Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 51 Niuzhu Demon Palace
Jiang Xingzhou and Lu Ming entered the water, their bodies enveloped by large bubbles formed by the [Water Repelling] technique. Holding their swords, they sank into the depths of the thousand-foot-deep icy pool.

Jiang Xingzhou dived to the bottom of the icy pool, a spiritual pearl adorning the tassel of his sword illuminating the ten-zhang-deep blue water.

The aura of the Water-Avoiding Technique struck the sunken ship, and he couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

But see,

In the center of the icy pool, a massive, hundred-foot-tall sunken ship, a demon's abode, tilted and exuding a ghostly blue aura, lay covered in seaweed and scallops.

A group of silver-scaled fish and shrimp scurried around in panic.

"Could they be hiding in the cabins of this sunken ship's demonic abode?"

Jiang Xingzhou entered the boat to search.

The black-skinned fish demon had already been hit by his Xuanbing Arrow, and black blood was flowing from the wound, spreading throughout the sunken ship.

Passing through the ship's side,
With a flick of his sword, the dilapidated hatch burst open, spilling out sparks of light—several luminous pearls rolled down, their brilliance dazzling.

There were actually some treasures inside the sunken ship's demon palace.

Several luminous pearls!
A pair of giant clam shells!
More than a dozen large scallops, slightly open and closed, reveal the lustrous pearls inside!
There were also some snail shells with iridescent halos flowing around their inner walls; those were the "water coins" circulating in the water demon clan's market.

"These two fish demons certainly know how to make money!"

Jiang Xingzhou laughed, rolled up his sleeves, and casually stuffed the luminous pearl and the water coin into his pocket.

"This little bit of wealth, a few luminous pearls, probably wouldn't even fill a stall in the water demon clan's market!"

Lu Ming shook his head and sneered.

"Tsk~!"

"die!"

The black-skinned fish demon, with its dark green eyes and gaping teeth, suddenly leaped out of the cabin. Its black scales exploded in layers with its roar as it stole a pitch-black iron harpoon and launched a sneak attack.

"[thunder]!"

Jiang Xingzhou had already noticed a trace of crimson blood drifting out of the cabin. He gave a light shout and raised his hand to unleash a [Thunder] incantation, blasting it towards the blood.

The "Thunder" technique, a literary art, is not very effective for scholars.

Scholars' robes are specially made, and most of them can ward off water and fire. The high-ranking robes of scholars and those who passed the imperial examinations can even ward off wind and thunder, greatly reducing their power.

but,

For low-ranking demons, who have no robes or armor and are purely demonic, lightning runes are undoubtedly a very useful technique.

moment,

Lightning illuminated the cabin.

"Boom~!"

The black-skinned fish demon was struck by the lightning, its whole body convulsing as if struck by lightning, stiff and unable to move.

Jiang Xingzhou spun around and slashed, creating a vortex, and his sword precisely pierced the three-inch life-threatening scale in the gill crevices of the black-skinned fish demon.

moment,

A stream of demonic blood gushed forth, condensing into countless crimson beads in the water!

Kill instantly with one move!

The black-skinned fish demon, its throat severed, stared wide-eyed in disbelief as it sank to the bottom of the boat.

"Was he instantly killed?"

"How could a mere student be so terrifying?"

The long-bearded fish monster hiding behind the ship looked terrified, immediately smashed the ship's window, and fled into the distant undercurrent.

"Brother Lu, take the black-skinned fish demon up there."

I'm going to chase after the long-whiskered fish demon!

Jiang Xingzhou said, pushing off the deck of the sunken ship in the water, his body moving like a swimming fish, and quickly chasing after the long-bearded fish monster.

"Wow~!"

Lu Ming burst out of the water.

He was dragging a black-skinned fish demon corpse that was over ten feet long in his hand. The life scale at its throat had been cut open with a sword, and he casually tossed it ashore.

Where is Jiang Xingzhou?

Instructor Zheng suddenly stood up by the pool and asked.

"The long-bearded fish monster fled into the undercurrent, and he went after it!"

Lu Ming turned around but did not see Jiang Xingzhou. He couldn't help but say something.

"Your Excellency! That long-bearded fish monster is actually a catfish demon, quite cunning! Is Brother Jiang in danger?" Gu Zhimian asked worriedly.

"No need to worry, it's just a monstrous fish that spits out water. Such a huge fish can't fit in one pot!"
Two pots, please!

Han Yugui chuckled and kicked the black-skinned fish demon, "That long-bearded fish monster is definitely no match for Brother Jiang!"

"This fish demon is only at the level of a demon, no match for Jiang Xingzhou, so I'm not worried!"
But this thousand-foot-deep icy pool has a secret passage that connects to the great river outside Jiangyin County. The water demons in that river possess demon soldiers and even demon generals, making them formidable opponents.

Zheng Shuqian frowned, his expression somewhat grave.

The demons of the great river near Jiangyin County, fearing the power of the human race, dare not kill people indiscriminately.

After all, those powerful demons who dared to act recklessly and commit massacres had long been slaughtered without exception by the scholars and academicians of Jiangzhou Prefecture.

But venturing into the Yangtze River is ultimately a highly dangerous undertaking.

"Let's go into the water and find him!"

Upon hearing this, the students' expressions changed.

They all dived into the pool to search for Jiang Xingzhou's whereabouts.

But there was still no trace of Jiang Xingzhou.

"Brother Jiang, there's no trace of him in the cold pool. Could he have chased him into the great river?"

"What should we do?"

The students were getting anxious.

"Since he's not in the cold pool, he must have gone to the great river through the secret passage. Let's go to the great river to find him!"

Zheng Shuqian decisively led the group of students to Dajiang in Jiangyin County.

However, with the vast expanse of misty waters outside Jiangyin County, it was unclear where to begin searching for him.

The long-bearded fish demon fled swiftly, not engaging Jiang Xingzhou in battle. Using the underwater currents and hidden passages, it escaped the cold pool and entered the great river, focusing solely on its desperate escape.

It was not only afraid of the boats on the river, but also of the many scholars and dozens of students on the shore.

It is merely a demon, and is certainly no match for it.

This icy pool demon's abode is no longer safe. The only chance of survival is to flee into the great river and escape to Lady Qingyao's Niuzhu Palace!

As a water sprite, it naturally moves with lightning speed in the water.

"[fish]!"

"[Yi Yan]!"

Jiang Xingzhou's finger gestures changed like blooming lotus flowers, closely following the long-bearded fish demon, eventually transforming into two "koi" tails that were linked together.

An hour later.

In one section of the river, the water became extremely turbulent, with rugged reefs and surging eddies everywhere.

"Niuzhuji?"

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly stopped, his expression wary.

He had never been to this place, but he had read a lot of related records in the "Jiangyin County Annals".

Niuzhuji is the most turbulent part of the Yangtze River outside Jiangyin County, with unfathomable depth!
Large ships often run aground and capsize here, causing boatmen to turn pale at the mere mention of it, and merchants and travelers dare not pass through this area.

These are all secondary.

Most importantly, beneath Niuzhu Rock lies Niuzhu Palace—the most famous demon palace of the aquatic tribes within a thousand miles of Jiangyin County, and its master is Lady Qingyao, the demon general.

This great demon has no evil deeds, and the fact that it has survived to this day outside Jiangyin County, right under the nose of the Hanlin Academy scholar, shows that it is naturally very capable.

Nine pillars stand amidst the turbulent currents of Niuzhuji, marking the entrance to the palace.

Many demons from the surrounding area come and go in this Niuzhu Palace, listening to the sermons of senior high-ranking demons or trading for the things that demons need.

The essay he wrote during the county examination, titled "Jiangyin County Gazetteer, Chapter on Strange Tales and Monsters, Part 1: The Iron-Chained Alligator Dragon":
In the summer of the third year of the Tian Shou era, the river tide surged, and a crocodile-dragon carrying an iron ox that guarded the sea entered Jiangyin. Its shape was like an overturned boat, its eyes were red like lanterns, and its back had thirteen reverse scales, with tadpole-like patterns carved on the scales.

Magistrate Pei Shoucheng locked up the alligator dragon and led a hundred scholars to recite the "Tribute of Yu" for three days.

When the tide receded, nine bronze pillars were revealed, but their chains were broken and their whereabouts unknown.

Later, a broken stele was unearthed at Junshan, inscribed with the words: "The legacy of the previous dynasty, the alligator guards the East Sea." It is now preserved in the east wing of the Confucian Temple.
These so-called nine bronze pillars are the nine coiled pillars at the entrance of Niuzhu Palace.

Back then, Magistrate Pei Shoucheng led the people of Jiangyin County to suppress the great crocodile demon in the Niuzhuji area.

"Could that long-bearded fish monster have fled to Niuzhu Palace seeking Lady Qingyao's protection?"

Jiang Xingzhou's secret passage.

(End of this chapter)