247: Chapter 247 In-depth conversation with a highly respected senior!

Just a few days after the three-party alliance, before the beast tide had assembled.

Deep in the western region of the Evil Water Marsh.

Beneath a low, moss-covered hill, there was a hidden underground river.

The current was gentle and shallow, not even reaching knee-depth. Sparse fluorescent moss grew along the walls, barely illuminating the surroundings.

Wanxiang was composed, lying on a flat stone in the dark river, waiting for someone.

He did not wait long.

A subtle ripple surged beneath the water's surface, and immediately after, a white bear, its size reduced several times over, emerged quietly from the entrance of the underground river.

"Senior, you have waited a long time."

Shi Jian spoke up, addressing him as Senior, which was a sign of respect.

Wanxiang's old Face was covered in wrinkles, and he managed to squeeze out an expression that could be called a smile, his attitude gentle.

It was much kinder than when he dealt with the Poison Flood Dragon King.

In comparison, Wanxiang clearly favored this Junior, Shi Jian.

"You came quite quickly."

"Since you sent the message to my doorstep, it would not be right for this Junior not to come."

Shi Jian shook the water off his body and found a stone by the underground river to lie down on.

The two Yao Beasts soaked in the underground river just like that, with several zhang of rock overhead and the faint green light of the fluorescent moss all around.

The place was well chosen.

Remote, hidden; the Poison Flood Dragon King's spies could not reach here.

Wanxiang taking the initiative to meet with Shi Jian in itself spoke volumes.

"Let this old man say one thing first."

Wanxiang's voice was old and hoarse, his speaking speed extremely slow. "Seven days ago, the Poison Flood Dragon King called this old man and the Bee Queen to the Dragon Binding Abyss."

"He intends to launch a beast tide, attacking from three directions, to drive you all out of the Northern Region."

Upon hearing this, Shi Jian appeared exceptionally calm, showing no signs of surprise.

It was expected; it was only a matter of time.

"And you agreed?"

"I agreed."

Wanxiang answered frankly, without concealment: "If I did not agree, the Poison Flood Dragon King would have swallowed this old man next. That Dragon's temper has always been overbearing."

"The Dragon Clan considers itself the master of all water beasts; how would it ever look down upon us small Yao?"

"This world is very, very large—so large that it is boundless and endless, so large that the entire Xuanling Continent is but a small island in this Boundless Sea."

"Yet this world is also very, very small—so small that for us Golden Core small Yao, there is not even a chance to breathe and survive."

"Everything this old man does is not for one thing, but for survival!"

"To live steadily with my clan."

Shi Jian did not speak, waiting for him to continue.

Wanxiang was silent for a while; only the sound of the flowing water could be heard in the underground river.

"Little friend, this old man has lived for eight hundred years."

"In these eight hundred years, this old man has seen far, far too many things."

"Three hundred years ago, there was a Fox Yao clan on the outskirts of the Evil Water Marsh, operating for a hundred generations, finally producing a Golden Core. And the result?"

"A Human Race Golden Core Cultivator came, wiped out the whole nest and the cubs, and took away the Spiritual Vein and territory. That Golden Core Fox Yao fought to the death, only to be skinned alive in the end and refined into a Magic Treasure."

"Five hundred years ago, the Dragon Python Clan in the south clashed with the Human Race Cultivators on the border of the Liang Kingdom. The previous generation's Poison Flood Dragon King fought personally, won, and held that water territory."

"What happened half a year later? The Liang Kingdom sent a Nascent Soul True Monarch, and the previous generation's Poison Flood Dragon King did not even have a chance to run; he was suppressed and killed on the spot."

Wanxiang slowly turned his head, his turbid old eyes reflecting Shi Jian's outline.

"In this life, this old man has watched too many of his own kind die at the hands of the Human Race."

"I have also watched too many of my own kind kill each other, slaughtering one another for a Spiritual Vein or a piece of water territory, a scattered mess..."

"So, this old man has a question..."

"You, Shi Jian, what exactly do you want to do?"

"You are mixed up with the Human Race. Are you genuinely cooperating with them, or are you using them? This old man has not sensed any Restriction binding you, and your Bloodline and Aptitude are the only ones this old man has ever seen in his life..."

"This old man is truly curious, what exactly do you want to do?"

"You subdued the Golden Crocodile and incorporated the Crocodile Beast Five Branches into your system. You built Fengshui Lake and designated a no-hunting zone. My spies have been watching you for years."

"What you have done is different from any Yao Beast this old man has ever seen."

Shi Jian lay on the stone, his front paws crossed, resting his chin on the back of his paws.

"Does the old gentleman want to hear the truth?"

"I would like to hear the details."

"Utilization. It is all utilization."

Shi Jian said straightforwardly: "Using the resources of the Human Race to raise my Yao Race. Using the framework and order of the Human Race to secure a territory for the Yao Race where we can survive and continue to grow strong."

"But utilization is just utilization."

Shi Jian raised his head, purple-gold lightning flashing deep in his pupils:

"Those people at White Cloud Temple, some have been cooperating with me for over two hundred years. They do not owe me, and I do not owe them."

"Everyone takes what they need, and we live in peace."

"Whether you call this utilization or cooperation, what difference does it make?"

Wanxiang stared at him for a long time.

Eight hundred years of experience gave this old tortoise's eyes a sense of vicissitudes, having seen life, death, rise, and fall.

In his long life, he had seen the rise and fall of countless Yao Beasts, and the rise and fall of countless Human Races.

He did not survive eight hundred years by strength alone.

It was because he could see clearly.

"That Fengshui Lake of yours..."

Wanxiang smacked his lips: "Can you let this old man see the situation there?"

"If you want to see it, you can. You are welcome anytime."

Shi Jian did not care: "However, there is one condition: after you see it, you must make a choice."

"What choice?"

"The Poison Flood Dragon King intends to launch a beast tide; how much effort do you intend to put in?"

The underground river was quiet again.

The sound of the water echoed back and forth between the cave walls, ethereal like the striking of a chime.

After thinking for a moment, Wanxiang gave his answer: "This old man must send troops. This is to show my stance and also to preserve my clan."

"But when the Turtle clan troops arrive at the battlefield, we can put on a show, go through the motions, and we will not truly charge toward your side..."

"After all, this old man is just trying to find a way to survive."

Shi Jian's mouth curled up slightly.

"Additionally."

Wanxiang added another sentence: "The Poison Flood Dragon King intends to make a move in half a month, with three routes attacking the south, west, and east simultaneously."

"The Bee Queen's insect tide will take the east route, the Dragon Python Clan will take the south route as the main attack, and my Turtle clan will take the west route..."

"The west route will be a feint. You can rest assured."

"This old man will not play dirty behind your back. But the facade must be maintained; otherwise, if the Poison Flood Dragon King becomes suspicious, these old bones of mine cannot withstand the trouble."

Shi Jian nodded.

"Fine, as long as you, Senior, have your own plans, that is good. The west route is left to you, but there is one thing I must say first..."

"After the battle, I can leave a piece of territory for your Turtle clan. When the order of the Evil Water Marsh is re-established in the future, your Azure Wave Turtle clan will certainly have a place."

Hearing this, Wanxiang blinked.

"You are quite generous."

"Five hundred years ago, when the previous Golden Core of the Crocodile Beasts died in battle, did you not also protect the Golden Crocodile who had not yet appeared?"

Wanxiang's old eyes narrowed slightly; not many Yao knew about this.

When the previous Golden Core Old Ancestor of the Crocodile Beast clan fell, it was he who secretly intervened to transfer the nest of young eggs where the Golden Crocodile was to a safe place; otherwise, the Bloodline of the Crocodile Beast clan would have long since been severed.

How else would there be the birth of the Golden Crocodile today?

"You even found out about this."

Shi Jian smiled: "A Senior who is unwilling to see his own kind perish—since you are willing to lend a helping hand, I am also willing to give you a hand."

Wanxiang stopped speaking. Eight hundred years.

His shell was covered in moss, and his back armor had been worn pitted by the years, but the something deep in his heart had never been worn away.

The Yao Race was one of the most powerful races in this world!

If this place were not too barren, with no great Yao looking at it, how could they, the Yao Beasts, have lived so miserably...

In his heart, Wanxiang had always had the ambition to reorganize the Yao Race of the Xuanling Continent.

And Shi Jian had shown him that glimmer of possibility!