Outside the Dragon Palace, the battle had already reached a fever pitch. The azure sea shimmered with light from the conflict. Dragon Palace guardians gathered from all directions, forming formations to encircle and slaughter. Bloodstains filled the sky wildly. Every so often, strong lights swept past, sending fragments of corpses flying, shreds of meat scattered, with pieces of claws and scales drifting in the water. Dead fish and rotten shrimp were everywhere. It was evident that the Inverted Immortal possessed extraordinary skills, blocking at the Dragon Palace entrance and solo-killing, something not achievable by ordinary people.
However, it doesn’t matter how hard you can fight; if you can’t get in, it’s all in vain.
So, the Inverted Immortal fought chaotically at the entrance, causing the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals to howl in agony, while Chen Xuantian took Yang Yunzhao to continue their tour of the Yunmeng Palace. In the Dragon King’s material library, he gathered a set of equipment for him, then went to the Clam Palace Medicine Garden to grab a bunch of pearl coral, and on their way past the Imperial Kitchen, they stole a couple of jars of Immortal Dishes and Spirit Brews, drinking themselves into a state of intoxication. Passing by the Laundry Bureau, they stole some Feathered Robes and Flowing Clouds and Brocade Cloaks. Occasionally, a half-headed shrimp would explode and fly outside the palace, whetting their appetite, making it an enjoyable romp.
After circling around for an hour, Yang Yunzhao suddenly frowned and grabbed Chen Xuantian,
"Benbo’erba, I feel a strange pressure. Could it be..."
Chen Xuantian looked at Yang Yunzhao, whose legs trembled, body shivered, and even his gills twitched, portraying a small fry character vividly, and laughed heartily,
"You sensed correctly. Ahead is indeed the true Dragon King Seal. If you can’t withstand the dragon’s might, there’s no need to push yourself. This is an inherent terror written in the genes. Even if your Divine Soul is solid and different from ordinary people, capable of resisting countless demons and ghosts, suppressing demon caves and deceitful spirits.
But ultimately, your body is still mortal flesh, without the realm at this moment. Your development level is insufficient. Since the genetic lock hasn’t been unlocked, naturally, you can’t withstand the dragon’s might and it’s quite normal to be unable to move, feeling so excited you might wet yourself."
"Ah, you’re quite the opposite to Chan Zi, who, even passed out, could still decapitate in one strike."
On hearing he might wet himself if he advanced further, Yang Yunzhao quickly stopped, used his banner like a cane for support,
"So what should I do now? Wait here for you?"
Chen Xuantian tossed the harvested pile he carried to Yang Yunzhao to carry, pointing to a vast aurora-like Dao Breath to the west,
"You see that icy blue spring stream there, don’t you? That’s the Cloud Dream Spring Eye, Kan Water Essence, Dongting Spiritual Vein, crystal clear without impurity, Dao Breath gushing.
Go there to wash away the filth on you. If any monster comes, hide within the spring eye, even Immortals can’t trace your presence.
If you can’t endure, escape the palace along the spring flow. Ultimately, when I finish my matters here, I’ll come to meet you."
"Oh, okay."
So, after sending Yang Yunzhao away, Chen Xuantian continued deeper into the Dragon Palace, smoothly making his way into the palace, where no grand hall was present, only a vast square-like altar. If Yang Yunzhao were here, he’d recognize that each of the densely packed copper pillars was made of the same alloy projectile core material as the rod he obtained. Astonishingly, there were as many as three hundred of them.
Yet, these Heaven’s Staffs were larger and thicker; each was like a giant wood post in a courtyard, requiring two or three adults to wrap their arms around. The part exposed outside extended two zhang or more, with numerous rune talismans engraved on each copper pillar, piercing the ground like countless golden needles, holding the foundation firmly as if ground stakes. Meanwhile, due to the copper pillar interference, the water waves formed numerous whirlpools and turbulence, with dark currents surging amid the tidal shift.
Amid these forest-like copper pillars, a giant dragon head stood at the altar’s center, towering like a high tower, staring at the water’s surface like some kind of star-gazing sect.
Of course, it wasn’t a real Dragon King; the dragon head was also cast from alloy, essentially a divine statue Dharma Seal. If observing the Qi, one could see the Dao Power was astonishing, the Qi Force frightening, indeed the core of the barrier suppressing the Yun Meng Dragon King, the Immortal Palace’s arranged Demon Suppressing Dragon God Altar.
If viewed from above, this square wasn’t actually a sect; it was a door. The entire Yun Meng Dragon Palace with its mountain-like pile of rare treasures was actually local Water Clan and Spiritual Clan’s constructed altar surrounding this sealed dragon ground’s door, offered to the Dragon King.
Without hesitation, Chen Xuantian pinched the formula in his hand, tunneling and shifting, gliding lightly like an agile quail through the chaotic flow, riding the waves among the copper pillars, spinning and winding, astonishingly making twists and turns amid this copper pillar-filled square for a full quarter of an hour before approaching the dragon head copper statue.
Then he reached into his sleeve and retrieved a bell, shook it with a "jingle jingle," cleared his throat, and shouted with a hint of drunkenness,
"Lord Yun Meng~ Lord Yun Meng~ An old friend is here, aren’t you going to come out and meet?"
"Crack crack crack."
The dragon head statue slowly opened its eyes, staring blankly at the chubby fish head before it with its pupil-less eyeballs.
Chen Xuantian chuckled, transforming in a flash, his Primordial Spirit manifesting, changing to appear as the unremarkable Lingxu Zi,
"It’s me, it’s me. It’s Yuqing Zi. I’ve come to settle our past after five thousand years."
"Sir!"
Ripples arose on the water, then from the other side of the statue, a handsome youth appeared, wearing a green robe, with silver horns on his head, a refined face, eyes like fragmented gold, respectfully bowing to Chen Xuantian,
"Meng Bing greets the master."
Chen Xuantian accepted the bow with a serene demeanor, kindly speaking,
"Lord Yun Meng, your death has arrived. Are you ready?"
Lord Yun Meng bowed under Chen Xuantian’s feet,
"Thank you, master, for granting my wish."
Chen Xuantian nodded,
"Good, as long as you’re ready. You kept your promise, so I keep mine, here to settle your affairs. Is there any unfulfilled desire?"
Lord Yun Meng was silent for a moment, then shook his head,
"After all these years, Meng Bing wishes nothing but to be reborn, to escape this prison. Please grant my wish, master."
Chen Xuantian smiled,
"It’s not difficult, all within my calculations. But there is one thing I must ask you, speak while standing."
Lord Yun Meng respectfully rose, standing beside,
"Yes, master, please instruct."
Chen Xuantian squinted with a smile,
"I remember your prime minister was a turtle, right? Why is there a newbie now?"
Lord Yun Meng looked bewildered, perhaps never expecting the master to ask about the turtle upon reunion after so long. Yet, the master’s reputation is matched only by himself, as the Mystic Sect’s senior brother under Thunder Ancestor, beyond ordinary comprehension, honestly responding,
"In response to the master, that old turtle served me for many years, and recently told me it wanted to see the world, so I allowed it a leave of absence. The current steward might have been hired by my sons; I haven’t met them."
Chen Xuantian with a happy smirk,
"I see, I see. Then, how many days ago was it? A hundred years? Two hundred years?"
Lord Yun Meng tried hard to recall,
"I can’t remember, but I recall the old turtle saying that the Sword Sect Leader was going to take over as the Cloud Platform Chief and attend the ceremony at Nine Yin Mountain."
Chen Xuantian smiled broadly, pinched his fingers in calculation,
"I see, I see. Well, it’s a matter of at least a thousand years ago. By the way, that Sword Sect has been wiped out."
Lord Yun Meng was greatly shocked,
"Eh, eh? A thousand years! Have I slept for so long this time!?"
Chen Xuantian nodded,
"I see, I see. You haven’t woken up for a thousand years. It seems someone has broken my restriction, bypassed my array, sealed your Divine Light, and plotted against you."
Lord Yun Meng was greatly shocked,
"What! Who in the world could break the restriction you set, Master!? This is impossible!"
Chen Xuantian said bashfully,
"It’s passed, it’s passed. Learn as you live, the waves of the Li River push forward the new wave, while the old wave dies on the beach. Heaven’s Chosen Son, capable people emerge generation after generation. Having someone break my prohibition isn’t a big deal. At least my junior brothers have this ability, and it seems others are also targeting your body."
Lord Yun Meng wasn’t foolish, quickly understanding Chen Xuantian’s meaning, he said with a helpless expression,
"What virtue and ability does Meng Bing have that it requires the four guarding Daoist Lords to initiate a catastrophic fight? Why don’t you take action now, Master?"
Chen Xuantian laughed,
"No rush, no rush. The person supposed to perform Soldier Disintegration for you will arrive in a few days; I still need to test him. There’s no need to rush.
Moreover, even if I don’t act, there are others lined up to guarantee you a clean and efficient death.
But doesn’t Lord Yun Meng have any attachment? This is a huge karma that must be settled."
Lord Yun Meng looked back at the earth-shattering battle continuing outside the Dragon Palace, shook his head and said,
"Even after all this time, the Taiji Realm is still a realm of endless struggle and slaughter. When you, Master, personally intervened to spare my life and extend the lineage of my Dragon Clan, it was already a great favor.
Now, they have dispersed to their own pursuits, and my wish is fulfilled. Trapped in this prison, there’s no attachment left. It’s better to return."
Chen Xuantian laughed,
"Ah, times have changed. Now, the world is in chaos; releasing you to establish a new reign wouldn’t be too difficult. True, with your full forces at hand, conquering the Central Plains and contending for domination still might be challenging.
Yet, if you could reverse the course of the Li River and reclaim the Southern Border demon crowd, setting up a separate regime isn’t impossible. Retreating , you could flee to the sea, enjoying the vastness. Living free outside the worldly matters, wouldn’t that also be delightful?"
Lord Yun Meng shook his head,
"No need for probing, Master. I have remembered your teachings deeply. No matter the freedom, I am ultimately only a spirit beast stuck at the threshold to Divinity Transformation Realm, unable to escape the bindings of a monster body and transform into a human, unlikely to achieve true results.
Initially, I had no intention of the Immortal Palace throne. Born a Dragon Son, I had no choice but to leave the Dao, descend the mountain, and fight alongside my kin. Now, as the world moves like smoke, after all these years, my heart in Seeking Dao remains unchanged. I ask you, Master, to fulfill my wish."
Chen Xuantian nodded,
"Alright, since your decision is firm, I’ll make arrangements for your aftermath. However, I’m in a hurry this time, so I will ask directly. Are there any descendants of yours worth nurturing? Do you want me to lend a hand?"
Lord Yun Meng shook his head and smiled wryly,
"My offspring, ha, do I not know them? Our clan develops too slowly, relying on physical dominance, doing as they please since childhood, their wild nature difficult to tame. Even at thousands of years old, they remain more beast-like than dragon.
No matter the Primordial Strange Species, without insight to recognize the true Immortal Mountain Man, ignorant of the vastness of the world, they will ultimately be relegated to the fate of beasts pulling a cart, mere rotten meat in the Alchemy Furnace..."
However, Lord Yun Meng didn’t definitively dismiss the idea, he paused and then continued,
"But I have one daughter, Pu Lao, who is diligent and earnest in her cultivation, being the only one among her siblings who studies and learns, often seeking guidance on the True Inheritor truths of the Daoist Collection. She reminds me of my younger self, striving for knowledge. If she isn’t too foolish in your eyes, Master, please offer some guidance."
Chen Xuantian pinched his fingers in calculation, his curiosity evident,
"Pu Lao? Your daughter... is she born with a toad?"
Lord Yun Meng blushed,
"Master, don’t tease. Her mother is the Golden Toad of Kunlun, a foster daughter of the Golden Pool Saint Mother, whom I met when visiting Kunlun seeking Immortals..."
Chen Xuantian nodded repeatedly,
"I understand, I understand. You were young and passionate. I get it, I get it. Where is she now? Is she still in Kunlun?"
Lord Yun Meng sighed,
"Back then, Kunlun Golden Pool was occupied by a group of invading Demon Path, so her mother fled here to seek refuge. Now my daughter is probably cultivating in the Spring Eye. After two thousand years, she should be nearing her transformation into her true form. Please, Master, give her a name."
"I see, such karma... fascinating, fascinating..."
Chen Xuantian pinched his fingers in calculation, understanding the situation, smiled warmly,
"Alright, rest assured, I will take care of your body and raise your daughter. You can leave with peace of mind, no need for further worry."
Lord Yun Meng bowed deeply in thanks,
"Thank you, Master, for fulfilling my wish."

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