Chapter 79: The Jade Sunken Dragon Boat

After Mu Yuan left seclusion, he realized that what felt like a short period of training in the Primordial Qi Grasping Hand had actually lasted a full half month!

No matter which Divine Ability one practiced, it involved weaving together countless Talismanic Seals and formations, refining them one by one. Though it might seem effortless, it consumed enormous mental effort and time. Mu Yuan, immersed in the process, had not noticed the passage of time. It was only because of his strong Spiritual Sense that he managed it; otherwise, it would have taken at least a year or more to master such a Divine Ability!

In the hall where the Yin Cold Ice Evils gathered, Mu Yuan briefly glanced around and saw the evil energies churning violently, as if something was aggressively absorbing them. He understood that Qi Wei was close to completing her Condensing Evil Energy and began contemplating the next step: heading to Round Pot Mountain.

Ao Lie’s domain spanned three thousand seas, but Round Pot Mountain was not among them. Round Pot Mountain lay to the north. After both of them finished Condensing Evil Energy, their Magical Power would naturally become more profound. The Tidal Flow’s “Heavenly Water Evasion” technique was extremely fast, but Mu Yuan did not want to exert himself too much. After all, traveling by consuming Zhenqi took a toll on both the body and the Spiritual Sense. So, he thought about whether he could ask Ao Lie for a means of transportation.

Ao Lie was the master of Fengbie Palace and the son of the East Sea Dragon King, and he was quite favored. He surely possessed many valuable items. Mu Yuan thought borrowing a sea vessel would not be an excessive request.

After stumbling out of the hall, Mu Yuan sent word to Ao Lie but was told that Ao Lie was in seclusion. Mu Yuan tried to recall but could not remember Ao Lie obtaining anything at Lingyuan Reef. Upon asking, he learned that Ao Lie had later sent his subordinates to Lingyuan Reef to gather rare minerals and was currently forging a Magical Artifact. Mu Yuan knew that crafting a Magical Artifact was not a quick task. Remembering his agreement with Chu Yunfei, he grew restless.

But Qi Wei had not yet completed her Condensing Evil Energy. After waiting a few more days, Ao Lie showed no signs of emerging from seclusion. With no other choice, Mu Yuan sought out a thousand-year-old turtle in Fengbie Palace.

This old turtle held the highest official position in the palace after Ao Lie. He usually helped Ao Lie manage palace affairs and was a significant administrator. When Mu Yuan met the old turtle, he indeed seemed like an ancient, experienced being. The wrinkles on his forehead looked deep enough to trap mosquitos, and his long white beard gave him the demeanor of a kindly grandfather next door. Mu Yuan felt respect and spoke politely, “Esteemed elder, I wonder if there are any long-distance water vessels in the palace. I wish to travel and would appreciate your assistance.”

The old turtle was named Chennianzi. Seeing Mu Yuan’s politeness, he stroked his long beard and smiled, “Yes, yes, you are a distinguished guest of our palace master. Giving you a boat is not a problem. Fengbie Palace may not have many things, but vessels are essential for sea travel. The most common type in the Dragon Palace is the Jade Sunken Dragon Boat. It is a type of Magical Artifact. Follow me, and I will show you.”

Mu Yuan felt a surge of joy and quickly followed. Chennianzi led him through several twists and turns until they reached an oddly shaped building. Many water soldiers patrolled the area, creating a strict and orderly atmosphere.

Chennianzi held up a rectangular token with a coiled golden dragon imprinted on it, shining dazzlingly. Without any visible effort, a beam of golden light shot from the token, and a massive copper door rumbled open. Mu Yuan was greeted by a brilliant display of shimmering lights, swirling colors, and glowing treasures. Inside, countless gemstones, jade pieces, copper furnaces, and square cauldrons were piled high.

Chennianzi shuffled inside, and Mu Yuan hurried after him. Despite having been raised in the Daoist Sect, the countless rare treasures around him stirred his heart. He thought to himself that the Dragon Palace truly was rich in treasures. Even a son like Ao Lie had such an immense collection; it was hard to imagine what the East Sea Dragon Palace itself must look like.

“How can this old turtle not worry that I might be tempted by these treasures and try to steal them?” Mu Yuan suppressed his envy and took a closer look at Chennianzi. The old turtle’s aura seemed obscure, and his movements clumsy. If he wasn’t a poor cultivator, he must be a hidden expert. In that brief moment, Chennianzi seemed to sense Mu Yuan’s gaze. He trembled slightly, and that mysterious, awkward feeling vanished.

Mu Yuan quickly collected his thoughts. Chennianzi retrieved a dragon-shaped boat model from the dazzling pile of treasures. It was about two feet long, exuding a soft, jade-like glow, with two layers and an overall exquisite appearance.

“This is the Jade Sunken Dragon Boat!” Chennianzi led Mu Yuan out of the hall, recited an incantation, and released the delicate model. It flew from his hand and transformed into a massive silver-white dragon boat that moved effortlessly without wind. Mu Yuan and Chennianzi leaped aboard. The boat, powered by some unknown force, sped swiftly across and under the sea.

Mu Yuan could not help but feel curious. Chennianzi smiled and explained, “The Jade Sunken Dragon Boat is forged from the bones of fish-dragons in the Biluo Sea. Inside, there is a Primordial Qi pool that harnesses the flow of seawater to propel the boat. It can even draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—this is the greatest feature of the fish-dragon.”

“Oh!” Mu Yuan marveled. Chennianzi then taught him the techniques to operate it. Mu Yuan learned that there were many Jade Sunken Dragon Boats in the Dragon Palace. After all, these boats only had an advantage in speed and lacked strong defensive or offensive capabilities. Crafting them was not too difficult; the only rare component was the Dragon Bone, and even the materials for the Primordial Qi pool were not particularly extraordinary—only the arrangement method was profound.

Mu Yuan strolled around the boat and noticed spiritual mist rising from the Primordial Qi pool, spreading along specific pathways throughout the entire vessel. It was silent and serene, filling Mu Yuan with delight.

“Thank you, elder!” Mu Yuan tested the boat and found it could move fast or slow. If there was no hurry, sailing on the sea could also serve as a leisurely journey. As for its lack of defense and attack capabilities, Mu Yuan did not mind. He had not planned to travel in a sea fortress anyway, especially since he obtained the dragon boat for free.

After thanking Chennianzi, Mu Yuan stayed in Fengbie Palace for a while longer. About half a month later, Qi Wei emerged after Condensing Evil Energy, her cultivation having advanced further. She truly had an air of immortality, enhancing her ethereal beauty. But Mu Yuan had no mind to admire her; he simply offered brief congratulations. Then, taking Qi Wei with him, he left Fengbie Palace. Ao Lie was still in seclusion, so they informed Chennianzi, saying they were going for Refining Righteous Energy. They boarded the Jade Sunken Dragon Boat and headed northeast.

The Jade Sunken Dragon Boat was indeed far more comfortable than ordinary vessels. It had soft beds, silk curtains, and plenty of fresh fruits and delicacies stored for preservation. Though cultivators were supposed to be indifferent to worldly desires, few truly abstained from food and drink. Qi Wei, being a woman, might have restrained herself, but Mu Yuan did not bother. He only controlled the boat’s direction, leaving everything else aside. After a few days of leisurely travel, the place where he had agreed to meet Chu Yunfei came into view.