Imperial Capital.
The dungeon.
“Who goes there? How dare you break in here at night!”
“Th-this is... the River God!”
“Ah!”
In an instant, several water blades pierced right through the jailers’ throats.
Before they could even let out a scream, their corpses collapsed to the ground, eyes wide in death.
Emerging from the shadows was none other than a dark blue River God Statue with fish fins growing on its back, wielding a fish spear!
“To think a few mere pawns could stop me. Ridiculous.”
The River God Statue swept the fish spear across, instantly cleaving open the cell holding Qian Wenyao.
Although splattered with blood from the spear, Qian Wenyao’s face lit up with overwhelming joy:
“To slip into a heavily guarded dungeon holding major convicts so effortlessly—you truly live up to being a River God who enjoys abundant incense!”
The River God Statue smiled smugly, looking disdainful:
“Of course. As long as those experts in the imperial palace are constrained by factional disputes and cannot intervene, who else in the Imperial Capital could stop me?
Disposing of these juniors is as easy for me as eating and drinking...”
Yet, just as the River God Statue stood haughtily, full of triumph, his body suddenly gave an uncontrollable shudder.
“Strange, did I sense that wrong?”
A look of dread surfaced on the River God Statue’s face.
“What was that terrifying demonic qi that flashed and vanished just now?
Could it be... that a great demon momentarily revealed its true form in the Imperial Capital?”
...
Wutong Street.
“Young Master, let’s go guess lantern riddles too!”
Looking at the dazzling array of lanterns, Qing Yan was brimming with enthusiasm. Unable to contain herself, she took Chen Ning by the hand and ran over to a stand surrounded by pedestrians.
Among the crowd, an old man with white hair and beard was smiling, reading the riddles inscribed on the lanterns to everyone.
The riddles were not particularly difficult, but facing so many competitors simultaneously required sharp, agile thinking.
“A high platform reflects the bright moon—guess a character.”
“The character ‘Tan’ from tanhua.”
Before the old man had even finished reciting, Chen Ning instantly blurted out the answer.
“Correct! This teacup is Young Master’s reward.”
“Young Master is amazing!”
Qing Yan could not help but listen even more intently to the old man’s questions.
Yet, as riddles were solved one after another, someone was always a step ahead of her.
Just then, the old man took down another lantern: “Entering water, walking fails—guess a character.”
Qing Yan’s mind raced, and an answer suddenly flashed in her thoughts.
“It’s ‘Yan,’ from ‘fanyan’!”
“Haha! To think this young lady is not only pretty, but also smart. This writing brush is your reward.”
Smiling, the old man handed the writing brush to Qing Yan.
A writing brush was not worth much money, but it made Qing Yan so happy that a pair of charming dimples bloomed on her cheeks.
Because this very lantern riddle was one Chen Ning had used to teach her when helping her remember the rare character ‘Yan.’
“I’ll give this writing brush to Young Master too. After all, it’s Young Master’s credit.”
Qing Yan smiled sweetly, her fox tail swaying gently without her even realizing it.
Clearly, compared to the reward, solving the lantern riddle correctly was the greatest joy for her.
“We could win as many of these brushes as we want...”
Just as Chen Ning was preparing to get serious and show off his skills to his silly maidservant, a brilliant firework suddenly bloomed in the night sky.
Chen Ning’s eyes narrowed slightly.
This firework was the signal from Qin Heng.
The location of the firework was outside the city gates, indicating that the eldest son of Prince Qian Manor had likely already been rescued by the demon and had fled outside the city.
“You two keep solving riddles for now. I’ll be right back.”
Chen Ning turned and said a word to Qing Yan, then exerted force beneath his feet and leaped directly onto the eaves.
Bang!
The force of his step caused the blue bricks underfoot to shatter with a loud crack.
The resounding noise immediately startled many people around.
When they looked up, Chen Ning was moving effortlessly across the rooftops more than a zhang high, as though walking on flat ground.
“Who was it earlier saying they’d dress up as a scholar to replace him? If you’ve got what it takes, jump up there and show me.”
“...”
In an instant, silence fell all around.
...
Outside the Imperial Capital.
“This fellow is truly a pest. Stay right where you are!”
Seeing Qin Heng dogging him closely behind, the Water God Statue was infuriated.
“Prison Water Cage.”
A circular water curtain suddenly materialized, trapping Qin Heng within.
“You think you can trap me with just this? Aren’t you underestimating me a bit too much?”
Qin Heng’s momentum surged, lightning already coiling around both of his fists.
Observing Chen Ning’s battles over the past two days had granted him immense insights, allowing Qin Heng, who had long been stuck at the peak of the Master Realm, to make a breakthrough and successfully step into the Fifth-Rank Grandmaster Realm.
Although he knew his foundation in this realm was still unstable and his strength was far from sufficient, just comprehending a fraction of Chen Ning’s punch technique had already benefited him immensely.
With this single punch, he shattered the water curtain.
Qin Heng stomped heavily against the ground, charging straight toward the Water God Statue.
Undaunted by formidable foes, fearless before all techniques, sweeping forward with one’s physical body, charging into a thousand-strong army with bare fists—only this was the Martial Dao!
“Heh, the only reason I ignored a gnat like you was to make your death all the more absolute.
Did you really think I was afraid of you?”
Right at that moment, the Water God Statue suddenly stopped in his tracks and let out a cold laugh.
Suddenly, the aura around his body began to climb steadily.
The intangible pressure radiating from him made him seem like an entirely different being compared to just a moment ago.
“What is happening?”
Qin Heng hastily looked around and finally understood the reason.
“It’s the water!”
Unlike other pseudo-gods, the Water God’s power was based on rivers. Only when beside a river could he unleash his true power.
So that fellow had been deliberately leading him on from the start, all to lure him to the water’s edge!
“Understand now?
But it’s too late.
As long as I stand beside the water, I am invincible!”
The river water spiraled upward, and the Water God Statue gradually rose into midair, standing at the very center of the whirlpool.
A sinister grin pulled at the corners of his mouth as his body steadily expanded from being soaked in river water, the trident in his hand radiating an azure radiance.
Though he was merely a pseudo-god possessing a statue, standing beside the river made him feel as though he truly were the River God—the true god governing this river!
“Drown in the river!”
As the River God Statue raised the trident in his hands high, a colossal wave surged skyward.
The crashing waves howled and swept forward like a ravenous beast stripped of reason by hunger, roaring as they slammed toward the shore.
In comparison, Qin Heng was like a fallen leaf in a vast ocean, so minuscule that he could be crushed into dust at any moment.
On the path of a martial artist, there was no such thing as retreat.
Qin Heng did not back down.
Yet he knew full well that with his strength, it was impossible to contend with this tidal wave!
He raised both fists, his face pale as he looked up at the towering wave.
Just as the sweeping torrent was about to engulf Qin Heng...
Clang!
Right at that moment, a sharp ringing of a sword suddenly resonated across the horizon.
The monstrous wave abruptly ground to a halt, as if even time itself had frozen at this instant.
Visible to the naked eye, a fissure spread from the center of the water curtain, rapidly expanding across the entire wall of water.
The next moment...
Boom!
The colossal wave shattered with a resounding crash, countless droplets scattering down like rain filling the sky.
“Brother... Chen!”
Beneath the night sky, looking at the white-robed figure standing with sword in hand, robes fluttering in the wind, Qin Heng stood frozen for a long time, unable to recover from the shock.
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