Invincible Snake Emperor

Chapter 671: Chapter 622: The Dragon Palace Exists (Part 2)

They were a pair of eyes that seemed to hold fire, blazing like the sun—terrifying to behold.

A single glance could set a person ablaze, as if it wielded the Flame Power itself.

The moment Tu Xiao’an landed, the Mutated Flame Dog prostrated itself in terror. The disparity in their realms and strength was immense.

”Mm, good dog, good dog,” Tu Xiao’an said, nodding in appreciation.

This dog probably had the noblest canine bloodline Tu Xiao’an had ever seen, even though he had encountered several Rank Three Demon Spirits of the canine variety in the Yaoling Mountain Range.

But in terms of pure bloodline, none of them could compare to this dog.

If this dog were Rank 3, it might even be able to control Flame Power.

For now, its only unique gift was its fiery eyes.

’If my Xiaobai had possessed this dog’s bloodline from the start,’ ’he would have skyrocketed to the top long ago under my tutelage.’

’However, Xiaobai started as nothing more than a common mutt—a mixed breed—but I still managed to cultivate him into a mutated canine with a pair of Yin Yang Eyes.’

’Then again, dogs’ eyes are naturally extraordinary. Once awakened, they almost always develop some sort of Superpower.’

’Should I take this dog with me?’ Tu Xiao’an thought, liking it more and more. ’But I already have Xiaobai. If I took this one, Xiaobai might get jealous. Besides, there’s no need to have two dogs at home.’

’If this were a Rank 3 Fiery Eyed Dog, I might have been tempted to kill it,’ Tu Xiao’an mused. ’I could take its Lifebound Golden Core and feed it to Xiaobai to further enhance his bloodline.’

’Oh, well. Forget it.’ Tu Xiao’an couldn’t be bothered with a mere Rank Two creature, even one with an extraordinary bloodline. Its rank was just too low, and he had no interest in training it.

The Mutated Fiery Eyed Dog didn’t dare to breathe under Tu Xiao’an’s gaze. It felt like a butcher was sizing it up, contemplating whether to slaughter it for dog meat.

After a moment, Tu Xiao’an left. The Fiery Eyed Dog was finally free, dripping with cold sweat.

A short while later, Tu Xiao’an, riding the Golden-winged Flying Horse, came upon a large Water Creature. He took a closer look and couldn’t help but chuckle.

It was a gigantic lobster, five meters long! It looked incredibly imposing, its long antennae and massive pincers enough to make any enemy tremble in fear.

”Holy crap! Why lock up a lobster this big in the Demon Prison? It should be boiled and eaten! I bet it’s absolutely delicious.” Tu Xiao’an’s eyes narrowed, and he felt an urge to drool.

”Ding... Mutated Hermaphroditic Immortal Shrimp, High Rank Water Creature, Level 29. Ability: Undying in water.”

Huh...?

’Hermaphroditic? Immortal?’

The data from the system’s scan left Tu Xiao’an slightly surprised.

’Could it be this lobster is really a hermaphrodite? That’s insane.’

Only then did Tu Xiao’an notice that the giant lobster’s left half was reddish-brown while its right half was black. It was a very peculiar sight.

”This humble shrimp pays its respects to the Lord Snake King.”

A male and female voice, a perfect Yin and Yang harmony, spoke at the exact same time, sending a terrifying chill down one’s spine as if they’d just seen a ghost.

’Well, I’ll be. The world is full of wonders,’ Tu Xiao’an thought. ’This lobster is interesting.’

”Little lobster, this Snake King asks you: isn’t calling yourself the Immortal Shrimp a bit arrogant? Does it mean you can’t be killed?” Tu Xiao’an cracked his knuckles, eager to test that claim.

The Hermaphroditic Immortal Shrimp showed immediate fear. Its dual voices spoke, ”Lord Snake King, please allow this humble shrimp to explain. I am called the Immortal Shrimp because no matter how severe my injuries are, they will heal instantly as long as I can return to the water. Furthermore, my combat strength is even greater in the water, not inferior to a Rank Three Demon Spirit.”

’Oh, so that’s what ”undying in water” meant.’

”If you’re so powerful in the water, how did humans manage to catch you?” Tu Xiao’an asked with great interest.

It was extremely difficult for land-dwellers to deal with Water Creatures, especially for awakened Cultivators. This lobster had a divine advantage in the water and was nearly impossible to kill, as any wound would heal automatically. How could humans have possibly captured it and locked it away in Wencheng’s Demon Prison?

”This humble shrimp was not captured in the water. I wanted to see the Human World, so I swam ashore.”

Tu Xiao’an had a strange expression on his face. ’So it got cocky and brought this on itself.’

This Immortal Shrimp was a very special species. It was hermaphroditic, nearly invincible in the water, and already at Level 29. It would likely be ready to prove its Dao and attempt its Tribulation Crossing soon.

If it had remained in the Demon Prison, this Immortal Shrimp would never have been able to undergo its Tribulation Crossing. There wasn’t a single trace of Spiritual Qi in the prison, so creatures couldn’t practice Cultivation. No matter how many years one was imprisoned, it would be impossible to advance one’s Cultivation.

This was why the Six-eyed Golden Lion was considered such an anomaly. It had been imprisoned for a thousand years and still managed to break through to the Deep Mountain Demon King realm—a feat practically unheard of.

And one had to remember, this was a breakthrough to the Deep Mountain Demon King Realm, not some ordinary advancement.

Now that the Immortal Shrimp was free, and with nature’s spiritual energy seemingly revitalized due to the opening of Ancient War Ruins everywhere, it would only need to cultivate for a short time before it could attempt its Tribulation Crossing from the Peak of the second Rank.

However, Tribulation Crossing was awkward for Water Creatures. If they did it in the water, the water would conduct the electricity, making the Celestial Thunder even more powerful. If they did it on land, they would have to endure the burning of Celestial Fire, which was even more unbearable.

It was a true dilemma.

Then again, the Immortal Shrimp’s shell was like Copper Skin and Iron Bones—incredibly tough. It could probably take a beating.

”Do you want to return to the Yaoling Mountain Range or go back to the sea?” Tu Xiao’an asked, looking at the Immortal Shrimp.

”In response to the Lord Snake King, this humble shrimp naturally wishes to return to the sea. That is a shrimp’s home.”

Every time it spoke, it produced that dual male-female, Yin-Yang voice, which was both strange and unsettling to hear.

’I have no intention of subjugating it,’ Tu Xiao’an thought. ’And cooking it would be a waste of a natural treasure, an offense against the harmony of the heavens.’

”Fine. I’ll have the Demon Management Bureau release you into the sea. Try to behave from now on.”

Tu Xiao’an was being very magnanimous.

”Thank you for your grace, Lord Snake King! If Your Lordship ever comes to visit the Water Race, you must let this humble shrimp know. The underwater world is far more spectacular and interesting than the Human World!” the Immortal Shrimp said, excitedly offering to be Tu Xiao’an’s guide.

’The underwater world?’

”Is there a Dragon Palace?” Tu Xiao’an asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.

”Of course there is. It’s just that the Dragon Palace has long been sealed off. No outsider can ever find it or enter—only we Demons of the Water Race.”

Tu Xiao’an’s eyes widened as he stared at the Immortal Shrimp. He had only been joking, but to think there was actually a real Dragon Palace in the sea!

’If there’s a Dragon Palace, then there must be a Dragon King,’ he thought. ’The underwater world... the Water Race... interesting.’

The Human World, the Yaoling Mountain Range, and now the Water Race.

Tu Xiao’an had just learned about another corner of his world.

”If the Lord Snake King wishes to visit the Dragon Palace, this humble shrimp holds a little bit of status among the Water Race. Perhaps I can help arrange an introduction for Your Lordship.”

The Immortal Shrimp had thought it would spend the rest of its life imprisoned by humans in the Demon Prison. To be given a new lease on life and the chance to return to the sea and the Water Race, it was naturally moved to tears with gratitude for Tu Xiao’an.

”Good, good. When this Snake King has time in the future, I’ll take a trip to your underwater world,” Tu Xiao’an said with a smile.

The Immortal Shrimp seemed overjoyed, waving its two giant pincers. Suddenly, it spat a large water bubble from its mouth.

The bubble floated in front of Tu Xiao’an, then rapidly shrank until it became a single, crystal-clear water bead.

Tu Xiao’an caught the bead. It felt cool to the touch. The Immortal Shrimp explained, ”My Lord, if you come to the sea in the future and wish to find me, simply crush this bead, and I will appear before you.”

”Very well,” Tu Xiao’an nodded.

”Your Lordship must come visit the Water Race and allow this humble shrimp to be of service. We of the Water Race always repay our debts of gratitude.”

Tu Xiao’an looked at the big lobster with a pleased expression, his fondness for it growing. He suddenly asked, ”You’re not the only shrimp that was held in the Demon Prison. There were also several large, strange fish. I assume they belong to your Water Race as well?”

”All Water Element creatures belong to the Water Race.”

”In that case, take them with you back to the sea. Wencheng’s Moat leads directly to the ocean, so you can leave now.” Tu Xiao’an was in a great mood and waved his hand magnanimously, but he had to add a final warning. ”You can all leave now, but on your way, you are not to damage any human structures, and more importantly, you are not to kill any ordinary civilians.”

”Thank you, Your Lordship! This humble shrimp will be extremely careful on my way out. I won’t even step on an ant!”

”Haha, go on.”

Having received Tu Xiao’an’s special permission, the Mutated Hermaphroditic Immortal Shrimp turned with a flick of its tail like a Divine Dragon Tail Swing and, followed by the other large, strange fish, went bounding away in a single direction.

It was indeed extremely careful along the way, using Transformation to shrink its body to its smallest size. Then, without so much as a ripple, it slipped into the embrace of the Moat and swam straight for the open sea.