Once the sand formation collapsed, the ruins of what used to be the Water God Cult came into view. Crevasses were carved into the landscape, which was littered with corpses of the cult members. The members who knelt on the ground survived but they were trembling all over. If they were lucky enough to live through today, they swore not to commit a crime ever again.
Clear Wind was hanging in the air. Those who had resisted were all dead, including monsters who had chosen to side with the Water God Cult. Lin Jin noticed two towers, one made of gold, and the other made of silver. This was evidence of how much the Water God Cult had extorted from the common folk over the years.
Lin Jin descended to the ground. With a wave of his hand, Clear Wind turned into a flash of light and returned to his master.
The piercing sword aura only disappeared after Clear Wind returned to his sheathe.
The sword now hung around Lin Jin’s waist, and while it looked ordinary, everyone knew it was a weapon that could wipe out an entire civilization
Quite frankly, Lin Jin was shocked too. After assimilating the Divine Blade Scroll, Clear Wind had evolved as if he had undergone a metamorphosis.
This sword was now comparable to a Rank 5 beast, perhaps even stronger.
Because it was a sword – it was a tool that was designed for the sole purpose of killing.
No Rank 5 beast in this world could compare to Clear Wind.
Lin Jin was truly satisfied. A rough calculation told him that he now possessed the combat strength of three Rank 5 beasts. Not to brag but if he were to take on Corpse Taoist alone now, he wouldn’t be afraid anymore.
Xiao Huo could perform both offensive and defensive roles; he was an all-rounder asset. The blood ghost could enhance his stats, so it mainly played a support role. It went without saying that Clear Wind was Lin Jin’s strongest fighter now.
It was because of this, that Lin Jin planned to hang Clear Wind on ‘Curator’s waist instead.
What belonged to his master belonged to him. What’s more, considering the fact that he had recently obtained the Blazing Sky Palm, the Five Element Armor, and the Four Ocean Gourd, there was no reason for him to continue living in fear, since he had both skills and artifacts.
Black Water Taoist and Red Water Taoist’s corpses were quickly found but Ghost Water Taoist was nowhere to be seen.
“He must have gotten away!” said Tiger Taoist.
“So be it.” Lin Jin didn’t particularly care. Black Water Taoist’s cultivation was ‘okay’ but Ghost Water Taoist was much worse.
Even if he got away, he wouldn’t be able to do much.
Lin Jin chased away the remaining cult members. These people had been scared out of their wits. Bruised and battered, they were allowed to run away as they were of no threat.
With that, the great Water God Cult was brought to ruins in one day.
Lin Jin accomplished his goal of recovering the Four Ocean Gourd.
However, he still had to refine the magic treasure a little before he could claim it as his own. After holding it in his hand, Lin Jin could sense that the Four Ocean Gourd was one level above the Immortal Binding Rope.
It was a powerful item.
After getting his wish, Lin Jin returned to Dark Wind Cave with Tiger Taoist at once. He had to go into seclusion at a safe place to research the Four Ocean Gourd and Dark Wind Cave seemed like the perfect spot.
While Lin Jin started researching the Four Ocean Gourd, Black Water Taoist, who now possessed Ghost Water Taoist’s body, left Arid Continent’s borders.
Refusing to head to United Continent, he went west into Grassy Continent, and then further west into Black Mountain.
Black Mountain was out of the continent’s boundaries. The people in United Continent called it an ‘extraterritorial zone’.
Extraterritorial zones were far more desolate than Grassy Continent and Arid Continent. Both the mountains and plains were equally dangerous. With hazardous hills, perilous mountains, and ancient miasma that never goes away, practically zero humans lived here. Another reason for its desolation was the bloodthirsty, savage beasts that roamed the extraterritorial zone. Even if an expert was brave enough to venture into this zone, he’d either die from the miasma or live long enough to be torn apart by these ferocious beasts.
Surprisingly, Black Water Taoist did not hesitate before coming here. After covering his mouth and nose with a layer of black water, he ventured inside.
The black water phantom could block out the miasma, protecting Black Water Taoist from harm. After all, this was the place where he gained his pet beast all those years ago.
“Just you wait. I, Black Water Taoist, will definitely return for vengeance!” declared Black Water Taoist through gritted teeth as he pressed on.
He escaped warily, evidently afraid that his enemy would pursue him.
After all, that monstrous sword was just too frightening. This exhausting escape almost reduced Black Water Taoist’s lifespan by half.
To make it worse, he was in terrible physical condition. Although he managed to escape, Ghost Water’s body was incredibly aged and he had even lost an arm. If he lived leisurely, Black Water Taoist could probably hold on for another ten years.
Unfortunately, for Black Water Taoist who had lived for more than five centuries, a decade didn’t mean anything to him.
To survive and to plot his revenge, Black Water Taoist was forced to venture into this dangerous zone once more. Thankfully, he was quite familiar with the area and his pet beast could help him block off the miasma.
He wasn’t here to take refuge.
There were far better places to hide in this world. Black Water Taoist had come here in a quest to prolong his life and exact revenge.
The sect he once belonged to was based in this extraterritorial zone too.
Five hundred years ago, after Black Water Taoist stole his sect’s Beast Manipulation Talisman, he dared not step foot in the area anymore. It had been five hundred years since then, and he had a feeling that the sect should have closed down by now. Given how dangerous Black Mountain was, and since the sect was already on the verge of devastation when he left, the few people in there must all be dead by now.
Even if they weren’t, they were probably old and ill so Black Water Taoist was confident he could finish them off.
He had come back with the aim of obtaining the sect’s other treasures.
These treasures were much more powerful than the Beast Manipulation Talisman he risked his life to steal back then. If he could get them, Black Water Taoist was confident that he could destroy Dark Wind Cave.
In Black Mountain, shrouded with thick miasma, under the protection of his pet beast, Black Water Taoist spent a great amount of time and effort to finally reach a valley.
This valley was also covered with poison gas that made one’s head spin if they tried to enter the area.
They would be bumping into walls if they tried walking here, and they would lose the ability to tell left from right.
This was thanks to the unique restriction placed on the valley.
As Black Water Taoist had once pledged himself to the secluded sect for ten years, so he knew the way in.
He circled the valley’s entrance twice and then searched the forest beside it for a twin-leaf flower. He crushed it and gently scattered it over his body. While doing so, he silently chanted a secret formula before stepping forward.
The dense miasma in the valley’s entrance suddenly parted and Black Water Taoist stepped inside.
