Chapter 1388: 到底怎么回事?

The Crown Prince, who was standing nearby, felt his heart sink when he heard the Demon Emperor say the spring water could extend his life by at least three years. He had waited for so many years, anticipating his father's imminent death and the transfer of the throne to him within days.

To learn that everything would be pushed back by at least three years, possibly even longer, was almost unbearable.

However, there was nothing he could do. The empire belonged to his father, and their cultivation levels were vastly different; he couldn't seize what wasn't willingly given.

He could only keep reassuring himself that three years was manageable and not too long, especially for cultivators, who might even pass that time in secluded cultivation.

Just then, hearing the Demon Emperor's question, he seized the opportunity and said, "Your son would like to taste it too."

If his father gained an extra three years of life, he also needed to gain three years to avoid feeling short-changed.

Seeing that the Demon Emperor had no intention of stopping him, he cautiously knelt by the spring and took a sip. His eyes immediately widened. The invigorating sensation of the *qi* cleansing his entire body, coupled with the potent life force, made him realize his lifespan had increased by more than just three years.

It was a huge gain!

The taste, however, was indeed peculiar. "It really seems to have a urine-like smell," he thought, "but perhaps rare spiritual springs just have this unique flavor."

The Demon Emperor nodded, "I suppose that's true."

At that moment, the Golden Crow Crown Prince said, "Father Emperor, since this spring can extend one's life, please drink more to further boost your lifespan."

The Demon Emperor was somewhat pleased. "It's rare to see such filial piety from you," he said, "but there's no need. This substance has its limits; its effect diminishes for those with higher cultivation levels. I'm already content with a three-year extension, and drinking more won't help. Instead, you can drink more; it will be more beneficial for you."

"Father Emperor..." The Golden Crow Crown Prince feigned a moved expression, but inwardly, he sneered. He was no fool; he had long known this rule. Why else would he have made such a suggestion?

Then, seemingly "overcome with gratitude," he took several more large gulps, thinking that this spiritual spring truly lived up to its name. Although it initially had a urine-like smell, it left a sweet aftertaste.

Watching his intoxicated enjoyment, Wu Liang couldn't help but swallow.

Unfortunately, as a captive, he knew he would never be eligible to enjoy it.

"This spiritual spring feels incomplete to me," the Demon Emperor said, frowning. "It seems as if half of it is missing, greatly reducing its efficacy."

The Golden Crow Crown Prince immediately declared, "It must be that brat Zu An who just stole half of the spiritual spring from here! That scoundrel truly has evil intentions; he should have been utterly destroyed long ago!"

Although he spoke through gritted teeth, inwardly, it was the first time he felt a touch of gratitude towards Zu An. Fortunately, Zu An had stolen half; otherwise, he would have had to wait several more years to inherit the throne.

Just then, the Demon Emperor waved his hand, and a spectral hand reached into the bottom of the spring, clearly intending to seize the fleeing Zu An.

Wu Liang watched in astonishment. The methods of an Earth Immortal were truly incredible; Zu An and the others were surely doomed.

Just then, the Demon Emperor frowned, then waved his hand several more times before finally retracting it, his face somber.

"Father Emperor, what's wrong?" the Golden Crow Crown Prince hastily asked, genuinely concerned.

The Demon Emperor said in a deep voice, "This spring entrance doesn't look big, but it's bottomless inside. They've escaped."

The Golden Crow Crown Prince said, "Father Emperor, you needn't worry. The monk may run, but his temple remains. They must be carefully preserving the spiritual spring they took. As long as we catch them, we can reclaim it."

Yet, in his heart, he relentlessly prayed that Zu An wouldn't be caught.

The Demon Emperor was greatly pleased, feeling that his son was becoming increasingly less troublesome.

"Let's go," he said, casually waving his hand and drawing a stream of spring water into his sleeve, with no one knowing how he stored it.

After collecting it, he immediately turned and headed down the mountain. Now aided by the spiritual spring, he no longer had the same reservations as before.

The Golden Crow Crown Prince was startled. "Aren't we pursuing them through the spring?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he was half-dead with regret. Why had he opened his mouth? If his father truly caught Zu An, everything would be ruined for him.

The Demon Emperor shook his head. "It's too vast down there, seemingly connected to the sea. We wouldn't have any direction to search, and furthermore, our Golden Crow clan is affiliated with fire, making us vulnerable in water."

Although he could enter the water, he naturally disliked it.

"Father Emperor is wise!" the Golden Crow Crown Prince quickly flattered him. "So, where are we heading now?"

The Demon Emperor, having just extended his lifespan, was in a rather good mood and patiently replied, "I just sensed a familiar power in the distance. Let's go investigate over there."

In the corner, Wu Liang's eyes darted around. Familiar power? What could it be?

"Hurry and keep up," the Golden Crow Crown Prince said, coming behind him and kicking his backside. With his father having inexplicably gained several more years of life, the prince was in a bad mood and naturally took it out on the fat man.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Wu Liang nodded and bowed repeatedly, thinking to himself, "Just give me a chance to escape, or I'll dig up all of your Golden Crow clan's ancestral graves."

While their group disappeared into the distance, Zu An and his companions were swimming forward inside a water bubble.

After leaving the vicinity of Yu Mountain, they seemed to enter a vast sea. Zu An immediately summoned Lan Fu to create the water sphere around them.

Now that his cultivation had increased, the water sphere he created was also slightly larger, making them less crowded than before.

At this point, the women were all sitting on the other side with disgusted expressions, their eyes full of disdain.

Zu An said gloomily, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You have the nerve to say that," Yu Yanluo chided. "You could have just left, but why did you have to... why did you have to do that?"

Zu An's expression turned serious. "Did you peek at me?"

Yun Jianyue spat. "Pah, who would bother looking at that thing of yours! But you're too much of a rogue; to dare to do that in front of us... if it were anyone else, I would have already drawn my sword."

"I was clearly facing away from you," Zu An corrected. "Mainly, that Demon Emperor made us suffer so much, so I wanted to play a trick on him too."

Yan Xuehen's face was slightly flushed. "If he knew he drank your... he'd probably tear you to pieces."

Yun Jianyue also had a strange expression. "Making the Demon Emperor drink your... you're probably the first person in the world to do that."

Given their understanding of the Demon Emperor, he surely wouldn't be able to refuse spring water with such potent life force. This scenario would most likely unfold.

Zu An was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. "Be careful, a monster is approaching."

Yun Jianyue glared at him. "Brat, wasn't scaring me once enough?"

Zu An had no time to explain. He rushed over and pulled the women behind him. Simultaneously, a gaping maw bit down precisely where they had just been.

The water bubble containing them instantly burst, and they all plunged into the water.

It was then that everyone finally saw the attacker's appearance and couldn't help but blanch.

It was a gigantic octopus-like creature with countless tentacles hundreds of meters long. At the center of all the tentacles was an enormous head, two-thirds of which was taken up by a gaping, blood-red maw. Its rings of sharp teeth resembled a meat grinder, capable of tearing any living creature that entered into shreds.

On its forehead were two giant, red lantern-sized eyes, now staring fixedly at them.

Zu An felt his scalp tingle. "What realm is this thing in?"

Yan Xuehen swallowed. "I don't know, but it should be higher than us."

Yun Jianyue retorted irritably, "Isn't that obvious?"

At that moment, Mi Li's exasperated voice also echoed in Zu An's mind: "A fierce beast at the Grandmaster level of Sky-Piercing Soul? Brat, are you a jinx? How do you manage to encounter such ridiculously powerful creatures everywhere you go?"

She was truly exhausted. She was soul-bound to him, and if he died, she would also perish.

Yet, this guy was never at peace, always stirring up ridiculously powerful enemies.

Zu An's heart sank. Sky-Piercing Soul? Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue were only at the Spirit-Wisdom Soul stage. This creature was a whole major realm higher than them. The crucial point was that fierce beasts were inherently stronger than cultivators of the same level. This creature couldn't be dealt with, even if Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue were at their peak.

What was going on with this unknown land? Why were there such terrifying beings everywhere?