Dragon Palace

Chao Du pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering how to answer, when he heard Long Mingxuan suddenly say, "Never mind, I believe you."

Asawari: "...Huh?"

Long Mingxuan raised his eyes and looked at her gently: "If it were you, I might really tell you in my dream. But you were afraid it would be difficult to explain, so you didn't want me to find out just now."

Asawari: "...That's right, that's exactly it." What a reasonable explanation!

"Let's go inside first." Long Mingxuan gave her a deep look, left the orca, swam to the white coral, and began to activate the array within the coral.

Chao Du cautiously observed the surrounding environment: it seemed that the demonic cultivators had finished digging and left, with only a few demonic creatures wandering around, and not even many empty puppet shells, so it should be relatively safe.

Long Mingxuan placed his hand on the white coral, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a moment. The white coral appeared unchanged, but Chao Du knew that the entrance had been opened.

A moment later, Long Mingxuan opened his eyes and nodded to her: "It's open. Come with me."

He swam into the white coral and disappeared without a trace, then hauled the orca back to Watanabe and followed closely behind.

After a moment of darkness, the glowing lights of the array illuminated the path forward.

Long Mingxuan placed his hand on the formation, closing the entrance, and then a ball of sky-blue flame rose from his palm.

The flickering firelight enveloped the two figures.

He turned to look at Asakawa: "Do you know what this is?"

Chao Du nodded: "The Soul Flame can guide the way, and death comes when the flame goes out."

"I actually told you even this..." Long Mingxuan shook his head helplessly, "What exactly happened in my dream..."

Asakawa felt a little guilty and looked away, changing the subject: "Let's hurry up, time is of the essence."

Long Mingxuan swam forward to guide her; in the pitch-black secret passage, the soul flame in his palm was the only source of light.

The two swam in silence for a while, then Long Mingxuan suddenly asked, "You brought me here just to take this secret passage, didn't you?"

Chao Du said frankly, "Indeed. As I said, I value my life. If I were to rush straight into the Dragon Palace and walk into the 'feast' that the Demon Lord and the Ghost King have carefully prepared for me, my chances of survival would be very low."

“You’re quite straightforward,” Long Mingxuan chuckled lightly. “Much better than those old fogies who always go through so many twists and turns.”

Asawa: "...Huh?" It seems like I was suddenly praised?

Unseen by Chao Du, Long Mingxuan's cheeks flushed slightly as he fully understood himself in his "dream."

After a moment, Long Mingxuan's voice came softly from ahead: "What kind of relationship do we have in this dream...?"

Asawa: "...We're...good friends."

Long Mingxuan: "...Is that so?" His voice sounded a little disappointed.

Chao Du didn't dare to say anything more for some reason, but fortunately he didn't ask any more questions.

Neither of them spoke after that; they just swam forward as quickly as possible.

The long secret passage seemed to have no end, with many eerie side paths leading to unknown destinations—perhaps some inconspicuous corner, perhaps some important room, or perhaps a deadly formation.

Occasionally, you'll pass through layers of traps; without the protection of the Soul Flame, you'd likely be reduced to ashes on the spot.

"We're almost at the Dragon Palace. Do you have a specific place in mind?" Long Mingxuan suddenly asked. "There are several exits to this secret passage, such as the main hall of the Dragon Palace, Father's study, and my bedroom..."

Chao Du countered, "Does the Dragon Palace possess any magical artifacts capable of influencing the entire sea?"

Long Mingxuan: "Yes, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl."

Chao Du shared his speculations: "I suspect that the Demon Lord might have corrupted so many demons into demonic possession in a short period of time by polluting the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and then had demonic cultivators turn these demons into puppets. Where is the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl stored? Can we go there directly?"

Long Mingxuan nodded: "The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl is enshrined in the Qingbo Hall, and you can go directly there through the secret passage."

Chao Du then asked, "Where do you think Long Youlan and the other demons are imprisoned?"

“It’s hard to say…” Long Mingxuan frowned and shook his head. “Although the Dragon Palace has prisons, the Demon Lord may not necessarily lock Xiao Lan and the others up in there.”

After pondering for a moment, Chao Du said, "I guess Ling Ni might place them in a location where I can see them as soon as I enter the Dragon Palace, such as the main hall or the square in front of it, so that he can use them to blackmail me. I'll go to Qingbo Hall first, and you can go to the exit of the main hall to observe the situation outside. I remember that you can see the outside situation from inside the secret passage?"

Long Mingxuan nodded: "Okay, what are you planning to do?"

Chao Du smiled and said, "The Dragon Palace Hall is probably heavily guarded by them. I'll make some noise in Qingbo Hall first to attract the Demon Lord and the others. Once the defenses in the Dragon Palace Hall are weakened, you might have a chance to rescue Long Minglan and the others. If not, don't take the risk. Just find a chance to leave through the secret passage. When the people from the Immortal Alliance arrive later, they will also go to rescue them."

Long Mingxuan was slightly taken aback: "But without my guidance, you cannot enter the secret passage again."

“If you want to guide me, you’ll have to leave the secret passage and find me. That will expose you and the passage, which is very dangerous.” Chao Du cracked his knuckles and laughed. “It’s alright. I also want to spar with Ling Ni and see how much she’s improved in the last ten years. By the way, the Dragon Palace might get a little damaged along the way. Is that a big problem?”

“Not much…no problem at all.” Long Mingxuan couldn’t help but ask, “But will the people from the Immortal Alliance really come? If they don’t come, you will be isolated and helpless, and you won’t be able to return to the secret passage. Even if the Demon Lord can’t defeat you for the time being, he can use a war of attrition to exhaust your spiritual power…”

Chao Du laughed and said, "Stop, stop, stop. Hope for something good. People from the Immortal Alliance will come. Trust me."

Long Mingxuan bit his lip and remained silent, leading her into a side path. After a moment, a formation was revealed by the soul flame.

Long Mingxuan placed his hand on the formation, and the formation gradually became transparent, reflecting the scene outside:

The once clear seawater in Qingbo Palace had now turned almost into blackish-red blood, and the ground was littered with coral fragments that had once supported the Dinghai Pearl.

The once bright and clear Dinghai Pearl was now soaking in the blood in the Immortal Refining Furnace, its entire body turning into an ominous dark red, spreading demonic energy in concentric circles.

Huo Zong, the former Left Protector of the Demon Lord and now the Ghost General, stood guard beside the Immortal Refining Furnace with four other demon cultivators of considerable strength. They watched as baskets of black hearts were carried in by other demon cultivators and thrown into the furnace, where they turned into black and red blood mist that entangled the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

“These hearts are all…” Long Mingxuan’s voice trembled. He gently patted Du’s shoulder and comforted him, “We will help them avenge themselves. Go, go to the secret passage entrance of the Dragon Palace and observe the situation.”

"Then you will have no way out!" Long Mingxuan couldn't help but say.

Chao Du glanced at the few demonic cultivators in Qingbo Palace and slightly raised the corners of his mouth: "Just what I wanted. Open the secret passage entrance, and remember to seal it completely after I get out."

Long Mingxuan gazed deeply at her, and with her encouraging smile, his fingertips trembled as he landed on the array. The moment the secret passage opened, Chao Du concealed his figure and aura, and rushed out in an instant, disappearing from sight, leaving only lightning in his wake.

The dazzling and boundless lightning and countless sword energies filled the entire palace in an instant!

The next instant, Qingbo Palace was blown to pieces!

The Immortal Refining Furnace shattered into pieces, and countless drops of blood gushed out from it like madmen, only to be purified by the vast lightning, not a single drop escaping from the Qingbo Palace.

Four high-level demonic cultivators and several demonic cultivators who transported the heart turned to ashes amidst lightning and sword energy, unaware that they were dead even in the instant of their death.

Huo Zong reacted much faster than them. He looked towards the entrance of the secret passage as he rushed out of Chaodu, but it was too late.

In the instant before his death, countless sword energies and vast lightning flashed in his eyes.

His expression froze in shock as he died, and then his body turned to ashes in the lightning.

Suddenly, a blood-red shadow escaped from the ashes of his body and rushed toward the weak point of the lightning. Chao Du had anticipated this and ordered the Thousand-Pound Sword, which was waiting invisibly, to pierce the blood-red shadow. Then, thousands of lightning bolts burst forth from the sword, completely "purifying" the blood-red shadow.

Chao Du let out a slight breath: Although this first move cost a lot of spiritual power, it destroyed the Immortal Refining Furnace, purified the blood water filled with resentment, obtained the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and completely solved the problem of the troublesome "Blood Wave Sword" Huo Zong—who is now both a demonic cultivator and a ghost cultivator. Only by "purifying" his soul can he be completely killed.

"An immortal soul?" Chao Du sheathed his Thousand-Jin Sword and shook his head: he had actually believed Ling Wen's words.

Is there any true immortality in this world? The so-called immortal soul is merely one that does not enter the cycle of reincarnation. She can help him scatter his soul and prevent him from entering the cycle of reincarnation.

Chao Du raised her hand, letting the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, lying in the ruins of the Immortal Refining Furnace, fly into her palm. She frowned slightly as she looked at the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl: It's been polluted by demonic energy like this, I wonder if it's possible to purify it while keeping it intact? I'm afraid it's very difficult.

In any case, it will no longer pollute any more demons.

"Xi Su, did you kill Huo Zong?" A familiar voice came from mid-air.

Chao Du put away the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, smiled and looked up: "Ling Ni, you came very quickly. I've come as promised."

Dressed in a magnificent gown and wearing a half-bronze mask, Ling Ni floated in mid-air, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the ruins of Qingbo Palace, a hint of barely concealed laughter on his lips: "You really killed Huo Zong, hahaha!"

Asawari: "...?" Why does she look so happy?

The group of demonic cultivators behind Ling Ni exchanged bewildered glances. Ling Ni herself seemed to realize her lapse in composure, and she suppressed her smile, but couldn't help asking in surprise, "You actually dared to come? How did you get here so directly?"

Asakawa blinked and smiled: "It's a secret."

"Then let your secret remain forever." A bone flute appeared in Ling Ni's hand. Of course, Chao Du wouldn't let her play the flute and immediately slashed at her with a sword aura. However, in the next instant, the sound of the flute rang out from all directions!

Many fleshy buds instantly sprouted on Chaodu's arms and body, which were then covered and purified by the lightning that wrapped around him. The two rose and fell, and for a time they were deadlocked.

At the same time, hundreds of demonic cultivators dispersed like dark clouds, surrounding her in the middle. Various strange weapons and magical artifacts were aimed at Chao Du, and the demonic cultivators also formed an array, but none of them immediately launched an attack.

“You are very lucky.” Ling Ni lowered her eyes and looked at Chao Du with a complicated expression. “Master admires you. If you are willing to become Master’s disciple, I can spare your life.”

Chao Du transformed his remaining spiritual power into lightning, continuously purifying his body to prevent himself from being corrupted by Ling Ni's chiming. At the same time, he smiled and said, "Is there such a good thing? The Ghost King wants to take me as her disciple? Hasn't she always only had you as her disciple?"

Ling Ni's face turned cold: "Yes, so you'll give up this opportunity, right?"

Chao Du shook his head, his face sincere: "I won't give up. I want to live. Ling Wen, or rather, Ghost King Chang Meng, where is she? Let me serve her a cup of tea to formally become her disciple?"

The group of demonic cultivators exchanged bewildered glances, and Ling Ni frowned as well: "Your spiritual power is about to run out, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"

Chao Du spread his empty hands, smiling broadly: "What tricks do I have? Do you think I can escape now? Demon Lord, you are wise to see that I just want to save my life! If you want me to become your disciple, then so be it. I won't lose anything by becoming your disciple, Ling Wen, who has been the Alliance Leader, Demon Lord, and Ghost King."

A demonic cultivator beside Ling Ni whispered, "My lord, I feel she's stalling for time. Perhaps we should..."

"But Master wants to take her as his disciple." Ling Ni frowned, gripping the chi (a type of ancient Chinese flute) tightly. Suddenly, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. "Never mind, kill her! There won't be another chance like this!"

Ling Ni played the flute, and the fleshy buds on Chao Du's body grew wildly like willow branches, while the surrounding demonic cultivators launched an attack at the same time!

Chao Du's eyes gleamed, and in an instant, he transformed himself into a sword aura and stabbed at Ling Ni, turning defense into offense!

Ling Nichi's voice changed, and two huge blood dragons burst out of the ground, using their flesh and blood to block the sword energy formed by Ling Nichi and Chao Du!

The moment Chao Du saw the two blood dragons clearly, he transformed back into human form from his sword energy, barely brushing past them as he flew into the sky: These two blood dragons were clearly the mangled former Dragon King and Queen, the father and mother of Long Mingxuan!

These two dragons were not corrupted by demonic energy, but their minds were manipulated. They served as weapons, human shields, and hostages.

Chao Du stared coldly at Ling Ni, who held the bone flute and smiled at her: "Not pretending anymore? It seems you don't truly want to become Master's disciple. Then I won't hold back!"

It's as if she was just about to go easy on him.

Chao Du let out a cold laugh, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the Dragon Palace in the distance: the palace was quiet and there was no movement. Perhaps Long Mingxuan had successfully infiltrated it and was rescuing Long Youlan and the others.

Chao Du lowered his gaze, making up his mind to continue stalling for time so that he could rescue the other demons and wait for the arrival of the Immortal Alliance's help—according to the timeline, they should have arrived by now, right? Why are they still nowhere to be seen?

However, Ling Ni seemed to have guessed her intention to stall for time and ordered, "Kill her immediately!"

Ling Ni played the bone flute again, and hundreds of demonic cultivators formed a net that trapped her within it. Twelve of them formed a magic array to imprison her, while another twelve formed a soul-slaying array to surround her.

As Chao Du dodged the attacks, enduring the erosion of the chi sounds and the Soul-Slaying Array, she wiped away the black blood gushing from the corner of her mouth and quickly pondered: Heaven had just relaxed its suppression on her by one-tenth, but she only had more than half of her spiritual power left. Even if the suppression was relaxed, it would be useless. She definitely could not stand up to these demonic cultivators on the front lines.

Although he carried some defensive magical artifacts, they were not enough to withstand the attacks of so many demonic cultivators.

If she retreats, she won't be able to resonate with the polluted seawater, making it difficult to shake off their pursuit and escape to the surface. But perhaps she can hold out until the Immortal Alliance's help arrives... Why haven't they come yet?!

Chao Du couldn't help but look up at the water.

Ling Ni suddenly laughed: "Are you waiting for the people from the Immortal Alliance? They arrived just now, and they've already sent out two waves of scouts, but not a single one of them went into the sea to rescue you. Can you guess why?"