Chapter 2460 Water Emperor

With, flawless, innocence Fang Yuan began conversing with the Heavenly Court Gu Immortal, Shuai Ge, "Mr Shuai, what do you plan to get from the annual Shuai Tribe Water Market."

Fang Yuan began chatting like an innocent kid who was exploring the world for the first time, "Me? I don't really need anything since my clan gives me a bunch or resources, I only managed to go out on my own because I convinced the elders that it would be good training."

Shuai Ge listened to the kid, though annoyed by how chirpy he was: "This kid is revealing so much information about himself, even though we are complete strangers, he's either incredibly naïve or…a trap of some sort!"

Shuai Ge stopped dead in his tracks and picked Fang Yuan up by the throat!

"Alright kid, you nearly had me fooled, I know there's something fishy going on here, you being Rank 4 at your age or…" Shuai Ge was putting up his best ferocious face, but the moment he looked at the kid's face breaking down in tears, he felt bad.

"Damnit! Even if they were trying something, they're still a kid." Shuai Ge was about to put the kid down when…

*Sssh*

The sound of water began dripping on the ground.

"…don't tell me…" Shuai Ge looked down and saw a stream of water running down the legs of the kid.

At that moment,

Shuai Ge's instincts lit up as he felt waves of killing intent wash over him.

"Who's there!?" Shuai Ge tightened his grip on the kid, causing him to cry more.

The leaves of the trees began to rustle as the wind began picking up, the shadows danced wildly, first they grew longer than wider and finally taller as they took on humanoid form, finally condensing into a group of 6 people.

Shuai Ge instantly recognized that the 6 of them were Gu Immortals, and it wasn't hard to guess that they were there the whole time: "And if they're appearing now it has to be because of this kid, and if they were bandits or demonic cultivators, they wouldn't care for this kid's life, but since they only appeared once the kid…was worried…then it can only mean one thing; they're his protectors!"

Shuai Ge's temples were now aching: "Shit, that kid really was a prodigy from a clan, and from the fact that they sent 6 Gu Immortals, it must be a big clan."

Once, the 6 Gu Immortals took form, a man strode forth,

He was a tall man with toned skin and white hair.

Shuai Ge instantly recognized such characteristics, "Great! Just my luck, a half-breed."

That's right the man who took charge was a half-breed between Inkmen and Human.

The kid shouted out, amidst tears: "Uncle!"

When in reality even Fang Yuan was surprised, "I did not expect that to go so well, I knew that this kid was special and that their identity had to been high but to think a Rank 4 would get 6 Gu Immortal bodyguards, even I didn't expect this."

Indeed, Fang Yuan had suspected that his current identity was special, as among the Gus he was carrying was a Rank 6 Movement Path Immortal Gu, the Gu was a peculiar Water Path Gu that was not very fast, but very good at escaping from situations.

It allowed the user to turn their body into water, making them impervious to any attack, even if the water body was exploded, it still wouldn't kill the user, as the body could just regenerate.

There was only 1 drawback, it was a consumable Gu Worm, which meant it could only be used once.

"Right now, this Gu is my trump card, but while I'm still in the grip of Shuai Ge, I can't activate the move without him breaking my neck first, so I have to play this situation carefully…"

Meanwhile, Shuai Ge was clearer about the situation:

"There are 5 Rank 6 Gu Immortals, and that damn Variant is at least Rank 7!" Shuai Ge was holding back his anger: "My only card to play is…" Shuai Ge looked at the kid whose neck he was holding, and the only reason those 6 Gu Immortals hadn't decimated him.

"Release the young mistress!" one of the Gu Immortals shouted.

"Eh?" Shuai Ge let his thoughts out: "This is a girl?"

The 6 Immortals grew incensed at the offensive remarks.

Whereas Fang Yuan facepalmed internally, "This guy…is he an idiot? Now he's made it so that there is almost no path of reconciliation."

Even though Fang Yuan didn't know the exact importance of the girl, even he knew that if a Rank 4 was assigned 4 Gu Immortals as bodyguards, then her identity was almost as good as someone like the Fairy of Spirit Affinity House!

This time the half-breed spoke: "Release the young mistress, Shui Xin. Now."

His deep voice was intimidating enough but coupled with his Rank 7 Aura and his fierce eyes, Shuai Ge almost let Shui Xin. Almost.

"You've got to be kidding me," Shuai Ge thought: "This isn't just any young mistress, but someone related to the Shui Clan?!"

Shuai Ge calmed his nerves: "And what if I said no?"

The 6 Immortals immediately let out their Killing intent in response.

Shuai Ge was under immense pressure and he almost caved, almost.

"Hold your horse's pal, my hand is feeling a little itchy under all this pressure." Shuai Ge tightened his grip around Shui Xin's neck.

The girl's face tightened in pain.

This caused the 6 Gu Immortal's faces to drop, "Men hold your ground."

The half-breed leader held his hand out, signalling to his men to cease their killing intent.

All the men obliged, their Killing intent, and Killer Moves were disarmed.

The half-breed leader turned to face Shuai Ge, "Okay, we got off on the wrong foot, my name is Shui Li, I am under the orders of the Water Emperor, Shui Le, to protect his daughter Shui Xin."

Shui Li emphasized the connection between Shui Le and Shui Xin.

Both Fang Yuan and Shuai Ge had a realization: "The Legendary Rank 8 Pseudo-Venerable and founder of Water Path; Shui Ni!" [1]

Seeing the shocked look on Shuai Ge's face, Shui Li showcased a proud expression: "Hmph! Since you didn't know that it was his majesty's beloved princess and we were in the wrong for attacking you, how about we come to a deal?"

Shuai Ge's look of bewilderment was replaced with a smirk: "Oh? And what deal would that be?"

Shui Le took out a box from his Aperture: "Here are 25k Immortal Essence stones, that's more than enough for you to live your life comfortably and attempt refining a few Immortal Gu."

Shui Le was proud of his offer but Shuai Ge looked at him in disdain, "Since, I know what this Dream's story is about…then I have no choice but to play the villain."

"I refuse." Shuai Ge snorted.

Shui Li was confident that Shuai Ge would promptly hand over Shui Xin, "That's right you have made the right…what did you say?"

Shuai Ge smirked: "You heard me. I said I refuse!"

"You!" Shui Li was dumbfounded, he couldn't understand why Shuai Ge would refuse.

"Listen." Shui Li took a deep breath: "There's no reason to sever all ties just yet, why don't we all take a deep breathe and discuss this like civilized people okay?"

Shuai Ge sneered.

Shui Li squinted his eyes in anger, his voice sounding like a snarl: "Let me ask you once. What's your price."

Shuai Ge thought to himself: "Hmm, the legends mentioned how the demon asked for an outrageous sum that was so ludicrously impossible when Shui Ni heard it his anger caused the entire Central Continent to be in a never-ending downpour for 5 days!"

Shuai Ge knew that he could just make up a high offer, but if he wanted to progress the Dream Realm, he needed to enact the same response from Shui Ni.

"The question is what could cause Shuai Ni to lose his mind, it can't have just been an amount. What are the things Shuai Ni treasures most…" Shuai Ge was lost in thought, he turned his head slightly towards Shui Xin.

"She's definitely part of it but what could he value more than his daughter…I got it!"

Shuai Ge laughed sinisterly, "You want to know my price? Then tell Shui Ni to give me Rank 8 Water Gu!"

!!!

"Preposterous!"

"Outrageous!"

"Your Greed knows no bounds!!"

The other 5 Gu Immortals chastised immediately, it was understandable as Water Gu and Water Path was what made Shui Ni famous.

It was his establishing mark in history!

Shui Li's eyes were reduced to fiery slits, "Fine! I gave you a path to heaven but instead, you chose the road to hell. I'll tell his majesty, but I warn you if anything happens to Shui Xin during this time, then death is the least of your concerns."

Shui Li took out an Information Path Immortal Gu and sent a message and soon enough…

It began to rain.

The drizzle slowly became a downpour, then a thunderstorm and finally a hurricane formed, with Shuai Ge, Shui Li, Shui Xin and the other 5 Gu Immortals at its centre.

The sheer might of the weather scared even Shuai Ge, "In the real world, I won't even be 100th of this guy's strength."

Shuai Ge's fear was genuine!

Both in reality and his previous life, he hadn't achieved the level that Water Path's ancestor, the Water Emperor, Shui Ni had achieved.

However, only 1 person was completely indifferent, even unimpressed and it was none other than Fang Yuan playing Shui Xin!

"Hmm, his reputation may have exceeded him," Fang Yuan tsked in his heart: "The cruel marching of time can turn even the greatest Genius into a relic." Fang Yuan scoffed at Shui Ni's wasteful display of strength.

"This guy only focused on big and powerful moves but doesn't have anything that is practical, if I was him I could have easily killed this guy and retrieved Shui Xin or I would have given Shui Xin a Killer Move that could activate without any detection. Instead, he's too confident in his status and strength which led to Shui Xin being..."

[1] Not much is said about him in the wiki, so most of what I say about him is pure BS, also I find it weird that Water Path wasn't actually used until the Medieval Antiquity Era, 300k years before FY.