The annoying inspection did not last long.
Though the goldfish guard had a poor memory, it was conscientious enough. After confirming the identities of the guests, it spat out a huge bubble for them to climb into, then used its tail to push the bubble into the pond.
From outside, the pond looked clear and shallow.
But once the bubble sank into the pond, Zheng Qing felt as if he had entered a high-speed elevator—outside the transparent bubble wall, lights and shadows flashed past in rapid succession: slender swimming fish, oval scallops, sideways-scuttling crabs, and more. The aquatic creatures shimmered with Magic Halos of every color, dazzling his eyes until he could not help but close them.
When Zheng Qing felt the bubble tremble and opened his eyes again, he found himself in a deep blue world.
It felt as though he were standing on the seabed, yet when he looked up, he could see a brilliant river of stars in the sky.
This contradictory, novel sensation left the young wizards rooted to the spot for a moment, their heads tilted back as they admired nature's magnificent and wondrous scenery.
"Quankelai welcomes your arrival." A large bluish-black crab waved its enormous claws, each of which held a bouquet of magical flowers. Its voice sounded like a brush scraping wood, dry and hoarse. "...New guests, don't stand in the doorway. You'll block the way for the other customers."
Zheng Qing suddenly snapped out of it. Tugging the witch along, he hurried away.
Unlike the Pedestrian Streets of Huizi Market, Four Seasons Market, or Beta Town, Quankelai's market was located underwater. This gave it two very distinct characteristics—heavy moisture and dim lighting.
Although the organizers had used an enormous bubble-like barrier to separate the market from the seawater, creating an air-filled world