Night fell.
The sky was studded with stars, a magnificent sight.
Above Longmen Gorge, in the wilderness, two small tents had been set up.
Wu Tiehu lit a campfire, scooped some sweet and clear mountain spring water to boil, and then added dried meat and some wild vegetables he had found. Before long, a bowl of fragrant meat soup was ready.
“Master, please!”
He immediately served a large bowl, respectfully offering it to Wu Ming.
“Hmm, I didn’t know you had this skill!”
Wu Ming tasted the soup, instantly sensing its rich flavor, and couldn’t help but praise it. He continued, “Rest early today; we leave at first light tomorrow!”
“Yes!”
Wu Tiehu naturally had no objections. After finishing their meal, the two extinguished the campfire and entered the tents.
The night grew quieter and deeper.
From the adjacent tent came the sound of snoring, while Wu Ming formed a hand seal and gradually drifted into sleep.
Almost at the same time, a faint ripple stirred the lake’s surface.
…
“Silently entering dreams with the wind, whispering without a sound…”
Wu Ming murmured softly. Looking down at his somewhat transparent, radiant, crystalline body, he smiled: “This is my yin spirit… my dream?”
He looked up and saw the moon now surrounded by a hazy halo.
Before him, a whirlpool appeared at the center of the emerald lake, growing larger. Ten thousand acres of green waves automatically parted, revealing a path that seemed to lead into the underworld.
“Since you insist, then I shall not decline out of courtesy!”
Wu Ming showed no hesitation and stepped forward.
Among Daoists, only those who had cultivated to the level of a true master could send their yuan shen (primal spirit) into the underworld.
Currently, he was nowhere near that level. What he was doing now was merely a dream projection technique.
In other words, everything he was seeing was simply part of his dream.
However, even though it was just a dream, he had already employed the soul-summoning technique. At this moment, being so close, the flood dragon at the bottom of the lake would undoubtedly be able to transmit some messages through it.
The waterway automatically parted, revealing colorful fish swimming past the water membranes on both sides, green algae like a lush carpet, and multicolored rocks displaying a dazzling beauty, like a dream.
“The Dao master has finally arrived. My lord the Dragon King has been waiting for you for a long time…”
At the end of the waterway lay a sacred land.
In the midst of splendor, a palace complex emerged, its sign glowing with the words “Hebo Water Palace.”
On both sides stood rows of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, clad in bright armor, holding long spears and halberds, looking both majestic and loyal.
At the entrance of the water palace, a venerable old turtle with a black gauze hat and a turtle shell on his back, dressed comically, spotted Wu Ming’s arrival and joyfully stepped forward to bow deeply.
“Great, lead the way!”
Wu Ming gazed at himself—dressed in black robes and a jade crown, holding a flywhisk in hand. Its pure glow illuminated his yin spirit, which was as translucent as glass, faintly streaked with crimson.
Looking at the turtle minister, a half-smile formed on his face, and with a flick of his sleeve, he spoke.
“Please, Taoist priest, this way!”
The turtle minister smiled, his small eyes blinking as he led the way.
The Hebo Water Palace was naturally magnificent, with pillars of gold and silver, floors of white jade, pearl decorations, and multicolored corals several zhang tall on both sides, displaying extreme luxury. Beyond these, what was even more astonishing was the incredible spiritual energy rippling throughout the underwater palace!
The mighty water veins, carrying the spiritual power of Nulong River, surged forth, even forming tidal spiritual rains that drifted down like dreams and mists.
Without this, no matter how luxurious the water palace might be, it would merely be an earthly palace. But with these spiritual rains like tides, it instantly became a sacred paradise of immortals.
Passing pavilions, terraces, and towers, the turtle minister led Wu Ming to an even more opulent hall, where the plaque above the entrance read “Pearl Radiance.”
“My lord the Dragon King has specially prepared a banquet for the Dao master. Please be seated!”
Wu Ming entered with a gracious nod.
Instantly, the pearl curtains within the hall quivered, bells and tripods sounded, and the aquatic guests on both sides turned to look, nodding in greeting.
“Dao master, please be seated!”
The turtle minister led Wu Ming to the first seat at the eastern end, where immediately pearl-clad maidens came forward with light laughter, serving delicacies, immortal fruits, and divine wines for his enjoyment.
“Play music!”
“Dance!”
Seeing Wu Ming enjoying a couple of crimson fruits, the turtle minister softly called out.
At once, the sound of bells and stringed instruments arose, and a troupe of musicians gracefully entered, playing their instruments.
Amidst the music, more than a dozen exquisitely beautiful dancers, clad only in sheer veils, stepped forward with graceful figures and charming expressions, performing enchanting songs and dances that effortlessly captivated the audience.
“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!”
Wu Ming was thoroughly delighted, enjoying the feast. Suddenly, he sighed: “Feasting on delicacies, drinking nectars, and served by celestial maidens—truly the air of immortals, enviable indeed… But where is the Dragon King?”
“Since the Taoist priest has asked, I shall go and invite him at once!”
With a smile, the turtle minister bowed and entered.
“Dragon Lord arrives!”
Before long, a clear proclamation echoed, and all the aquatic beings in the hall rose from their seats and bowed: “Hail the Dragon King!”
Wu Ming looked up and saw a procession of palace maidens carrying lanterns, colorful fans, and ornate canopies, their brows lowered respectfully.
A middle-aged man dressed in a golden robe resembling a count’s attire, wearing a jade crown, and possessing a stern visage slowly emerged, his body surrounded by swirling spiritual energy that seemed to resonate with the entire palace’s essence.
Behind him, a mighty water vein surged and roared, faintly forming the image of a great river—the complete panorama of Nulong River.
“Indeed, it’s the Dragon God Water Lord!”
Wu Ming smiled slightly and bowed respectfully.
“Dare you not kneel before Lord Hebo?”
The water soldiers on both sides shouted.
“Is this also the opinion of Lord Shuibo?”
Wu Ming, however, remained calm, raising his head to look at the seemingly angry middle-aged man, and asked with composure.
“Do you not fear my authority?”
The middle-aged man slightly raised his hand—Boom!
Amidst a dragon’s roar, a vast, golden dragon phantom appeared behind him, its eyes fixed on Wu Ming.
“Alas… even the splendor of the immortals is but a fleeting dream…” Wu Ming sighed softly. “In my dream, this is my domain. No matter how vast your spiritual power may be, how much of it can you truly retain after traversing multiple seals?”
As he sighed, a flame appeared in his hand.
The fire’s radiance spread, and in Hebo’s horrified gaze, whether the jade towers and jade palaces, the myriad aquatic beings, or the shrimp soldiers and crab generals, the turtle minister and pearl maidens—all disintegrated into dust.
Even the very void seemed to shatter, tearing through the entire Hebo Water Palace, forming a vast darkness.
“Ah…”
Hebo roared in fury but could no longer maintain his form, exploding with a boom.
Wu Ming hovered in midair, watching as after Hebo’s explosion, a white jade dragon emerged, adorned with a unicorn’s horn and fish-like whiskers, its serpentine body equipped with two claws, tightly bound by layers of Daoist magical chains. Above its head floated a massive stone tablet emanating a golden radiance.
“Dragon, if you seek help, you must first consider your own situation!”
Upon seeing this dragon, Wu Ming coldly reprimanded.
The previous scene was clearly an illusion conjured by the dragon, recreating the former glory of the dragon palace in an attempt to overwhelm him with riches, beauty, and imperial power—all to gain the upper hand.
Unfortunately for it, Wu Ming was completely immune to such tricks, instantly forcing the dragon to let out a furious roar.
“Daoist, what is it you want?”
The dragon’s eyes fixed on Wu Ming, and in his mind, a voice arose—part male, part female, yet neither, the voice of a deity.
“I seek nothing, desireless and thus unyielding. Rather, it was you who dragged me into this dream, clearly seeking something. Speak plainly…”
Wu Ming’s voice rang like the collision of ice and jade, crisp and clear, reverberating across the expanse.
“Let me out!”
The dragon struggled once more, as if speaking with great reluctance.
“Release you?” Wu Ming smiled. “If my guess is correct, you should already be aware. Even the Wang family has sent people to contact you. On the second day of the second lunar month this year, you will be freed. Why the urgency?”
“That Wang brat has imprisoned me for a hundred years, subjected me to endless torment, and set up layer upon layer of traps. If I truly comply with his demands, my five hundred years of painstaking cultivation will be wasted—merely becoming a bride for others—and I still won’t be able to exact revenge on the Wang family. How can I bear this?”
A mighty voice immediately echoed within Wu Ming’s mind.
Even the surrounding lake began to boil, exposing the immense hatred of the jiao dragon.
“…Back then, I could have smoothly inherited the position of Hebo, but Wang Zhong used the excuse of suppression. This time, he hypocritically sent people, claiming they could help me escape my chains, at the cost of severing all karmic ties and even offering five parts of water dragon qi to his family’s descendants…”
Understanding Wu Ming’s temperament, the white dragon spoke bluntly: “If this happens, not only would Wang Zhong himself cleanse the last remnants of past grievances and ascend to the position of a fifth-rank city god, but his family would also merge the energies of the water dragon and the earth dragon, attaining the status of human Dao dragons. By then, I would truly have no hope of revenge!”
“I see…”
Wu Ming nodded, his eyes flashing with understanding.
The words of the flood dragon aligned perfectly with his earlier suspicions: “So you wish to escape your predicament, but how do you expect me to assist?”
Hearing Wu Ming’s question, the dragon’s eyes gleamed with a faint light: “You possess a dragon pearl, an artifact of my dragon kin. If you were to surrender it to me…”
“Impossible!”
Wu Ming’s expression darkened: “You wicked dragon, even now dare to deceive me?”
“Can’t you sense the dragon’s aura within? Your scheme to covet my Dragon Pearl isn’t just about breaking free… Could it be that you even aspire to directly attain a true dragon’s form? Heh… Quite the clever plan indeed. But if this humble Daoist ends up losing both the treasure and his life in the end—that is absolutely unacceptable!”
At this, the white jade dragon also showed a trace of helplessness.
It detected the Suilong Pearl on Wu Ming, aware that this treasure could greatly enhance its own essence and dragon nature, even containing draconic energy. If it obtained the pearl, not only could it immediately break free from its chains, but it could also gain tremendous fortune. Though it might not instantly transform into a true dragon, its draconic form would advance significantly.
Its previous elaborate schemes were largely for this purpose.
Unfortunately, the pearl already had an owner. Without Wu Ming’s consent, even if it managed to escape, it would not dare forcibly seize the pearl—it would incur immense karma alongside great fortune, a reckless move indeed.
“Such a method is unacceptable. If you still wish to escape, propose another method and state your reward. If successful, our karmic ties are severed. If not, I will leave immediately!”
Wu Ming declared firmly. At this, the dragon’s eyes immediately flashed with golden light.
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