When I become a demon king, I want to change my department to the Taoist sect.

Chapter 899 Wine Abyss
"Young friend, please drink this cup to the brim first, and then I will tell you in detail about the merfolk of the Demon Abyss." The old merfolk raised the wine cup with his withered right hand, which trembled as he looked at Zhou Qingyun. "This wine is a specialty of the merfolk. It requires our clan's young girls to float to the surface of the sea at the turn of the moon to collect the moon's essence and dew, and then return to the deep sea to place it in the abyss. It is also made with the aurora of the Illusionary Sea as the yeast."

"The wine takes shape after a hundred years of initial processing, and becomes a treasure after a thousand years. Its color resembles the deep sea, with starlight-like specks within. It is completely different from the wines of the Kyushu land, and has a unique flavor. Young friend, you should savor it carefully."

Zhou Qingyun looked down and saw that the wine was not still, but flowing slightly. Countless tiny moon-white light spots were suspended in the azure glass, like reflected stars. When gently shaken, it was even more dazzling.

She raised her glass and took a sip. The first taste was exquisitely refreshing and sweet, like a spring of pure ice. The aftertaste was slightly salty, like drinking from the ocean, making her feel broad-minded and expansive.

When the afterglow returned, it transformed into a gentle warmth that settled in the dantian, like the bright moon sinking into the sea, even nourishing the soul.

"The elder's words are true, this wine is indeed extraordinary!" After savoring it carefully, Zhou Qingyun praised.

The old merman looked smug and coughed lightly, saying, "I have been fond of this wine since I was a young man, and it has been more than seven thousand years now. I suppose you distinguished guests have also noticed that my lifespan is coming to an end and I don't have much time left. Now, this frail body can only feel a bit of life when I drink this wine."

After saying this long speech, he seemed a little short of breath, and after catching his breath a few times, he continued, "Putting aside my old hobby, do you all know that this wine is closely related to the survival of my Yu Youyuan tribe!"

The group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with inquiry.

The old merman looked intently at Zhou Qingyun and the other two, and asked, "Distinguished guests, what do you think of the current state of our race?"

“It’s prosperous and bustling, no less than the cities of the East China Sea,” Zhou Qingyun said slowly. “And it’s beautiful.”

"It is beautiful, but it is like cooking oil over a raging fire and embellishing flowers with brocade. The price required to maintain this scene is enormous. Our clan was granted this place millions of years ago, and it took hundreds of thousands of years to develop this abyss into a place for our tribe to live, which we named Yu Youyuan."

"Although this abyss cannot compare with the many blessed lands under the jurisdiction of the Dragon Clan, it is still a land of abundant resources, enough to support more than ten shell farms. It is because of this that our clan has been able to ensure the continuity of its lineage."

"However, the rapid development over the past thousand years has drained our clan. The mines are nearly depleted, and the shell farms are unsustainable. Even if we were to return to the era when the Daoist sect did not help us, Yu Youyuan would not be able to support my people. Not to mention, after experiencing all these changes, who would want to go back to the past and live such a primitive life?" the old merman said in a low voice.

"Fortunately, we mermaids still have two hands to rely on. Waterweed and Moon Abyss Brew have become the last pillar of our people."

He paused and continued, "Especially this Moon Abyss Brew, which is a specialty that only Yu Youyuan has. It may not be popular, but it sells very well. Every year, the entire production is bought up by Duobao Pavilion and the Upper Sect."

"That's why if the income from Moon Abyss Brewing is cut off, this city that relies on it will immediately collapse."

Zhou Qingyun seemed to understand the old merman's unspoken meaning and asked, "Elder, you've said so much, could it be that the mission is related to this wine?"

The old merman sighed and nodded: "The merman from the Demon Abyss appeared in the wine abyss where wine is brewed, and seized the lifeline of our race!"

After another explanation, Zhou Qingyun and the others finally understood the origin and destination of the mission.

A month ago, it was supposed to be the day when the wine was harvested from the Wine Abyss, but the clansmen who were supposed to transport the wine were nowhere to be seen. The old merman sent a team to check, but they also got trapped. Only one person escaped and returned, claiming that he had encountered mermen who were completely different from himself in the Wine Abyss.

The old merman went to investigate again and finally recognized the identity of the Demon Abyss merman. However, his blood energy had weakened and he was no longer able to fight, so he issued a mission to the Three Immortal Islands. To this day, the Wine Abyss has completely lost contact, and there are even thousands of mermen trapped inside.

"So the elders don't know much about the details either, right?"

"I once fought the leader of the Demon Abyss Merfolk. He was only at the Golden Core stage, but his blood and energy were at their peak, which is why he was able to defeat me." As he spoke, he lifted his sleeve, revealing his arm, which still bore scars. "This was caused by demonic energy entering his body, and it is difficult to remove it completely in a short time." "However, as you said, young friend, I did not get to see the whole picture before I hurriedly fled from the Wine Abyss. I don't know if it was just a few Demon Abyss Merfolk who strayed into this place, or if there was some other conspiracy."

The old merman made no attempt to conceal his defeat and openly recounted his loss.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Qingyun said, "To be on the safe side, let's go and investigate again. If the enemy's strength is too great, we will ask the sect for help."

As she spoke, Shen Zhimei secretly watched the old merman's expression, but the man said with a delighted look, "If there is any more assistance, that would be even better."

However, there appeared to be nothing unusual.

"By the way," Zhou Qingyun asked casually, "I remember that our Zhou family also has several shell farms here. Did the elders ask them for help?"

"This matter is of great importance, and I have naturally informed you." The old man seemed completely unaware of the situation. "However, the Zhou family is a noble immortal clan, and they are busy with countless affairs. This place is just a small business. Even if the nobles find out, they probably won't pay too much attention to it immediately."

Zhou Qingyun nodded and didn't press the matter further. This old fellow was tight-lipped, and it was unlikely that she could get anything out of him. In that case, she would go directly to Jiuyuan to investigate and find out what kind of conspiracy was going on there.

In another abyss, nearly ten thousand miles from the Mermaid City.

“This Zhou Qingyun is a true disciple of your sect. How dare you plot against her behind the scenes? That lord is at the height of his power. This Three Immortal Islands is far from being your Zhou family’s domain.” Cui Qingchuan asked with a slight smile, “Your Zhou family has only been established for a thousand years. Your foundation is still too shallow. It is still too difficult to turn a sect into a clan.”

"Our sect leader has the world at heart and plans for all realms. How could he possibly care about a mere junior disciple from humble origins?" Zhou Leng replied expressionlessly. "As for my clan, there's no need for you to worry about it. My two ancestors were like the rising sun, and the Zhou family will naturally continue for generations. On the contrary, you are just withered bones in your tombs, having exhausted the legacy of your predecessors. Whether you can survive the great calamity to come is still uncertain."

Cui Qingchuan did not refute it. True Monarch Zhou Ju of Jade Jade was already standing at the top of the Earthly Immortal Realm, and Venerable Zhou Yao of Jade Flower was also recognized by everyone as an existence who could see through illusions and achieve the Immortal Throne.

At that time, the Zhou family will have two Yuan Shen members, making them extremely powerful and in no way inferior to other long-established and prestigious families. The Zhou family certainly has the right to be proud.

“Since that’s the case, I won’t say anything more,” Cui Qingchuan said. “Just remember, after this is done, the fortune of this woman in the [Dust and Tribulations] will be split 50/50 between our two families.”

Zhou Leng's eyebrows twitched. If it were up to him, he would naturally want to monopolize that fortune, but what the ancestor said also made sense. If a true disciple had an accident while on a mission, no matter how much the family tried to make arrangements, the sect would still come to investigate. So at the very least, he had to exclude himself from the situation on the surface so that the family could cover for him.

Therefore, bringing in the Cui family was a last resort.

The rule of the Three Immortal Islands has always been that, as long as there is no bullying of the weak, life and death are irrelevant among peers.

If Zhou Qingyun's death was too clean, or if she died at the hands of demons, the sect would definitely pursue the matter and investigate thoroughly, even seeking revenge for her.

Only in a fair contest, when one's skills are inferior, can one stop dwelling on the matter.

Previously, a disciple from the Three Immortals Island was defeated in a battle with a disciple of the Taiqing Sect, resulting in his death and the dissipation of his cultivation. The sect made no statement about it.

Although the various sects of Taoism are now nominally allied, they do not prohibit their disciples from fighting each other.

The reason the Zhou family wanted to drag the Cui family into this mess was to repeat the old ways.