More than ten miles away, in an underground river, Jia Ren emerged out of thin air with Zhang Peng Peng.

The river's channel wasn't wide, and an undercurrent surged.

The two sank into the icy water, allowing the bone-chilling currents to flow past them.

He wanted to stand up but found the space too cramped to do so.

Did it work?

Jia Ren couldn't be certain that using the Xuan Shui Escape could allow him to take someone with him; this was an attempt.

If he couldn't bring someone along, he would have to... give up.

If Zhang Peng Peng died, he would just have to avenge her.

Cultivators were powerful, with many means at their disposal, and it wasn't out of the question that they could resurrect the dead.

Only if he lived would there be hope...

Things didn't go in the worst direction. The Xuan Shui Escape was extraordinary and indeed capable of taking someone along with him.

Wang Mingyan?

Should he go save her?

The thought flashed through his mind and was quickly dismissed.

The Yuding Sect bore ill will towards him, and outside there were the threats from the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre.

Having disappeared with Zhang Peng Peng, both the Cultivators of the Yuding Sect and the Loose Cultivators in the city were searching for him.

Wang Mingyan would definitely be a heavily guarded target of the Yuding Sect.

To go and save her would be to walk into a trap.

The Xuan Shui Escape could only ensure his own safety. He wouldn't risk his life to save others.

May Wang Mingyan be blessed with good fortune...

This place wasn't safe, so he triggered the Xuan Shui Escape once more and vanished along the waterway.

More than ten miles away, Jia Ren reappeared with Zhang Peng Peng.

Twenty miles hadn't reached the source of the underground river.

This place was much wider than the last, with less turbulent water.

Instead of using the Xuan Shui Escape, Jia Ren sent out Spirit Insects to scout around, preventing any surprises.

Only one-third of his Spiritual Power remained, enough for one more use of the Xuan Shui Escape.

Not knowing if there were any powerful creatures or Bizarre Demons in the underground river, he had to be extremely cautious.

If he continued to use the Xuan Shui Escape and exhausted all his Spiritual Power, he'd be in serious trouble if danger arose.

Prudence was the key to a long life.

Jia Ren grasped a Spirit Stone, sat down cross-legged, and began to quickly recover his Spiritual Power.

When he opened his eyes, four hours had passed, and his Spiritual Power had returned to its peak.

"Let's go!"

Having employed the Xuan Shui Escape twice in succession, he took Zhang Peng Peng and moved away from that place.

At the bottom of the Surging River, two figures appeared out of nowhere; it was Jia Ren and Zhang Peng Peng who had left the Jade Cauldron Market.

The Xuan Shui Escape was used four times in total, covering forty miles.

If the underground river was connected to the Surging River, then they had entered the Surging River.

Jia Ren found himself at the bottom of the river; the space above was no longer the narrow channel of the underground river.

The river roared, with a rushing current.

"We made it out!"

Joy appeared on Jia Ren's face as he swam out to the river's surface with Zhang Peng Peng.

Looking towards the distance, the shores were lush with greenery, and he heard the cries of apes and birds.

Further away, a small town built along the river was faintly visible.

It was indeed the Surging River, without a doubt.

He had been here only once before, so he wasn't completely unfamiliar with the place.

We're out!

As Spiritual Power rose, evaporating the moisture, Jia Ren headed towards the small town with Zhang Peng Peng.

Where to go next?

The Market of the Five Elements Sect?

The world was treacherous, and Bizarre Demons roamed. There was no guarantee of safety in the Market of the Five Elements Sect.

Head out to the outskirts of the Barren Extreme Land?

Going into the unknown, who could ensure safety?

Traveling a long way would inevitably involve encountering dangers and Bizarre Demons.

The area, with its mountains and rivers, offered a beautiful landscape.

With an abundance of Spirit Fish, it was ideal for practicing Water System Magic, enhancing the power of both the Xuan Shui Escape and Xuan Yuan Heavy Water. It wouldn't hurt to cultivate here for some time.

In the face of danger, he could also use the Surging River to escape.

"COO!"

In the surging river, a gigantic fish leaped out, its gaze filled with delight as it looked towards Jia Ren.

It swam through the waves all the way, following behind them.

Better to avoid trouble than seek it.

Tossing out a bottle of Spirit Attracting Bait to distract the Fathead Fish Demon's attention, Jia Ren promptly made his escape.

I should change my appearance and alter my aura.

His aliases Shi Bai and Jia Ren were known to the Yuding Sect and the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre. It was best to assume a new identity to avoid future trouble.

His face and aura shifted quickly under the influence of the Thousand Fantasies Face, and soon he took on a familiar form.

Zhen Yi!

Identities cycled again and again; the soul of the dead alias returned anew.

His aura dropped from the Foundation Establishment Stage; compared to that, a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator was too conspicuous.

A Ninth Level of Qi Refinement Cultivation Level would be more than sufficient in this place.

Only Zhang Peng Peng posed a bit of a problem. He used a few disguise Magic Artifacts to change her appearance.

As long as they didn't encounter any Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they should manage to avoid detection.

This place wasn't affected by Bizarre Demons, so it was still relatively safe.

Jia Ren spent a Spirit Stone to rent a decent residence in the town, settling down temporarily.

After setting up several Formations, he couldn't wait to go to the river to condense Xuan Yuan Heavy Water.

As usual, droplets of Xuan Yuan Heavy Water soon began to form in his palm, edging ever closer to the Five Xuan Yuan Heavy Water.

"WHINE! WHINE! WHINE!"

A Fish Demon with strength near the Foundation Establishment Late Stage approached rapidly. Jia Ren instinctively put up two defenses: a Spirit Shield and the Turtle Prime Spirit Armor.

The Fathead Fish Demon surfaced in the river, making noises like a baby, and its eyes clearly revealed a humanized, ingratiating expression.

Does it recognize me?

I've already changed my appearance...

Although Jia Ren didn't understand what it was saying, he could roughly grasp the demon's thoughts.

Spirit Attracting Bait!

Wanting to freeload again?

And it's now a habit?!

This demon isn't unintelligent. Can communication be established?

Unfortunately, he had not acquired any secret technique for controlling demons, nor did he have any means to communicate with them.

"If you want the Spirit Attracting Bait, you can trade a treasure for it."

The Surging River is vast and rich in Spiritual Power. The Fathead Fish Demon has few rivals in the river and could be considered a local tyrant. It likely possesses a significant hoard.

Whether the Fathead Fish Demon could understand his words and whether the trade could be successful, he would have to try and see.

Whether it understood Jia Ren or not, it quickly dived back into the river.

Jia Ren didn't care, as there were no further disturbances.

After refining the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water, he began practicing the Xuan Shui Escape technique, aiming to improve his Proficiency Level.

After using it twice in succession, he was left with little Spiritual Power.

Jia Ren had no intention of staying any longer and turned to leave.

Just then, there was a disturbance behind him, and the Fathead Fish Demon returned.

Its enormous head stopped at the bank, spitting out many things from its mouth: Storage Bags, a corroded Magic Sword, an unidentifiable stone, and various types of Spiritual Medicine radiating Spiritual Power. There was also a fist-sized pearl emanating immense water Spiritual Power.

???

Jia Ren doubted his own eyes.

He first examined a Storage Bag, which looked almost identical to his own Hundred Directions Storage Bag, but what was important were the treasures inside.

The Magic Sword was pitted and corroded but was intact overall. It must have been a Top-grade Magical Instrument before its damage.

The stone and Spiritual Medicine were products from the bottom of the Surging River, each with strong Spiritual Power.

It seemed to consider the Spirit Attracting Bait precious and wanted to trade, not trying to fob him off with trash.

The last item was the fist-sized pearl. Jia Ren examined it carefully, his eyes brightening.

This must come from a Second-Order Monster. The water Spiritual Power is extremely rich and gentle in nature. It's a good choice, whether for cultivation, crafting Top-grade Magical Instruments, or Elixirs.

I thought it was just a penniless fish, but it turned out to be quite wealthy.

The Fathead Fish Demon isn't lacking in intelligence. It understands human nature and can even communicate. This suggests a high likelihood it was domesticated by a Cultivator.

Cultivators have limited lifespans and are unable to outlive Magical Beasts of the same order. Thus, when its master died, it was only natural for it to dwell in the Surging River.

"Do you wish to exchange these with me?"

Jia Ren indicated the treasures piled on the shore, and the fish started making whining noises incessantly.

"Our meeting is also fated, so I will bestow upon you a stroke of fortune!"

He took out two hundred pieces of Spirit Attracting Bait and tossed them toward the Fathead Fish Demon.

This is also a way to build good karma, as I'll have to interact with it while living here.

Befriending this Fish Demon could also mean having an extra helper in times of danger.

"WHINE! WHINE! WHINE!"

The Fathead Fish Demon seemed to be showing gratitude towards Jia Ren and eagerly swallowed twenty bottles of Spirit Attracting Bait before vanishing into the Surging River.

After the Fathead Fish Demon had gone far away, Jia Ren walked over and collected the items it had brought.

The first thing he opened was a Storage Bag, inside of which were three Jade Slips and nothing else.

"I am known as Cang Hai, having cultivated for over two hundred years, failing to form a Golden Core and seeing no hope in the Great Dao; human effort, in the end, can hardly overcome Heaven…

"If you have earned the recognition of Xiao Ying, my legacy can be passed on to you.

"I hope you will take good care of it."

It appears the Storage Bag came from the Fathead Fish Demon's master. After dying, he had the demon search for a successor.

Its master could never have anticipated that, rather than handing over the legacy to a chosen inheritor, the Fathead Fish Demon would sell it… because the Spirit Attracting Bait was simply too irresistible!

It was a classic case of an heir squandering the family fortune without a second thought.

The three Jade Slips recorded a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique called Cang Hai Jue. It was an ancient legacy obtained from a Cave, consisting of twelve layers, with the first layer spanning from the beginning of Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment Completion.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique?

As Jia Ren examined the Cang Hai Jue, he hesitated whether to change his Cultivation Method.

The Mysterious Turtle Water Strategy he's been practicing is currently incomplete, with limited times it could be breached. Its future is uncertain, nowhere as promising as the vast prospects of the Cang Hai Jue.

Switching to a disparate Cultivation Technique on a whim would be a lengthy endeavor.

The current situation is treacherous and unpredictable, making it a poor time to switch Cultivation Techniques.

Another Jade Slip was named Demon Spirit Heart Mantra, a special Cultivation Technique for controlling demons. The Fathead Fish Demon's master had controlled Magical Beasts using this very technique.

The last Jade Slip contained Spells learned by Cang Hai True Man, including over a dozen common Spells and several never-before-seen ones, with a good number of secret techniques suitable for those at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

What caught Jia Ren's attention most were a few powerful secret techniques, specifically the Xuan Guang Water Mirror, Furious Sea Nine Heavy Waves, and Drowning Water Prison Technique.

The Xuan Guang Water Mirror could turn the water within a ten-mile radius into a mirror to observe surrounding movements. When cultivated to a higher level, the water mirror could solidify and even reflect back an adversary's Spells.

Furious Sea Nine Heavy Waves was an area-of-effect damaging Spell, extremely powerful. Its lethality soared when used in water, with each subsequent wave increasing in force. It was Cang Hai True Man's most formidable offensive secret technique.

The Drowning Water Prison Technique could not only restrain a target's movements but also deal significant damage.

Unlike ordinary water prisons, the condensed Drowning Water had the ability to corrode both Magic Artifacts and Spiritual Power. Once trapped, both Magic Artifacts and Spirit Shields would be eroded away.

Cultivation Techniques, demon-taming Spells, and other Spells—the three Jade Slips were far beyond expectations, arguably his greatest acquisition.

Not to mention the dozens of high-quality Spirit Ores, dozens of types of Spiritual Medicines each over a hundred years old, and the treasures from the Second-Order Monster.

The exchange was beyond worth it!

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