Chapter 89: The Dragon Palace’s Treasure Division and the Treasure That Prolongs Life (1/5) Request for First Subscriptions

Cao Kong cultivated the orthodox Golden Core path, his vital essence, energy, and spirit all thoroughly tempered into one another, giving him an inwardly seamless and rounded quality. Unless he deliberately leaked his aura, even an accomplished adept of the Dao would find it hard to see through him.

The Venerable Fox King of Ten Thousand Years wanted to look again, but from within the Crystal Palace there had already come forth a figure with a dragon’s head and a human body, dressed in resplendent imperial robes, to greet them. It was the Dragon King of the Sky-Connecting River.

“The lord of Mount Charging Thunder has come in person, and has truly brought splendor to my humble sea palace.”

The Fox King of Ten Thousand Years did not stint on a smile either. Though he was a famed great demon king under heaven and earth, this Dragon King had by nature the rightful lineage of Heaven, with an extraordinary foundation, and had personally come out to receive him. In every way, he was shown due respect.

Besides, his own lifespan was nearing its end; it was time to cultivate goodwill in all directions and make arrangements for what lay beyond.

After all...

With eyes full of affection, the Fox King of Ten Thousand Years looked toward his daughter.

“Hahaha—Dragon King, you flatter me. To tell the truth, it is I who have been broadened of mind by seeing the splendor of your sea palace. Jade-Faced, call him Uncle.”

With that, he introduced his daughter to the Dragon King of the Sky-Connecting River. The two of them talked and laughed as they entered the palace together.

The old turtle of the Sky-Connecting River also let out a quiet breath. Being suddenly glanced at by such a great demon king had made him rather uneasy; now that he saw the other did not take offense, he finally relaxed.

He then led Cao Kong onward, accepted the invitation card, presented the gift, and was guided by a beautiful mermaid maid deeper inside.

Once inside the sea palace, the scene changed entirely.

Within the halls stood row upon row of jeweled palaces and shell-built towers; roofs of gold, door pivots of white jade, with the radiance of sun, moon, and stars shining down. The atmosphere was extraordinary.

This was the Dragon King’s three-thousandth birthday banquet, and afterward there would also be a treasure exchange assembly. So many had come that three great halls had been prepared: one main hall and two side halls, arranged according to the status of the guests.

Entering one of the side halls, they saw it was crowded with distinguished company. The old turtle and Cao Kong took a seat near the middle, while jade maidens and immortal attendants played music on zithers. Great whales sang long notes, giant crabs danced with their claws, old turtles blew reed pipes, and the old turtle beat drums.

It was truly a pity that he had not brought his younger brother along to broaden his horizons.

Still, on second thought, there would be time enough. Once the two brothers attained the Way of Immortals, the gatherings they attended in future would be immortal assemblies indeed.

Gradually, more guests arrived. Then a long, mellow toll of a bell rang through the water, sending ripples outward.

When the banquet began, all the guests started to eat, and exchanged a few casual words with those beside them. The atmosphere was harmonious enough.

Soon another bell sounded, and the old turtle hurriedly tugged at Cao Kong’s sleeve.

“Sir, something good is about to happen. Be quick-eyed and quick-handed when the time comes.”

Then the voice of the Dragon King of the Sky-Connecting River drifted out from the main hall.

“Since all of you have come to celebrate my birthday, it is my fortune. I, the old dragon, cannot be stingy either, so I will open the treasures of the sea palace and distribute gifts to all of you. Each may take one item, and its worth will depend entirely on fate.”

The guests all rejoiced and offered their congratulations.

“May the Dragon King’s blessings be as boundless as the Eastern Sea, and his lifespan as enduring as Mount Nanshan!”

“May your grace be—”

The Dragon King’s laughter rolled over.

“Everyone, watch closely.”

As he spoke, another solemn bell rang, and streams of light wrapped around treasures and flew toward the three halls.

All the guests displayed their abilities to snatch at the flowing lights in the water.

The old turtle grew eager to try, and did not forget to remind Cao Kong first.

“Sir, these streams of light conceal the treasures’ radiance, so what one gets is entirely luck. If fortune smiles on us, we may be able to haul up one or two fine treasures.”

Cao Kong looked on with curiosity, then secretly activated the Appraisal Spirit Art. This technique had been passed by the Nine-Spirit Great Sage to the Golden Lion Spirit, and he wished to see whether he could perceive through the sea palace’s methods.

At once, the original streams of light lost their concealment and revealed the true brilliance of the treasures within.

There were thousands of streams, but nine-tenths were merely ordinary spiritual objects, and only one-tenth could be called decent. Of that one-tenth, only a dozen or so were truly excellent.

Like meteors, the streams of light were first hauled up by those in the main hall, then scattered among the two side halls. Several of the spiritual objects Cao Kong had judged favorably were also taken, though fortunately the two he liked best remained untouched.

“Old sir, later you may take the third stream of light on the right. If someone has already taken it, then take the ninth.”

Cao Kong sent a voice transmission to the old turtle. After all, it was the old turtle who had brought him to this sea palace, so he was happy to offer a reminder.

The old turtle, hearing this, was first taken aback, then thought that in any case it was all a matter of luck. So he quietly remembered it in his heart.

Afterward, Cao Kong prepared to seize the treasure with the richest glow, but another plain-faced man got there first. He was not fixated on it, and simply changed to another.

The old turtle, meanwhile, followed Cao Kong’s advice and took the third stream of light on the right.

When all the guests had taken their streams of light, the restraints upon them vanished. Some let out long sighs, having drawn only ordinary spiritual objects; others were overjoyed, waving their arms in delight, clearly having obtained something excellent.

Cao Kong also looked at the object in his hand, satisfaction in his eyes. He recognized it: a thing called Azure-Jade Green Gold, nurtured only in places rich in vitality. It contained pure life-force and was extraordinarily sturdy.

It would suit his younger brother nicely as a weapon.

Nearby, the old turtle looked at the item in his own hand and was grinning from ear to ear.

“Sir, I’ve struck it rich! This is waterborne treasure clay. If I spread it in the fields of my residence in the future, the spirit plants will surely grow even better.”

Only then did he realize that it was because of Cao Kong that he had obtained this treasure. He opened his mouth to offer thanks, but saw Cao Kong give a slight shake of the head, so he tactfully held back.

Still, in his heart he grew even more reverent toward Cao Kong, and resolved to cling tightly to this great support.

Beside them was another man who had obtained a century-old spiritual herb. He had originally been quite pleased, but after seeing the harvest of Cao Kong and the old turtle, the smile on his face immediately faded.

Truly, people simply could not be compared.

The birthday banquet lasted for three straight days. During that time, the guests drank and exchanged cups, chatted idly about their origins, and the atmosphere remained warm and congenial.

On the third day, the banquet concluded, and under the Dragon King of the Sky-Connecting River’s direction, the treasure exchange assembly officially began.

The three halls were all transformed into trading grounds. The guests brought out their possessions; some laid them out where they stood, while others roamed through the halls.

Cao Kong considered himself still rather well-off, so he wandered about everywhere, exchanging the Golden Leopard Spirit’s elixir and the spirit wine he himself had brewed for all manner of spiritual objects, and met with almost no setbacks.

These wine and elixir arts were not things ordinary demon-kind could possess, so there were many willing to trade.

“Dragon King, this treasure exchange assembly is most lively. This old man will also go down and have a look.”

The Dragon King of the Sky-Connecting River laughed. “Fox King, please do as you wish.”

The Fox King of Ten Thousand Years then led Jade-Faced Princess to wander through the three halls.

Watching the Fox King of Ten Thousand Years’ retreating figure, the Dragon King of the Sky-Connecting River pondered:

‘That Fox King has long been famous for his wealth of a hundred million. This treasure exchange assembly is not bad, but it may not necessarily catch his eye.

“Unless he is looking for some special item... I hear that in his younger years he fought a battle with someone and damaged his foundation. Could he be seeking something to prolong his life?’

Ten minutes later, I will send more. There are three chapters in all; the rest will be sent tonight.