T/N:
From now on, I’ll use “Pool of Hidden Secrets” instead of “Penetrating You Pool”
——
Both options are good, and there are even more options, but for now I think the first one fits better—or maybe the second, knowing the author style haha.
Chapter 163: The Water Emperor
–Sea Concubine Main Hall
Within the main hall, filled with dense water spirit energy, nine blue-haired women gathered, a scene resembling a family banquet.
Seated at the head of the long table was Shui Yingge, the Water Emperor, Palace Master of the Sea Concubine Palace. This was the first time Gong Lianyue had met her.
Her waist-length blue hair was similar to the Six Concubines’. Her appearance wasn’t particularly stunning, but her aura was cold and aloof, almost inhuman. A small, white fox, its eyes curiously scanning the surroundings, was coiled around her neck.
Shui Yingge wore a unique, flowing robe, specially made for the Sea Concubine Palace, similar in style to the Saintess’s, but more regal and elegant, clearly a superior version.
She had left the word “boring” on the Sea Concubine’s Love Tablet, a testament to her aloof personality.
Another unfamiliar woman, a dignified matron with her hair in a bun, looked to be in her thirties. In reality, Nether Traverse Stage Spirit Masters could maintain their youthful appearance for thousands of years. She was likely a centuries-old monster.
The warden of the Cold Shark Prison. For years, she had single-handedly suppressed numerous enemy Spirit Masters and spirit beasts, her strength on par with the Water Emperor.
The Water Emperor, the Warden, the Six Concubines, and the Saintess. At this moment, the highest-ranking members of the Sea Concubine Palace were all gathered here.
“Saintess, the ransom has been confirmed. Twenty percent will be transferred to you, along with the agreed-upon 5000 contribution points.”
“Also, the incident with the Four Guardians was an unforeseen circumstance, a failure on our part. If you have any requests, the Sea Concubine Palace will do its best to fulfill them within reason.”
Shui Yingge nodded, her expression unchanged, and put away the spatial ring.
Of the one million spirit crystals, 200,000 would go to Gong Lianyue, worth about 100,000 contribution points.
That was enough to buy 100 Tyrant Blood Pills or 50 stalks of Blazing Soul Grass. However, in the Waterfall Lake Wonderland, Blazing Soul Grass only cost 1 exchange point, practically worthless.
The Saint-Breaking Pill, on the other hand, cost 10 million exchange points, a thousand times more expensive than Blazing Soul Grass.
Anything related to Saint-ranks was incredibly valuable.
No, it was more accurate to say that the Saint-Breaking Pill was beyond the reach of ordinary human Spirit Masters!
“Requests…?”
Gong Lianyue pondered. The Sea Concubine Palace had really screwed her over this time.
Who would have thought the Windchaser Emperor would so brazenly side with the Shadowcandle Temple? If she hadn’t been so ridiculously overpowered, she would have died.
However, this trip to the Wind Realm had also resulted in incredible gains: breaking through to the Dead Sea Stage, contracting the Frost Snow Woman, contracting the Tyrant Demon Seed, collecting Moonlight Grass, gaining access to the Waterfall Lake Wonderland… a series of fortunate encounters.
And the Water Emperor… she was surprisingly… gentle, more reliable than the Six Concubines…
“I want the Cold Court’s Lost Scroll.”
After a moment of hesitation, Gong Lianyue spoke.
The Steel Moon Chapter had significantly impacted her spirit energy. Combined with the Cold Court’s Flower Moon Chapter, her power would surely increase dramatically.
For a chance to study the Flower Moon Chapter, there was no point in hiding her strength any longer.
She had to become stronger, no matter the cost, to retrieve the Water Element.
As Gong Lianyue finished speaking, the surrounding water spirit energy stirred.
“What did you see in the Ice Shield Palace’s Lost Scroll!?”
The Warden, her beautiful, mature face creased with a frown, asked, her tone incredulous.
If she remembered correctly, the Sorrowful Saintess had only examined it once. How could she have possibly gleaned anything from it?
“The true name of the Lost Scroll: The Steel Moon Chapter of the Heavenly Full Cold Moon.”
Gong Lianyue channeled the silver Steel Moon within her, releasing a heavy, oppressive aura.
Sensing this powerful spirit energy, the expressions of both the Water Emperor and the Warden turned serious, while the Six Concubines stared in shock.
Gong Lianyue was only at the Dead Sea Stage, yet her aura far surpassed that of an ordinary Samsara Stage Spirit Master.
As expected of one who had been favored by a legendary being…
“Although I regret to say this, the Cold Court likely won’t agree. Our exchange of information with the Ice Shield Palace regarding the Lost Scroll has been exposed. If we ask to borrow theirs now, they will surely guess the reason.”
“The Cold Court is notoriously selfish. They won’t agree.”
After a long silence, Shui Yingge said helplessly.
If possible, she also wanted the Sorrowful Saintess to master the Lost Scroll, strengthening the Sea Concubine Palace’s high-end combat power.
Unfortunately, the Cold Court was not only selfish but also stubborn.
Unless the Water Element personally appeared before them, they wouldn’t agree. They had to see it to believe it.
Gong Lianyue wasn’t discouraged. She hadn’t expected to obtain the Lost Scroll anyway.
“Then I want a detailed report on all known wild Saint-rank spirit beasts in the Sea Region.”
“Granted.”
Shui Yingge immediately agreed, and Shui Qinghou smiled, a look of relief on her face.
The Sorrowful Saintess, possessing four or five Saint-ranks, a former Lord Attendant, was finally ready to reveal her true power, no longer hiding, no longer running.
Every faction kept records of wild Saint-rank spirit beast sightings, like the Ice Shield Palace’s Seven-Foot Sword Princess Flower, regularly sending younger members to attempt to contract with them.
Few wild Saint-rank spirit beasts submitted after being defeated. If their appearance or personality didn’t appeal to them, they would rather die than be controlled.
Too weak, and they wouldn’t be considered.
Too strong, and they would feel humiliated.
This was why Saint-rank spirit beasts were so difficult to contract. Even the Winter Floating Sky, the strongest faction, only had four Saint-rank Spirit Masters.
But with the Sorrowful Saintess, things were different!
She would enter a period of rapid growth, like those legendary figures in history, leading the Sea Concubine Palace to a new golden age.
“By the way, has there been any activity at the former site of the Pool of Hidden Secrets?” Suddenly remembering this, Gong Lianyue asked.
“That area is currently patrolled by the Winter Floating Sky. Why?” Shui Qinghou asked, puzzled.
“Nothing. I just felt a strange aura there when I passed by.”
Gong Lianyue shook her head, offering a vague excuse.
She had wanted to report the mission from the Waterfall Lake Wonderland, but the situation there was still unclear.
Bang!
Suddenly, the main hall doors burst open.
A senior instructor rushed in, her face pale, her voice trembling as she met the gazes of the high-ranking officials. “Palace Master, there’s been an incident at the former site of the Pool of Hidden Secrets!!!”
Chapter 164: The Pool of Hidden Secrets Revived
A thousand years ago, a peerless woman rose within the Sea Region’s Pool of Hidden Secrets.
Her beauty was breathtaking, her aura cold and alluring, her power unmatched. In just ten years, she rose from the Illumination Stage to the Sun and Moon Realm, leading the then-declining Pool of Hidden Secrets to the pinnacle of the Sea Region. She was known as the Nether Empress.
Her influence spanned ten realms, her combat power unparalleled, her wives as numerous as the stars.
The Wind Realm? A bunch of barbarians.
The Cang Realm? Easily crushed.
The Fire Metropolis? Boiled in a pot.
The Sea Region? A marriage agency.
Even legendary beings had offered themselves to her, only to be rejected without hesitation.
She would surpass the legendary rank through her own power. She wouldn’t become a Lord Attendant. Only then could she prove her existence was truly special.
However, when that thing appeared before her, she finally understood.
Humans could never surpass legendary beings, neither in terms of their life level nor the number of their wives…
Watching everything she had built crumble, buried beneath the eternal frost and snow, she swore a blood oath.
Just one. If she survived, she would dedicate her life to slaying a legendary being, to prove the meaning of her existence.
The Snow Monarch!!!
Sea Region, Pool of Hidden Secrets
This area, where the Snow Monarch had once annihilated the Pool of Hidden Secrets, was now a desolate wasteland.
Ice and snow covered everything, no survivors.
After a thousand years, the terrifying ice world had sunk to the depths of the ocean, yet it showed no signs of melting.
But now, the ocean currents began to swirl and churn, a massive abyss opening up.
A terrifying, chilling aura spread outwards, and the Winter Floating Sky Spirit Masters stationed here felt a sudden, inexplicable dread.
“What’s happening?”
A woman muttered, her expression strange. As she looked down, her eyes widened in disbelief.
From the depths of the abyss, a crystal-encased palace slowly rose, carried upwards by a torrent of water, returning to the surface.
A massive palace, its surface shimmering with an amber, jade-like luster, a large plaque bearing the characters [Pool of Hidden Secrets] on its front.
“Snow Monarch!!!!!”
A furious roar echoed, shaking the surrounding sea, violent waves pushing the water outwards.
The Winter Floating Sky woman, her body trembling, blood trickling from her orifices, her spirit energy fluctuating uncontrollably, stared in horror.
What level of Spirit Master was this, a single roar injuring her soul core?!
Above the Pool of Hidden Secrets palace, a woman in a black robe stood in the air, her chaotic spirit energy almost tearing the sky apart, the force of its outward expansion pushing back the seawater.
With her aura alone, in the Sea Region, where ninety-nine point nine-nine-nine-nine-nine percent of the world was water, she had created a massive void!
The woman’s long, dark, almost green hair was styled in an ancient fashion. Her face was beautiful, her eyes deep and world-weary, her expression a strange mix of laughter and tears, the character [Nether] on the back of her robe fluttering in the wind.
“Hahahahaha, Snow Monarch! My Pool of Hidden Secrets, after a thousand years, hundreds of generations, have finally broken free from your icy prison! How pathetic, how truly pitiful!!!”
The woman’s laughter was interspersed with sobs, a mixture of joy and sorrow, rage and grief.
What use was the Sun and Moon Realm?
What use was being the strongest?
Before a legendary being, they were all insignificant ants!
Her laughter subsided, her gaze turning cold and indifferent as she looked towards the distant horizon.
“What year is it? And who rules the Sea Region now?”
As the black-haired woman’s voice echoed, the Winter Floating Sky woman felt a chill run down her spine.
She knew the question was directed at her, yet the woman’s gaze hadn’t even fallen upon her.
No one was worthy of her attention…
This woman… must be the Nether Empress of the Pool of Hidden Secrets!
“Your Highness, it has been 1123 years since the fall of the Pool of Hidden Secrets. The current ruler of the Sea Region is the Winter Floating Sky.”
“The Winter Floating Sky?”
Hearing the trembling reply, the black-haired woman frowned.
The Winter Floating Sky had been the lowest-ranked faction back then. How had they risen to become the ruler of the Sea Region?
Shui Yuerong of the Sea Concubine Palace, with her beauty and potential, rivaling even her own, should have led her faction to the top.
Whatever, it didn’t matter who ruled the Sea Region now. It would soon change.
“The Pool of Hidden Secrets will once again stand at the pinnacle of the Sea Region. Go and tell them that.”
“This is now the territory of the Pool of Hidden Secrets. Outsiders are forbidden from entering without permission.”
Swish!
As the Nether Empress spoke, the world before the Winter Floating Sky woman vanished.
A dizzying sensation, the world turning upside down, the air itself tearing, making her want to vomit.
The woman looked around, her face pale. She was no longer in the same area.
She had been instantly transported more than ten kilometers away, expelled from the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ territory, a feat of almost divine power.
Was this… the Water Heart Separation, a Saint-rank technique?
She truly was the Nether Empress. The Pool of Hidden Secrets had returned!
Terror filled the woman’s heart as she hurried back to the Winter Floating Sky to report.
And so, news of the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ revival spread throughout the Sea Region.
Sea Concubine Palace
“Palace Master, there’s been an incident at the former site of the Pool of Hidden Secrets!!!” a senior instructor rushed into the main hall, her voice filled with panic.
“The Pool of Hidden Secrets has reappeared, the Nether Empress revived! She claims she will once again rule the Sea Region!!”
“What!?”
Shockwaves rippled through the hall. Someone from a thousand years ago… revived?
This wouldn’t only affect the current power structure of the Sea Region, but it might also involve the Snow Monarch.
Imprisoned in ice for a thousand years… the Nether Empress’s hatred must be immeasurable…
“Wait, wasn’t the Pool of Hidden Secrets destroyed by the Snow Monarch? How did they survive?” Gong Lianyue asked, her face puzzled, voicing everyone’s thoughts.
The Sorrowful Saintess herself was a Lord Attendant. She understood the power of legendary beings and would naturally question this.
How could the Pool of Hidden Secrets have survived the Snow Monarch’s attack?
And after a thousand years… This was highly unusual.
“Um, well, according to the reports, the Nether Empress and the Pool of Hidden Secrets spent a thousand years breaking free from the Snow Monarch’s ice prison. They seem… relatively unharmed,” the senior instructor stammered nervously.
“…”
“…”
“I see.”
“So it was just… pity~~~”
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