Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 541 That Golden Cloud
Perhaps, or perhaps simply for amusement, the terrifying, enormous alligator dragon repeatedly leaped from the sea, sweeping over the heads of treasure ships one after another, crashing heavily into the water and creating waves that elicited gasps of alarm from the soldiers on board.
"Eldest son, stop your busy work. I promised your mother I would go before her, and now, it's time for me to go too." Looking at his son who was constantly adjusting his clothes, Emperor Longwu raised his hand to stop his son's seemingly busy actions, glanced back silently, and said softly.

For a moment, Emperor Xixiang felt his heart stop beating, but he had no choice but to silently stop tidying his clothes.

"Come here!" Then, Emperor Longwu waved to the alligator dragon that was frolicking on the sea. The alligator dragon, which was originally frolicking on the bows of various treasure ships, obediently turned its head and rushed towards Emperor Longwu in the sea.

When the majestic dragon came to rest steadily beside the treasure ship of Emperor Longwu, the ministers noticed out of the corner of their eyes that the terrifying dragon that had been frolicking in the sea was actually much larger than the treasure ship they were riding on!

Even now, the dragon's spine, which is now visible on the sea surface, is almost as tall as a four-story treasure ship!
The dragon's long head and tail were comparable in length to a treasure ship over sixty zhang long! This shows the terrifying size of the alligator dragon before us!

Just as everyone was observing the alligator dragon bobbing calmly with the waves in the sea, the Dragon Emperor, who was originally standing on the fourth deck, suddenly jumped up on the spot, as if taking off, and landed steadily on the alligator dragon's back.

Emperor Longwu's incredible jump stunned everyone present.

After all, Emperor Longwu's seemingly flying appearance was truly astonishing! It completely shattered people's preconceived notions!

"Yu'er, my ministers, I am leaving." Emperor Longwu, stepping onto the back of the alligator dragon, walked steadily toward the top of the dragon's head. As he walked, Emperor Longwu also bid a loud farewell to Emperor Xixiang on the treasure ship and his ministers, whose eyes were equally burning with fervor.

"..." Seeing Emperor Longwu already standing on the dragon's head, the court officials and Emperor Xixiang originally wanted to say something, but another sudden change directly interrupted everyone's thoughts.

Just after Emperor Longwu finished speaking, a large patch of clouds appeared in the previously clear sky.

And, most strangely, under the sunlight, the clouds in the sky were actually dyed a magnificent golden color! This created a stark contrast with the surrounding clusters of white clouds, making it look very luxurious and mysterious!
While the court officials were staring blankly at the mysteriously appearing golden clouds in the sky, something even stranger happened.

In the distance, a patch of golden clouds seemed to be drawn by some force, slowly descending towards the sea not far away!

From a distance, it looks as if that golden cloud has actually landed on the sea!
The amazing changes continued. As the golden clouds slowly descended, the center of the golden clouds quietly expanded outward, eventually forming a passage that resembled a door, neither round nor square, for people to pass through!

When the magnificent sunlight above the sky shone through the gap that resembled a door onto the sea, the dazzling rays of light from the gap, like sharp swords, were simply indescribably sacred!

Such an unbelievable and shocking scene shattered the understanding of everyone present! Even Emperor Xixiang stared blankly at the cloud emitting intense light not far away, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"The Heavenly Gate has opened~???" At this moment, Emperor Xixiang's mind was filled with only the four unbelievable words "The Heavenly Gate has opened wide"!

"What's going on?" Even the Dragon Emperor, standing atop the alligator's head, wore an expression of disbelief. After all, the golden clouds in the distance were eerily strange!

However, when Emperor Longwu heard his son, Emperor Xixiang, say that the Heavenly Gate had opened, a new idea immediately came to his mind.

"My lords, now that the Heavenly Gate has opened, it is time for me to leave."

May our Dragon Kingdom endure for generations to come, and may all of you ministers be remembered in history.

"I shall take my leave now." Taking advantage of the ongoing celestial phenomena, Emperor Longwu unhesitatingly bid farewell to his ministers. "Your Majesty..."

"His Majesty the Emperor"

"Your Majesty." After hearing Emperor Longwu's words, the ministers who had been in a daze finally reacted and looked at Emperor Longwu riding on the back of the alligator dragon with reluctance. Their reluctant and longing calls rose and fell one after another!

This clearly shows how desperately the courtiers wanted to keep Emperor Longwu alive. Of course, they might also have been yearning for the unknown secret of immortality that Emperor Longwu possessed!

It wasn't that the courtiers harbored desires, but rather that everything before them was simply too astonishing!

However, Emperor Longwu ignored the fervent calls of his officials as if he hadn't heard them, and resolutely steered his dragon towards the golden clouds on the horizon.

In fact, Emperor Longwu had already made up his mind. He hoped that he could truly leave the world of the Ming Dynasty this time.

If he cannot leave this world this time, then he—Emperor Longwu, the founding emperor of the Dragon Kingdom—will serve as the pillar of the Dragon Kingdom, stationed in a hidden corner of the Dragon Capital until the end of his life!

Therefore, having made his decision, Emperor Longwu commanded the alligator dragon to speed away at top speed towards the golden cloud on the distant sea!

"Your Majesty, it would be best if we could see the Retired Emperor off at close range!" As the imperial dragon gradually disappeared on the sea, a minister carefully moved to Emperor Xixiang's side and tremblingly reminded him.

Emperor Xi Xiang's gaze immediately sharpened!

In an instant, the assembled officials seemed to sense the immense pressure emanating from the retired emperor permeating the air!
"Full speed ahead, to send Father Emperor off!" Emperor Xixiang's eyes flashed with a sharp light for a moment, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and ordered the fleet to move forward at full speed!

Even if he couldn't ascend to the Heavenly Realm, taking the opportunity to admire its scenery was still possible! Who knows, he might even discover some secrets of the Heavenly Realm, or even the secret to immortality! At this moment, this was Emperor Xixiang's truest thought!

After all, the scene of my father, Emperor Longwu, ascending to heaven on a dragon was truly astonishing!

"Woo woo woo~~~" Immediately, a loud horn sounded, and the fleet that had been stationary began to rush in the direction where Emperor Longwu had left.

On the other side, as Emperor Longwu rode the alligator dragon closer to the golden cloud, he realized that the golden cloud, which seemed to be close to the sea level, was actually far above his head!

Bathed in sunlight, the golden cloud above Emperor Longwu shone with golden brilliance!
This scene left Emperor Xixiang and his entourage, who were on the treasure ship sailing in from afar, feeling inexplicably shocked!

At this moment, the golden sunlight shining through the doorway seemed to possess an inexplicable attraction, firmly drawing Emperor Longwu's mind! So much so that the localized memories that had been gradually fading in Emperor Longwu's mind resurfaced clearly in his heart at this moment!

(End of this chapter)