"An invitation? What kind of invitation?"Yi Tianxing asked with mild curiosity.
These two were clearly pure-blooded dragons, true-blooded descendants of the dragon race. However, the draconic might radiating from their bodies was meaningless to him. The Heavenly Emperor's Dragon Taming Scripture naturally suppressed dragonkind, rendering their aura incapable of affecting him. On the contrary, Ao Qi and her companion instinctively felt a trace of pressure before him—a subconscious sense of awe, as though facing a dragon king.
"It's a banquet hosted by my Boundless Sea Dragon Palace. First, it's meant for exchanging ties with nearby powers. Second, we're holding an auction during the banquet. The Dragon Palace will present a large number of rare and precious treasures for bidding. Of course, guests are also welcome to auction off their own items. We're waiving all auction fees this time."Dragon Maiden Ao Qi spoke with a hint of respect in her tone.
As she looked at Yi Tianxing, her heart brimmed with curiosity.This was the first person in the Eternal World to establish a dynasty, the first to elevate it to the level of an imperial court. How could someone like him not spark intrigue and admiration? Even within the Dragon Palace, no such figure existed. He was undoubtedly one of the most exceptional monarchs of this era.
As she subtly observed Yi Tianxing, she couldn't help but feel more curious—his natural aura of authority was something she had never encountered before.
"The Dragon Palace Banquet? An auction held by the dragons?"Yi Tianxing's interest was visibly piqued.
There was an old saying: Never say the Dragon Palace holds no treasures. The Dragon Palace, ruler of vast ocean territories, was said to possess countless rare and mystical treasures. Just like in the story of Journey to the West, when the Monkey King needed weapons and armor, a trip to the Dragon Palace provided everything he needed. Great demon saints seeking powerful relics would also venture there, returning with exactly what they lacked. The Dragon Palace was synonymous with unimaginable wealth.
In the vast sea, few could rival the dragon race.
A dragon-held auction—undoubtedly—a grand feast of unparalleled treasures. With their immense resources, even a random trinket from under a dragon's claw could spark frenzied competition among cultivators.
"Yes. This banquet also celebrates my father's birthday. It's both a birthday feast and a way to gather important guests, so everyone can exchange resources and treasures as needed."Ao Qi added further.
Of course, there were hidden motives.
Due to the Heavenly Dao's past seal, the dragon race had been forced into seclusion. But now, that seal was weakening, especially for those at higher cultivation levels. Dragons at the Nascent Soul Realm could now move freely in the outside world, unaffected by the remnants of that ancient suppression.
Likewise, the Dragon Palace's barrier had relaxed. Nascent Soul dragons—and even other cultivators—could now come and go. This was precisely why dragons were becoming increasingly active in the outside world.
This banquet was, in part, a move to expand the Dragon Race's influence and to assert their dominion over the seas. A display of power and wealth, disguised as diplomacy.
Yi Tianxing could see through all this easily.
By using a birthday celebration to invite regional powers, they aimed to flaunt their resources and strength. The Dragon Palace was playing a smart hand.
Still, even knowing their ulterior motives, no one would refuse to attend. It was simply too rare and valuable an opportunity.
"Though the Boundless Sea is not far from Great Yi, I imagine reaching it won't be easy,"Yi Tianxing remarked calmly.
"Since we're sending invitations, we've naturally prepared for this." Ao Qi lifted the invitation. "This golden dragon-etched invitation is your transport medium. Inject your mana into it on the day of the celebration, and it will open a portal directly into the Dragon Palace. It only activates on the birthday itself."
No one wanted guests to miss the event due to distance. This method also highlighted the Dragon Palace's technological and magical superiority, achieving many goals at once.
Yi Tianxing glanced at the golden invitation in her hand and nodded."Very well. On the day of the Dragon King's birthday, this Emperor shall attend. I hope the banquet proves worthwhile."
After a moment of thought, he ultimately agreed.
As overlords of the sea, the dragons were valuable allies. Their true strength remained unknown, but their dominion over oceanic resources allowed rapid expansion. It would be foolish to underestimate them.
The ancient tales painting dragons as cowardly and submissive were laughable. With one of the top-tier divine beast bloodlines, how could they be easily humiliated? Only a few peerless races could rival them.
"March 14th,"he said, reading the date on the invitation. Still two to three months away—no rush.
"The Dragon Palace will be honored to welcome you."Ao Qi replied with a smile.
"If you have no urgent matters, Dragon Maiden, feel free to tour the lands of Great Yi. Though not as lavish as your ocean realm, it offers beauty and wonders you won't find under the sea."Yi Tianxing offered.
"I had planned to explore Great Yi," Ao Qi replied with a bright expression. "Compared to my Dragon Palace, your empire lacks nothing. There are many rare items here we've never seen underwater."
Indeed, she had already experienced novelties—fireworks, ice cream, and countless exotic delicacies—all things the Dragon Palace lacked.
...
Not long after, Ao Qi took her leave.
From nearby, Cai Yan stepped out, her face serious."You really plan to attend the Dragon Palace banquet?"
Her concern was valid.The Dragon Palace sat beneath the sea—an uncharted region for them. A sudden invitation carried possible hidden dangers. The dragon race was a top-tier force of the world. If they truly had ill intentions, resisting them would be extremely difficult.
"No need to worry," Yi Tianxing said with a smile. "This is a formal invitation in the name of the dragons. If anything went wrong, they'd lose face. Under normal circumstances, maybe it'd be risky. But now? Not a chance. Even if the Palace were under siege, they wouldn't let guests suffer harm."
"Besides," he added calmly, "you know my strength. Many could threaten me, yes—but those who can trap me beyond escape are few indeed."
He had already decided. This was also a rare opportunity to interact with surrounding factions and gather intelligence on nearby continents, not just local powers.
Great Yi would never settle for its current land. This was merely the beginning.
To fully step onto the stage of the world, one must first complete internal accumulation. But that didn't mean they couldn't start laying the groundwork early.
"To understand the broader world, one must reach out first. Strategy begins with knowledge,"Yi Tianxing concluded.
"Oh, by the way, Zhao Ji,"he turned suddenly,"I plan to explore the Nightmare World. Since we're free for now, would you like to come along?"
"The Nightmare World?" Cai Yan hesitated. "Isn't that the realm made of dreams? It's said to change constantly. Isn't it too dangerous?"
Indeed, the Nightmare World was formed from countless dreamscapes. Anything could happen there. In a dream, an ant might suddenly become a calamity with the power to destroy heaven and earth. Even worse, the world itself could collapse without warning.
Even top cultivators could become trapped or perish.
"True, but I'm not going in blind. In the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower, one of the tower realms is the Dream Butterfly World, a realm of true dreams. Using this, I can interface with the Nightmare World, and with the help of the Cloud Dream Phantom Butterfly, I can move in and out freely. I won't face mortal danger."
Yi Tianxing's eyes shone with confidence.
He had long wanted to explore this realm, but endless responsibilities delayed him. The Nightmare World, shrouded in mystery, held untold opportunities—and perhaps the key to his own path to enlightenment.
Moreover, the Dream Butterfly World constantly absorbed Nightmare Qi, which was essential to the growth of the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower. Without it, the tower's development would have long since plateaued.
In just two years, thanks to the endless influx of Nightmare Qi, the tower realm had expanded to over 60,000 miles, soon to breach 70,000.