Sun Yuzhi’s gaze drifted out the window, her tone returning to its usual calm. "Those bald-headed curs from Golden Spring Temple will never let this go. For the time being, unless it’s absolutely necessary, you should stay inside the Jingwu Bureau and focus on your training. Don’t go out casually, lest they try to pull some tricks behind your back."

"Thank you for the reminder, Governor. I understand."

Chen Sheng nodded in agreement. He was, of course, well aware of the stakes.

"You may go."

Sun Yuzhi waved her hand and added casually, "If you run into any more trouble in the future, you can come find me."

Chen Sheng clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your immense kindness, Governor!"

Listening as the footsteps behind her faded into the distance, Sun Yuzhi slowly lowered her head. She looked at the Jade Puppet in her hand again, her fingertips gently caressing it, a complex, unreadable emotion flashing in her eyes.

After a moment’s hesitation, a resolute look flashed in her eyes. She raised her hand and threw the Jade Puppet toward a small pond outside the Government Office. The puppet traced an arc through the air and, with a soft PLOP, disappeared into the water, sending out a few ripples before sinking without a trace.

Sun Siniang slowly closed her eyes, her expression returning to its usual placid calm, like the still water of an ancient well.

....

Chen Sheng had just returned to his residence and was about to plan his trip to the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool when the Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil abruptly appeared in his mind. Lines of text, suffused with an ominous aura, materialized before him:

[My name is Chen Sheng. By the time you read this, my regrets will be for naught. After obtaining the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow, I was so eager that I immediately rushed toward the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool to retrieve the Profound Yin Blood Fiend. I failed to notice that someone had been watching my every move from the moment I left the Jingwu Bureau.

The person watching me was none other than a spy from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance. Because I had killed one of their Innate members and demonstrated exceptional talent, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance had issued a kill-on-sight order for me.

After learning of my movements, the information was quickly relayed. They successfully intercepted me near the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool. Gao Yuanzhao, an Earth Fiend Martial Master from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, and several Innate experts ambushed me together.

In the end, though I managed to take two of the Earth Fiends down with me by using my own considerable resources and the Blood Evil Demon Talisman, I was a spent force due to the backlash. I could not fight off the remaining Innate experts. Surrounded, I was killed.

In my final moments, I was filled with immense regret. If only I had known this was coming, perhaps I could have avoided this deadly fate...]

Reading the crystal-clear death prophecy on the Celestial Book, Chen Sheng’s heart went cold, and a chill ran up his spine. The eagerness he’d felt after obtaining the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow instantly cooled.

’Two Earth Fiend Martial Masters and several Chaoyuan Realm Innate experts, all ganging up on me.’

’The Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance and Gao Yuanzhao really know how to pay a man respect.’

Fortunately, he now had advance warning of this deadly trap. He certainly wasn’t going to be stupid enough to walk right into it.

「It was a dark and windy night.」

Chen Sheng silently changed his clothes and used a special magic technique to conceal his aura and appearance. Like a phantom, he slipped out of the Jingwu Bureau without alerting anyone.

Once he had his bearings, Chen Sheng pushed his speed to its limit, racing toward the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool.

He didn’t choose to use this information to set up a counter-ambush.

It wasn’t that he was soft-hearted, but that he knew always being one step ahead of his enemies would be far too conspicuous.

Ning’an Prefecture was filled with masters as numerous as the clouds, teeming with shrewd and perceptive individuals. Once or twice could be explained away as luck or quick-wittedness, but if it happened every time, it would inevitably attract deeper suspicion and investigation.

’The Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil is my greatest trump card; it can never be exposed. Besides, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance and Gao Yuanzhao aren’t going anywhere. Once I succeed in Condensing Evil and my power increases dramatically, I’ll have plenty of opportunities to settle the score with them slowly.’

...

「The next morning, just as the sky began to show the first fish-belly white of dawn.」

A travel-worn Chen Sheng rushed back to the Jingwu Bureau.

Recalling his experience near the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool the previous night, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of fear.

He had originally thought the greatest dangers of the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool would be potential poisons or the treacherous terrain. He never would have expected that, deep beneath the dark waters of the pool, there was truly a dormant, hundred-year-old giant serpent with an immense body and a terrifying aura.

Observing its features, two fleshy lumps had already begun to bulge slightly on its head, and the edges of its scales faintly shimmered with a golden light. It was clearly in the critical stage of beginning to Transform into a Flood Dragon.

This was no ordinary beast, but a being that could be called a Demon Beast.

Its power was likely comparable to that of a Profound Gang Realm expert among human Martial Artists, perhaps even stronger.

If not for the Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil issuing another subtle warning as he approached the danger zone, allowing him to avoid it in advance, the consequences of accidentally waking the slumbering behemoth would have been unimaginable.

Fortunately, though the trip had been startling, it had been without any real danger.

Following the faint guidance of the Celestial Book, Chen Sheng successfully avoided all dangers. Deep inside an extremely well-hidden natural cave near the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool, he found the Profound Yin Blood Fiend that the Demon Monk Shanxin had so carefully hidden, and he successfully collected, sealed, and brought it back.

However, on the way back, a sliver of doubt couldn’t help but rise in Chen Sheng’s mind.

’The fact that the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool houses such a powerful Demon Beast on the verge of its transformation into a Flood Dragon is probably not a top secret among the major powers of Ning’an Prefecture.

Why would they tolerate such a beast—a living treasure trove—entrenching itself right next to them without organizing forces to hunt it down? There must be some hidden reason or reservation that I’m not aware of.

To see a treasure and not take it is definitely not the style of these major powers.’

Chen Sheng secretly speculated. ’Perhaps it has to do with the giant serpent’s own strength, the unique environment of the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool, or even some deeper balance or agreement?’

But with limited information, he could only suppress this doubt in his heart for the time being.