Dingjiao really knows how to make a grand entrance...
The entire street beside Li Zhouwei was shrouded in shadow. A crowd of cultivators fled in all directions, taking flight one after another beyond the grand formation. The area emptied out in an instant.
White Banyan muttered, "This Dragon Son..."
Everything was in chaos as everyone fled. The two mortal children from before had already vanished. Before White Banyan could finish speaking, a streak of silvery lightning leaped out from the marketplace, bounded across the sea a few times, and flew toward the Bicolor Scaled Beast.
A resonant male voice rang out. "Miao Ye of Thunder Island greets the Dragon Son of Clear Sea and Still Pond!"
Li Zhouwei had met this man before. He had once come to Moongaze Lake to request the Duruo Spear. He was quite capable, and had privately inquired about matters regarding the ancestors. It turned out he was now stationed in the Southern Sea.
Miao Ye placed both hands on his knees, knelt midair with both legs, then retracted his hands. With one knee down and one foot grounded, he kowtowed three times in succession. He kept his eyes low and did not dare to speak.
Activating his perception technique, Li Zhouwei’s vision sharpened. A fierce-looking demon general with bulging cheeks and black armor stood atop the Bicolor Scaled Beast, cracking a long whip. His expression was foul as he shouted, "This has nothing to do with you! Stand aside and wait!"
Miao Ye let out a breath of relief and stepped to the side, instructing his attendants to bring blood food. The black-armored demon general scolded impatiently, "The Dragon Monarch’s birthday is near. No blood food is allowed in the Eastern Sea. Take that filthy stuff away. If the lord sees it, who knows what trouble you’ll get into!"
There were still about two weeks until the Dragon Monarch’s birthday. How could Miao Ye not know that? Otherwise, why would he bring up blood food? It was merely an excuse for the other party to scold him. He nodded and bowed repeatedly, thanking the warning and stood respectfully by the side.
Miao Ye kept apologizing. White Banyan and Li Zhouwei observed it all as they made their way out of the marketplace. The fox sneered as he looked around. The area was now completely deserted now that all the cultivators had cleared out.
Li Zhouwei looked around as he exited the water barrier. The surroundings were murky. The once-vast yellow-green seabed, filled with coral and sea grass and glowing yellow spirit items underneath, was now covered in muddy sand and stone. They were likely swept away by the turbulent waters.
The Miao Family probably gathered them over decades, and now it’s all gone... thought Li Zhouwei.
The Dragon Clan were domineering, but did they really have to show the Miao Family such blatant disrespect? Li Zhouwei found it a bit puzzling.
White Banyan smiled at him and whispered, "Thunder Island once came into possession of a treasure highly valued by the Dragon Clan. Both the Black Dragon lineage and the White Dragon lineage sent envoys to exchange for it. After much deliberation, the Miao Family gave it to the envoy of the Black Dragon lineage..."
White Banyan looked like he was gloating a little as he said, "Either way, they were bound to offend one side. The White Dragon lineage was thoroughly offended. So Dingjiao showed up all the way here with a nasty attitude. Miao Ye knows this well and is terrified of making a single wrong move. He’s in deep trouble now."
Li Zhouwei finally understood and asked, "What kind of treasure was it? The Dragon Clan is wealthy in the Eastern Sea, yet this was enough to cause infighting among them?"
White Banyan replied, "It was the Radiance Profound Essence!"
Li Zhouwei immediately caught on, So it was for the sake of offspring.
Radiance Profound Essence was just an ordinary Purple Mansion Realm spirit item and not particularly valuable to the Dragon Clan. However, its effect of aiding conception made it extremely precious!
Li Zhouwei and White Banyan were now in front of the Bicolor Scaled Beast. Miao Ye was still standing there with head lowered, not daring to move. He likely recognized Li Zhouwei, but the respectful expression on his face remained unchanged, and his breath was steady.
This one’s got depth and composure, thought Li Zhouwei.
Li Zhouwei glanced at him. The black-armored demon general stepped forward with a smile, retracted his whip, and said, "Honored guests, this way please..."
White Banyan quickly followed the demon general into the hall. Behind them, everything dissolved into endless waves. Blue and green swirled as water surged upward. Clearly, the Bicolor Scaled Beast had taken off.
Li Zhouwei steadied his footing as a hearty laugh rang out, "Fellow Daoists!"
A white-horned youth in robes embroidered with waves and serpent dragons stood before them. His light blue eyes carried a smile as he stepped forward in golden boots and said in a clear voice, "White Serpent Dragon of Clear Sea and Still Pond, Dingjiao greets fellow Daoists."
This was clearly directed at White Banyan. He flicked his pale blue sleeves and replied in a soft, melodious voice, his tone markedly different from before, "Fox of the Serene Heart, who listens to the lake’s stillness, White Banyan greets the Crown Prince."
"Excellent..." Dingjiao laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits. He invited the two to sit and then feigned surprise as he said, "So White Banyan is a Fox of the Serene Heart, with such close blood ties to Mount Dali’s master! I’ve been negligent. Had I known your identity, I should have come out to greet you myself. That was my mistake."
"You flatter me, Crown Prince." White Banyan’s eyes were slightly narrow, and his features strikingly attractive. He sat gracefully with a wine cup in hand, his tone soft and elegant as a refined smile appeared on his face. It was completely different from his usual playful demeanor. He replied gently, "I merely received the grace of the mountain lord’s blood pool and had my temperament altered by fate. I am unworthy of such courtesies."
Dingjiao suddenly understood and nodded, clapping lightly as he said, "Even so, such blessings speak of deep fortune."
The two continued their cordial conversation for a bit. Then Dingjiao turned back to Li Zhouwei, his tone turning serious, "Minghuang, I was in the wrong last time and failed to receive you properly. Now that this matter has been settled, I am deeply grateful and will remember this favor."
What Li Zhouwei truly wanted was the favor of the Dragon Clan, not one of their spirit artifacts. That Bright Yang spirit ring was certainly powerful, but not something he could make use of. So he shook his head and said, "You’re too kind, Crown Prince. It was Senior White Banyan who stepped in to help. I dare not claim credit."
As the three conversed, White Banyan displayed a completely different side. He was elegant and eloquent, weaving refined stories into the conversation and praising Dongfang You several times. Dingjiao listened with a smile; both the host and guests were clearly enjoying themselves.
The Bicolor Scaled Beast moved at astonishing speed. Time seemed to shift as Li Zhouwei listened to the two chatting. At last, he felt a slight tremor as a long-whiskered demon general stepped forward to report, "Honored sirs, we’ve arrived at the Grave Abyss."
Dingjiao rose and began descending, leading the two while speaking softly, "Minghuang, you might not know, so let me explain. This place lies south of the Southern Sea and is called the Grave Abyss."
The group flew off the scaled beast together. A vast sandy terrain stretched before them, with stone islands of various sizes arranged in a radial pattern. A massive abyssal trench lay in the center, and was so wide that one could not see the far end of the chasm even with the sharpest gaze.
The landmasses on both sides of the abyss were shattered. Some were as large as cities, and others as small as houses. Seawater flowed along web-like channels into the abyss below, which contained nothing but endless darkness.