l."Regardless of the outcome, this incident has inevitably weakened the power of the skeletal deity's physical form. Now that he is diminished, our chance to seize control of his sacred body has great...Zhuang Gao looked on with appreciation as His Majesty Dan knelt before the young man, but it wasn't the display of feigned loyalty that touched him.

It's not surprising that he hasn't heard such similar things a thousand or even ten thousand times.

It's just that he unconsciously compared Zhu Wei and the young man in front of him. Compared to that always straight-backed, proud genius, he felt a sense of superiority as a monarch towards this young man who was willing to kneel on the ground. He felt more pleasure in wielding power.

He had always believed that he could accommodate any genius's personality, including Zhu Wei's excessive pride.

But only now did he realize that the pride he could tolerate was only that which remained within his control.

When Zhu Wei chose to betray his country, that pride became especially repulsive.

“Control” has always been what mattered most to him.

Or, perhaps every person who has tasted the flavor of power will not tolerate losing control.

> Han Yin's rule for hundreds of years, treating his son as a puppet, and Han Xu's daring assassination of the true master, are all because of this.

"You may stand."

Zhuāng Gāoxiān said peacefully.

After Lin Zhengren crawled up from the ground and stood, he still bowed his head respectfully.

He continued, "Human hearts are difficult to fathom. Han Yin slaughtered his own nephew, Han Xu killed his own father, and Zhu Wei received the grace of the country but betrayed it with a treacherous heart. Even if I were a real sage of this era, I would find it hard to discern true from false in human hearts."

Lin Zhengren hastily said: "Heaven and earth bear witness, my loyalty is..."

Zhuang Gaoxian waved his hand, interrupting him mid-self-righteous display of loyalty.

Whether it's true or not doesn't matter, what matters is whether you speak or not. Focus on actions, not intentions. To judge by heart is to find no one perfect. What I want is attitude.

His voice was not loud, but it inexplicably gave people a heavy sense of pressure. That was the natural majesty of one who had long held a position of power.

Whether you're sincere or just feigning it, remember this: I can provide you with fame, fortune, or resources for your spiritual pursuits. Whatever you desire, I can give it to you. But in return, you must do what I ask.

Lin Zhengren bowed again. Zhuang Gaoxian, since he wanted to make a statement, wouldn't tire of expressing his stance: "Zhengren, in this lifetime, will surely not fail the Emperor's grace!"

They are all absolutely intelligent people, and when it's beneficial to cooperate, no one can separate them.

This scene, this moment, is truly a time for monarch and minister to harmonize. Should our grand ambitions be realized in the future, both ruler and subjects achieving great things, what will be recorded in the annals of history is surely a tale of wonderful interactions between sovereign and officials.

>

But just at this moment, Zhuang Gaoqian stood up abruptly, his heart filled with a sense of danger like mountains and rivers, but even he couldn't hide his embarrassment!

Lin Zhengren's heart was filled with unease, but he remained steadfast in his duty, keeping his eyes downcast and his mind focused, without uttering a word.

And Du Ruhui, without going through the usual channels, stepped directly into the palace, his voice urgent: "Your Majesty, there's been an incident at the Ministry of Water Resources!"

The imperial seal of the Zhuang kingdom shows that the 800-li Qingjiang River is turbulent and its water flow is unsteady.

The urgent letter from the Qinghe County government states that water lilies have bloomed for eight hundred miles, and the Qingjiang River is dyed red everywhere. This all indicates...

The esteemed Qingjiang water, Jun Song Hengjiang, has passed away!

At that instant, their eyes met. Years of unspoken understanding allowed them to reach a consensus without a word. With a slight shift in their steps, they both stepped out of the palace.

Only Lin Zhengren, who had just been summoned, remained in the hall. His face was impassive, but his mind raced frantically within.

What could possibly happen on the Qing River...

It's not often that someone can make both Zhuang Gaoen and Du Ruhui so embarrassed. Could it be related to the murderer who killed Dong A...that is, Jiang Wang

The Mountain Spirit...

Lin Zhengren clenched his fist silently.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Yet it was said to be in the underwater grotto.

Jiang Wang leaped out from the Shenbi Monument, sword slaying Zhuang Chengqian. Seizing the opportunity, he broke into the Second House, accomplishing two divine abilities.

>

Before he could fully savor the changes in his body, he discovered that the 108 blood-patterned coffins within the outer chamber were crumbling. Yin demons, one after another, burst out of them, their demonic energy seeping into the depths of the secluded cavern.

As a son wishes to return home.

But the ancient passages have been sealed shut, they can't enter the Wanjie Burial Ground.

Jiang Wang had a sudden realization—this ancient demon's lair had already been abandoned. The White Bone Venerable God, in order to trigger the Calamity of Nonexistence, personally set Zhuang Chengqian's death date and forcefully opened the ancient passage, completely shattering the last trace of peculiarity here.

At this moment, the White Bone Divine brings Zhuang Chengqian's life and lifespan back to the underworld. The Blood Puppet Demon couldn't resist the summons and fell into the Ten Thousand Realms Cemetery as well.

This place will naturally return to "normal" right away.

In a sense, a major threat to the State of Zhuang had thus disappeared.

But a greater hidden danger, Jiang Wang, yet gained new growth.

These Yin demons within the Outer Cave were raised by Song Hengjiang to provide demonic energy for Song Wanxi. When the glazed coffin shattered, the formation connecting them had already collapsed.

However, the demonic lair still exists, and the blood puppet true demon Song Wanxi is still alive, so they can continue to exist.

After that, the true demons left, the demon cave dissipated, and they perished along with it.

Only the demonic energy that was finally transformed still stubbornly searched for its way home.

Jiang Wang casually summoned the Samādhi True Fire to incinerate.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

If this demonic energy were to spread, it would easily affect the aquatic creatures of Qingjiang River and harm the innocent.

The true fire of samadhi melts through the essence, spirit, and energy. It is naturally effective against demonic energy.

Just as the demonic energy dissipated, Jiang Shui surged in rapidly, filling the demon cave with water and sealing everything within. This place's unique properties ceased to exist.

It was at this moment that Song Hengjiang's corpse began to change.

But the changes were limited to the skull.

Above the eyes, there is a fleshy protrusion that crosses between the two eyes, like two swords intersecting.

This is the symbol of the water clan, and also the origin of the name "Jiaolong."

But its body remained unchanged.

>

The reason why people often say that humans and merfolk are one family is that, besides some unique traits of merfolk, there isn't much difference between them in reality.

Since they are like close relatives within the same group, a natural foundation for an alliance exists between them.

However, a large part of people have always been hostile towards aquatic creatures, such as the Lo Kingdom. Of course, there are also aquatic creatures that have always been hostile towards humans, but due to the current dominance of the human race, I'm afraid few still exist.

What made Jiang Wang nervous was that as the river water flowed into the demon's lair, the fresh blood in Song Hengjiang's corpse began to disperse. One by one, red flowers bloomed, spreading along the river.

This scene has a kind of cruel beauty.

But it meant this place was no longer safe for Jiang Wang.

Please note that I've only translated the text content within the > tags. I've left the HTML tags as they are.

The ancient demon's lair, as a mysterious place, its function of shielding the outside world's perception has disappeared. It is impossible to conceal a great battle any longer.

Jiang Wang's plan to continue hiding out here from the storm had also been foiled.

This place is not safe for long!

He drew his sword without hesitation and set off.

But escape also needs to be organized.

He did not flee directly outside the cave, but immediately turned into the right chamber. He pressed on the copper mirror on the dressing table, pinched the formula and shifted, following old events, falling into the Clear River Water Mansion.

When Song Hengjiang died, water lilies bloomed.

In no time, the water-type powerful beings who sensed the drastic change had already descended to the entrance of the underwater demon lair.

>

In the height of tension, Jiang Wang remained composed and clear-headed.

Song Hengjiang's death will inevitably involve the strong of the water clan. Fleeing to an empty Qingjiang Water Mansion is the best option right now!

Dear friend, this chapter is complete. I wish you a pleasant reading experience. Baidu searches for Pen Interest Bull, and we are here!

>

Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!e couldn't see the shore, so it was difficult to tell how deep the ocean truly was or just how much seawater the sun had evaporated.>But far below, where the seabed should have been, there was not a d...