Chapter 51: The East Sea Dragon Palace (Part 1) (Second update, please collect)

  "You're too reckless! What just happened?" Sheng Gongbao scolded Yun Lingyan as soon as he saw him.

  Nian Lingyan chuckled and said: "Hehe, fortunately there's the master's Chaos Array, otherwise I would have really escaped this calamity."

  "Ling Yan, what's going on with the last divine lightning?" Liu Er grasped his chin, curiously asking, Jing Wei also nodded, her beautiful eyes staring tightly at Ling Yan.

  "Hmm... I don't know the specifics either, but I do know that the last divine lightning bolt seemed to gather all sorts of energies like the five elements and yin-yang, its power was terrifying, I couldn't resist it at all. If it wasn't for Master's arrangement of the Chaos Array which transformed the energy of that divine lightning bolt into the island at a critical moment, I'm afraid I would have been reduced to ashes."

  After finishing speaking, Nian Lingyan still had a lingering fear and wiped the cold sweat that broke out on his forehead. He recalled the thrilling moment just now. When death came, he didn't feel afraid, what he was afraid of was the feeling of being completely powerless to fight back, which was really terrible.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Shen Gong Bao scolded with a smile, "If you hadn't messed up at the beginning, this 99th Thunder Tribulation would have been powerful but not ended in such an anomaly. You're just lucky this time, or else, humph!"

  Nian Lingyan smiled, although the chaotic array transferred energy to the island at that time. However, Nian Lingyan was still crushed by the massive pressure into the seabed, feeling as if his entire body frame was about to disintegrate. Fortunately, after the thunderbolt passed, many spiritual energies naturally floated out and merged into his body, helping him recover. In an instant, all his injuries were restored to their original state, as if everything that had just happened was like a dream.

  Shen Gong Bao gazed out at the long-lost island and said, "The last divine lightning should be the legendary Extinction Divine Lightning. Its power is only below that of the Universe Divine Lightning, and it's a Thunder Path technique on the same level as the Three Pure Ones' Divine Lightning. Moreover, it was naturally formed when Heaven and Earth were created, so its power is boundless."

  After a pause, Shen Gong Bao said: "Alright, you've just passed the tribulation, go back and stabilize your realm, feel the difference of the current Taiyi Xuanxian realm."

  "Uh-huh!" Nian Lingyan nodded, and then Shen Gongbao and the others returned to Yingzhou Xian Island together.

  The mighty transformation of Yan Lingyan's thunderbolt shocked many East Sea aquatic tribes and cultivators, and the Dragon King of the East Sea, as the leader of the East Sea aquatic tribe, had already received a report from the Night Patrol and knew what had happened.

  "Father king, that calamity person's child knows, he is the mount of Shen Gong Bao. Who would have thought that his transformed body could withstand the 99 heavenly calamities? It can be seen that his innate talent is deep and his potential is great." Ao Bing said to Donghai Dragon King Ao Guang, "Moreover, Shen Gong Bao is a high-ranking disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun. Father king, such a person with great potential, our East Sea Dragon Palace should make friends with him early on. At present, he is cultivating in seclusion at a place called Yingzhou in the East Sea, why not invite him to visit our East Sea Dragon Palace again?"

  Ao Guang listened and nodded, saying: "My son's words are very good. At this time, my dragon clan is not as powerful as it was in the past. It should be a good idea to make friends with some powerful people. My son had met him before, so you should go personally this time to invite him and show our sincerity."

  "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  Inside the Immortal Island, Shen Gongbao had just finished instructing some important and trivial matters when he heard a young boy say close to him: "Reporting to Master, outside there is someone who claims to be the Third Prince of the East Sea asking to see you."

  "What? Ao Bing?" Duke Sheng raised an eyebrow, then waved his sleeve and said, "Let him in, and also bring some spiritual fruit and fine wine."

  "Yes!" The young boy called out and took his leave.

  Inside Hui Bin Hall, Sheng Gong Bao sat in the upper seat, Ao Bing then sat in the middle of the side seats, sipping fragrant tea and eating spiritual fruits.

  "What is it that the Third Prince has come for this time?" asked Shen Gong with a faint tone.

  Ao Bing cupped his hands and smiled: "It's to congratulate Year Dao friend on safely passing the 99-day tribulation. Father King specially instructed me to bring some small gifts, not as a token of respect, I hope you'll accept them with a smile."

  Having said that, there were attendants who brought in three boxes of glittering jewels and placed them in the hall before retreating.

  These jewels are all treasures of pearls and jade that the Dragon Palace in the East China Sea has collected from the bottom of the sea over the years. Although they are not too precious, they can be used to decorate and embellish, which is also good.

  "Haha, then thank you Dragon King! I'll convey my respects to the Dragon King!" Shen Gongbao accepted without declining, these were just some small trinkets, not worth mentioning, and didn't require any further fuss.

  "By the way, I've also brought a message from my father, the king. He invites you, Daozhang, to visit our East Sea Dragon Palace. As close neighbors, we should pay each other visits." Ao Bing said with a smile, looking at Shen Gongbao and waiting for his response.

  Shen Gong Bao was taken aback, unable to believe that the Dragon King had come to invite him again. He felt a little surprised and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Since the prince has personally invited me, if I were to decline again, it would be too impolite. Let me give some instructions, and then I will go with the prince."

  Ao Bing heard this and immediately happily said: "Then I'll just wait for Daozhang outside the island."

  In the depths of the East Sea, Shen Gong Bao looked at the famous Crystal Palace under the leadership of Ao Bing.

  All around, colorful coral reefs are everywhere, various strange-shaped fish swim freely, and from time to time, a shark glides quietly beside Shengong Bao. After traveling for a long time on the deep sea floor, finally, a crystal-clear, magnificent, and majestic palace made of jade appeared in front of Shengong Bao.

  Only the outer palace was surrounded by colorful halos, set against the surrounding sea water and coral reefs, which was very beautiful. At the gate of the palace, three ancient and simple words "Crystal Palace" stood proudly on the plaque of the main hall, with fully armed shrimp soldiers and crab generals guarding below.

  Under the leadership of Ao Peng, Shen Gong Bao arrived at the grand hall unimpeded. Before he even entered the grand hall, a tall and stout middle-aged man came forward to greet him, saying: "Welcome, welcome! I'm delighted that you, Master Shen, have come this time. It's truly made me, the king, overjoyed!"

  Looking at his dragon robe, and the two bright dragon horns on his forehead, Shengong Bao immediately came to his senses. This person was Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea. He smiled and bowed his head in greeting: "No need for that, Your Majesty is too kind. I, Shengong Bao, pay my respects to the Dragon King!"

  "Haha, come on, sit down! Please sit!"

  "Dragon King, please!" Shengong Bao pointed to the upper seat and gestured for Longwang to take his seat first. After Longwang sat down, Shengong Bao slowly took his seat as well. At this time, a maid brought up some spiritual fruit and fine wine for Shengong Bao and the others to enjoy.

  After exchanging pleasantries, Ao Guang hesitated and said: "Shen Daoyou, you are a senior disciple of the Exorcism Sect. I don't know if it's possible for you to accept my son Ao Bing as your apprentice?"

  Shen Gong Bao's expression flashed with surprise, and he glanced at Ao Bing beside him, who was already in the middle period of Taiyi Xuanxian, only slightly inferior to himself. He was puzzled, how could someone with such a high cultivation be under his tutelage?

  After careful consideration of the meaning of Longwang's words, Shen Gongbao suddenly came to his senses and realized that Ao Guang was trying to get in touch with the Tianxian teachings.

  Although he understood the meaning behind the words, Shen Gong Bao pretended to be unaware and slowly said: "Dragon King, your son has already reached the realm of Taiyi Xuanxian, compared to me, a poor Daoist, it's slightly higher. What virtue or ability do I have? There's nothing I can guide your son with."

  "Ah, Daoist friend, your words are quite off the mark!" Ao Guang waved his hand and said, "You are a true immortal of the second generation of the Orthodox Teachings, and you are also a legitimate disciple of the Heavenly Lord Yuan Shi. Just this one point alone is enough to make you my son's teacher."

  "After that, Ao Guang said: 'Nowadays, everyone knows that the world is a saintly world, and Laozi has no action. Except for receiving Xuandu **Shi, he has been quietly cultivating in the Eight Scenic Spots Palace. The Holy Mother Nuwa does not establish a great teaching, nor has she ever accepted disciples. As for the Western Land, it is desolate, and the cultivation methods are also unorthodox, wandering outside the Xuanmen. I am not willing to associate with them. In this way, only the teachings of Chuan and Jie can make my son enter the great teaching of the saints. However, the karma between my clan and other feathered beasts and monster clans is quite deep. The Jie Teaching also has many monsters in the world, and there are certainly not a few feathered beast monster clans. In this way, I can only entrust Dao friends to bring my son into the great teaching of the saints. Perhaps Dao friends wonder why I am so calculating, but I also have an unbearable bitter heart.'"

  Shen Gong Bao was taken aback, unable to believe that the Dragon King would be so forthright and directly express his intentions. For a moment, Shen Gong Bao didn't know how to react, and then said: "I'd like to hear more about it!"

  He paused for a moment, and then Ao Guang let out a sigh, his expression extremely tired. "Observing Daoist friend is indeed an accomplished immortal, I'll speak to you frankly, I think you understand too... My dragon clan has long since lost its former glory after the Dragon Phoenix First Tribulation, now it's even more fallen, unable to stand on the Hong Huang Continent, barely clinging to life in the four seas, and within our clan there are only four great Luojin Immortals..."

  Shen Gong Bao was silent, unable to believe that the Dragon Clan had fallen so far. He then thought of the Phoenix Clan, which rarely appeared, and the Qilin Clan, which although frequently appearing in the Seal of Gods, were not highly cultivated and served as mounts for those able men and heroes. Thus, the three clans that once dominated the Honghuang Continent had lost their former glory and were now at the mercy of others.

  Thus, as the leader of the dragon clan, Ao Guang's efforts to get close to the Holy One were justified, and everything was for the consideration of the dragon clan.

  Unable to help it, Shen Gong Bao couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for the Dragon King, thinking that as a great Luo Jin Xian master, he could say such words to himself, a mere Tai Yi Xuan Xian cultivator, and it was truly admirable.