Chapter 851: Envoy Ship

Ji Yuan seemed to know what the Yaksha was thinking and turned to look at the water patrol who was following him closely.

“If you want to report back to Elder Ying, go now. It’s your duty, and you should fulfill your obligations.”

The Yaksha quickly bowed and cupped his hands.

“Thank you for the guidance, Master Ji. I understand. I’ll have someone else lead the way for you…”

“No need, I’m familiar with the Tongtian River Dragon Palace.”

Ji Yuan’s words made the Yaksha’s eyes flicker with thought. He assumed Master Ji didn’t want to be disturbed, so he quickly replied.

“Yes, then I’ll take my leave!”

After saying this, the Yaksha quickly channeled a current of water and shot out. Moments later, he was in the main hall. He cautiously went to the side and approached the old dragon, who was holding a teacup and chatting with several Dragon Lords. The Yaksha’s telepathic message reached his ear.

“Dragon Lord, I have news from Master Ji that I must report.”

The old dragon squinted at the Yaksha and communicated softly.

“Speak.”

“Reporting, Dragon Lord, Master Ji didn’t explicitly say, but he went to look at the venue for the riverside banquet outside the Dragon Palace and mentioned there would be a ‘good show’ to watch. I dared not not report this, so with Master Ji’s permission, I’ve come to inform you.”

The old dragon smiled.

“Still clever enough. You may leave.”

The Yaksha looked up at the old dragon, then quickly lowered his gaze again, and slowly retreated. Since the Dragon Lord didn’t specify any preparations, it was no longer his concern.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuan and Zao Niang had already left the Dragon Palace. Outside, the density of aquatic creatures instantly increased many times over, and their demonic aura was not much weaker than inside the Dragon Palace. Apart from true dragons and some special aquatic species, many of the creatures able to reach the Tongtian River were also extraordinary.

Ji Yuan and Zao Niang emerged from one side of the Dragon Palace gate, naturally attracting glances from the aquatic creatures queuing to deliver gifts. But soon, the two seemed to blend into a current of water, disappearing before the eyes of the many water creatures. This mastery of water manipulation was no longer merely effortless; it was seamlessly imperceptible.

“Master, what kind of good show?”

“One where you’ll meet old acquaintances.”

Ji Yuan turned and smiled at Zao Niang, then looked at the vast riverbed. Apart from the two main waterways, stone platforms were rising from the riverbed in the center of the Tongtian River, gradually forming into tables.

To ensure the banquet proceeded smoothly, many aquatic creatures were busy working back and forth. Continuous bubble-like barriers were forming in the water, so that food and drink could be laid out later.

The sheer number of aquatic creatures stretching across the riverbed made Ji Yuan recall the Myriad Demon Banquet in Hei Huang. Of course, the demonic aura here felt completely different from back then. Ji Yuan couldn’t say that all the demons here were ‘clean,’ but they were all prominent aquatic creatures from the mainland and the Four Seas, and many were even true deities and lesser gods. There were certainly few who committed evil for evil’s sake.

“Acquaintances? Who?”

“Zao Niang, curiosity is good, but isn’t it better to leave some things as a surprise?”

Ji Yuan smiled, and Zao Niang smiled along with him.

“Yes, okay, if Master says it’s a happy surprise, then it is!”

Ji Yuan’s smile faded as he looked ahead.

“Indeed, for us, it is.”

On the other side, Xiezhi and Hu Yun had slipped out of the side hall. As soon as they stepped outside, the Yaksha and fish maids guarding there bowed and explained.

“Master Xie, Master Hu, the Dragon Palace is quite crowded with various individuals right now, and it’s easy to get lost. If you wish to go out, please allow us to accompany you.”

Hu Yun looked around. Seven people stood on either side: three Yakshas and four fish maids with human torsos and large fish tails.

“Are all of you going?”

“Reporting, Master Hu, only one of us needs to accompany you.”

Hu Yun looked at Xiezhi, who nodded and casually pointed to one of the fish maids.

“Alright then, you it is.”

With that, Xiezhi strode away with Hu Yun, while Hu Yun chuckled, feeling quite pleased that they called him ‘Master Hu.’

However, as soon as they left the tranquil area behind the palace, Hu Yun began to feel uneasy. There were simply too many aquatic demons outside; each one’s demonic aura was terrifying to him. He then looked at his master beside him, who showed no demonic aura at all.

Moreover, this was different from being next to Master Ji. Master Ji didn’t reveal much immortal energy, but Hu Yun knew he was incredibly powerful. As for his newfound master, even his magic was borrowed from Master Ji, so he might not be able to handle trouble. But Hu Yun glanced back at the accompanying fish maid and felt a little more at ease, at least they were on the Dragon Lord’s territory.

“Hey, hey, Master, slow down.”

Hu Yun quickly caught up with Xiezhi, who merely glanced at Hu Yun and walked even faster, his gaze freely roaming in all directions.

“Why are they all just little loaches?”

Hu Yun quickly followed and grabbed Xiezhi’s arm.

“Master, Master Ji isn’t here right now, don’t say whatever comes to mind.”

“What are you afraid of? We’re still inside the Dragon Palace. Come on, let’s go to the front and see those who are qualified to meet the Ying family.”

One dared to lead, the other dared to follow, and soon they reached the main hall, which was directly inward from the Dragon Palace entrance.

Xiezhi was still looking around when he suddenly heard a clear female voice calling from a distance.

“Little fox — little fox —”

“Huh? Is someone calling me?”

The little fox perked up. Xiezhi looked down at him.

“Is there any other fox in this entire Tongtian River besides you?”

Xiezhi looked up again at the not-so-distant spot, frowning slightly. A large fish, unable to even manifest a human form, could see through Hu Yun’s transformation?

One had to know that while Hu Yun’s cultivation was somewhat lacking, the foundation he built while with Ji Yuan was terrifying. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have piqued Xiezhi’s interest. Hu Yun’s current transformations were not something just anyone could see through.

“Qingqing! It’s Qingqing!”

The moment Hu Yun saw the large green fish, he abandoned Xiezhi and excitedly rushed over. Bai Qi on the other side allowed the large green fish to approach.

“Hahahaha, Qingqing, you can talk! You can talk!”

This was Hu Yun’s happiest moment today. He ran, then leaped, and was directly nudged in the chest by the large green fish. Holding its fish head, he was carried and darted around.

“I’ve been talking for a long time, I’ve known how for a long time, hahahaha... can you come to the river bottom banquet even as a fox?”

“Yes, Master Ji brought me. The White River God brought you, right?”

Bai Qi, now wearing a white robe, walked over with an old man with white beard and hair—this was the old turtle in his transformed state.

“Oh, a little white dragon and an old turtle. While not quite there, it’s getting somewhat interesting.”

At Xiezhi’s words, Bai Qi and the old turtle had already arrived. Bai Qi narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Xiezhi. Although he could tell the person was not made of flesh and blood, he couldn’t sense any aura, unsure if it was human or demon.

“Given your critical appraisal, I wonder if you are praising or mocking?”

Xiezhi didn’t reply, simply sizing up Bai Qi, then the old turtle, and finally looking at the frolicking great green fish and Hu Yun.

“Hu Yun, let’s go.”

“Huh? But I want to catch up with Great Green Fish!”

“Meeting in the main hall when the banquet begins is the same.”

Seeing Xiezhi actually leaving, Hu Yun reluctantly exchanged a few words with the great green fish, then bowed to Bai Qi and the old turtle before hurrying to catch up.

The old turtle frowned, watching the two depart.

“Lord River God, is that person Hu Yun’s master? Does Master Ji know about this?”

“No need to worry about it. Let’s go pay our respects to the Dragon Lord. Master Ji will surely come too. We’ll see them when the banquet starts.”

Above the Tongtian River, at the port of the Imperial Capital Prefecture, several carriages escorted by imperial guards stopped outside the port. Servants set down stools and opened the carriage curtains. People disembarked from the carriages one after another, causing the imperial guards standing guard to instinctively straighten up.

“Is the ship ready?”

“Reporting, Imperial Preceptor, it is ready.”

“Good.”

Du Changsheng nodded and cupped his hands to the person beside him.

“Chancellor Yin, Your Highnesses, and sirs, the ship is ready. Let us depart.”

“Yes, thank you, Imperial Preceptor, for your magic.”

“It is my duty.”

Du Changsheng led Yin Zhaoxian, Yin Qing, several high-ranking court officials, and several imperial princes onto the large vessel that had been prepared.

“Set sail!”

An imperial guard, with a booming voice, ordered the ship to set sail. The large vessel slowly moved away from the dock. Not long after reaching the middle of the river, Du Changsheng and several Celestial Masters from the Bureau of Celestial Masters cast spells together. A thin mist seemed to rise from the ship’s sides until the large ship became invisible to other vessels passing nearby on the river.

The large vessel moved faster and faster but sank lower and lower, finally slowly submerging beneath the river.

Around the large vessel, the flags of Da Zhen, which had been hanging limp due to lack of wind, began to unfurl and wave as the water currents caught them after submerging. Water-repelling magic was also active on the ship to prevent people from being submerged.

The moment the large vessel entered the water, some imperial guards standing by the ship’s rail looked outside, feeling curious and excited. But then they looked below and were utterly terrified, only able to force themselves to stand straight and avoid embarrassment.

As the ship sailed deeper, countless aquatic creatures could be seen on the riverbed below: some half-human, half-fish, some outright monstrous, some resembling coiled dragons, others human in appearance but exuding a non-human aura. Many demons in the water had eyes that seemed to glow eerily, their gazes all fixed on the large vessel descending from the river surface.

Most people on the ship felt their hearts pounding, while the aquatic creatures outside also showed expressions of surprise. In their eyes, this large vessel emitted no immortal or demonic aura, yet it shone brightly, as if illuminating the waterways ahead and behind.

This was the light of noble righteousness, causing many aquatic creatures to retreat. Some, with inscrutable expressions, followed, as the ship’s origin was unknown, and it was instantly clear that they might not be friendly.

Yin Qing observed the countless aquatic spirits and demons below, then turned to look at a bare-chested imperial guard expert on the second-story platform of the vessel. A huge gong and drum were placed in front of him.

“Announce our identity.”

The imperial guard expert nodded, gathered his true qi throughout his body, took a deep breath, picked up the red-tipped wooden mallet, raised it high, and struck the bronze gong fiercely.

“Dong—”

“Envoys of Da Zhen, here to congratulate Lady Ying—”

The gong sound traveled extremely far underwater, and the announcement was also exceptionally loud. The gong and the announcement continued without pause, steadily approaching the Dragon Palace.

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