The first rumor says that the vast ocean back then was a red sea, and the treasures within it seed to be cursed. Those who acquired them almost never t a good end.
Take the Water Moon Dream Mirror, for example. It seems to let one glimpse future events, but due to various restrictions, it ultimately beca a curse. Those who have owned the Water Moon Dream Mirror throughout history either died or went insane."
Hearing this, Jiang Shouzhong’s spine suddenly turned cold.
He gazed at the endless mountain ranges, and in a daze, a scene of a red sea appeared in his mind, with a mirror reflecting a full moon eerily floating in the waters.
A curse...
This Water Moon Dream Mirror is indeed a curse.
"Tell the second rumor."
Fang continued: "As for why there was a red sea, it’s said that a natural calamity occurred here, and it rained continuously for hundreds of years—red rain. The rain never stopped, eventually forming a vast ocean."
A calamity?
Red rain?
Jiang Shouzhong furrowed his brow.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his skull.
Fang said: "All those extraordinary treasures were gifts of the red rain. Every one of those who ascended was assisted by the red rain, and even...the resurgence of the Demon Clan."
The pain continued spreading... Jiang Shouzhong instinctively clutched his head, his vision flashing with bloody scenes.
His mory suddenly pulled him back to the mont he fought side by side with the Shura soldiers.
The Shura soldiers, wrapped in iron chains, were pulling with all their might on an imnse statue.
The statue’s face bore a striking resemblance to Hong’er.
"The Red Demon is the calamity! The calamity is the Red Demon!"
With the furious roar of a Shura general, the massive statue was finally pulled down, yet the red rain in the sky grew even more intense, eventually gathering into a lake.
"Jiang?"
Fang’s voice brought Jiang Shouzhong’s drifting consciousness back.
Jiang Shouzhong snapped out of it and blurted: "Red Demon."
Fang froze for a mont, then said with a faint smile: "So you know the phrase ’Red Demon’, Jiang. Soone must have told you sothing."
Jiang Shouzhong stared at him: "There was soone from the ’Red Demon’ organization who said that the resurgence of Demon Qi is related to sothing called the ’Red Demon’. Moreover, I know a calamity occurred many years ago, which caused Demon Qi to wither, Ascension to cease, and Shuras to disappear."
Fang nodded and said:
"All of this is indeed tied to the calamity. As for what the Red Demon is, I still don’t know."
"It seems that this resurgence of Demon Qi is truly abnormal." Jiang Shouzhong couldn’t help but feel a wave of worry for Qu Hongling.
Fang murmured: "Perhaps, none of it is normal."
The two of them gazed at the serene mountain scenery, sinking into silence.
...
Inside Shuixie Pavilion, Xiao Lingqiu carefully perused the intelligence gathered by Housekeeper Wang, while listening to his report on recent rumors and the results of the missions she had undertaken over the years.
"My lord, the main task assigned to this humble servant back then was to search for the dicinal catalyst on the Moon in Water Bridge, and also to use the manor to befriend high-ranking officials of Nanjin Country’s court and extract more intelligence from them.
Unfortunately, all these years, I’ve made no progress in locating the dicinal catalyst."
Housekeeper Wang’s face was full of regret.
Xiao Lingqiu pulled a sheet of paper from a stack of intelligence and studied the information on it, her expression complicated.
The intelligence stated—
The entire Ran Family in Dazhou was slaughtered, and Ran Qingchen’s whereabouts were unknown.
Xiao Lingqiu folded the piece of intelligence and tucked it into her chest pocket, then asked Housekeeper Wang: "What kind of person is the manor owner of Water Moon Manor?"
Housekeeper Wang paused, then said: "A relatively gentle person, I would say."
"Alright, I understand."
Xiao Lingqiu rose and said, "I will see what opportunities tomorrow may bring."
"Understood."
Housekeeper Wang nodded.
As he watched Xiao Lingqiu leave, Housekeeper Wang remained rooted in place for a long ti, deep in thought.
After a while, a maid hurried in.
"Housekeeper Wang, there are more esteed guests outside." The maid opened her hand to reveal a gold bean, "The guest gave this and asked to bring it to you."
The gold bean was different from ordinary gold beans, its edges intricately patterned, appearing far more refined.
Housekeeper Wang took the bean, glanced at it, and his face subtly changed as he quickened his pace to the courtyard gate.
Before he could reach the gate, he saw a charming woman in a golden dress swaggering in with two young girls, while a few groaning guards lay on the ground behind them.
"Are you the housekeeper of Water Moon Manor?"
Luo Wanqing asked.
Feeling the powerful aura emanating from the woman, Housekeeper Wang’s heart trembled. Without hesitation, he hurried forward and cupped his hands: "I don’t know who you are, senior, I..."
"Stop pretending; you know who I am."
Luo Wanqing’s beautiful eyes bore into him, her smile enigmatic, "Even if you have to guess, you can figure it out, right?"
Sweat began to bead on Housekeeper Wang’s forehead.
Luo Wanqing yawned: "After traveling such a long way, I’m tired. Prepare the best room in your Water Moon Manor. If I don’t sleep comfortably, then you won’t sleep soundly either."
...
Xiao Lingqiu made her way back to her room.
Halfway there, she saw a young nobleman leading a group of servants on a leisurely stroll, pointing at scenery here and there.
The man’s appearance was ordinary, but his deanor was refined, clearly shaped by upbringing in aristocracy.
When he spotted Xiao Lingqiu’s curvaceous and graceful figure, the young nobleman’s eyes lit up. He scrutinized her with a beaming smile, then shalessly stepped forward to strike up a conversation: "I am Tudan Wuxu. May I ask the lady’s na?"
Tudan Wuxu, the grandson of Tudan Lie, Nanjin Country’s greatest expert.
Xiao Lingqiu couldn’t be bothered to respond and brushed past him without a glance.
Yet Tudan Wuxu didn’t take offense; instead, his smile grew wider, relishing the challenge. After all, taming such a fiery mare was the true accomplishnt.
As she walked past, Tudan Wuxu suddenly let out a loud yelp and began hopping on one foot, shouting: "Miss, you stepped on my foot!"
His servants imdiately caught on to his intentions, surrounding Xiao Lingqiu.
Xiao Lingqiu frowned, her eyes brimming with disdain.
Tudan Wuxu angrily said: "Miss, you stepped on . You can’t just walk off without an apology!"
Unwilling to waste words, Xiao Lingqiu’s delicate wrist twisted, and a few fine silver threads appeared at her fingertips.
The threads swiftly wrapped around the nearby servants. With a flick of her wrist, they were flung to the ground, causing an uproar.
"Ah, so you’re a skilled expert."
Tudan Wuxu wasn’t alard—instead, his eyes glead with excitent. "That makes it even more interesting."
Xiao Lingqiu’s little finger twitched, and a string shot forth like an arrow toward Tudan Wuxu’s neck.
But just as the thread was about to graze his skin, a faint ripple stirred the air.
Xiao Lingqiu instantly sensed the anomaly and instinctively withdrew the thread.
Swish, swish!
Several streaks of knife light sliced through the air, severing her strings into fragnts in an instant.
Xiao Lingqiu staggered back a few steps, barely steadying her footing as she narrowed her eyes, focusing on the black-clad figure that had suddenly appeared.
The figure was short and dwarfish, resembling a gno.
He looked like an old man, but the curved blade in his hand was absurdly large, significantly taller than him.
A Saintly Ascension Expert?
Xiao Lingqiu was secretly alard.
"Dong Gua, don’t hurt the lady; just bring her undergarnt as a token of apology."
Tudan Wuxu grinned wickedly, his words filled with mockery and malice.
The black-clad gno licked his lips and lunged at Xiao Lingqiu with his blade.
The opponent’s speed was astonishing, a phantom darting toward her. The blade didn’t aim to harm her but rather to slash her dress sash.
Xiao Lingqiu’s slender fingers splayed out, unfurling shimring threads that wove a protective web before her.
But against such an eminent expert, it was futile.
The blade slashed effortlessly through the web.
As it neared her, the gno’s expression suddenly morphed in terror, as if he had seen a ghost. He abruptly retreated, shielding Tudan Wuxu with his tense and wary body.
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