The vast blue ocean, its waves surging and crashing.
As the depth increases, the light gradually dims, the water grows colder, and sea creatures become increasingly scarce.
Until, all around, darkness reigns—no trace of sunlight, the water icy as bone, and hidden currents surge and tumble.
In this world that never sees daylight, in the deepest shadows, fierce sea creatures thrive—beasts rarely glimpsed in the ordinary world. Yet, even this is not the ocean’s deepest realm.
As the descent continues, the wild currents slowly fade, the surrounding water grows warmer, and a faint glow rises from below.
A colossal palace, wrapped in shimmering light, emerges in a deep-sea valley. Around it, towering undersea volcanoes bubble fiercely, their columns of bubbles swaying gently in the currents—seen from afar, they resemble the tentacles of a giant octopus waving in the deep.
Dark red lava spills from the volcanoes, streaming along the contours of the mountains, boiling the seawater—yet without exception, every flow extinguishes and turns to blackened earth before it can touch the palace.
All around the palace, demons formed from various aquatic races come and go incessantly.
Judging by their attire, among them are generals clad in ornate armor, soldiers bearing long halberds and shields, civil ministers in elegant robes, and palace maids so graceful and beautiful they seem almost unreal.
And the palace they inhabit is no ordinary palace of the mortal world.
The eaves of the palace were tiled with solid gold, pillars carved from immense bloodstone, steps polished from pure white jade, and railings formed of coral inlaid with gemstones. For illumination, countless gigantic night-pearls cast a radiant glow throughout the halls.
Mortals often claimed the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace brimmed with treasures beyond imagining. Yet, were those idle boasters to witness it for themselves, they would surely regret their own poverty of imagination. In sheer luxury, this place rivaled even the Heavenly Court—though it lacked a touch of elegance and bore instead the unmistakable air of nouveau riche.
Deep within the grand palace, beneath a colossal red dragon head, the elderly Dragon King—his stature reaching nearly two zhang, dressed in red brocade robes—reclined on a throne woven from crimson coral. His eyes half-closed, he listened quietly as the Turtle Chancellor, no taller than his calf, spoke softly at his side.
A shrimp soldier swam in from outside the grand hall, his tail fins trembling as he moved. Bowing low to the ground, he respectfully announced, "Your Majesty, Princess Ao Cunxin of the Western Sea requests an audience."
"Cunxin is here?" The Dragon King opened his eyes slightly. "Let her in."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The shrimp soldier turned and swam out to carry out the order.
The Dragon King shifted his gaze to the Turtle Chancellor and said calmly, "Let us pause for now; we will discuss this matter later."
The Turtle Chancellor bowed deeply, saying nothing, and silently stepped aside.
Moments later, Ao Cunxin entered the hall, her arms gracefully spread as she drifted in on the current, appearing to fly through the water.
"Uncle!" Spotting the Dragon King, she broke into a sweet smile and immediately glided to his side.
The old Dragon King’s face lit up with delight. He reached out to pat Coral Ao’s head, smiling, “You little rascal, I hear you’ve run away from home again. You really don’t let anyone rest easy. Your father is getting on in years—he can’t bear this kind of worry.”
“I didn’t run away—I left him a letter and explained clearly that I was going to Guang River Estuary.”
“And that’s not running away?” The old Dragon King shook his head helplessly and chuckled, “You know your father doesn’t like hearing about Guang River Estuary. Back in those days… Ah, best not to mention it. So? What made you come running to your uncle after going to Guang River Estuary?”
Coral Ao pouted, her brows knotting together—clearly reminded of something unpleasant.
It took her a moment to calm herself before she finally said, “Uncle, someone asked me to bring you something.”
With that, she drew the pinewood box Monkey had entrusted to her from her sleeve and handed it to the old Dragon King. “Here.”
“Oh? What’s this?” The old Dragon King reached out to take it.
Leaning on the armrest of the dragon throne, Coral Ao propped up her chin and blinked. “I don’t know either. He said you had to open it yourself, so go ahead and see.”
“Oh?” Without giving it much thought, the old Dragon King flipped open the box. Instantly, his expression froze. After a heartbeat, he resumed his kindly demeanor.
Coral Ao blinked at him, staring. “Uncle, what’s inside?”
The old Dragon King slowly closed the box, smiling faintly. “Cunxin, who asked you to bring this?”
“It’s my husband’s brother-in-law, Simon Sun. Well, strictly speaking, not quite yet—but probably soon. Uncle, what’s wrong? What’s in there?” Coral Ao kept blinking at the old Dragon King, reaching for the box, but he blocked her hand.
“Your husband’s brother-in-law? Anna Yang is already canonized as Mount Hua Holy Mother by Heaven—could she still marry?”
“You never know.” Coral Ao lifted her chin proudly. “Since when does my household answer to the Jade Emperor? One day, if we revolt, Heaven will have to send envoys to negotiate—and setting terms will be easy enough.”
The old Dragon King snorted with laughter. “A married daughter is like water poured out. Divorce papers have been written, and yet you keep calling it your household, keep defending your husband?”
“I told you—the divorce was fake! Fake! We’ll remarry sooner or later.” Coral Ao retorted, voice rising.
“Ah… Fine, fine. If you say you’ll remarry, then you will.”
Coral Ao puffed her cheeks, frowned, and glared at the old Dragon King, muttering under her breath, “Of course we’ll remarry.”
“So, let me ask you—who exactly is this husband’s brother-in-law of yours?”
“He’s a monkey demon. Lives on Blossom Mountain.”