Free Web NovelThe Mingjiao Clan's territory.
This place is located in the center of Blackwater Marsh. Legend has it that this area was not originally called Blackwater Marsh, but Blackwater Plain, until the Mingjiao Clan migrated here, and it rained all year round, gradually turning into its current state.
Above the marsh were continuous pavilions and towers. If not for the excessively large size of the buildings, it would almost make one feel as if they had arrived in Jiangnan.
The Mingjiao Clan were cultured Yao who had studied in the Central Divine Continent, unlike that group of bumpkins.
Today, the clan territory was very lively.
All the aquatic races in Blackwater Marsh related to the Mingjiao Clan gathered here because today was the Mingjiao Clan's Yao Selection Competition to compete for the divine jade.
As everyone knows, the Mingjiao Clan is the master of Blackwater Marsh, and only this clan has the qualification to go to Hanging Temple.
A flowing feast was set up by the lake.
Aquatic races from all over were toasting each other at the tables, the clamor of Yao was deafening, making it exceptionally lively.
One could see among them the Crab Race walking sideways, the Shrimp Race with shrimp heads, the River Clam Race sitting in shells, and...
An outsider Jiaolong riding a Human Race member?
This Ming Jiaolong was actually sitting on a Human Race's shoulder!
Moreover, his transformation was very complete, with only a few distinguishing features remaining.
"Where could my parents be?" Murong Xiao looked around curiously.
"Our clansmen are all seated at the inner tables."
Wu Dameng pointed to the pavilion in the center of the lake and said.
Clansmen of the Mingjiao Clan, as well as some powerful Great Yao, had their seats in the pavilions closer to the center of the lake.
Those smaller Yao who were just there to watch the excitement were seated in the outer areas.
As the group passed by, they attracted many curious gazes from the Yao Race and overheard many discussions.
"Boss Shrimp, why didn't you bring your son this time?"
"Don't even mention it. My son was snatched away by a Qin Race member on the way here with me. Now, this branch of mine only has me, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) a shrimp-headed male, left."
"Alas, those Qin Race members are simply too tyrannical to the Yao Race!"
"Who told the Great Peng Clan to snatch the heavenly divine jade last time? It's not certain it'll fall into the hands of our aquatic race this time either."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Haven't you heard that the Qingluan Clan produced a Goddess?"
......
Qingluan Goddess...
Li Mo felt relieved, but his thoughts couldn't help but wander.
He couldn't help but imagine the Ice Cube with wings on her back, soaring through the sky, her eyes clear and divine. When she looked over, her frost-like jade countenance revealed a touch of gentleness. She extended a fair hand to him, taking him to fly up into the blue sky...
She must be going to Hanging Temple.
"Brother Li." Huang Donglai spoke, interrupting Li Mo's thoughts.
"Hm?"
"My hair is almost pulled out by you."
"...My apologies, Brother Huang. I will definitely compensate you afterward." frёeωebɳovel.com
Li Mo coughed lightly.
They arrived at the inner tables unimpeded. What met their eyes were various Mingjiao Clan members, as well as many Great Yao with fierce and powerful auras.
Among a group of monstrous beings, the few of them were not particularly conspicuous.
Murong Xiao's gaze had been searching through the crowd of Yao, but he had yet to find his longed-for parents.
"This is Wu Mo, Brother Mo, who returned to our clan from beyond Southern Border." Wu Dameng introduced to a few familiar clansmen.
"Oh? There are still our clansmen beyond Southern Border?"
"Then, this one next to him..."
"Oh, that's Brother Mo's mount."
"Hiss! So fierce?"
Several Ming Jiaolong showed surprise and immediately offered a few compliments.
Then they went back to eating, drinking, and chatting amongst themselves.
"Have you all heard about that Qingluan Clan Goddess?"
"Rumor has it that not only is her Qingluan Bloodline incredibly pure, but she even possesses the Divine Phoenix Bloodline?"
"It should be true. Even Xiang Liu Young Clan Leader of the Xiang Liu Clan suffered a great loss at her hands, losing one of his heads."
"Ah? Our clan's Heavenly Dragon is still not as good as Xiang Liu Young Clan Leader."
The pure-blooded Jiaolong at the table, in their conversation, expressed concern for the future of the Mingjiao Clan.
After all, whether it's the Great Peng or the Qingluan, all Qin Race members are innately displeased with the Mingjiao Clan.
"Brother Mo, what do you think?" Wu Dameng couldn't help but ask.
"I don't just watch."
"???"
"How can just watching be enough? I'll also make a move, ensuring she has no power to resist."
Li Mo said with a calm expression.
"Brother Mo actually possesses such spirit, wanting to contend with that Qingluan Goddess?"
The Jiaolong present couldn't help but gasp, making the humid air a few degrees drier.
This was more than just contention.
Listen, he even wants the Qingluan Goddess to be unable to resist!
Is this the courage of a fierce Jiaolong crossing the river? Who knows if it's confidence or arrogance...
"Hmph, utterly ignorant." x2
At a nearby table, a gloomy young man, whose body faintly exuded a foul smell and who originally had three heads, snorted coldly upon hearing this.
From his remaining two heads, his identity could be discerned.
The Xiang Liu Clan.
In the ranks of Disaster Beasts, the Xiang Liu have a far more prominent reputation than the Ming Jiaolong, and their individuals are also much stronger.
However, the Xiang Liu find it extremely difficult to produce offspring, always having a single lineage, and their clan numbers are scarce.
Otherwise, who would rule Blackwater Marsh would still be unknown.
"And make the Qingluan Goddess utterly powerless to resist?"
"He simply doesn't understand how terrifying she is!"
The young man's two heads, one had a gloomy expression, the other was filled with rage.
"Young Lord, this is the Mingjiao Clan's territory."
The shrimp-headed attendant next to him quickly advised:
"Later, when he sees your true form Divine Ability, he will naturally know how weak and pathetic he is."
The two-headed youth then snorted and stopped.
At the same time.
Not far away, Murong Xiao's eyes fixed.
The elders of the Mingjiao Clan walked out amidst the congratulations of many aquatic races. Among them were a man and a woman. The woman had Jiaolong horns on her head, but aside from that, from her attire, she looked like an ordinary Human Race young lady from a wealthy family.
And the man beside her had a long beard reaching his chest, a refined demeanor, and a face seven-tenths similar to Murong Xiao's.
The Mingjiao Clan elders all sat in front of the stone platform below the stage.
"....."
Li Mo had the illusion of seeing judges entering a talent show.
Soon, he realized this was not an illusion.
The woman walked on the water, reaching the center of the lake.
She said in a clear voice:
"Our Blackwater Marsh aquatic races have always been united. What we have gathered everyone here for today, I believe you all have some idea in your hearts."
"That's right, we are here to select five aquatic race members, whose Bloodline and strength are both of the highest caliber, to go to Hanging Temple."
"This is not only for our Mingjiao Clan but also for the entire Blackwater Marsh!"
"To restore the glory of Blackwater, it is our bounden duty!"
"In this open audition, even if you are just a common Yao, you still have the opportunity to bring glory to the aquatic race!"
Whoosh—
The crowd of Yao burst into an uproar, each one incredibly excited and fervent.
This meant that they all had a chance to go to Hanging Temple.
"......"
Xiao Li felt that his impression of the Mingjiao Clan had been somewhat overturned.
Where were the terrifying Disaster Beasts he'd heard about?
He had previously heard that Murong Xiao's parents were being pressured and thought it was because human-Yao romance was against nature, but it turned out they were being urged to have a second child.
He had previously heard that the Mingjiao Clan's internal situation was complex for selecting candidates to go to Hanging Temple, and he thought there would be some treacherous schemes and open and secret struggles.
It's a talent show all along?!
Was he judging the heart of the Yao Race with the heart of the Human Race?
"Brother Li, actually, this is quite normal." freēwēbnovel.com
"Hm?"
"Think about it, the Yao Race is innately stronger than the Human Race. If they were also more cunning, would they have been driven to Southern Border?"
"......That makes sense."
Li Mo nodded, but still had some questions.
"Why is it called an 'open audition' (literally 'sea selection')?"
"Because flowing downstream from the main current of this lake leads to the South Sea, Brother Mo, didn't you know?"
Wu Dameng explained, looking at Li Mo sympathetically.
Poor Brother Mo, separated from his clan, he hasn't even seen the sea.
