Chapter 458: Chapter 456: Hei Yuan Zun Zhe Makes a Move
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**
"Lead me to Ten Thousand Snake Island?"
Hearing the woman's words, Mo Yu was momentarily stunned. He quickly realized something and his expression darkened.
The plan to head to Ten Thousand Snake Island was something he had only shared with a few trusted individuals. Even when speaking with the auction house attendant earlier, he merely inquired about information on the island.
Yet, the woman before him, whom he was meeting for the first time, was absolutely certain about his destination. This was undoubtedly bizarre.
Recalling the strange sensation of being probed during his earlier interaction with the woman, Mo Yu was suddenly alarmed.
Could this woman possibly possess some method to eavesdrop on thoughts?
Noticing the gloom on Mo Yu's face, Shui Muxue, the woman in question, bit her lip lightly. A trace of guilt appeared on her stunningly beautiful face.
She was fully aware of her peculiar condition and knew she had crossed a line that people across the continent feared and abhorred.
Looking into the displeased face of the young man before her, she offered a remorseful explanation.
"My sincerest apologies. I possess the Holy Sacred Water Body, a constitution of innate purity. This body is not only highly attuned to water elements but also capable of perceiving fragments of thoughts from those I come into contact with, through their blood.
During our brief physical contact earlier, I unintentionally gleaned some of your thoughts. However, please rest assured that due to my limited strength and the brief nature of our contact, I only discerned your immediate destination—Ten Thousand Snake Island."
"The Holy Sacred Water Body…" Hearing this, Mo Yu's eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured.
He had heard of this constitution before. It was an unparalleled attribute for cultivating water-element Dou Qi. In terms of rarity, it was comparable to the Woeful Poison Body for poison elements.
However, unlike the Woeful Poison Body, which came with numerous drawbacks, the Holy Sacred Water Body lacked such disadvantages. With proper cultivation, it was almost guaranteed that the individual could ascend to the level of a Dou Zun.
It seemed the Yuan Clan had refrained from breaking off their engagement not only to annex the Shui Clan but also due to their interest in Shui Muxue's constitution.
"The Shui Clan is already a shadow of its former glory, far from its heyday as one of the Five Major Clans. I can go to Ten Thousand Snake Island on my own. Why would I need your help?"
Realizing that Shui Muxue had only discerned his destination and not any deeper secrets, Mo Yu inwardly sighed in relief.
As someone reborn, Mo Yu harbored countless secrets. If the woman before him had truly uncovered them all, he would have no choice but to silence her, regardless of her beauty.
That being said, Mo Yu wasn't naïve enough to believe Shui Muxue's words entirely. His judgment told him she was being truthful, given her Dou Huang-level strength. Even with her special constitution, she couldn't possibly read his innermost thoughts in their entirety—it would simply be too heaven-defying.
Hearing his rejection, Shui Muxue remained undeterred. Shaking her head, she said, "Sir, you come from another region and may not fully understand the situation in the Southern Region.
Do you know why humans, the Sea Clan, and the magical beasts coexist separately yet acknowledge the Five Major Clans, the Eight Sea Clans, and the Three Magical Beast Clans? It is not merely for reputation."
Mo Yu furrowed his brow and, after some thought, asked, "Is it because of Ten Thousand Snake Island?"
"You are indeed insightful. Yes, it is precisely because of Ten Thousand Snake Island," Shui Muxue said with a faint smile.
"Ten Thousand Snake Island is shrouded in mystery. It has been passed down in the Southern Region since ancient times.
The island is said to hold treasures like pills, divine weapons, and even powerful inheritances. These inheritances are rumored to include those from ancient human experts and formidable magical beasts.
Whether treasures or inheritances, they are invaluable to humans, Sea Clans, and magical beasts alike.
Such a treasure-filled island is clearly impossible for any one faction to monopolize.
After decades of conflict that left all sides severely weakened, the humans, Sea Clans, and magical beasts finally agreed to negotiate.
The outcome was that Ten Thousand Snake Island would open once every ten years, and only members of the Five Major Clans, the Eight Sea Clans, and the Three Magical Beast Clans would be allowed to enter.
Anyone outside these factions caught trespassing would be hunted down by the combined forces of these powers.
With such a terrifying alliance, even the ancient forces of Central Plains would hesitate to provoke them…"
Hearing this, Mo Yu couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
The Five Major Clans of humans, the Eight Sea Clans, and the Three Magical Beast Clans encompassed nearly all the dominant powers in the Southern Region. This alliance was indeed intimidating.
Even in Central Plains, aside from the Eight Ancient Clans and the Hall of Souls, few would dare offend such a coalition.
Mo Yu's brow furrowed slightly.
He was determined to go to Ten Thousand Snake Island, but trespassing now seemed out of the question. Could he really…?
Seeing the change in Mo Yu's expression, Shui Muxue pressed her advantage. "If Sir can help my Shui Clan weather this crisis, the spot allocated to us for the opening of Ten Thousand Snake Island in three months' time will be yours. What do you think?"
After speaking, Shui Muxue's bright eyes fixed on Mo Yu with anticipation.
In truth, she had withheld part of what she had sensed earlier.
Although their contact had been brief, she had not only discerned Mo Yu's intent to head to Ten Thousand Snake Island but also glimpsed that, before arriving in the Southern Region, he had seemingly destroyed a powerful faction in Central Plains.
While she couldn't ascertain the faction's name, its strength appeared to rival or even surpass that of the Five Major Clans.
This information left Shui Muxue uncertain but desperate. If this mysterious young man indeed possessed such capabilities, saving the Shui Clan would be worth forfeiting their spot for Ten Thousand Snake Island.
After all, if the Shui Clan lost its position as one of the Five Major Clans, the spot would be meaningless.
Hearing Shui Muxue's proposal, Mo Yu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
If sneaking onto Ten Thousand Snake Island wasn't an option, the only way forward would be to ally with one of the Five Major Clans, the Eight Sea Clans, or the Three Magical Beast Clans.
As an outsider, he lacked connections among these groups. Even if he tried to purchase a spot, the price could be exorbitant.
After weighing his options, the declining Shui Clan seemed like a viable choice.
"Yuan Ling, my sister has already annulled her engagement with you. Must you continue pestering us?"
While Mo Yu was deliberating, a sharp voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
A graceful and alluring figure slowly approached.
When the graceful figure stepped out of the shadows and into the light, the atmosphere in the grand hall froze momentarily because of her presence.
The woman had a tall, slender figure dressed in a black gown, exuding an air of aloof elegance. Her skin was as white as snow, and her flowing black hair cascaded down her delicate shoulders. Her face was slightly thin but exceptionally exquisite, like a flawless porcelain doll that evoked a desire to treasure it.
She approached Shui Muxue's side, her slightly narrow, languid eyes glimmering with a touch of enchantment. Her beauty was captivating, yet there was a faint chill when she looked toward the Yuan Clan. Behind her followed dozens of strong members and clansmen of the Shui Clan.
Two elder men in blue robes stayed close behind Shui Muqing. Although their aura was not as overpowering as the gray-robed elder of the Yuan Clan, their strength was undeniable.
"It's the Shui Clan's eldest daughter, Shui Muqing! I didn't expect her to come."
"Since the old master of the Shui Clan passed away, Shui Muqing has been holding the clan together. Although her methods are remarkable and she has reversed the clan's decline, without a Dou Zun expert, they remain at a disadvantage."
"Indeed, the Shui Clan is finding it harder and harder to sustain itself..."
...
As the black-gowned woman appeared, the surrounding whispers interrupted Mo Yu's thoughts. He gazed at the stunning figure not far away and remembered the magnificent snow-white carriage from the day before. If he wasn't mistaken, this must be the Shui Clan's eldest daughter, Shui Muqing.
Looking at these two sisters, as ethereal as fairies, Mo Yu had to admit they were truly beauties of unrivaled grace.
"Muxue, are you okay?" The black-gowned woman approached Shui Muxue, lightly scanning Mo Yu and his companion with her beautiful eyes before gently holding Shui Muxue's hand.
"Sister, I'm fine." Shui Muxue shook her head, glanced at Mo Yu, and was about to say something when Yuan Ling interrupted.
His eyes lingered on the Shui sisters, a flash of heat gleaming within them. With a faint smile, he spoke, "Heh, the Shui Clan sure knows how to make an entrance. Shui Muqing, do you really think that after your father's passing, your clan can ever regain its former glory?"
"Without the Yuan Clan's support, countless others would love to replace you. The position of the Five Major Clans cannot be inherited on ancestral merit alone!" His tone grew colder toward the end.
Hearing Yuan Ling's harsh words, a trace of anger crossed Shui Muqing's delicate face. Despite her frustration, she was momentarily at a loss for words.
The Shui Clan had always been ranked at the bottom among the Five Major Clans. When her father was alive, they barely managed to hold their place. But after his death, the lack of a Dou Zun expert had left the clan vulnerable to predation.
The Five Major Clans were the only human forces permitted to set foot on Ten Thousand Snake Island, and many clans coveted this privilege. Initially, with the Yuan Clan's backing, the Shui Clan managed to survive. However, the Yuan Clan's true intentions were to annex the Shui Clan, which further complicated their precarious situation.
Although Shui Muqing prided herself on being capable and unyielding, the mounting pressures had left her exhausted.
"Ahem. Lady Shui Muqing, some things are hard to take back once spoken. Since the proposal was made, retracting it would be too embarrassing for the Yuan Clan. Besides, a marriage alliance with us would greatly benefit the Shui Clan," the gray-robed elder, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
"We are here today under the patriarch's orders. Shui Muxue must come with us. I hope you won't make things difficult for me."
Hearing this, Shui Muqing's expression shifted. She glanced cautiously at the gray-robed elder, snorted coldly, and said, "I never expected Second Elder, Hei Yuan Zun Zhe, to show up in person. The Yuan Clan truly holds my Shui Clan in high regard.
"A marriage alliance with the Yuan Clan might solve our immediate crisis, but it would mean the Shui Clan will eventually lose its name and identity.
"Furthermore, my sister possesses the rare Holy Sacred Water Body. I imagine that is why the Yuan Clan is so eager to take her away.
"This matter is absolutely out of the question. While the Yuan Clan may be powerful, the Shui Clan is not so easily crushed. If necessary, we'd rather fight to the death than let you succeed!"
"Fight to the death?" The gray-robed elder chuckled disdainfully. "Such words might have carried weight when Shui Bohai was alive. But you, a mere girl, are far too naive."
He shook his head and took a step forward. Instantly, a terrifying pressure, like an endless abyss, filled the hall, leaving many of the weaker Shui Clan members pale and trembling.
"Muqing, Muxue, run! We'll hold him off!"
The two blue-robed elders behind Shui Muqing exchanged a glance, resolved to stand in front of the sisters and shouted loudly.
"Two Dou Zong eight-stars? Seeking death!"
The gray-robed elder sneered and waved his hand. A terrifying force, as if shattering space itself, surged toward the two elders.
The elders spat blood and were sent flying like ragdolls.
"Second Grandpa! Third Grandpa!"
The Shui sisters turned pale and rushed to help the fallen elders.
"Stop wasting your efforts," the gray-robed elder said indifferently. Just as he was about to strike again, a cold voice rang out.
"Ice Rock!"
A figure clad in icy white appeared before the Shui sisters. With a stomp, invisible frost spread rapidly from his feet, clashing with the elder's pressure and nullifying it.
The icy figure was none other than Qing Zhi. His sharp gaze locked onto the gray-robed elder as they faced off.
"A Dou Zun?"
The elder's eyes narrowed slightly at this unexpected development.
Behind Qing Zhi, Mo Yu emerged. Glancing at the Yuan Clan, he shook his head before turning to Shui Muxue.
"Does your offer from earlier still stand?"
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