Chapter 9: The Heart of Water

"Brother, beware of the puppet beasts of the Sacred Temple; they are the source of our power as assassins!" Wu You shouted with all his strength, and immediately, a burst of blood light erupted, a cold gleam shot towards me, and at that moment, Wu You's body collapsed to the ground.

I do not!

Then do you know what water is? the Dragon asked

The cold light came too suddenly, leaving me almost no time to think, and I instinctively dodged. Even though I had obtained the power of the Nine Elements, I still could not completely evade it. A sharp pain shot through my face, and I felt my warm blood trickling down my cheek

Seeing the confusion in my eyes, Wu You let out a bitter smile and said, "Brother, the blame lies in the fact that you did not die after consuming the Nine Rainbow Divine Pill. The Holy Temple has ordered that your corpse must be taken back for dissection. I am merely one of the assassins sent by the Holy Temple. I have already found a way out, but I do not wish for your body to be cut into pieces by them, so..."

Brother, the Holy Temple is the dirtiest place in the Sfarlin Continent. The demon wolves are merely their outer lackeys, responsible for collecting wealth for the Holy Temple while also robbing beautiful women for their pleasure

Perhaps the essence of the Heart of Water cannot be expressed in words, for it is a truth that approaches the Dao. At the moment I comprehended it, my entire being was suddenly filled with power. The voice of the divine dragon echoed in my ears: "Human, congratulations on grasping the mystery of the Heart of Water. Accept my power and take my place to protect this world!"

Gradually, I felt a subtle yet palpable force rising within my body, a power filled with vitality yet imbued with an overwhelming aura of ruthlessness. This force grew stronger, restoring sensation to my body that had become numb.

"Melancholy, should we still remain here?"

Wu You looked at me in astonishment and suddenly began to nod slowly

I let out a breath, and a sense of fatigue surged within me

"I won't go, absolutely not!" I shook my head repeatedly. What a joke, with such immense power, I would meet the same fate as that great sword before I even stepped outside. I said with a bitter smile, "You You, you don't want to be a widow, do you? Isn't that asking for my life?"

"Close your eyes and feel the trajectory of power flowing within you, my husband. At this moment, I cannot assist you; everything depends on you alone. If you cannot control this power, then both your soul and mine will be devoured by this sword and axe!"

Hehe, I just remembered that when you saw the Eye of the Abyss giant axe, you seemed to have felt something similar. Is this what it means to be jealous?

I looked at him, not daring to withdraw my hand, for I knew that when my hand left his chest, it would also mark the end of his life

Wu You's abdomen began to swell, stretching his clothes to the point of tearing, as if something were about to break free from within him. He emitted strange, hoarse roars, and a streak of blood appeared on his belly, the bloodstain emerging in a bizarre manner, as if it were bursting forth from inside his body.

Husband, how strange it is that such things from the underworld could come to the human realm

He looked at me, nodded, and then turned to walk into the cave

Upon the sword and axe, two completely different forces emerged: one was balanced and gentle, while the other was fierce and lethal

However, with the punch, a powerful force was unleashed, and I realized that it was impossible to take it back. My fist made contact with Wu You's crystal staff, which instantly shattered. There was no power in the staff at all, and I immediately understood Wu You's intention, but my right hand had already pierced through Wu You's heart, or rather, Wu You had collided with my hand.

I understand: Embrace the utmost emptiness, maintain profound stillness, and with the softness of the world, gallop across the rigidity of the world

As my body reached mid-air, a force as heavy as a mountain suddenly pressed down. Caught in between, I was squeezed by these two overwhelming forces, struggling to breathe. Although I exerted all my effort to operate the Heavenly Crafting Technique, it seemed to have no effect whatsoever

I replied with irritation, "How would I know? Perhaps your lover has nothing better to do and let it loose!" Suddenly, I recalled the enormous axe of vengeance hanging in the side hall of the palace, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness in my heart

He stepped back two paces, forcefully shaking off my hand, and blood gushed out, splattering onto my body. Yet, I seemed oblivious, staring blankly at him, for what happened next was the most bizarre thing I had witnessed in my twenty years.

My head shook like a rattle drum, and I thought to myself: What a joke, experiencing the heart of water; by the time I manage to grasp it, I fear I may no longer have a life left.

......Brother, as long as you are alive, the Holy Temple will never let you go. If one day you encounter them, you must be cautious of a certain individual beside the Master. He is referred to as the Shadow of the Master, with the Dharma name of Moon Star. He, he......

Water is the softest and most benevolent, approaching the essence of the Dao. Water, though soft, can destroy the hardest things in the world; it is also benevolent, capable of accommodating all the filth in the universe. Therefore, the heart of water is both the kindest heart in the world and the coldest heart in the world. Do you understand the principle behind this?

One does not lose the formation even when losing the input; just joking, am I being insincere? After hearing Youyou's words, without a second thought, I activated the Heavenly Crafting Technique, enveloping my entire body in a layer of white light, and soared into the water column

He was executed by the Holy Temple six years ago

With great strides, I approached beneath the wall, reaching out to grasp the sword-axe. I exerted all my strength with both arms, yet the sword-axe remained immovable, as if it were a mountain.

I believe that as long as there is melancholy, no matter how severe my injuries may be, I will be fine. With this thought, I began to practice the Heavenly Craft Great Method, gradually absorbing the power devoid of violent energy into my dantian.

I understand now! All along, Wu You has been hiding by my side, waiting for the opportunity to take me back to the mainland and then kill me. I reached out and slowly pulled out the two-meter-long crystal, and as the crystal was withdrawn, the wound instantly vanished.

What jealousy do I have!

"Husband!" You You was angry, her tone carrying an unprecedented severity as she exclaimed, "Are you afraid of such a trivial danger? Then what are you talking about when you say you want to protect me? Hmph, I see you are nothing but a coward who speaks one way and feels another. I misjudged you!"

Wu You found it difficult to continue speaking; that face, once filled with a serene aura, suddenly contorted in pain, the blood mingling with that expression, rendering it exceedingly grotesque

Husband, you are too tense. Close your eyes and feel it with your heart. You have the protection of the Nine Dragons, so there is no need to worry about such physical harm

Having tidied up, I continued my journey towards the exit. In the pitch-black corridor, I was unaware of how long I had been walking, but gradually, I began to see a glimmer of light

The mantis suddenly let out a strange roar and then charged at me like lightning. I could vaguely see that it had two vibrating wings on its back; what kind of mantis is this? It is simply a monster

The divine dragon finished speaking and, without waiting for me to respond, immediately vanished from my sight

Youyou seemed quite strange in response to my question, and she answered softly. I steadied my mind, circulated my vital energy, and threw the large knife, as thin as a cicada's wing, into the water column.

......

The clothes on my body burst silently, and in the blink of an eye, I was drenched in blood. Yet, I felt no awareness of it, still quietly savoring the experience. Gradually, I began to find a hint of clarity.

Husband, you must be careful. The exit is in the blowhole of the whale's head, where the water pressure is immense. You must exert all your strength to counter that water pressure and take the opportunity to break through the second layer of the heart of the water, only then can you rush out

Wu You did not speak again; he continued to hold the crystal staff and led the way ahead. I followed him and found a black crystal ball on the ground covered with treasures. He reached out and turned the crystal ball, and immediately a dark, eerie hole appeared on the wall to the right, which was adorned with patterns.

Unable to resist, I turned my head to look at Wu You's corpse, only to discover that there were no organs whatsoever inside Wu You's body. Could it be...

"Melancholy, do not speak any further"

Hehe, Brother Wolf, let us go out together. Leave this place and enter our world. You and I will roam the world together, no longer serving that damned temple, what do you say

After dealing with Wu You's matters, I once again proceeded towards the exit. As I passed by the corpse of the mantis, I discovered that it had been dissolved by the bile of a whale, leaving behind only two gleaming large blades

What about the true magic wolf

Two kinds of power surged into my body, instantly merging with the elemental force within me. The demonic-breaking true energy that I had painstakingly cultivated for over a year was unexpectedly dissipated in an instant by this force, vanishing without a trace. Without the guidance of the demonic-breaking true energy, the power transmitted from the sword-axe, along with the nine elemental forces and the primordial celestial energy left from the previous transformation by Youyou, instantly blended together.

The deafening sound, like thunder, echoed in my ears, and the entire palace was trembling incessantly. The power on the sword-axe grew increasingly fierce, surging towards me like a tidal wave, then merging elemental force with celestial energy, roaring and rampaging within my body. Following the mental method described by Youyou, I forcefully controlled this power while simultaneously focusing all my attention on the sword-axe.

A strange occurrence took place. The large blade shot into the water column and did not fall; instead, it was lifted by a powerful surge of water, rushing towards the opening above. However, when the water reached halfway up, the blade seemed to be struck down by an extraordinarily strong force, and with a rumbling sound, it was instantly broken into several pieces

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and the brutal force gradually dissipated as the blood flowed out

What is this and that? Just two vague sentences left me at a loss, and then they walked away? Yet at this moment, I have no mood to be angry. The words of the Divine Dragon are the key for me to break through these two water columns, which also involve the lives of both myself and Youyou, making me dare not be the slightest bit careless.

Not knowing how long they had walked, Wu You suddenly stopped. He pointed ahead and said to me, "Brother, the exit is just up ahead"

"Execution?" I found this term I used when speaking to Wu You to be quite strange, and I asked in confusion.

At the very moment the voice faded, my body was lifted by an immense force, soaring into the sky. The column of water descending from above suddenly parted as I ascended, creating a passageway, and I flew through this opening towards the heavens.

Gradually, it felt as though my entire body had lost sensation, and my mind slowly descended into a blank void

"Brother, as a killer, failure must be met with the fate of failure, which is death. Brother, the power of the Holy Temple is exceedingly strong; you are currently no match for them. If you truly manage to return to the mortal realm, you must be cautious of them." Wu You's voice gradually weakened, yet his face still bore a faint smile, and his expression was one of great contentment

The joy in my heart is indescribable; I know I can now successfully control the water element. Hehe, the next time I encounter the Fire Lion, I will no longer have to worry about its Heavenly Fire Shattering Claw

After the Chiwen and Yazi merged into my body, I was still unable to proficiently summon and utilize them. Therefore, for my future safety, I picked up the large knife from the ground to use as a weapon for self-defense. To my surprise, the weight of these two large knives was quite light, and they felt very agile when wielded, making me feel quite comfortable with them

"Husband, the Wind Demon was indeed once my suitor, but this Eye of Wrath giant axe was the wager from a bet we had. Hehe, after he lost that time, he left this giant axe with me. I never expected you would... such a petty man!"

The assassin of the Sacred Temple? How could there be an assassin in the Sacred Temple? The Sacred Temple is the holiest place in the entire Sfarlin continent, and those who emerge from there are so gentle, radiating a warmth akin to sunlight. How could they possibly have an assassin?

"Husband, the puppet worm was originally a low-level parasitic creature from the underworld, surviving on the essence of its host. I never expected it to appear in the human realm. Husband, you must be careful; I sense that this puppet worm is no longer the same as those from the underworld"

Blood continued to flow profusely; I looked down at my chest and saw a section of crystal, stained with silvery blood, protruding from my chest

No, I mean, in which direction is the Sfarlin Continent located

I remained silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. You You was right; I am no longer the Tianfeng of the past, and my future has consequently become uncertain. If that is the case, then let me become stronger, strong enough to dominate this world. In order to make myself stronger, let me experience the mysteries of heaven and earth in this vast ocean that approaches the Dao

The look of horror vanished in the blink of an eye with my gentle words, and a look of guilt appeared on Wu You's face. He looked at me, two lines of tears silently sliding down, and said softly, "Brother, I am sorry"

The powerful force gives me a sense of having the world in my grasp, while the difficult words I had previously pondered flow through my mind like a stream. It was in that fleeting moment that I suddenly understood the meaning behind it; with my arms straining and a loud shout escaping my lips, the sword and axe loosened.

Upon thinking of this, I could not help but let out a long howl towards the sky, a powerful confidence that I had never experienced before surged within my heart

......

"Is this the place, indeed?"

At the moment when my consciousness was hazy, a strange change suddenly occurred around me. A layer of bluish light enveloped my entire body, and amidst the flickering, a divine dragon shimmering with blue light appeared before my eyes. Its fearsome and terrifying face sent a shiver deep within me, and its cold gaze bore no trace of emotion. It looked at me and, after a long pause, slowly spoke: "O humble one, I sense the aura of the Goddess of Melancholy emanating from your body. Are you the one who bears her creative divine power?"

"Husband, follow my instructions and take your time!" Youyou said anxiously. After saying this, she murmured a long string of difficult words that I could hardly understand, but as those words entered my ears, the elemental power and true energy for dispelling magic that had been dormant within my body suddenly began to operate.

Once again, the haunting whispers convey to me the principles of my heart, as the rampant power begins to be controlled by me, yet that power remains formidable, impossible to fully master

Before I could speak, while I was listening to You You's explanation, Wu You suddenly raised the crystal rod in his hand. In an instant, a powerful force swept across my face, and Wu You charged at me with the crystal rod in hand like a mad tiger

"How do you intend to deal with me?" Wu You seemed not to have heard my words clearly and asked softly

"Brother Wolf, what are you doing?" I asked in a daze

Wu You shuddered, looked up at me, and said softly: "Brother, I am the assassin and the book of the Holy Temple"

I still shook my head, feeling that I somewhat understood the words of the divine dragon, with a vague sense of comprehension in my heart; yet upon careful reflection, I realized that I had grasped nothing at all.

A piercing scream echoed in my ears. When I opened my eyes, the mantis had already fallen to the ground, its body charred and gradually shrinking in size

With the brilliance emitted by the scattered crystals, I finally discerned what had burst forth from Wu You's abdomen: it was a mantis, over half a person tall. Its two forelegs, resembling large blades, danced menacingly before me, and its eyes, exuding a chilling aura of death, sent shivers down my spine. How could such a large mantis have survived within Wu You's body?

I never expected this guy to be so persistent. In an instant, a surge of anger rose within me. I abruptly turned, one hand clenched into a fist striking towards the crystal rod, while the other hand suddenly flashed with dazzling light, piercing towards Wu You like a sharp sword

I let out a roar; her words made me increasingly anxious. Even when battling the Fire Lion that day, I did not feel this way. Just looking into its terrifying eyes filled me with a sense of dread

What is there to worry about? With the Nine Dragons protecting you and the enhancement of my celestial power, such a small water column can hardly harm you in the slightest. My dear, go in and truly experience the realm of the Heart of Water in the Heavenly Crafting Technique, and then you will make further progress

Following the light, I quickened my pace, but when I arrived, I found myself once again standing there in a daze

"Melancholy, withdraw your celestial power and allow me to experience the mysteries of the heart of water alone!" I endured an immense water pressure, slowly rising to my feet. Supported by the column of water beneath me, I stood in the center of the water, arms outstretched, eyes closed, quietly contemplating the wonders of this water.

Husband, do not pay attention to him, activate the Heavenly Crafting Technique I just told you, and gather all the power!

My mind is blank, and I find myself nodding involuntarily

Calming my agitated mind, I closed my eyes and, following the method described by Youyou, completely ignored this raging force, allowing it to rampage within my body

Youyou was clearly taken aback, and suddenly burst into laughter, "Darling, are you jealous?"

Husband, you have already mastered the power of the nine elements and obtained the Chiwen and Yazhi. The Heavenly Crafting Technique has completed its first level of cultivation when you picked up the Chiwen. From now on, you can continue to experience it. As your ability to master elemental power increases, your Heavenly Crafting Technique will also continue to break through. We no longer need to stay here!

In fact, I had long known the way out, so I had no doubts at all and followed him into the cave

I still cannot speak, gently shaking my head

Gloom! I shouted loudly

As soon as the body entered the water column, it was immediately lifted by a powerful force, shooting straight up into the sky

"Silly husband, a whale is a whale, and of course it lives in the sea. If you emerge from its body, you are naturally in the sea as well. What is there to be surprised about?" Youyou discerned the confusion in my heart and said with a smile.

The cave is dark and filled with a pungent, foul odor, with faint water droplets falling on me, sending a shiver through my skin. This is whale bile, which possesses strong corrosive properties. I do not know how Wu You withstands this bile, but I am protected by the power of creation and elemental forces, so the whale bile poses no threat to me

Melancholy, what is going on?

O bearer of the divine power of creation, use your heart to comprehend the supreme path of water. If you cannot grasp the essence of water, then even if you are the chosen successor of the goddess of sorrow, you will still find it difficult to escape the coldness of this water

I want to know the reason! For some unknown reason, a strong sense of murderous intent surged in my heart, and I shouted angrily

Turning around, I looked at Wu You, who was holding the other end of the crystal with a look of shock on his face, and said softly: "Brother Wolf, why? Can you tell me the reason?"

The response was exceedingly blunt, yet it almost provoked a desire to spit blood. In the vast ocean, where exactly is the continent?

After listening to Youyou's explanation, I felt a sudden clarity in my heart. However, Youyou's last sentence made my face flush with embarrassment, and I shouted loudly, "I am not jealous!"

Surrounding me is the vast and endless sea, yet I find myself still within the ocean

Joking aside, such a large monster can still be called an insect? I suddenly felt a surge of tension; this was the most bizarre thing I had encountered in the past twenty years. I nervously stared at the mantis in front of me, not daring to show any signs of negligence. My hands suddenly emitted a dazzling light, with a crackling sound as if electric currents were swirling.

I stared blankly at Wu You, unsure for a moment whether I should believe his words. After a long pause, I finally spoke: "So what do you plan to do now? Are you still going to kill me and report back to the Sacred Temple?"

Opening my eyes, the sword and axe have vanished without a trace; I know they have already merged into my being

Melancholy, is this what you meant to say? I stammered a bit and asked in a low voice

Just as I was filled with joy, with a sudden splash, the support beneath me vanished without a trace. Without any support, I sank into the water like a piece of rotting wood. I surfaced, took a deep breath, and looked around, only to find myself momentarily stunned.

After this diversion, both Youyou and I temporarily set aside the matter of the puppet worm. Taking a break, I followed Youyou's instructions and carried Wu You's body back to the palace. He liked this place, so let him be forever together with the palace

Husband, you have just harnessed the power of the Nine Dragons and practiced the Heavenly Crafting Method. In this vast ocean, you can also regard it as a natural training ground. Experience the gentleness and ruthlessness of the sea; perhaps you will gain even more insights.

I dared not be negligent, swiftly dodging its attacks, but this fellow's speed was truly astonishing. At first, I could still discern its movement trajectory, but later on, I could no longer see its body; all that was before me were two large blades flashing. In the blink of an eye, my body was already covered in wounds.

I do not know this

That power is too great; although there is assistance from the ethereal, it has gradually begun to lose control

A chilling force imbued with a sense of desolation coursed through my left arm, followed by a sudden coolness in my arm, causing my body to shudder. That force abruptly vanished, retreating into my being.

"Husband, this is the puppet worm of the underworld," Youyou suddenly spoke.

I followed the command of the melancholy, calming my mind, closing my eyes, and quietly sensing the aura of this monster. Gradually, I seemed to perceive the trajectory of its movements, which I felt with my spirit. Having grasped its actions, it became much easier for me to evade. When the mantis lunged at me again, I suddenly struck out with a punch.

Husband, don't!" Youyou suddenly shouted

"What should I do about this melancholy?" I asked in panic

Before me, there were no paths left to tread, as a massive water column over thirty meters wide surged skyward. The light emanated from above the water column, where, at a height of over one hundred meters, there was an opening through which the water flowed down, yet was simultaneously lifted by a strange force. The two opposing water columns collided in mid-air, producing a thunderous sound, and a mist enveloped the area, evoking a peculiar sensation that suddenly arose within my heart

I listened to Youyou's words and said to Wuyou: "Brother Wolf, since you have already found a way out, let us leave this place!"