When Lu Qingmo received Han’s snail communicator, a sense of unease crept into her heart.

  Could it be trouble again?

  Every time the snail rang, she never knew what awaited her on the other end.

  After listening to Han’s explanation, Lu Qingmo finally let out a sigh of relief.

  “I’ve heard of the Shuiyuan Grand Gathering. It’s indeed a grand event.”

  Recalling the relevant knowledge, she added, “Lord Long of Yunjiang is one of the most powerful figures among the aquatic clans. He holds significant influence over many waterways within the Great Qi territory. If you’re interested, accepting the Dragon Maiden’s invitation to attend might be worthwhile.”

  “At the very least, it’s safe.”

  Han pondered for a moment before making his decision.

  “With such an invitation, I wouldn’t dare refuse.” Han chuckled. “By the way, where is this Shuiyuan Grand Gathering being held?”

  “I’ll come to pick you up in the evening,” the Dragon Maiden said with a smile. “You only need to wait here.”

  “Then I’ll be counting on you, Dragon Maiden.”

  With that, the Dragon Maiden and her aquatic guards disappeared into the water, vanishing from sight.

  “This Shuiyuan Mystic Realm… is it another world?” Han asked, now seated across from Lu Qingmo.

  Lu Qingmo shook her head. “Not exactly.”

  “It’s simply a region where an immense concentration of water essence has altered the spatial fabric, making it distinct from normal areas.”

  “All things in this world contain elemental essence, and for rivers, lakes, and seas, water essence is naturally dominant and highly concentrated.”

  “The Shuiyuan Mystic Realm is, in essence, a unique domain of power.”

  Han understood now—it was akin to a space enveloped by a specialized field of energy.

  “Regardless of what it’s called, the rivers, lakes, and seas are ultimately the territories of the aquatic clans. So, all Shuiyuan Mystic Realms are under their control.”

  “With the birth of each mystic realm, aquatic beings are drawn to it, and among its treasures, the Shuiyuan Treasures stand out as particularly valuable.”

  “The competition for these treasures follows established rules, which the powerful aquatic figures set according to the realm’s unique properties. You’ll see for yourself when the time comes.”

  Lu Qingmo continued, “The Shuiyuan Grand Gathering isn’t exclusive to the aquatic clans. Other races and entities often make an appearance as well.”

  “Doesn’t that mean the aquatic clans are just handing over their treasures to outsiders?” Han asked, puzzled. Would they really be so generous?

  “The Shuiyuan Treasures are indeed precious, but they aren’t the most valuable thing within the mystic realm for the aquatic clans,” Lu Qingmo explained. “For them, the true prize is the core essence of the realm itself—it refines their bloodlines and aids their evolution.”

  “To secure that essence, they are willing to forgo the treasures. Thus, weaker aquatic clans often seek external allies to help them compete against stronger ones. Over time, this practice became tradition.”

  Han was speechless. Now he understood.

  At its core, this was just another arms race.

  If I can’t beat you, I’ll find reinforcements.

  Seeing this, other aquatic clans naturally follow suit, each enlisting their own allies.

  What started as an internal affair of the aquatic clans soon expanded to involve all kinds of factions.

  “As for the realm’s core essence, you don’t need to concern yourself with that,” Lu Qingmo stated. “By accepting an invitation to assist, it’s an unspoken rule that even if you claim victory, the core essence belongs to the aquatic clans. Besides, it isn’t particularly useful to humans.”

  Han nodded. It was a matter of mutual interests, after all.

  “For you, attending the Shuiyuan Grand Gathering should primarily be a learning experience,” Lu Qingmo advised. “I can’t speak for other regions, but within Tianzhou, many aquatic clans from various waterways are likely to appear.”

  “As for the Shuiyuan Treasures… take things as they come.”

  Han grinned. “I understand—there’s always someone stronger out there.”

  “I’m just going to observe. I won’t stir up any trouble.”

  Lu Qingmo remained silent. That statement…

  Not a word of it was convincing.

  Han later shared the news with Bai Tian and the others.

  Bai Tian wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about the Shuiyuan Grand Gathering, but since Lu Qingmo had already approved, he had no objections.

  The others, however, couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

  “Junior Brother, the Dragon Maiden personally came to invite you. That’s quite the honor,” Shen Long teased. “Could it be that our Taibai Martial Hall is about to gain a dragon-related son-in-law?”

  “Second Senior Brother, she and I are just acquaintances. Don’t talk nonsense.”

  Han was exasperated. They weren’t even close enough to be considered friends yet.

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  As for becoming a son-in-law of the dragon clan…

  Hmph. Han stood tall and proud—he would never be a live-in son-in-law!

  Unless, of course, there was significant compensation.

  That evening, Han stood by the Yunjiang River, watching martial artists come and go from Heishan.

  Over the past month, Heiyun Town had become increasingly prosperous. The population had surged, and many outsiders had taken up residence.

  Inns were packed to capacity daily, and even ordinary households had begun renting out rooms.

  It wasn’t just martial artists pouring into Heiyun Town; many commoners had also journeyed from afar, seeking business opportunities and a means to support their families.

  After all, martial artists still needed food and daily necessities, and most of them were well-off, spending money generously.

  For many, this town was a gold mine. If they seized the opportunity, they could rise to fortune. Heiyun Town had become a new frontier, a land of opportunity.

  The opening of Heishan didn’t just impact martial artists—it also affected the livelihoods of commoners, the town’s economy, and even its tax revenues.

  Heiyun Town was thriving, full of life and energy.

  Of course, with prosperity came problems.

  Security, for instance, had become a major concern.

  Due to Lu Qingmo’s influence, Han had some insight into these matters. Both the Ghost Division and the Martial Enforcement Division had been overwhelmed, dealing with an influx of cases and disputes.

  Even Taibai Martial Hall had received multiple requests from the Martial Enforcement Division for assistance. Other martial halls and influential families were in a similar position.

  Meanwhile, the town governor was experiencing mixed feelings—both pain and joy.

  The pain? Managing the town had become far more challenging.

  The joy? The booming economy had led to a massive increase in tax revenue, which was an undeniable achievement in his political career.

  The position of Heiyun Town’s governor had long been a thankless one, lacking any real influence.

  Due to the town’s unique nature, both major divisions wielded immense power.

  Even though the head of the Martial Enforcement Division didn’t have Lu Qingmo’s deep connections, his own background was formidable.

  This left the governor in an awkward position, constantly deferring to the division heads.

  In most counties, the “three giants” of governance held true power.

  But in Heiyun Town…

  With imperial authority far away, the two division heads reigned supreme, their strength dictating all.

  Han stood in silence, contemplating the future.

  With Heiyun Town’s rapid development and Heishan’s newfound accessibility, there was no way the imperial court would turn a blind eye.

  A delegation from Yujing was inevitable—the only question was when.

  When that day came, who knew what changes would unfold in Heiyun Town?

  Han sighed. Truly, turbulent times lay ahead.

  If not for the Mountain God still being alive, Black Cloud Town would have already descended into chaos.

  After all, those Bone Refining martial artists and the dominant forces from other regions were far from being virtuous. The only reason they remained subdued was their fear of the Mountain God.

  The current peace was fragile at best.

  All I wanted was to cultivate quietly, tease my senior sister, spend time with Aunt Mo, and one day witness the grandeur of immortals. But in this world…

  As Han pondered, a treasure ship drifted down from the upper reaches of Cloud River, stopping right before him.

  Standing at the bow, dressed in elegant palace robes, the Dragon Maiden smiled at him.

  “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting, Young Master. Please, come aboard.”

  “I just arrived as well,” Han replied with a smile as he stepped onto the ship.

  With that, the vessel began its return journey.

  This scene did not go unnoticed.

  “Wait… isn’t that Taibai Han?”

  “And the one picking him up… that looks like the Dragon Maiden of Cloud River Palace!”

  “What?! The Dragon Maiden?”

  “Why is Han boarding her ship in the middle of the night?”

  “I have a friend who was lucky enough to attend the last Dragon Lord’s banquet. He said the Dragon Maiden seemed quite fond of Han, maybe even considering him as a potential consort.”

  “Hiss… a ‘Dragon Son-in-Law’?”

  “You illiterate fool, it’s ‘Riding the Dragon’s Fortune’!”

  “Does it matter? Either way, he’s sitting on top of the Dragon Maiden.”

  “…You are truly… an idiot with an unusual level of intelligence.”

  “Are you calling me an idiot?!”

  “Damn it, that kid is really lucky. Is it just because he’s handsome?”

  “…”

  The rumor of the Dragon Maiden seeking a consort was already widespread, with countless variations of the tale.

  Now that Han was seen leaving with her, it was bound to spark even more speculation.

  By dawn, yet another legendary story about Han would surely spread.

  Han wasn’t the only guest on board. There were also young elites from the Cloud River Dragon Palace.

  “This is Jiao Gu,” the Dragon Maiden introduced, gesturing towards a young man with sharp features and two small horns on his forehead. His expression was cold as he merely glanced at Han before looking away.

  “This is Li Lingxiu,” she continued, introducing a lively young girl with a hint of baby fat. She smiled softly at Han.

  “And this is Gui Mian, a descendant of the Turtle Minister.”

  Gui Mian was a plump young man with a round face and drowsy eyes, looking as though he hadn’t had enough sleep.

  Finally, the Dragon Maiden turned to Han, “This is Han from Taibai Martial Hall. Young Master Han, you may already be acquainted with them.”

  Han nodded and exchanged polite greetings.

  The Dragon Maiden then explained the arrangements for the Water Yuan Gathering, confirming what Lu Qingmo had told him earlier—any Water Yuan Treasures they obtained would belong to Han, while the source of the Mystic Realm would go to the Dragon Palace.

  Of course, that was assuming they managed to claim any treasures at all.

  Jiao Gu let out a disdainful snort. “Your Highness, does our Cloud River Dragon Palace really need outsiders to—”

  “Jiao Gu.”

  The Dragon Maiden’s gaze turned sharp, and Jiao Gu immediately fell silent, though his unwillingness was evident.

  Han maintained a calm smile, but inwardly, he had already categorized them.

  From an omniscient perspective:

  · Jiao Gu was marked red (hostile).

  · Li Lingxiu was a mix of green and white (neutral with a hint of friendliness).

  · Gui Mian was pure white (harmless).

  Still, Han had to admit, the Dragon Maiden wielded considerable authority over these water clans. Just one look from her was enough to silence Jiao Gu.

  Strange—Han had always thought she was rather gentle.

  “Your Highness, I’ll go rest first. I’ll come out when we arrive,” Gui Mian suddenly yawned.

  The Dragon Maiden sighed but granted him permission. Jiao Gu also left shortly after, leaving only Li Lingxiu behind.

  “Don’t mind Gui Mian,” the Dragon Maiden explained. “Turtles are naturally drowsy creatures.”

  Han nodded thoughtfully. “So he’s from the turtle clan.”

  “Where exactly is the Water Yuan Gathering being held this time?” Han asked.

  The Dragon Maiden replied, “In the territory of Fenghua County, at Nine Cavern Lake.”

  “That’s quite far from Black Cloud Town.”

  Han was a little surprised. Fenghua County was almost on the opposite end of the region, bordering Tianhai County.

  Before being transferred here, his brother Tie Yi had been active around Fenghua.

  “The Water Yuan Mystic Realm doesn’t have a fixed location. It can appear anywhere with a significant confluence of water. This time, it just happens to be farther away.”

  The Dragon Maiden reassured him, “But don’t worry, Young Master Han. Although the journey is long, we will arrive quickly.”

  Han soon discovered what she meant by ‘quickly.’

  The ship was moving at an incredible speed—faster than Lu Qingmo’s flying carpet, almost like teleportation.

  It felt as though Cloud River itself was propelling them forward.

  Ah, the perks of being the Dragon Maiden of Cloud River!

  After chatting with the Dragon Maiden and Li Lingxiu for a while, Han retired to his room.

  “Elder Sister, you seem to value Han quite a lot,” Li Lingxiu commented in a hushed voice.

  “He is a true genius,” the Dragon Maiden acknowledged with a nod.

  “Then why not take him as your consort?” Li Lingxiu teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “Enough nonsense.”

  The Dragon Maiden glanced toward Han’s room. A consort…

  Mountains stretched endlessly in the distance, swallowing the horizon. The mighty river surged forward, boundless and majestic, shifting from golden brilliance under the sun to an eerie silver sheen beneath the moon.

  At the call of the Dragon Maiden, Han stepped out of his room—

  Nine Cavern Lake. They had arrived.