Chapter 1488
"Ah, the Black Dragon King has arrived!"
"Ah, I dare not, I am merely a lowly soldier under the command of the Huai River Water Lord." The fat fish waved its fins repeatedly.
"Haha, you're being modest, aren't you? Excessive humility is pride, Black Dragon King—proud troops are doomed to defeat! The first time I saw the Black Dragon, it was still a second-realm great demon; not long after, it reached the third realm, and now its aura is even stronger, like the sun at its zenith. Continue like this, and becoming a demon king is just around the corner! That is the true Black Dragon King."
In the blink of an eye, the patrolling Bai Yun Goldthread Fish from afar swam over in droves, surrounding the fat fish and praising it endlessly.
Liang Qu and the others were somewhat astonished; before being surrounded, they had already shifted onto the round head, observing the fat fish at the center, gesturing and directing, appearing like an old friend.
The Bai Yun Goldthread Fish are the signature fish school under the White Dragon King, very beautiful.
Their bodies are pure white, nearly translucent, slender in form, somewhat resembling sea wolf fish, though not as fierce as the sea wolf. From afar, they look like silver threads flashing in the water.
This silver thread comes from a line running along their sides, penetrating from head to tail; it is called a silver thread, but if they cultivate to become great demons, this silver thread will molt into a golden thread—hence the name "goldthread."
The leading goldthread fish, likely the patrol captain, has a golden thread, and its aura and physique are noticeably stronger than the other fish.
However, Liang Qu detected no dragon seed aura from them, indicating they are not dragon seeds.
The great demon goldthread fish approached the fat fish, pulled out two strands of waterweed from its side, handed one to the fat fish, and the two fish leaned against the rock, sucking away at once, occasionally spitting out debris.
The goldthread fish asked: "How did the matter you entrusted to the Black Dragon King turn out? It's been so long, and you haven't come back once—could it be that the Huai River Water Lord doesn't like it?"
"Ha, it's going great—with my oversight, it's flawless. Not coming back is naturally because I'm enjoying myself too much to think of returning. The Huai River waters are warm, far more comfortable than the Ehe River; now that the weather is cold, I'm even less inclined to leave. I reckon I'll have to wait until summer. Don't worry, I'll urge it along."
"Hahaha, good, good, good—thanks, Black Dragon Brother! It's too hard to become a dragon seed under the White Dragon King's claw—ten years and not a single turn. I can only rely on the Huai River Brother."
"Well, all dragon seeds under heaven are one family—White Dragon, Yellow Dragon, Black Dragon—we're all dragons. When we discuss relations later, after all, you're my own nephew!"
The old toad's eyes flashed with suspicion; it leapt out, grabbed the fat fish's tail, pulled it up, and examined it left and right while Liang Qu stroked his chin, then suddenly realized.
No wonder lately, when I went to the Long Gong, I often saw two Bai Yun Goldthread Fish wandering near the Long Gong, patrolling-like—I even thought they were extra fish fins personally recruited by the Elder Long Chen.
"Hahaha, exactly right, exactly right—it's my own nephew. When the time comes, I'll be the Black Dragon King's paternal half-brother, maternal half-brother. Right, I haven't asked yet—who are these————"
The goldthread fish shifted its tone, gazing at Liang Qu and the others, suddenly realizing the fat fish hadn't come alone today.
The fat fish slapped its head, exclaimed that upon entering this state, it had nearly forgotten the main matter, hastily turned to introduce Liang Qu's identity, then flicked its tail, bumped the round head aside with its buttocks, and re-supported the Divine Treasure Buttocks.
"It is the Huai King himself present! This lowly one has eyes but no pearls, eyes but no pearls."
The Bai Yun Goldthread Fish initially didn't react, murmured the title twice, trembled all over, nearly fainting from nervousness.
The Great Shun Huai King! A twenty-eight-year-old Doomed Dragon!
It never imagined it had just neglected a Doomed Dragon; in shock, it kept apologizing, then suddenly felt something was off, recalling another matter.
"Wait, aren't you, Black Dragon, serving under the Huai River Water Lord?"
The bear-skin great cloak swayed in the water, drifting with the current, like a clump of white waterweed.
Liang Qu spoke: "I and the Ape King are likewise paternal half-brothers, maternal half-brothers. A Fei is a subordinate of the Ape King, and also of mine—this has long been the case. Unintroduced, this is the Huai State Preceptor, Toad Lord, Toad Elder, dream of myriad mother toads, the guiding light of the Huai Great Marsh, beyond price."
The old toad cupped its belly, Gao Ang toad head.
The goldthread fish grew even more nervous: "Originally, it was the Huai State Preceptor in person; today, for some reason, I feel dazed, truly disrespectful."
"You're too polite." Liang Qu continued, "The one on the left is my wife, granddaughter of the Dragonfolk Clan's Great Elder; the one on the right is the Governor of the Huai East Heposuo, envoy of the Great Shun. Prior to today, we had reported to the White Dragon King—do you know if you received the message?"
The goldthread fish grew increasingly fearful: "Ah, I see now—I've met the Huai King's consort, I've met the Shun Envoy, I received the message, I received it—it said that in recent days, powerful visitors might come, but I never imagined it would be the Black Dragon Brother. I shall now lead you all forward."
"Haha, look at you—said not to be nervous, come, this is my Huai River Treasure Fish————"
"My lord, please don't, please don't—ah, how could I possibly bear this————"
Liang Qu would not accept refusal, gestured for the goldthread fish to calm down, believing in one thing.
Many rites bring no blame; travel the world without fear.
The goldthread fish stowed the treasure fish, nodded repeatedly, deeply moved, feeling in its heart that it was no wonder the Black Dragon Boss is so open-hearted, so magnanimous—truly a lineage of excellence!
The procession of people and fish resumed its journey.
On the riverbed, shadows writhed.
The old toad clutched the fat fish's head and struck it hard, yanking its long whiskers violently. The fat fish bore a swollen head, waved its twin whiskers, slapped its chest with solemn assurance, making a vow.
One generation of toads, toads undercover as White Dragons, bending to please—this is the Water Lord's ten-thousand-year grand plan!
The old toad half-believed, half-doubted, barely retaining its toad registry.
The water flow disturbed, ice crystals spread, along the way plants were indistinguishable from mist pines, exquisitely beautiful.
"Hey, Black Dragon King! How have you been lately?"
"Hey, same as always."
"The matter I mentioned last time————ahahaha, good, good, good, if you have time, come to my home for a meal."
Sturgeon, goldthread fish, crystal fish————
Everyone seemed to know each other; the fat fish greeted everywhere, waved its fins, as if already at home.
Observing the surroundings, sensing the approaching "River Stone," Liang Qu pondered what to say when meeting the White Dragon King, then suddenly thought of something.
"The White Dragon King also has a Central Position Fruit!"
The opportunity to transform into a rainbow is far in the horizon, near at hand.
To form a suitable lineage, one has never been limited to striving in the Catastrophe Realm or the Vast Abyss Realm—there is another path, one————Ultimate Guarantee!
【Realm Ritual: Feng Fruit, Yi Fruit, Bing Fruit, Yuan Fruit—gathering the Four Catastrophes, the Water Lord as King, can illuminate the Chuan Realm.】
Chuan Realm!
Think carefully.
Currently, the most likely to be realized is actually this lineage!
Feng Fruit and Yi Fruit are both on the Yellow Sand Dragon King—by extension, Bing Fruit and Yuan Fruit may likewise be on the White Dragon King! Though none of these four minor position fruits are present, theoretically, this is the lineage Liang Qu can most easily collect now.
The only possible exception is that the White Dragon King possesses only Bing or Yuan, not both.
Next comes the Catastrophe Realm lacking one Ying Fruit—though the Ying Fruit is on the Whale Emperor's fin, at least the position information is clear; not fearing difficulty, but fearing no direction.
Next is the Vast Abyss Realm lacking a Giant Spirit.
The Giant Spirit's whereabouts are unknown, and it is equally unclear whether it remains at the minor position fruit stage; if obtained, perhaps one must find a way to advance.
However, the Old Dragon Lord had just escaped, and the White Dragon King had helped at a crucial moment in the past; looking back, he pocketed the position fruit — truly hell —
【Absorbed one wisp of Dragon Species Qi】
【Absorbed one wisp of Dragon Species Qi】
【Absorbed one wisp of Dragon Species Qi】
【Absorbed one wisp of Dragon Species Qi】
【Consume eleven wisps of Dragon Species Qi to generate one Yinglong Pattern.】
【Dragon Species Qi: Thirteen】
A winning start!
The Ze Ding trembled, and Liang Qu's spirit roused.
Good, very good; right off the bat he assembled a full layer of Yinglong's Favor.
Worthy of being the only Dragon King surviving to this day; even though Flowing Gold Sea was harvested once, Liang Qu had a premonition this trip would yield an extremely great harvest.
"Arrived, Huai King." The Gold Thread Fish stopped its tail.
Liang Qu and the others flipped off the fish.
A vast ice palace of jade-white leapt into view; at the entrance were another four Bai Yu Gold Thread Fish at the Great Demon level, jointly guarding it. Compared to the patrolling ones, these two were different — the gold on their sides was completely in the form of dragon scales.
Dragon Species!
The providers of the Qi just now.
"As expected, there are quite a few —" Liang Qu was secretly excited.
Seeing Liang Qu's group, the great demons saluted, then entered the hall to announce them. Clearly there was the "Stone in the River," yet this whole trip was nothing but a face-saving project; yet without these, it always seemed lacking in rigor, lacking in majesty.
Before long.
The great gates swung open, cold currents billowing out.
Long Eying only felt her cultivation flow three parts smoother inside her body, and her mood lifted as well.
The Dragon Scale Gold Thread Fish bowed: "Huai King, Huai King Consort, Grand Preceptor, Shun Envoy — the Dragon King requests your presence."
"It is Huai King, Grand Preceptor, Shun Envoy, Huai King Consort! You great demon, what is this address — do you understand propriety! Superior and inferior must have order! How can a mother frog stand before a male frog?" The old toad strode forward, rebuking, "Beast of the E River — have rites collapsed and music decayed!"
Liang Qu nearly tripped over his own feet and fell into the grand hall.
Long Eying was so embarrassed she looked at the sky.
So helpless, so wanting to leave —
The Dragon Scale Gold Thread Fish broke into a cold sweat, stammered a bit, not knowing how to answer.
"Cough, cough, Grand Preceptor, a hundred li differ in accent, a thousand li differ in customs; E River and Huai River are separated by ten thousand li — how can you judge so lightly? The ignorant are not to be blamed."
"Cough, cough, National Preceptor, a hundred li differ in sound, a thousand li differ in custom; the Ehe and Huaijiang are separated by ten thousand upon ten thousand li — how could one judge so lightly? Those who do not know are not to be blamed."
Liang Qu shot a look, signaling the Dragon Scale Gold Thread Fish to hurry up and act; the Dragon Scale Gold Thread Fish dared not delay, immediately flicked its tail, lowered its head, and advanced.
Round Head, "Cannot Move," and the other water beasts were temporarily stationed outside the hall.
White jade bricks and stones flowed with light and shadow.
Feeling the old toad's accompaniment was more troublesome than imagined, Liang Qu immediately used a vortex to envelop a hidden passage and whispered: "Grand Preceptor, the White Dragon King is also a Dragon King; we absolutely must not be overbearing toward the dragon — we must establish relations on equal footing."
"Equal footing!" The old toad leapt three chi high, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Heaven-damned thing — Jianghuai is the sovereign, E River Yellow Sand is the king; it should be a vassal state, paying tribute year after year — should I avoid its edge? Citizens of the superior state do not bow to the ruler of an inferior state! I am the Grand Preceptor of Jianghuai — the White Dragon King should bow to me! Not seizing it as my mount is already an act of grace!"
The Dragon Scale Gold Thread Fish looked back, saw the old toad leaping up and down yet no sound came out, and found it even more bizarre.
Liang Qu's scalp went numb; he earnestly persuaded: "Grand Preceptor, times change; I have not yet formed the Furnace — empty title, no strength. Let alone the past driving away the Flood Dragon — the White Dragon King contributed; just on this point we should interact as equals."
"Contribute, contribute what?" The old toad raised his head. "Never even saw the White Dragon — who knows if that flash of his wasn't trying to usurp the nest!"
Liang Qu took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Grand Preceptor!"
"Gua!" The old toad's heart jumped; his imposing manner withered; he immediately gripped his scepter tight and hugged his cloak.
Liang Qu slowly exhaled: "Grand Preceptor, the White Dragon King belongs to cold; the Ice Jade Toad also belongs to cold — how perfectly matched? If we can successfully establish relations with the White Dragon King, the Grand Preceptor's old flame might well become an Ice Jade Dragon Toad!"
"Hiss —" The old toad sucked in a cold breath, coughed twice, glanced left and right, cleared his throat: "What old flame — Liang Qing, don't slander this Duke's reputation; we are innocent. However, what Liang Qing says is not without reason; the White Dragon King sent charcoal in the snow back then; though his strength is inferior, we should establish relations on equal footing — equal footing."
Long Eying watched the old toad change faces, from clamoring to returning to normal, her heart complex.
Long Eying watched with wide eyes as the old toad changed faces, from clamoring noisily to returning to normal, her heart complex.
【Absorbed one wisp of Dragon Species Qi】
【Absorbed one wisp of Dragon Species Qi】
【Dragon Species Qi: Fifteen】
After circling the palace once, the Ze Ding gained two more wisps of Dragon Species Qi; at this moment, Liang Qu finally saw the White Dragon King.
A massive body stretching a thousand zhang; pure white scales — whether their own luster or reflecting the sky light — bore a faint blue glow; two long whiskers floated in the water; dragon horns winding. The Third Prince clutched Long Eying's sleeve in envy and jealousy.
A massive body stretched for a thousand zhang; pristine scales, whether their own luster or reflecting the sky's light, shimmered with a faint blue glow, two long whiskers floating in the water, dragon horns winding — the Third Prince clutched Long Eying's sleeve as he watched, envious and jealous.
Middle Position Fruit, Demon King Perfection — this is one of the strongest Celestial Dragons of the current era!
Before Liang Qu could speak first, a black shadow darted from beside him; the fat fish made a grand bow, *pa-ta* a sound, prostrated before the White Dragon King, its whole body spread evenly, praising loudly.
Whether illusion or not, Liang Qu felt the White Dragon King's long whiskers flutter three parts faster; he collected his thoughts and bowed: "Since parting at E River back then, separated for many days; the Dragon King's bearing remains. Suddenly intruding, I have some meager gifts to present to the Dragon King — not worthy of respect."
Long Eying took out the last Creation Treasure Fish; the old toad's eyes went straight, nearly crying out; his belly swelled — thinking of the Ice Jade Dragon Toad he barely held it in.
"Huai King just now truly had peerless bearing." Dragon eyes shifted; the White Dragon King fixed on Liang Qu. "Back then at E River you were not yet Third Stage; a mere four years, yet already at the peak. Ancient past to present, this King has never seen a second person."
"The Huai King just now was truly peerless in bearing." Dragon eyes turned; the White Dragon King fixed his gaze on Liang Qu. "In those days the Ehe had not yet reached the third rank; in a mere four years he has already attained the peak — from ancient times to now, this King has never seen a second person."
Liang Qu replied politely, his head slightly dazed again.
Strange — how is this voice —
Leaning toward a female tone?
Not as obvious a mature-woman voice as Hai Fangzhu — one listen and you can tell — but more neutral; need to listen carefully to hear a touch of femininity.
It wasn't an obvious mature-woman voice like Hai Fangzhu's, recognizable at first listen, but rather more neutral; one had to listen carefully to catch a hint of femininity.
Damn, the White Dragon King is a female dragon?
Liang Qu was stunned.
Last time we met was during the great battle between Dashun and Beiting, when they seized Shuofangtai and pushed horizontally all the way to the Ehe River; the White Dragon King couldn't bear the disturbance, stepped in to stop it, and merely gave a single warning — the tone was quite stern, and I didn't hear any of this at all.
Although he occasionally used some "big mother dragon" type of playful terms of endearment with Eying, this was still the first time he'd seen a real female dragon.
"Alright, no need for polite words; I wonder what matter brings the Huai Wang thousands of miles to seek me?" the White Dragon King asked.
"First is to give thanks, to thank the Dragon King for extending a claw during the fight between the Ape King and the Flood Dragon in the past, which changed the battle situation."
"That was many years ago; if you wanted to give thanks you needn't have dragged it out until now — feel free to be more direct." The White Dragon King was somewhat impatient.
"Not so." Liang Qu was not angry. "The Yaolong all have river stones; in the past Beiting and Dashun were mutual enemies, the White Ape sat tight, and it was unfavorable to Beiting, so how could I come personally to give thanks? Now the three parties have allied, only then is there an opportunity; this time I happened to have leisure first, so I came to test the waters; next time, it will be the Ape King personally coming to give thanks."
The White Dragon King paused: "That does make sense — then what is the second?"
"The second is to see all the great demon dragon clans of the Ehe River; I hope the White Dragon King can issue a summons to gather them all together. If it succeeds, there will be a heavy reward!"
The White Dragon King was puzzled: "Summon the dragon clan great demons — what do you want to do?"
"Solve the dragon-human shackles!" Liang Qu raised his head and looked straight at her, his words resounding. "The Dragon King should know: after receiving essence blood, especially at the embryo stage, the dragon clan's cultivation naturally speeds up and lifespan extends — it can be called a hundred benefits. However, it cannot be said there is not a single harm!"
The White Dragon King fell silent.
It naturally knew what that one harm was.
Bloodline shackles.
With essence blood obtained, cultivation is fast, extremely fast; fast enough that with sufficient resources one could compete with the top breakthrough records of all major powers before Liang Qu rose to prominence. The flaw is that the ceiling is locked — one can only rely on essence blood to raise the ceiling, but no matter how high the essence blood content, how high can it go?
Great demon is already the limit.
Liang Qu put his arm around Eying's waist and said: "My wife is the number one beauty under heaven, yet I don't want her to stagnate at the Perfected Form Realm. She and I must not only be a Perfected Form couple, but also a Yaolong couple! That is why I am determined to solve this matter."
The White Dragon King sneered: "Such a shackle on living beings — even the old Dragon Lord couldn't solve it back then. You're so young; what ability do you have to wildly talk of solving it?"
The old Dragon Lord might not necessarily be unable to solve it —
Slandering inwardly a bit, Liang Qu smiled confidently. He stepped forward two steps, staring straight into the dragon eyes: "Dragon King, your words are wrong. The old Dragon Lord couldn't do it, that doesn't mean I can't. It's precisely because I'm young that I prove I have enough opportunity!"
The fat fish nodded repeatedly, swaying its long whiskers.
The White Dragon King was momentarily speechless.
Liang Qu continued: "The White Dragon King just said that throughout history there has never been a figure like me; likewise, one who breaks the shackles is the same — since both are unprecedented in ancient and modern times, why can't we make an attempt, give it a try?
Before it didn't work because the ancients couldn't do it; now I've come, and I've already done what the ancients couldn't — what's one more thing?
Could it be the White Dragon King's earlier words were just polite empty courtesy? That would be too hurtful. And at this point, can the Dragon King still not see my wife's realm?"
Liang Qu moved aside half a body's width.
Long Eying stepped forward.
With the human wall gone, the old toad that had been poking its head around, feeling the pearls embedded at the edge of the Dragon King's palace, immediately retreated and returned to its proper place in the ranks.
The White Dragon King was still pondering Liang Qu's words, already shaken and loosened; hearing this, its dragon eyes shifted downward, and in an instant it was shocked and doubtful: "You — you're not just three realms, you've even achieved Six Heyi, Tongtian Juedi?"
This is an absolutely impossible thing!
The ceiling of essence blood is the Great Elder of the Jianghuai Dragon-Human Clan, Long Chen — also Long Eying's grandfather — who forever could not step out of the Yaolong's three steps to become a Tianren Sect Master!
Thoughts cut through the mist.
The other party wasn't lying; Liang Qu indeed had concrete results in breaking the shackles!
One bed doesn't produce two kinds of people; although they hadn't communicated, Long Eying still cleverly grasped Liang Qu's intention and admitted: "Yes, it's been my husband constantly giving help; I am the first person in the Jianghuai Dragon-Human Clan to break the ceiling."
The water waves were deep and quiet; the White Dragon King was deeply shaken.
Liang Qu spoke: "I wonder if the White Dragon King has ever heard of the Pea Law?"
"What law is the Pea Law?"
"When I was young I once studied —"
Liang Qu said whatever came to mind; anyway, seize the initiative and awe the dragon, suppress the other side first.
Unexpectedly, the moment the Pea Law came out, not only the White Dragon King, but Su Guishan and Long Eying were also stunned.
"It's always nine to three to three to one, and there's such a strange thing?" Su Guishan plucked out two whiskers, dumbfounded. He carefully thought about the peas he'd eaten; although he couldn't remember, a vague intuition told him it seemed correct.
A law touching the soul.
"There is, Uncle Grandpa, there is." Liang Qu nodded. "If you don't believe it, no need to wait for spring; I have authority, I can directly make time to test it."
Long Eying's eyes revealed a strange brilliance.
Liang Qu struck while the iron was hot: "I once visited the Yellow Shahe in the past, and also searched for the dragon clans within the Yellow Shahe; combining them with the Jianghuai dragon clans, the two mutually verified, successfully raising my wife's shackle ceiling a little.
My wife is likewise gifted and intelligent; she stepped out of the Yaolong's two steps, but the final step of knocking on the Heavenly Gate is still affected by the shackles. Therefore I thought of the White Dragon King, thought of the Ehe dragon clans — there might exist the final puzzle piece to completely eliminate the shackles. Not hiding it from the White Dragon King, I have an authority —"
Liang Qu grabbed a handful of melon seeds, directly manipulated the authority to vaporize them, demonstrating the alteration ability right there, and re-condensed them.
The Super Seed revealed itself.
The White Dragon King had no more words to say.
"How about it? If there's effect, it's also a good thing for the White Dragon King, right? Although it can't make the dragon clans remove their dependence on essence blood, it can at least raise the strength of the Ehe demon beasts a bit — more convenient! I hope the White Dragon King will grant this convenience."
Worried the White Dragon King might dislike the dragon clans escaping control, Liang Qu conveniently added a patch.
After all, strength being limited by essence blood instead guarantees loyalty — just like the Dragon-Human Clan before Liang Qu appeared; they shed their last drop of blood and never thought of surrendering.
Sometimes completely breaking away isn't necessarily a good thing.
The white jade bricks reflected faces; water rippled, figures swayed.
The White Dragon King raised its neck and looked down: "Not all great demon dragon clans live here; I will dispatch beasts to search. Within three days, they will gather here."
Liang Qu didn't hide his delight: "Many thanks, Dragon King!"
Done!
End of Chapter
