Chapter 496: Chapter 495: The Old Dragon King

[New Task: Your book “Journey to the West” has caught the attention of the Dragon Tribe of the Four Seas. The dragon sons believe you’ve demeaned the dragon tribe and hold resentment towards you, while the dragon daughters are impressed by your imaginative powers and have a fondness for you. Recently, on your travels to the East Sea, a Dragon Tribe lost their Dragon Ball. The tribe blames you for stealing it. In order to clear your name, you follow the breadcrumb trail, eventually discovering the real culprit and retrieving the Dragon Ball, cracking the ‘Case of the Missing Dragon Ball’. The East Sea Dragon King laughs heartily and invites you to the longevity celebration of the Elder Dragon King. At the celebration, there is a stark split in opinion towards you between the sons and daughters of dragons; the sons believe you come from an impoverished region and bring nothing of value to the table.]

[Please outshine everyone at the Longevity Celebration of the Elder Dragon King by presenting a gift that surpasses those of dragon sons.]

[You are advised against forsaking this task.]

[Task Reward: A dose of Soul-Splitting Water, a set of Dragon Scale Armor, and a set of the “Sky Witch Body”.]

“…”

Jiang Li furrows his brows and ponders upon receiving this task. Suddenly, he remembers a previous task from the system to write “Journey to the West” with the thoughtful hint that this task could be forsaken.

Back then, Jiang Li thanked the system for its thoughtful reminder and gladly abandoned it.

“According to the task description of the system, the book ‘Journey to the West’ spread across the Jiuzhou continent, creating a sensation that echoed from the land to the Four Sea Dragon Palace – it would be known by every soul. Then, it would lead me to a chance encounter with a Dragon Maiden in the Dragon Palace?”

“How comprehensive a revamp! Not only elevating my cultivation level but also my talents.”

Jiang Li goes along with the system’s train of thought, astounded by how much he’s overlooked.

“So, apparently, my alter ego, Jiang, has a dragon maiden as a Daoist partner.”

Just like how Jiang Li has previously adapted classic stories such as ‘Nezha Causes Havoc in the Sea’ and ‘Gourd Brothers’, he did consider adapting ‘Journey to the West’ into the Jiuzhou.

However, rapidly Jiang Li encounters an insurmountable obstacle.

He had never read the original work, he had only watched the TV series.

Even at Mahayana Realm, one can’t imagine what has not been seen.

So naturally, Jiang Li decided to abandon the idea.

“And this ‘Dragon Ball missing case’…”

Five hundred years ago, Jiang Li went to the East Sea and did run into a real dragon that had lost a Dragon Ball, which caused a significant disturbance at the time.

While people were leveraging their brain power to guess the identity of the thief in a messy way, Jiang Li invited Ji Zhi, who found the real culprit in an instant.

“I don’t know how Jiang cracked the case.”

“I haven’t seen the Elder Dragon King for quite some time, it’s time to pay him a visit.”

The Elder Dragon King is the father of the East Sea Dragon King, the predecessor of the East Sea Dragon King, and also one of the candidates for the Human Emperor, he was one of the last two candidates of his generation.

He lost to the 52nd Human Emperor, an outstanding female cultivator, and had to return to the East Sea to take on the role of the East Sea Dragon King.

When Jiang Li was in the East Sea, he caught the attention of Elder Dragon King, who also helped him a lot.

After Jiang Li became the Human Emperor, he expressed his gratitude to the Elder Dragon King on several occasions.

The Elder Dragon King kept a low profile and did not like to talk. Gradually, the Elder Dragon King became a legend, and people only mentioned him in casual conversations.

Jiang Li rides on the clouds to the East Sea.

The East Sea was always bustling, but now it is even more so as it the 2,800th birthday of the Elder Dragon King.

Real dragons use spells to disperse the rain clouds, the sky clears up, water dragons play in the water, creating rainbows, and the shrimp soldiers and crab generals are well trained and orderly.

Jiang Li meets familiar faces.

The Master of Penglai Fairy Island, Mo Ruoyu.

“Master Mo, we meet again.” Jiang Li greets her with a smile. A few young boys and girls follow Mo. They become excited upon seeing Jiang Li, expressing their appreciation in waves of cheering.

“Did the Human Emperor also receive an invitation?” Mo shows a look of surprise. As far as she knows, only the Four Sea Dragon Palace and the Penglai Fairy Island were invited to the Elder Dragon King’s birthday. The Elder Dragon King did not invite other forces. It seemed like he wanted to keep the birthday celebration small.

It is consistent with the Elder Dragon King’s traditional habits.

“Not at all, I just figured that the Elder Dragon King’s birthday was coming up, so I stopped by.” Even without the system, Jiang Li would come anyway.

“You all should already be familiar with the East Sea Dragon Palace, make your way to the spot reserved for us by the East Sea Dragon King.” Mo Mo sends away the young boys and girls with her.

Although they wanted to spend more time with Jiang Li, they had to obey Mo’s words. They sighed in disappointment as they left.

They walked backward, hoping to get a few more glimpses of Jiang Li.

“I’m sorry for the fuss my disciples have caused. The audio novel, ‘The Story of the Human Emperor,’ that you made, is their favorite.”

“Mo, you know how much of ‘The Story of Human Emperor’ is hyperbolized, and yet, you still let them listen to such wild fantasies.” Jiang Li sighed. Over 500 years ago, when he was injured, he stayed on Penglai Fairy Island for a while and shared his experiences with Mo Ruoyu.

Mo Ruoyu understands what his real past was like.

Mo Ruoyu covers her mouth and chuckles: “Because it’s fun.”

“You haven’t changed, your mischievous spirit is as vivacious as before.” Jiang Li has been victim to Mo’s pranks many times when he was young. When the previous Human Emperor heard about this, he even came to learn from her tricks.

Unfortunately, the previous Human Emperor never mastered them.

Fortunately, now that Jiang Li is the Human Emperor, Mo Ruoyu respects his position and authority, never revealing the pranks of the past, nor continuing them.

“Lady Ao, niece Nian’er.” Jiang Li notices that the real dragon dispersing the clouds nearby is Ao Chengcheng, Li Er’s wife, the Princess of the West Sea Dragon Palace.

“Human Emperor.” Ao Chengcheng turns into a human form and comes over with her daughter.

“Uncle Jiang.” Li Nian’er did not expect to see Jiang Li again shortly after leaving the consciousness space.

“Sister Chengcheng, niece Nian’er.” Mo Ruoyu knows Ao Chengcheng and they get along quite well.

“Li Er isn’t here?”

“He said he was in the Transcendance Tribulation Stage and that it would be inappropriate for him to come here.” Ao Chengcheng explains.

Li Nian’er doesn’t quite understand her father’s point of view.

Jiang Li nods, understanding Li Er’s unspoken message.

“Guests are to halt. Please present your invitation…Hu-Human-Human-Human Emperor?!!” The dutiful shrimp soldiers and crab generals stand guard at the entrance of the Dragon palace.

After that, they’re tripped up by their own words.

“Report to the Dragon King, we’ve got great news. A distinguished guest is visiting.” The shrimp soldiers and crab generals excitedly report to the East Sea Dragon King.

The East Sea Dragon King is currently entertaining guests. Seeing this, he lowers his voice and whispers in exasperation to the shrimp soldiers and crab generals, “I already told you, when Master Mo arrives, you’re to secretly inform me. Now that you’ve announced it loudly, what if the other three Dragon Kings hear about it?”

“It’s not Master Mo. It’s the Human Emperor!”

“What? The Human Emperor is here!”

The East Sea Dragon King’s voice suddenly escalated by several levels, loud enough for half of the attendees of the banquet to hear.

“What are you waiting for? Go and greet him.”

The East Sea Dragon King apologizes to the guests and then leaves to greet Jiang Li personally.

“You didn’t need to come out and greet me, I’m here.”

Jiang Li laughs loudly, his face more effective than any invitation.

“Where is Elder Dragon King? Take me to see him.”

“My father is unwell and needs rest. He will attend the longevity banquet. Please understand.”

“I understand, I understand.”