Chapter 970: The Ancestral Dragon Returns

In the imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng eyed Ao Zhou. "You've come to ask for our help?"

"That's right. I owe someone a favor, so I have no other choice."

Everyone looked at Ao Zhou as though he were a fool.

Warble mocked, "You owe someone a favor. That's none of our business!"

Croak sneered. "Exactly. Why should we help you out if you got all the benefits?"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he stared dubiously at Ao Zhou.

"Your Majesty, are you really going to help Ao Zhou out?" Warble asked curiously.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "No. It simply doesn't seem like Ao Zhou's style. Given his thick skin, why would he bother fulfilling an obligation if he got the benefits in advance?"

Everyone's eyes widened. They all glanced at Ao Zhou in skepticism.

Ao Zhou's face twitched. "Why are all of you looking at me like that? Is my reputation really that bad? Who wouldn't repay a favor they received?"

"Oh, please. We're all familiar with you by now. Just tell us—did you discover another treasure you need our help to obtain?"

Ao Zhou stiffened. He glanced at Xiao Nanfeng in frustration. How in the world had he guessed that?

Croak said impatiently, "Ao Zhou, if you don't tell us the truth, we're not going to help."

"Fine. I'll be honest. A few days ago, the Dragon King of the Western Sea came to find me and asked for help reclaiming the Western Sea Draconic Palace."

"The Dragon King of the Western Sea?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Yes, though he's no longer the Dragon King. One of his subordinates swapped their bodies, and apparently even their souls. The current Dragon King in the Western Sea is a fake. The real one barely escaped with his life."

"Their truesouls were swapped?" Xiao Nanfeng's expression turned serious.

"Yes, exactly! Of course I didn't believe it at first, but not only did he give me an Eye of the Sea to help me ascend into a Boundless Immortal, he even revealed many secret ancestral dragon techniques to me."

"What techniques are these?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"You know about the ancestral dragons' inheritance in the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace. The Western Sea Draconic Palace has an inheritance of its own, and many of its deepest secrets are known only to the Dragon King of the Western Sea."

"And?" Xiao Nanfeng prompted.

"Not only that, the palace also has countless treasures left behind by the ancestral dragons. He promised to split everything with me equally if I helped him reclaim his body."

"Couldn't he find any other helpers? Why did he seek you out?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Perhaps because we're both descendants of the ancestral dragons."

"In that case, why didn't he show up to help when the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace was destroyed?"

"He said he was in secluded cultivation at the time, and that the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace had already been destroyed by the time he emerged. Now, he's being hunted by the fake Dragon King of the Western Sea, and he can't trust any of his former allies. He had no choice but to seek help elsewhere. Since I'm a descendant of the ancestral dragons, he thought I'd value the ancestral dragons' relics and approached me. I'm worried about going alone, so I came to ask for your help. If you help me secure those treasures, we can split them evenly," Ao Zhou offered.

Xiao Nanfeng considered the situation for a moment. He wasn't particularly interested in the ancestral dragons' relics, but he suspected that the situation at the Western Sea Draconic Palace might be connected to Yu Banruo. After all, Blue Lantern had fallen victim to a similar scheme before.

Ye Dafu and the others' disappearance might also be related to Yu Banruo's subordinates. He had been investigating a potential connection but had made little progress. Perhaps the incident at the Western Sea Draconic Palace would be a breakthrough.

"Fine. In a few days, once my other body returns, I'll join you and take a look."

"Great!" Ao Zhou's eyes lit up.

Several days later, in an island on the Western Sea, Xiao Nanfeng, Ao Zhou, Croak, and Warble eyed an elderly man standing before them.

"Ao Xi, can you lead the way?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

The elderly man, Ao Xi, sketched a bow. "Thank you, Immortal Emperor Xiao, for coming to my aid. I once ruled the Western Sea and am familiar with the countless formations and secret passages of the draconic palace. I can certainly guide you."

"How strong were you before?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"I was a mid-stage Boundless Immortal, but I also possessed many treasures that greatly amplified my power. The thief who stole my body now has those treasures and is likely as strong as I was," Ao Xi said.

"Let's go. Lead the way," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Very well." Ao Xi nodded.

The group of five dove into the sea and sped through the underwater world.

Before long, they reached a massive barrier. Inside, countless luminous pearls illuminated a vast space filled with sea fog. Despite the fog, one could faintly make out mountains and palaces within.

A massive entrance to the barrier was guarded by numerous cultivators and sea spirits who were carefully checking the identities of everyone entering and exiting.

"The inspection is incredibly strict. They even use special treasures to test everyone's cultivation. Ironically, I designed this rigorous process and these tools. If any of you show Boundless Immortal-level strength, alarms will be triggered," Ao Xi said with a bitter smile.

"How do we get in?" Ao Zhou asked.

"Patience. We'll wait until the guards change shifts and capture a few. Then, we'll force them to destroy the detection treasures and cause chaos so we can sneak in."

"Doesn't that mean there's a risk we'll be discovered?" Ao Zhou frowned.

"There's no other way. The Western Sea Draconic Palace's defenses are too tight."

Xiao Nanfeng took out a gourd. "All of you, enter this gourd. I'll bring you inside."

The spirits understood that Xiao Nanfeng didn't want to let Ao Xi figure out his secrets. They all nodded.

Ao Xi was puzzled, but followed the three spirits into the gourd.

Xiao Nanfeng sealed the gourd and approached an unguarded section of the barrier. Using his candleflame powers, he passed through the barrier and entered the Western Sea Draconic Palace.

Shrouded in fog, Xiao Nanfeng explored the area for a while before releasing the spirits.

"We're inside? How did you do it, Immortal Emperor Xiao?" Ao Xi asked in astonishment.

"Don't ask unnecessary questions. Take us to the fake Dragon King of the Western Sea."

"Very well." Ao Xi nodded.

The group advanced through the palace, cloaked in fog.

They encountered patrols of sea spirits along the way, but the sea spirits didn't even have enough time to raise an alarm before the group of Boundless Immortals took them down.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

There were a few formations and traps, but they were able to bypass or dismantle them with Ao Xi's guidance.

Soon, they reached a mountain range shrouded in dark fog.

At the base of the mountains stood an grand crystal palace, heavily guarded. Servants bustled in and out, delivering fine delicacies and celestial brews, as if preparing for a feast within.

"From the sea spirits we interrogated earlier, we learned that the old thief is hosting a banquet for the Western Sea's powerhouses, likely to discuss some important matters. Immortal Emperor Xiao, if you're confident, why not act now?" Ao Xi suggested eagerly.

Xiao Nanfeng considered the option. If the fake Dragon King of the Western Sea was connected to Yu Banruo, this banquet might be akin to a networking event.

However, he didn't act immediately. He looked toward Ao Xi. "Where are the ancestral dragon's treasures?"

"They're all in that thief's hands. Once you take him down, I'm willing to split all the treasures evenly with you," Ao Xi said immediately.

Ao Zhou's eyes lit up with greed. "Xiao Nanfeng, shall we make a move?"

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. He pointed at the mountains cloaked in dark fog behind the crystal palace. "Those mountains look to be protected by a formation. What's located there?"

Ao Xi blinked. He hesitated.

Ao Zhou's eyes lit up. "That place looks eerie and ominous. Is something valuable hidden there?"

Ao Xi shook his head. "There's nothing valuable there. It's a polluted area."

Xiao Nanfeng pressed on. "I heard that the Western Sea Draconic Palace contains an area forbidden even to the Dragon King's descendants. Could it be those mountains? There must be something extraordinary inside."

Ao Xi frowned. He didn't realize that Xiao Nanfeng had come prepared.

Xiao Nanfeng continued, "You said earlier that we'd share the treasures of the Western Sea Draconic Palace. Does that include whatever's in this forbidden area?"

Everyone turned toward Ao Xi with anticipation. After a momentary silence, Ao Xi said, "I'm telling the truth. The forbidden area is full of cursed spiritual power and corrosive toxins. Anyone entering risks contamination and death shortly after leaving. That's why I forbade anyone from entering."

"Then why is it so important to you? You even chose to establish the palace around it," Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"That's where the ancestral dragon landed upon its return," Ao Xi explained.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened. "Allegedly, twenty thousand years ago, an ancestral dragon led the supreme cultivators of the world to the world away. The journey took countless years, but the ancestral dragon was the only one who made it back. Is that the return you're talking about?"

The raw material for his Divine Seal of Dazheng came from the ancestral dragon's spoils.

Ao Xi nodded. "The Western Sea Draconic Palace's records state that the ancestral dragon didn't return alone, but those who accompanied him were all infected by a unique cursed spiritual power and corrosive toxins. They died here shortly after their return. The ancestral dragon barely survived, but even he couldn't last long before succumbing. Before his death, he established the Western Sea Draconic Palace through his descendants and tasked us with guarding this forbidden area, forbidding anyone from approaching."

"Have you been inside?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Ao Xi nodded. "I've been inside, but the cursed spiritual power and corrosive toxins are terrifying. I could only endure for a short while before escaping. It took me a long time to purge the contamination each time."

"Oh?"

"Even if there are relics from the ancestral dragon within, they've likely been corroded beyond the point of usability. I don't recommend entering the forbidden area," Ao Xi explained.