Chapter Forty-Eight: Opulence

But little did they know, this was only the beginning of the catastrophe.

When the Celestial Court sought to recruit the dragons, it had promised them the position of Water Deity: dominion over all the waters of the mortal realm. In the end, while they did indeed govern the waters, they lost all autonomy. From the Dragon Kings down to the river gods, all were shackled by the will of the Celestial Court. The dragons were even stripped of the right to appoint or dismiss their own; they were subjugated to the utmost, unable to voice their grievances, forced to endure in silence.

To the Heavenly Emperor, the dragon clan was nothing more than a tool—a means to summon rain and command the clouds, nothing else.

Take, for example, the infamous dish “Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gallbladder”—it was a stark reminder of the dragons’ weakness and humiliation.

Thus, the fall of the Celestial Court was, for the dragons, a liberation.

The Celestial Court had once hung like a razor-sharp sword above their heads. The slightest misstep, and it would fall, uprooting the entire dragon race.

Now, with that sword gone, although the dragons betrayed no outward excitement, the relief they felt was indescribable in words. Millennia of pent-up frustration were swept away in an instant.

To survive is to triumph in the end.

Yi An did not press the matter further. The old turtle’s expression said it all; to continue questioning would only backfire.

The old turtle traveled swiftly, and soon they had reached the gates of the Crystal Palace. Nestled in the depths of the Eastern Sea, the palace lay at least tens of thousands of fathoms beneath the surface. Before them was a resplendent palace, its golden splendor stretching out of sight. Although the ancient glory of the dragon clan had faded, the palace that bore witness to their former greatness remained intact.

Countless aquatic creatures swam to and fro around the palace, most still lacking sentience, yet the scene radiated prosperity. Patrols of shrimp and crab soldiers circled the grounds, guarding the palace vigilantly.

“You’re so slow! I’ve been waiting here for ages,” Princess Ao Xiuxiu pouted in mild annoyance when she saw Yi An and the old turtle approaching.

“Ah, these old bones can’t compare to the vigor of youth,” the old turtle replied with a genial smile.

Yi An remained silent, simply observing Ao Xiuxiu’s appearance, finding her unexpectedly adorable. Yet, recalling her identity, he swiftly banished any improper thoughts.

The gulf of their different races was a barrier he could not surmount in his heart.

He was not as strong-willed as those legendary heroes.

Soon, the three of them arrived at the palace entrance, where a shrimp general—clearly the chief of the guards—stepped forward, bowed deeply, and turned a questioning gaze toward Yi An. “Greetings, Princess, Lord Chancellor. And this is...?”

It was his duty to safeguard the palace, and besides, it had been centuries since an outsider set foot here. Today, the princess had brought back a human cultivator—an unexpected event. Though he dared not bar their way, he needed to determine the visitor’s origins. Should the Dragon King inquire, he would need an answer.

“What, must I seek your permission to invite a friend as a guest?” Ao Xiuxiu’s brows knit in displeasure, her tone icy.

At her words, cold sweat broke out on the shrimp general’s brow. This was the Dragon King’s most beloved daughter. To offend her, regardless of his duty, would be disastrous. To curry favor with her, even his superiors would gladly strip him of his command and give it to another.

“Hmph.”

Ao Xiuxiu did not deign to argue further, and led Yi An into the palace. The sight within took Yi An’s breath away. He had heard tales of the palace’s extravagance, but to witness it firsthand was another matter.

Even compared to the Jade Emperor’s own Hall of Supreme Harmony, this palace was every bit its equal.

No wonder the Heavenly Emperor had always sought to suppress the dragons—how could any ruler tolerate a subordinate whose residence rivaled his own?

“I’ll leave you here; I must report to the Dragon King now,” the old turtle said, glancing at Ao Xiuxiu. He sensed she would not give up easily, and so another plan quietly took root in his mind.

As the saying goes, the older the ginger, the spicier it is. Little girl, you’ve a long way to go yet, he thought with secret amusement.

Ao Xiuxiu ignored him, but there was one person she would never dare defy.

“Grandpa Turtle, tell everyone outside that Yi An is a friend I met on my travels. Even if my father asks, that is the story. You must remember this,” she cautioned repeatedly. If her true intentions were discovered, opposition would arise from all quarters, and whether Yi An would ever leave the palace would be uncertain.

At her words, the old turtle’s face stiffened, and half his secret plans instantly withered. If any discordant rumor spread from the palace, Ao Xiuxiu would suspect him first.

After all, only the three of them knew the truth. Ao Xiuxiu herself would never leak it, and Yi An, as the party involved, would hold his tongue if he valued his life. That left only the old turtle as a potential suspect.

Without the old turtle’s protection, Yi An soon felt a distinct discomfort. Helpless, he resorted to his Water-Repelling Pearl to ease the oppressive sensation.

...

Ao Xiuxiu led Yi An directly to her own chambers and treated him with rare delicacies. Several handmaidens attended them, making for a most pleasant time.

After eating a few spirit fruits, Yi An felt his internal energy grow more abundant. As expected, these were no ordinary fruits—such treasures could never be tasted in the mortal world, only in blessed places like the Dragon Palace.

Yet Ao Xiuxiu kept gazing at him in a daze, leaving Yi An somewhat bewildered. Was there something on his face? He instinctively reached up to check.

Nothing.

When he met her meaningful gaze again, understanding began to dawn.

At that moment, a commotion arose outside, the sounds drawing rapidly nearer.

“Hey, don’t block my way! Let me in! Are you hiding something shameful in there?”

Ao Xiuxiu’s face turned pale. “Oh no, it’s my second sister! Don’t come out—if she discovers you, we’ll be in trouble.”

As soon as Ao Xiuxiu left, the two handmaidens visibly relaxed their tense expressions. Yi An couldn’t help but ask, “Does your princess treat you poorly?”

The maids quickly shook their heads. “You misunderstand, honored guest. Among all the dragon siblings, the princess is the kindest.”

“You may not realize, but we are just ordinary aquatic folk. The princess, with her noble bloodline, exerts a natural suppression over us. That’s simply how it is.”