By the Qiantang River.
The river water surged endlessly, its depth unfathomable.
Jiang Yuechu reined in her horse by the riverbank, letting the river wind mess up her black hair.
"This is the place."
Yue Huaiyuan stood beside her, watching the river surface with a solemn expression.
"That beast built an Underwater Manor at the bottom of the river, and it usually just hides inside."
As he spoke, this Great General of Yu Hang frowned, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
"Although this beast is arrogant, it values its life immensely. It knows that Human Race Martial Artists are not adept in water; once they enter the water, seven or eight tenths of their abilities are lost, and they must also focus on holding their breath. Therefore, unless it is for feeding, it absolutely will not leave its lair easily."
"However..."
He suddenly took off his Black Iron Heavy Armor and began to undo his close-fitting Soft Armor.
"General Yue, what are you doing?" Jiang Yuechu asked, looking sideways.
"Luring it out."
Yue Huaiyuan was bare-chested, revealing a body covered in crisscrossing scars. In the chilling wind and rain, he was actually emitting plumes of heat.
"The flesh and blood of a Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm martial cultivator is a great tonic for that beast."
"Normally, if I were in the city, it naturally wouldn't dare fight me, but if..."
As he spoke, he used the tip of his spear to fiercely slash a cut across his arm.
Blood instantly gushed out.
"If I take off my armor, restrain my True Qi, and pretend to be exhausted and injured, splashing around down there, I refuse to believe it can resist opening its mouth for such easy prey!"
This was hardly 'luring it out.'
It was clearly using himself as bait, gambling with his life.
Once he entered the water, if that Great Yao suddenly attacked, Yue Huaiyuan would be lucky to escape with his life, even if he didn't die.
"As long as it dares to surface and bite me..."
Ferocity shone clearly in Yue Huaiyuan's eyes. "Lord Jiang, you guard the shore. The moment it breaks the water, you strike with your blade!"
Having said that.
The burly old man took a deep breath, ready to leap into the surging river water.
A hand suddenly pressed down on his shoulder.
Yue Huaiyuan paused and looked back.
He saw that the Silver Robe young woman had dismounted at some point and was already standing beside him.
"Lord Jiang?"
Jiang Yuechu shook her head, but the strength in her hand was undeniable, forcing him to remain still.
"Why go to such trouble?"
"Trouble?" Yue Huaiyuan's eyes widened. "This is a necessary evil! Besides this, what else can we do? Are we supposed to catch it with a fishing rod?"
He had practiced martial arts his entire life, specializing heavily in the Dao of Slaughter.
He was completely ignorant of all other paths.
Dealing with other land-based demons and monsters was one thing, but when facing a Great Yao of the water, apart from this method of luring it, there really was no way to force it to show itself.
Jiang Yuechu didn't respond.
She released her hand and slowly walked to the edge of the riverbank.
Inside her Dantian, the Four-Pattern Golden Core spun wildly.
Vast True Qi surged out like a great river, instantly circulating throughout her body.
"Hoo..."
Jiang Yuechu slowly exhaled a mouthful of stale air. When she opened her eyes again, the depths of her gaze were scarlet.
Subsequently, without the slightest hesitation, she didn't even take off her Silver-White Cloak.
The cold, silver figure plunged straight into the surging Qiantang River.
Gone in a flash.
Leaving behind only the churning, muddy spray on the river surface and the rapidly spreading ripples.
"Ah?"
Yue Huaiyuan's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
He subconsciously reached out to grab her.
But he only grasped a handful of damp river wind.
His fingertips missed the corner of the Silver Robe by barely an inch.
"This... is this girl crazy?!"
The Qiantang River is deep and swift, with countless undercurrents, not to mention that the opponent is a Great Yao of the water.
Even someone like him, who grew up by the river, has to be extremely cautious when entering the water, fearing he might fall into a trap.
But this girl...
She jumped down without a word, completely disregarding the danger?
This isn't going to slay a demon; this is clearly suicide by drowning!
"Damn it!"
Yue Huaiyuan cursed under his breath, ignoring everything else, and jumped down fiercely, bare-chested.
BOOM—!!!
His massive body slammed into the water, stirring up waves a Zhang high... The river water was icy cold.
The moment she entered the water, the world became murky and dark.
The surging river water carried silt and sand; an ordinary person would likely find it difficult to discern direction.
However.
Jiang Yuechu did not feel the slightest discomfort.
The surrounding currents did not impede her movements; instead, they were like countless hands lifting and propelling her.
Her robes spread out in the water, and her raven-black hair scattered like a waterfall.
Jiang Yuechu floated in the water, not rushing to dive, but tilting her head slightly to look toward a certain spot in the deep, dark riverbed.
"As expected..."
The corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "Have you noticed me too?"
All Spirit Monsters of the water generally live alone, and their territorial awareness is extremely strong.
Especially those belonging to the Flood Dragon species, which possess the Dragon Clan Bloodline, they are overwhelmingly tyrannical.
As the saying goes, one mountain cannot hold two tigers.
The same is true for this river.
One river cannot hold two Flood Dragons.
For some unknown reason, perhaps because she had absorbed the White Flood Dragon.
The moment she entered the river, an inexplicable restlessness surged up from the depths of her Bloodline.
Disgust.
Repulsion.
As well as a brutal desire to tear it to shreds.
Gurgle—
The silt at the bottom of the river churned.
A pressure slowly awakened from within that Underwater Manor.
A massive black shadow slowly swam out from the riverbed.
It was not in a hurry to attack, but stared somewhat suspiciously at the Silver Robe young woman floating in the water.
Human Race?
Wrong.
Why did it smell an aura on this lowly member of the Human Race that made it extremely disgusted, yet subtly fearful?
"Where did this half-breed come from..."
Mutterings in its heart, it slightly raised its head and said indifferently, "Didn't your elders teach you the rules? This eight-hundred-Li water domain of the Qiantang River is claimed territory, as I, My King, have already planted My King's flag here."
"Leave quickly. Considering your youth and ignorance... My King will spare your life."
It wasn't that it feared the Silver Robe young woman before it.
She was merely a half-breed; how could she compare to its own orthodox Black Flood Dragon Bloodline?
The real reason it stopped was actually very simple.
The Flood Dragon Clan's Bloodline is inherently extremely precious and very difficult to reproduce.
Compared to the narrow-mindedness of the Human Race, who fight fiercely over so-called orthodoxy and legitimacy, even leading to fathers and sons killing each other,
the Yao Race, especially those with high-grade Bloodlines like theirs, have a much higher tolerance for their own kind.
Even mixed-bloods resulting from interbreeding with the lowly Human Race.
As long as they carry the character 'Jiao,' they are considered half family.
In this world, meeting a living member of the same clan is rare.
Killing one casually would be a bit of a waste.
Thinking this, the Black Flood Dragon even showed a trace of affection in its vertical pupils.
It was like looking at a Junior who had run away from home and didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
However.
The response it received was a cold snort.
Clang—!
Jiang Yuechu drew her blade with a backhand motion.
The Heavy Black Long Blade left its sheath, drawing a mournful golden streak in the dark underwater depths.
The scarlet deepened in the depths of the young woman's eyes. How could there be any intention of recognizing kin?
The Black Flood Dragon was stunned, then a flash of anger crossed its eyes.
"An ungrateful thing!"
"My King considered our kinship and offered you a chance to live, yet you..."