Chapter 376: Golden Light Coral Realm

Although Yan Buji wasn't entirely clear where the Shark People's Golden Light Coral Realm was, following the direction mentioned earlier by the Dragon People priest where someone had been secretly observing, he indeed discovered many anomalies.

First, in this sea region he hadn't encountered any monsters; one must know that even in the human territories of the Turbulent Sea, monsters occasionally appear, let alone this being the Frigid Winter Ocean, the monsters' main base!

Second, when Yan Buji dove to the seabed nearby, he didn't even see a single fish.

Quite strange.

This sea was as if dead, and the surrounding spiritual energy was extremely scarce.

"Guest from afar, are you seeking the Golden Light Coral Realm?"

Two Shark People swam over from afar, smiling as they looked at Yan Buji.

Yan Buji clasped his hands and said, "I am Yan Buji of the Dragon People, here specially to visit the Shark People."

Shark People!

They are a race that soars in the boundless ocean, cherishing freedom. They have human bodies with flood-dragon tails, tall and slender; when they stand on their tails, their height resembles that of humans. Male Shark People have keratinous fins on their backs, while females have transparent soft fins, making males look fierce and females graceful. Normally, male Shark People's skin is like that of humans, but when facing enemies they quickly shift to a battle form, hardening their skin into scale-like armor, as if donning armor. Females lack this ability.

"Welcome, traveler from afar, Dragon Person! I, Luo Luo of the Shark People, am delighted to see you. This is my companion Luo Yi; we are both guards of the Shark People Queen, and we have been waiting here for a while."

"Thank you for your trouble. The Dragon People have just emerged, and we are still unclear about the current situation in the Dongxing Sea Region. While visiting, I also wish to ask whether there is a place for us to survive." Yan Buji said.

"You're welcome, please come this way."

"Thank you."

A silent female Shark Person was beautiful in appearance, yet her aloof demeanor made her hard to approach. On the contrary, this male Shark Person, Luo Luo, was quite talkative.

After wandering awhile, Yan Buji was brought by them to an undersea stone mountain, where the two used some method to open a doorway and then followed them inside.

In an instant.

Before Yan Buji's eyes appeared a sparkling golden underwater world; most of the Shark People's buildings were made of golden coral reefs. From this vantage, the surrounding houses were basically constructed according to the coral's orientation—some resembling pointed towers, some like square boxes, and some exhibiting exquisite symmetrical castles. At the farthest, highest point stood a golden palace atop which hung a pink pearl radiating bright light, dazzling to behold.

Moreover, there were many broad roads showing signs of artificial construction, but the Shark People have no legs and need not walk—why build roads then?

Soon after, Yan Buji saw some Shark People riding giant beasts resembling seahorses, pulling carts along the roads—turns out the Shark People also had such means of transport.

"Truly magnificent," Yan Buji couldn't help but exclaim.

"As long as the guest likes it, that's fine. The Shark People have not received outsiders for many years; please forgive any inadvertent offense."

"No problem."

Yan Buji could hear the Shark People around him whispering about his arrival.

However, Yan Buji never fully completed his dragon transformation, having held back for future cultivation; consequently, this left the Shark People greatly astonished.

Shark People hair comes in various colors. Lower-class males, due to labor and combat needs, often have theirs shaved from youth and tattooed on the scalp. Females tie theirs up or wear gauze caps. Males who keep their hair tend to be nobles or upper-class. They mainly live in the vast seas surrounding the Nine Provinces Continent; a few also inhabit rivers, lakes, and even underground lakes connected to the sea, depending on water depth and quality. Shark People refuse to live in unclean waters, as turbid water irritates their gills, making breathing difficult.

"Is this a Dragon Person? How is it completely unlike what's recorded in the books?"

"Huh? Weren't Dragon People supposed to look roughly like humans? How come this person...."

"No, when did Dragon People appear in the outside world?"

"Isn't that the queen's guard? Why bring a Dragon Person here?"

These two Shark People are not weak; they are also at Golden Core level. However, for Yan Buji, this visit also serves to gauge the Shark People's true strength. At least from what he's seen, the nearby Shark People aren't numerous, possibly because he doesn't know the full size of the Golden Light Coral Realm.

Thus, a further assessment of the Shark People's overall strength is still needed.

It mainly depends on how the Shark People Queen views this newly appeared neighbor.

"I hope these few gifts will please the Shark People."

Yan Buji thought as he walked with them up to the highest palace.

This palace was even more luxurious than Yan Buji had imagined, with large amounts of gold and jewels paving the way; jade as the main building material gave an open, simple style, yet the bronze columns supporting the palace's main structure and the pearl atop it made him feel a sense of luxury.

Just on that heavy, wide ten-meter gate alone, who knows how many rare treasures are inlaid—especially black pearls, seldom seen outside, which serve merely as decoration on the frame.

Thus, the Shark People's fondness for treasures is quite extraordinary.

Inside the palace, there were few Shark People around, apparently attendants like Luo Luo and the others; seated on the throne, the Shark People Queen wore a crown and held an ice‑blue pearl scepter, her body over eight meters long, setting her apart from the nearby Shark People by a world of difference.

Shark People Royal Clan!!

Yan Buji had previously heard the priest say that the Shark People's royal clan is several times larger than ordinary Shark People, suggesting that the greater the bulk, the purer the royal bloodline.

This is also a symbol of strength.

Yan Buji felt somewhat breathless under the pressure of the aura emanating from the Shark People Queen, yet he stepped forward and clasped his hands normally:

"King of the Dragon People, Yan Buji, greets the Shark People Queen."

As he approached, Luo Luo and the other were startled.

"Ah?"

"You are the King of the Dragon People?"

"So weak?"

The Shark People Queen wore a strange expression: "Has the Dragon People become so feeble that they let a Golden Core cultivator become king?"

Yan Buji raised his head and laughed: "The ancestors guide the Dragon People's direction; my present weakness does not mean it will always be so."

"Is that so? But you follow the severed Martial Dao; I recall no one can break the Martial Dao taboo."

"Not necessarily; Your Majesty, are you aware that in the Nan Ting Mountain Region there is a Martial Dao cultivator who has long since broken the Martial Dao taboo?" Yan Buji laughed.

The Shark People Queen looked astonished: "Really?"

"Of course it's true, but this visit to the Shark People was rather rash; I hadn't prepared heavy gifts, so these three items are the Dragon People's greeting gift to the Shark People Queen."

The Shark People Queen smiled, ordering her attendants to receive the treasures, but she did not examine them on the spot, assuming they were merely ordinary trinkets.

"It pleases me greatly that the King of the Dragon People would come in person. However, please... Friend Yan, take a brief rest; to show the Shark People's hospitality, I ask Friend Yan to grant me a little time to prepare."

Yan Buji narrowed his eyes, clasped his hands, and said: "Then I shall impose."