Qin Yun's Intrinsic Flying Sword easily broke through to the first-grade. Even the materials he needed to feed to it were fewer than he had originally expected. Clearly, Qin Yun's Sword Dao was much stronger than other ordinary sword immortals that had stepped into the Dao!
Early the next morning.
"Uncle Qin." A graceful woman stood in front of Qin Yun. Once upon a time she was the little fish demoness, Fu Sizhuo. Back then, Flood Dragon King had given her cultivation Dharmic formulations which were extremely suitable for yellow flood dragon descendants. Using those, Fu Sizhuo reached the Connate False Core realm just last year.
"Sizhuo, are you aware of the current situation in Yellow Wyrm Lake?" asked Qin Yun with a smile.
"Auntie told me everything in detail yesterday. Uncle Qin, I will leave it all to you," replied Fu Sizhuo obediently. Over the past seven years, she had led a peaceful and happy life. She had obtained a well-rounded education including the zither, chess, and calligraphy.
"Alright. Leave everything to me. There's no need for you to worry." Qin Yun nodded before he looked at Yi Xiao. "Xiaoxiao, Sizhou and I will be setting off."
"Be careful. After all, Black Dragon is involved in this matter. Besides that, it's hard to tell what Yellow Wyrm will do before he dies," warned Yi Xiao.
"Don't worry." Qin Yun nodded.
Following that, he left with Fu Sizhuo.
Sou!
The two transformed into a stream of light that tore through the sky, heading straight for the southern Qian Prefecture.
"Whoosh."
As he flew, Qin Yun could not help but look to the west. He thought to himself, "I was planning on visiting the Ancient Skydragon Palace as soon as my strength was consolidated. Whatever, I have already left an imprint on my secret entrance to the Ancient Skydragon Palace. No one else has touched it either. Once I have resolved the matters regarding Yellow Wyrm Lake and take my final step into the Dao… I will be able to explore the Ancient Skydragon Palace again."
The Ancient Skydragon Palace had danger at every turn. And it only became more dangerous the deeper he went.
Despite being considered quite capable even among many Essence Soul realm experts with his present strength, Qin Yun did not want to take the matter lightly.
Yellow Wyrm Lake was the largest lake in Qian Prefecture. It spanned five hundred kilometers and was covered in a perpetual mist. Many generations of Water race lived there, and they were the most powerful entities in all of Qian Prefecture.
Even Qin Yun was unable to see the ends of the lake. It seemed as massive as the ocean!
"It's no wonder that Other Realm Yellow Wyrm decided to settle down here," thought Qin Yun. "After all, this place is huge. But it's also rather inconspicuous. If this were a bigger lake like Po Cloud Lake or Nine Caves Lake… perhaps the secret of the yellow flood dragons would have long been exposed."
"Yellow Wyrm Lake." Fu Sizhuo looked at the lake with a conflicted look in her eyes.
"Let's go."
With a thought, Qin Yun locked onto the Flood Dragon Palace that was located deep in the lake. He led Fu Sizhuo as they flew for hundreds of kilometers before reaching the lake's bottom.
A few kilometers from Yellow Wyrm Lake's Flood Dragon Palace, there was a newly constructed underwater cave that was rather spartan.
There were two demons living in the underwater cave.
One of them was Flood Dragon Palace's eldest prince, Yellow Surge. The other demon was a black-robed elder with a dragon's head. He was the famous Essence Soul demon—Palatial Lord Black Dragon! Essence Soul figures were very rare in the world, with even many top cultivation sects lacking one. Just having one Essence Soul demon meant that a sect's heritage was way more profound than other top sects. They would also wield terrifying power.
"Sigh." Yellow Surge was feeling uneasy inside the cave.
"Oh?" The dragon-headed elder opened his wrathful eyes. "Hmph. Grand Dominance's Qin Yun? You, as a famous Connate Golden Core sword immortal, instead of spending time doing your philanthropic acts of ridding evil, are actually involving yourself in my matters?"
"Qin Yun?" The young Yellow Surge could not help but ask. "What about him?"
"He has brought that little fish demoness to Flood Dragon Palace." The elder's eyes were filled with rage.
"Little fish demoness?" Yellow Surge could not help but comment. "Mother previously ordered for that bastard child to be killed but she ended up escaping. It even caused Sword Immortal Qin to be involved. From what I've heard, that little fish demoness has been staying in Grand Dominance all this time!"
"Yes."
The elder nodded. "This Qin Yun is said to be a sword immortal that has stepped into the Dao. However, his Sword Dao is apparently only ordinary. It is very difficult for him to kill figures at the Paramount realm. However, he can be considered the best sword immortal among mortals! I have long condensed my Essence Soul and as such am limited by the heavenly rules. They prevent me from killing him. If not for that…hmph! A mere sword immortal that has just stepped into the Dao would easily be burned to nothing when I spew my toxic flames that span hundreds of thousands of feet."
Despite being capable of killing Qin Yun easily, he was limited by the heavenly rules. All he could do was watch! Black Dragon felt rather vexed as a result.
"I have avoided him as much as I could but he has still come," said Black Dragon angrily. "He even brought that little fish demoness. She too has the yellow flood dragon bloodline and stands a chance of inheriting the Yellow Wyrm Grotto-heaven."
"It's not that easy to inherit the Grotto-heaven. One has to reach the Connate Golden Core level to be the true inheritor of the Yellow Wyrm Grotto-heaven and the true monarch of the yellow flood dragon line," Yellow Surge said. "I have half the token with me. Once that father of mine opens the Yellow Wyrm Grotto-heaven, I will be able to detect it instantly and determine its precise location."
"Yes." Black Dragon nodded.
"Once it's open, we can storm in immediately," said Black Dragon. "That Qin Yun is mortal. Hmph, I can't kill him but holding him back and trapping him for a while… won't incur much karma."
Just an exchange of blows had limited karma implications.
Flood Dragon Palace ruled over the entire Yellow Wyrm Lake. It was a rather opulent structure with many inner and outer palatial compounds.
Hundreds of thousands of Water race soldiers patrolled the Flood Dragon Palace's periphery. It made it so that Flood Dragon Palace covered an area that spanned fifty kilometers!
"Halt!" Flood Dragon Palace had tight security. A shrimp and crab soldier quickly appeared to stop them.
"Tell your king that Qin Yun is here," said Qin Yun.
"Sword Immortal Qin?" The shrimp soldier widened his already large eyes. He said immediately, "His Majesty has already instructed me to lead the way for Sword Immortal Qin." At the same time, the other soldiers standing nearby rushed in to report the matter.
Qin Yun nodded as he entered with Fu Sizhuo.
"That psyche fluctuation from before was rather powerful. It must have been Palatial Lord Black Dragon," thought Qin Yun. Black Dragon and Yellow Wyrm Lake were nearly at each other's throats. Flood Dragon King's days were numbered after being poisoned. As such, Black Dragon would definitely be close by, watching in secret. After all, he had to ensure that his plan which had spanned a thousand years would not end up failing. How could he allow any possibility of that happening?
After entering Flood Dragon Palace, Qin Yun sensed a massive array formation that naturally blocked all forms of psyche probes.
"This array formation is rather powerful." Qin Yun thought. "As expected of the Other Realm Yellow Wyrm. His resources are quite vast."
Qin Yun proceeded through the palace and quickly, Flood Dragon King came out personally to welcome him.
"Sword Immortal Qin!" Flood Dragon King welcomed him excitedly. He bowed reverentially. "Sword Immortal Qin, I'm so grateful that you can grace me with your presence. Sizhuo, long time no see."
From beside Qin Yun, Fu Sizhuo looked at Flood Dragon King with a rather cold gaze.
She really did not like Flood Dragon King at all.
"Haha, quickly follow me." Flood Dragon King tried not to mind her as he quickly led the way.
All the subordinates were dismissed from a hall in the middle of Flood Dragon Palace, leaving only Flood Dragon King, Qin Yun, and Fu Sizhuo.
"Sword Immortal Qin, I wasn't certain if you would really come so I did not tell you the secret of my yellow flood dragon line before. Don't blame a knave like me," said Flood Dragon King as he looked at Qin Yun.
"Please tell me." Qin Yun nodded.
"My ancestor built a Grotto-heaven in this lake long ago," explained Flood Dragon King. "The Grotto-heaven hides away many secrets of my yellow flood dragon line. My ancestor also left many treasures in there."
Qin Yun nodded.
He was rather interested in the Other Realm Yellow Wyrm.
"I am currently in control of the Yellow Wyrm Grotto-heaven. If I don't open it, no one can find it," said Flood Dragon King with a sigh. "However, my days are numbered. Once I'm dead, the Grotto-heaven will be ownerless. That ingrate son of mine will easily be able to use the half token he possesses and his yellow flood dragon bloodline to enter it."
"This is the remaining half token." Flood Dragon King took out a half token and handed it to Fu Sizhuo. "Sizhuo, take it."
Fu Sizhuo looked at Qin Yun.
Qin Yun nodded before Fu Sizhuo took it and put it away.
"This is half the token? As Flood Dragon King, why did you give away the other half of the token?" asked Qin Yun.
"This is a rule that my yellow flood dragon tradition dictates. In the event of a Flood Dragon King's sudden death, the rule ensures that his descendants will still be able to enter the Yellow Wyrm Grotto-heaven," said Flood Dragon King with a sigh. "In the past, I was cajoled by Dragon Queen into doing so. Besides, I loved my eldest son. He was my son after all! I naturally felt at ease handing him half the token."
"Sizhuo."
Flood Dragon King looked at Fu Sizhuo. "Today, I will find an opportunity to open the Grotto-heaven. I'll send both you and Sword Immortal Qin in. I will also give you and Sword Immortal Qin detailed information regarding the Grotto-heaven. Try to obtain the inheritance within. Take away as much as you can! Anything you can't take, leave...it's not like anything can be done at the moment."
Qin Yun nodded. Take the treasures away?
"Also, Sizhuo, you should cultivate as fast as possible. You have to reach the Connate Golden Core faster than that ingrate son of mine. Only then will you become the true owner of the Yellow Wyrm Grotto-heaven. You will then also be the true ruler of Yellow Wyrm Lake!" said Flood Dragon King.
Fu Sizhuo frowned and said, "Flood Dragon King, I swore in front of my father's tomb that I will be a daughter of the Fu family! In the future, I will pass down the Fu family's name! I will not be the ruler of Yellow Wyrm Lake."
"You…" Flood Dragon King felt a little disgruntled.
"I came here because of Uncle Qin; if not for his request, I wouldn't have even come," said Fu Sizhuo coldly.
Qin Yun stood to the side and remained silent.
"Sigh." Flood Dragon King sighed. "Whatever. Let's leave it to fate. If there's a chance, you can get any children you have to inherit my yellow flood dragon line! If the yellow flood dragon line were to end here, whatever! I no longer hold any hopes on the matter anyway. I don't care, as long as that Black Dragon doesn't profit from any of this."
Fu Sizhuo did not say a word when she heard that.
"Sword Immortal Qin, please stay in my palace for the time being. I will find a suitable chance to send the both of you in as soon as possible. As for a more detailed explanation of the Yellow Wyrm Grotto-heaven, I will pass it to you as soon as possible," said Flood Dragon King.
"Alright." Qin Yun nodded.
After settling in Qin Yun and Fu Sizhuo, Flood Dragon King sat alone in the hall with a cold expression. "Sword Immortal Qin might be powerful, but he is ultimately a mortal. He won't be able to defeat an old demon at the Essence Soul realm."
He immediately flipped his voice transmission token and began contacting someone.
Buzz.
Soon, a projection appeared at his side. It was a handsome man holding a fan.
"Greetings Fiend Sovereign." Flood Dragon King quickly stood up and bowed reverentially in an extremely humble manner.
The person in front of him was Fiend Sovereign Jadeface, one of the five fiendcelestials of Cloudfiend Mountain! Since Yellow Wyrm Lake was located in the Qian Prefecture, it naturally had some connections with Cloudfiend Mountain.
"Yellow Wyrm, what's the matter?" asked the handsome man.
"I naturally want to bring something to your attention that would be beneficial to you," said Flood Dragon King with a smile. "I do not dare to take this opportunity all for myself, nor do I have confidence that I can monopolize it. That's why I thought of you, Fiend Sovereign."
"Oh?" The handsome man smiled. He did not believe that Yellow Wyrm was daring enough to lie to him!