In the future, Earth becomes a relic of the mythical era.

Chapter 168 Breakthrough
Of course not.

Xie Lingxin's purpose in attending the Dragon Palace banquet was to meet the Dragon King.

He just hadn't expected seeing the Dragon King to be so troublesome; he thought that once he got in, he would be able to see him.

Li Jingzhe turned around and asked, "Do you have anything you wish to trade in this market?"

He was asking about Xie Lingxin and Tong Huohuo.

Both of them were broke; they wanted a lot of things, but they had no money.

Xie Lingxin, in particular, saw many people selling spiritual plants not long after he left.

Moreover, the price is much cheaper than what is sold outside.

Unfortunately, he used up his last spiritual essence in a fight with Bai Zangji and Cangming.

He could only grit his teeth and say, "What's the rush? Let's go to the Dragon Palace first!"

Li Miaoyin smiled sweetly: "I think you're broke, aren't you?"

Xie Lingxin looked at her: "Lipstick Monster, you better not beg me later, otherwise your money will become my money."

"You're the lipstick monster! Your whole family are lipstick monsters!"

Li Miaoyin's voice cracked from shouting.

This guy is so infuriating!

I'm such a beautiful woman, and you keep calling me a lipstick monster? Are you even human?

Tong Huohuo looked at Xie Lingxin with admiration.

No wonder he's a young prodigy; if he's not a prodigy, who is?
"...Stop fooling around. If that's the case, then let's just go into the sea."

Li Jingzhe said, "The Dragon Palace banquet will begin at low tide. I've calculated it, and it will be around 8 p.m. I have less than 12 hours left."

Xie Lingxin naturally had no objections.

We arrived at a white jade door.

There was a large crab and a large shrimp guarding the door.

There was already a long queue of people in front of them.

They are all obviously going to the Dragon Palace.

"Through this gate, you can go to the Dragon Palace. Without the guidance here, even if you jump into the sea, you will not be able to find the Dragon Palace."

Tong Huohuo leaned closer to him and said.

Xie Lingxin glanced at the large crab and shrimp.

He stood upright like a human, wearing a long robe that resembled that of an ancient Confucian scholar.

Strange and weird.

Shrimp soldiers and crab generals, huh?
So strong!

Although he was dressed strangely, Xie Lingxin could faintly sense the strong blood energy emanating from him, which was far stronger than that of Bai Zangji and Cangming.

There are at least five or more layers.

I initially thought this Dragon Palace was a bit of a knock-off, but now it seems that even if it is a knock-off, it's not something an ordinary person can easily pull off.

No wonder no one dares to cause trouble here.

"Hey, what's with this underwater maze?"

While waiting in line, Xie Lingxin asked Tong Huohuo a question.

Tong Huohuo said, "I heard it's a test personally set by the Dragon King. Anyone who wants to see the Dragon King, except for those he personally invited, must pass the test."

"I've never tried it either, but I've heard that these mazes don't test one's cultivation or strength, but rather one's knowledge."

Xie Lingxin asked in surprise, "Knowledge?"

"Yes, this Dragon King has a very eccentric personality; he really likes human culture,"

Tong Huohuo said, "It is said that he established this sea market in order to collect the culture of a great country in some southern continent from merchants of various maritime nations."

"That seems to be some ancient dynasty or state, known as the Celestial Empire in this realm,"

"Unfortunately, this sea area is too vast and extensive; it was not included in the original domain, and there is very little information about it."

"Even the Dragon King has to gather information in this way, let alone us?"

Xie Lingxin tentatively asked, "Southern Jambudvipa?"

Tong Huohuo nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! That's the name! Oh, you know it?"

"Oh, I've heard of it, I've heard of it..."

Xie Lingxin said somewhat absentmindedly.

Jambudvipa, also known as the Southern Jambudvipa World.

According to some mythologies, this is the world they live in.

The term "Southern Jambudvipa" is used here to refer to the location of that great nation, implying that this place is already outside of Southern Jambudvipa.
So this at least shows that the original domain of the Dragon Palace Banquet had four continents.
At the very least, it is a legendary world that has been passed down through generations.

Then I might actually find information here that can help me decipher "Journey to the West".

"Tell me more about that underwater maze."

Xie Lingxin put her thoughts aside and said.

Tong Huohuo said, "Isn't it said that the Dragon King likes human culture? What he likes most are those handsome, learned scholars and talented men."

"Isn't that Ma Ji just a scholar who's read a few books? Apart from being decent-looking, he's good for nothing, and even his talent isn't that great,"

"But even someone like him made the old Dragon King so happy that he married his daughter to him, a mere mortal! Don't you think that old Dragon King was outrageous?"

Tong Huohuo said indignantly.

Xie Lingxin felt that he was just jealous!

Can you get down to business?

"Oh……"

Tong Huohuo pouted: "The old Dragon King likes this kind of thing, so the underwater maze is naturally designed for this purpose. It's testing you on two things: appearance and talent."

"First they look at your appearance. If you're not good-looking, they won't even let you in the door. Only if you're good-looking will they let you in to pass the test. I don't know what the test is about. It's completely nonsensical!"

He was aware of his appearance and could only find a sense of presence among the Russian merchants.

But you absolutely cannot get away with it in the Dragon Palace...

Xie Lingxin looked at the Li siblings in front of her and understood why the lipstick monster had asked her to come along.

As they were talking, it was soon their turn.

Two shrimp soldiers and crab generals openly asked for money, and they had to give it to them whether they had an invitation or not.

No one thought it was wrong. Li Jingzhe gave all four people's money, 20 spirit essences each! Whether it was expensive or not, Xie Lingxin would definitely not have been willing to pay it herself.

Passing through that white jade gate felt like entering another world.

Amidst the jagged rocks, exotic flowers and rare herbs, there are carved beams and painted rafters, and palaces stretching as far as the eye can see.

Above them, however, lay the vast ocean, its surface rippling with light and waves.

Magnificent and beautiful, like a dream.

"Those with invitations, please enter; those without invitations who wish to venture into the maze, please enter this lost world garden."

Two enormous white clams opened, and out of them stood two stunningly beautiful women in palace attire with graceful figures.

Some people were unsurprised, some were full of amazement, and some stared in disbelief.

Clam girl?

Xie Lingxin was the one who was amazed.

Although he knew this was the Dragon Palace, he still found it very novel to see these legendary creatures everywhere.

The two clam maidens divided the crowd into two groups, each leading one of them in a different direction.

Xie Lingxin and the others were naturally among those who did not receive invitations.

Led by the clam maiden, they arrived at a garden.

"There are four halls in the Yishi Garden,"

The clam maiden said as if going through a formality, "The four halls of literature, sun-debating, natural history, and scripture interpretation are the four gates set up by the Dragon King."

"Those who wish to see the Dragon King must meet one of these requirements: either unparalleled in poetry and prose, eloquent in debate, learned and knowledgeable, or well-versed in the three teachings."

"If you can pass the test, you will not only be able to meet the Dragon King, but also receive treasures as a reward from him."

"Distinguished guests, those who wish to pass the test may enter the hall on their own."

After the clam woman finished speaking, she walked away.

They didn't care at all that most of the people here looked completely bewildered.

They didn't care whether anyone would cause trouble here.

"What? This is it? Is this how you treat guests?"

"Hospitalize guests? This is the Dragon Palace. We call you a distinguished guest, and you really think you're a guest? You don't deserve it!"

"I'd heard that the Dragon Palace Maze had stumped countless so-called genius cultivators. I originally thought it was some kind of incredible 'major formation,' but I never expected it to be like this?"

"Isn't this nonsense? Poetry and literature? What era are we living in? Why are we still doing this kind of stuff?"

"This place is from ancient times. You have a problem with that? Go talk to the Dragon King."

"..."

Many people began to complain.

The biggest advantage of the Dragon Palace Banquet, as everyone knows, is that you get to see the Dragon King.

Moreover, I've heard that although the Dragon Palace Maze is difficult to navigate, the rewards are truly generous.

You can save money on invitations, have a chance to meet the Dragon King, and even receive a reward.

Naturally, there are more people who don't believe in superstitions and want to try their luck.

“Someone went in!”

"Let's go! Let's take a look!"

The crowd began to pour into the four main halls in front.

Li Miaoyin walked to Xie Lingxin's side: "It's up to you now."

Xie Ling thought to herself, "Why should I?"

Li Miaoyin said matter-of-factly, "I've heard that you are very knowledgeable about classics and history. Who else here can do this job besides you?"

"There are four of us. It seems you'll have to get through all four challenges. Are you sure you can handle it?"

Xie Lingxin directly reached out her hand: "Whether I can do it or not is another matter. If you want me to do the work, the pay will be calculated separately."

Li Miaoyin was furious: "You...! Can you please stop talking about money all the time? Are you obsessed with money?!"

"Then let's not talk about it, let's go."

Xie Lingxin directly called to Tong Huohuo and headed towards the nearest Wenyun Hall.

Li Miaoyin trembled with anger: "Brother, I want to beat him up!"

"..."

Li Jingzhe did not want to get involved in this pointless war.

"Brother, say something! This kid isn't doing any work, what are we going to do?"

Li Jingzhe said, "We don't necessarily need to see the Dragon King. As long as we can pass the test, we will definitely get the Dragon Abyss Token. There will always be someone who can pass the test. We can just buy it from them."

Li Miaoyin pouted and said, "That's true, but we've come all this way, how can we not see the Dragon King?"

"Go in first."

Li Jingzhe said nothing more and followed Xie Lingxin and the other person inside.

He also wanted to meet the Dragon King, since not everyone had the chance to see an ancient dragon.

Ancient dragons were born sacred.

These naturally sacred beings possess an innate Daoist aura and spiritual energy; even a single glance at them can greatly benefit one's visualization and cultivation.

"Huh? Isn't that the kid who just defeated the Twin Dragons of the East Sea by himself against two opponents?"

At this moment, many people in the Wenyun Hall noticed Xie Lingxin, who had just walked in.

Before, when we were outside, there were many people and it was chaotic, and people's minds were elsewhere.

At this moment, everyone who enters the hall attracts attention.

Because everyone wanted to see who had a chance of making it through.

This attention immediately drew someone's attention and they recognized Xie Lingxin.

He is quite famous now.

"He really is young, even younger than he looks online. Is he really that amazing?"

"Live broadcast, how could it be fake?"

"Tsk tsk, a triple counterattack against a quadruple, one against two, what a display of power! But what's he doing here? Does he intend to break through this maze?"

"This is going to be interesting. There's a young prodigy who can overcome adversity, a renowned family of scholars, and another legendary scholar from the Far East who also comes from humble beginnings..."

(End of this chapter)