Global Awakening: I'm the Only One Ready

The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace had appeared countless times in stories of myths.

In those stories, the dragons of the Eastern Sea apparently lived there. In other words, it was the territory of dragons.

In Huaxia, dragons had extraordinary significance, occupying an irreplaceable position in culture and belief. Yet all dragons had only ever existed in legends. No one in modern times took such stories, dismissing them as mere fantasy.

However, the Global Awakening changed everything. The changes to the world meant that whatever bizarre things imaginable could become reality. Under such circumstances, the existence of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace no longer seemed impossible.

Upon hearing Huikong’s remark, Zhu Qingyu, Ice Fairy, and the others were visibly shaken. They realized that what had once been dismissed as mere myth could truly exist.

More importantly, the scans showed clusters of massive buildings deep on the seabed. They weren’t small buildings, but large-scale structures grouped together. This alone was enough to prove that something extraordinary lay beneath the Eastern Sea.

”If it’s real, doesn’t that mean there might be dragons there?” Gu Sang said, curiosity shining in his eyes as he stared at the images.

”Not necessarily.” Chunyang shook his head. ”Even if there were dragons down there, too much time may have passed. Perhaps time itself has already buried them all.”

As a Daoist, he knew far more about these matters than most. According to legends, immortals lived on the Three Immortal Islands, but the truth was very different. They were merely descendants of those immortals.

Their actual strength amounted to nothing more than somewhat stronger Awakened, nothing like the invincible beings described in stories.

With that in mind, it was not difficult to infer that dragons were likely a type of mutated beast. They were most likely not incomparably powerful beings beyond comprehension.

”Remember the news about how Yinglong from Mount Kunlun decided to go to the Eastern Sea? Things might not go as smoothly as we think,” said Ice Fairy, pointing out a possible variable.

”Who cares about the Dragon Palace or dragons? If we can get along with them, then great. If not, then we’ll simply fight,” the Spirit Monkey said impatiently, gripping its cudgel.

It had always been a straightforward individual. All this speculation gave it a headache. For the Spirit Monkey, it was better to go down and see for themselves. Once they reached their destination, everything would become clear.

The cabin fell silent. The Spirit Monkey’s words made sense.

All eyes turned to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan smiled faintly. ”The Spirit Monkey is right. Whatever is in the Eastern Sea, we’ll know when we get there.”

There was no need to worry too much, as they had yet to reach their destination. They could just take things step by step. Lu Yuan knew there were opportunities hidden within the Eastern Sea, but he also knew that many dangers awaited them.

Of course, those dangers would serve as a trial not for himself, of course, but for Zhu Qingyu and the others.

Everyone went silent. The aircraft continued forward, breaking through layers of clouds. Below them stretched the seemingly endless ocean. Since the advent of the New Era, the oceans had expanded as well.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng flew alongside the aircraft, radiating a powerful presence. Its aura deterred any flying mutated beasts from approaching the plane. No predators dared to draw near, and the flight proceeded smoothly.

Soon, the aircraft reached the epicenter of the massive earthquake. The rear cabin door opened, and a powerful sea wind rushed into the cabin.

Lu Yuan stood at the front, gazing at the azure ocean down below. Activating his Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes, he peered through layer after layer of seawater, and his gaze pierced more than a thousand meters of water to reach the seabed.

On the seabed, he vaguely made out the silhouettes of what looked like parts of a palace. They were obscured by some mysterious force, making them difficult to see clearly.

At the same time, he sensed unfamiliar auras nearby. The auras did not belong to the native creatures of Earth. They were from the Outer Cosmos. It seemed that they had heard the news as well.

However, Lu Yuan wasn’t particularly worried about them.

”It’s about time. Come down with me.”

Without wasting words, he leaped directly into the sea.

Behind him, the Golden-Winged Great Peng followed closely, transforming into a streak of golden light. Zhu Qingyu, Ice Fairy, and the others did not hesitate either.

They all jumped down one after another.

They were all Unfettered Realm Awakened. Even deep within the ocean, they wouldn’t feel any discomfort. The breathing techniques they practiced allowed them to survive underwater.

Their strength would be affected to some extent, but that was all. The ocean was cold, silent, and deep. The deeper one went in the ocean, the more dangerous things would become for them.

The issue wasn’t just the inability to breathe, but there was also the immense pressure that no ordinary human body could withstand.

Moreover, the ocean contained a myriad of mutated sea beasts. Their strength was nothing to scoff at, and their numbers far exceeded the mutated beasts on land.

As the group plunged deeper, the mutated sea beasts dared not approach them.

The one at the helm of the group emitted no visible energy fluctuations, but the power contained within him was boundless and terrifying. His presence alone was enough to intimidate the mutated sea beasts.

They all retreated, afraid to provoke him.

This was intentional on Lu Yuan’s part. He did not want unnecessary trouble along the way.

Once they reached the Dragon Palace, he planned to restrain himself and let Zhu Qingyu and the others face the dangers on their own.

”Look! There are some lights ahead!” the Spirit Monkey exclaimed, pointing its cudgel forward.

Everyone turned and was immediately shocked. Some even swallowed hard. In the distance, massive buildings stood, each emanating lights that vanquished the darkness of the deep sea.

However, what truly stunned everyone was the arrangement of these palaces. They were scattered chaotically, yet they all aligned along a perfectly straight cut. Some palaces rested on the seabed, while others floated above it, creating a scene like shattered glass suspended in water.

The sight completely defied the laws of physics.

”A folded space. They’re in a folded space,” Chunyang said, reaching a conclusion in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to the guidance of the Three Immortal Islands’ sect masters, everyone learned many things. This place was like Penglai and the Immortal Islands. They deduced that the so-called Dragon Palace had been in a folded space, but it appeared to the world for some reason, eliciting that massive earthquake.

”Let’s go and take a look,” Lu Yuan said. Then, he fell into contemplation. This was his first time seeing such a sight. Then, he remembered the deep-sea map that the three sect masters had given to him.

He inspected it and realized that it depicted the place before them.

It seemed like it would prove useful later.

In response to Lu Yuan’s words, everyone nodded and moved forward.

Soon, they saw figures in the distance. Those figures stood at the entrance of the Dragon Palace and were clearly about to enter the Dragon Palace.

Those figures weren’t mutated sea beasts, and their appearances varied wildly. Some had three heads, some had massive bodies shrouded in black fog, some had a snake head but human bodies, while others sported flesh wings.

In total, there were over a hundred of them.

”Beings from outer space. I had no idea that so many of them had successfully descended,” Zhu Qingyu remarked in disbelief.

The others also grew wary. From these beings, they sensed terrifying auras. Every one of them was at least at the Golden Body Realm, and some had already reached the Venerable King Realm.

Their overall strength seemed to surpass even the Nether Bulls from before.

”Milky Way natives?”

A creature with a human body but a snake head noticed them. It flicked its forked tongue, and its cold eyes were filled with wariness and an unmistakable killing intent.

Another being shrouded in black fog looked over, and four arms covered in what looked like dark tattoos were briefly revealed beneath the fog.

None of them looked friendly. They all knew the Dragon Palace contained countless opportunities. Even among beings from the Outer Cosmos, such opportunities were worth fighting over.

They were displeased to learn that more people had come to vie for the opportunities here.

The snake-headed creature stepped forward, gripping a large saber that radiated a chilling aura. Its eyes were completely devoid of emotion.

”Greetings, King Lu.”

Before anything else could happen, a Three-Headed Ghost rushed forward and bowed deeply.

”He’s from the Snakehead Race. He has just descended and has yet to learn of your esteemed self. Please don’t take offense, King Lu. How about this? We can let you enter the Dragon Palace first.”

His heart nearly jumped out of his chest when he saw Lu Yuan among the group of newcomers. He rushed forward and bowed, sounding incomparably respectful as he spoke toward Lu Yuan.

Not long ago, Lu Yuan had slaughtered many of his people. In fact, almost all of the Nether Bulls were killed during Lu Yuan’s hunt.

In his eyes, Lu Yuan was a true harbinger of death. If Lu Yuan were allowed to become furious, they could all end up dying.

He knew that his people, along with those from the Celestial Race and the Primeval Daemon Race, had begun setting up a stage to kill Earth’s King of Humanity, but this was not the time to provoke him.

Ice Fairy and the others exchanged glances, looking stunned.

King Lu’s reputation had already spread beyond Earth, and it seemed even beings from outer space were afraid of him.

”King Lu? You call him ’King’ just because he’s a slightly stronger native from this Milky Way?” The Snakehead sneered, clearly unafraid of Lu Yuan. ”The Three-Headed Ghost Race is supposed to be one of the top hundred races across all starfields. How come you’re so scared of him?”

The Snakehead looked straight at Lu Yuan.

”The opportunities here belong to those who are capable. Besides, I haven’t even made a move yet. Are you really so domineering that you’d kill me on the spot?”

The Snakehead Race was a major race with deep foundations and many powerful experts; it was no weaker than the Three-Headed Ghost Race. He had heard of Lu Yuan’s reputation, but he hadn’t taken it too seriously.

Moreover, they had arrived here first, so why would they yield?

”Just stop talking, man...”

The Three-Headed Ghost was truly exhausted. He had heard that members of the Snakehead Race weren’t very bright, but now, it became clear that they hadn’t been lying. Snakeheads were truly dumb.

Then again, they had dominated their own starfield for too long. Coming to the Milky Way Starfield, which they viewed as a primitive civilization, they were naturally arrogant.

”The opportunities here belong to those who are capable?” the Golden-Winged Great Peng remarked. It transformed into a human-sized peng and was restraining its aura. Despite that, its presence remained imposing. ”So you’re very confident in your strength?”

Its master was insulted. Even if it couldn’t win, it couldn’t stay silent.

”Hmph. I wouldn’t call myself powerful, but against a few natives from a primitive civilization? I can kill them all with a flip of my hand!” The Snakehead coldly declared. He was a Venerable King, and was considered an expert even within his own clan.

”Time’s up. Let’s go in.”

Lu Yuan hadn’t even spared the other party a glance this entire time. Instead, he had been using his Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes, observing the Dragon Palace to take note of the mysterious forces stirring within.

Upon seeing what was going on, he knew he couldn’t waste any more time.

Upon being ignored, the Snakehead was furious. ”You dare ignore—”

”Noisy!”

Lu Yuan’s organs churned as he slapped the Snakehead. The seawater around him shook violently, billowing outward with terrifying force.

Boom!

The Snakehead exploded into a cloud of blood mist that quickly merged with the sea.

Lu Yuan’s face remained unchanging all throughout. He looked at the hundreds of beings from the Outer Cosmos in front of him and softly asked, ”May I enter now?”