Han and the Dragon Princess first traveled to Yunlong City, where they switched from a simple boat to a grand floating mansion.


    Now, this was more fitting for a princess of the Dragon Palace.


    During the journey, Han maintained his dragon form, not planning to revert back until the Tianhai Ascension Ceremony concluded.


    Their treasure ship sped down the Yun River at an astonishing pace, leaving no trace behind. Onboard, there were only two passengers.


    Or rather, two dragons.


    "You’re the only one representing Yun River Dragon Palace at this ceremony?" Han asked.


    "Yes," the Dragon Princess nodded. "The four great aquatic domains—Yun River, Tianhai, Jiudong, and Lingyang—are not allowed to compete. We only participate in the final selection."


    Any water domain outside these four was free to send their younger generation to compete.


    The difference in resources and heritage between the four great domains and the lesser ones was simply too vast.


    "Yun River Dragon Palace rarely accepts new aquatic members," the princess continued. "So we typically send only one representative to the ceremony. There’s no need for more."


    And truly, who in Yun River Dragon Palace could represent it better than the Dragon Princess herself?


    "Doesn''t your palace need fresh blood?" Han asked, puzzled. Wasn’t the whole point of Tianhai''s recruitment to strengthen itself?


    "We do," the Dragon Princess sighed, "but what we seek are true prodigies—those with the potential to dominate the world."


    "The so-called geniuses from these other water domains... when compared on a grand scale, they’re hardly exceptional."


    Han understood now—this was a matter of high standards.


    "For example," she said with a knowing smile, "someone like you is exactly what we need."


    Here we go again with the praise.


    "As we approach Tianhai, you''ll disembark and travel there alone to register for the ceremony," the Dragon Princess instructed.


    "When you arrive, the local aquatic clans will guide you. Just follow their directions."


    "The ceremony begins this evening. With your strength, nothing unexpected should happen, but be cautious nonetheless."


    Then, as if recalling something, she added, "Oh, and you may encounter the offspring of Tianhai’s Dragon King during the competition."


    "If you defeat them, you''ll earn the Dragon King’s attention, significantly increasing your chances of obtaining the Heavenly Iceflame."


    "However, if your strength is overwhelming—beyond reason—the Dragon King''s heirs might not even dare to enter the arena."


    "Fights are permitted, but killing is strictly forbidden during the ceremony..."


    "And when the ceremony concludes, the Dragon King will reward participants by bestowing treasures. Typically, each person may only receive one, as his goal is to benefit as many aquatic beings as possible."


    Floating midair, Han listened carefully as the Dragon Princess briefed him on the Tianhai Ascension Ceremony.


    Ignoring the odd way she was looking at him, he now had a general understanding of the event.


    Touching his dragon horns, Han muttered, "Looks like I might run into ''Brother Divine Artifact'' this time."


    The Dragon Princess blinked, then quickly understood.


    "You mean Yang Teng from Lingyang Lake?"


    "Of course."


    "That’s quite possible," she said, smiling.


    "Given your prowess, he might even try to recruit you."


    Han’s expression turned subtle.


    Recruit me? That would be interesting.


    "Yun River Dragon Palace and Lingyang Lake… there''s no room for reconciliation, is there?" Han asked.


    "Sworn enemies," the Dragon Princess answered without hesitation. "There is no chance of truce."


    Han nodded. Well then, let them keep sending those sweet-talking envoys—he’d gladly accept their "candy-coated bullets."


    The treasure ship soon neared Tianhai, which was precisely why Han had chosen to travel with the Dragon Princess.


    Had he relied on his own speed, he would have never reached Tianhai in time—no matter how fast he ran or flew, he would’ve missed the ceremony entirely.


    Finding a secluded spot, the Dragon Princess dropped Han off. He then took to the skies, heading toward Tianhai.


    On the way, he encountered several aquatic beings. Most traveled in their physical forms, while very few, like him, moved as spiritual entities.


    However, every spirit-form traveler drew looks of reverence from the aquatic beings below.


    To be able to walk the skies in broad daylight—a "Day-Walker Cultivator"—was a status symbol.


    Especially for those from smaller water domains, where high-level experts were rare. To them, a Day-Walker was an absolute powerhouse.


    Respect for strength—it was a fundamental instinct of life.


    "Fellow Daoist, please wait!"


    Suddenly, a voice called out from behind Han.


    Oh, my heavens. Listen to this awful script. I swear, if I had a hammer, I’d smack this guy over the head.


    Han had no intention of stopping, but the person calling him sped up, pulling alongside him.


    It wasn’t that Han couldn’t outrun him—he simply wasn’t flying at full speed.


    "Fellow Daoist, you move with the grace of a true dragon!"


    "..."


    I am a dragon.


    The one who had caught up was a man—also in spiritual form. He seemed ordinary at first glance, except for one extremely eye-catching feature:


    His hair.


    It was a dazzling mix of colors, shining in every hue imaginable.


    For someone to hold a conversation with Han while flying meant he, too, was a Day-Walker.


    "Do you need something?" Han asked.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "Not really," the colorful-haired man chattered. "I was just looking for a travel companion on the way to Tianhai."


    "By the way, why haven’t you taken human form? Most people I passed on the way were in human shape."


    "But, of course, for someone of your noble lineage and immense power, it’s only natural to remain in your true form."


    "You must be aiming for first place in the ceremony, right?"


    "I’m sure of it—with your talent—"


    Han was speechless.


    What was wrong with this guy—no, this demon? He had just appeared and was already rambling nonstop.


    Wait a minute.


    "Hold on," Han interrupted. "Do we… know each other?"


    "Nope! But that doesn’t matter—we know each other now!"


    Seeing that he was about to start again, Han quickly cut him off.


    "Where are you from?"


    "I''m from Tianyang County, near Jiuyang Ruins. A small lake, nothing big. I’m a parrot."


    "...A parrot?"


    "You have no idea," the parrot demon groaned. "Tianyang County’s heat is unbearable. It’s so hot, even birds can’t take it!"


    A parrot…


    Well, that would explain the chatter.


    Han also caught onto something else.


    "Jiuyang Ruins… You mean the place where Red Sun Beasts are born?"


    "Yep, that’s the one! You’ve heard of it?" The parrot demon nodded excitedly.


    "I’ve come across it in the past," Han said. "And you’re allowed to participate in the Tianhai ceremony?"


    "Oh, I’m a water parrot, so I qualify as an aquatic being."


    A water parrot? That was new to Han.


    "Have you heard?" the parrot demon continued. "Apparently, the Dragon King’s youngest son recently underwent a bloodline transformation—he’s incredibly strong now and might personally compete in the ceremony."


    "And the Dragon King’s treasure reward this time is extraordinarily rare. Among them is a Heavenly Iceflame, ‘Frost Spirit Soulfire.’"


    "An ice-element flame?" Han murmured.


    "Exactly! It’s highly sought after. Even powerful water demons want it, since ice is a natural extension of water."


    Annoying as he was, the parrot demon was surprisingly well-informed.


    Unlike the Dragon Princess, who had only mentioned the Dragon King’s offspring, this guy provided details about multiple competitors.


    Han decided to tolerate his chatter—for now.


    Eventually, he learned the parrot’s name.


    Ying Jili.


    A name Han wasn’t quite sure how to react to.


    A parrot with the surname "Ying" (Parrot)? Fair enough. Naming himself "Jili" (Auspicious) for good fortune? That also made sense.


    But before they reached Tianhai, Ying Jili bid him farewell.


    "Daoist Xu, it was great talking with you. I’m sure you’ll stand out in the ceremony!"


    "If you ever visit Jiuyang Lake, I’ll personally host you!"


    The Nine Suns Lake, despite its grand name, was not particularly vast. Located near the Nine Suns Market, the lake’s temperature was even higher than that of Lingyang Lake, making it unsuitable for aquatic life.


    "I’ll be sure to take the opportunity someday."


    Han replied politely, watching as Ingiri ran off to chatter with another aquatic creature.


    He really loves talking, doesn’t he…


    However, Nine Suns Market intrigued Han.


    After all, his Pure Yang Flame had been obtained from the marrow pearl of the Scarlet Sun Beast, a native wild beast of Nine Suns Market.


    There were even rumors that the formation of Nine Suns Market was linked to the boundless Sky Ruins.


    I’ll have to visit when the chance arises.


    Han made a mental note.


    Before long, an endless ocean stretched before him, the air thick with a fresh, invigorating mist.


    This sea was breathtakingly vast—far larger than the Nine Caverns Lake, which had a diameter of three thousand miles. According to the Dragon Maiden, this Heavenly Sea was twice that size.


    In aquatic realms, the size of a territory reflected its ruler’s strength—the weak simply had no right to claim such a massive domain.


    Looking across the expanse, the ocean’s surface was free of fog or debris, its waters rippling endlessly with rolling waves.


    The sea’s brilliant azure hue was shockingly clear, lacking the usual dark depths of the deep sea. Instead, it mirrored the **sky above—blue skies, white clouds, and the sun—so perfectly that it seemed as if the sun itself had sunk into the waters, reminiscent of the mythical Tang Valley.


    At first glance, it truly seemed like a sea of the heavens, a mirror of the sky itself.


    The awe of beholding mountains and witnessing the sea were two entirely different experiences—especially for Han, now in his flood dragon form. The vast waters made him feel more at home than ever.


    A giant catfish, still in its original form, swam over and inquired,


    "Are you here for the Heavenly Sea Ascension Gathering?"


    "Yes."


    "Please follow me."


    Han followed the catfish into the depths of the Heavenly Sea, alongside numerous other aquatic beings who had arrived in succession, each receiving their own guides.


    Unlike the Water Origin Festival, which had required accommodations for non-aquatic beings, this gathering was exclusively for aquatic creatures and was held entirely underwater.


    This meant that the Dragon Lord of the Heavenly Sea did not need to expend power enabling non-aquatic creatures to breathe underwater—a considerable convenience.


    The catfish spirit led Han to a massive clam shell, more than ten meters long and six meters high.


    Inside, a clam spirit was handing out pearls to each arriving aquatic being.


    While waiting in line, Han observed a pattern—the pearls varied based on the recipient’s cultivation level.


    When it was Han’s turn, he received a radiant white pearl the size of a dragon’s eye—a priceless treasure in the mortal world.


    This pearl served as his pass to the Ascension Gathering.


    Once the gathering concluded, attendees could keep their pearls as a form of compensation.


    After receiving his pearl, the catfish spirit guided Han deeper into the sea, leading him to a submerged civilization.


    The seafloor was paved with countless white shells, forming a vast underwater plaza spanning dozens of miles.


    Surrounding the plaza were elevated platforms, resembling gigantic versions of underwater plants—towering corals, seaweed, and other aquatic flora.


    Silhouettes could be seen standing atop these platforms—representatives from various aquatic territories.


    Despite being at the ocean’s depths, the surroundings were brightly illuminated. Large bioluminescent fish drifted above, casting a soft glow that bathed the gathering in near-daylight brilliance.


    Everything here was entirely different from what Han had seen on land—a world distinctively aquatic, leaving him in awe.


    Civilization was never exclusive to the land—the underwater world had its own thriving culture.


    "The Ascension Gathering will be held here shortly. Please wait patiently."


    "And make sure to keep your pearl with you at all times. Do not store it in a spatial pouch."


    The catfish spirit politely reminded Han before swimming away.


    Entering the shell-plaza, Han saw that many aquatic beings had already gathered. Some remained in their true forms, while others had taken on humanoid shapes, both in body and soul.


    Thus, Han’s current form was not particularly unusual.


    However, his cultivation stood out.


    Among those present, only a handful had reached the Sunlight Realm or Bone Refinement Realm, and they were extremely rare.


    Experts at the Marrow Cleansing or Manifestation levels were dominant figures outside the Four Great Seas, and they would not typically attend such a gathering.


    If such individuals wished to join the Four Great Seas, they would simply negotiate with the higher-ups directly.


    As Han entered the plaza, many aquatic beings turned to look at him.


    Envy, reverence, jealousy, hostility—all kinds of emotions flashed in their eyes.


    Most beings instinctively moved aside, not daring to obstruct his path.


    His Sunlight Realm cultivation was enough to command respect, but there was another reason for their deference—he was a flood dragon.


    Among aquatic creatures, bloodline was paramount, and flood dragons were an exceedingly noble lineage.


    Looking around the plaza, the majority of attendees were ordinary fish, shrimp, crabs, and other common aquatic creatures.


    For them, merely standing near Han was enough to feel the pressure of his bloodline.


    To defy nature and elevate oneself to rival the dragon race was an exceptional feat, achieved only by a select few.


    Throughout the entire shell-plaza, Han spotted only two other flood dragons.


    Wild-born flood dragons were incredibly rare in the counties surrounding the Four Great Seas. Even many Manifestation and Marrow Cleansing experts, who were lords of smaller aquatic territories, were still striving to achieve flood dragon status.


    If these two chose, they could have joined the Heavenly Sea directly without attending the gathering.


    Thus, with three flood dragons present, they immediately became the center of attention within the plaza.


    Even those of equal cultivation could not compare to them.


    After all, among aquatic bloodlines, only a true dragon stood higher.


    When cultivation was similar, bloodline supremacy was absolute.


    As Han advanced further into the plaza, those nearby instinctively retreated, shocked.


    Simply being near Han caused many to feel an urge to submit, their bodies freezing in place.


    "Which bloodline does this flood dragon belong to? How can it be this terrifying?!"