Chapter 777: Sending a Great Gift

Although Daoist Hanhai's mastery of the spatial Dao fruit form made him quite powerful even among half-immortals, Meng Jingzhou believed that once he reached the half-immortal stage, he would be capable of challenging Daoist Hanhai in combat.

He particularly noticed Ao Ya and Daoist Hanhai exchanging flirtatious glances, with Daoist Hanhai clearly enjoying the interaction.

It then dawned on Meng Jingzhou that Daoist Hanhai had willingly been dragged into the secret chamber for "squeezing"; otherwise, he would have long since escaped using his spatial Dao fruit form.

"You're envious of my single spiritual root, aren't you?" Meng Jingzhou thought. "Once I reach the half-immortal stage, I'll show you what a half-immortal level 'single curse punch' can do!"

Finally, the old Dragon Emperor made his grand appearance.

As the birthday celebrant, the old Dragon Emperor, appeared, everyone in the hall rose in unison. Their thunderous congratulations echoed like mountains cheering and seas roaring. All high-ranking cultivators from the East Sea had gathered to celebrate, a tribute reserved solely for the old Dragon Emperor. The only exceptions were Ao Ya and Daoist Hanhai, whose seniority surpassed that of the Dragon Emperor, thus excusing them from the formal gesture.

"Alright, alright, there's no need to be so deferential to an old man like me," the old Dragon Emperor chuckled, settling into the main seat with a benevolent smile. He gestured for everyone to relax, emphasizing that the most important aspect of a birthday celebration was to be at ease.

Clam maidens and merfolk gracefully performed in the center of the main hall, their exquisite dance mesmerizing the audience.

Dance is also a form of cultivation, and a considerable number of cultivators have entered the Dao through it. However, it remains an uncommon choice for spiritual practice.

To date, Zhu Tian has achieved the highest level of success in entering the Dao through dance.

Since Zhu Tian's emergence and the establishment of the Demon Kingdom, the number of cultivators pursuing the path of entering the Dao through dance has gradually increased.

"There's no other way to leave this wretched bead, so why don't we just shatter it?" the Immortal Fairy remarked with a triumphant smile, confident that her initial solution was the only viable option.

With no alternative, Lu Yang had no choice but to agree to the Immortal Fairy's plan.

The birthday banquet progressed smoothly. Beyond the underwater dances, there were performances by the conch tribe playing celestial music, and talented aquatic scholars reciting poetry and composing essays to praise the old Dragon Emperor's majesty and benevolence. Dragon clan elders transformed into their original forms to display their magical prowess, while others performed theatrical plays depicting the old Dragon Emperor's great achievements in his youth.

Witnessing these tributes, the old Dragon Emperor raised his wine cup and laughed heartily, appearing as if he had shed two thousand years from his age.

Below, Venerable Black Feather felt a strong urge to speak, as he knew little-known stories behind each of these grand achievements. However, considering it was a birthday banquet, he wisely refrained from revealing tales of the revered elder beating people with a staff, which would be inappropriate.

Venerable Dark Water also found it difficult to hold back.

As the theatrical performance concluded, the gift-giving ceremony began.

In his youth, the old Dragon Emperor had been a wild and uninhibited spirit, fathering as many as thirty children.

It is well-known that the higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the more challenging it becomes to produce offspring, and the Dragon clan is no exception to this rule.

For instance, when Ao Ya and Daoist Hanhai were inseparable, remaining in their room for an entire month, Ao Ya still did not conceive.

"Father Emperor, this is a Nine-Revolving Spirit Pill I commissioned from a Grandmaster Alchemist of Great Xia. It can regulate the body and cultivate one's spirit."

The Grand Prince of the Dragon Palace opened the box, revealing a spirit pill adorned with nine distinct patterns. Upon opening, a rich, fragrant aroma immediately wafted out, testament to the pill's exquisite quality.

"Father Emperor, I present this Five-Colored Evergreen Flower, which I collected from the seabed of the Abyssal Underworld. It never wilts."

The Five-Colored Evergreen Flower, symbolizing longevity and never fading, is an ideal gift. However, it grows deep within the perilous Abyssal Underworld, teeming with countless Integration Stage demon beasts. The Second Prince of the Dragon Palace's success in retrieving it speaks volumes of his filial devotion.

Over thirty princes and princesses presented their gifts in succession. Some were notable for their efficacy, while others emphasized sentiment, but all shared the common trait of being exceptionally difficult to acquire.

Each presented gift elicited gasps of awe from the crowd, confirming the Dragon Palace's legendary wealth, as even their offerings were of such immense value. Most of the gifts from the Integration Stage cultivators paled in comparison. "The Five-Colored Evergreen Flower is quite beautiful," Daoist Hanhai murmured, as he chewed on a Nine-Revolving Spirit Pill to restore his Yang energy.

Meng Jingzhou cast a strange look at Daoist Hanhai. "Grandmaster," he wondered, "why would you carry something like that with you?"

Daoist Hanhai, secretly annoyed, telepathically explained, "I just retrieved it from our sect using the nascent spatial Dao fruit!"

Meng Jingzhou simply uttered an "Oh."

Immediately after, he observed Daoist Hanhai subtly extend his hand beneath the table, secretly activating his spatial Dao fruit form to open a small dimensional portal directly to the Abyssal Underworld, from which he plucked a Five-Colored Evergreen Flower.

"I'll give this to Xiaoya after the banquet," Daoist Hanhai remarked with a pleased smile.

Once the princes, princesses, Dragon clan elders, and Integration Stage cultivators had presented their birthday gifts, it was the turn of the Tribulation Transcending Stage cultivators to offer their tributes.

Among all the gifts presented so far, the old Dragon Emperor was most delighted by the Ancestral Dragon Grass from Ao Ran. He immediately summoned Ao Ran to bring it forth, eager to examine it closely.

The old Dragon Emperor held a profound admiration for the Dragon Clan Ancestor, Ao Ling, renowned as the strongest half-immortal. Consequently, he cherished anything associated with Ao Ling.

He meticulously examined the dragon-claw-shaped Ancestral Dragon Grass, as if witnessing a scene from ancient times: the Dragon Clan Ancestor diligently nurturing the plant, and the Ancestral Dragon Grass flourishing.

"Senior Dragon Emperor, this junior possesses an item also connected to the Dragon Clan Ancestor," Daoist Sanshan announced, holding up a wooden box with both hands as a mark of respect for the old Dragon Emperor.

While Daoist Hanhai's presence had initially caused him some apprehension, he soon felt at ease, remembering that the Taixu Immortal Grass was effective even against half-immortals.

"Oh, something else related to the Dragon Clan Ancestor? What's inside the box?" the old Dragon Emperor inquired, his interest piqued. Despite frequent conflicts between the sea tribes and humans in the East Sea, he, as the leader of the sea tribes, held considerable admiration for Daoist Sanshan, the human leader.

The Dragon Clan Ancestor was a legendary figure in the East Sea, whose influence rivaled that of Jiang Lianyi in the Demon Realm.

All eyes turned to Daoist Sanshan.

Everyone was eager to know its contents.

Mr. Tinghai and Venerable Liuhe, however, lacked the experience of others. A cold sweat broke out as they contemplated what was about to unfold.

Daoist Sanshan smiled faintly, his expression composed. He spoke unhurriedly, "The most important aspect of any gift is the surprise it brings. Senior Dragon Emperor, perhaps you'd like to open it yourself?"

"Very well."

Ao Gu'er, who stood nearby, took the wooden box and presented it to the old Dragon Emperor.

Witnessing this, Daoist Sanshan knew his scheme was largely succeeding.

In truth, the box contained nothing related to the Dragon Clan Ancestor. It was merely a pretense to ensure the old Dragon Emperor would personally open the wooden box, thereby coming into close contact with the poison of the Taixu Immortal Grass.

The old Dragon Emperor eagerly opened the wooden box.

With a sudden 'bang,' as if something had shattered, thick smoke billowed from the box, obstructing everyone's view. Two figures abruptly emerged. When the old Dragon Emperor clearly distinguished one of them, he was utterly dumbfounded, too overwhelmed with excitement to utter a single word. He clutched his chest, his eyes rolled back, and he nearly fainted.

Daoist Sanshan activated his cultivation technique to resist the Taixu Immortal Grass poison. He had not anticipated its potency, so dense that it could obscure both divine sense and physical vision.

A chilling smile played on his lips as he casually stepped forward. "Senior Dragon Emperor," he asked, "do you enjoy this grand gift I've presented?"

"I... I do."

"Do you currently feel your senses blurring, your soul unstable, as though you're experiencing hallucinations?"

"Yes."

Daoist Sanshan continued to speak as he walked, wearing an expression of triumph. However, as he neared the old Dragon Emperor and finally discerned the two figures within the dissipating smoke, his body stiffened.

As the dense smoke cleared, the figures of Ao Ling and Lu Yang were revealed.

Daoist Sanshan stood rooted to the spot, his gaze blank.

"Why is the Dragon Clan Ancestor here?"

"Am I also poisoned?"