After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 16

A month later.
The dragon boat arrived in the waters governed by the Luoshui Divine Palace. Apart from the dangers of White Dragon Ravine, the journey had been calm and peaceful.
Seeing that all the guests disembarked the dragon boat without incident, the steward finally breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that person was of noble status. Afterward, upon reflection, he understood the reason, but it chilled him to the bone. He dared not ponder further, only wishing to see that great Buddha depart quickly.
In the territory of other sects within the Fu Li Immortal Realm, ordinary cultivators dared not fly about carelessly. Such behavior was considered too impolite. If the host perceived it as a provocation, it would be troublesome. Therefore, upon disembarking the dragon boat, cultivators would look for small boats to head towards the Luoshui Divine Palace. Only when the cultivators from Cloud City appeared did they summon a flying palace. They had no intention of greeting the Luoshui Divine Palace and instead headed directly towards the Sunset Burial Mounds. Their grandeur attracted many gazes, subtly mingled with envy. Great powers were indeed different.
Xie Zhichao also glanced at them and muttered softly, “They’re really quite ostentatious.” After a pause, she added, “Since they have a flying palace, why did they squeeze onto the boat with us?”
Was she here for me? The thought flashed through Wei Yunshu’s mind, but she quickly suppressed it. She smiled at Xie Zhichao and said, “Perhaps they didn’t want to make a grand display during the journey.” She looked at the vast, boundless water, which was the territory governed by the Luo family of the Luoshui Divine Palace. The palaces and pavilions were all located on islands in the water, and the surroundings were filled with swirling currents and hidden reefs. Only those who were familiar with the area, the ferrymen, could navigate the boats. Wei Yunshu had been here a few times, but at that time, she was the Cloud Sovereign, traveling in flying palaces or carriages, never using the ordinary waterways used by commoners.
Xie Zhichao looked around and asked doubtfully, “Why are there all water-dwelling spirits and monsters? What are they making so much noise about over there?”
Wei Yunshu replied, “Passing through the whirlpools requires some cultivation, and cultivators are unwilling to do this work. So, they have to let the transformed spirits do it. Spirits have no sect inheritance; they always have to seek some benefits for themselves.”
Xie Zhichao snorted coldly and said without reservation, “I think they are too closely associated with the Dustless Sea.” Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and in an instant, several probing gazes were cast upon them. Xie Zhichao laughed, and the spiritual energy around her transformed into sharp, biting saber intent, immediately repelling those gazes. She no longer fussed over anything and directly chose an empty small boat to step onto.
Recently, many cultivators had been traveling to the Luoshui Divine Palace. The boatmen were spirits who had taken human form, but their cultivation methods were not pure, making them prone to greed. They had originally intended to be difficult, but upon being pressured by Xie Zhichao’s fierce saber intent, they immediately fell silent and welcomed them into the cabin with smiles. As the boat sailed through the water, the sounds of arguments could still be heard from not far away.
“What a mess,” Xie Zhichao said unhappily in a cold voice. “This is the territory of the Luoshui Divine Palace, yet they don’t impose any regulations.” Great sects should ideally have strict regulations. Just like the stewards and servants of Buzhou Peak, if they made a mistake, they would be expelled from the Buzhou territory. However, the Luoshui Divine Palace and even Cloud City were so lax in their management, it was no wonder people said that calamities were imminent.
Wei Yunshu said with a faint smile, “The Luoshui Divine Palace is currently too preoccupied to manage these matters.”
Xie Zhichao asked, “They won’t wait until the four families settle their disputes, will they?” After a pause, she sighed again. “Never mind, as long as the Northern Continent is willing to send people to garrison the area, that should be enough.”
The boat shuttled through the whirlpools, the sound of rushing water filling their ears. After passing through a hazy mist, several islands with interspersed pavilions and towers appeared in their vision. The boatman steered the vessel to the nearest island and cupped his hands towards Wei Yunshu and the two of them, saying, “From now on, small boats from the outside are prohibited from entering. Guests will have to proceed on their own.”
After disembarking the small boat, they looked up and saw cultivators from the Luoshui Divine Palace dressed in disciple robes. Most of them were at the Mortal Transformation and Foundation Establishment stages. Their auras were pure, but not enduring. Their paths were visible at a glance. They knew their own talent was limited, so they did not seek the Great Dao of longevity, only desiring wealth, status, and a happy life. At this moment, they gathered in small groups, secretly appraising rogue cultivators who appeared to have lower cultivation levels.
Xie Zhichao was speechless regarding the Luoshui Divine Palace. However, upon reconsideration, the Palace Lord of Luoshui Divine Palace was a Cavern Heaven True Monarch who indulged in pleasure and luxury, so it wasn’t surprising. She had never visited these major sects and had little contact with people from the other three families. She could only silently pray that the other three surnames would not be like this.
Upon Wei Yunshu and Xie Zhichao’s arrival, the disciples who greeted them were quite obedient and courteously escorted them to the guest hall on the island. There were not many people sitting in the hall. A quick scan revealed that they were all at the Golden Core cultivation level. Wei Yunshu understood in a flash. The Luoshui Divine Palace wished to recruit retainers, so naturally, Golden Core cultivators were preferred. As for those with lower cultivation, unless they possessed extraordinary talent, there was no need for them to expend their mental energy.
Their timing was perfect. A bell chime sounded, and a beautiful woman dressed in a green robe, with a pale yellow sash, wearing hairpins and ornaments, walked slowly into the hall and took her seat at the head. She was exceptionally beautiful, with snow-white skin and a face like a blooming flower. Her amorous eyes swept across the hall, captivating hearts like ripples on autumn water. Those who could enter the hall at the Golden Core stage certainly had the discernment to know what to look at and what to avoid. Thus, after a glance, they averted their gaze, gazing dreamily at the procession of demon children and lovely maidens, feigning an air of elegance.
Xie Zhichao telepathically transmitted to Wei Yunshu, “It’s True Monarch Jiang Jiuxiao.”
Wei Yunshu responded with a soft “Mm,” feeling a slight displeasure towards the handsome youths who were rotating closer to them. She had heard long ago that the Luoshui Divine Palace cultivated disciples with excellent appearances for marriage alliances with other families. It was likely they harbored such thoughts at this moment. Some sought the Great Dao of longevity, while others were obsessed with pleasure.
She looked up at Jiang Jiuxiao, who was smiling and seated at the head of the table.
She had met this person once fifty years ago. At that time, she was only at the Golden Core cultivation level, but now she had reached the Nascent Soul stage, even managing the affairs of the Luoshui Divine Palace. It was said that she was Luo Lingfeng’s sister. Her mother was a Jiang-surnamed demon cultivator from the Dustless Sea who had become Luo Hengjun’s concubine. Later, because Luo Hengjun constantly took in new women, she fell out with him, taking her newborn daughter back to the Dustless Sea. It wasn’t until she discovered Jiang Jiuxiao’s extraordinary talent and needed the true scriptures of the immortal sects that she sent her back. Compared to Luo Hengjun’s illegitimate children who had grown up in the Luoshui Divine Palace since childhood, she had very little advantage. However, she still managed to suppress her brothers and sisters with her cultivation and even gained the support of the Dustless Sea.
Xie Zhichao was not interested in Jiang Jiuxiao’s attempts to persuade her to drink. She didn’t touch any of the wine from the Luoshui Divine Palace. Instead, she held her own wine gourd, took a sip, and turned to Wei Yunshu to gossip. “I heard that among Luo Hengjun’s grown children, besides that one, there are only Jiang Jiuxiao and his two sons, Luo Yuankun and Luo Yuanshu. Luo Yuankun’s mother was originally Jiang Jiuxiao’s sister-in-law, from the Wen family of Xiaohan Mountain. As for Luo Yuanshu’s maternal clan, it is the Tang family of Guangyuan Marsh. Why would they let an outsider like Jiang Jiuxiao take the lead?”
“Could it be that the Palace Lord of Luoshui Divine Palace is willing to borrow strength from the Dustless Sea rather than let those three families gain any advantage?”
“If that’s the case, it makes sense. After all, those three families covet the position of Palace Lord, while the Dustless Sea only seeks some benefits.”
Xie Zhichao suddenly said, “Could there be another marriage alliance?”