"Hahahaha, ah hahahaha!" Wan Jian Xuan Hu threw aside the Fallen Thunder Startling Swan with wild abandon, slowly descending from the air alone. His entire being was completely shrouded in purple smoke, his eyes blood-red; at this moment, he had discarded everything save for the endless surging blood within him.

"City Lord!" Some Black Sword Guards, anxious for his safety, rushed forward to meet Xuan Hu, only to be viciously ensnared and torn to shreds by the purple smoke surrounding him before they could even draw near.

"Don't go near, don't go near!" Zuo Wen Cheng hurriedly called out to the Sword Guards. Though no one knew what was happening, Wan Jian Xuan Hu seemed utterly devoid of consciousness now. "Do not approach the City Lord under any circumstances!"

The Sword Guards raised their blades, watching their Lord in terror, backing away while murmuring among themselves.

The sky reverted to the darkness of night, and the earth-splitting sand and flying stones instantly subsided. Wan Jian Xuan Hu hung his head, panting heavily, but the smoke surrounding him had yet to dissipate. That single purple meridian seemed forcefully etched across his forehead. He suddenly extended his right hand into a claw, and the Fallen Thunder Startling Swan, hundreds of meters away, rushed towards him as if propelled by wings, hovering dutifully behind him. He suddenly launched himself forward, a whirlwind of dust accompanying him, and a streak of purple sword-light flashed twice, instantly vanishing into the Desolate Forest.

"Wooo..." The sound was as piercing as the wind, yet accompanied by a deafening explosion. Looking from afar, entire groves of towering trees within the Desolate Forest collapsed. Before long, the entire Beast Territory had been reduced to ruins.

"Hoo... hah... hoo..." Nearly all living creatures in this world had met death; the only sound audible was the harsh, violent breathing of Wan Jian Xuan Hu. At this moment, many Black Sword Guards were paralyzed, too terrified by the scene to even lift the swords in their hands. Even the usually composed Zuo Wen Cheng knelt on the Gobi, utterly bewildered. How could this be?

"Is this what the Awakening of the Frenzy Meridian looks like? Is this the power of the Emperor Slaying Sky Scar?" Soul-Draining Boy, Jian Hong Chen, watched everything unfold from afar. He knew that the Third City Lord, Wan Jian Qing Lin's, plan had begun, but could such a plan truly suppress Xuan Hu's Frenzy Meridian?

"I fear there will be no match for this man within the Three Sword Realm," a mellow voice broke the silence. Standing on Wan Jian Qing Lin's side, a middle-aged man gripping a saber sighed, "Under Elder Evil's rule, the entire Beast Race was militarized and tyrannical; they are finally tasting the bitter fruit of their actions."

"Oh, you are quite thoughtful, the renowned former Elder of the Beast Race, Saber Frenzy Feng Tian," Jian Hong Chen glanced coldly at the man beside him. "With the warmongering Beast Race severely weakened, will you and your so-called peace-loving brethren not be perfectly positioned to take their place?"

Saber Frenzy Feng Tian smiled gently. "Elder Evil and I disagreed back then; he incited the populace and forced my abdication. I should have foreseen this day. The unification of the Three Sword Realm should not mean one race conquering and dominating another; true peace demands equality among the Four Races."

"This is precisely why the Third City Lord gathered us. You have endured long enough, and now you finally have the chance to absorb the Beast Race and follow the Third City Lord to achieve greatness," Jian Hong Chen chuckled mysteriously, understanding the unspoken truths. "If the Third City Lord succeeds, we shall all be founding heroes."

"Founding heroes? Hmph!" Saber Frenzy Feng Tian shook his head. "Does the foremost swordsman of the Three Sword Realm strive only to be a founding hero? What else does Wan Jian Qing Lin possess that could attract a swordsman of your caliber?"

Jian Hong Chen did not linger in conversation with Feng Tian, turning and speeding away. He certainly knew what he wanted, but he also knew what truly interested him; it seemed this Frenzy Meridian within Wan Jian Xuan Hu was quite fascinating.

"Wan Jian Qing Lin wants to usher in a new era; how will he manage his second elder brother?" Mad Saber Feng Tian sighed, kneeling from afar to pay respects to his kin whose bodies were utterly destroyed. Everyone knew peace was fleeting, but much could be gained under the banner of peace.

...

"What! The Human Race has breached the Desolate Forest, and the Abyss Heavenly One has perished by Wan Jian Xuan Hu's own hand!" Though the Water Tribe Palace Lord was seated firmly on his throne, he appeared exceptionally tense. "I never expected Wan Jian Xuan Hu to strike so quickly. What kind of power could crush the entire Beast Race overnight?"

Ye Xiu gasped upon hearing the news. He hadn't anticipated the power of the Frenzy Meridian to be so immense; if this continued, the Water Tribe here would also be wiped out by Xuan Hu.

"This is an urgent matter. The sealing of the Water God Beast must also be moved up," Lang Tao Tian stated matter-of-factly. "Although the Human Race will attack en masse, the Water God Beast issue cannot be delayed any longer."

"I know that, but my son, have you considered whether the two of you alone—you and General Ye—can succeed?" The Palace Lord's worry was understandable. "Moreover, General Ye is not of the Water Tribe; the problem of infiltrating the Ten Thousand Sea Abyss remains unsolved."

"This..." Lang Tao Tian suddenly realized the issue. The Ten Thousand Sea Abyss was the deepest part of the Azure Mountain Sea; let alone humans, even members of the Water Tribe with insufficient cultivation could not sustain underwater activity for such extended periods.

At this point, a civil official stepped forward to offer advice: "Although General Ye is not of the Water Tribe, if we can obtain the vital essence of a Water Tribe member, or achieve energy sharing, prolonged underwater activity might not be impossible."

"How do we obtain this vital essence?" Ye Xiu was also somewhat eager, as he was still curious about the apparatus on the Water God Beast's back.

"All Water Tribe members possess vital essence, but the essence that can be transferred to another can only come from the Water Tribe Royal Family," the Palace Lord sighed. He had considered this method himself. "And the transfer of this essence can only occur after the essence's owner dies."

"What!" Ye Xiu understood the implication: one of the royal family members had to die for him to gain the Water Tribe's ability to dive.

Lang Tao Tian grew anxious and quickly asked, "That method is unacceptable. Are there any other ways? What exactly is energy sharing?"

The civil official continued bowing. "Energy sharing must be conducted between individuals of the opposite sex, mouth-to-mouth, to infuse the royal family's vital essence into the other's body. This can temporarily grant the recipient the Water Tribe's abilities."

The Water Tribe Palace Lord and Lang Tao Tian immediately turned their gazes towards A Jiao, who stood quietly to the side. Within the entire Water Tribe, only A Jiao met these conditions.

"Share vital essence with this fellow!" A Jiao pointed at herself. "I don't want to, he hates me so much!"

Ye Xiu had been listening with a smile, but he suddenly recalled the first time he met A Jiao, when he had fallen into the water and she had used a kiss to keep him alive.

"It seems this is the only way now. A Jiao, I hope you understand," the Palace Lord nodded, feeling no reluctance whatsoever. His thoughts were quite the opposite; if possible, he wouldn't just allow a kiss, he would gladly marry his daughter off to Ye Xiu.

"A Jiao, don't be willful. For the sake of the entire Water Tribe, a little sacrifice won't hurt. Besides, don't you have feelings for Brother Ye..." Lang Tao Tian felt the plan was feasible, but A Jiao glared him into silence before he could finish.

Ye Xiu was the picture of someone feigning reluctance while benefiting; he walked directly up to A Jiao and said, "Princess, you see the situation; it's not what I desire. You must accompany me to seal the Water God Beast."

"You..." A Jiao hated nothing more than Ye Xiu deliberately provoking her, but her true feelings were the opposite of her words. She was quite happy to accompany Ye Xiu and her brother to seal the Water God Beast, but dealing with Ye Xiu's constant sarcasm was infuriating.

"A Jiao, you are also a princess of the Water Tribe; saving our tribe is your undeniable duty. This matter is settled; we depart tomorrow morning," the Palace Lord commanded. No one dared oppose, and given the current situation, no one would. All that remained was waiting and praying.

"It seems there's no choice. Actually, your kiss wasn't sweet at all!" Ye Xiu teased A Jiao after everyone else had left. "Remember the first time you kissed me? It made me so uncomfortable!"

"Are you looking for a beating? Has your shoulder stopped hurting?" A Jiao's temper flared, and she instinctively bared her sharp, glistening teeth instead of drawing a weapon.

"Stop..." Ye Xiu recoiled as if struck by lightning, immediately bowing and pleading. "My Princess, it's unavoidable. In any case, tomorrow relies on you sharing your vital essence with me."

"Hmph! That depends on how well you treat me. What if I'm unhappy and just leave you to drown in the water!" A Jiao pierced him with her words, looking down her nose at Ye Xiu. "Our Great General Ye, how will you try to please me? Your fate is entirely in my hands."

"Damn!" Ye Xiu quickly racked his brain and understood his precarious position. Infiltrating the Ten Thousand Sea Abyss tomorrow depended entirely on A Jiao infusing him with vital essence. Although it was through a kiss, what if she refused to kiss him? He would lose his oxygen supply and drown. The more he thought about it, the worse it felt, and he looked at A Jiao with genuine distress. "A Jiao, I was truly wrong for provoking you before. Can you forgive me? Whatever you want to do today, I will play along."

"Hahahaha, smart of you to know your place," A Jiao chuckled, crossing her arms. "It's your turn today. Let me think... Today, I want to go fly in the sky again. How about that?"

"Ah, fly again?" Ye Xiu had been exhausted last time and secretly swore he would never take the princess flying like that again.

A Jiao raised an eyebrow in a threatening manner. "Well, General Ye, do you have any reservations? Then tomorrow in the Ten Thousand Sea Abyss, I might have some reservations about you, too."

Ye Xiu could only offer a wry smile. "Reporting to the Princess, your subordinate has nothing to consider. Princess, do as you please; we can play any game you wish."

"Hahahaha, let's fly! Hurry up and spread your wings for me!" A Jiao chirped happily and rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Ye Xiu. "Take off quickly!"

"Sigh..." Ye Xiu let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head as he reluctantly unfurled his wings and began flapping them slowly toward the sky.

"Faster, higher!" A Jiao was like a child who had just scored a point, directing Ye Xiu while looking at him triumphantly.

"Alright, alright!" Ye Xiu held A Jiao tightly, trying to muster some energy, and flew a little higher. However, since it wasn't his own will, his flight was uneven, drawing dissatisfaction from A Jiao, who promptly bit down on his shoulder.

"Ouch!"

At this very moment, such a scream echoed across the skies of the Water Tribe. The more tragic the cry, the sweeter it tasted to A Jiao. If hitting signifies affection and scolding signifies love, what level of intimacy could biting represent?

...

The battle at the bottom of the Cold Heaven Valley had entirely concluded; the Human Archers had been annihilated by the Winged Race. However, having lost their leader, the Abyss Heavenly One, there was no one left in the Winged Race to unify command.

"Have the Winged Folk considered avenging the Abyss Heavenly One?" In the Winged Tribe Palace of Cold Heaven Valley, a figure in black slowly descended; the attire clearly marked him as a subordinate of Wan Jian Qing Lin.

"Who are you!" They immediately blocked his path. Although Yi Tian Nan was crippled, his words still carried weight. "We can settle the Winged Tribe's grudges ourselves. We don't need an outsider playing the mourner here. By your appearance, you are a Human, aren't you?"

"What!" Hearing this, everyone displayed their wings, ready to kill the person before them.

"Everyone, calm down. Not all Humans obey Wan Jian Xuan Hu. That Three Sword Execution Order was clearly a mistake!" The man in black showed no intention of fighting. He continued, "Wan Jian Xuan Hu clearly murdered his own elder brother, Wan Jian Cang Long, to usurp the City Lord position and has become the public enemy of the Three Swords. My Lord seeks only to use the combined strength of the Four Races to eliminate Wan Jian Xuan Hu and usher in true peace for the Three Swords."

"Everyone stand down!" Yi Tian Nan signaled his people to retreat, demanding sternly, "If what you say is true, who is your Lord?"

"My Lord is the former Third City Lord of Wan Jian City, Wan Jian Qing Lin." The man in black's voice was forceful, unafraid of their reactions.

"Third City Lord Wan Jian Qing Lin? Isn't he Xuan Hu's brother? How could he bear to destroy his own elder brother?" Yi Tian Nan felt doubt, yet this could also be Xuan Hu's scheme to completely purge the Winged Tribe.

"Wan Jian Xuan Hu is the enemy of the Three Sword Realm; how could Qing Lin possibly call him brother?" At this moment, a gentle breeze swept through, and Wan Jian Qing Lin slowly strode from outside the hall, stepping before Yi Tian Nan. He bent low and spoke, "Even among us Humans, there are those who disapprove of Wan Jian Xuan Hu's actions. Qing Lin is merely seeking the assistance of the Four Races to establish a Three Sword Realm free of racial discrimination and conflict, a truly equal domain. I implore my Winged Tribe friends and brothers to grant their support."

"This..." Yi Tian Nan found it difficult to accept immediately, and the surrounding Beast Race members began to discuss amongst themselves. Since Wan Jian Cang Long issued the decree ten years ago that demeaned the status of the other three tribes, no Human had offered brotherhood to the Winged Folk. Yet, here stood the prestigious Third City Lord, humbling himself and bowing before them all, demonstrating his profound humility and his vision for a genuinely equal world. "I understand, Third City Lord. Perhaps this is the only path forward for the Winged Tribe."

Qing Lin nodded, looking at the proud Winged Folk, his ambition finally ready to be realized.

Azure Sea, Boundless Sky, vast expanse. The entrance to the Water Tribe Palace, submerged in the sea, was filled with those who had come to bid farewell to Lang Tao Tian, A Jiao, and Ye Xiu.

"Father, there is no need for more words. Your son is determined to re-seal the Water God Beast," Lang Tao Tian bowed to everyone, his long spear resting on his back.

The Palace Lord nodded, deeply comforted. He then looked towards A Jiao and Ye Xiu beside him. "General Ye, A Jiao, I entrust Ye Xiu to your care."

Ye Xiu raised his sword, brimming with confidence. "Please rest assured, Your Highness. This subordinate will certainly look after Princess Yun Jiao."

"Tch! We’ll see who takes care of whom in the end! Father, rest assured, I will complete the mission," A Jiao slapped Ye Xiu’s shoulder, more excited than anyone else.

At this moment, the sound of the surrounding sea's roar suddenly echoed—it was the Water Tribe populace spontaneously beating gongs and drums to send off their heroes.

"Let's go, Brother Ye," Lang Tao Tian did not hesitate. He steadied himself and plunged directly into the deep sea. Something resembling fish scales emerged on his previously smooth body, and it was due to these scales that his swimming speed became astonishing.

"Let's go too!" A Jiao couldn't resist leaping down, but Ye Xiu firmly pulled her back. "What are you doing!"

"No, I mean, this..." Ye Xiu felt awkward explaining, merely pointing a finger at his mouth. "If you don't infuse me with vital essence, I'll sink the moment I enter the water!"

"You..." A Jiao finally remembered the method of energy sharing. She looked around with slight exasperation, steeled herself, and leaned her lips toward Ye Xiu's mouth, blowing a gentle breath into him.

"Got it!" Ye Xiu grinned triumphantly, surprised that even A Jiao's kiss could be so sweet. In his excitement, he leaped into the sea and, supported by that tiny bit of vital essence, could swim freely in the depths.

"Hey! This vital essence infusion only lasts for half an hour each time!" A Jiao tried to remind Ye Xiu, but it was too late. With no other choice, she gracefully dove into the water to catch up with Ye Xiu and Lang Tao Tian.

The water of the Azure Mountain Sea was inherently colder than normal seawater. Their task was not simple swimming but endless diving downward. Before long, the sunlight could no longer penetrate the depths below.

"Damn, I came down without even a flashlight," Ye Xiu could barely make out Lang Tao Tian's silhouette ahead, and the faint light made him worry. "Wait for me! If we keep swimming like this, we won't even see the Water God Beast when we reach it."

"What's the rush!" A Jiao had already caught up. Her legs had completely transformed into a pair of enchanting mermaid tails; combined with her exquisite beauty, she was a perfect mermaid. "Our Water Tribe scales can emit light."

Ye Xiu was startled, and just then, two beams of light—one from ahead and one from behind—encircled him. He looked closely and saw the radiance indeed coming from Lang Tao Tian and A Jiao's bodies. "But this isn't right; you two will be too easily exposed like this. The Water God Beast will surely attack you first."

"The Water God Beast hasn't fully woken up. Our task is only to secure the Sea-Calming Divine Needle," Lang Tao Tian seemed exceptionally clear-headed about the situation. "Once we secure the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, we won't need a direct confrontation with the Water God Beast."

"In that case..." Ye Xiu swam while contemplating. Based on his guess, the Sea-Calming Divine Needle was most likely the Water Tribe's Roaring Wave Sword. If the goal was only to secure it, how would he obtain the sword himself? The only way to achieve both goals was to kill the Water God Beast.

"Hurry up! Why are you hesitating?" A Jiao was impatient with Ye Xiu's slow pace. With a graceful sweep, she passed him and caught up to Lang Tao Tian with another flick of her tail.

Ye Xiu didn't pay attention to anything else, merely lowering his body silently, reaching out to firmly grip the Heng Chen at his waist. No matter what, he had to obtain the Roaring Wave Sword. Just then, he felt a rush of energy erupting within him; it seemed he was about to run out of breath. "What's happening? I'm drowning!"

"Ah, A Jiao, quickly!" Lang Tao Tian heard the commotion and hastily turned back to call A Jiao. "Has the half-hour passed? Go and share vital essence with Brother Ye!"

"Ugh, such a hassle!" A Jiao showed dissatisfaction, flipped around, and swam back, winding herself around Ye Xiu's side, saying irritably, "Taking you along is a real burden; you're always close to death!"

Ye Xiu was frantic. Seeing A Jiao arrive was like seeing a lifeline. He pulled A Jiao into his embrace without thinking, then kissed her directly, making A Jiao blush deeply.

"Ah, ah! It's a good thing you came; otherwise, I would have died," Ye Xiu caught his breath, complaining endlessly. "This shared vital essence is a scam; it lasts for such a short time."

"Hmph!" Having been forcefully kissed, A Jiao didn't know if she was shy or angry; she tapped Ye Xiu once and then swam back to the front.

Lang Tao Tian watched the pair and couldn't help but laugh. "The shared vital essence only lasts for half an hour, Brother Ye, take note."

Half a shichen is equivalent to an hour, how is it that we’ve been swimming for so long and haven’t seen anything but seaweed, not even a glimpse of the Water God Beast?” Ye Xiu was equally baffled. “I really wonder what kind of monster the Water God Beast is. Could it be a dragon?”

“A dragon? Ha.” Lang Taotian offered an explanation. “The Ten Thousand Sea Abyss simply cannot sustain other aquatic life. Nothing but the Water God Beast can survive here. According to ancient texts, the Water God Beast should be a colossal Black Tortoise.”

“A giant turtle!” Ye Xiu nodded, recalling the Black Tortoise, one of the Four Divine Beasts, never imagining such a creature truly existed.

“Big Brother, look quickly! There’s a current ahead.” A Jiao exclaimed, interrupting their conversation. Within the Ten Thousand Sea Abyss, a distinct stream of bubbles was clearly flowing, moving so rapidly that it had evidently formed an upward current.

“If I’m not mistaken, the Water God Beast is below us,” Lang Taotian murmured softly while drawing the long spear from his back. “Can you hear a steady sound? This must be the breathing of the Water God Beast.”

Ye Xiu drew a deep, long breath and listened intently, feeling a remarkably rhythmic flow of water passing by his ear—not too long, not too short, neither high nor low, just enough to influence the surrounding seawater into subtle fluctuations.

“That’s it!” A Jiao’s eyesight was the sharpest. From a great distance, she pointed directly at what lay before them. Enveloped by the pitch-black seawater, an enormous shadow appeared precisely within the sea pit.