C536 Dragon Palace

Among the seven dragon boats, Yu Wenqing's was untouchable; no one dared to challenge it. Woo Zhengyang's boat was the same—after he took down all five members of the Moon Light Martial Mansion, nobody wanted to mess with him.

Then there were Fong Zhiyuan and Yann Xinjue, both of whom had skills and strength far above the others, securing two more boats for themselves. This left three boats for seven people to fight over, with four from the Sea Heart Martial Palace and three from the Azure Sun Martial Mansion. It was bound to be a fierce battle.

In no time, the dragon boats stopped a hundred yards from the platform. Seven flags shot out from the boats, flying straight to the platform and planting themselves in the water, fluttering in the wind.

With the flags right in front of them, everyone looked to Yu Wenqing and Woo Zhengyang.

“Let's go, pick one each!” Yu Wenqing said, glancing at Woo Zhengyang.

Woo Zhengyang nodded and stood up, joining Yu Wenqing in front of the seven flags. Yu Wenqing reached for the red flag, while Woo Zhengyang grabbed the purple one. Almost simultaneously, they pulled the flags down, and soon after, they transformed into streaks of light.

As the light faded, Woo Zhengyang and Yu Wenqing appeared on the red and purple dragon boats, respectively. Next up were Yann Xinjue and Fong Zhiyuan. Yann Xinjue moved without hesitation, but Fong Zhiyuan hesitated, knowing that once they left, the Sea Heart Martial Palace would still have four people, while the Azure Sun Martial Mansion would only have three. The battle for the remaining three flags would be tough for the Azure Sun Martial Mansion.

"What's the matter? Are you challenging me to see who's stronger?" Yann Xinjue asked with a light chuckle, noticing Fong Zhiyuan hadn't moved.

Yann's message was clear: if Fong wasn't getting on the dragon boat, then neither was he. If Fong wanted to stand with Azure Sun Martial Mansion, Yann would do the same. A face-off between the two would likely end in a stalemate, leaving the situation unchanged.

Fong understood this well, which left him frustrated. He deeply regretted not making amends with Woo Zhengyang earlier when he had the chance. If he had, Woo would likely have sided with Azure Sun, and with Woo's strength combined with the four from Azure Sun, even someone like Yu Wenqing wouldn't be a threat, let alone Sea Heart Martial Palace.

What embarrassed Fong even more was how noticeably his attitude toward Woo Zhengyang had shifted before others arrived. Initially, he had been open with Woo, but once others showed up, he acted like a stranger. This awkwardness wouldn't exist if he had maintained a consistent approach.

Looking at the other three from Azure Sun, Fong saw their serious expressions. Their earlier treatment of Woo had been even worse than his own. Now, realizing Woo's formidable strength, they were all anxious, fearing Woo might seek retribution.

However, their worries were unfounded. Woo Zhengyang had no intention of causing trouble for them, but they had missed the opportunity to ally with him.

Fong Zhiyuan shook his head, deciding to walk toward a flag. The journey ahead was still long, and now wasn't the time to confront Yann Xinjue.

Not long after, Fong Zhiyuan boarded a dragon boat, with Yann Xinjue following closely behind.

Next up, the three from Azure Sun Martial Mansion and the four from Sea Heart Martial Palace were set to clash fiercely...

The battle was intense and brutal.

Everyone entered the Bewilderment Dragon Stream in search of opportunities, and the Dragon Palace marked on the flag was likely a major one. Capturing the flag and boarding the dragon boat would bring them closer to this opportunity. Otherwise, they risked being left on the platform. All seven participants gave it their all, even secretly plotting against their own teammates to secure a flag for themselves.

Fifteen minutes later, the battle concluded.

Sea Heart Martial Palace secured two flags, while Azure Sun Martial Mansion managed to get only one. That single flag was obtained through cunning, using a fellow mansion member as a decoy.

...

The dragon boat's final ownership was determined, and the seven flags found their places. The dragon boat, docked nearby, began to turn and swiftly head back. Its speed was incredible, unmatched even by an expert at Martial King level flying on a sword. Yet, a protective shield formed around the boat, ensuring those on board felt no wind or waves.

The dragon boat, though not large, was incredibly comfortable inside. Sitting there, watching the sea rush by, was surprisingly pleasant. But in this strange world, such comfort was destined to be short-lived. The uncertainty of what lay ahead left Woo Zhengyang with little desire to relax.

"Seize the Dragon Flag, board the Dragon Boat, enter the Dragon Palace!" The nine characters on the banner were clear. The flag had been seized, the boat boarded, and now, it was time to enter the Dragon Palace.

But... considering the nature of this world's creator, could the journey really be that simple and smooth? Woo Zhengyang doubted it. Yet, unpredictably, the journey was indeed smooth. The sea was calm, and the dragon boat encountered no mishaps.

An hour later, a shadow of a palace appeared on the horizon, likely the so-called Dragon Palace. Initially, the palace's silhouette was vague and unimpressive. Woo Zhengyang knew that as the boat drew closer, the true grandeur of the Dragon Palace would reveal itself.

Ah, the Dragon Palace! Woo Zhengyang had seen many palaces, yet he couldn't imagine what the legendary home of the mythical dragon would look like. It was certain to be opulent and magnificent. However, it wasn't long before Woo Zhengyang's expectations were completely shattered.

Ahead, the palace was now clearly visible. It wasn't adorned with intricate carvings or lavish decorations, nor was it an extraordinary masterpiece.

No, it was just a simple thatched hut.

Yes, a thatched hut, without a single brick or tile, just a jumble of straw.

Was this supposed to be the Dragon Palace?

Woo Zhengyang wanted to convince himself that he must be mistaken.

Yet, the reality seemed to confirm his fears, as the seven dragon boats came to a stop in front of the hut. On the stone platform beneath the thatched roof, two bold characters were carved: "Dragon Palace!"

The characters were powerful and graceful, suggesting that the writer was a person of wild spirit and high status, certainly not an ordinary individual.

But these extraordinary characters naming a thatched hut as the Dragon Palace left Woo Zhengyang and his companions struggling to accept it.

However, considering the eccentric nature of this world's creator, they could come to terms with it. Given this person's personality, doing something so unconventional wasn't surprising at all.

Following this logic, the seemingly shabby thatched hut must be quite remarkable.

For a moment, their gazes toward the hut grew more intense with curiosity...

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