Chapter 1045: The Mansion's Water Puzzle

The waves surged, and towering breakers crashed.

“Boom!”

Purple lightning streaked across the sky, as dark clouds swept in, bringing with them a chaotic wind. The spiritual energy on the sea became turbulent, forcing several streaks of light, which had been gracefully hovering, to descend and settle on the water’s surface to rest.

A dense green light billowed across the ocean, resembling a massive, hunched beast, casting fragmented jade-green hues across the surging waves. Above, a gigantic, treasured cauldron materialized, suspending itself in the sky and effectively locking the green light to the surface.

The green light finally coalesced, revealing the form of an enormous green-backed Softshell Turtle. It possessed two horns on its head, sharp claws and teeth, and its back was adorned with countless white corals and jewels, each shimmering with the light of profound waters.

Its colossal, jade-colored eyes, as wide as doors, abruptly opened, revealing a fierce, icy gaze. Its vast mouth parted, showcasing deep white, gleaming fangs that shimmered with an eerie glow:

“You, True Master… are truly pushing your luck!”

The treasured cauldron above vibrated slightly, and from the abundant, pouring Lu water, a serene blue figure finally materialized. He halted casually in the sky and smiled faintly.

“Your Majesty, you are being overly unaccommodating. I merely seek one item, offering to exchange it through fair negotiation. How is that pushing my luck?”

The green-backed Softshell Turtle retracted its formidable form, plummeting from the sky to transform into a robust, broad-foreheaded old man. Dressed in thick scaled armor, he cast a cold, sarcastic glance at the other man.

“If this is truly about negotiation, then why did you set up a spiritual artifact formation, blocking all directions? Does that convey a willingness to compromise?”

Chi Buzi withdrew his hand, gathering a string of dark green beads into his palm. He gently stroked them, and they scattered a clear light, forming a platform. Only then did he smile.

“After all, Your Majesty often resides in the deep sea, and one slumber can last for years or even months. Having finally caught you, I couldn't possibly let you stand idly while we converse. This spiritual artifact formation serves as a temporary residence, ensuring Your Majesty is not slighted.”

The robust old man, transformed from the demon king, choked slightly, paused for a moment, and then replied,

“Chi Buzi, I have truly witnessed your shamelessness.”

He was a demon king who had cultivated for many years, having long surpassed the Canzi stage. His extraordinary bloodline meant he wasn't necessarily afraid of the junior before him. However, any conflict would be earth-shattering, and he had maintained a low profile for years to ensure his survival; he genuinely wished to avoid any further commotion.

Chi Buzi smiled faintly, seemingly understanding the demon king's thoughts. Unaffected, he sat down at the table, took out wine from his sleeve, and chuckled.

“I have long heard of Senior Zeng Zan’s great reputation. Profound water is indeed rare. Now, Your Majesty… how confident are you?”

Zeng Zan stared at him, and said blandly,

“Daoist friend Chi, it’s not as if you don’t know this… given my abilities, seeking the Dao is already arduous, and my hopes for this life are slim. It’s simply the idea of acquiring a Dao body in my next life, and then pursuing the Golden Immortal position…”

Chi Buzi understood exactly what he meant by ‘acquiring a Dao body’ — it was merely to reincarnate as a human, then pursue the Golden Immortal position through either the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao or the Breath-Nourishing Cultivation Dao. He clapped his hands and said,

“Daoist friend, with your great skill, have you ever considered seeking the Remainder or Intercalary paths?”

The two powerful cultivators did not share a deep acquaintance, so this unprompted question clearly indicated a request. The conversation wasn't about Zeng Zan's intentions, but rather Chi Buzi's own. Zeng Zan gazed at him and said blandly,

“Daoist friend Chi, are you seeking the Intercalary or the Remainder path?”

Chi Buzi took a sip of wine, gazing at him without concealment, and said calmly,

“I cultivate the Lu Water Dao, and I’ve come to see you, Senior, a true practitioner of the Profound Water Dao. Is it not easy to guess which path is closely aligned with Lu Water? It’s quite evident.”

Zeng Zan narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression seemingly calm.

“Oh? Daoist friend seeks something related to Profound Water?”

Both individuals were cultivators of the Great True Master level, making this a highly sensitive matter. If Chi Buzi were to attain the Profound Water Dao, and their positions conflicted, it could very likely escalate into an unending conflict!

Chi Buzi gazed at him, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and said,

“Senior, you have lived through much. It’s impossible for you not to know about the Xinyou Luze Seal incident. Why test me?”

Chi Buzi possessed four divine abilities, a fact Zeng Zan was well aware of. Now that it had been revealed, he dropped any pretense and said with amusement,

“You currently possess four divine abilities. The Lu Water path is already claimed and forbidden, and the Kan essence cannot be impulsively pursued. That leaves the Harmony, Profound, and Yin paths. Why then are you focused on the Profound Water Dao?”

The old demon chuckled.

“Reincarnation is so beneficial; if you’re unwilling, then so be it. The Harmony Water path favors the intercalary, yet you insist on not pursuing it. That seems irrational. Do you not trust the Dragon Clan?”

‘Reincarnation.’

Chi Buzi scoffed.

He knew how petty that individual was, and that a contingency had been placed within his very soul. He only had this opportunity to attain the Dao because he currently held value. If he were to reincarnate, he would lose all worth; instant death would be a mild fate in comparison.

Zeng Zan had cultivated for many years, his cultivation even surpassing Chi Buzi's. He naturally understood that the Yin Water path was one of reincarnation. Since Chi Buzi had no intention of reincarnating, only two paths remained open to him.

Chi Buzi’s expression clouded over. He watched Zeng Zan quietly and said,

“The Harmony Water path favors the intercalary, yet for a millennium, many have sought to attain Harmony, but none have succeeded. The entanglement between the Lu and Harmony paths is simply too terrifying. I suspect… it’s connected to the Dragon Clan’s pursuit of true divinity.”

“Oh?”

Zeng Zan's expression subtly shifted, and he chuckled.

“Perhaps previous cultivators simply lacked sufficient cultivation. If you were to achieve Harmony and escape the Lu Water path, wouldn’t you naturally align with the Dragon Clan? When the Dragon Clan seeks true divinity, why would they refuse an additional ally? They would naturally assist you.”

“Furthermore, if you believe that the Lord of Lu Water will not spare you, then without the aid of the Dragon Clan, your chances of success are even less!”

Yet Chi Buzi’s gaze remained clear, devoid of any doubt, and his expression turned somewhat chilling.

“The True Chi is a Great Sage; surely he knows that no single individual can possess two Dao Fruits. There is a reason for their demise. The transformation between the Lu and Harmony paths holds great terror. Though Harmony Water clearly favors the intercalary, and there are many dragon descendants, Harmony Water currently holds only one Fruit Position, which must be part of a larger arrangement. If I were to presumptuously involve myself, I would undoubtedly perish. Moreover, consider the current state of the world: pursuing the Lu-Harmony intercalary path at this juncture would not be seen as assistance by the Dragon Lord, but rather as either foolish or malevolent.”

Zeng Zan gazed at him for a long time, then nodded and said,

“Impressive.”

Chi Buzi smiled coldly and replied,

“And if I intercalate towards the Profound Water Dao, can the Dragon Clan not stand behind me? In this scenario… the Harmony Water path is a dead end; only the Profound Water path offers a glimmer of hope.”

Although his tone was resolute, his gaze lingered on Zeng Zan’s face for a long time. The old demon pondered deeply. Then Chi Buzi raised an eyebrow and said,

“I understand, Senior, that you only considered reincarnation because you couldn't attain the Remainder position. Back then, in the East… the Chi descendants orchestrated the vast decline of the Profound Water, and the Remainder position was lost thereafter. By the time the last True Monarch of the Profound Water’s Remainder position fell, the lakes and marshes across the world withered overnight… Your reincarnation, Senior, is also to attain the Profound Water’s Intercalary position.”

“If someone like me attains the Profound Water’s Intercalary position first, wouldn’t that perfectly serve to test the Dragon Lord’s intentions on your behalf, Senior?”

Zeng Zan gazed at him for a long time. Chi Buzi quietly continued,

“Lakes and marshes are places that nurture water, and they complement each other through aggregation. If I truly succeed, Senior, as a distinguished descendant of Profound Water, would you really have no one to rely on?”

Zeng Zan mused,

“But the Dragon Lord and Profound Water…”

The man in green took a step forward and said calmly,

“I know the Dragon Lord dislikes the Profound Water becoming overly powerful. While an intercalary position itself might be acceptable, if I pursue it, I inherently harbor the ambition and potential to seek a full Fruit Position. Ordinarily, he might rather abandon me than allow Profound Water to become too strong. But things are different now.”

“Now, the Dragon Clan’s pursuit of truth is the pursuit of the True Dragon Dao!”

His gaze was clear.

“Should they fail, it will bring about cataclysmic changes. They might not even be able to hold their ground in the East Sea… so how could they be distracted by matters of Profound Water? Profound Water would surely be lost. At least I am someone they have supported; our interests align, and there is a shared destiny.”

“If they succeed, then there will be even less need to worry about me. The Harmony Water path need not be synonymous with the Dragon Clan. What does it matter if Profound Water flourishes? They will have already ascended to a higher plane. I would naturally be obedient, and there would be no need to worry about such matters anymore.”

The man adjusted his sleeves and said quietly,

“This is also why I concluded that Senior will continue to cultivate the Profound Water Dao in your next life. You have consistently halted at this very stage, precisely to avoid provoking the Dragon Lord, waiting until the larger situation is resolved before pursuing matters of Profound Water.”

Zeng Zan looked at him for a long time, then whispered,

“Since you have calculated everything so clearly, and you understand that my destiny lies after the Dragon Clan attains the Dao, aren’t you afraid that my ambition might grow, and I’ll resent you for taking the first step and seizing my opportunity for a Fruit Position?”

Zeng Zan’s tone had clearly shifted, yet Chi Buzi merely chuckled.

“Of course not. The Xuan Yuan was tragically betrayed back then. Senior, as a descendant of the Xuan Yuan, you are rightly wary… Who knows if the Dragon Clan truly desires your ascension? From any perspective, I am a more suitable candidate than you, Senior.”

He took a step forward, the depth of color in his eyes unfathomable, and smiled faintly.

“I came today to inform Senior that I must attain the Dao first; only then will you have your opportunity.”

Zeng Zan gazed at him for a long time. At that moment, a flicker of doubt entered his mind.

‘He… might actually have that chance!’

The old demon replied wistfully,

“What do you want?”

Chi Buzi’s eyes brightened slightly. His gaze moved from Zeng Zan’s face to his forehead, and he replied,

“I want your pair of horns, Senior.”

The old demon fell silent, while Chi Buzi, brimming with ambition, continued,

“I currently cultivate the Profound Water’s Morning Cold Rain, which is akin to the Qingxi Rain. It originates from an ancient, rare text that harmonizes the Lu and Profound Water Daos, achieving perfect compatibility. However, my lack of innate understanding of Profound Water means my cultivation speed is extremely slow.”

“If I could obtain your pair of horns, Senior, grind them and brew them into a soup to consume annually, it would, first, greatly augment my divine abilities and magical power. Second, by leveraging your bloodline as a descendant of the Xuan Yuan, I could gain a deeper affinity with Profound Water.”

He made no attempt to conceal the greed in his eyes as he spoke. Zeng Zan raised his head, scrutinizing him intently, and said wistfully,

“I wouldn’t begrudge a pair of mystic horns, but you, Chi Buzi, have always regarded human lives as trifles, are untrustworthy, greedy, and malicious. You claim you’ll help me once you attain the Dao; how can I possibly trust you?”

Chi Buzi was momentarily taken aback, his handsome face twisting before he erupted into a burst of laughter.

“I assure you, you would certainly not believe me. You are absolutely right to consider it. Whether this junior will help you is indeed hard to say, but Senior! If you don’t help me, I will retaliate after I attain the Dao!”

He shrugged, and the immortal demeanor finally vanished, replaced by a mischievous smile on his face.

“Or this junior… will take them myself!”

Zeng Zan gazed at him in silence, a peculiar feeling suddenly stirring within him.

‘Chi Buzi was a petty individual, yet he also had moments of integrity… This junior, Chi Buzi, however, is outwardly honorable yet scorns morality and employs any means necessary. He is a wicked person, a truly overt devil!’

The two stood quietly facing each other on the sea. The thunder in the sky grew steadily louder, dense purple lightning spread across the firmament, and rolling clouds, seemingly pulled by a heavy, turbid force, poured down like a waterfall.

“Boom!”

The towering waves crashed back into the sea with a deafening roar. The treasured cauldron’s light abruptly retracted, and a pair of mystic horns now rested in Chi Buzi’s hand.

Originally the size of mountain peaks, the pair of horns had been shrunk by divine power to resemble two short swords, held easily in one of his hands. Intricate, wave-like patterns spread across their surface, emanating faint, whitish halos, clearly indicating they were exceptionally profound treasures!

Chi Buzi’s gaze, however, did not linger on the horns in his hand. Instead, he fixed his attention on Zeng Zan, seemingly probing his condition. The vast blue cauldron in the sky still radiated light, emitting waves of deadly aura, as if heavily weighted.

The young man stared blankly at the old demon before him, silent. His expression was one of amusement, as if showing concern, yet also hinting at a deeper meaning, as he said wistfully,

“Senior… are you unharmed?”

This green-backed Softshell Turtle, having lost its horns, must surely be weakened. What are two mere mystic horns compared to a whole green-backed Softshell Turtle? As for all his previous words… what did it matter if they were true or false?

But Zeng Zan’s expression remained calm.

“This pair of horns was shed when I broke through to the Canzi realm.”

“Oh.”

All the celestial phenomena dissipated simultaneously. Chi Buzi showed no trace of embarrassment at his trick being foiled; instead, he clicked his tongue with a hint of disinterest, stood with his hands behind his back, clutching the pair of horns, and chuckled.

“I hold such immense respect for you, Senior. It was merely a small jest; please don’t take it to heart.”

Despite his words, the treasured cauldron in the sky showed no sign of retracting.

Zeng Zan, expressionless, leaped and transformed in mid-air, reverting to his colossal, mountain-sized green-backed Softshell Turtle form. He let out an earth-shattering roar, and his pair of verdant mystic horns glowed brilliantly, emanating the vast light of profound waters.

“Boom!”

Only after confirming the true nature of the mystic horns with his own eyes did Chi Buzi reluctantly put away his spiritual treasure. He lightly flicked his sleeve, and his figure reappeared a short distance away, effortlessly sidestepping all the pale white illusory colors, then politely said,

“Senior, farewell!”

The roar of the waves was deafening. The green-backed Softshell Turtle, spanning the sky, vanished simultaneously. Chi Buzi patted his sleeves, dispelling the profound water’s mystic energy that clung to him, and lamented,

“Indeed, those who live long are difficult to deceive…”

He brought the two long horns in his left hand before him, examining them closely. There was no hint of joy in his expression at having acquired such a crucial treasure; instead, his gaze held a condescending, cold scrutiny.

The surrounding wind and rain ceased instantly. The confident composure and unrestrained audacity he had displayed when discussing the Profound Water Dao lineage seemed to vanish from him like an illusion. Chi Buzi’s gaze shifted from the mystic horns in his hand to the calm surface of the water.

A silver figure stood in the distance.

This individual had a face like carved jade, eyebrows extending to his temples, a prominent nose, a broad forehead, and a pair of long silver horns. His pupils were light blue, and he gazed intently into the distance.

Behind him, a massive, mountain-like beast floated low on the sea, its back revealing continuous, palace-like structures. Chi Buzi’s expression gradually grew solemn.

‘A Dragon King…’

He had long suspected the Dragon Clan was observing him. His expression unchanged, he activated his divine abilities, materializing ten paces from the colossal beast. He noticed no other demon kings came forward to intercept him; this crab descendant seemed to stand alone on the water, still admiring the distant scenery.

Chi Buzi narrowed his eyes slightly.

‘What immense power… even ordinary Dragon Kings don’t travel with such a grand mount… This must be a Crown Prince or someone who serves close to the Dragon Lord…’

A sense of trepidation rose within him. He slowly stepped forward, bowed, and said,

“This humble cultivator greets the Dragon King!”

The silver-robed youth did not turn his head; instead, he waved a hand at Chi Buzi, gesturing for silence, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon with clear interest.

Unsure of the dragon’s intentions, Chi Buzi bowed slightly, then followed the direction of the dragon’s gaze. He narrowed his eyes, and his divine power instantly rendered the distant, hazy landscape vividly before him.

‘This is… Binghuo…’