Chapter 360

Chapter 360: The North Sea Dragon Capital

Above the North Sea Dragon Palace.

The Wu Kingdom envoy group has arrived.

For the envoys of the Wu Kingdom, most of them are seeing the ocean for the first time.

Seeing such vast and boundless seas and islands scattered across it, everyone feels how small they truly are.

Ming sighs softly, gazing at the calm sea surface.

For most members of the envoy group, this mission is more like a vacation.

Not only can they witness the charm of the North Sea Dragon Empress, but they can also explore the magnificent underwater world, giving them plenty to boast about when they return home.

But it’s different for Ming.

Ming knows all too well that the Dragon Empress of the North Sea has her sights set on him.

The reason why the Wu Kingdom was invited by the North Sea Dragon Empress is because of him.

But he has no idea what the Dragon Empress’s intentions are.

As everyone wonders how they might enter the North Sea Dragon Palace, Ming steps to the ship’s bow and bows deeply toward the vast ocean. “We, the envoys of the Wu Kingdom, have come to pay our respects!”

No sooner does Ming finish speaking than ripples begin to form on the tranquil sea, growing larger and larger. Flying fish leap up and down across the water.

The vast ocean begins to collapse inward, forming a vortex.

Splash!

The vortex suddenly shoots upward, piercing straight into the clouds.

Columns of dragon-sucking waters rise into the heavens like pillars, connecting the water with the sky, scattering the white clouds above.

Another water column erupts from the sea, seemingly ready to shatter the flying vessel into pieces.

But just as the seawater is about to touch the vessel, it disperses.

The water floats around the vessel, gradually coalescing more and more until finally, a bubble of turquoise seawater envelops the vessel entirely.

Then, under the pull of the water, the vessel slowly descends into the sea.

As the vessel submerges beneath the surface, it enters the depths of the ocean.

Colorful fish swim back and forth around the vessel like vibrant ribbons.

A massive whale approaches the vessel, opening its mouth wide, causing beads of sweat to form on everyone’s foreheads, fearing that the whale will swallow the vessel whole. But the whale turns away without any disturbance.

The deeper they go, the more colossal sea creatures appear, and Ming even spots several dragons.

Soon, Ming and his companions see a colossal city before them.

This is the North Sea Dragon Capital.

The size of this city rivals an entire province of the Wu Kingdom.

At the center of the Dragon Capital lies an expansive palace.

The North Sea Dragon Palace, the bedchamber of the legendary Dragon Empress.

The palace gleams with gold and jewels, sprawling like a miniature town. Turtles glide through the air above the palace.

You can see the palace’s furnishings, but you cannot see the people inside.

Ming guesses that it must be due to the influence of a magic array.

This array conceals the palace, though it’s clear that the layers of arrays protecting the Dragon Palace are far from simple.

Even from outside the palace, one can feel the immense power of the array surrounding it.

Soon, the Wu Kingdom vessel stops at the outer perimeter of the palace.

The water sphere enveloping the Wu Kingdom vessel dissipates, blue droplets merging into the heads of the envoys.

Everyone discovers they can now breathe underwater.

“Welcome, esteemed envoys of the Wu Kingdom. We apologize for not greeting you earlier; please forgive us.”

An old man with a turtle shell on his back emerges with over a hundred maidservants.

Ming leaps off the vessel, approaching the old turtle, bowing deeply. “I am Ming, the chief official leading this diplomatic mission to the Dragon Palace. Greetings, Lord Turtle.”

“Mr. Ming, there’s no need for such formalities,” the old turtle smiles, eyeing Ming carefully as if sizing him up. “I serve as the Minister of Rites in the North Sea Dragon Palace. You may call me Old Turtle.”

“How dare I?” Ming quickly responds, showing great respect.

Come on, if someone tells you to call them ‘Old Turtle,’ would you really do it? Might as well call them ‘Turtle Grandson’ while you’re at it! “Minister Xu, there’s really no need for such excessive politeness. We’ve prepared some dishes to welcome you all, and we hope you won’t find them lacking.” The old turtle chuckles.

“In that case, thank you for your trouble.” Ming nods.

“Minister Xu, please.”

“Lord Turtle, please.”

Together, the Minister of Rites and Ming walk into the Dragon Capital. Behind Ming follow three thousand Blood Floating Pagodas warriors and over a hundred officials carrying gifts.

Through the magic array, they soon arrive before the Dragon Palace. Upon entering the imperial palace, the Blood Floating Pagodas must disarm.

This is understandable.

Even though three thousand Blood Floating Pagodas wouldn’t cause much of a stir in the North Sea Dragon Palace — after all, a single slap from the Dragon Empress could kill them all — still, this is the core territory of the North Sea. Bringing in an armed force of three thousand would be embarrassing for the Dragon Palace, right?

All the Blood Floating Pagodas are mentally prepared and fully cooperative with disarming themselves.

The Blood Floating Pagodas change into clothes prepared by the Dragon Palace. Ming and others are first led to take a bath. As the chief official, Ming receives a higher standard of bathing treatment.

Ming gets his own private hot spring pool, and pearl maidens attend to him, wiping him clean.

Ming initially refuses, but the moment he does, the pearl maidens immediately kneel before him, asking, “Master, have we done something wrong? We will correct it immediately.”

Ming realizes that if these pearl maidens fail to serve him properly, they will be punished. Even worse, if he dismisses them, they will be considered inadequate hosts regardless of the reason.

So, Ming reluctantly allows them to stay and assist him in bathing.

After bathing, Ming changes into new attire and is escorted by a maid to the dining area.

The Dragon Palace has prepared an abundant feast, all seafood.

Ming thinks it’s somewhat strange to eat seafood in the Dragon Palace.

But then again, aren’t demons on land also demons? Why should sea creatures be any different? Only those who develop intelligence are regarded as their own kind.

Otherwise, most seafood without intelligence is considered alien.

After the meal, Ming assumes he can meet the Dragon Empress.

But actually, no.

In fact, for three consecutive days, Ming doesn’t get to see the Dragon Empress at all.