Beast Taming: My spirit beast bloodline is overloaded

Chapter 443 The Legendary Land of the Ancestral Dragon
"The Dragon Palace of the East Sea?"

Lin Chen and Li Zhen were both taken aback.

They had naturally heard of this name; it was an ancient legend passed down in ancient books and by storytellers.

Legend has it that deep within the vast East Sea, beneath a bottomless abyss, lies a magnificent palace adorned with luminous pearls, the birthplace and slumbering place of the ancestor of all dragons—the Ancestral Dragon.

That place holds the treasures and secrets accumulated by the dragon race over countless years.

However, this is ultimately just a vague and unfounded legend.

The East China Sea is vast and unfathomable. Since ancient times, countless explorers have set sail with dreams in their hearts, but no one has ever been able to prove the existence of the Dragon Palace.

Seeing their expressions, Sun Ji knew what they were thinking, and waved his hand with a smile:

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not asking you to go looking for that ethereal Dragon Palace. It's not even certain if such a secret realm even exists."

"I'm taking you to a real place—Dragon Ridge Island."

"Dragon Ridge Island?"

Lin Chen and Li Zhen were unfamiliar with this name.

"Hmm." Sun Ji stroked his beard and slowly said:
The emergence of Dragon Ridge Island is actually related to the 'dragon-hunting craze'.

"Throughout history, countless people have firmly believed in the existence of the Dragon Palace and have ventured into the East China Sea to search for it."

"About a thousand years ago, a large treasure-hunting fleet discovered a huge island that had never been seen before in the East China Sea."

"The island is vast, and on it there is a majestic mountain range that resembles a giant dragon coiled up, running from east to west. The mountain range undulates like a dragon's spine, as if a divine dragon were truly lurking there."

The discoverers were amazed by this and named it 'Dragon Ridge Island'.

"At first, people thought they had found the entrance to the Dragon Palace and flocked there. But after decades of exploration, apart from discovering that the island was treacherous, full of ferocious beasts, and had a slightly richer spiritual energy than the outside world, they found no evidence directly related to the Dragon Palace."

"Over time, the craze subsided, and it became a dangerous overseas destination where risks and opportunities coexisted. Only some powerful beast tamers or teams hunting rare materials would go there."

Sun Ji looked at Lin Chen, his expression becoming solemn: "I sent you to Dragon Ridge Island not to explore the Dragon Palace, but to find a medicinal herb called 'Mysterious Ice Dragon Saliva Grass'."

"Mystic Ice Dragon Saliva Grass?"

Lin Chen carefully memorized the name.

“That’s right,” Sun Ji explained.

"This herb is extremely cold in nature and usually grows near extremely cold springs or in places where the shady side of mountains converges."

"It is not formed from real dragon saliva, but is named because its leaves resemble dragon tongues and contain pure cold energy that can condense like saliva."

"The Phoenix Fire is essentially an extremely dry fire, and ordinary cold things not only cannot control it, but may even amplify its power."

"But this Xuanbing Dragon Saliva Grass is different. It contains a purer kind of 'Taiyin Cold Power,' which can neutralize and resolve the dryness and toxicity of the Phoenix Karmic Fire."

He paused and added:

"Due to the influence of the unique dragon-shaped mountain range, there are many places where the earth's veins converge and yin and yang alternate on Longling Island. People have seen the dragon's birth grass on it before."

"As long as this herb is found, and it is used as the main ingredient, supplemented with a few common auxiliary ingredients, I am 70 to 80 percent confident that I can refine a pill to neutralize the Phoenix Karmic Fire in the Little Blue Fish's body."

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded. At this moment, Sun Ji took out a book and handed it to Lin Chen. It contained a picture of the Xuanbing Dragon Saliva Grass, and he said to Lin Chen:
"Don't worry, Xuanbing Dragon Saliva Grass is not a primary material for evolution. It is only used to treat some difficult and complicated diseases, so some people will not pick it even if they see it. Moreover, Xuanbing Dragon Saliva Grass is not easy to preserve. Even if it is picked and placed in an ice pot, it can only be preserved for thirty days."

"Therefore, you must find it and retrieve it within this timeframe, remember that."

The next morning, Sun Ji led Lin Chen and Li Zhen to the dock on the east side of Heavenly City.

Unlike the deserted scene inside the city, the dock leading to the East China Sea still retains some of its former bustling activity, with all kinds of ships moored in the harbor, some of which are particularly eye-catching due to their unique shapes.

Sun Ji led the two to a medium-sized boat. The bow of the boat was carved with a lifelike dolphin head, and the hull had smooth lines and looked quite sturdy.

A middle-aged man with dark skin and a face weathered by time was inspecting the cable while smoking a pipe.

"Old Chen, I've brought the person to you," Sun Ji greeted.

The boatman, known as Old Chen, raised his head, his sharp gaze sweeping over Lin Chen and Li Zhen. He then grinned, revealing teeth slightly yellowed from tobacco smoke.

"These are the two young men heading to Dragon Ridge Island? Tsk tsk, they're so young, but they've got some nerve."

He patted the gunwale of the boat. "Don't worry, since Old Sun recommended this place, I, Old Chen, will make sure it's delivered safely. My sea bream knows the way like the back of its hand; nothing will happen."

Lin Chen looked in the direction he pointed and saw a spirit beast resembling a dolphin, but with a more pointed head and covered with light blue scales, tied to the latches on both sides of the boat. It was swimming quietly underwater, occasionally swaying its tail, which stirred up quite a bit of water.

This is the sea slug.

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Chen," Lin Chen said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Sure, let's get on the boat!" Old Chen readily agreed.

As the ship departed the harbor, the sea monsters were indeed incredibly swift, pulling the ship through the waves at an extremely fast speed, yet with remarkable stability.

This ship is very expensive; a single trip costs hundreds of thousands.

The azure sea stretched to the horizon, accompanied only by the cries of seagulls and the sound of the waves.

During the voyage, Old Chen gave the sea shuttle beast some instructions, then turned to chat with Lin Chen and the other person:
"Are you two young men going to Dragon Ridge Island hoping to try your luck and find the legendary Dragon Palace treasure?"

Lin Chen smiled slightly and shook his head, saying, "We're just going to find a medicinal herb to save the spirit beast."

"Medicinal herbs?" Old Chen raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised, then realized, "Oh, right, there are indeed some rare and unusual medicinal herbs on that island. Old Sun also went up there to collect herbs before. However... nowadays, the majority of people there are treasure hunters of your age."

Li Zhen asked curiously, "Are there really people who believe in the existence of the Dragon Palace and go there to search for treasure?"

"Of course!" Old Chen took a puff of his pipe, exhaled a smoke ring, and gazed at the distant sea, his eyes carrying a hint of world-weariness that suggested he had seen it all before.

"And quite a few! There are always people who firmly believe that the legend is not unfounded and that the 'dragon-shaped mountain' on Longling Island is the entrance or key to the Dragon Palace."

"For hundreds of years, wave after wave of people have gone up there, some staying for a few months, some for a few years, digging everywhere like madmen."

He paused, then added, "You could say that, apart from some native beasts, the only living people on that island right now are these various treasure hunters. You'll definitely run into them once you get there."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's heart stirred slightly, and he asked, "Are these people... dangerous?"

"Haha!" Old Chen laughed. "Generally speaking, it's not dangerous. These people only care about the treasure and clues to the Dragon Palace; they're not very interested in anything else."

"As long as you don't actively try to steal the 'treasures' they've discovered, or trespass into what they consider 'forbidden zones,' they won't bother with you. They'll just find their own opportunities, don't worry."

After hearing what Old Chen said, Lin Chen and Li Zhen felt a little more at ease.

With the sea creature pulling at full speed, the journey was faster than expected, but it still took nearly 10 days.

On the distant horizon, a huge dark shadow gradually appeared and grew larger as the ship approached.

Finally, the entire view of Longling Island was revealed to the two of them.

The first thing that catches the eye is the massive mountain range that stretches across the entire island.

Just as Sun Ji said, the mountain range meandered from one end of the island to the other, its ridges strong and majestic, truly resembling a giant dragon lying prostrate on the earth. Most of the mountain was covered with dense primeval forests, and some towering peaks pierced the clouds, their summits covered with snow that shimmered with a cold light in the sunlight.

The entire island is shrouded in a perpetual fog, which has a bluish-gray hue that makes the scenery on the island appear somewhat hazy and mysterious.

As you get closer to the island, you can feel a more primal atmosphere.

The waves crashed against the shoreline covered with black reefs, creating a thunderous roar.

The jungle near the coast is exceptionally dense, with vines coiling around towering ancient trees like giant pythons, and all sorts of strange plants never seen before growing in abundance, filling the air with a rich, fresh fragrance of grass and trees.

Occasionally, a few low roars of beasts could be heard from the depths of the island.

"We've arrived." Old Chen moored the boat in a bay that appeared relatively calm with a narrow sandy beach. "This is one of the safer landing points."

"Remember, the Mystic Ice Dragon Saliva Grass prefers shade and cold. Look for it in damp valleys on the north side of the mountain range or in crevices where cold springs seep out."

"I'll come to pick you up at the same time and place a month from now."

"If you miss your deadline, you'll have to wait until next month, or you can take someone else's boat. But usually, I'm the only one who comes here."

Lin Chen and Li Zhen thanked him again, took a deep breath, and jumped off the ship, stepping onto the land of Longling Island.

Beneath your feet lies soft, springy moss and decaying leaves, surrounded by towering, shady trees.

Looking at the dense grass and trees on the ground, Li Zhen said, "It seems we're going to be looking for a needle in a haystack."

Lin Chen nodded as well.

It's too humid here, with too much vegetation, so it's really hard to find anything.

Lin Chen and Li Zhen searched for three whole days on Longling Island with great difficulty.

They summoned all their spirit beasts and split up to search almost every area near the landing point that matched the "cold and gloomy" characteristics.

However, the "Mysterious Ice Dragon Saliva Grass" described in the book has never been seen.

The island was far more vast and complex than they had imagined, and the dense vegetation and complex terrain greatly hampered the search.

By the evening of the fourth day, the two were exhausted and were preparing to find a place to rest for the night before expanding their search area the next day.

Just then, a sharp, wary fox cry came from deep within the dense forest.

It's the little fox!
Lin Chen and Li Zhen were startled and immediately rushed towards the source of the sound.

Pushing aside the layers of vines, the scene before him made Lin Chen's eyes narrow.

The little fox was crouching, baring its teeth, and staring warily ahead, almost ready to enter evolution mode.

Opposite it, three men and one woman stood in a semi-encirclement. Their clothes were not particularly fine, and were even somewhat worn, but their eyes were sharp, and they carried the marks of years of outdoor activities and a fierce air about them. They were clearly not to be trifled with.

The two sides faced off, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.

However, the moment Lin Chen and Li Zhen appeared, the tall, burly middle-aged man who was the leader of the four immediately raised his hand, signaling his companions to relax. He forced a somewhat friendly smile and said:

"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous!"

"I told you, this spirit fox has very intelligent eyes and must have an owner. It's true."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lin Chen and introduced himself:

“Brother, we are treasure hunters who are stationed on this island. My name is Shi Zuo, and these are my companions.”

"I just saw this beautiful little fox wandering alone in the woods. I thought it was a stray spirit beast and wanted to get closer to take a look, but I didn't expect it to cause a misunderstanding and disturb everyone. I'm really sorry."

The other party adopted a very humble posture and spoke with great sincerity. Lin Chen's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he returned the greeting with a cupped hand.
"My name is Chen Lin, and this is my sworn brother, Li Zhen."

Lin Chen and Li Zhen are still somewhat famous, and hiding their real names is to avoid unnecessary trouble.

The others quickly introduced themselves as well. Seeing that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, Shi Zuo laughed heartily and sized up Lin Chen and Li Zhen:

"You two look unfamiliar. Have you just arrived on the island? Are you also here for the Dragon Palace?"

Lin Chen shook his head and said frankly, "We did not come here to search for treasure, but we urgently need a medicinal herb called 'Mysterious Ice Dragon Saliva Grass' to save the spirit beast."

Lin Chen also hoped to use the help of these treasure hunters to see if he could find the Xuanbing Dragon Saliva Grass, or even buy it at a high price.

"Mystic Ice Dragon Saliva Grass?" Shi Zuo stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I seem to remember this thing; it's indeed quite rare. Have you found it?"

"We haven't found it yet. We've been searching for three days," Li Zhen sighed.

Shi Zuo and his companion exchanged a glance, then Shi Zuo said enthusiastically:
“This island is too big. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack if the two of you search alone.”

"It's fate that we've met. How about this, it's getting late, why don't you come back to our camp and rest for a while?"

“We’ve been on this island for a while and are familiar with the terrain. We can help you look for it tomorrow.”

Lin Chen initially felt it would be too much trouble for others and wanted to politely decline.

Shi Zuo seemed to see his concerns and waved his hand, saying, "Brother Lin, don't be so polite! We've been stuck on this island for years, and apart from digging holes to look for clues, we're usually bored out of our minds."

"Let me help you find some medicinal herbs. Consider it a good workout, and you might even discover some new clues. It's no trouble!"

Seeing that the other party was sincere and that they were indeed more familiar with the island, Lin Chen hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement: "Then thank you very much, Brother Shi Zuo and everyone!"

After following Shi Zuo and the other three through an extremely well-hidden barrier, the scene before them surprised Lin Chen and Li Zhen.

In the heart of Longling Island, there exists a sizable camp!

This is not a makeshift tent area, but a sizable settlement consisting of dozens of houses built with large logs and heavy stone, resembling a secluded village.

"This..." Li Zhen was dumbfounded.

Shi Zuo proudly introduced, "Don't be surprised. In order to find the Dragon Palace, some people have stayed here for several years, or even ten years. This place is like a home for us on the island."

That evening, Shi Zuo warmly entertained Lin Chen and Li Zhen. Although Lin Chen and Li Zhen were also curious about the progress of their dragon-hunting, they did not ask too many questions.

The next morning, with the help of Shi Zuo and his group, and with many hands making light work, they set off towards the northern part of the mountains.

With a guide familiar with the route, the search efficiency was indeed greatly improved.

However, after a day of searching, they still found nothing.

As dusk fell, Lin Chen and the others finished their work and returned to camp. However, on his way back, Lin Chen looked at the sunset and fell into deep thought.

"Why are you suddenly feeling this way?" Li Zhen teased.

Lin Chen frowned and asked in a low voice:

"President, don't you think the position of the sunset is different today than yesterday?"

(End of this chapter)