Chapter 583: Spilled Water
Jin Yangzi flicked his sleeve, turned around, and strode away with his head held high.
Only after he had left the central courtyard did the male consorts begin to talk among themselves.
“Jin Yangzi is far too arrogant!”
“Hmph. After all, he is a demon cultivator—naturally barbaric. There’s no need for us to bother arguing with him.”
“Sigh. We dignified members of the human race are constantly suppressed by this demon cultivator. It truly makes us lose face.”
“It’s not really our fault, is it? This person is a true disciple of the Seven Feathers Alliance. It’s said he possesses a fragment of the Three-Legged Golden Crow bloodline. His visit to the Yin Tide Black Marsh this time is also the fulfillment of a favor between White-Headed Dragon Lord and the Seven Feathers Alliance. How could ordinary people like us be a match for someone like that?”
“Even the Hidden Yang Residence indulges him. Whenever we go out, we must report at least three times. Yet every time he leaves, he only needs to say a word to the gate guard and walks straight out!”
After hearing the discussion, Sun Lingtong felt his heart stir slightly.
The Seven Feathers Alliance was a superpower, similar to the Soul-Devouring Sect and the No-Void Sect, except it was primarily composed of demon cultivators. In its early days, its foundation had been established by seven ancient spirit birds.
As for White-Headed Dragon Lord, he was a famous Soul Formation–level expert within Feiyun Country.
Looking again at the public ranking notice, Sun Lingtong discovered that it was a ranking list based on contributions of Yang energy, covering all male consorts within the Hidden Yang Residence. However, it only listed the top fifty. Jiao Ma (Ning Zhuo) naturally did not appear on it.
“So this Jin Yangzi has long occupied the top position on the ranking list. His own strength is formidable, and his background is even more powerful. More importantly, his bloodline is exceptional and his potential immense!”
“No wonder he’s so arrogant—no one dares provoke him.”
Sun Lingtong left the central courtyard and arrived at the gate. By coincidence, he saw Jin Yangzi’s departing figure.
“He’s heading out too?” Sun Lingtong’s thoughts stirred.
“Jin Yangzi is carrying a whole body full of treasures. If I were to make a move against him, how much could I obtain?”
Sun Lingtong licked his lips. His personal hobby had been triggered again.
“Jin Yangzi is a true disciple of the Seven Feathers Alliance. True disciples from such superpowers vary in cultivation—at the very least Golden Core level, and the stronger ones are at the Nascent Soul level.”
“But Jin Yangzi must only be Golden Core!”
Sun Lingtong was extremely confident in this judgment.
With internal and external troubles plaguing the White Paper Immortal City, it would never allow a Nascent Soul–level existence from another power to enter the city.
If Jin Yangzi truly were Nascent Soul level, he certainly would not be serving as a male consort in the Hidden Yang Residence.
“This man is worth stealing from!” Coming from the No-Void Sect, Sun Lingtong was not intimidated by Jin Yangzi’s background. Instead, it made him even more eager to try.
Within Thousand Peaks Forest, Sun Lingtong had obtained the Void Evil God Marrow, greatly increasing his theft techniques and boosting his confidence.
With that thought, Sun Lingtong quietly followed behind Jin Yangzi. Using his theft technique, he secretly gathered several strands of Jin Yangzi’s aura.
At a fork in the road, Sun Lingtong and Jin Yangzi chose different directions.
He did not act immediately.
On one hand, he needed long-term observation to gather intelligence. On the other, he still had important matters to handle first. Otherwise, he would not be able to explain things to Ning Zhuo when he returned.
Sun Lingtong had only just arrived and was unfamiliar with White Paper Immortal City. After wandering around for quite some time, he finally found a relatively reliable lead—someone secretly selling various confidential pieces of information.
Following the route, Sun Lingtong entered a narrow alley. As he approached, his heart suddenly stirred.
He sensed Jin Yangzi’s aura.
“He’s nearby too?”
Since it was along the way anyway, Sun Lingtong decisively concealed himself and quietly approached.
In the alley, Jin Yangzi, with his hands clasped behind his back, had been strolling slowly. Suddenly he stopped and turned sharply.
“Hmph! Petty rat. You’ve followed me all the way here. Why don’t you come out already?”
Sun Lingtong’s heart tightened. He was about to activate his theft technique to escape through space when Jin Yangzi glanced toward his direction.
“I wasn’t talking to you, short thing.”
“Heh heh heh.”
After a cold laugh, a cultivator revealed himself.
Sun Lingtong suddenly turned his head and saw that this person had a hunched back, swollen skin, dark eye bags, and wet hair constantly dripping water as if he had just crawled out of a river.
The hairs on Sun Lingtong’s body stood on end.
He had not discovered that someone had been following behind him at all.
Jin Yangzi still stood with his hands behind his back, speaking arrogantly.
“Who are you?”
The mysterious cultivator locked his bloodshot eyes onto Jin Yangzi.
“The one who will take your life.”
Jin Yangzi burst into laughter.
“A petty rat who doesn’t even dare reveal his name also thinks he can take my life? Do you know that I discovered you long ago and deliberately led you here?”
Before he finished speaking, Jin Yangzi suddenly attacked. His palm slashed forward, releasing a blade of golden light.
As soon as he made his move, the aura of a Golden Core cultivator burst forth.
However, the sharp golden blade light shrank more and more as it approached the mysterious cultivator. By the time it reached him, it had shrunk to the size of a marble, its power reduced to the limit.
The mysterious cultivator flicked it apart with a single finger.
He spoke in a sinister tone.
“How do you think you discovered me? Of course I did it on purpose.”
“Heh heh heh. I knew your personality—you would inevitably lure me out and attack personally.”
“Jin Yangzi, you are too arrogant. That is precisely the reason for your death!”
Dao-Field—Dragon Pool Hidden Scales.
In an instant, the alley vanished and transformed into a roaring waterfall.
The waterfall crashed endlessly into a deep pool, rumbling loudly while mist spread everywhere.
Jin Yangzi’s pupils shrank as he immediately flew into the air.
Sun Lingtong leaped onto a rock within the pool. His position was extremely awkward—directly between the two.
On the opposite side of the pool, the mysterious cultivator launched his attack.
Using a water-element spell, he drew dragon-shaped waves from the pool.
A water dragon rose and rushed toward Jin Yangzi.
Jin Yangzi took out a long spear. With a gentle thrust, dazzling spear light erupted and instantly shattered the water dragon.
Jin Yangzi snorted with disdain.
“The Dao-Field surprised me. You worship the Hidden Scale Dragon Lord? But attacks of this level aren’t even enough to scratch an itch!”
“Is that so?” the mysterious cultivator sneered.
He repeatedly cast spells, forming waves of water in various shapes.
Yet no matter what form the waves took, Jin Yangzi easily destroyed them.
“How strange…” Sun Lingtong felt a sense of unease rising in his heart.
Fortunately, neither of the other two attacked him. Clearly, each regarded the other as their true enemy.
Although Jin Yangzi effortlessly dismantled several attacks, he showed no satisfaction. Instead, he looked annoyed.
“Are you looking down on me? Show your true ability already!”
The mysterious cultivator sneered again.
“I already have.”
Jin Yangzi said coldly, “If this is only Foundation Establishment level, I will tear you into pieces to vent my anger!”
The mysterious cultivator snorted.
“Jin Yangzi, you’re nothing special. Even now, you still haven’t noticed what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?”
Prompted by the reminder, Jin Yangzi used his spiritual sense to scan himself.
At first, he found nothing.
But the next moment, his expression changed drastically.
The mysterious cultivator cast another spell—this time directly confiscating Jin Yangzi’s magical artifacts and treasures.
His clothes, boots, and other items were all treasure-grade. Now water vapor wrapped around them and forcibly stripped them away.
Jin Yangzi immediately poured in spiritual sense and mana, yet his connection to the treasures had completely vanished.
“What kind of method is this?!” Jin Yangzi shouted in shock and anger.
Sun Lingtong’s eyes shone brightly.
“That’s Spilled Water—this is Spilled Water!”
A water-element sin treasure—Spilled Water. Whatever it covered would have its connections severed. Just as the saying goes: spilled water cannot be gathered again.
Most of the treasures on Jin Yangzi had been contaminated by the Spilled Water, cutting off their connection to him.
Magical treasures had to be refined before use.
By the time Jin Yangzi reacted, it was already too late.
With a furious scream, he revealed his true form—a golden-feathered crow.
The crow soared into the sky, trying to break through the Dao-Field.
But the next moment, the descending waterfall smashed him back down.
Within the roaring waters, dazzling golden light erupted. The water surface bulged violently before exploding.
Demonic Art—Crimson Blood Golden Light Slash!
This move carried severe aftereffects, but its power often exceeded the normal limits of cultivators.
Jin Yangzi had made a decisive choice and fought desperately.
The mysterious cultivator let out a muffled groan as the Dao-Field waterfall roared like a dragon’s cry.
The Crimson Blood Golden Light was corroded by the dragon-like roar, rapidly shrinking until its power dropped to the lowest point.
Jin Yangzi ground his teeth helplessly.
“This is bad… very bad!” Sun Lingtong had originally hoped Jin Yangzi might break free from the Dao-Field, giving him a chance to escape as well.
But Jin Yangzi was completely suppressed.
“Even within a Dao-Field, I’m recognized by White Paper Immortal City and not suppressed by the city’s grand formation!” Jin Yangzi stared at the mysterious cultivator. “You’re also Golden Core and not suppressed. Who exactly are you?!”
The mysterious cultivator smiled coldly.
“The one who will kill you.”
Surging water engulfed Jin Yangzi.
He flapped his wings desperately, repeatedly breaking out of the water only to be smashed down again by the waterfall.
After several cycles, Jin Yangzi gradually exhausted himself.
The golden light representing him finally vanished beneath the pool.
Theft Technique—Spatial Piercing!
In desperation, Sun Lingtong tried to escape.
But even without the mysterious cultivator acting, the Dao-Field alone rendered his attempt a complete failure.
“Within this Dao-Field, any methods used by enemies are greatly weakened.”
“Xiao Zhuo, save me!”
At the next moment, Life Hanging by a Thread erupted with power, releasing dazzling mirror light.
The mirror light shone on Sun Lingtong and he vanished instantly.
When he reappeared, he was already back inside Room No. 1 of the First Grade Residence in the Hidden Yang Residence.
Ning Zhuo held up his life-bound magical artifact, the Spirit Communication Mirror, and had rescued him.
“What happened, boss?” Ning Zhuo had only heard the call for help and acted urgently, not knowing what had occurred before.
Sun Lingtong patted his chest.
“Too… too thrilling…”
For a moment he could barely speak clearly.
“Hmm?” Seeing Sun Lingtong escape, the mysterious cultivator was quite surprised.
“That method just now was cast from outside to inside, so it wasn’t suppressed by the Dao-Field. It seems like some kind of summoning technique.”
“Never mind.”
“Jin Yangzi’s death couldn’t be hidden anyway.”
“White Paper Immortal City… heh. It’s about to fall into chaos.”
The mysterious cultivator took out a bone sphere and threw it out.
It transformed into a Ghost Gate.
The Ghost Gate opened, and countless water ghosts and yin soldiers surged in.
Soon after, screams and cries for help echoed through the quiet alley.
Order collapsed into chaos.
Yin soldiers had launched their attack!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The alarm bell of White Paper Immortal City rang out across the entire city.
The immortal city’s grand formation activated, heavily suppressing the emerging water ghosts and yin soldiers.
City guards were immediately dispatched.
However, halfway there, they received new orders from above—most of them were to rush to the city walls.
The ghost tide had arrived ahead of time.