Chapter 2139: Fish Shop Owner Side Story

Outer Tales of the Seven Realms: The Fishmonger's Chronicle

Deep within a dark lake in the Guanghan Realm of Leiming Continent, three individuals were continuously activating fiery red jade tokens, seemingly sensing something.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, surely you haven't made a mistake? The entrance to the Ascending Dragon Palace couldn't be here, could it? We've searched this lakebed thoroughly more than three times, and there isn't even a single living creature," a yellowish-faced cultivator dressed as a scholar said doubtfully.

"Fellow Daoist Feng, please be patient. Based on my deductions, the entrance to the Ascending Dragon Palace must be within this Netherworld Lake." Yu Hong glanced at the skeptical scholar, Feng, and then added, "If you don't trust me, Fellow Daoist Feng, surely you trust Fellow Daoist Ma? Fellow Daoist Ma possesses the Flaming Dragon bloodline, so he should be able to sense the anomalies here, right?"

"Haha, Brother Yu is right. I, Ma, can indeed sense the dragon energy here. I'm certain the entrance to the Ascending Dragon Palace is here. Fellow Daoist Feng, let's quicken our search," said another strange young man, clad in a red robe with red hair and bare feet, as he looked at the scholar.

"Haha, I was just being impatient. Please forgive me, both of you. Let's continue searching, or it won't be good if outsiders discover us," the scholar surnamed Feng said with a chuckle, looking at the red-haired youth.

"Hmm, no, wait!" the red-haired youth exclaimed with pleasant surprise. "Fellow Daoists, look ahead. It seems like a formation. If I hadn't just circulated my Flaming Dragon True Art, I never would have noticed it."

Yu Hong asked, puzzled, "Fellow Daoist Ma, can you truly sense the formation ahead?"

"What's wrong, Brother Yu?" the scholar surnamed Feng asked thoughtfully.

"The golden page I obtained didn't mention any seal at the entrance to the Ascending Dragon Palace. It only stated that one could enter the Dragon Palace with the Flaming Dragon Jade," Yu Hong explained, pointing his index finger seriously.

"Fellow Daoists, I don't care if the entrance originally had no seal. Let's just break through it. Even if someone came here before us, the fact that it's sealed proves they haven't entered yet. That person must have intended to return later to retrieve whatever is inside."

The red-haired youth looked at the two still deep in thought and added, "Fellow Daoists, stop thinking so much. I'm confident I can break this formation. Both of you, please guard me."

"Since Fellow Daoist Ma is confident, I don't want to give up such an opportunity either," the scholar Feng said, looking at Yu Hong.

"If I were to miss such an opportunity, I would regret it immensely," Yu Hong said, seemingly having made up his mind.

"Alright, both of you, take these. These are Flame-Absorbing Flags. When I break the formation, use them to absorb the dragon energy within. Otherwise, the massive dragon roar that erupts when the trapped dragon energy bursts forth will reveal our location to outsiders." With a casual wave of his hand, the red-haired youth sent two small blue flags flying towards them. Without waiting for Yu Hong and the scholar Feng to respond, he began to break the formation.

The red-haired youth formed a hand seal with his right hand and waved his left, causing a compass to materialize in mid-air. He chanted an obscure incantation, and then the floating compass began to spin rapidly, emitting a dazzling golden light. The golden light intensified, and the next moment, with a whoosh, a beam of golden light shot into the void. The surrounding space immediately twisted, and a grey light shield appeared before the three.

Once the grey light shield appeared, silver electric arcs began to continuously flow over it, periodically emitting crackling sounds. As the red-haired youth ceaselessly channeled his magic, the golden light beam from the compass grew thicker, expanding from the size of a finger to that of a baby's arm. The area within several *zhang* around them had become a vacuum, and strangely, within this space, three swirling vortexes composed of grey, silver, and gold formed.

Just as the three vortexes formed, a terrifying spiritual pressure suddenly erupted, forcing the high-level cultivators in the Void Refinement stage to instantly drop to one knee. "Fellow Daoists, quickly use those Flame-Absorbing Flags!" the red-haired youth shouted, his face pale.

Yu Hong and the scholar Feng jolted, awakening from the terrifying spiritual pressure. Immediately, both simultaneously activated their Flame-Absorbing Flags. Upon being energized by spiritual power, a faint blue mist instantly permeated the area, slowly covering the vacuum within several *zhang* around them.

The blue mist seemed to work, as the terrifying spiritual pressure gradually subsided. Yu Hong and Scholar Feng exchanged a bitter smile. If the red-haired youth hadn't used the Flaming Dragon True Art to let out an enraged roar just now, they would likely still be in a daze.

Just as Yu Hong and the other thought the spiritual pressure had vanished and were feeling relieved, a roar, imbued with even more terrifying spiritual pressure than before, swept towards them. Yu Hong's pupils constricted, and without hesitation, he spat out a mouthful of vital blood. The Spirit-Absorbing Flag immediately glowed brightly, simultaneously emitting a deep blue mist. The dragon, upon the emission of the deep blue mist, became silent as if a mouse had encountered a cat.

At this moment, the red-haired youth's face glowed with an unusual fiery red. He pressed his palms together and roared, "Flaming Dragon Ascent!" Immediately, his entire body erupted in golden light, making him appear incredibly majestic.

Suddenly, the red-haired youth's eyes snapped open, and two golden, lightning-like beams of light flashed and disappeared. Then, with a loud shout, he pushed both palms forward, and a spiritual pressure similar to the previous one condensed from his hands.

"Boom!" A dazzling golden light pillar, too bright to gaze upon, surged forth. The grey light shield twisted and deformed, then shattered with a sound like breaking glass. After a chaotic spiritual pressure storm, everything became quiet once more.

At this point, the three of them, panting, looked at the black vortex not far in front of them. The red-haired youth gave a wry smile. "Fellow Daoists, it seems the entrance is down there. I can sense the dragon energy overflowing from it."

"A Netherworld Vortex," Yu Hong mused, stroking his chin. "Fellow Daoists, let's hurry in. The commotion just now was quite significant."

Ma and Feng exchanged glances without speaking. Each began casting spells to protect themselves. The red-haired youth patted his storage bag, and a small azure cauldron spun out, emitting plumes of azure mist that enveloped him.

"The Void Immortal Cauldron!" the scholar Feng exclaimed in surprise. "It seems your Horned Crimson Clan truly managed to reproduce this Void Immortal Cauldron, Fellow Daoist Ma."

"Haha, it's just a replica. What's so surprising, Fellow Daoist?" the red-haired youth said with a laugh.

Seeing that the other party was unwilling to elaborate, the scholar Feng wasted no more words. He flicked his right hand in front of him, and a small purple fan appeared. With a gentle wave, a purple light shield enveloped his body.

Yu Hong naturally overheard their conversation and felt a sudden stir within him, which he quickly suppressed.

"Both of you, time is running out. Let's enter the Dragon Palace quickly," Yu Hong said. He opened his mouth, and a five-colored crystal flew out. With a point of his right hand, the crystal trembled and then mysteriously vanished. However, the next moment, a faint grey light shield subtly formed around Yu Hong, almost imperceptible unless one looked closely.

The group then entered the Netherworld Vortex. Yu Hong felt a dizzying sensation, and after a flash of light from a teleportation array, they found themselves inside a cave dwelling. The three of them stared in astonishment at the scene before them; it bore no resemblance to the legendary Dragon Palace at all!

"What exactly is going on? Is this the Ascending Dragon Palace?" the scholar Feng asked Yu Hong, his face grave. "Fellow Daoist Yu, is this what you referred to as the Ascending Dragon Palace? I hope you can explain it to me."

Yu Hong was equally bewildered. This place was entirely different from the Ascending Dragon Palace depicted on the golden page. It looked more like a cultivator's personal cave abode.

"Fellow Daoist Feng, would I trick you? I'm just as confused by this situation," Yu Hong replied without formality.

"This is indeed not the Ascending Dragon Palace, but it does have some connection to it," the red-haired youth said indifferently, looking at Yu Hong and the other.

"Who's there?" Yu Hong flicked his hand, and a five-colored lightning bolt sparked into a void with a crackling sound.

The next moment, "Oh? Five-colored Heavenly Thunder, how interesting, how interesting!" A blurry grey shadow slowly emerged from the void. "You, you stay. You may leave."

After speaking, the grey shadow said nothing more, merely staring at Yu Hong and the red-haired youth, observing them incessantly, sending shivers down their spines.

The three of them exchanged glances, their expressions simultaneously darkening. Yu Hong slapped his head with one hand, and a strange Dharma Idol with a bird's head, human body, blue skin, and a pair of blue feathered wings emerged from behind him. Then, he clasped his hands together and slammed his fists forcefully.

A tremendous roar then erupted. The small cave dwelling was instantly filled with thunderclouds, flashing with electricity, and streaks of five-colored lightning all blasted towards the grey ghostly figure.

Meanwhile, the red-haired youth formed hand seals, silently chanting an obscure incantation. Then, red patterns appeared on his face, etched like tattoos.

Gradually, the patterns on his face formed a flaming dragon coiling on his forehead. At the same time, two red, spiraled horns emerged from both sides of his forehead.

"Flaming Dragon Qi Wave!" the red-haired youth roared. Dragon roars, one after another, surged like focused attacks towards the grey ghostly figure.

The scholar Feng vigorously fanned his purple treasured fan with one hand, conjuring waves of dense purple mist that became increasingly thick and incredibly viscous, with bubbles continuously rolling within it.

With his other hand, he grabbed something from thin air, and a large black brush appeared. He then dipped the brush into the now dense purple mist, which immediately coiled around the tip of the brush with a blend of purple and black.

"Grand Righteous Purple Qi, stabilize the world, execute all evil!" the scholar declared. With a sweep of his large brush, his words appeared verbatim in mid-air. "Hurry!" As soon as the scholar's voice fell, large, profound righteous true words rained down like meteors onto the grey ghostly figure.

"Hahahaha!" The ghostly figure sneered with disdain upon seeing the three's grand and powerful attacks. "Such a level of power? You're simply seeking death!"

Without seemingly taking any defensive action, the ghostly figure simply said, "Five-colored Heavenly Thunder, disperse!" With a flick of its sleeve, all the heavenly thunderbolts vanished in a puff of smoke, none remaining.

"Flaming Dragon Qi Art, what nonsense! Hah, absorb!" The ghostly figure opened its mouth wide and actually distorted and absorbed all the invisible dragon ripples into its belly!

"I offered you a way out, but you wouldn't take it. What's with this Grand Righteous Purple Qi? It's useless against me, you hypocritical bunch of scoundrels!"

The ghostly figure seemed particularly displeased with the scholar. It unleashed a flurry of punches at the meteor-like Grand Righteous True Words, causing them all to dissipate. The next moment, it vanished, reappearing instantly to strike the scholar Feng. Scholar Feng stared in disbelief at the ghostly claw piercing his body, his eyes slowly fading.

Yu Hong swallowed several times, horrified by the ghostly figure's terrifying strength. It appeared that the scholar Feng had died completely, his Nascent Soul unable to escape.

"So, you're here looking for the Ascending Dragon Palace?" the ghostly figure asked, having dealt with the scholar. Its eyes were filled with covetousness as it looked at Yu Hong and the other person.

"Senior, we three were indeed searching for the Ascending Dragon Palace. We didn't realize you were here and apologize for disturbing you. We beg your forgiveness," Yu Hong quickly and respectfully replied, seeing that the ghostly figure had no immediate intention of attacking them.

"Youngster, don't get ahead of yourself. While I won't kill you, you'd best not try any tricks, or I won't mind making you disappear," the ghostly figure said, looking thoughtfully at Yu Hong. "Here is a method for cultivating an Immortal Thunder Beast, along with a jade slip for re-entering this place. Once you leave, cultivate it well. When the Immortal Thunder Beast evolves into its mature form, return here and give me the Immortal Thunder, and I will spare your life."

"Senior, rest assured, this junior will certainly complete the task!" Yu Hong replied without a second thought.

"How do you know you can successfully cultivate it?" the ghostly figure asked Yu Hong, a half-smile playing on its lips.

Yu Hong replied, "Since Senior has tasked this junior with this matter, then there must be something about this junior that Senior values. I wonder if my guess is correct?"

"Hmph! Youngster, you are clever," the ghostly figure said, seemingly genuinely not wishing to trouble Yu Hong. "I have already planted the 'Immortal's Intoxication' in you. Do not imagine you can leave and not return. This poison is incurable in this realm, and even in the Immortal Realm, it's not something an ordinary person can undo."

"Senior, rest assured, this junior will certainly follow your instructions," Yu Hong said without hesitation, his pupils contracting.

"You'd best not harbor any other thoughts. With your five-colored Heavenly Thunder as the guide, the chances of success for this beast are quite high. I give you three hundred years to return here and hand over the mature Immortal Thunder Beast to me. Otherwise, hehe, Fellow Daoist, don't blame this old man for being ruthless." With a flick of its sleeve, the ghostly figure instantly sent Yu Hong out of the cave dwelling, his whereabouts unknown.

Just as the ghostly figure whisked Yu Hong away, the red-haired youth, without a second thought, activated his escape light and vanished from his spot with a whoosh. The next moment, he appeared on the teleportation array, but his face immediately turned purple—the array was strangely unable to teleport!

The ghostly figure looked at the red-haired youth, its eyes filled with amusement. "Hahahaha, truly, when one's path is not completely blocked by heaven! Youngster, you're truly unlucky. I was looking for an excellent physical body, and you delivered yourself right to me. How should this old man repay you?"

"Old ghost, dream on! I'd rather self-destruct than let you succeed! Hahahaha!" The red-haired youth knew his chances were slim. He decided to self-destruct rather than let the ghostly figure have its way. He clenched both fists and roared, "Explode!"

But then, the red-haired youth discovered that his spiritual power was sealed within his body; he couldn't self-destruct! "Youngster, in front of this old man, do you truly believe you can still self-destruct?" The ghostly figure extended a bloody, gruesome claw and touched the red-haired youth's glabella. A stream of black threads rapidly spread across the red-haired youth's face, and the next moment, a black vortex formed at his glabella.

"Youngster, I'll be taking this physical body of yours. I won't do anything too extreme; I'll send you into reincarnation now! Hahahaha!" Without another word, the ghostly figure slapped its hand, and several wisps of black thread shot out.

"Spirit return, reincarnation begin," the ghostly figure murmured. As soon as its words faded, a bizarre scene unfolded.

Inside the small cave dwelling, an eerie wind suddenly picked up. Streaks of black and white lightning snaked erratically above their heads, periodically emitting rumbling thunderclaps.

A clanking sound, like chains being dragged, approached from a distance. With a sudden "Boom," a red halo materialized out of thin air.

Then came a creaking sound, like a door opening. A crack appeared in the center of the red halo, and the next moment, the crack widened, forming a black and white Bagua gate.

Seeing the Gate of Reincarnation open, the ghostly figure snorted coldly. "Youngster, out of gratitude for providing me with this physical body, I shall send you to the Great Spirit Heaven for reincarnation."

The ghostly figure called out, "Youngster, go!" A soul flickering with green ghostly fire was thrown by the ghostly figure into the secondary Gate of Reincarnation.

"Holy Spirit Dragon, you're breaking the rules!" a sudden voice interjected.

"Reincarnation Oversight Office," the ghostly figure sneered. "Hmph, state your terms."

"Haha, Dragon King, you jest. With the Dragon King's prestige, sending a few people into reincarnation is certainly not an issue," the voice paused. Seeing that the ghostly figure didn't respond, it chuckled and continued,

"Things have been quite strict with inspections from above recently, and I'm just performing my duties. However, for the Dragon King's sake, I suppose one instance of bending the rules won't hurt." The mysterious voice was about to say more when the ghostly figure interrupted it.

"Don't waste my time with nonsense. Here's the Holy Dragon Token. Do what you will with it, hmph." The ghostly figure seemed unwilling to converse further with the so-called Reincarnation Oversight Office. It directly flung a golden, scale-like token towards the Gate of Reincarnation.

"The Dragon King is truly generous! This old man appreciates it! Heh heh," the mysterious voice replied. "Dragon King, next time you have matters concerning reincarnation, please notify me in advance so I can prepare. Until we meet again."

"Hmph, a bunch of greedy opportunists, still hoping for a next time. Heh heh, next time, you won't even have a say," the ghostly figure muttered to itself, watching the Gate of Reincarnation slowly vanish.

"This physical body is truly excellent. It actually possesses the rare Flaming Dragon bloodline; heaven truly helps me!" Without further ado, the ghostly figure transformed into a swirling mass of black mist and was completely absorbed, without a trace, by the vortex at the red-haired youth's glabella.

The next moment, the red-haired youth's eyes snapped open. He glanced towards a direction within the cave dwelling, and then a meaningful smile played on his lips.

Meanwhile, deep within a sea region not far from Fengyuan Continent, a cultivator dressed in a blue Daoist robe, subtly shrouded by a protective barrier, materialized out of thin air.

This cultivator's face was etched with terror, still reeling as if having encountered something extremely dreadful.

This cultivator was none other than Yu Hong. "So, the concept of reincarnation truly exists in this world? What was that ghostly figure's purpose in sending me into that dimensional space to witness what just happened?!" Yu Hong mused silently, then shook his head, deciding to stop thinking about it.