After entering the West Sea, Qin Yun continued flying at his beam transformation speed for another hour.
“Splash!”
After that, Qin Yun flew straight into the sea.
Dozens of feet of water parted around him. With his sword intent domain spanning about a thousand feet, parting the water was a trivial matter.
When he descended to the bottom of the sea, Qin Yun continued proceeding until he saw a lofty and resplendent palace in the distance.
“Halt there!” Two voices boomed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two Water race soldiers flew over. They blocked Qin Yun’s progress with spears held in front of them.
“I’m Qin Yun, a cultivator from Jiang Prefecture’s Grand Dominance. I wish to seek an audience with the West Sea Dragon King. Please inform your king,” said Qin Yun with a smile. With the sword intent domain parting the water, it naturally affected the surroundings. The two Water race soldiers also felt pressure from the sword intent domain.
“Qin Yun of Jiang Prefecture’s Grand Dominance? Alright. Cultivator, wait here. I’ll pass on the message now,” one of the Water race soldiers shouted before rapidly heading for West Sea Dragon Palace.
The remaining Water race soldier looked curiously at Qin Yun. After all, the West Sea Dragon King was of respectable standing. Even Connate Golden Core cultivators would find it difficult to meet the Dragon King. Why did this Qin Yun suddenly dare to seek an audience with the Dragon King? What background did he have?
“West Sea Dragon Palace.”
Qin Yun looked far into the distance at the resplendent and lofty palace.
In terms of strength, the West Sea Dragon race was on equal footing with the human’s Daoist and Buddhist sacred lands! The East Sea Dragon race was the leader of the Four Seas and it was unfathomable. The Four Seas’ Dragon race allied together and controlled the Four Seas. Of course, it was due to a common enemy—the Nine Lineage Fiendish Demons! Therefore, the Four Seas’ Dragon race always had a rather good relationship with humans.
“Haha, are you Sword Immortal Qin from Jiang Prefecture’s Grand Dominance?” From afar, a dragon youth came over. He was laughing loudly, and beside him was the Water race soldier that had previously left.
“That’s me,” said Qin Yun with a smile.
“Sword Immortal Qin, it is very rare for you come to our West Sea. My name is Ao Chen. Father sent me to welcome you,” said Ao Chen warmly.
Qin Yun was enlightened, “You must be the Third Prince.”
The West Sea’s Third Prince escorted Qin Yun in. As Qin Yun looked around, he was astonished. The periphery of the West Sea Dragon Palace was heavily guarded. Array formations were hidden, and it was only because Qin Yun’s intent domain was so sensitive that he was able to sense the terrifying might lurking within them. After he entered the Dragon Palace, he saw many beautiful Water race women that probably worked there as palace maids.
Inside West Sea Dragon Palace’s main hall.
After Qin Yun stepped in, he saw the West Sea Dragon King and two dragons seating on an elevated throne. The three had magnificent auras that put them on the level of immortals and fiendcelestials. It was known as the True Dragon realm among dragons.
“Father, Sword Immortal Qin is here.” Ao Chen said respectfully. With that, he stood in a corner. There were other dragon youths that were standing by the side, watching.
“Greetings Dragon King and Elders, I’m Qin Yun from the human race.” Qin Yun bowed. The Dragon King was being hospitable by meeting him with two Elders.
“Haha, I have heard that the humans have produced an impressive sword immortal. I was actually sighing that since Sword Immortal Qin lives beside the East Sea, it was unlikely he would come to my West Sea. But it hasn’t taken long for you to come meet me. It gladdens me greatly.” West Sea Dragon King’s voice was sincere as he laughed out loudly.
Qin Yun smiled faintly.
A gray-robed dragon Elder asked, “Sword Immortal Qin, might I know why you came to our West Sea Dragon Palace?”
“I do have a request,” said Qin Yun.
“Feel free to say it. If there’s something you need help with, our West Sea Dragon Palace will definitely help you,” said West Sea Dragon King.
Qin Yun looked around him. “This matter is somewhat confidential.”
“Oh?” West Sea Dragon King swept his gaze around the room.
Immediately, the palace maids and guards rapidly retreated. Other than Qin Yun, the West Sea Dragon King, and the two dragon Elders in the hall, the rest were dragon youths.
“You can speak freely now,” said West Sea Dragon King with a smile.
Qin Yun could tell that the dragon youths were pure-blooded dragons. They likely knew of his mother-in-law, Ao Xue. After all, there were very few pure-blooded dragons left in the world.
“The West Sea Dragon race has a dragon lady whose name is Ao Xue,” said Qin Yun.
“Ao Xue?” The dragon youths were astonished.
“Why is he mentioning Ao Xue? Ao Xue has been imprisoned for more than two decades.”
“Sister, that’s because you are unaware. Back then, Ao Xue secretly had a daughter with a member of the Yi family. That daughter’s name is Yi Xiao, and she is Sword Immortal Qin’s wife.”
“I see.”
The few dragon youths discussed through voice transmissions.
Qin Yun continued, “I believe Your Majesty and the Elders know the relationship between Ao Xue and my wife. Therefore, I wish to implore Your Majesty to pardon Ao Xue and release her! Of course, I am aware that Ao Xue has violated the clan rules. I am willing to give this treasure to the West Sea Dragon Palace to offset her crime.” With that said, Qin Yun took out a black jade bottle.
“In this bottle is an Immortal Pill, named the Golden Core Outer Pill,” said Qin Yun with a smile. “Currently, there are only a handful of Golden Core Outer Pills in the world. It’s rare enough to make many cultivators go crazy over it. Even the Water race can be rejuvenated after consuming a Golden Core Outer Pill.”
“I’m willing to provide the Immortal Pill in exchange for Your Majesty’s pardon of Ao Xue. My wife and I would definitely be grateful for it,” said Qin Yun as he bowed.
West Sea Dragon race and the two dragon Elders exchanged looks as they communicated over voice transmissions.
“Sword Immortal Qin,” said West Sea Dragon King with a frown. “This matter is supposed to be confidential among the West Sea Dragon race. We have never made it public but since you know about it… I guess you can say that you are a relative of our West Sea Dragon race. However, the Dragon race’s rules are jointly determined by the Four Seas’ Dragon race! We are pained that Ao Xue has to suffer for the grave crime she committed but it is necessary that she be punished!”
“Sword Immortal Qin, it’s best you take the Immortal Pill back. Ao Xue made a mistake so she has to suffer the punishment,” said West Sea Dragon King.
Qin Yun’s expression changed slightly when he heard that. He said immediately, “She’s also a dragon. Why is there a need to cause her such suffering? She has already been imprisoned for more than twenty years, not to mention the suffering of being separated from her family…”
“Sword Immortal Qin,” said one of the Dragon Elders. “You humans have laws while we dragons have clan rules. A violation of the clan rules deserves punishment. Sword Immortal Qin, there’s no need for you to continue.”
“Sword Immortal Qin, it is rare for you to come to the West Sea. Let Ao Chen accompany you around. We have matters to tend to.” West Sea Dragon King stood up together with the two Dragon Elders before they turned to leave.
“Your Majesty…” Qin Yun began shouting.
However, West Sea Dragon King and the two Elders did not turn their heads. They left through a side door.
“Sword Immortal Qin, let’s go.” Third Prince walked over and said, “It’s very difficult to make an exception when it comes to our Dragon race’s rules. I heard the last exception was when the Divine Firmament Chapter’s Ancestral Master Zhang went to the East Sea.”
“Third Prince,” asked Qin Yun softly. “Do you know of any way to save Ao Xue?”
“I do not know.” Third Prince shook his head. “This is a matter that Father and the Elders hold authority on. If they could pardon her, the rest of the Dragon race from the three seas would not force it on us.”
“Dragon King and the Elders?” Qin Yun frowned.
…
Qin Yun stayed another hour in the West Sea Dragon Palace where he chatted with many dragon youths. They also knew that Qin Yun was considered a relative of the West Sea Dragon race, so they were very warm. But as juniors, they were unable to help save Ao Xue in any way.
An hour later, Qin Yun left helplessly.
“The Four Seas’ Dragon race have a long heritage and countless treasures. If I want to get them to make an exception…” Qin Yun shook his head gently. “Ao Xue is a pure-blood dragon and there are very few dragons left to begin with. Yet, they still insisted on imprisoning her for five hundred years. Getting them to agree to release her is easier said than done.”
“Furthermore, our meeting might have appeared cordial but they rejected me very swiftly. There was no room for discussion at all,” thought Qin Yun.
If he was a sword immortal that had stepped into the Dao, making him invincible, perhaps there would be room for negotiation.
“However, how should I tell Xiaoxiao about this?” Qin Yun flew out of the sea and rode a cloud. His brows remained frowned. “If I tell Xiaoxiao that her mother is imprisoned and can’t be freed, I will only make Xiaoxiao sad and worried.”
“Right, let’s try another method.”
Qin Yun’s heart stirred.
Above a cloud, Qin Yun held the Inspect Heavenly Token. His Inspect Heavenly Token had already been changed to a Purple-token. There was no need to verify if Qin Yun had reached the Golden Core realm or not. Just his killing of great fiendish demons was enough reason to make him a Purple-token Inspector Heavenly Ambassador.
Hum!
An image appeared in front of him in midair. It was the interior of a water palace. There was water flowing around as a flood dragon covered in dark red scales coiled there. His dragon whiskers were flailing and he looked at Qin Yun. “Sword Immortal Qin, might I know your reason for contacting my Myriad Temple?”
“Ao Xue, a West Sea dragon is imprisoned for five hundred years. I wish for the West Sea Dragon race to pardon her and let her go free.” Qin Yun looked at the dark red-scaled flood dragon projection in front of him. “Is it possible for the Myriad Temple to do so?”