Revisiting the Dragon Palace, Danger Lurks

The next morning, at the Nu River dock.

Dawn was breaking, and a thin mist drifted over the river.

The Flying Horse Merchant Association members had arrived early.

Besides Qian Tong, there were four guards dressed in tight black water robes.

The four exuded a steady aura, their temples bulging, their gazes sharp, clearly elite.

Especially the tall, thin man in black behind Qian Tong, though he hadn't spoken, the cold aura emanating from him made the surrounding air feel oppressive.

Lu Chen immediately recognized him as a master.

At least at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm, perhaps even touching the threshold of the Meridian Connecting Realm.

"Hall Master Lu, good morning!"

Seeing Lu Chen arrive with Wang Xiaoliu, Qian Tong greeted him enthusiastically.

"Steward Qian, good morning."

Lu Chen nodded, glancing at the four guards. "It seems Steward Qian has brought out all his elites this time."

"Ah, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Qian Tong said with a smile, "The Dragon Palace is extremely dangerous. Bringing more people means more support. Hall Master Lu doesn't mind, does he?"

"I don't mind."

Lu Chen shrugged. "As long as they don't slow us down."

A flicker of anger flashed in the guards' eyes, suppressed by a look from Qian Tong.

"Is everything ready?" Lu Chen asked.

"Everything is ready."

Qian Tong clapped his hands.

Someone brought over several exquisite wooden boxes.

Qian Tong opened one. Inside lay a bead the size of a dragon's eye, crystal clear, emitting a faint blue light.

"This is a 'Water Repelling Pearl'. Although it's a low-grade, single-use item, it can create a three-foot-wide bubble underwater for half an hour."

Qian Tong's face showed pain. "I spent a fortune buying these in the prefectural city. There are only five in total."

Lu Chen was somewhat surprised.

Is this the legendary Magic Tool?

As expected of a major merchant association, they're rich and powerful. He's been in Nujiang County for so long, he's never even heard of such a good item.

"Indeed."

Lu Chen nodded, "With this, it's certainly much more convenient."

Besides the Water Repelling Pearl, the Flying Horse Merchant Association had also prepared special Underwater Crossbows, Water Splitting Daggers, and even a few Underwater Burning Talismans.

The fully armed setup made Wang Xiaoliu drool.

"Alright, let's set off."

Lu Chen didn't want to waste time.

The group boarded a modified speedboat and headed towards the center of the river.

The "Ghost's Worry" whirlpool.

Half a month had passed, and the waves here were still turbulent.

But for the current Lu Chen, such currents posed no threat.

"Go down."

Lu Chen jumped into the river first.

Splash!

Water splashed everywhere.

Qian Tong and the others crushed their Water Repelling Pearls and jumped down.

A light blue barrier enveloped their bodies, pushing back the river water.

They could breathe freely within the barrier. Although their movements were hindered, it was much better than being directly submerged in water.

Lu Chen did not have a Water Repelling Pearl.

He weaved through the rapids like a fish.

With his perfected Iron Cloth Shirt and the cold energy from Profound Nether Hand protecting his body, he was fearless of the water pressure and cold.

Looking at the agile figure ahead, Qian Tong's eyes deepened with apprehension.

"This kid is practically a monster in the water."

He whispered to the man in black beside him, "When we get there, keep a close eye on him. Once we get the item, make your move immediately."

"Understood." The man in black nodded coldly.

The group quickly descended.

They encountered no obstacles along the way.

After the Water Ghost King died, the ordinary water ghosts had been mostly killed by Lu Chen, and the rest had scattered.

Soon, the familiar ruins appeared.

Seeing the magnificent underwater palace again, Lu Chen was still shocked.

Qian Tong and the others were even more dumbfounded.

"It really is the Dragon Palace..."

Qian Tong stared greedily at the giant stone pillars and collapsed walls, "We're rich... We're really rich this time!"

He could tell this was an Ancient Sect Ruins.

Even a single brick, taken back, could be worth a fortune.

"Stop looking."

Lu Chen swam over and gestured, "The entrance is over there."

He pointed to the Stone Gate he had kicked open.

The group swam into the main hall.

Upon entering, the temperature plummeted.

Even with the Water Repelling Pearls, Qian Tong and the others shivered.

"Such heavy Yin energy!"

The man in black's expression changed, "There must be something extremely ominous inside!"

"Don't make a fuss."

Lu Chen said indifferently, "This is the Profound Nether Sect ruins, it's normal for the Yin energy to be heavy. Follow me, don't wander off."

He led the group through the front hall and deeper inside.

The pitted holes on the walls made Qian Tong's heart pound.

"Hall Master Lu, these walls... were they originally inlaid with something?" Qian Tong couldn't help but ask.

"Oh, some glowing stones."

Lu Chen lied with a straight face, "I thought it looked nice, so I dug some up to give away."

Qian Tong's mouth twitched.

Glowing stones?

That must have been Netherworld Stones!

This prodigal son actually gave them away?

His heart bled, but he still had to force a smile.

Soon, they arrived at the center of the main hall.

The Cold Jade Chair sat there quietly.

Although the Withered Bone had been moved by Lu Chen, it still maintained its seated posture.

Upon seeing the Withered Bone, Qian Tong and the guards' eyes turned red.

Their fanaticism was like starving wolves seeing meat.

"That is..."

Qian Tong's voice trembled, "The remains of a senior from the Profound Nether Sect!"

"He must have a Storage Pouch on him! He must have a Cultivation Manual!"

He could no longer maintain his composure and rushed forward.

Lu Chen stood aside and watched coldly.

He didn't stop him.

Because the most valuable items on the Withered Bone, the Profound Nether Hand and the Netherworld Stones, had already been pocketed by him.

What remained was just an empty shell.

But Qian Tong didn't know that.

He lunged at the Withered Bone and fumbled around.

Just then.

Crack.

With a crisp sound, the Withered Bone's skull suddenly moved.

Two wisps of eerie green Ghost Fire lit up in the hollow eye sockets!

"Careful!"

The man in black shouted.

Too late.

The Withered Bone suddenly raised its hand, its bony fingers instantly piercing Qian Tong's shoulder.

"Ah--!"

Qian Tong let out a piercing scream.

Blood gushed out, dyeing the Cold Jade Chair red.

"It's come back to life!"

The guards panicked.

Lu Chen, standing behind, wore a strange smile on his face.

The Withered Bone hadn't come back to life, of course.

The reason it moved was because a few extremely fine, transparent threads connected to Lu Chen's fingers were hidden in the gaps between its bones.

These were the "Puppet Silk" that he had specifically asked Wang Xiaoliu to prepare last night.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your Bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.