As Cloud Prefecture's foremost martial academy, the Heavenly Strategy Academy welcomed a new group of young talents from across the prefecture every spring.
Some were sent in through the connections of powerful local families, while many others were Dragon-Tiger Guards from local Martial Temples.
After entering the Heavenly Strategy Academy, Lu Chen soon met two young men who, like him, had been Dragon-Tiger Guards.
Shen Siqi and Yuan Jiyun.
Both were around Lu Chen's age and had likewise reached perfection in the Meridian-Opening Realm. Each carried a recommendation letter personally written by his local city lord.
The three were assigned to the same temporary dormitory to await the entrance assessment several days later.
Their shared background as Dragon-Tiger Guards naturally brought them closer.
Within two days, they had become well acquainted.
One evening, after dinner, the three sat around a stone table in the courtyard, chatting.
Shen Siqi suddenly looked at Lu Chen. "Lu Chen, I heard a while ago that a massive demon tide struck your Qu River last year?"
"Apparently, you even unearthed some Underwater Dragon Palace?"
He leaned forward as he spoke.
"Was that true?"
Yuan Jiyun's interest was piqued as well.
"I heard about that too."
"They said the Water Tribe gathered at Qu River from every direction, all to fight over that Dragon Palace."
Lu Chen smiled at that.
Word certainly traveled fast.
"There really was a Dragon Palace."
Shen Siqi's eyes immediately lit up. "What was inside?"
"Any treasures left by a demon king?"
"Ancient divine weapons?"
"Or a Great Demon's inheritance?"
Lu Chen shook his head. "Nothing."
"..."
The anticipation on Shen Siqi's face froze.
Lu Chen continued, "Who knows how many years that whole Dragon Palace had been submerged at the bottom of Qu River."
"The palace was intact, and it even