Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 332 - The Golden Gate Ruins (1)

Heishi City moved swiftly, and within two days, the demons accompanying them to the Golden Gate Ruins were chosen.

It wasn’t that Bu Jiang was impatient, but the current situation in Douzhou left no room for further delay.

The news from outside reported that many cities and even entire countries had been submerged by floods. People fled to higher mountains, but with the rapidly rising water levels threatening to engulf the mountaintops, it seemed only a matter of time before those too would be swallowed.

In the face of life and death, past grievances seemed less important. Whether demons and humans fought or killed each other, they had to overcome this immediate crisis first if they wanted any chance. Otherwise, even if they didn’t live together, they would surely share a grave.

The waters of the Mingming River had risen considerably once again, and the dikes no longer seemed as imposing as before. The surging waves roared from afar like a towering wall of water, threatening to break into the city with a fierce momentum. People couldn’t help but worry that in a few more days, the waves would breach the city walls, and this pitch-black river might drown all of Heishi City.

The rain continued to pour down.

The boulders were washed clean and shiny. Bu Jiang stood atop the city walls, gazing at the turbulent waves, and scattered a handful of magic pellets from a jar.

Suddenly, a loud splash echoed through the water, and a massive Black Black Dragon Fish broke the surface, its gigantic tail slapping the river, sending up enormous sprays of water.

It swam up to the riverbank.

Bu Jiang turned back and said, “Get on.”

Behind her, the demons climbed one by one onto the body of the Black Dragon Fish. Despite the large crowd, they appeared minuscule atop the Black Dragon Fish.

Standing beside Bu Jiang was Shaoyang Zhenren, with a teleportation array prepared in front of him. Bu Jiang casually walked over, glanced at him, and with a faint flash of light, a drop of blood emerged from her jade-like fingertip and dripped into the array.

A fierce wind suddenly arose from the ground.

The strong wind tilted the rain, almost blinding them. Gradually, the sound of a growing commotion reached their ears.

A dense group of people appeared atop the Black Dragon Fish’s spine. These people were dressed in sect disciples’ robes, holding spiritual weapons. As they struggled to steady themselves, their faces shifted upon seeing the demons in front of them, immediately preparing for a fight and raising their spiritual weapons. The two sides stood in tense confrontation.

Although they had agreed on this arrangement beforehand, old enemies meeting face-to-face always sparked fierce emotions.

Bu Jiang looked on coldly and let out a mocking laugh.

If it weren’t for the need to open the Golden Gate Ruins, she would never want to deal with these sect cultivators in her entire life.

There was still some blood left on her delicate fingertips. Only the heavenly demonic blood with Bu Jiang’s spiritual mark could allow those cultivators to stand on the Black Dragon Fish’s back and be acknowledged by it. Seeing this, Zanxing wanted to fetch a handkerchief to wipe Bu Jiang’s hand, but before she could act, Mingjing walked over and quietly handed Bu Jiang a pristine white handkerchief.

Bu Jiang smiled sweetly at him and said, “Thank you.”

Shaoyang Zhenren’s eyes flickered, but he said nothing.

Zanxing, who witnessed all this, remained silent for a moment and thought to herself that the world was truly full of surprises. They were at a point where everyone might perish together at any moment, yet some people still found the time to compete for affection. They really must have too much energy to spare.

Both the humans and demons had now boarded the spine of the Black Black Dragon Fish.

Rong Shuang and Daoist Lingxin were far from them, their gazes filled with disgust toward the demons. Aside from the people from the Taiyan Sect, only those from the Yinfeng Sect seemed indifferent to the demons’ presence. Fu Ronghua looked at Bu Jiang with a smile and complimented her, “It’s been many years, Your Majesty is as graceful as ever.”

Bu Jiang’s lips curled slightly. “But Sect Master Fu seems to have aged quite a bit. What’s the matter? Is your sect not doing well?”

Fu Ronghua’s smile stiffened before he forced another one. “These days, no one has it easy. But, Your Majesty,” he said, his tone tinged with uncertainty, “we’re heading to the Golden Gate Ruins. Why are we riding this Black Dragon Fish?” He nervously clutched the protruding spine of the Black Dragon Fish. Although the Taiyan Sect had vouched for them, trusting the demons was still difficult. The Mingming River was so dense that even a feather wouldn’t float on it. If Bu Jiang were to tamper with something, everyone would be swallowed by the river, leading to a total wipeout.

Bu Jiang seemed to see through his thoughts and chuckled softly, lowering her voice. “Afraid?”

“How could I be?” Fu Ronghua forced a smile. “I’m just a little confused.”

“Rest assured,” Bu Jiang said with a faint smile, glancing at Daoist Lingxin and Rong Shuang in the distance, “though we demons are considered an evil and heretical path, some underhanded tricks are better handled by people in your sects. As long as you don’t try anything foolish, this fish-boat won’t capsize.”

The implication was clear: if they dared to play any tricks, everyone aboard—not just the boat, but the fish—would be meeting Yama together.

Fu Ronghua could only look to Shaoyang Zhenren for reassurance, unable to smile.

Shaoyang Zhenren said, “Your Majesty.”

“I know,” Bu Jiang lazily replied and shifted slightly. “Xiao Shuang.”

Xiao Shuang stepped forward, raising his hand. In an instant, a small blue fruit appeared before everyone. The fruit was no bigger than a thumb.

“This is a shatang fruit. Place it on your chest, and it will allow you to repel water, preventing you from drowning,” Xiao Shuang explained.

Zanxing also picked up a blue fruit and kept it. Mimi sat quietly at her feet. Bu Jiang glanced at her and asked, “Are you ready?”

Zanxing nodded.

The two of them walked to the center of the Black Dragon Fish’s spine, extended their palms, and gathered their heavenly demonic power. The dark blue magic energy slowly emerged from their bodies, like a long mist, gradually enveloping the entire Black Dragon Fish. The pouring rain was blocked out by this thin veil of mist.

The cultivators from the sects were immediately on high alert.

Such a surge of heavenly demonic power was terrifying. At this moment, they were all on the demons’ massive fish. If Zanxing and Bu Jiang decided to make a move, even though there were many cultivators present, they would still be at a disadvantage. Everyone gripped their spiritual weapons tightly, prepared for any danger that might arise.

However, their fears did not last long.

In a flash, the dense fog swiftly gathered, and the demonic energy solidified, forming a massive inverted basket that covered the Black Black Dragon Fish. Suddenly, the Black Dragon Fish swayed its tail, and a massive whirlpool appeared in the middle of the Mingming River. The whirlpool was like a bottomless abyss, roaring as if it wanted to swallow every living creature. A chilling wind howled from within, threatening to tear souls apart.

The Black Dragon Fish plunged headlong into the depths of the whirlpool.

“What—”

The cultivators from the sects had no time to cry out before they felt an immense force pulling everything around them toward the abyss. The massive waves crashed down from the horizon like a towering wall, dragging everyone into the center of the vortex!

The rain continued to fall.

But on the surface of the Mingming River, the Black Black Dragon Fish had vanished without a trace, along with the hundreds or thousands of people aboard it, as if they had disappeared into thin air. Only the sound of the rain remained, mingling with the surging waves rushing toward the distant horizon.

No trace was left behind.