It just didn't mention why he fought, only a single line: 'Liu was skilled in methods, fought thirty-two Daoist academies consecutively, and never suffered a single defeat.'

"A teacher like Liu Tianning is truly rare," Ji Ziyun exclaimed with emotion. "We are all benefiting from Zhao Xing's connection." Indeed, they were benefiting. Because next, Zhao Xing, under Liu Tianning's banner, circled the southwest side of Icefire Island. Every patrol airboat they encountered retreated obediently. Zhao Xing and the other four had originally prepared for a battle. But Zhao Xing just shouted 'My teacher, Liu Tianning' all the way. And it completely cleared the area!

"Someday, if I can reach this level, making people tremble at my name, it would be worth dying for," Long Xiao said, having seemingly gained more weight from envy.

"You'll have that day," Zhao Xing said with a smile, patting Long Xiao's shoulder. "However, if you maintain this physique, your son might end up calling you 'My father, Fatty Long.'"

"Get lost!" Long Xiao was flustered. He had just been fantasizing about a cool display, but Zhao Xing's words shattered it. In his fantasy, a little fat boy suddenly appeared, shouting: 'My father, Fatty Long.' It was utterly disgusting!

"Hahahahaha."

The five arrived effortlessly at the location Pei Yuanchang had mentioned—the Darkstone Coral Reef. This was a shallow sea area near Icefire Island. Due to the presence of volcanoes, much of the ice cover in the nearby sea had melted. Under Pei Yuanchang's command, there was a thirty-person team. Using a multistory ship as their base, they had established a small camp here. The leader was a man named Wu Jiang, a Pure Essence Realm initial stage cultivator. He wasn't actually King Lingshuang's man; his father's generation had connections with King Lingshuang, and Wu Jiang himself had formed a high-level exploration team. After entering Yang City, he connected with Pei Yuanchang and decided to align with Pei Yuanchang's top exploration team for joint operations.

Upon seeing Zhao Xing arrive, Wu Jiang was very enthusiastic. He already knew Zhao Xing's identity and had noticed that several teams that had been watching him had retreated. The United Exploration Team, led by Xing Ming and composed of various lords and noble scions, had previously sent several teams to harass his exploration efforts.

"Marquis Yuanrang, two Young Masters, I won't waste time with pleasantries," Wu Jiang said, pointing to the water. "The Yin-Yang Fish Young Master Pei mentioned were found in this area. It's just that they are too small and too fast in the water, making them difficult to catch. We spent a whole day and only found twenty-four. According to Young Master Pei's instructions, these six are for your group." Wu Jiang held a crystal box containing six swimming Yin-Yang Fish. Each one was significantly larger than the previous one given.

"Thank you." Receiving a quarter was already very good. After all, they had just arrived, done nothing, and only used words. Of course, old Liu's reputation was certainly worth this price. So Zhao Xing didn't stand on ceremony and accepted them directly.

"Since you all are here, this area is naturally open for your exploration. May I ask if Marquis Yuanrang wishes to work with us or act independently?" Wu Jiang asked tentatively.

"Let's work separately, just keep an eye out for each other," Zhao Xing said. He knew Wu Jiang was afraid they would come to reap the benefits. Partnering with a powerful figure was always like this: happy yet fearful. Zhao Xing simply decided not to go with Wu Jiang.

"Understood, as Marquis Yuanrang wishes," Wu Jiang sighed in relief. After a few more pleasantries and a brief explanation of the situation, he quickly departed.

"Let's divide these six Yin-Yang Fish," Zhao Xing said, pointing to the crystal box.

"Zhao Xing, let's not divide these," Xia Jing said. "It's all thanks to your teacher's reputation; we didn't do anything."

"Indeed," Ji Ziyun said. "My joining this team and gaining so many benefits with you is already a great kindness. Previously, I could say I contributed a little. Now, I've done nothing at all. Little brother, don't make it so your elder brother can't repay this kindness."

Chen Shijie didn't speak; he supported whatever Zhao Xing did, so he didn't need to say anything specific. Long Xiao, however, was somewhat tempted. He was purely greedy and wanted to taste them.

"Alright, then I won't be polite," Zhao Xing smiled. "But I'll give one to Fatty Long; his current appearance isn't conducive to action. The Yin-Yang Fish might help him recover. The enhancement of Fated Soul power can nourish the seven corporeal souls. Long Xiao's current larger physique was a side effect of his seven corporeal souls. Although not a major issue and it would naturally subside after a while, he still needed his combat power for their tasks. So Zhao Xing decided to give him a small one to try."

"Hahahaha, can I vote against that? I want to see him like this for a bit longer," Xia Jing seized the opportunity to mock. If he didn't laugh now, he wouldn't get another chance! Who told Long Xiao to be sarcastic when he was throwing up and even try to cover his mouth! He remembered that!

"Xia Jing, you just wait!" Long Xiao raged. "Once I recover, I'll have another big fight with you, and I'll definitely feed you thirty thousand jin of fish!"

"I'll be waiting for you!" the Young Master replied fearlessly.

"Alright, stop fighting," Zhao Xing chuckled. "Brother Ji, Brother Xia, Old Chen, please stand guard for Long Xiao and me."

The black and white Yin-Yang Fish felt weightless in his hand. The sensation was extremely subtle, as if holding air. But with his Fated Soul perception, Zhao Xing could sense a colossal entity in his hand.

"No, it's one body, two souls," Zhao Xing realized. Using his Heavenly Eye technique, he saw that he was holding two fish. Such an anomaly was truly rare. "This could probably be categorized as a Soul Manifestation; truly a two-for-one deal."

Zhao Xing opened his mouth and swallowed the first fish whole. After consuming it, his body showed no reaction. However, his Fated Soul in the sea of consciousness began to tremble slightly. His pair of Heavenly Eyes grew brighter. He consecutively consumed six Yin-Yang Fish. Zhao Xing distinctly felt a sense of 'expansion.' However, he had taken a 'Fated Soul Pill' and possessed the top-tier 'Great Dream of Spring and Autumn' technique, which allowed him to easily condense his Fated Soul. Although he couldn't actively cultivate his Fated Soul, digesting soul power was no problem. When he had plundered the 'Blood Spirit Venerable's' soul power, it was precisely with the help of the Great Dream of Spring and Autumn technique and his Soul Armor.

Fated Soul: Late Sixth-Rank.

"Six Yin-Yang Fish, barely palm-sized, yet they have such miraculous effects?"

"Heavenly Eye, open!" Zhao Xing activated his Heavenly Eye technique and gazed into the distance. He could clearly see Wu Jiang on the sea surface ten thousand meters away, directing his crew to dive into the water. He continued to exert himself, and his vision grew even clearer. He could see Wu Jiang's facial expressions distinctly.

"Hmm?" Wu Jiang sensed something and immediately looked back, but he didn't see anything clearly. At five thousand meters, he could roughly make out blurry human silhouettes. At ten thousand meters, even on the unobstructed sea, he couldn't see anything. Wu Jiang looked up in confusion, then resumed his work. Although he had consumed Yin-Yang Fish, his Fated Soul was still at the late sixth-rank. Furthermore, he had never taken a Fated Soul Pill, so he hadn't activated his Heavenly Eye. The Heavenly Eye was an effect brought about by the Fated Soul Pill, not something that automatically activated upon reaching sixth-rank Fated Soul.

"My Fated Soul has strengthened, and my Heavenly Eye technique has reached High-tier Sixth Revolution. And it seems there are other effects too. Yes, it's a sensation... I can even vaguely sense Wu Jiang's emotions. The Yin-Yang Fish are truly powerful," Zhao Xing mused. He digested them very quickly. All six were already digested, while Long Xiao had just finished digesting one small one.

"Hahahaha, I, Long Xiao, am back to normal!" A burst of sword qi shot towards the sky. Bathed in golden light, Long Xiao reappeared within the sword glow. He had returned to his normal physique and seemed to have improved, as his sword light became even more condensed.

"Now that you're ready, let's get to work," Zhao Xing also stood up. "We can enter the water here; everyone, go down and look for fish. If we find any traces, we can try baiting them." Zhao Xing wasn't sure if Water Immortal and Fish-Devouring Grass Seeds would be effective on Yin-Yang Fish; he could only say they'd try once they found some. "Let's work!" Seeing the effects of the Yin-Yang Fish, the five became full of vigor.

On the other side of Icefire Island, a Black Dragon warship was anchored on the sea. Ji Ye, wearing cloud-brocade boots and luxurious robes, walked into the highest deck of the warship. The rows of guards lining the stairs were high-level puppets called 'Combat Vajra.' There were fifty such high-level mechanical beasts on the ship. After Ji Ye ascended to the warship's highest level, four people were waiting there.

"Young Master," the four immediately saluted upon seeing Ji Ye.

"Hmm," Ji Ye sat down in the main seat and surveyed the four. "What progress has been made in searching for the Fated Soul Fish?"

"We've found seventy-eight," said one of the cultivators, Qin Chongwu, a fifth-rank Pure Essence Realm expert. As he spoke, two Combat Vajra puppets carried a crystal box forward.

"Only seventy-eight?" Ji Ye frowned. "Why so few?" How much manpower and resources had he deployed? Even of the Combat Vajra, there were fifty on this ship alone, not to mention dozens of airboats in the vicinity, also equipped with high-level puppets. Puppets did not count towards the scout quota, and with the Prince's Estate having deep reserves, Ji Ye naturally acquired as many as possible.

Ji Ye had remained at the fifth-rank for many years. It wasn't that he couldn't advance, but his father, King Liang, had stipulated it. For a prince to break through, they must cultivate top-tier body refinement techniques, which increases the difficulty. Above the Pure Essence Realm is the Primordial Soul Realm, where every step must be extremely solid. Promotions granted solely by imperial decree can be given, but also taken away. If one advanced through their own efforts, the impact of being demoted would not be too significant. There were many people in the world who held this belief. The Fated Soul could nourish the seven corporeal souls. To break through to the Primordial Soul Realm, strengthening the Fated Soul was one path, and it would also greatly benefit future attempts to reach the third-rank Prime Soul Realm. Therefore, Ji Ye was determined to acquire this Soul Manifestation.

"Young Master," another elder mystic, Huangpu Song, spoke up, "The main issue is that both Pei Yuanchang's exploration team and Xing Ming's exploration team are expanding, and we've had many conflicts during our harvesting. Additionally, we just received news that Liu Tianning, from the Military Affairs Department's Supervisory Office, also seems to be getting involved. His Myriad Arts Tower Ship has already reached the Sea of Eternal Night, and he has also sent students to Icefire Island, apparently having reached an agreement with Pei Yuanchang."

"Liu Tianning?" Ji Ye frowned. "Has he arrived in person?"

"That... is unclear." Who could truly know?

"Hmph!" A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Ji Ye's eyes. "On Pei Yuanchang's southwestern line, kill anyone who blocks us. Make an example of them and see if Xing Ming's United Exploration Team still dares to approach! As for Liu Tianning... unless Liu Tianning personally speaks to me, there's no need to show deference. It's just a student; just expel him for now! As long as you don't kill him." Ji Ye still left a margin for error; for Liu Tianning's people, he merely ordered expulsion. As for others? Why not kill them?!

"Yes, your subordinate will do so immediately." Qin Chongwu, Huangpu Song, and the other two immediately acknowledged the order.