"You have another friend? Who is he? Where is he now?" The Sea Dragon Hall Grand Elder asked immediately.
Of course, the Sea Dragon Hall Master was just as curious. Since the Grand Elder had already asked, he didn't bother to repeat the question. Both of them turned to look at Evan Lin, wanting to know who this friend really was.
"This friend of mine is also a member of the Dragon Clan—a Silver Dragon. Back in the day, he served at the Primordial Dragon's side. Later, when the Dragon Clan was thrown into chaos and the Primordial Dragon fell, he was trapped in a spatial black hole. This time, I broke out of that black hole together with him," Evan Lin explained.
"There's actually such a story? So where is he now? Hurry and let us meet him!" Even the Sea Dragon Hall Master was getting excited, and asked immediately.
The Sea Dragon Hall Master knew that if Evan Lin had really broken out of the spatial black hole with this companion, and that companion had once served at the Primordial Dragon's side, then his strength must be terrifying. He figured Evan Lin probably carried some kind of spatial divine artifact on him—something truly heaven-defying.
Evan Lin smiled at the two of them and said, "Just a moment, you two! I'll have the Silver Dragon come out and meet you right now!"
Then, with a thought, his divine sense entered the Timewheel Bracelet. After explaining his intent to the Silver Dragon, Evan quickly brought him out from within the bracelet.
"Young Master, are you all right? I was worried sick!" The Silver Dragon's first words upon seeing Evan Lin were full of concern, completely ignoring the Sea Dragon Hall Master and Grand Elder standing nearby.
Of course, it wasn't that he hadn't noticed them—just that since Evan Lin was clearly out of danger and had called him out to meet them, he naturally waited to greet them after checking on Evan first.
"I'm fine. Silver Dragon, let me introduce you—this is the Sea Dragon Hall Grand Elder, and that's the Sea Dragon Hall Master, the top powerhouse in the Sea Regions, whose cultivation has reached the God-Emperor Realm." Evan Lin said.
Only then did the Silver Dragon finally size up the two leaders. Soon, he spoke: "Silver Dragon greets you both! Thank you for looking after my Young Master—Silver Dragon is deeply grateful!"
The Silver Dragon's cultivation was at late-stage God-Venerable. Though a bit weaker than the Grand Elder, he was a true Dragon Clan member. Judging by how respectfully he treated Evan Lin, there was no doubt Evan was really the Primordial Dragon. Only a genuine Dragon Clan powerhouse could inspire such reverence.
"Silver Dragon, no need to be so formal! Being able to meet the king of the Dragon Clan today is truly our greatest fortune. Grand Elder, go prepare a banquet—we must properly welcome our king!" The Sea Dragon Hall Master laughed.
"Hall Master, there's no need for such ceremony. For now, I don't want other Sea Dragons to know my true identity, and you don't need to treat me too formally either. Just call me Lin Feng from now on! After all, I'll eventually leave the Sea Regions—there's no need to shock the entire Sea Dragon Clan. Besides, there are many things to handle, and having this identity would only complicate matters." Evan Lin said.
"Since the king says so, we'll call you Lin Feng from now on. But your business is our Sea Dragon Clan's business—just give the word, and I'll do everything in my power to make it happen!" the Sea Dragon Hall Master declared.
"Besides wanting to leave the Sea Regions, there's something else I need—I'm searching for Ghostshade Herb. I heard that the Sea Dragon Clan's forbidden ground is the only place it grows. That's why I didn't refuse when the Grand Elder invited me to Sea Dragon Hall; if not for this, it might've been a while before I came," Evan Lin said.
"Ghostshade Herb? Lin Feng, what do you need Ghostshade Herb for? Is there some powerful restriction on you that requires its power to break?" The Sea Dragon Hall Master asked in surprise.
"It's not a restriction on me, but on a friend I met in the Sea Regions. She needs Ghostshade Herb to break the seal! Her identity is far from ordinary, but because of the restriction, she's become a 'waste.' Yet she carries a mission that's extremely important—I have to help her.
At the same time, this is directly tied to whether I can leave the Sea Regions! So I hope the Hall Master can help!" Evan Lin said.
The Sea Dragon Hall Master looked a bit troubled. Of course, he would do everything he could to fulfill the king's request, but Ghostshade Herb was just too rare—and the Sea Dragon Clan's forbidden ground wasn't nearly as peaceful as it looked.
It's called a forbidden ground precisely because it's far too dangerous. Even if you're at the God-Emperor Realm, there's no guarantee you'll make it out alive. I went in once myself, and nearly died that time.
There aren't any powerful monsters inside—the real threat is the illusions. Even I couldn't break free from them. Once you fall into an illusion, you'll face terrifying heart-devils. If you can't overcome them, you'll never escape.
Those heart-devils can even drive people to self-harm—it's unbelievably dangerous. Yet Ghostshade Herb only grows in that kind of environment, and it's incredibly rare. Whether you even find one is pure luck.
Seeing the look on the Sea Dragon Hall Master's face, Evan Lin knew he was troubled, so he asked, "Hall Master, do you think my request is too much?"
"Lin Feng, you don't know—the Sea Dragon Clan's forbidden ground isn't open to just anyone. Of course, if you insist on entering, I have no right to stop you. But it's truly too dangerous inside, and one wrong step means you might never come back. I know this from experience, so I have to say, getting Ghostshade Herb is really difficult," the Sea Dragon Hall Master replied honestly.
Just then, the Sea Dragon Hall Grand Elder walked in. "The banquet is ready—let's talk over drinks!"
The four of them entered a finely decorated room. The table was piled high with food and wine. After filling everyone's cups, the Grand Elder said, "Today is a day to celebrate—the arrival of our Dragon Clan king and Silver Dragon brother! Everyone, bottoms up!"
The four raised their cups and drank. Evan Lin spoke up: "Hall Master, I understand your concerns. No matter how dangerous it is, I have to go! Honestly, I've been to places even worse than your forbidden ground and made it out alive—so you don't need to worry about me."
"Lin Feng, what are you all talking about? I can't follow any of this," the Grand Elder asked Evan Lin in confusion.
"He's talking about Ghostshade Herb! You should know how hard it is to get. The forbidden ground is truly terrifying—ten go in, not one comes out alive. If anyone does make it back, they're either brain-dead or barely hanging on," the Sea Dragon Hall Master said.
"So it's Ghostshade Herb... That really is hard to obtain. In the Sea Regions, only our Sea Dragon Clan's forbidden ground has it. Lin Feng, you should just give up! Even the Hall Master nearly died in there once. With your current strength, there's no need to risk it.
You know your identity—if anything happened to you, our entire Sea Dragon Clan couldn't bear the consequences! Silver Dragon would be held responsible too!" the Grand Elder said.
For a moment, Silver Dragon didn't know what to say. He could only stare at Evan Lin, but Evan's resolve was clear: "I'm going into that forbidden ground, no matter what!"