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"How unlucky! What the hell is going on in the Scalegorge Waterscape?!"
The surging floodwaters nearly swallowed everything as the foxian with pale green fur spat lightly, her toes landing on a rock about the size of a basketball.
Scanning her surroundings, aside from a few towering stone pillars and towers with just their tips still exposed, there was almost nowhere left to gain a foothold.
"But this won't stump me!"
The foxian who looked frail on the outside narrowed her eyes sharply, pale green spirit flames curling around her body. She stepped forward in one stride, ferocious like a cannonball and eerie like a meteor, hovering above the raging waves as she smashed straight ahead.
Her voice suddenly became several degrees softer, a tone that finally matched her appearance as it slipped from her lips. "Tail, don't use my body to say such crude things! And besides, in a situation like this, can you even find where Miss Bailu is?"
Just as Huohuo finished speaking, her expression instantly reverted to something domineering and sinister. "Hmph! How could this be difficult? Sure, in such a violently fluctuating energy field, all detection methods are useless—but just think about it. The right place has to be the only calm spot without wind or waves!"
Relying on the extraordinary vision brought about by Tail's possession, Huohuo saw the only small area ahead that hadn't been submerged by seawater, which also happened to be the very center of the storm vortex.
But beyond that, she also noticed a red figure not far ahead, likewise rushing toward that same spot.
Though she complained endlessly about her job, Huohuo had still advanced from an underworld errand spirit to an apprentice judge through sheer competence, and she could tell at a glance that the blurry figure was none other than the client of her current assignment.
"Lady Lingsha?"
…
Lingsha swung the [Ruby Tendrils] in her hand, the incense burner scattering pale pink smoke that transformed into bubble-like protective barriers, escorting her straight toward the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Watching the raging sea, her thoughts grew increasingly chaotic, and the reason was very simple.
A water-elemental riot of this magnitude was something the current Vidyadhara of the Xianzhou Luofu simply could not accomplish!
She knew the Preceptors' strength all too well—even if they joined forces and multiplied it tenfold, they still wouldn't even brush the edge of such a level.
And among those she could remember who were capable of this, aside from High Elder Glaciator Marum far away on the Xianzhou Fanghu, there was only one person left—and by coincidence, he was currently on the Luofu!
"Dan Heng!" Lingsha's pupils shrank as she silently recited the name that carried her master Yunhua's lingering obsession.
The former High Elder, whose exile order had only recently been revoked by Jing Yuan for the great merit of pacifying the Ambrosial Arbor crisis—only he could possibly accomplish something like this.
But why would he do it? And why had Bailu come to the Scalegorge Waterscape at this exact moment?
Did Dan Heng intend to reclaim Vidyadhara authority for himself, or was he trying to help Bailu secure the position of High Elder?
Lingsha couldn't untangle the cause and effect, but no matter which it was, the Preceptors would never compromise easily.
Especially not the former.
Thinking this far, Lingsha let out a soft sigh.
Her master Yunhua, as the leader of the Vidyadhara 'orthodox faction' opposed to the Preceptors, had never stopped hoping Dan Heng would return to power even after Dan Feng was branded a traitor to the Xianzhou, persisting until she was forced to step down as Director of the Alchemy Commission and take refuge on the Xianzhou Zhuming.
If she could see the situation today with her own eyes, would she feel comforted, she wondered?
Lingsha frowned, her gaze flickering as she murmured, "Maybe… it's time I truly picked a side."
But she quickly cast those thoughts aside and accelerated toward the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
She muttered to herself, "Bailu… no matter what, Dan Heng at least still has the Astral Express as a way out. You mustn't do anything foolish."
…
Watching the towering waves that deliberately curved around a small patch nearby while throwing the rest of the Scalegorge Waterscape into utter chaos, March 7th suddenly sprang to her feet, the weakness that had filled her body moments ago vanishing instantly.
She tilted her head and looked at the companion beside her in surprise. "Teacher Dan Heng, did you grow a third arm or something? I didn't see you controlling water at all."
Having witnessed the High Elder parting the sea during the battle against Phantylia, her first instinct was naturally to think Dan Heng had acted—but one glance showed him standing perfectly fine where he was, the blank look on his face no smarter than her own.
"March!" Dan Heng had no mood to joke around. He turned his head back, his voice heavy. "It wasn't me—and I can't do this at all. Even at my absolute peak, going all out, it would still be impossible."
Looking at the Scalegorge Waterscape transformed entirely into a vortex yet leaving every structure completely intact, as the king among the Azure Dragons most adept at water control, he understood all too well the sheer value of what he was seeing.
Such a grand spectacle, paired with such meticulous control—Glaciator Marum himself might not be able to pull it off, let alone him.
"Then… could it really be…" March 7th twisted her neck in disbelief, her gaze finally locking onto the little dragon whose height didn't even reach her chest.
She swallowed dryly, recalling a line she had once read in a storybook. "The… the Fisherman's Case said that after eliminating all impossibilities, whatever remains—no matter how unbelievable—must be the truth."
"So that means Miss Bailu is stronger now than you were back then?"
Watching Bailu look around proudly, clearly delighted by the spectacle she had created, Dan Heng fell silent for a moment before saying, "Beyond doubt. And the fact that Miss Bailu is doing this so effortlessly means she still hasn't used all her strength."
Stelle, ever perceptive, added, "So basically, when you stirred up the Scalegorge Waterscape, it was because your strength only went that far—but when Bailu does it, it's because the Scalegorge Waterscape is only this big?"
Even as composed as Dan Heng was, hearing such a 'pleasant' remark made him respond, "Well said. Next time, don't say it."
As the three were talking, several figures swam up from the depths of the sea, riding the remnants of the Ambrosial Arbor's remains as they broke through the waves and revealed themselves midair.
At the front, Dragon Master Taoran wore an expression of deep apprehension—someone capable of manipulating the Scalegorge Waterscape like this was not someone they dared to slight.
But once he clearly saw the faces of those present, he straightened abruptly, looking down from above as he angrily pointed at Dan Heng and shouted, "Dan Feng! You're a criminal bearing guilt, and you still dare to come back? Who gave you the nerve to stir up trouble in the Scalegorge Waterscape? Have you forgotten the alliance covenant between the Xianzhou and the Vidyadhara?!"
"If you injure Vidyadhara clans folk here, it would be a first-class crime within the Alliance!"
Taoran sneered inwardly. As long as those present were Xianzhou people, no matter how strong they were, things would be easy to handle.
Anyone who dared to break the covenant would be slapping the Marshal in the face—an unavoidable restraint for Xianzhou natives.
Being scolded out of nowhere, a trace of anger rose in Dan Heng's eyes.
This had nothing to do with him at all—so why did everyone assume he was the culprit? Did he look like some kind of scapegoat?
Yet despite his grievance, the most dissatisfied person present was not him.
Standing deliberately at the very front, Bailu puffed out her cheeks, her little face taut as she stared at the lofty Preceptors, irritation flaring uncontrollably.
I'm the one who did it, okay?Why is everyone ignoring me?!
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