Free Web NovelChapter 59: Chapter 35: Raising a Demon for Divine Techniques, Undersea Crystal Palace
Xuzhuang focused his senses and perceived a spot ’suspended’ in the water, empty on all sides. It was like an aperture, its pull endless as it swallowed the seawater. The undercurrent it created swept up all sorts of fish, crabs, and shrimp, along with seaweed and coral, indiscriminately drawing everything into its maw.
Before Xuzhuang could give it much thought, the group had already neared the opening. Xiao Si’s voice rumbled, "We’re about to enter the Water Dao. Please hold on tight, you two."
’So this is the ’Water Dao’.’
Xiao Si, carrying Xuzhuang and Shishi, followed the undercurrent from the Water Dao and suddenly accelerated, plunging straight into it. Xuzhuang felt like a small boat tossed into a raging river. He was swept along by the torrential current, shooting forward uncontrollably. As they traveled, he was even sent spinning and tumbling through the water by the swirling torrent.
’So *this* is what they call a ’Water Dao’.’ Forget humans, even native sea creatures could never withstand this method of travel without significant cultivation to protect themselves. Within the current were many fish and shrimp that had been accidentally swept into the Water Dao, going still as they were tossed about.
However, with Xuzhuang’s cultivation, this was hardly a concern. His Water Escape Technique kept him perfectly stable, and he even had enough energy to spare to sense the group’s rapid progress. They crossed a distance of ten thousand li in what felt like a mere moment.
The Water Dao was not straight, but twisted and wound through the sea. By Xuzhuang’s senses, they must have traveled nearly a million li. Suddenly, he perceived a bright light rapidly approaching from ahead. An instant later, the three of them were spat out by the current.
They had reached the end of the Water Dao.
The moment they exited, they saw a massive figure blocking the way. Its gaping, basin-like mouth was wide open, indiscriminately swallowing everything ejected from the current—fish, crabs, shrimp, seaweed, coral, and even sand and rocks.
’It was a giant whale, lying in wait by the exit to feast. Quite clever, really.’
Just as they were about to fly into the whale’s mouth and Xuzhuang’s fingers began to twitch, Xiao Si suddenly shouted, "Insolence!"
"Whoa!"
The giant whale cried out and snapped its mouth shut, allowing Xuzhuang and the others to finally halt their momentum. The whale rolled in the water, transforming into a bald, armored giant over twenty feet tall. He rubbed his head and chuckled sheepishly, "Fourth Master, you’re here at last."
"The Sixth Prince returned to the palace half a day ago and sent me to this Water Dao to welcome you. I was waiting for so long that I got hungry..."
"That’s enough," Xiao Si said, transforming into his human form. He sighed in resignation. "What are the Prince’s arrangements?"
"Oh!" the giant whale-man replied. He plucked two Jade Pendants from his waist with his fingers. "His Highness said for you to take the guests to his palace to settle in. He left these for you."
Xiao Si nodded. "Lead the way." He took the two Jade Pendants. In the giant’s hands, they had looked no bigger than his fingertips, but they returned to a normal size in Xiao Si’s grasp. He handed them to Xuzhuang and Shishi, saying, "Young Master, Fairy, these Jade Pendants signify your status as guests of His Highness. Please, wear them at all times."
Xuzhuang and Shishi readily complied, fastening the Jade Pendants to their waists. With a shimmer, the giant transformed back into a massive whale and led the way, with the three of them following close behind.
The exit of the Water Dao was still on the seabed, at a depth of thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, of li. However, it wasn’t dark like the entrance; they could already see their surroundings. As the whale and the three people swam onward, their path grew progressively brighter. After passing through a tunnel in an underwater mountain range, the vista before them opened up dramatically.
A sprawling complex of palaces appeared, glowing with a brilliant light. Their roofs were made of colored glaze, their pillars and beams of crystal. They were adorned with deep-sea pearls and paved with roads of sea-crystal. Gardens of nine-colored coral grew in place of trees. Fish Princesses and Clam Girls bustled about, while Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals patrolled without rest.
This was the East Sea Dragon Palace!
