A Visit to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, Old Ties Renewed; A Cunning Alliance Forged for Resources

The East Sea stretched vast and boundless, its waters shrouded in mist.

A streak of azure light silently slipped beneath the endless waves, evading the Sea Patrol Yaksha as it sped toward the Dragon Palace in the Deep Sea. Within the light were Tongtian, disguised beyond recognition, Saint Mother Wudang, and Kui Niu, who had also concealed their presence.

Tongtian now appeared slightly stooped, his face transformed into that of a lean, vigorous old Daoist in a blue robe, with a long, flowing beard. He held a horsetail whisk, and his aura was restrained to the level of a True Immortal, making him look every bit like an Overseas Rogue Cultivator. This was one of the disguises provided by the system, sufficient to fool the vast majority of those who might investigate. Saint Mother Wudang had transformed into a young girl in green, while Kui Niu had shrunk in size and concealed his aura as well.

The deeper they went, the dimmer the light became and the greater the pressure, but the spiritual energy grew ever richer. Strange deep-sea creatures were everywhere. Coral forests shimmered in splendid colors, while luminous pearls and shellfish glowed with a gentle radiance, making the place seem like a wonderland beneath the waves.

Yet beneath all this splendor, Tongtian could keenly sense an intangible air of oppression. The patrols of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals had clearly increased, and their expressions were wary. The Dragon Palace's own aquatic soldiers were even more imposing, their killing intent barely concealed, as if bracing for a great enemy. Clearly, the Dragon Clan's situation was not as calm and peaceful as it appeared.

[You have entered the core region of the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. The defensive formation of the Dragon Palace's outer city lies one hundred li ahead.] The system's navigation prompt appeared.

Tongtian slowed and gestured to Wudang. Saint Mother Wudang immediately stepped forward, took out a Jade Slip prepared in advance and inscribed with the distinctive runes of the Shangqing Immortal Method, then infused it with magic power and gently activated it.

The Jade Slip transformed into a gentle glow suffused with a unique Daoist resonance. Like a fish, it ignored the layers of water pressure and currents, shooting precisely toward the Dragon Palace.

It was one of the tokens Tongtian had bestowed on Ao Guang, who had been a crown prince at the time, when Tongtian had once lectured the Dragon Clan on the Dao. It contained a special aura that only members of the Dragon Clan's inner circle could recognize.

Before long, a slit silently opened in the transparent defensive barrier surrounding the Dragon Palace, its surface rippling with powerful Dragon Power. A team of guards in distinctive armor swiftly emerged, led by a Crab General at the Golden Immortal level. They looked respectful, though tinged with uncertainty.

The Crab General caught the flying Jade Slip and examined it carefully. His expression changed, and he became even more deferential. He bowed from afar in the direction of Tongtian and the others, then sent a transmission: "We did not know an envoy from the Sect Master had arrived. Please forgive our failure to welcome you! His Majesty invites you in. Please follow me!"

Tongtian gave a slight nod. With Wudang and Kui Niu beside him, he followed the Crab General through the defensive formation and officially entered the territory of the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.

As soon as they passed through the formation, the view opened up before them!

A magnificent underwater palace complex stretched out ahead, its end nowhere in sight. Its roofs were tiled with colored glaze, its bricks made of crystal, its pillars of White Jade, and its floors paved with agate. Countless enormous Luminous Pearls, Water Repelling Pearls, and Sea-Calming Pearls were set throughout, illuminating the entire Dragon Palace as brightly as day. Treasure light soared into the sky, and auspicious colors filled the air!

Great coral forests swayed between the palaces, schools of rare Dragon Carp frolicked, and graceful Shell Maidens danced. Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, the Turtle Prime Minister, Whale Warriors, and other aquatic beings patrolled in orderly ranks by the tens of thousands.

What a Dragon Palace of the East Sea! It was indeed famed throughout the Primordial World for its wealth.

Yet behind all that dazzling luxury, Tongtian could see that the Dragon Palace was stronger in appearance than in reality. Unease lurked in the eyes of the aquatic guards on patrol. Some corners of the palaces showed subtle signs of repair. Even the Dragon Qi in the air carried a stifled weight, as if it were constrained and suppressed.

The Crab General led Tongtian and his companions through palace after palace. Aquatic beings along the way stepped aside and bowed to them. At last, they arrived before the grandest hall of all, known as the Crystal Palace.

"Envoy, please come in. His Majesty is waiting inside," the Crab General said, bowing.

Tongtian straightened his robes and strode inside. Wudang and Kui Niu followed close behind.

The Crystal Palace was even more lavish, with treasures piled up like mountains. The Sun, Moon, and Stars Chart was set into the ceiling, turning of its own accord to mimic the heavens. The floor was made of Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade, which nourished the soul with every step. Coiled Dragon Golden Pillars stood in two rows, imposing and majestic.

At the far end of the hall, a figure sat on the Nine Dragon Throne.

He wore a Twelve-Beaded Flat Sky Crown and a Nine-Patterned Dragon Robe. His face was imposing, and a long beard hung beneath his chin. Powerful Dragon might, at the level of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, radiated from him. He was none other than the current Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang!

Yet a deeply rooted worry and weariness marked the Dragon King's brow. Though he tried to maintain his dignity, he could not hide the anxiety in his heart.

When Ao Guang saw Tongtian and the others enter, his gaze immediately fell on the "old Daoist in blue" at their head. A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. There was no question that the token was an authentic keepsake from Sect Master Tongtian himself, but the old Daoist's aura was utterly unfamiliar—and he had only the cultivation of a True Immortal?

He did not rise at once, maintaining the dignity of the Dragon King as he said solemnly, "Who stands below? You carry the Sect Master's token. What brings you here?" His deep voice echoed through the hall.

Tongtian smiled faintly but did not answer directly. Instead, he glanced at the Turtle Prime Minister, Whale Marshal, and other important Dragon Palace officials standing on either side of the hall.

Ao Guang understood and waved a hand. "You may all withdraw."

"Your Majesty..." The Turtle Prime Minister hesitated.

"Withdraw!" Ao Guang said more sharply.

"Yes..." The aquatic officials had no choice but to bow and leave the Crystal Palace. Only Ao Guang, Tongtian, and his two companions remained in the hall, along with several powerful Dragon Clan guards concealed nearby.

"Now, can you tell me?" Ao Guang fixed his gaze on Tongtian.

Only then did Tongtian speak. His voice was no longer that of an old man, but had returned to its original calm clarity, touched by the composure of one long accustomed to authority. "Ao Guang, it has been many years. You have grown ever more imposing as Dragon King of the East Sea."

At the sound of that familiar voice, and especially the way Tongtian had addressed him by name, Ao Guang sprang to his feet. Shock and disbelief covered his face. He stared at Tongtian, his pupils contracting sharply, and his voice trembled. "You... You are... Sect Master Tong..."

He could barely bring himself to say the last two words, as though they were forbidden!

Tongtian gave a slight nod. A flash of clear light passed over him, and he resumed his true appearance. His face was still pale, and his aura remained restrained, but the light in his deep eyes and the faint residual Daoist resonance of one who had once been a Saint left Ao Guang with no doubt!

Thud!

The Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang, hurried down from his throne and came before Tongtian. He bowed to the ground as if a golden mountain had collapsed or a jade pillar had fallen, his voice choked with emotion. "Ao Guang pays his respects to the Sect Master! May the Sect Master enjoy eternal life! You... You really... It really is you?!"

His excitement was not entirely feigned. In those days, Tongtian had lectured on the Great Dao at Biyou Palace, accepting disciples without discrimination. The Dragon Clan was burdened by Karma and found cultivation difficult, yet Tongtian had taken special care to explain how to dispel Karma and purify their bloodlines, bestowing a great favor upon them. Ao Guang had always remembered that bond. Moreover, the person before him had once been a Heavenly Dao Saint!

Tongtian raised a hand to help him up. "Rise. I am no longer a Saint, so there is no need for such a grand bow."

Only then did Ao Guang stand. Still struggling to contain his excitement, he looked Tongtian over carefully. When he sensed how far Tongtian's cultivation had fallen and how severely he was injured, shock and grief appeared in his eyes. "Sect Master, how... How did you end up in such a state? The outside world says the Dao Ancestor confined you to Zixiao Palace..."

"My Saint Position was abolished, and only then did I gain my freedom." Tongtian spoke calmly, but his words exploded in Ao Guang's ears like thunder.

Ao Guang was utterly stunned, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to speak. He had abolished his own Saint Position? What an earth-shattering event! He could scarcely imagine it!

After a long while, he finally absorbed the terrifying news. His expression turned exceedingly complex: awed, regretful, and deeply worried. Without his Saint Position, Sect Master Tongtian was now a sensitive figure in the eyes of the Saints. If the Dragon Clan became entangled with him, the consequences could be disastrous—or a blessing.

Tongtian took in every change in his expression and was not surprised. He got straight to the point. "I came today for two reasons: to see an old friend, and to make a deal with the Dragon Clan."

"A deal?" Ao Guang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "Please, Sect Master. If it is within Ao Guang's power..." His tone had grown much more cautious.

"I need resources to treat my injuries and cultivate." Tongtian glanced around the opulent Crystal Palace. "The Dragon Palace has deep reserves. Surely it has no shortage of such things."

Ao Guang's expression showed that he had expected as much, and he also relaxed a little. If Tongtian only wanted resources, they could discuss it. Better to pay him off with resources and avoid becoming too deeply entangled.

He hastened to say, "That can be arranged! The Sect Master has shown the Dragon Clan kindness. The Dragon Palace can spare some resources. What treasures do you need? Spirit pills? Immortal herbs? Or..."

"Everything," Tongtian interrupted, his tone allowing no argument. "And not just a little—an enormous amount. Enough to help a Quasi-Saint repair his Dao Foundation and even advance further."

The smile froze on Ao Guang's face. He drew in a sharp breath. "This... Sect Master, I do not mean to refuse, but that is an enormous quantity of resources. Even for the Dragon Palace, it is no small amount. We would have to open our secret vaults... The commotion would be too great. It might not escape Heavenly Court Surveillance..."

He did not finish, but the meaning was clear: he was asking for too much, and Ao Guang could not manage it without risking trouble.

Tongtian seemed to have expected this. He smiled faintly. "Heavenly Court? Haotian certainly carries himself with authority these days. He has the Dragon Clan under his thumb, doesn't he? Every shower of rain across the Four Seas has to be reported to Heaven for approval? A Dragon Son or Grandson who so much as makes a mistake is punished under the Heavenly Laws? Even the treasures in this Dragon Palace's vault must already be listed in Heavenly Court's ledger, right?"

Ao Guang's face instantly turned ugly. This was the Dragon Clan's greatest sore point. In name, they ruled the Four Seas, but in reality they were little more than laborers for the Heavenly Court, restrained at every turn and forced to live in constant fear.

"The Sect Master sees clearly. The Dragon Clan is indeed in a difficult position," Ao Guang said bitterly.

"So you are content to remain this way forever? To be slowly devoured until you are reduced to vassals of the Heavenly Court?" Tongtian's tone turned cold. "Or even become someone else's mount, or a resource on their dinner table?"

His words were like a sharp knife, piercing Ao Guang's deepest fear. Dragon liver and phoenix marrow were famous dishes at the Heavenly Court's Peach Banquet! For now, they only used Dragon Beasts with impure bloodlines—but who could guarantee that would never change?

"Sect Master... What exactly are you trying to say?" Ao Guang's voice was hoarse.

"A deal," Tongtian repeated, his gaze sharp as a sword. "I will give you—and the Dragon Clan—a chance to change your fate. In return, you will provide the initial resources I need. This is not charity. It is an investment, and an alliance."

"Change our fate?" Ao Guang's breath caught. A yearning flickered in his eyes, but suspicion outweighed it. "Sect Master, it is not that Ao Guang disbelieves you, but in your current state..." He did not finish, but the meaning was obvious: You can barely look after yourself. How could you offer my Dragon Clan a future?

Tongtian offered no explanation. He merely raised one hand, palm up.

The next moment, a fine thread of Chaos Qi appeared in his palm. It was incomparably pure, contained a supreme Daoist resonance, and wavered gently.

The moment this strand of energy appeared, all the treasures in the Crystal Palace dimmed! The Dragon blood inside Ao Guang boiled in an instant, responding with awe and yearning that came from the depths of his very life source. He could even feel the Karma that had troubled the Dragon Clan for countless epochs grow more docile in its presence!

"Chaos Origin?!" Ao Guang cried out, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets! As Dragon King, his knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary people. He recognized this legendary power at once!

Tongtian withdrew the Chaos Qi and stood with his hands behind his back. "Though I have lost my Saint Position, the path ahead remains. The Primordial Dao need not be inferior to the Heavenly Dao of the Saints. The Dragon Clan's plight stems from Karma and the suppression of the Heavenly Dao. If you pursue the Path of Hunyuan, you may find another way."

Ao Guang's heart pounded as his expression shifted. The Primordial Dao! Had Tongtian abolished his Saint Position to pursue this path? And he had already condensed a trace of Chaos Origin? That proved his words were true. He had really found a way forward!

The risk was enormous—but the temptation was greater! Just as Ao Guang wrestled with himself, a Shrimp Soldier suddenly rushed into the hall in a panic, heedless of etiquette, and reported urgently, "Your Majesty! Disaster! A Heavenly Patrol Envoy has arrived at the South Heaven Gate with an edict. He says that, on the orders of Haotian Shangdi, the Heavenly Court is launching a surprise audit of the Dragon Palace of the East Sea's resource records for the past hundred years. They are on their way to the Crystal Palace now!"