Chapter 1340: Quantity Is Incorrect

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lamp:

The closest the Mysterious Dragon Royal Court ever came to annihilation in its history was during its war with the Eastern Imperial Court. At that time, the Imperial Court deployed its three great halls: Submerged Abyss Island, Overturning Sea Gate, and Earth Divination Pavilion. Among them, True Monarch Fuhai of the Earth Divination Pavilion used the sixth-tier Yellow Dragon Treasure Ship to unleash the great divine ability 'Seas to Fields,' using the Grand Dao of Earth to separate the Mysterious Sea surrounding the Mysterious Dragon Royal Court, transforming the ocean into land, thereby nullifying the geographical advantage of the Mysterious Sea Demon Race.

However, the primary source of power for the Dragon Palace's grand formation, besides the boundless Mysterious Sea, was the Mysterious Sea Eye itself. Therefore, True Monarch Fuhai personally piloted the Yellow Dragon Treasure Ship to block the Sea Eye, much like Qing Nü currently uses the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl. With this two-pronged approach, the Mysterious Dragon Royal Court's Dragon Palace grand formation was breached for the first time.

However, at that time, King Jinjiao was immensely powerful. Although True Monarch Fuhai transformed the seas into fields, his cultivation was ultimately insufficient to cover the entire Mysterious Sea. Thus, the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl could still be activated. Relying on this supreme treasure, in addition to the Black Scale legacy left by the Ancestral Black Dragon, the Mysterious Dragon Royal Court managed to repel the Eastern Imperial Court with great difficulty. Nevertheless, it was the most tragic battle in the history of the Mysterious Dragon Royal Court. To break True Monarch Fuhai's great divine ability, King Jinjiao sacrificed his life to unleash the power of the Ancestral Black Dragon within the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl, shattering the sixth-tier Yellow Dragon Treasure Ship.

From this strike, True Monarch Xuanyuan of Submerged Abyss Island died on the spot, True Monarch Xuanguang of Overturning Sea Gate was gravely wounded, and True Monarch Fuhai himself was swept into the Sea Eye by the remnants of the explosion. According to the Mysterious Dragon Royal Court's experience, anyone entering the Sea Eye without the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl would undoubtedly die.

“I can’t believe it, you actually survived!”

After recalling this historical event, the young Flood Dragon was greatly shocked. At this moment, Chen Mobai also recalled a past event. He narrowed his eyes and spoke with a hint of coldness, “It was you who possessed Kuzhu?” Previously, when Zhao Nansheng was expelled by Chen Mobai from Kuzhu’s Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, he left a threatening remark, claiming he was in the Sea Eye. Considering what Feng Qingshu had said about the Eastern Imperial Court wanting him to ascend, and that True Monarch Fuhai was indeed a member of the Imperial Court, everything clicked into place.

“That was one of my disciples.”

The aged voice resonated again. Simultaneously, the currents at the mouth of the Sea Eye, influenced by an invisible force of the Grand Dao, coalesced into a shadowy figure of an old Daoist priest in a tall hat and loose robes.

“Void Refinement!”

Seeing this, Spirit Venerable’s expression turned slightly grim. Chen Mobai also showed a look of realization. No wonder the Tongtian Blessing had been continuously warning him; such an opponent could indeed make him feel the pressure of life and death.

“You’re trapped by the Sea Eye?”

Combining this with True Monarch Fuhai’s cultivation realm, Chen Mobai guessed his current predicament.

“As expected of the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Wilds, you saw through my situation at a glance. When I was plunged into the Sea Eye, I comprehended the supreme realm of my sect’s cultivation method between life and death, successfully reaching Void Refinement. However, the Sea Eye contains the formidable power of creation, which even the light of ascension cannot penetrate, so I have been stuck here ever since.”

True Monarch Fuhai did not hide anything, clarifying his predicament. Although the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl had lost its spiritual essence, it could still seal off the Sea Eye’s power. When Qing Nü used the pearl to block the mouth of the Sea Eye earlier, True Monarch Fuhai knew this might be his best chance to escape. True Monarch Fuhai had originally intended to secretly attack when Chen Mobai or Qing Nü descended. With his Void Refinement realm, a calculated strike against an unsuspecting opponent would certainly be enough to subdue a mere Spirit Transformation cultivator. Then, by using Zhao Nansheng’s Mysterious Dragon bloodline to control the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl, master and disciple could break free from this cage and regain their freedom.

Now that the Mysterious Dragon Royal Court had been breached by the Five Elements Sect, if Chen Mobai also became trapped in the Sea Eye, True Monarch Fuhai’s strength combined with Zhao Nansheng’s bloodline could suppress the Five Elements Sect, unify the Mysterious Sea, and even integrate these two major forces to rebuild the Eastern Imperial Court.

However, Chen Mobai was simply too cautious. Upon sensing the Tongtian Blessing’s warning, he immediately summoned Spirit Venerable. Furthermore, even with the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl in hand, he was unwilling to venture into the Sea Eye to retrieve the Mysterious Dragon clan’s treasures. Seeing that Chen Mobai and his companions were about to leave, True Monarch Fuhai could no longer hold back. If he missed this chance, he didn't know when he would encounter such a rare opportunity again. After all, those who had wielded the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl in the past were the Dragon Kings of the Mysterious Dragon clan, who were his sworn enemies and would never have been willing to release him. Moreover, within the Sea Eye, due to the Ancestral Black Dragon's transformation into the Dao there, the power of the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl could even reach a higher level, nearly that of a seventh-tier Dao-achieving treasure. Even with his Void Refinement strength, he dared not act against the successive Dragon Kings.

“If fellow Daoist is willing to help me gain freedom, I can reveal the locations of all the Mysterious Dragon clan’s treasures to you.”

True Monarch Fuhai stated his conditions. Over the years, while hidden in the Sea Eye, besides deepening his comprehension of the Grand Dao and increasing his cultivation daily, another gain was observing the successive Dragon Kings who wielded the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl. The Mysterious Dragon clan, using the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl, could draw power from the Sea Eye to temper their bloodline and physical bodies. Therefore, whenever they had time, they would come here for secluded cultivation. And these secluded cultivation spots were precisely where their treasures were stored.

“Are the Ancestral Black Dragon’s remains there too?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai asked about what he cared about most. After all, for him now, sixth-tier magical artifacts and spiritual items offered little improvement. However, the Ancestral Black Dragon’s remains had the potential to elevate his Primordial Chaos Bell. Furthermore, material of such a caliber was likely unique in the entire Heavenly River Realm, making it highly valued.

“That is deep within the Sea Eye. If fellow Daoist is willing to let me try with the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl, perhaps I can venture in there and retrieve it for you,” True Monarch Fuhai said with a hint of jest. Chen Mobai certainly wouldn’t hand over the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl to him; even a Dao Heart oath wouldn't make him trustworthy.

“The Dragon Palace treasures alone hold little significance for me, as I already possess numerous sixth-tier magical artifacts. If you cannot guarantee that I will obtain the Ancestral Black Dragon’s remains, then our transaction will likely be difficult to conclude.” Chen Mobai stated calmly, tossing the problem back to True Monarch Fuhai.

“Over these years, I have condensed a fishing line with the power of the Grand Dao, reaching deep into the Sea Eye to explore various caverns. In some places, I touched unfamiliar physical objects, which might be the Ancestral Black Dragon’s remains.”

True Monarch Fuhai pondered for a moment, then uttered words that made Chen Mobai’s eyes light up. No one knew the conditions within the Sea Eye. If True Monarch Fuhai could provide the map of his explorations over the years, it would save Chen Mobai a great deal of effort.

“To show your sincerity, fellow Daoist, please give me the item first.”

Chen Mobai asked True Monarch Fuhai to hand over the map of the Sea Eye first. The latter’s brows furrowed, his face filled with confusion. According to local customs, shouldn’t both parties first swear an oath to reach an agreement, exercising extreme caution, before commencing the transaction? Had he been away from the Heavenly River Realm for too long? Had the prevailing customs changed?

“Fellow Daoist Chen, you must give me some guarantee. There’s no foundation of trust between us,” True Monarch Fuhai said, getting straight to the point.

Chen Mobai: “My word is as good as gold, known throughout the world. What I say is my guarantee!”

These words caused True Monarch Fuhai’s mouth to twitch slightly; he didn’t believe it at all. “Fellow Daoist, even the Human Emperor of old had times when he went back on his word. I require a tangible guarantee.”

Chen Mobai: “I’m on the verge of Void Refinement, so I won’t swear an oath for such a matter. Besides, you are the one seeking my help.”

True Monarch Fuhai fell silent. Indeed, he was desperate to leave the Sea Eye, and by speaking first, he had effectively lost the initiative. However, the local customs simply made it impossible for him to trust mere promises.

“Master, although this Chen Guixian is a great enemy of our Eastern Imperial Court, his trustworthiness is universally acknowledged. I believe he can be trusted.”

Just as True Monarch Fuhai hesitated, Zhao Nansheng transmitted this message. After mastering his profound cultivation, he had continuously traveled the Heavenly River Realm in a materialized form, thus personally witnessing Chen Mobai's rise. Along his path, although he had committed countless acts of slaughter and massacred millions of lives, he had never gone back on his word. He always kept his promises and saw his actions through to completion, ranking among the foremost in moral character throughout the Heavenly River Realm's history, comparable to ancient sages. From an objective standpoint, Zhao Nansheng greatly wished to become friends with Chen Mobai.

It was precisely this noble quality that, even as the Five Elements Sect was on the verge of surpassing the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect and the Daoist Sect, and even had conflicts with the Daoist Sect over alchemy business, these ancient sacred lands of Eastern Continent still openly accepted it, refraining from resorting to underhanded tactics. While the strength of the Five Elements Sect was a major factor, Chen Mobai’s consistent sincerity in treating others was also key to the harmonious state of Eastern Continent.

“In that case, I will trust fellow Daoist this once.”

After hearing Zhao Nansheng’s description, True Monarch Fuhai realized he indeed had no way to contend with Chen Mobai. He could only nod helplessly. He then used the power of the Grand Dao to disperse his ethereal form, which transformed into a mostly dark map. Within this map, the section leading into the Sea Eye’s mouth was very clear. The largest cavern was prominently marked, indicating it was the Mysterious Dragon clan’s treasure vault. The potential location of the Ancestral Black Dragon’s remains lay between the clear and blurred sections of this map. Because even True Monarch Fuhai himself wasn't certain; he had only used a fishing line to detect the presence of objects within these caverns. It could have been left by a sixth-tier Dragon King of the Mysterious Dragon clan who wielded the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl before him, but it could also be the Ancestral Black Dragon’s remains.

“After you emerge, fellow Daoist, could you use your fishing line to retrieve the items from these caverns?” Chen Mobai suddenly asked after examining the map.

“I can certainly try, but I can’t guarantee it.”

True Monarch Fuhai’s aged voice resounded again. While within the Sea Eye, most of his power was used to resist the suction. But once outside, protected by the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl, he could exert his full strength, perhaps truly contending with the Sea Eye’s power to retrieve what was hidden deep within.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai nodded. He then instructed Qing Nü to channel a stream of true power from the Deep-Stabilizing Sea Pearl, guiding it along the path indicated on True Monarch Fuhai’s map to a specific cavern. That was precisely where True Monarch Fuhai’s primordial spirit resided. Over these many years, his physical body had long since decayed, but his primordial spirit, tempered by the Sea Eye, had solidified almost to a tangible form, akin to a true person. Seeing the azure radiance fall before him, the burden in True Monarch Fuhai’s heart finally lifted. Although Zhao Nansheng had said Chen Mobai’s word was as good as gold, True Monarch Fuhai, who had reached the peak through deceit and intrigue, was extremely unfamiliar with the concept of integrity. As the azure radiance enveloped his primordial spirit, True Monarch Fuhai felt as if a colossal burden had been lifted, and he floated lightly, as if ascending to immortality. It was only at this moment that he was willing to believe that in a place like Eastern Continent, there truly existed someone who kept their promises.

“Hahahaha…”

The joy of breaking free from his cage made True Monarch Fuhai burst into laughter.

“Fellow Daoist, to avoid unnecessary trouble, please also bring me the Mysterious Dragon clan’s treasures when you emerge.”

Chen Mobai’s voice rang out, bringing True Monarch Fuhai back to his senses. Although he had intended to secretly stash some of the treasures when retrieving them, he currently only had his primordial spirit, lacking any storage tools or divine abilities like realm creation. Moreover, the void within the Sea Eye was stagnant, preventing even a Void Refinement cultivator like himself from manipulating it to create a personal storage space.

However, True Monarch Fuhai quickly thought of something and flew upwards, reaching the cavern where Zhao Nansheng resided. Because Zhao Nansheng possessed the Mysterious Dragon bloodline, his physical body still existed and had even reached the peak of the fifth-tier. Under True Monarch Fuhai’s spiritual transmission, Zhao Nansheng immediately transformed into a coiling black dragon bracelet and slipped onto the former’s primordial spirit’s wrist. While collecting the Mysterious Dragon clan’s treasures, Zhao Nansheng opened his mouth and swallowed two sixth-tier magical artifacts and some valuable sixth-tier materials into his body. Unfortunately, Zhao Nansheng’s cultivation was insufficient, limiting what he could consume. With a look of regret, True Monarch Fuhai emerged from the Sea Eye, carrying a large pile of treasures.

“Thank you for your hard work, fellow Daoist.”

Chen Mobai’s face lit up with joy upon seeing the small mountain of sixth-tier spiritual materials. He repeatedly thanked True Monarch Fuhai.

“Not at all, it was just a small effort…”

To prevent Chen Mobai from noticing anything amiss, True Monarch Fuhai immediately produced the slender fishing line wrapped around his hand and began probing deep into the Sea Eye, preparing to fish for the Ancestral Black Dragon’s remains. Seeing True Monarch Fuhai being so cooperative, Chen Mobai felt that this old fellow, despite being from the Eastern Imperial Court, was actually quite decent. Considering that he also had Feng Qingshu provide materials, hoping to help him ascend with an Immortal Pill, Chen Mobai found him increasingly agreeable and wondered if he could invite him to be an honored guest of the Five Elements Sect.

“Your Majesty, the number of magical artifacts is incorrect. I heard my father say that Grand-Ancestor’s Nine-Ripple Ice Armor and Great-Grandfather’s Thousand-Scale Moon-Reflecting Screen were both in the Sea Eye’s treasure cavern, but they’re not here!”

At this moment, the young Flood Dragon, who had been carefully examining the pile of items True Monarch Fuhai had brought out, suddenly spoke up. True Monarch Fuhai, who had thought he was in the clear, froze on the spot.