New Year’s Eve banquet in the Dragon Palace.
This time, it was far grander than the previous reception for Lu Zheng and the Liu family, many times more magnificent.
Though dragon clans had long lifespans, gathering once a year still counted as a relatively grand and lively entertainment event.
Fine nectar and jade dew, rare delicacies and exotic fruits.
The hall was filled with pearls and jade, with drums, zithers, pipes, and flutes playing.
Lu Zheng and the others ate and drank freely. After a few spiritual fruits and several cups of spiritual wine, they felt true qi surging within, cultivation steadily advancing.
Especially Du Yueyao, Wang Xiaowan, and Liu Qingquan, the three women progressed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Lu Zheng smacked his lips. It seemed Fan Boyu’s expectations could be realised ahead of schedule.
…
After New Year, the group stayed in the dragon palace for two more days before proposing to take their leave.
“Sister! Brother-in-law!”
Ao Qian’s eyes were full of reluctance as she tugged at Liu Qingyan’s sleeve. “Stay a few more days. There are still so many fun places around the dragon palace!”
“We have already stayed a long time. We cannot just live here forever, can we?”
“Actually, you could…”
“Alright, alright. We have been here once. Now we know where you live. When we have time, we will come again to play with you, okay?” Liu Qingyan stroked Ao Qian’s little head comfortingly.
“Really?” Ao Qian asked doubtfully.
“Of course it’s true. I am still waiting to continue playing checkers with you!” Liu Qingquan jumped in.
“Then let’s pinky promise!”
Ao Qian was not foolish. For the pinky promise, she wisely chose Lu Zheng.
“Fine! Pinky promise!”
Lu Zheng extended his little finger to hook with Ao Qian’s, then pressed thumbs together.
“Stamp it!”
“You must come, okay!” Ao Qian reminded.
“Rest assured. I am very poor. In future, I will definitely come to the dragon palace often to scrounge meals!”
Everyone laughed upon hearing this.
To the dragon clan, ordinary treasures were just numbers. So Lu Zheng’s group was already laden with coral, pearls, agate, jade discs, gems, and more.
Not spiritual materials, but truly valuable in the mortal world. At least Wang Xiaowan felt the jewellery on her person could equal two or three tenths of her family’s accumulated wealth over generations.
Terrifying!
No wonder Ao Jin had casually gifted Lu Zheng a five-courtyard residence and a shop in Tonglin County. To them, such value was truly negligible!
Seeing the group joking, Ao Jin and Ao Yi smiled from afar.
…
When the group returned to their palace to pack, a guard arrived, inviting Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan to the Dragon King’s hall.
“Greetings to the Dragon King! Greetings to the Dragon Queen!”
Ao Jin and Ao Yi stepped forward, each taking one.
“Have these days been comfortable?”
“Comfortable!” Liu Qingyan answered.
“Very comfortable!” Lu Zheng laughed.
“Good that you are comfortable. Come often in future. The dragon palace is no forbidden ground. Feel free.” Ao Yi said with a smile.
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan nodded. The dragon palace spanned nearly a hundred li. Apart from the core area reserved for direct dragon lineage with slightly stricter guards, other places were mostly open to guests.
In recent days, Lu Zheng had seen many sea forces visiting the dragon palace with gifts, as well as friends of various Jade Dragons being welcomed and entertained.
For example, they, as friends of the current Dragon King, had been directly assigned a palace deep in the dragon palace for a half-month stay.
“Come, follow me!”
Ao Jin led the two out through the rear hall, strolling a distance before arriving at an unassuming palace.
Pushing open the hall doors, Lu Zheng followed in. Turning past the screen at the entrance, he discovered the palace employed a mustard seed Sumeru technique.
From outside, it looked like a side hall merely five or six zhang square. Inside, it was ten times larger. The overall layout…
Similar to White Cloud Temple’s treasure vault!
“Dragon King, this…”
“We have never properly thanked you for saving Qian Bao’er’s life.” Ao Yi pulled Liu Qingyan aside and said softly.
“But… Qian Bao’er was not in mortal danger at the time…” Lu Zheng explained.
Ao Jin waved his hand. “Qian Bao’er was entwined with demonic qi then, unable even to contact us. If she had encountered ill-intentioned people, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”
Of course, though Ao Qian had been affected by demonic qi, ordinary oddities could not harm her. The ill-intentioned people Ao Jin meant would need at least several centuries of cultivation.
For example, if she had met Wu Xin, she might truly have ended up as the Great Virtuous Dragon King at the Western Regions’ Great Dragon Temple.
“Our daughter’s life-saving grace. As parents, we must repay it.” Ao Yi smiled, gesturing around. “This is not the clan treasury, merely the secret vault of the Dragon King line. We husband and wife will accompany you for a look. Take whatever you need.”
“No, no, no. We…”
Liu Qingyan had barely spoken when Ao Yi interrupted with a smile. “We naturally know you saved Qian Bao’er without expecting reward. But this is merely our heartfelt intention as a couple. You would not leave us with guilt in our hearts, would you? That would affect our cultivation and state of mind.”
Liu Qingyan, “…”
Given Ao Yi’s status, saying such words meant Liu Qingyan and Lu Zheng certainly could not refuse.
So…
Lu Zheng cupped his hands. “Many thanks to the Dragon King and Queen. Then we will accept with shame.”
Ao Jin nodded. “As it should be!”
Then the group leisurely strolled through the secret vault. Ao Yi, fearing Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan might not recognise treasures, specially pointed them out.
“This is a bottle of innate kui water, beneficial for cultivating water techniques. It can also aid pill refining. Water and wood engender each other, enhancing medicinal effects.”
Ao Yi knew Liu Qingyan excelled at pill refining, so she mentioned this water.
“No need for this. Qingyan cultivates the direct transmission from the upper realm immortal Chi Songzi. Innate kui water offers limited benefit. Better not waste it.”
Upper realm immortal Chi Songzi!
Ao Jin and Ao Yi exchanged a glance, nodding inwardly. They had indeed seen Liu Qingyan’s foundation and background were extraordinary, but had not expected direct transmission from an upper realm immortal.
“Since innate kui water is of little use, Miss Qingyan, what do you think of this pill furnace?”
Ao Yi pointed to a one-chi-tall bronze pill furnace nearby.
The furnace had three legs and two handles, round and full, coloured blue-yellow, patterned with hundreds of herbs.
“This belonged to an overseas loose immortal skilled in pill refining. After his later-generation disciple died, the furnace was lost, passed through several hands, and eventually entered the dragon palace.”
Ao Yi introduced. “If Miss Qingyan lacks a suitable pill furnace, this one is worth considering.”
Merely seeing the furnace, Liu Qingyan’s eyes had already lit up. She currently used an ordinary pill furnace. Though functional, how could it compare to an artefact furnace specialised for refining spiritual medicines and pills?
Seeing Liu Qingyan’s expression, Ao Yi smiled, took down the furnace, and handed it to her. “Put it away.”
“Many thanks, Dragon Queen. Qingyan accepts with shame.”
Liu Qingyan received the furnace and placed it into a leather pouch at her waist.
This pouch was the storage artefact contributed by Gu Changtian of the Flower Interval Colourful Cloud Sect.
Speaking of which, over the years, Lu Zheng had obtained three storage artefacts in total.
One gourd for his own use.
Another bracelet, originally from the former saintess of Yuan Saint Sect, given to Du Yueyao.
The last was this pouch. Liu Qingyan had many items, so it went to her.
Thanks to reader Magic Realm Little Tiger and reader Faceless Joyless Yet Worry-Free for their hundred-point rewards.
