The next day.

"Greetings, elder!"

Jiang Yuansheng arrived outside Lianxing Tower early in the morning, waiting respectfully.

Seeing Zhong Shenxiu emerge, he immediately saluted, only to find no trace of the maid, which left a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"My maid was too exhausted last night, and she's quite tired today, so I let her rest."

Zhong Shenxiu waved his hand and said, "Just take me around for a stroll."

"As you command!"

Jiang Yuansheng thought of Qin Weiyin's appearance, though not of national beauty, still a charming look, and couldn't help but smile inwardly, feeling that this Great Saint had suddenly become much friendlier as he led the way.

...

"Greetings, Mr. Fang!"

After a brief patrol, Zhong Shenxiu saw a man in a yellow robe smiling and waiting in front; it was Huang Long Great Saint.

Huang Longshi said, "Today, I plan to patrol the Ten Thousand Island Sea Domain. Why don't you join me, fellow Daoist?"

"As you wish!"

Zhong Shenxiu nodded, gave Jiang Yuansheng an instruction, and immediately followed Huang Long Great Saint out of the island.

"Earth Gang responds, Sea Dragon summon!"

In the ocean, Huang Long Great Saint had no qualms, his Great Saint-level mana rippled, sketching a talisman in the void.

Grumble, grumble!

Under the sea, countless bubbles rose and burst... revealing a huge shadow below.

It was a peculiar 'Sea Dragon,' or rather... a monster much like a giant worm.

Its head had countless sharp teeth, covered with a thick blue keratin layer, with strands of Iron Worms emerging from it, making it resemble a centipede.

Zhong Shenxiu immediately recognized it as an upper-level demon, named [Giant Devouring Sea Worm], capable of freely diving into the deep sea, and cultivators found it extremely difficult to eradicate.

"This is my mount Sea Dragon, fellow Daoist is welcome to join in the sea voyage."

Huang Longshi landed on the head of the [Giant Devouring Sea Worm] and extended an invitation.

'Fine, if you want to call it a Sea Dragon, then a Sea Dragon it is...'

Zhong Shenxiu inwardly muttered, landing atop the Sea Dragon's head as well.

He looked at the creature, then thoughtfully at Huang Longshi.

'This person, using the title Huang Long Great Saint, clearly has his reasons...'

Seeing this, he felt pieces of scales emerging on Huang Longshi's body, with a twisted black shadow resembling both worm and dragon behind him.

'This feeling, walking the path of the unorthodox... and merging the strengths of both the Earth and Ocean lineages...'

Zhong Shenxiu's heart stirred.

Practicing a single unorthodox canon alone could easily lead to being harvested by the source demon.

So, truly inherited unorthodox cultivators often took measures to prevent this, such as practicing two different path texts simultaneously.

For example, this Huang Longshi likely practiced two texts, integrating them, and using the conflicts between two Great Evil Demons of different lineages, maneuvered when weak, and severed ties after becoming a Great Saint.

'And indeed, different lineage demons won't give any courtesy... Those Great Evil Demons are almost half-mad, if not completely insane...'

'Practicing two texts of the same lineage might not offer this convenience, and could lead to being harvested jointly... or... triggering a higher-level existence, like the [Heavenly Elder]?'

Zhong Shenxiu's thoughts came in rapid succession, yet he continued chatting and laughing with Huang Long Great Saint, entering the deep sea.

Huang Long Great Saint didn't know his details were nearly discovered by Mr. Fang, his face full of smiles: "I don't know how many Great Evil Demons are lurking in this Ten Thousand Island Sea Domain, I'm truly out of my depth... Having you here, fellow Daoist, is wonderful."

"I'm thinking of a once-and-for-all method," Zhong Shenxiu said casually.

The two Great Saints exchanged cultivation experiences while observing the surrounding sea surface.

Before long, Huang Long Great Saint was shocked by Zhong Shenxiu's mastery of various texts: 'This person... seems to integrate the strengths of a hundred schools, yet can blend them without going mad; truly talented, it's terrifying...'

...

Amidst hesitations, seven days passed in a flash.

On this day, Zhong Shenxiu was talking eloquently: "When it comes to the speed of advancing cultivation, no text in the world can compare to the [Tai Shi Zhenjing]..."

"The Tai Shi Dao Ancestor's Dao transformation made all the transmitted methods extremely dangerous, but the line between Dao transformation and cultivation progress is actually very thin, like two sides of the same coin. If someone could truly suppress the Dao transformation of the [Tai Shi Zhenjing], it would indeed be the world's first cultivation method, achieving Great Saint in a few years wouldn't be impossible."

Huang Long Great Saint agreed.

'Settled!'

Seeing this, Zhong Shenxiu concluded internally: 'After these days of observation, this Huang Long Great Saint is in poor condition, likely just a step from Dao transformation... and seeing his research on the [Tai Shi Zhenjing], he's surely pondered similar quick methods. Is he preparing to foster a Great Saint to replace himself?'

'And combining recent Great Zhou Dynasty's frantic collection of ocean spiritual items... is there someone preparing to break through the Great Saint's ninth realm, intending to use some dangerous ocean-related methods for a breakthrough?'

On the surface, he remained calm: "I've spotted another island, the tribe there seems to worship the 'Father of the Ocean', I wonder which Great Evil Demon's avatar is that..."

"That, I truly don't know,"

Huang Long Great Saint replied, shaking his head: "Great Evil Demons can accept faith and transmit power... but such native beliefs often contain numerous errors, not forming a system..."

"For instance, terms like Father of the Ocean, Mother of Storms, and other popular terms... even due to different deity images and ritual methods across regions, they point to several different Ocean lineage Great Evils."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded thoughtfully.

Regarding the varied images of Great Evil Demons, hidden beliefs across regions, and religious organizations... it could make for a massive tome, though it wouldn't necessarily clarify everything.

At this time, as the Sea Dragon passed by an island, a lot of indigenous Cannibal Tribe members were conducting a bloody ritual on the cliff.

When they saw the Sea Dragon on the sea and the two people, instead of retreating, they advanced, cheering joyfully and pushing sacrificial offerings from enemy tribes off the cliff.

Trickles of blood flowed out, staining the nearby sea a light red.

Even the Sea Dragon under Huang Long Great Saint's saddle had some difficulty resisting, its tendrils constantly struggling, eager to rush over and enjoy the blood meal.

"This little pet still lacks training, making a spectacle for you, fellow Daoist."

Huang Long Great Saint lightly stamped his foot, the twisted shadow behind him issuing a long cry.

The Sea Dragon immediately calmed down.

"Naturally, I do not blame you, but... as for whether the true master of this place minds, I do not know..."

Zhong Shenxiu gazed at the deep sea and suddenly spoke, saying something that surprised Huang Long Great Saint greatly.

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