A single tear slid down Elder Bai Qingshui’s cheek.
His expression didn’t change.
But the tears kept coming, one after another, quietly falling from his chin.
They flowed like small rivers, trailing from his face to the foggy sea below.
Each drop vanished into the mist without a sound.
His pupils slowly faded from white back to dark gray. His sharp, focused wide gaze softened.
His usual sleepy eyes returned, as if he had just finished a long day.
The Floating Sword Isolation Field flickered.
Then it scattered like dandelions in the wind. The sealed pressure that had blanketed the sea was gone.
The fog began to shift again, no longer held in place.
Wind moved. The world was breathing once more.
“…What… was that?” Lin Yijun said.
Xiao Lianfeng was still staring ahead, stunned.
The sea had just been calm one moment. Then chaos. Then silence.
And the Crimson Bone Barracuda… that thing was supposed to be an Abyssal Demonic Beast.
Gone. In pieces.
Was Elder Bai Qingshui always this strong?
He had cola. He had lime fizz.
But no drink could turn a weak old man into someone who crushed a leviathan sea monster.
Not unless he was already something terrifying.
The two disciples began to move closer, flying slowly through the air.
They didn’t speak.
There was a pressure in the air that still hadn’t lifted.
Lin Yijun took his time. He flew slowly, sword gliding through the sky high above the sea.
Not even close to the surface.
He had no plans to get any nearer than this.
His eyes scanned the fog below, watching for any strange ripples or shadows.
That Crimson Bone Barracuda was dead, sure.
But what if it had underlings?
Creatures just a step weaker, still enough to crush cities and chomp on cultivators like steamed buns?
He could already imagine one of them leaping out of the water, jaws wide, dragging him down like a worm on a hook.
Xiao Lianfeng flew a few paces behind him.
Not because he was scared.
His eyes were sharp, back straight, but his fingers wouldn’t stop twitching. His sword tip tilted downward from time to time – not to retreat, but to dive.
He was still caught in the echo of the fight.
His blood was too hot.
His hands were trembling from how much spiritual qi had rushed just from watching.
That overwhelming sword intent, the glowing net, the beast’s roar.
If another monster appeared now, he’d probably jump at it before thinking.
Even if it turned him into soup.
He didn’t care.
He just wanted to fight.
“…If another one comes out.” Xiao Lianfeng muttered to himself.
“I’ll be the first to cut it in half.”
Behind Xiao Lianfeng, Lin Yijun gave him a strange look.
“You’ve gone insane, Brother Lianfeng.”
“You’re still drooling over that rod, Brother Yijun.” Xiao Lianfeng shot back without turning.
“I’m allowed to.”
Xiao Lianfeng: “…”
Ahead of them, Elder Bai Qingshui now knelt in mid-air. His robe swayed softly, his head hanging low.
Sect Master Jiang Xianwei and Elder Tang Sheng had already appeared beside him.
Neither spoke.
Sect Master Jiang Xianwei reached out and lightly tapped Elder Bai Qingshui’s shoulder.
Elder Tang Sheng followed, resting his hand on the other side.
No words. Just presence.
They didn’t directly comfort Elder Bai Qingshui. They simply stood with him.
That was enough.
A light pulse of spiritual sense drifted toward Lin Yijun and Xiao Lianfeng.
A voice followed in their minds.
“Collect the remains of the Crimson Bone Barracuda.”
“Alright, you two. Go on and collect the remains of the Crimson Bone before they start sinking.”
“Don’t let any of that go to waste.”
They straightened at once.
“Yes, Sect Master!”
Their swords dipped, then shot forward through the misty sky.
Chunks of red bone. Smooth flesh. Slices of monstrous fin still radiating a faint killing aura.
Lin Yijun and Xiao Lianfeng gathered them one by one. Each piece stored in their storage ring.
A few minutes passed and Elder Bai Qingshui finally moved. He rose from his kneeling position.
His sleeves brushed gently past his face. The tears vanished.
He exhaled once. As quiet as drifting snow.
He turned his gaze toward the pale sea below.
There was no fire in his expression.
No triumph.
Only the calm quiet of a man who had waited too long for a moment that came too late.
“I must offer…”
“…my utmost gratitude to my benevolent benefactor.” Elder Bai Qingshui’s eyes focused on the direction of Sovereign City.
“I would not have achieved this without the sacred drinks.”
“The divine… white-colored one. And the dark one with the roaring taste.”
Behind Elder Bai Qingshui, Sect Master Jiang Xianwei twitched slightly.
Elder Tang Sheng coughed lightly into his hand.
But neither interrupted.
In the corner, Dou Xinshi was slurping Chicken-Flavored Instant Noodles with tears in his eyes, as though they were his last meal before ascension.
Why was Hao staring?
Because Dou Xinshi resembled a walking mummy!
Bandages covered every inch of his body – head, neck, arms, legs, even his fingers were wrapped tight. Only one eye peeked out from the mess, glassy and dazed, as if it had personally witnessed every tragedy in the last century.
He looked okay yesterday, other than nearly going boom on the tiles. Did he try to arm-wrestle a dragon beast for fun?
Bro, what endgame dungeon did he crawl into? Man’s built as a side character and walked out appearing he tanked the final cutscene.
He obviously got some plot armor, right?
As if sensing Hao’s gaze, Dou Xinshi suddenly paused.
And without even turning his head, he bowed stiffly in Hao’s direction.
Still seated. Still slurping noodles.
Just leaned his upper body forward while spilling some soup onto his bandages.
Then went back to eating like nothing happened.
Hao blinked.
Then Dou Xinshi bowed again.
Another spoon of noodles, another bow.
It felt as if it were a loop.
Was something telling this guy to bow at him?
Hao narrowed his eyes slightly.
But even when Dou Xinshi’s back was turned, his head would somehow twist just enough to nod at Hao as if in silent prayer.
Not once did he make eye contact.
Yet not once did he fail to acknowledge Hao’s presence.
According to Dou Xinshi himself?
“It is the esteemed one’s aura. It calls to me!”
“A spiritual resonance across space and destiny!”
“I simply… respond!”
Ain’t no way someone’s gonna believe that.
Who let this guy install HaoOS in his brain?!