In the pitch-black currents of the sea, Monkey moved forward slowly.
Several bizarrely-shaped fish drifted past him. Only when they noticed him did they startle and dart away, vanishing without a trace.
Monkey kept moving forward, expressionless. His eyes held no light at all—he looked as if he had just woken from a long sleep.
After a long time, a faint light appeared in the distance.
From afar, he saw the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace nestled among undersea mountains, sprawling across the seabed like a giant octopus stretching out its tentacles.
After more than six centuries apart, it was still just as magnificent—unchanged in the slightest.
He hesitated briefly, then smiled and lowered his body, speeding up.
Soon, several shrimp soldiers swam up, weapons in hand, loudly demanding, "Who goes there? This is the Dragon Palace—no outsiders may trespass!"
"Tell Gavin Ao to come see me, or Tina Ao will do," Monkey said expressionlessly.
The shrimp soldiers froze in shock.
In the main hall, a shell gently opened and closed, releasing bubbles, while brightly dressed shell spirits moved back and forth. Night pearls lit up the entire space, and lavish red coral was everywhere.
At the head of the hall, Princess Tina Ao, the Fourth Princess, was carefully reporting the latest governance details of the Dragon Palace to her father.
A crab general hurried into the hall, knelt, and reported, "Your Majesty, a demon monkey has arrived at the palace gate and requests to see you..."
"A demon monkey?"
"Is it Little Seven?" Tina Ao asked softly.
"No, if it were Little Seven, I would recognize him."
Tina Ao smiled and said, "Could it be that another Spirit-Transformation Stage monkey demon has appeared in Blossom Mountain? That would be something to celebrate."
The Dragon King glanced at the crab general and casually asked, "Did the visitor give his name?"
"No, he did not. He also wore no insignia." The crab general saluted. "He called out Your Majesty's name but refused to identify himself, insisting you come out to see him. If you are absent, he demands the Fourth Princess. His tone is extremely arrogant. Several shrimp soldiers tried to drive him away, but none could withstand a single move. In my opinion, his cultivation is at least Spirit-Transformation Stage, so I reported to Your Majesty first for instructions. If you do not recognize this demon monkey, I will summon the palace guards to drive him out of the Eastern Sea."