...

This was the first time the Tang siblings learned Lu Ding's name.

Simultaneously!

They were shocked by this name!

The Corpse-Shattering Taishui of Yunhai's 749 Bureau - such a resounding title. As members of the Tang Clan focused on assassination,

how could they not have heard of him?

They weren't just some village bullies from Blackwater Market.

They'd heard the name before,

just never met the man in person.

Now seeing him face to face,

if Tang Miao's first impression of Huang Xun was "the name exceeds the reality",

then seeing Lu Ding was "the reality exceeds the name"!

When a powerhouse far beyond your level is willing to reason with you, that's the greatest respect.

Because he has the ability to crush you effortlessly!

"So it's the Corpse-Shattering Taishui before us."

"No offense intended."

"No problem. I respect your loyalty, so I'll give you one chance. Listen carefully, prepare..."

As Lu Ding spoke, Tang Tian channeled his qi to the extreme.

With a flick of his wrist,

hundreds of hidden weapons shot forth simultaneously.

Lu Ding responded with just a glance.

Black smoke erupted, shooting straight to the heavens.

The terrifying pressure directly repelled all incoming projectiles.

With a single shout:

"Block!!"

Tang Tian instinctively crossed his arms to defend.

His vision blurred.

Then came a kick!!!

The unprecedented terrifying force made him feel like he'd been hit by a full-speed train.

Though he tried to block,

he'd vastly overestimated himself.

His entire body was instantly sent flying by that overwhelmingly brutal force.

Behind him stretched open water.

Tang Tian's body

resembled a skipping stone, completely out of control, bouncing across the water's surface,

splashing up sheets of water,

plowing deep furrows through the riverside mud,

before finally crashing with a thunderous boom into the opposite shore's mountain face, kicking up dust.

From here to there - at least 300 meters minimum.

Had the mountain not stopped him, who knows how far he would have flown.

This scene

made Tang Miao's hands and feet turn cold with fear.

Had she been on the boat without making the right choice,

Lu Ding would have handled her like a chick.

Not knowing his identity then,

she'd thought this man, while strong, wouldn't find it easy to capture or stop her if she chose to flee or fight.

She wasn't completely defenseless.

But now seeing and hearing this -

Who doesn't know the Corpse-Shattering Taishui can fly?

Run?

How?

Fight?

If she took that kick, who knows how many bones would break.

And everyone knows the Corpse-Shattering Taishui's signature move is his undetectable eerie Slash Attack.

Which he hasn't even used yet!!

"Would you like to try?"

Lu Ding's voice rang out.

Before Tang Miao could even process it,

her hands and mouth moved faster than her brain.

Waving her hands, she stammered: "No no no need!"

After speaking, she looked strangely at Lu Ding.

You really practice gender equality in treatment, huh?

Turning, Lu Ding skimmed across the water to the opposite shore, pulling the unconscious Tang Tian from the mountain face.

Carrying him back,

Tang Miao said: "Our apologies, Lord Taishui. May we siblings take our leave?"

"You'll need to stay temporarily. Huang Xun's matter was just an interlude. Your brother has a sworn brother named Di She."

"I came here for him."

"For safety, you'll remain here until the Drowned Corpse Cave opens."

Tang Miao was perceptive.

She understood Lu Ding's meaning.

If her brother leaked information,

things wouldn't be so simple next time.

Without another word: "Understood. Lord Taishui can rest assured, I'll keep my brother in check and won't interfere with your work."

Lu Ding nodded: "Then you'll temporarily stay with the He Family."

"No problem at all. As martial siblings, any shelter from wind and rain suffices."

With that,

the group returned to the He Family residence.

This matter was temporarily settled.

Meanwhile,

in an underwater palace somewhere beneath Blackwater River,

had the man gone out scouting as planned, he might have detected the battle's aftermath at Blackwater Market.

Unfortunately,

he'd been called back midway by Di She's news about the Drowned Corpse Cave.

Now the black-clad man was explaining the cave's situation to Di She.

He reached the crucial point:

"I've covered the basics. If danger arises, follow the escape route I described."

"The cave walls are incredibly hard - even in my true form back then, I couldn't break through."

"So safety isn't a concern."

"Past these areas, you'll reach the burial chamber I mentioned."

"The Drowned Corpse Cave's age is unknown. Most usable items -"

"Not all, but eighty to ninety percent - have been taken by others. Any remaining treasures would require extensive searching."

"Except this burial chamber."

Pointing at his drawn map, the man continued:

"This chamber contains nothing but a single coffin positioned at the earth's eye. It must hold something valuable."

"And it's definitely unopened - breaking the seal would release energy, causing noticeable terrain shifts."

"In all my years here, I've sensed no such disturbance."

"But to open this coffin, you must decipher a nine-word mantra. This stopped me back then."

"Through years studying ancient texts and analyzing the energy patterns,"

"I've narrowed it down to two possible mantras:"

"The first: Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zhen, Lie, Zai, Qian."

"The second: Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zhen, Lie, Qian, Xing."

Di She listened to these two mantras.

The first seven characters were identical, but the last two differed.

Both start the same, just in different order.

But one ends with "Xing", the other "Zai".

Di She hesitated:

"Uncle Shui, how should I choose between these two?"

"Maybe I could ask Second Brother for an extra slot? I'll compensate him, and you could enter with me?"

The man shook his head: "Impossible. The cave has formation arrays that reveal true forms."

"My original body would manifest, creating too much commotion - likely alerting the 749 Bureau."

"We have... history. Exposure would endanger us both."

After offending the 749 Bureau, he should have fled far away.

But he couldn't abandon what lay in Drowned Corpse Cave.

Only by using Di She's grandfather's cover for a "hiding in plain sight" tactic,

supplemented by shape-shifting arts,

had he evaded detection this long.

But after prior incidents, the 749 Bureau was already alert. Trying the same trick wouldn't work twice.

Never underestimate your opponents.

"Still, don't worry. While I can't be certain..."