vstars Chapter 98 Entering the Dragon Palace in the East Sea
Chapter 98 Entering the Dragon Palace in the East Sea
Chapter 98 Entering the Dragon Palace in the East Sea
Having left behind the eternally scorching heat of the southern immortal volcano, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun headed eastward.
As they continued their journey, the spiritual energy around them underwent a significant change. The active and violent fire elemental energy in the air gradually thinned and faded, replaced by a gentle, vast, and salty water elemental energy.
The closer you get to the East China Sea, the denser the moisture becomes. Looking out, the horizon stretches to the horizon, an endless expanse of blue, the water meeting the sky, the sound of waves faintly audible, as if the entire world is filled with the vast ocean.
Unlike the clearly defined boundaries and concentrated power of the Undying Volcano, the East Sea gives a feeling of vastness.
Profound and all-encompassing, yet concealing endless turbulence and power.
Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun traveled on clouds to the coast of the East Sea, but did not venture directly into the area as they had done at the Undying Volcano.
The reason is simple: the vast area surrounding the Undying Volcano, though influenced by the Phoenix Clan, does not have a completely defined territorial boundary.
This vast East Sea before them had long been regarded as the absolute territory by the Dragon Clan since their rise to power, and a strict order and rule had been established there. To intrude rashly would be tantamount to provocation.
"Brother Dao, it seems that the Dragon Clan has very strict rules." Hongyun raised an eyebrow as he looked at the seemingly calm sea, which was actually turbulent and filled with the aura of countless aquatic creatures.
Zhen Yuanzi nodded slightly, his gaze profound: "The Ancestral Dragon commands the scales and armor, dominating the four seas; its power is naturally extraordinary. We have come here to discuss the Dao, not to provoke conflict; we should act according to propriety."
With a thought, he stopped trying to conceal his aura.
In an instant, a profound and powerful primordial Dao aura, seemingly connected to the very fabric of the primordial land, emanated from his body!
This aura was not domineering, but rather as deep and unfathomable as an abyss or a mountain, carrying a supreme realm that encompasses all things and gives rise to chaos, calmly spreading towards the vast East China Sea.
At the same time, his clear and peaceful voice, which resonated throughout the vast sea, rang out: "Wanshou Mountain, Zhen Yuanzi, has come to visit Fellow Daoist Zulong. Please grant me an audience."
The sound was not loud, yet it seemed to contain the laws of the Great Dao, penetrating through layers of waves and spatial barriers, and directly reaching the core of the dragon race deep beneath the sea.
Deep in the East China Sea lies the forbidden land of the Dragon Palace.
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A magnificent palace constructed from countless giant crystals, ancient corals, and deep-sea cold iron, even more luxurious and grand than Yuan Feng's Fire Jade Palace.
Deep within the palace, a man clad in a nine-dragon robe, wearing a flat-topped crown, with a majestic face and imposing figure, was in seclusion, comprehending the Great Dao of Water. He naturally exuded the aura of a supreme emperor who ruled the four seas and controlled all waters; he was none other than the chief of the scaled creatures, the lord of the four seas—the Ancestral Dragon.
Just as Zhen Yuanzi's aura dissipated and the Daoist voice resounded, the Ancestral Dragon suddenly opened his eyes. In his dragon eyes, which were like the deepest ocean, an incomparably sharp divine light instantly erupted.
"Such a powerful aura!" Zu Long felt a slight chill. His vast divine sense immediately spread towards the source of the aura like invisible ripples, attempting to investigate the background of this uninvited guest.
However, when his divine sense touched that profound and heavy aura that seemed to originate from the same source as the earth, it was like a mud ox entering the sea, unable to penetrate even a fraction of its depth!
All one could sense was the vastness and profundity of that aura, as if one were facing not a living being, but an endless land, a nascent chaos, and one could not fathom the depth of its cultivation!
"This person—even I can't see through him?" Zu Long was shocked. He was a Hunyuan Golden Immortal, ruling over the four seas, and he believed that his cultivation was unparalleled. In the vast primordial world, there were very few who could compare with him.
He had heard of Zhen Yuanzi's name in recent years and knew that he had brought merit to the world by preaching in the West, but he never expected that his Taoist practice had advanced to such a level!
His divine senses subconsciously turned to the figure beside Zhen Yuanzi, surrounded by crimson clouds and light.
"Ancestor Hongyun—the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, his aura is perfectly harmonious, and the four elements are faintly showing signs of returning to their origin. He is only one step away from the Hunyuan realm, and he is indeed a remarkable figure." Zulong instantly judged Hongyun's realm, which did not surprise him too much. In the vast prehistoric world, there are always some people with profound backgrounds.
But Zhen Yuanzi's unfathomable depths made even the Lord of the Four Seas feel unprecedented pressure and apprehension.
"Merit—could the power of merit really have such a miraculous effect on improving cultivation? Could it have allowed him to reach a realm that even I cannot fathom in such a short time?"
The same guess as Yuan Feng's arose involuntarily in Zu Long's mind.
He couldn't understand what else, besides the mysterious and unpredictable Heavenly Dao merits, could allow someone's cultivation to advance so quickly.
He was naturally unaware that Zhen Yuanzi's cultivation was the result of a combination of factors, including arduous cultivation, fortunate encounters, the creation of new methods, and the protection of merits, and was far from being simply a matter of accumulating merits.
Shocked as he was, the First Emperor was, after all, a ruler who dominated the four seas, and his calm demeanor allowed him to suppress the turmoil in his heart in an instant.
The other party politely informed him of the situation and did not force his way in. There was no malice in their aura, so he naturally could not be impolite, nor could he show weakness.
With a thought, a majestic will emanated from his secluded meditation chamber.
A moment later, an old man dressed in a black official robe, carrying a huge tortoise shell on his back, with an ancient face and eyes full of wisdom and vicissitudes, walked steadily into the hall and respectfully bowed: "This old minister pays his respects to the Dragon Emperor."
This turtle prime minister was far from being as weak as later legends portray him.
His aura was deep and profound, clearly indicating that he was a powerful expert in the early stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm!
He was one of the few elders in the Dragon Clan, besides the Ancestral Dragon, who had reached the Great Luo Realm. He was deeply trusted by the Ancestral Dragon and was responsible for handling many internal and external affairs of the Dragon Clan.
"Prime Minister Turtle," the First Emperor's voice boomed, carrying an unquestionable authority, "guests have arrived from afar. Wanshou Mountain's Zhen Yuanzi and the Red Cloud Ancestor have reached the shores of the East Sea. You shall take my token and go to greet them, leading them to the Crystal Palace for a meeting. Remember, do not be negligent."
As he spoke, a golden token radiating the aura of a true dragon emperor and engraved with a nine-clawed divine dragon flew toward the Turtle Prime Minister.
The Turtle Prime Minister accepted the token with both hands. He felt the Dragon Emperor's will and Zhen Yuanzi's unfathomable aura contained within the token, and his heart tightened, knowing that the newcomer was no ordinary person.
His face was solemn, and he bowed, replying, "This old minister obeys the decree! I will certainly treat you with the utmost courtesy and welcome you into the palace."
Having said that, Prime Minister Turtle did not delay any longer. With a flicker, he transformed into a soft, light blue streak, moving swiftly and silently through the palaces and waters like a swimming fish, heading towards the sea and the direction where Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun were.
On the shores of the East China Sea, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun stood quietly on the clouds, patiently waiting.
They could sense countless aquatic divine senses, some strong and some weak, secretly observing them with curiosity, vigilance, and awe, yet none dared to approach and disturb them.
Before long, the calm sea suddenly parted to the sides, revealing a path paved with soft light that stretched from the seabed up to their feet. An old man carrying a tortoise shell on his back, with a deep breath and a warm smile, walked steadily along the path of light—it was none other than the Tortoise Prime Minister.
He approached and respectfully bowed, his voice gentle yet dignified: "I am the Dragon Clan's Turtle Minister, here on the orders of our Emperor, the Ancestral Dragon, to welcome fellow Daoists Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun. Our Emperor has prepared a modest banquet in the Crystal Palace and cordially invites you two to come in for a chat."
Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun exchanged a glance, knowing that the Ancestral Dragon had already agreed. Zhen Yuanzi nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Thank you for leading the way, Prime Minister Gui."
"Fellow Daoists, please follow me."
The Turtle Prime Minister stepped aside to invite them, then turned around and led Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun onto the light path leading to the Dragon Palace in the deep sea.
With a flash of light, the three figures slowly sank beneath the blue waves and disappeared from the surface of the sea.