After taking on the investigation mission, Xiao Qi did not immediately set out to sea. Instead, he moved more covertly around Wanghai City. The city lord's mansion mission was merely a cover and channel for obtaining information. The real goal was to gather clues about Azure Dragon Soul Crystal and deep within clouds and mist. Public inquiry was too risky. He needed more covert information sources.
Over several days, through attentively listening in low-grade cultivator-gathering taverns and teahouses, and by taking opportunities to converse with people while completing small tasks like helping identify strange sea-produced materials, Xiao Qi vaguely learned that deep within Wanghai City's intricate sewer system, near a certain hidden area close to the wastewater outflow to the sea, existed an underground market unknown to ordinary people.
This market was not completely controlled by human cultivators, but was a location for secret transactions between humans and sea clans!
Sea clans were intelligent races living in the endless ocean, with varied forms. Some were humanoid, others retained more oceanic creature characteristics. They controlled deep-sea resources, possessing unique cultivation systems and knowledge. Their relationship with humans alternated between cooperation and antagonism. This underground market was the gray zone for material exchange and information flow outside of official rules.
There, perhaps they could find clues about the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal! After all, the Azure Dragon governed wood, the east, and water. If its soul crystal was in the Eastern Sea, the sea clans could not possibly know nothing about it.
That night, moonless and windy, the sea wind carried damp saltiness and a trace of imperceptible fishy smell.
Following the vague information they gathered, Xiao Qi and Liu Yun found an entrance beneath an abandoned dock in the city's west district. The entrance was hidden deep in a cave piled with rotting fishing nets and shells, concealed by a simple illusion formation. Through the formation was a downward-sloping, damp, gloomy corridor, thick with heavy briny smell and mildew.
At the corridor's end, the scene suddenly opened up.
This was a huge, naturally formed undersea cave, artificially reinforced and expanded. Half the cave was solid rock floor, the other half deep seawater. An invisible water-blocking barrier kept the seawater out, forming a peculiar half-underwater, half-land space.
Within the cave, light was dim. Some coral and pearls emanating or glow served as illumination. The air mixed seawater's briny smell, various strange seaweed's fishy scent, and some indescribable, special smells belonging to deep-sea creatures.
In the market, figures (or shadows ) moved about. Besides human cultivators wrapped in cloaks, concealing their features, more were various sea clans!
Some maintained complete fish or shrimp and crab forms, merely huge in size, with alert eyes, communicating via spiritual sense. Others were half-human half-fish, human torso and fish tail, appearances either handsome or fierce. Some completely transformed to humanoid, but with fine scales covering their skin, or gills behind their ears, pupils eerie vertical slits.
Their displayed goods were also bizarre. Deep-sea pearls and spiritual coral emanating rich water spiritual energy; various grades of sea beast inner cores and materials; ancient sea charts or water-attribute divine ability-bearing conch jade slips; even some strange deep-sea plants and glowing jellyfish sealed in transparent water spheres.
Transactions were mostly silent, conducted via spiritual sense or using a universal language mixed with spiritual energy fluctuations. The atmosphere was oppressive and vigilant.
Xiao Qi and Liu Yun condensed their auras, wrapped in wide cloaks, and blended in. Their arrival drew little attention. Concealing identity was perfectly normal in such a place.
Xiao Qi's target was clear. He needed to find sea clans who might know ancient secrets. His gaze swept across the stalls, finally landing on a stall near the cave's water edge.
The stall's owner was an elderly-faced elder with deep blue scales covering his face, holding a twisted coral staff. His lower body was immersed in water, seemingly a huge fish tail covered with dark patterns. His displayed goods were few: several deeply colored ores, several sea grasses emanating cold air, and several bone fragments inscribed with twisted characters that looked extremely ancient. The elder's eyes were closed, seemingly dozing, but his emitted aura was as as the abyss, at least Golden Core level!
Xiao Qi could sense an ancient and desolute flavor upon this elder.
He approached, not looking at the goods, but transmitting a peaceful information flow via spiritual sense (this was the common communication method here): Greetings, Senior. This junior wishes to inquire about ancient Eastern Sea legends.
The elder slowly opened his eyes. His pupils were pure azure blue, like the most profound ocean. He glanced at Xiao Qi, his gaze seeming to penetrate the cloak. His voice directly rang in both their sea of consciousness, carrying an ocean-wave echo: Young land walker, what would you know?
Xiao Qi weighed his words, not daring to directly mention soul crystals: This junior is greatly interested in dragon clan-related ruins or legends from ancient times, especially. information that might relate to the 'Azure Dragon' sacred beast.
Azure Dragon? The elder's azure pupils slightly contracted. His gaze scrutinizing Xiao Qi added several degrees of examination. That is the ancient sacred beast governing the east and wood-generating vitality. Its power and imprint have long dispersed into the river of time. What brings you to seek it?
Only pursuing ancient traces, to verify what I have learned. Xiao Qi vaguely responded, simultaneously taking out a small piece of Earth-Fire Flame Crystal obtained from a secret realm, containing pure fire spiritual energy, from his storage bag and pushing it before the elder. A small token of respect. Please advise.
The elder glanced at the Earth-Fire Flame Crystal. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. This inland fire-attribute spiritual item was quite novel to their sea clan. He accepted the Flame Crystal, deliberated in silence for a moment, seemingly recalling something.
Dragon clans. have long retreated from the world. Their glorious 'Dragon Palace' also sank beneath history's dust. The elder's spiritual thought carried a trace of emotion and reverence. Legends about the Azure Dragon Sacred Beast are even scarcer. However. in the endless sea abyss's depths, near the 'Gui Xu Eye's' edge, indeed exists a region called the 'Lost Dragon Palace,' an ancient ruin. There, it is eternally shrouded in mist and violent spatial turbulence. Even the bravest sea clan warriors dare not approach easily.
Lost Dragon Palace! Eternal Mist!
Xiao Qi's heart stirred. This corresponded to what Tianjizi said about deep within clouds and mist !
It is said, the elder continued, his voice lowering, that in that ruin's deepest region, the dragon clan's most ancient power remains. Perhaps. including traces related to the Azure Dragon you seek. But these are merely legends. Through countless years, those attempting to explore there, whether sea clan or land cultivators, most never returned.
He deeply glanced at Xiao Qi: Young one, there is a life-forbidden zone, a despair land where even light is devoured. Pursuing ancient power is good, but do not let greed blind your eyes, ending as fish food.
Having said this, the elder closed his eyes again, no longer paying attention to Xiao Qi. Clearly, he had said his piece.
Xiao Qi's heart was nevertheless surging. Lost Dragon Palace ruins, eternal mist, near the Gui Xu Eye. this information undoubtedly greatly narrowed the possible location of the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal ! Though still dangerous, at least there was now a clear direction!
Many thanks for the guidance, Senior. Xiao Qi transmitted thanks again, then quietly retreated with Liu Yun.
Leaving the sea clan market and returning to the surface, breathing salty yet no longer oppressive air, Xiao Qi felt the target.
Lost Dragon Palace, Gui Xu Eye. Liu Yun repeated these two place names, her face grave. Sounds like nowhere good.
However dangerous, we must go. Xiao Qi's gaze was firm. This is our clearest lead so far. However, before that, we need a ship sturdy enough to withstand deep-sea pressure and storms, a guide familiar with that dangerous sea area, and. sufficient strength.
He gazed at the. It seemed to hide endless secrets and dangers.
The expedition to search for the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal had finally pointed toward that legendary region even sea clans viewed as forbidden—the Lost Dragon Palace.