Chapter 71

Ye Qing returned to the side hall but did not enter. He looked at the continuous rain, and various thoughts kept surfacing in his mind. This opportunity had not been revealed, but a faint spiritual light told him it was very familiar!

Ye Qing could not find an answer and could only stare blankly at the rain outside. After a moment, he gave a self-deprecating smile and continued to ponder.

This place was a Daoist academy. Ye Qing observed, and it made sense; the spiritual light bestowed by the Heavenly Court could not be placed in a Dragon King’s palace!

"Other things aside, the common knowledge left here is priceless, not something mortals can easily obtain."

As the day of overcast and rain gradually cleared, revealing the bright moon and stars, Ye Qing took a deep breath. Following the mnemonic in his memory, he guided the moonlight from the sky, drawing it into himself in streams, nurturing his spirituality.

The moonlight originally diffused in the void was attracted by Ye Qing’s inhalation and exhalation, converging and being absorbed in streams, forming a shadow of a dragon that appeared and disappeared around him.

However, he always felt that the moonlight he was absorbing was somewhat off, giving a sense of non-existence.

"Hmm? Is the moonlight also fake?" Ye Qing sensed something amiss, feeling a chill, and gave a cold laugh: "This is really interesting."

The next morning, Ye Qing opened his eyes and saw the faint dawn, immediately knowing that the sunrise was approaching. He had long formed the habit of rising before sunrise to absorb the purple qi at dawn. However, this time, he did not.

The sound of footsteps reached Ye Qing’s ears. Turning around, he saw Jiao Shiliu, dressed in white, leading two servants walking towards him.

"Master, you are up early," Jiao Shiliu greeted with a bow from ten steps away.

"Yes, I got up to practice," Ye Qing replied casually. "What is it? Do you need something?"

"Today is the day of the Dragon King’s small banquet. Please come to the Dragon Palace, Master," Jiao Shiliu bowed and said.

"Oh? I almost forgot. If that’s the case, lead the way in a bit!" Ye Qing wiped his face and replied to Jiao Shiliu.

"Yes!" Jiao Shiliu responded. After Ye Qing finished washing, he left the Daoist academy and saw a bronze carriage at the gate. The horses in front were kicking and fidgeting, their muscles robust, breathing like dragons, and some parts of their bodies covered in scales.

"These are the superior horses in the Dragon Palace, transformed by dragons. They can travel through the wind and are very convenient!" Jiao Shiliu explained, and Ye Qing listened without comment.

The two dragon horses pulled the bronze carriage, galloping forward. They did not stop when they reached the water but went straight in. As they entered the water, a barrier rose around the bronze carriage, blocking the outside water.

The dragon horses were not at all uncomfortable, moving as freely as fish, galloping and neighing.

True dragons can live in the nine heavens above and the deep seas below. The transformed horses had inherited some of the dragon’s characteristics.

Ye Qing was surprised but showed no emotion on his face.

Continuing forward, after about an incense stick's time, the area ahead gradually widened, and schools of fish and shrimp could be seen, but they all fled at the sight of the dragon horses.

The dragon horses continued forward, and suddenly the bronze carriage shook. A light appeared, and a massive crystal palace was revealed before Ye Qing.

The crystal palace had towering pillars on both sides, with dragons coiling around them, reaching up. The dragon horses pulled the carriage forward, and only when they were close did Ye Qing see the pillars clearly.

Three people could barely encircle them, and they were bright and clear, reaching over a hundred meters high.

Just as he was amazed, Jiao Shiliu loudly announced, "Master Shaoyuan is here to attend the Dragon King’s small banquet. All others, please step aside!"

At these words, the shrimp guards cleared the path.

"Master Shaoyuan? Jiao Shiliu calls me Master, so it’s a title. Interesting," Ye Qing thought. The dragon horses carried him directly to the palace entrance before stopping.

Jiao Shiliu did not go further and bowed to Ye Qing, saying, "Master, we have arrived at the Dragon Palace. Please enter."

Ye Qing stood up and entered the palace. As soon as he went in, a palace maid came to guide him to the grand hall for the banquet.

It was not yet time for the banquet to start, and the Dragon King had not arrived. Only palace maids were moving about, carrying things. Occasionally, other dragon princes and princesses arrived for the banquet, and the maids would bow and greet them. However, Ye Qing noticed that those with the title of Master were very few, which made him alert.

"It seems the title of Master is quite extraordinary," Ye Qing thought, his face showing no emotion as he greeted the arriving dragon princes and princesses casually.

Though all were dragon princes and princesses, there were differences in their achievements and status.

The dragon clan had many descendants, each numbering in the hundreds, but very few had achieved a high status. Only those with a high status would have the title of Master, a fact Ye Qing recalled from the dragon prince’s memories.

So it was, Ye Qing’s eyes gleamed as he pondered. This dragon prince identity was indeed different.

Time passed slowly. Ye Qing rested in a pavilion, watching the many dragon princes and princesses come and go. Among them were those with strong auras and powerful magic, but only three could be called Masters.

As Ye Qing observed the dragon princes and princesses, a wave of authority suddenly pressed down, making the crystal palace tremble. Ye Qing turned back and saw a bright light slowly descending.

"The Dragon King has arrived!" the turtle prime minister shouted, his voice spreading far and wide.

"Welcome, Father (Grandfather), to the celebration of longevity!" the dragon princes and princesses knelt to the light, and Ye Qing followed suit.

"Is this the Dragon King?" Ye Qing thought.

A middle-aged man with dragon horns walked out of the light and sat on the crystal dragon throne. He smiled and said, "Longevity is not easy. You young ones just say what sounds good."

The dragon clan’s lifespan, though long, has an end. It is impossible to live as long as the heavens and earth. Generally, they live for three thousand years, and only those who achieve the status of a true dragon can live for thirty thousand years. Though this is quite long, it is still insufficient for cultivation, unless one can elevate their status.

The dragon princes and princesses, seeing the Dragon King speak thus, lowered their heads in silence.

"Enough, enough. Today is your annual dragon banquet. Let’s begin!" the Dragon King said, clapping his hands. Immediately, palace maids came forward to dance and pour wine.

The dragon princes and princesses sat according to their status. The top three were those with the title of Master, setting an example for the rest, and Ye Qing was among them.

Below them were some powerful dragons who, though they had missed the chance to cultivate a dragon pearl and transform into a true dragon, had survived the thunder tribulation and held high status.

Further down were the ordinary dragon princes and princesses.

The title of Master was extraordinary, given only to those who had cultivated a dragon pearl. They were the future deities of the dragon clan, holding a very high status, second only to the Dragon King.

Ye Qing joined the banquet with the dragon princes and princesses, occasionally conversing and secretly observing the Dragon King’s movements.

"Shaoyuan, it’s been a while. I heard you had some trouble cultivating your dragon pearl recently?" a distinguished dragon prince asked, smiling at Ye Qing.

This dragon prince, known to Ye Qing, was also a Master, sitting next to him with the title of Shangyuan, the Shangyuan Master.

"Oh, there were indeed some issues recently, but it’s fine now. Thank you for your concern," Ye Qing replied indifferently.

"Ah, Shaoyuan, you’re still the same." The Master shook his head. "We have both cultivated dragon pearls and hold the title of Master. If nothing goes wrong, we will be the next generation of deities. Why rush?"

"Take your time. The dragon pearl will eventually be complete, and you will transform into a dragon."

"Yes, you’re right," Ye Qing agreed without argument, not saying much. He was not really Shaoyuan, and saying too much could reveal his true identity.

The Dragon King drank ambrosia, watching the dragon princes and princesses below, then focused on the three Masters.

These three were the future deities of the dragon clan and needed to be given opportunities to gain experience. The Dragon King thought, his gaze meeting the turtle prime minister’s.

The turtle prime minister, sensing the Dragon King’s thoughts, slowly approached and whispered, "Dragon King, the three Masters will be our future deities. We should not be careless. How about giving them some positions to gain experience while they are young?"

"You’re right," the Dragon King agreed, closing his eyes and nodding. "You may step back. I will speak to them."

"Yes!" the turtle prime minister replied, slowly leaving the hall.

The Dragon King adjusted his crown and cleared his throat. The laughter and chatter below immediately stopped, and the dragon princes and princesses fell silent, listening to the Dragon King.

"Shaoyuan, Shangyuan, Ziyuan, you all hold the title of Master and are the next generation of deities. However, you need experience."

"There is a three-thousand-mile continent divided into three large counties. Shaoyuan, you will be the Water Master of the Eastern County. Shangyuan, you will be the Water Master of the Northern County. Ziyuan, you will be the Water Master of the Southern County. Govern these areas well, manage the clouds and rain, and gain experience."

"Yes! We will obey!" Ye Qing responded solemnly, and the other two Masters bowed in agreement. The other dragon princes and princesses looked on with envy.

The Dragon King’s gaze swept the hall. "Those without the title of Master, do not be discouraged. If you can survive the thunder tribulation and achieve a high status, you can still live freely in the world. The dragon clan has a long lifespan, giving you plenty of time to cultivate."

"Yes! We will heed the Dragon King’s teachings." The dragon princes and princesses responded quickly.

The Dragon King walked down and touched the foreheads of the three Masters, and an ancient water rune appeared, connecting them to the waters they would manage.

"This is the rune to manage the waters. You may go now." The Dragon King, looking tired, waved them off and turned to leave.

The banquet was essentially over. The Dragon King rarely stayed, and most of the time, the dragon princes and princesses gathered together.

The dragon princes and princesses continued to drink and enjoy themselves. Various rare fruits and delicacies were served, along with ambrosia and fine wine, making the banquet unforgettable.

However, Ye Qing had no interest in these things, glanced once, and left.

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