Old Qiong carved with a single stroke, without the slightest pause — the entire process flowed like drifting clouds and running water. Though he was not skilled in this art, with his powerful cultivation it was mere child's play.
Even though it was child's play, Old Qiong was extremely meticulous. Every turn of the knife mark, every upward flick, condensed the entirety of his life's cultivation.
After thirty breaths, Old Qiong sheathed his blade. Everyone looked up, their expressions varying, though most wore looks of sheer surprise.
The Emperor of Years — what a grand name. Even though he had fallen countless ages ago, his legend still lived on throughout the world. Such a person must have been extraordinary; such a powerhouse must have been truly peerless.
But in truth, once Old Qiong had completed the Emperor's visage, everyone discovered that the Emperor of Years looked — ordinary. Extraordinarily ordinary.
With such a face, placed in a crowd, no one would have given him a second glance.
But what did a Great Emperor's abilities have to do with his appearance? He was the Emperor of Years, and so this plain countenance would become extraordinary by that very name!
Everyone paid their respects with the utmost reverence.
Yang Xiao and Yang Xue stepped forward personally to offer three sticks of incense to their master and kowtow several times.
After the worship concluded, Bangbang'er led everyone into the great hall. An unusual fragrance wafted through the air — the clam clan had long since prepared a banquet, simply awaiting their honored guests' seats.
Beside each person sat a beautiful clam clan maiden who poured wine and served food, attending to them with gentle care. Below, more clam clan beauties sang and danced.
What had begun as a crisis had turned to misunderstanding and then to revelation — now that they had met the Divine Lord's two esteemed disciples, Bangbang'er was overjoyed, constantly raising his cup in toast. Though the clam clan lived beneath the ocean, their supplies were hardly lacking, especially their self-brewed wine, which was rich and mellow, with a flavor all its own.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of delicacies, Bangbang'er suddenly spoke: "I must inform both Esteemed Ones — in this great ocean, it is not only my clam clan that has received the Divine Lord's grace. Other sea clans have likewise been blessed, just as we have."
The clam clan worshipped the Emperor of Years as their Divine Lord, and the Divine Lord's two esteemed disciples were thus "Esteemed Ones" — the title was merely a mark of respect, and no one found fault with it.
Yang Xue's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Your Majesty means..."
Bangbang'er smiled. "This is precisely the important matter I wished to convey. Before, I did not know the Divine Lord's identity, nor that his legacy continued in this world. Now that the two Esteemed Ones have come seeking us out, Bangbang'er can no longer conceal it." He paused, then continued: "The Divine Lord's relic that our clam clan possesses was passed down generation after generation from our ancestors. Along with it came certain words. Our ancestors once said — it was not only the clam clan who received the Divine Lord's remains. In this great ocean, other sea clans also received them, and all have enjoyed the Divine Lord's protection, thriving across this vast sea."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao set down the cup he had been drinking from and looked at Bangbang'er. "Does Your Majesty know where those sea clans are located?"
Bangbang'er smiled. "I do not know about the others, nor can I be certain, but there is one place that is highly probable."
Yang Xue and Yang Xiao asked in unison: "Where?"
"Fifty thousand li west of the clam clan's territory lies a Shrimp Clan settlement. That old shrimp very likely has a Divine Lord relic in his possession."
"Very likely?" Yang Xiao raised an eyebrow.
Bangbang'er said, "Because that old shrimp has also lived for many, many years. Without the power of a Divine Lord relic, he would not enjoy such longevity." The clam clan possessed the Emperor of Years' relic, so they understood its effects perfectly. The situation with the Shrimp Clan was remarkably similar to their own — such a conjecture was only natural.
This was an unexpected delight. Yang Xiao immediately rose to his feet. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to the Shrimp Clan at once and recover Master's relics!" He turned to Yang Xue. "Little Aunt, what do you think?" Yang Xue called him junior brother, and he called Yang Xue little aunt — the relationship was rather convoluted.
Yang Xue nodded. "We'll go together."
Bangbang'er hastily said, "Esteemed Ones, please wait! The situation with the Shrimp Clan is different from ours — they may not willingly return the Sacred Lord's relics. They might even think you two are impostors. Allow me to muster my forces and accompany you as support!"
Yang Xiao glanced at him and smiled. "Your Majesty has a grudge against that old shrimp, doesn't he?"
If there weren't some deep-seated enmity, how could he be so eager and proactive, clearly angling to borrow a blade to kill? Though Yang Xiao had cultivated in the Divine Temple for five hundred years without setting foot in the outside world, he was no fool — he could see through such things at a glance.
But he had only asked casually, so before Bangbang'er could offer any explanation, he continued: "This is a family matter of our Years lineage — no need to trouble Your Majesty with it." Regardless of what intentions Bangbang'er harbored, or whether he wanted to borrow their blade, now that they knew the Shrimp Clan possessed a Great Emperor's relic, Yang Xiao and Yang Xue had to make the trip no matter what.
Bangbang'er was somewhat embarrassed, but with Yang Xiao having put it so plainly, he did not press the matter. He simply said, "Then Bangbang'er wishes the two Esteemed Ones a swift and resounding victory."
Having learned the whereabouts of yet another Great Emperor's relic, the two scions of the Years lineage were unwilling to wait even a moment longer. They set off immediately, with Bangbang'er pointing out the direction before respectfully seeing them on their way.
Above the boundless ocean, the group surged forward at full speed.
Suddenly, Yang Kai halted mid-flight. Yang Xue, Qiong Qi, and the others stopped at once — only Yang Xiao shot forward a considerable distance before doubling back, regarding Yang Kai with puzzlement. "Father, did you discover something?"
Yang Kai smiled and shook his head. He looked at Yang Xiao, then at Yang Xue. "You've all grown up."