Though they called it exploring, Lin Yun and Little Green Dragon moved swiftly. Lin Yun asked Little Green Dragon about the size of Qianlong Abyss, learning it spanned roughly five million square kilometres, an immense area.
The terrain of Qianlong Abyss was complex, riddled with ravines and gorges.
Even when Qianlong Abyss opened, some areas remained sealed, their opening times dictated purely by chance.
On their journey, they occasionally encountered other teams, mostly from other dragon palaces, but everyone kept to themselves.
After two full days of exploration, Lin Yun and Little Green Dragon had ventured deep into Qianlong Abyss.
The outer regions yielded little of note.
“Little Green Dragon, the Qiankun Supreme Pills have all been converted,” Lin Yun said while pressing forward.
Since Little Green Dragon provided the resources, Lin Yun had kept the Qiankun Supreme Cauldron working non-stop within the One Thought Clear Heart Tower, converting resources during their journey to Qianlong Abyss and while waiting outside. The process, given the vast amount of resources, took considerable time.
“Three hundred thousand?” Little Green Dragon asked eagerly.
“Yes, three hundred thousand,” Lin Yun confirmed.
“That many Qiankun Crystal Stones will definitely give me a solid boost,” Little Green Dragon said with a grin.
“But converting this stuff burns through resources. If you want to keep converting, you’ll need to provide a ton more,” Lin Yun noted.
“I can manage that, but taking too much would impact the West Sea Dragon Palace. The clan members below need resources too, and with so many under our command, daily expenses are huge. If I take too much without explaining its use, it might stir resentment,” Little Green Dragon said helplessly.
The resources he previously provided didn’t cause much strain, but pulling out another massive batch could have negative consequences.
This kind of conversion was like draining a lake to catch fish.
Even the Xingwu Emperor, after supplying Lin Yun with several waves of vast resources for conversion, faced significant depletion. With countless cultivators and an enormous royal population under his command, resource consumption was immense. The emperor couldn’t simply confiscate everyone’s resources, weapons, or artifacts, as that would erode public support.
“Resources are indeed a tricky issue,” Lin Yun sighed.
“No worries, I can still get you another batch,” Little Green Dragon assured.
“Hm? Something’s up!” Lin Yun’s divine sense detected something.
“Over there, let’s move!”
Lin Yun pointed in a direction and led Little Green Dragon toward it.
They arrived at a secluded underwater canyon.
Ahead, dazzling purple light shimmered endlessly.
“This… Purple Radiance Sea Essence! Bloody hell, so much of it!” Little Green Dragon exclaimed.
Purple Radiance Sea Essence was among the resources Little Green Dragon had previously given Lin Yun. A vital cultivation resource in the Endless Sea, formed from the sea’s essence, it was extremely rare and fiercely contested by all races in the region.
“This is a Purple Radiance Sea Essence vein, and it’s massive,” Lin Yun said, eyes gleaming.
He estimated it held at least ten million pieces.
That much Purple Radiance Sea Essence, if converted into Qiankun Crystal Stones, could yield over two hundred thousand.
“Kid, start collecting!” Little Green Dragon urged.
Lin Yun and Little Green Dragon got to work.
Lin Yun channelled his inner energy, sweeping up the Purple Radiance Sea Essence with waves of his hand.
The vein was vast, but their speed was impressive, and they gathered most of it in no time.
“Stop!”
As they were collecting enthusiastically, a sharp shout rang out.
Lin Yun and Little Green Dragon turned to see a small team from the East Sea Dragon Palace, three in total. The leader was an elder, though not the head elder, accompanied by two younger members.
“What’s that?” Little Green Dragon asked, eyeing them.
The group charged over aggressively, clearly with ill intent.
“West Sea Dragon King, you don’t plan to hog this entire Purple Radiance Sea Essence vein, do you?” the East Sea Dragon Palace elder demanded.
Little Green Dragon frowned. “Hog? I found this, so it’s mine!”
“West Sea Dragon King, that’s not how it works. Since our East Sea Dragon Palace has now found it too, we get a share. Hand over at least half!” the elder bellowed.
“Get lost! I found it, and I’ve already claimed it. You want me to spit it out?” Little Green Dragon’s voice grew sharper.
“You…” The East Sea Dragon Palace elder’s expression darkened.
“What’s that? A mere elder like you dares to lecture me, a Dragon King? If you want to talk, send your East Sea Dragon King. You’re not worthy!” Little Green Dragon shouted.
The East Sea Dragon Palace elder’s face turned green with rage.
“West Sea Dragon King, don’t you know the gap between your West Sea Dragon Palace and ours? Even as an elder, I’m more than qualified to speak to you! The weak are less than the strong’s dogs. Think carefully before you speak. You can’t afford to offend our East Sea Dragon Palace!” the elder snarled.
His East Sea Dragon Palace was far stronger than the West Sea Dragon Palace, so he hadn’t expected Little Green Dragon to take such a tone.
“Elder, are you calling yourself a dog?” Lin Yun said with a laugh, recalling the elder’s own words about the weak being less than the strong’s dogs.
“You, a lowly human, dare to speak here?” The East Sea Dragon Palace elder’s dragon eyes blazed with fury.
“Who’re you calling names?”
Hearing the insult to Lin Yun, Little Green Dragon shifted into his azure dragon form, ready to attack.
“Little Green Dragon, hold off. If he’s smart enough to leave, we’ll let it slide,” Lin Yun said, stopping him.
Fighting would escalate things too far.
“Did you hear my brother? Get out of here!” Little Green Dragon roared, reverting to human form.
“West Sea Dragon King, you’re the one who should leave. With that attitude, you don’t even deserve a share. Hand over all the Purple Radiance Sea Essence, and then you can go!” the East Sea Dragon Palace elder raged.
With that, he crushed an object, clearly sending a signal.
