"You're looking for me just because of this?"

In the serene azure underwater world, light filtered through the water's surface, casting down beautiful beams that painted a spectrum of vibrant colors. Flowers resembling Snow Lotuses fluttered about in this aquatic domain, surrounded by many exquisitely arranged stones—clearly beloved possessions of the one who planted them.

Sitting on a flat stone step was an old man with a weathered face, white hair and beard, his back hunched as if shouldering a massive cauldron. He lifted his cloudy eyes towards Qi Xiu opposite him.

"Old..." Qi Xiu opened his mouth, finding himself at a loss for words, unsure of how to address the old man before him.

"Hehehe, my true name has long been forgotten. You can call me Elder Shui," the self-proclaimed Elder Shui chuckled, seeing the embarrassment on Qi Xiu's face and easing the tension.

"If I'm not mistaken, Senior, you must be the Water Monarch who rules over all of Dianchuan's waters," Qi Xiu said, sitting up straight, his expression solemn.

The Dianchuan Water Monarch had suddenly appeared, giving Qi Xiu quite a fright. Fortunately, it seemed he harbored no ill intent and, after appearing, led him down to this underwater location. He was calm and unhurried, like an elderly neighbor, with no sign that this was a deity who could stand toe-to-toe with Primordial Spirit Bosses.

"Yes. In the past, my master grew tired of me following him around all the time, so he gave me a position to manage the Nanxiang waters for him. Oh... now it's called Dianchuan, right?" Without denying it, Elder Shui nodded, admitting he was indeed the Water Monarch in charge of the entire Dianchuan Province—a deity from legend, long vanished from the world.

Indeed! The True Dragon Clan really had the authority to confer divinity on others. With a casual decree, they could bestow rulership over the waters of an entire province to a Water Monarch. It was hard to imagine just how powerful the True Dragon Clan was at its zenith!

After hearing Elder Shui admit he was the Dianchuan Water Monarch, Qi Xiu paused before locking eyes with him. "I dare to ask, Senior, why did you assist the Flood Dragon King in stirring up the great tide of the Nu River?"

"Assist?" With a soft chuckle, Elder Shui gently tapped his knee. "What makes you think a mere little flood dragon could have my assistance?"

"Then why did you..."

"It was simply a transaction," Elder Shui interrupted.

"A transaction?" Hearing this, Qi Xiu leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting subtly.

"Yes. I've been asleep for too long, and many things have been buried by history. This little flood dragon may not be very strong or prominent, but it has some tricks up its sleeve. I needed it to find something for me, and in exchange, I loaned it my Water Monarch Seal."

It all made sense! Having listened to Elder Shui's explanation, Qi Xiu exhaled deeply, his chest heaving as he finally understood the whole story. The one who had stirred up the great tide of the Nu River wasn't Elder Shui. Though, in the end, it was due to his Water Monarch Seal, the true mastermind behind it all was still the nefarious flood dragon. Although the Flood Dragon King was as terrifyingly powerful as a seasoned Dao Body Realm leader, he was somewhat insignificant compared to Elder Shui, the bona fide Dianchuan Water Monarch who once frequented the company of True Dragons.

"May I know what it is Elder Shui is looking for..." No sooner had he spoken than Qi Xiu felt regretful, knowing that anything a Water Monarch longed for and a Dao Expert sought surely wouldn't be something a Blood-Stained Realm cultivator like himself could obtain.

"If you are willing to find what I seek, I can take back the Water Monarch Seal," Elder Shui said, his smile enigmatic.

"May I ask what it is you're looking for?" Qi Xiu inquired.

"The Dragon Court's Treasure—Dragon Execution Platform!"

"What?" Qi Xiu hadn't expected Elder Shui to be seeking such a precious treasure of the Dragon Court and slowly shook his head.

The Dragon Execution Platform! A legendary supreme treasure used by the True Dragon Clan to execute evil dragons. Its power was said to surpass even the mighty Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder City, the Sect-Defending Divine Artifact of the Shenxiao Sect. For such an extraordinary treasure, let alone a Blood-Stained Realm cultivator like him, even a Primordial Spirit Boss would likely not be able to approach it. Even a whiff of its leaking aura could instantly kill Dao Body Realm leaders, and even Primordial Spirit Bosses would have to resist with all their might. To seek out such an artifact was out of the question; even if it were laid out before Qi Xiu, he would turn and walk away. Just one more glance would be disrespectful to his own life.

"Hehehe, you think I'd let you go searching for the actual Dragon Execution Platform? That's an extreme killing instrument I dare not even gaze upon! What I want is merely the Dragon-Slaying Banner, which has a whiff of the dragon-slaying saber qi sealed within! Kid, let's strike a deal." Leaning forward, Elder Shui's wrinkles curled up at the corner of his eyes, a smile emerging that sent chills down one's spine.

Touching his Golden Cry Jade Beads, Qi Xiu's gaze shifted subtly. "Please speak, Senior."

"You bring me the Dragon-Slaying Banner, and I'll help you kill that little flood dragon. How about that?"

Despite being thousands of meters beneath the waves, Qi Xiu felt a cold wind ghost lightly over his neck, and a shiver ran down his spine, raising goosebumps. A Dao Body Realm leader, casually mentioning killing? Was this the confidence of the Dianchuan Water Monarch?

"Senior has already lent the Water Monarch Seal to the Flood Dragon King. Hasn't he brought you the item yet?" Instead of answering directly, Qi Xiu posed another question.

"If I don't give him a taste of the sweets, how could he be wholeheartedly dedicated to my task?" Elder Shui smiled faintly, his murky eyes seeming to see through everything. "You, child, are too cunning and too fortunate; your future disasters will certainly not be light.

"I'll add another incentive. If you can help me retrieve the Dragon-Slaying Banner, not only will I help you kill that young flood dragon, but I'll also teach you a Dharma Gate to resolve the catastrophe.

"Otherwise, I can assert that the day the Great Tribulation of Dao Body descends will be the day your life ends and your soul scatters!"

If the previous words still carried the nature of a tempting negotiation, the latter sentences were naked threats. However, regarding Elder Shui's warning, Qi Xiu's expression was solemn; he instinctively felt it was just the old turtle's way of pressuring him with words. Whether it was the tribulations of the Initiate Realm or the Blood-Dye Tribulation, nearly all had pushed him to the brink of death. Each time he had cautiously navigated through by the edge of a cliff. Following this pattern, his Great Tribulation of Dao Body might indeed be as terrifying as Elder Shui had described, beyond exaggeration; the day it arrived would be the day he met his end.

"Senior, those words of yours seem a bit like bullying a junior," Qi Xiu said, slowly gathering his sleeves, still not taking Elder Shui's cue. Towards this Dianchuan Water Monarch before him, he decided he still needed to probe further. He couldn't let a few verbal threats throw his strategy into chaos. Great Tribulation of Dao Body? That was an event hundreds of years in the future, not sufficient to disturb his calm now.

"Bold yet meticulous, calm and composed, to stay steady and imperturbable at this juncture. Child, you are truly good material. I have indeed taken a real liking to you." Seeing Qi Xiu's calm demeanor and composed sleeve-gathering, Elder Shui slowly took out a Glazed Pearl from within his robe's sleeves, its shape like a lamp, swirling with countless tiny halos.

"You have the protection of Human Path Merit and a prosperous destiny; you stand a higher chance of success in retrieving the Dragon-Slaying Banner for me.

"And indeed, my words just now were not meant to scare you. The Great Tribulation of Dao Body is inherently perilous. With your great destiny, major tribulations will surely come seeking you.

"Unless a Primordial Spirit Boss protects you and helps you through the tribulation, your chance for survival is slim. Otherwise, you are bound to die.

"However, if you help me find the Dragon-Slaying Banner, paired with my Dharma Gate, your chance for survival will significantly improve.

"I never force anyone. To go or not, it's up to you."

His tone was very relaxed, as Elder Shui leisurely spread his hands, indicating he had no intention of forcing anyone at all. Instead, he left the choice and initiative entirely in Qi Xiu's hands.

Looking at Elder Shui, who had a calm expression across from him, Qi Xiu couldn't help but chuckle internally. It was truly becoming of an old antique who had lived for so long, putting someone on the spit and even having them apply their own seasoning.

"There's no need to think further. Since Senior holds this junior in such high regard, it would truly be unwise for me to decline." Slowly standing up, Qi Xiu gave a bow to Elder Shui.

And the reason he no longer pondered and directly chose to accept was because, both publicly and privately, the task of finding the Dragon-Slaying Banner was hugely beneficial to him.

From a public perspective, once he found the Dragon-Slaying Banner, Elder Shui would retrieve the Water Monarch Seal from the Flood Dragon King. The Flood Dragon King's plan to raise the great tides of the Nu River and force the Human Race of Dianchuan to fight on two fronts would fail. And the Flood Dragon King would then be personally slain by this Dianchuan Water Monarch!

From a private perspective, although the Great Tribulation of Dao Body was still a distant concern for him, it was always more prudent to prepare in advance. Moreover, this Elder Shui was intimately connected with the True Dragon Clan. The Dharma Gates he possessed were likely on par with some Ancient Sects' True Scripture Volumes.

That said, the benefits of finding the Dragon-Slaying Banner were so substantial that Qi Xiu could not refuse.

"May I ask Senior, where do I seek the Dragon-Slaying Banner?"

"Where? There's no specific 'where.' Here is where." Slowly lifting his foot, Elder Shui lightly stamped it down.

A thunderous rift cracked open the very bottom of the watery domain, and an immense crevice emitting a teal glow rapidly emerged. The crack at the bottom of the water, like a profound wound stretching out. Within the depths of the fissure, one could faintly see a gate churning like quicksilver.

Mysterious! Ancient! And a trace of dread, enough to make one's soul and flesh tremble with awe! Behind this gate must lay a world of extreme terror!

"What is inside there…"

"Dragon Prison! A Xiaoqian World used by the Dragon Court to incarcerate evil dragons and flagitious flood dragons. The Dragon-Slaying Banner is inside.

"But I must forewarn you. Despite the years that have passed, the Dragon Prison may no longer have any living evil dragons or flagitious flood dragons, yet some remnants of their malevolent spirits linger and roam.

"Should you encounter them with your current strength, it won't be easy to deal with. If you die in there, I shall not be held responsible.

"Life and death are destined; wealth and honor are in the hands of heaven. Child, there's still time to regret and turn back."

Elder Shui slowly revealed the dangers within Dragon Prison, watching Qi Xiu quietly, offering him one last chance.

"Hehehe." With a hearty chuckle, Qi Xiu stepped towards the massive rift; Elder Shui's last caution seemed not to weigh on his heart at all.

It wasn't until his figure had completely disappeared into that quicksilver-like flowing gate that a slightly teasing remark reached Elder Shui's ears:

"Senior, your reverse psychology really isn't all that clever."

...

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