Chapter 75: Change

After Duan Lingqi killed the returning patrol crawfish soldier, he used the shell magic of the shrimp soldier to transform himself into the lobster’s appearance, then swam directly toward the direction of the Azure Sea Dragon Palace, as he had seen it from afar in his memory.

Duan Lingqi had expected that this impromptu attempt to secretly infiltrate the Dragon Palace would certainly result in all sorts of questioning and obstacles.

Yet, to his surprise, his infiltration went smoothly—far more so than the many attacks and hindrances he had encountered from sea demons and water beasts along the way.

The only explanation Duan Lingqi could find for his good fortune was his own luck.

For as soon as he reached the coral reefs near the Dragon Palace, he ran into a patrolling sea yaksha standing outside the coral cluster.

This sea yaksha, with a hump-like head and a fearsome, grim visage, instantly reminded Duan Lingqi of the yaksha he had once encountered in the ghost prison.

He nearly raised his long spear to strike this sea yaksha on the spot.

Fortunately, Duan Lingqi observed that, though this yaksha’s face was fierce and tusked, its skin was a deep blue, not the crimson of the ghost prison yaksha. Moreover, this sea yaksha wielded a sharp axe, while the prison yaksha carried an iron trident.

Most importantly, the first thing this sea yaksha said upon seeing Duan Lingqi was, “Have you come to report news of the Imperial Son-in-law’s whereabouts?”

This steadied Duan Lingqi, staying his hand and keeping him from escaping under the cover of the shrimp shell’s magic.

Furthermore, the Daoist from Lingxiu County at the foot of East Ruins Mountain had not only taught him the art of misdirecting the eyes, but, with reference to the “Immortal Theater Arts,” had also imparted to him further techniques of transformation.

The Daoist had once said, “Though these arts cannot compare to the exquisite transformations of the Thirty-Six or Seventy-Two Changes, they are more than sufficient to deceive the ignorant. But remember, you must have a sample of the subject’s hair or blood to enact the change.”

Duan Lingqi had always trusted the Daoist’s words. Both the art of misdirecting the eyes and the transformation techniques had helped him through many dangers.

This allowed Duan Lingqi to face the sea yaksha with composure. Besides, he had picked up some of the aquatic tongue.

Thus, he nodded and replied that he had indeed found news of the Imperial Son-in-law and had come to report it.

Hearing this, the sea yaksha led him past the patrols of perch demons weaving their way through the coral, then brought him through the gold-studded vermilion gates of the Dragon Palace, guarded by black-eyed bream and white-eyed mackerel demons.

Upon passing through these gates, Duan Lingqi, had he not checked repeatedly, would never have realized that the entire Azure Sea Dragon Palace was devoid of seawater.

The ocean’s waters were parted at the highest tower of the Dragon Palace, cascading down on either side, while above the palace, an invisible arched barrier seemed to hold the sea at bay.

Yet what struck Duan Lingqi most was that, upon entering the palace, he felt as at ease as if he were still underwater—no dryness, no parched tongue, no cracking skin from the absence of the sea.

The sea yaksha did not proceed farther into the palace, but handed Duan Lingqi over to a perch demon who seemed to have been waiting by the screen wall for some time, then departed.

From the way they addressed one another, Duan Lingqi learned that the perch demon was called Lord Perch, and the sea yaksha was addressed as General Yaksha.

Lord Perch led Duan Lingqi through the maze-like corridors and passageways of the Dragon Palace. Whenever they encountered patrolling sea demons, Lord Perch would produce a lustrous white pearl, and the patrols would desist from further questioning, allowing Lord Perch to escort Duan Lingqi deeper into the palace.

The Azure Sea Dragon Palace was truly sumptuous. Everywhere Duan Lingqi looked, there were pavilions with green tiles and vermilion eaves, auspicious clouds swirling overhead, and radiant light twining about the halls.

The floors were paved with white jade, the railings built of agate, and the carved beams and painted rafters set with gems and pearls.

Duan Lingqi gazed about in awe at the palace’s splendor, unaware that Lord Perch was watching him closely.

As Duan Lingqi absently stroked the lobster’s whiskers, Lord Perch tugged his own.

This shrimp soldier was behaving oddly—not at all like the usual nervous, disciplined soldiers upon entering the palace. Did he perhaps possess some crucial intelligence?

Thinking this, Lord Perch quickened his pace.

The Dragon King had gone to Heaven days ago and had yet to return. The eldest prince was cultivating at the South Sea’s spring, leaving the second prince in charge of the Dragon Palace. Then, to everyone’s shock, the Sea-Calming Pearl had been stolen.

The second prince was furious. Even the beloved little princess, the Dragon King’s favorite, had been punished—sent into the Twin Flames Hall to suffer burning by the real fire.

“Announce to the second prince that there is news from the fish demons sent to search for the Imperial Son-in-law,” Lord Perch said, halting at the door of a great hall and addressing the bream and eel demons standing guard.

Hearing the words “second prince,” Duan Lingqi’s heart leapt. He peered up at the plaque over the lintel, where several large characters proclaimed:

“Hall of the Azure Sea’s Second Prince.”

The bluntness of the name chilled him.

Why had the lobster soldier sent by the silver-scaled herring demon not brought him to the little princess, as expected? Why had this perch demon brought him to the Second Prince’s hall instead?

“The second prince has said that any news of the Imperial Son-in-law requires no announcement—just come straight in,” the bream and eel guards said, opening the hall doors before Duan Lingqi could ask if there had been some mistake.

“Go in,” Lord Perch said, gently stroking his whiskers and beckoning the silent blue lobster soldier behind him forward.

“Is it… possible not to go in?” Duan Lingqi tried one last time to refuse, but before he could finish, Lord Perch’s amiable face turned cold, and the guards at the door leveled their weapons at him.

He was confident he could defeat Lord Perch and the two guards—but not escape from the Dragon Palace.

“Of course I’ll go in,” Duan Lingqi said at once, glancing at a red dragon coiling around the golden pillar that supported the hall; the dragon’s icy, vertical pupils made him instantly change his mind.

Only then did the dragon withdraw and resume its lazy spiral around the pillar, and Lord Perch’s expression softened. He stepped aside, gesturing for Duan Lingqi to enter, while the guards lowered their weapons.

With a flick of his tail, Duan Lingqi slowly swam into the grand hall, praying fervently that the hall’s master would not ask him any questions.

“What message did the silver-scaled herring demon have you bring to the little princess?” came a voice as soon as he entered. The doors slammed shut behind him, and he was immediately enveloped by a heavy, oppressive dragon aura.

This aura was far denser than what he had found at the dragon’s remains in Cloud Cave Lake.

Yet, strangely, Duan Lingqi did not feel the least bit afraid. In Cloud Cave Lake, even the faintest trace of dragon aura had forced him to reveal his true form and bow low in terror.

But this oppressive dragon aura evoked in him not excitement—but a shockingly intense urge to suppress something within himself.

It was not awe.

It was killing intent.

He wanted to kill the second prince, seated high upon the golden, dragon-carved throne at the center of the hall.