Xiuxian: I studied abroad in modern times

Chapter 548 Land Reclamation and Island Building: A Feint to the East and a Strategy to the West

The Xuanwei Sea is located to the north, with a seabed stretching 27,000 li (approximately 18,000 kilometers) deep, so dark that one cannot see their own hand in front of their face.

Shuyu Longzhu and the others stood behind Zheng Fa, watching him fly his sleeves like waves, brushing across the sea.

A rumbling sound came from beneath my feet, and a mountain on the seabed, like a newly sprouted bamboo shoot, was visibly rising.

The seawater suddenly boiled and surged wildly, with undercurrents causing countless fish and shrimp to flee in panic.

"I beg the Dragon Lord to lend me a hand."

Upon hearing this, the Jade Dragon Lord opened his mouth and spat out a pearl, which emitted a brilliant blue light.

She pointed the pearl at the seabed, and the waves immediately subsided. The mountain peak grew more than ten times faster.

In the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn, the mountain peak pierced the sea.

From the sea, it appears to be nothing more than a strange island that has appeared out of nowhere. The soil and rocks on the island are bluish-black, devoid of any life and of no value whatsoever.

But when Lord Shuyu looked at the desolate island, he couldn't help but sigh, "I have witnessed the wonder of your supernatural powers."

Xiao Yuying smiled and said, "Master, you don't know this. This supernatural power is originally a method of capturing enemies. It's just that the sect leader's ideas have always been strange, and he always has these kinds of weird uses."

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Lord of Shuyu glanced at Xiao Yuying. Don't be fooled by what this disciple said about being different from ordinary people; it's all nonsense and derogatory.

But how could she not hear the pride in those words?
Her disciple's attitude was truly frustrating, but she couldn't help but admire Zheng Fa's mastery of supernatural powers.

To say it's incredibly miraculous wouldn't be entirely true. Take adjusting the earth's veins, for example. It's just a matter of a single thought, yet that single thought can create feats never before seen in the Xuanwei Realm.

Zheng Fa laughed and said, "The fact that it was completed so quickly is all thanks to you, Dragon Lord."

It must be said that the ancient dragon race was truly blessed with unique advantages in the ocean.

What would have taken the Nine Mountains Sect at least several months to complete was a piece of cake for Lord Shuyu Dragon.

The racial advantage is so unreasonable that it makes people envious, jealous, and resentful.

"Your Nine Mountains Sect's method is truly unreasonable, making others envious."

Zheng Fa was taken aback. "What do you mean by my lyrics?"

As the Dragon Lord Shuyu sensed the immense magnetic field on the island and the slowly gathering spiritual energy around him, he sighed, "With this great formation in place, who in the seas can rival you besides my dragon clan?"

"Although I don't know how my dragon clan acquired their supernatural powers, I'm afraid it's not as simple as yours."

"My Dragon Clan has accumulated over several eras, while your Nine Mountains Sect has only lasted a hundred years..."

"Even in the future, it's hard to say whether my dragon clan's divine powers or your great formation will be stronger."

At this point, Lord Shuyu shook his head, shut his mouth, as if he was feeling suffocated and didn't want to talk anymore.

Zheng Fa then comforted him, saying, "We are far from being able to match the Dragon Lord's supernatural powers in the sea. This great formation is also a clever trick."

To put it bluntly, when it comes to the navy, no one can compare to the Dragon Clan.

If they were in the sea, the Nine Mountains Sect would indeed have few options against an ancient dragon like the Azure Sea Dragon King.

Therefore, the Nine Mountains Sect chose to reclaim land from the sea and build islands.

Even among the higher-ups of the Nine Mountains Sect, there was a crazy idea:
If the Dragon Lord of Shuyu really is unwilling to join the Nine Mountains Sect, then the maritime trade route will no longer be safe, which is something Zheng Fa and the others are unwilling to tolerate.

Therefore, Uncle Huang proposed an idea that astonished Zheng Fadu—reclaiming land from the sea.

Even if we don't create a new continent, we should at least build a land bridge between the East and West continents to break free from the dragons' control over trade routes.

Since we can't control the ocean, let's show the Dragon Lord what it means for the sea to turn into mulberry fields!

However, without the Dragon Lord's cooperation, the cost of this plan would be too high—only a fool would support such a plan.

Even Zheng Fa, who is passionate about farming, felt that the plan was too radical.

Uncle Huang, this radical, sat at the same table with Yang Guang. Listening to her could easily lead to the downfall of the dynasty.

Seeing that the Dragon Lord was still somewhat sullen, Zheng Fa thought to himself that the Dragon Lord was really petty, and advised, "If the Dragon Lord is unhappy, he should think of the Azure Sea Dragon King."

Lord Shuyu looked up, gave Zheng Fa a deep look, and couldn't help but ask Xiao Yuying, "Does he usually comfort people like this?"

Xiao Yuying was silent for a moment, then said in a rebellious tone, "But..."

"But what?"

"Master, you smiled."

"..."

The smile on the face of the Jade Dragon Lord froze instantly. He turned his head away and casually changed the subject, asking, "Do you have a plan to deal with the Azure Sea Dragon Palace?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa's expression also turned serious.

Attacking the Cangming Dragon Palace was not only for the bet with the Shuyu Dragon Lord, but more importantly, it was because it was the Jiushan Sect's established strategy.

Recruiting the Dragon Lord of Shuyu was actually a side effect.

"While we were constructing the great formation, we also confirmed one thing."

"what's up?"

"If the Dragon Lord can easily destroy the Thick Earth Magnetic Array in the Xuanwei Sea, then the Cangming Dragon King in the North Sea probably has the same ability."

Upon hearing this, the Jade Dragon Lord's expression also turned serious. He nodded in agreement, saying, "Although I am not afraid of him, I am not much stronger than him. If this great formation were in the North Sea, it probably wouldn't pose much of a threat to the Azure Sea Dragon King."

This is also one of the fundamental reasons why the Nine Mountains Sect must cooperate with the Jade Dragon Lord.

Just as Zheng Fa said, no matter how much the Dragon Lord Shuyu praised it, the Thick Earth Magnetic Array is now no match for the opponent's control over the sea.

To truly suppress the Azure Sea Dragon King, unless Zheng Fa attains the Golden Immortal realm, he will have no choice but to rely on the Jade Dragon Lord.

However, Zheng Fa and the people of the Nine Mountains Sect were not in a hurry:
The Thick Earth Magnetic Array is still in its initial stage, but compared with the Dragon Clan's divine abilities, it already has many advantages, and it is difficult to demand perfection.

Moreover, technology can be iterated. As research deepens and Zheng Fa's cultivation level increases, the strength of this great formation will naturally become more and more perfect.

However, we need to be more cautious when dealing with the Azure Sea Dragon King.

“Therefore, we must choose to lure the enemy deep into our territory,” Zheng Fa said slowly. “The best option is to eliminate the five members of the Cangming Dragon Palace in the Xuanwei Sea. This will have the highest success rate and the lowest risk.”

"If we let them escape back to Beihai, it will cause a lot of trouble."

The Jade Dragon Lord nodded repeatedly as he listened, and then asked, "Then what will you use to tempt them? I observe that the Azure Sea Dragon King is not a careless person."

Zheng Fa smiled, flipped his wrist, and took out a precious seal: "Dragon Lord, do you think the Azure Sea Dragon King wants this Sea-Suppressing Seal?"

……

The second prince of the Cangming Dragon Palace stepped on the water's waves and headed towards the Xuanwei Sea.

He felt both pleased and agitated.

He was certainly unwilling to marry a wife as powerful as the Dragon Lord Shuyu.

Moreover, the Dragon Lord always had a cold face when he saw him, and he had no charm whatsoever. He was nothing like his many beautiful concubines.

But that doesn't mean he can tolerate being rejected!

Recalling the words of the Jade Dragon Lord that day, the Second Prince's anger flared up again, and he wished he could refine the Profound Sea as soon as possible to avenge this insult.

However, his father repeatedly warned him to be cautious and not to act rashly. Moreover, the Dragon Lord of Shuyu was a true immortal, and if he wanted to refine the other party's water area, he could only slowly devour it.

These days, fueled by this anger, he has spent months in the border region of Xuanwei Sea, wanting to make the Dragon Lord Shuyu suffer a great loss!

But he was also exhausted. As a rogue immortal, refining the sea area controlled by the true immortal dragon clan, the Jade Dragon Lord, consumed a great deal of energy, and his spiritual power was often depleted.

Moreover, he also had to be wary of the Jade Dragon Lord and guard against his sneak attacks, which left him mentally and physically exhausted.

A few days ago, I happened to return to the palace, and even facing my beloved concubine, I felt powerless...

I don't know when this will end. I wish it could end sooner.

Thinking of this, he felt even more responsible for the Dragon Lord Shuyu's actions. He was cursing in his heart when he suddenly felt a faint light flash in the corner of his eye.

The second prince's heart stirred slightly. He stirred the seawater, concealed his figure, and swam forward.

After a short while, he discovered the source of the light—in the dark seawater, a long-legged female cultivator had her eyes closed, holding a precious seal, seemingly refining it.

This female cultivator was extremely beautiful. In the past, he would have definitely wanted to snatch her back and play with her.

But now, what he wants to steal is something else—the Zhenhai Seal!

Of course he could recognize it; it was the Zhenhai Seal that had been taken from his father.

The area of ​​the sea that Zhenhai Seal can control is naturally not as large as Xuanwei Sea, but it is not small either.

When they first arrived in Xuanwei, they lost such a large piece of territory, which made the Cangming Dragon Palace very distressed.

“This woman is probably from the Nine Mountains Sect. I wonder how the Sea-Suppressing Seal ended up in her hands…” The Second Prince looked at the Sea-Suppressing Seal, his heart filled with anger. “However, she is here because she probably wants to use the Sea-Suppressing Seal to refine the sea area within it.”

The sea area corresponding to Zhenhai Seal is located on the edge of Dongzhou, adjacent to Xuanwei Sea.

The female cultivator from the Nine Mountains Sect was currently at the edge of the Profound Mystery Sea, seemingly focused on refining a treasure.

"A Dharma body..."

The second prince was excited and was about to make a move, but then he remembered his father's instructions to be extremely cautious, so he restrained himself.

He looked around but saw no one else. He made up his mind and, without lingering, sent a message and flashed back to the Dragon Palace.

As soon as he entered the palace, he heard the Azure Sea Dragon King ask urgently:
"Is it really the Zhenhai Seal?"

"This is a priceless treasure that my Cangming Dragon Palace painstakingly refined. How could I possibly be mistaken!"

The Azure Sea Dragon King nodded and asked again, "Is she a female cultivator in the Dharma Body stage?"

"They seem to be from the Nine Mountains Sect, and their status is not low."

"It shouldn't be low, otherwise why would Zheng Fa give her the Zhenhai Seal?"

The Azure Sea Dragon King spoke these words through gritted teeth, clearly furious about losing the Sea-Suppressing Seal.

The eldest prince of the Dragon Palace, standing to the side, said, "Perhaps they are Zheng Fa's Daoist companions?"

The Azure Sea Dragon King nodded and fell into deep thought.

The second prince couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Let's go and snatch the treasure back!"

The Azure Sea Dragon King frowned and said in a low voice, "Let me think about it some more, let me think about it some more..."

"What's there to think about? If Father hadn't told us to be careful, I would have taken action myself!" the Second Prince said impatiently. "Besides, our whole family has worked so hard just to refine more sea areas, hasn't it?"

"Retrieving the Zhenhai Seal is equivalent to saving us years of effort! How could it not be a good deal?"

"Besides, this is our treasure!"

The Dragon King of the Azure Sea's expression shifted slightly.

The other three dragons in the hall nodded slightly, seemingly swayed by these words, and all looked at the Dragon King, waiting for his decision.

"What a coincidence..." The Azure Sea Dragon King's brows remained furrowed. "We were refining the Profound Mystery Sea when this Sea-Suppressing Seal suddenly appeared..."

"My lord, are you saying this is bait?" Queen Cangming asked in surprise. "Then Lord Shuyu has set a trap?"

The Azure Sea Dragon King nodded and said, "We must be on guard."

The second prince was not convinced: "Father, you are being too cautious. That Dragon Lord is all alone. Even if he wanted to ambush us, what could he possibly use?"

"I've thought it through. Of course, it's dangerous for me to be alone."

"But if we attack together, even if Lord Shuyu has some kind of scheme or trickery, we won't be afraid!"

The queen and the other two women nodded in agreement.

"I'm worried about the Nine Mountains Sect."

"The Nine Mountains Sect?" the Second Prince retorted. "If we were on land, we might be a little afraid of them, but in the sea, how could they possibly do anything to us?"

The more the second prince spoke, the more he felt he had thought things through thoroughly.

However, the Azure Sea Dragon King still hesitated: "If we proceed steadily and slowly refine the Profound Sea, then the Jade Dragon Lord will naturally have no power to resist. If unexpected complications arise..."

"A steady and methodical approach? Father, you yourself said that a Golden Immortal could appear in this Xuanwei Realm at any time! How much time do we have to take a steady and methodical approach?"

"Father, if you can reclaim the Zhenhai Seal, your cultivation will surpass that of the Jade Dragon Lord a few years earlier... and perhaps you'll have more time to break through to the Golden Immortal realm!"

Upon hearing this, Queen Cangming added, "What the waiter said makes sense..."

Even the Azure Sea Dragon King was persuaded and slowly nodded.

"Father, I will lead the way..."

"Wait a little longer." The Cangming Dragon King's expression was serious as he raised his hand to stop his excitement. "Even if we want to seize the Zhenhai Seal, we should investigate the background of the Shuyu Dragon Lord more thoroughly."

"Father!"

"My mind is made up." The Cangming Dragon King looked at the Second Prince and shook his head. "I know you have a grudge against the Shuyu Dragon Lord, and so do I, but we must not let this grudge cause us to lose our composure."

“But our family has come all the way from the Dragon Abyss Realm, and we must not let it be lost easily. The Sea-Suppressing Seal is important, but you must also be absolutely safe.”

The second prince opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

“Xiao Er, you have been impulsive since you were young, and you have never suffered in the Dragon Abyss Realm. Your mother and I have also spoiled you... Now, you are the one I worry about the most.”

"Father..."

“The Xuanwei Realm is different after all, with many powerful forces at play. We are unfamiliar with the place and its people, so you can no longer act recklessly and disregard everything as before, understand?”

"My child understands."

The second prince lowered his head and said in a low voice.

Queen Cangming asked, "Then how can we find out the background of Lord Shuyu?"

"A feint to the east while attacking the west!" the Azure Sea Dragon King laughed. "Regardless of whether the Sea-Suppressing Seal is bait or not, let's ignore it for now and go grab something else!"

"what?"

"I've heard that the trade route along the sea from the Nine Mountains Sect is very profitable."

Before the Second Prince could understand, the First Prince of Cangming Dragon Palace slammed his right fist into his left palm and exclaimed happily, "Let's make the Nine Mountains Sect distracted first, and then they won't be able to help Dragon Lord Shuyu ambush us!"

The Azure Sea Dragon King sneered, "The Nine Mountains Sect, which seized my Sea-Suppressing Seal, is our greatest enemy."

"Regardless of whether there are ambushes around Zhenhai Seal, we must first attack the trade route and make them think we want to steal spiritual materials..."

The second prince's eyes lit up: "Then we'll take them by surprise and reclaim the Zhenhai Seal?"

(End of this chapter)