The Lord of Void and Real
Chapter 1785 - 1781 Targeting the Dragon Palace

Chapter 1785: Chapter 1781 Targeting the Dragon Palace

"Judging by Friend Zhu’s words, it seems there’s quite a dissatisfaction towards the Dragon Palace?" Shen Luo chuckled and asked.

"Are you truly not from the South Sea Dragon Palace?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Mangqi hesitated again.

"I’m not, I’m just here to buy the Water-Fire Beading Pill." Shen Luo shook his head and said.

"Hmph, I don’t have any Water-Fire Beading Pill left, they were all snatched away by those bastards from the South Sea Dragon Palace." Zhu Mangqi replied bitterly upon hearing that.

Shen Luo frowned upon hearing this.

"Why do they want to gather so many Water-Fire Beading Pills?" Shen Luo poured him another cup and asked.

Zhu Mangqi didn’t speak, he stared straight at Shen Luo.

"I’m really not from the South Sea Dragon Palace, think about it, if they already stole your Water-Fire Beading Pills, why would they go out of their way to send me to deceive you?" Shen Luo said speechlessly.

"That’s true..." Zhu Mangqi nodded and said.

After saying that, he went on to explain the whole story to Shen Luo.

After listening, Shen Luo learned that the Great Ravine’s seabed seemingly has some treasure about to emerge, and the South Sea Dragon Palace wants to claim it as their own, so they sealed the Great Ravine, forbidding other monks from entering.

However, there’s an Yan Sui Fire Vein at the bottom of the Great Ravine blocking the Dragon Palace’s way. To pass through it, a dragon boat refined from the Water-Fire Beading Pill is required.

"The Dragon Palace’s intention is to refine a grand treasure ship dragon boat, needing a huge quantity of Water-Fire Beading Pills, so they scoured the Ten Islands of the Great Ravine completely. Relying on their power, humph, what else!" Zhu Mangqi grew angrier as he spoke, gulping down cup after cup.

"So that means there’s hardly any Water-Fire Beading Pill left on these Ten Islands?" Shen Luo pondered upon hearing that.

"None left, the Dragon Palace’s threats and inducements have been employed, everyone is just trying to scrape by in the Southern Sea, who really dares to openly resist such a colossus as the South Sea Dragon Palace? In this area of the Southern Sea, better to offend Mount Putuo than the Dragon Palace." Zhu Mangqi sighed.

With another cup of immortally brewed wine in his belly, Zhu Mangqi’s cheeks turned red, already showing signs of drunkenness.

He never suppressed his drinking usually using mana to indulge himself this time. However, the Immortal Brew’s potency was extraordinary, impossible to suppress, so he drank himself into a stupor.

"So, to obtain the Water-Fire Beading Pill, the only way is to get them from the Dragon Palace?" Shen Luo rubbed his chin, asking.

"Isn’t that obvious? Right now, they’re the only ones who have it." Zhu Mangqi slurred, his tongue already somewhat thick.

After finishing, he looked up at Shen Luo and asked, "Do you intend to make a move against the Dragon Palace?"

"Just unfamiliar with the place, makes it tricky," Shen Luo thought aloud.

"Fair enough! If you truly dare to challenge the Dragon Palace, count me in!" Zhu Mangqi suddenly stood up, beating his chest dramatically, declaring to Shen Luo.

Shen Luo chuckled, "Well, we have an agreement then..."

Just as the words fell, Zhu Mangqi collapsed onto the table, snoring away deeply.

This time, Shen Luo chose not to use mana to dissipate his drunkenness, instead poured himself another drink, drinking alone.

By the next day, as the sun was high in the sky, Zhu Mangqi only then shrugged off his intoxication and, upon hearing of last night’s events from Shen Luo, froze like a wooden chicken.

"Friend Zhu, it’s too late for remorse now." Shen Luo remarked with a cheeky smile.

"Who said I was going to back out? I’ve never gone back on my word spoken at the drinking table." Zhu Mangqi slapped his thigh, glaring.

"That’s good then." Shen Luo responded with a hearty laugh.

However, after the boldness faded, Zhu Mangqi cautiously asked, "By the way, who are you really? Do you truly dare to oppose the South Sea Dragon Palace?"

"I am a disciple of Mount Putuo, ordered by my elders to collect Water-Fire Beading Pills. As it’s a command, I can’t disobey it." Shen Luo thought for a moment and casually fabricated a reason.

In truth, with Nie Caizhu being a Mount Putuo disciple, and himself as her spouse, claiming to be from Mount Putuo could be seen as plausible.

"No wonder you have the courage, alright, I’ll recklessly lend you a hand, lead the way." Zhu Mangqi said as he raised an eyebrow at Shen Luo.

"Friend Zhu, what do you mean by this?" Shen Luo saw him glance at the wine cups on the table but feigned ignorance.

"We’re off to a big adventure, can’t we have some drinks to boost morale?" Zhu Mangqi said with rightful boldness.

"Drinking is fine, but Friend, you mustn’t get drunk again." Shen Luo smiled as he spoke and took out another bottle of Immortal Brew.

With that, he set to pour Zhu Mangqi a drink.

Zhu Mangqi snatched the wine pot, opened it, and deeply inhaled before grinning at Shen Luo, "Concerned it’ll delay us, let’s save it for after the task as congratulatory wine."

Saying this, he stowed the pot of Immortal Brew into his pouch.

Seeing this, Shen Luo acted as though he didn’t notice, saying nothing.

"Friend Zhu, so we’re ready to head out?" Shen Luo stood up, ready to leave.

"What’s the rush? Let’s discuss compensation first. I’ll help you find the Water-Fire Beading Pill, what’s in it for me?" Zhu Mangqi reached out to stop him, asking with a smile.

"Well, that depends on how much Immortal jade Friend Zhu desires?" Shen Luo countered.

Zhu Mangqi contemplated before speaking, "Immortal jade is certainly good, but what I want more is your Immortal Jade Brew, money can’t buy it."

"Friend Zhu, have you noticed the wondrous effects of this Immortal Brew?" Shen Luo asked with a smile.

"Ah, friendships flourish in unspoken truth." Zhu Mangqi said, hand on hip.

Immortal Jade Brew is indeed spirit wine, crafted from extraordinary materials. For Shen Luo, it was no longer useful, but for a Mahayana cultivator like Zhu Mangqi, it was still greatly beneficial.

"Honestly, I’m low on Immortal Jade Brew, what you took earlier was my last bottle." Shen Luo stated.

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment showed in Zhu Mangqi’s eyes.

"However, I do have an auxiliary elixir suitable for Great Mahayana Stage cultivation. If you’re willing to assist, I can offer it as a reward." Shen Luo said, changing his tone.

"Truly?" Zhu Mangqi exclaimed in joy upon hearing this.

Ever since reaching the early Mahayana stage, constrained by his own talent, his cultivation level remained stagnant for over a century, leading to indifference and a liking for alcohol, thus becoming a laid-back pearl diver in the Southern Sea’s Great Ravine.

Without further ado, Shen Luo flicked his hand, a golden-yellow elixir flew out from his hand.

Zhu Mangqi hurried to catch it, just a whiff of its fragrance left him feeling inexplicably refreshed, his face beamed with joy.

"Thank you, Elder, for your generous gift." At this point, he deduced that someone who could casually give such an elixir must possess a cultivation level beyond the early Mahayana stage, perhaps already at the late Mahayana stage.

Yet, Zhu Mangqi’s shallow perspective could only discern Shen Luo as having reached the early Mahayana stage himself.

"Alright, no need to be so formal. I am Shen Luo, if you wish, just call me Friend Shen." Shen Luo waved casually and said.

Zhu Mangqi assumed Shen Luo was intentionally keeping his cultivation level hidden and silently nodded.

"So, are we ready to go now?" Shen Luo asked.

"No problem, let’s go." Zhu Mangqi laughed and nodded.