In the middle of the North Sea.
After hearing that the Dragon Lord had been freed, Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu planned to go out and meet up with Qin Ruoshui and the others.
But before they could leave that stretch of sea, they sensed a powerful tremor.
The seawater surged wildly, forming terrifying whirlpools.
This area of the sea was completely sealed off.
Li Bai’s long whiskers flicked, a strange light glinting in his eyes.
He looked at Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu and shouted, “Get on!” Then he dispersed the energy around his body.
The two hesitated for a moment, but finally leapt onto the Dragon Carp’s back, grabbing the dorsal fin, letting Li Bai carry them swiftly through the churning waters.
Amid the deep dragon roars, there were pained howls.
Faintly, several dragon shadows could be seen tangled together, followed by thunderous explosions like rolling thunder.
Just hearing it was enough to make anyone’s heart pound.
Ji Yutang’s expression was serious.
“What’s going on?” Li Jingyu shook her head, but the next moment, Li Bai’s voice rang out: “It’s the Dragon Lord and her people fighting the traitors.
I don’t know how the Dragon Lord managed to break free, but now that she’s out, it means Dragon Palace City will soon return to its former peace.”
There were nine Daoists at the Primordial Spirit level suppressing the dragon pillar in the deep sea, one of whom had already been slain by Li Qingxun’s shadow.
Their momentum was rising, while the true dragon was being weakened by the formation.
But when they actually faced off, they suddenly realized their “chance of victory” was negligible.
Not to mention the true dragon’s strength, just the released dragon might was enough to heavily suppress all dragonkin.
But how could they just give up? With the world beneath the sea already sealed by the Dragon Lord, they exchanged glances and silently began to sense the “North Sea God” Xuanming in their hearts!
The stakes embedded in the ice plain opened a rift in the earth, and a torrent of turbid, evil energy surged out.
Within the Demon God Stake, the shadow of a demon god with a human face and bird body slowly manifested.
As the eight Daoists’ will strengthened, its body gradually became more solid.
But at that moment, a streak of black and white energy slashed down from the horizon, invisible sword energy tearing apart the Xuanming that had appeared in midair, and shattering the ice plain into pieces.
“Daoist Zhang, you beat me to it again.” A gentle sigh sounded, and then a middle-aged man in a scholar’s cap and blue robe stepped forward.
Stroking his beard, his eyes shone with an unusually bright light.
He’d thought Taiyuan Palace would handle this, but it turned out to be a Taishi disciple—none other than the current Taishi successor, Zhang Huaiyu.
Zhang Huaiyu took on human form and immediately recognized the newcomer: Zhou Keyin, one of the painting saints of Langhuan Fairyland.
Raising an eyebrow, he bowed to Zhou Keyin and said calmly, “If it weren’t for the Tianhai Demon Sect blocking the way, I wouldn’t have arrived so late.”
“Tianhai Demon Sect really is a disaster.” Zhou Keyin shook his head.
A scroll flew from his sleeve, radiating brilliant light.
The scroll didn’t fall but hovered in midair, its five-colored glow enveloping the ice plain.
Then came a deafening explosion, and a nine-tiered black tower flew out of the painting, suppressing all the surging evil energy.
After finishing, Zhou Keyin said, “The disciples are all over there.
We should go check on them.”
Zhang Huaiyu nodded at his words.
He’d come to the North Sea for the Demon God Stake, and also for this group of disciples.
As for the third reason—that was personal.
A hundred years ago, Senior Sister Li came to the North Sea.
What exactly did she do here? Maybe Dragon Palace City could provide an answer.
With the Demon God Stake and Xuanming suppressed in time, the eight Daoists in the sea got no response to their summons.
After being betrayed by these dragonkin, the true dragon would give them no chance to repent.
Any traitor was torn apart, body and soul, with no hope of reincarnation.
The hunt in the sea lasted a whole day.
The crystal palace of Dragon Palace City seemed to sink into a sea of blood, thick with the stench of slaughter.
Fortunately, this didn’t last long.
A bright, radiant pearl was spat out by the true dragon, purifying the bloody sea and driving out all the evil.
The coral and seaweed shredded by the magical storm were restored, and Dragon Palace City became tranquil again, as if nothing had ever happened.
Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu stood outside the treasure hall of Dragon Palace City.
In front of them was a stern-faced Li Bai, now in human form, respectfully waiting for a summons from inside.
“Senior Li Bai, this sea is sealed.
How can we leave?” Ji Yutang asked quietly.
She was, after all, human.
Even with dragon arts, she wasn’t used to living underwater for long.
Li Bai glanced at them but said nothing.
A moment later, two adorable young girls skipped out of the hall.
They bowed to Li Bai and said in childish voices, “Immortal Li Bai, the Dragon Lord asks you to return to your cave to recover.
Rewards and punishments will be decided later.”
Li Bai’s face lit up with joy at their words, a look of eagerness flashing in his eyes.
He returned the bow, turned into a Dragon Carp, and swam away.
Ji Yutang: “…” This senior was so irresponsible, just leaving them at the hall and running off?
“Fellow Daoists, the Dragon Lord invites you in.” The girl on the left tried hard to look serious, but she was so tiny that no matter how hard she tried, she was just cute.
Ji Yutang’s eyelid twitched.
She couldn’t tell if this was good or bad.
Even Li Bai hadn’t met the Dragon Lord—why were they getting this chance? Her mind was in turmoil, but regardless, the two of them followed the skipping girls into the hall.
The pearl curtains swayed, making a soft rustling sound.
Fragrant incense smoke curled up behind floating blue gauze.
Inside the hall, apart from the denser humidity, it hardly looked like an underwater palace.
Ji Yutang looked up and could only make out a blurry figure.
“You two helped me, the true dragon, break free.
Is there anything you want?” The voice from ahead was as clear as jade chimes.
Ji Yutang pressed her lips together and shook her head.
She’d already gained plenty of “external medicine” in this battle.
And honestly, they hadn’t really done that much for Dragon Palace City.
Li Jingyu’s expression was calm.
She replied, “We want nothing, only to leave the North Sea.”
“Really?” A soft laugh came, and the Dragon Lord continued, “Well, Taishi Palace and Langhuan Fairyland have both sent people.
It’s safe enough outside.”
“Taishi Palace?” Li Jingyu’s eyelid twitched, her tone rising.
The Dragon Lord, hidden behind the curtains, pulled them aside and walked back slowly.
Smiling at Li Jingyu, she said, “Yes, it’s the current Taishi successor, Zhang Huaiyu.” As if that wasn’t enough, she added, “He’s Li Qingxun’s junior brother.”
Li Jingyu’s expression shifted.
She hid a flash of panic, pressing her lips together without answering.
The Dragon Lord’s gaze shifted to Ji Yutang.
Folding her arms, she said with interest, “You practice dragon arts? You’ve reached the ‘armor forging’ stage? If so, I suggest you cultivate here in Dragon Palace City.
The place is filled with the lingering dragon energy and intent of generations of ancestors.
It could help you reach a new level.”
Ji Yutang’s mind stirred.
“Isn’t Dragon Palace City closed to outsiders?” The Dragon Lord snorted.
“But you two are guests.” Seeing the two juniors fall silent, she added, “Besides, you’ve got our city’s treasure, the Falling Moon Bow.”
The Dragon Lord’s attitude was unusually friendly.
Maybe it was the effect of practicing dragon arts, but she seemed much closer to dragonkin than before.
Just as Ji Yutang hesitated, Li Jingyu spoke first: “We’re honored by your kindness, Dragon Lord.
We wouldn’t dare refuse.”
The Dragon Lord nodded in satisfaction.
She clapped her hands, and a group of fish maidens came in, leading Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu off to rest.
Before, the two had often shared a room out of necessity, but here in Dragon Palace City, that wasn’t needed.
Each had their own crystal palace, separated only by a crystal bridge—just a step away.
Inside the hall.
Ji Yutang checked her “external medicine,” knowing it could help her reach a new level.
But after all, this was someone else’s territory.
If her cultivation was interrupted, the consequences could be dire.
As she hesitated, Li Jingyu’s voice sounded: “Don’t worry.
The Dragon Lord won’t harm you.
True dragons are rare—they’d love more cultivators to join the dragon path and become true dragons.”
The sudden voice startled Ji Yutang.
She glared at Li Jingyu, annoyed.
“Why are you here?” Li Jingyu looked at her innocently.
“I walked over.” She pointed at the crystal bridge outside.
Ji Yutang frowned, not bothering to argue, and continued weighing the pros and cons of taking the medicine now.
“How about I stand guard for you?” Li Jingyu looked down at Ji Yutang, eyes full of amusement.
“You’ve only just built your foundation.” Ji Yutang muttered under her breath, rejecting Li Jingyu’s “kindness.” What a joke—she still saw Li Jingyu as a rival, wanting to “redeem herself” in front of her.
She hadn’t forgotten those sharp words from before, and she wasn’t about to change her mind about her “fiancée” just because they’d spent some time together.
She stood up and sent Li Jingyu out, then gave a few instructions to the fish maidens and closed the door.
Li Jingyu folded her arms and leaned against a pillar, watching the door slowly close, finally cutting off her view.
The smile in her eyes grew deeper.
She thought to herself, “Silly little sister” really has bad taste.
This Ji Family girl is actually pretty interesting—why is she so unwilling? If she finds out Ji Yutang has already entered the Dao, what kind of face will she make? Shocked, or still disdainful? The power of strength probably won’t impress that “good sister” with her sky-high standards, right? Staring at the closed door for a while, Li Jingyu finally strolled back to her own hall.
But a wave of dragon might swept out from within, and when she looked up, she saw a vague, shifting figure.
Li Jingyu instantly tensed, her smile vanishing, replaced by cold vigilance.
“No need to be nervous.” The Dragon Lord gazed at Li Jingyu, her eyes deep.
She said slowly, “The Taishi Dao Palace successor has been trying to investigate what your mother did a hundred years ago.
He’s asked to enter Dragon Palace City more than once.”
“Taiyin Fiend?” Li Jingyu murmured.
She suddenly looked up to meet the Dragon Lord’s gaze.
“You were friends with my mother?”
“Sort of.” The Dragon Lord replied carelessly.
“She really did plant the Taiyin Fiend in her own daughter.
Wasn’t she afraid it would ruin your path? That you’d fall into demonic ways? Well, she herself chose to fall into the demonic path in the end.”
“That wasn’t my mother’s choice.” Li Jingyu retorted.
The Dragon Lord snorted dismissively.
“Li Qingxun once broke into my North Sea, took the Taiyin Fiend, subdued Xuanming Water, and left a talisman in the sea.
Taishi Palace doesn’t seem to know about this?” Not just Taishi Palace—Li Jingyu thought she knew her mother’s secrets, but she only knew part of it.
She knew Dao Mother took the “Taiyin Fiend,” giving her the Taiyin Physique, so she could only walk the path of the moon.
But as for Xuanming Water—Li Jingyu’s mind stirred, and a ball of dark water floated from her sleeve.
She’d barely refined it, but it seemed to fit her naturally.
She’d thought it was because of her Taiyin Physique, but from the Dragon Lord’s words, maybe not.
“Your mother was skilled at divining fate.
Everything she did was to pave the way for you.
She tampered with Xuanming Water—no one but you can take it.” The Dragon Lord looked at Li Jingyu.
“You haven’t let her down.”
Li Jingyu was silent for a long time before asking, “What about the talisman? Why was there a Taishi Palace talisman left outside?”
“You grew up in the Ran Family, close to the Eight Great Immortal Sects.
You wouldn’t have come to the North Sea alone, right? The talisman was to guide you.
As for sealing your power, wasn’t it to stop others from fighting you for it?” The Dragon Lord raised an eyebrow.
“But she didn’t expect you wouldn’t be in the Ran Family, or that the talisman would fall into dragonkin hands and be used against our true dragon.
I guess I owe her one.”
Li Jingyu didn’t know how to respond.
She put away the Xuanming Water, a shadow passing through her eyes.
The Dragon Lord asked curiously, “You’re using another identity now.
Aren’t you afraid of being found out?” In the North Sea, she’d heard a bit about the Ran and Ji Families, and the rest she’d deduced from the clues Li Qingxun left behind.
Glancing at the hall across the way, the Dragon Lord added, “Your mother went to great lengths to cut your ties, letting someone else take your place.
Don’t go seeking them out yourself.
Remember—stay away from the Three Supreme Palaces.”
“You guys? Who are you?” Li Jingyu frowned, a look of confusion flashing in her eyes.
Before she could ask any more questions, the projection of the Dragon Lord dissipated on its own.
Did he come all this way just to tell her about her mother’s past? There’s a marriage alliance between the Ran Family and the Ji Family—what secret is hidden in all this? It’s one thing to stay away from the Three Supreme Palaces, but what’s with staying away from Ji Yutang?
North Sea Icefield.
Zhang Huaiyu walked over the waves, not a drop of water clinging to him.
When Zhou Keyin and the younger generation turned their eyes to him, Zhang Huaiyu sighed and said, “Dragon Palace City doesn’t want to open the passage.
I can’t get into that sea area.”
“But Junior Sister Ran and Daoist Friend Ji are still in Dragon Palace City!” Lin Heng said anxiously.
Zhou Keyin’s eyes widened at that, and he smacked Lin Heng on the head, scolding him in a low voice, “Shut up!” Lin Heng shrank back under his master’s fierce glare and immediately fell silent.
Zhang Huaiyu said gently, “No need to worry, Nephew Lin.
The Dragon Lord sent word that the two young friends are guests in Dragon Palace City and will return in due time.”
Lin Heng finally relaxed a little after hearing that.
As long as those two are safe, it’s fine.
Zhou Keyin thought for a moment and asked, “What do you plan to do, Brother Zhang?” Zhang Huaiyu replied, “I’ll try again in a few days.
If that person still won’t budge, then we’ll have to give up.
After all, it’s just some trivial old business.” Zhou Keyin secretly shook his head at that.
If it was really “trivial,” why keep asking about it? Besides, that person was his senior sister back then.
Even if everyone chose “righteousness over family” and killed her, wouldn’t they feel some regret or sorrow when they remembered it later?
Since Dragon Palace City refused to open the sea area, Zhang Huaiyu couldn’t do anything about it.
He couldn’t just force his way in.
The Beihai Demon Cultivators rarely interacted with humans, but Zhang Huaiyu always tried to make friends where he could.
He didn’t want to make enemies over his own personal matters.
The next half month passed.
Storms raged in the North Sea, and even the North Sea Icefield was unsettled.
The leader of the rebellion had been completely wiped out, but their remaining followers were still hiding everywhere.
Dragon Palace couldn’t just let them grow unchecked.
During this time, the air everywhere was thick with the smell of blood, and only the area around Li Jingyu’s crystal palace remained peaceful.
The moon phase appeared on the eaves of the crystal palace, as if drawn down from the sky.
Clusters of coral shimmered with colorful light, fish darting among them, leaving trails of sparkling light.
Li Jingyu had plenty of questions in her heart, but she couldn’t find any answers now, so why bother worrying? She simply sat in meditation in the palace, refining Xuanming Water to push the “Primordial Abyssal Divine Water” to the next level.
The surrounding sea was especially quiet.
After a long time, there was a soft clatter—a little White Dragon, less than a foot long, was weaving through the coral and accidentally broke off a piece.
The little White Dragon’s eyes weren’t very clear, instead filled with confusion.
It was drawn by the moon phase hanging above, instinctively swimming this way.
But it was so small that coral, sea rocks, and even pillars were obstacles.
It swam anxiously, wriggling its body, and after a burst of effort, squeezed through the coral and finally slipped in through a window of the crystal palace.
Its scales were scratched, a few even falling off, but the little White Dragon didn’t seem to notice, happily swimming toward Li Jingyu.
When the little White Dragon entered the palace, Li Jingyu had already woken up, but she stayed in her meditative pose, unmoving.
Even a newly hatched dragon in Dragon Palace wouldn’t look like this, and this little White Dragon had a very familiar scent—like… Ji Yutang! Li Jingyu’s eyes lit up, a smile curling at her lips.
No matter what dragon technique it is, transforming into a dragon is a necessary step.
But it’s not just about changing the body; you also need to form a dragon core to replace the “Dao True Essence.” Ji Yutang was taking the first step now.
But after turning into this little White Dragon, she came straight to me—was it instinct? Li Jingyu didn’t move, just watched the little White Dragon with a smile, waiting to see what she would do.
The little White Dragon’s mind was muddled, unable to think for itself.
All it could sense was a heat rising from within, seeking something cool.
Even the sea water felt boiling to her; only the moon phase radiating lunar energy could ease her discomfort.
But as she was bathed in the lunar energy, she sensed an even colder aura and hurriedly turned toward the palace.
She circled Li Jingyu a few times, letting out a weak dragon cry.
Seeing this, Li Jingyu raised her hand and brushed her fingertip over the tender dragon horn, her smile growing wider.
But just then, the little White Dragon slid along her hand and slipped right into her wide sleeve.
In a flash, she wriggled up to the collar.
Li Jingyu froze.
The dragon scales were a bit rough, scraping her skin and making her feel strange.
She lowered her eyes and reached for the little White Dragon at her collar, but the dragon twisted and slid further down.
Li Jingyu wasn’t in the mood to watch the show anymore.
Her earlobes flushed red as she suddenly stood up, trying to get the hot little White Dragon out of her clothes.
But the little White Dragon was after the lunar energy on her body and refused to come out.
Li Jingyu bit her lip, furious, wishing she could strangle the little White Dragon.
But as she started to cast a spell, she took a deep breath and stopped herself.
She brushed her sleeve, lowered her head, and quickly made her way to Ji Yutang’s palace, not caring about the locked doors and breaking in directly.
The glow of the night pearl lit up the hall.
Li Jingyu spun around, found a big cauldron, and saw clothes hanging on a screen.
As for Ji Yutang herself—she had already turned into a little White Dragon and was wriggling all over her.
Li Jingyu’s face darkened as she tracked the little White Dragon’s movements.
When she felt her on her shoulder, she quickly grabbed her.
The dragon claw caught her inner garment and tore a piece off with a rip.
Li Jingyu’s forehead twitched, and she tossed the little White Dragon into the hall, using her magic to relight the fire and brew medicine.
The little White Dragon tried to fly out several times, but Li Jingyu pressed her down each time without mercy.
This went on for a whole hour before it finally stopped.
The little White Dragon swimming in the cauldron turned back into human form, her whole body soaking in the medicine, only her delicate collarbone showing.
Ji Yutang’s head throbbed, her mind a mess.
She looked up and saw Li Jingyu’s frosty face, and jumped in fright.
She hugged herself and sank lower, but before she could question Li Jingyu, the memories from her time as a little White Dragon flooded back.
Ji Yutang was both angry and embarrassed, her eyes darting around, not knowing how to face Li Jingyu.
She just stuck her whole head into the cauldron.
It was all the fault of this “True Dragon Transformation Scripture.” How was she supposed to know that after transforming, the first thing to come wasn’t magical power, but instinct? After turning into a dragon, she couldn’t control her thoughts at all, driven by instinct to seek out the “lunar energy” that could cool her down.
After a long while, Ji Yutang surfaced from the cauldron, her eyes flickering, not daring to meet Li Jingyu’s gaze.
“S-sorry,” Ji Yutang stammered.
Li Jingyu said, “Don’t forget to cultivate the ‘Daode Heavenly Book’ as well.” With that, she left in a huff.
