Chapter 10: The Most Unexpected Heist, An Encounter with the Dragon Girl
To be toyed with in such a way, and yet to escape unscathed—who dares provoke the Crown Prince at this moment?
"Deploy the three thousand Swordfish Soldiers, three thousand Tiger Shark Soldiers, and three thousand Sea Bull Soldiers of Xuanlong Palace. Search this ten-thousand-mile sea region, and leave that brat with no place to bury his bones!"
Ao Bing commanded coldly, his voice as chilling as a ghost from the depths of Hell. At the same time, the priceless Jade Ruyi in his hand shattered.
"Understood!"
None of his subordinates dared object; trembling, they rushed to carry out his orders as though granted amnesty.
Meanwhile, Li Mingzhu was basking in carefree delight, having long since journeyed to Three Mountains Island to exchange for a decent Spirit Boat, speeding joyfully across the ocean.
Should someone observe from the skies, they would discover that her destination was none other than Xuanlong Palace — Ao Bing's very lair.
Truthfully, Li Mingzhu had already discerned Ao Bing's ill intentions during their encounter underwater, but she refused to lose face.
Fortuitously, the inner core of the demon beast she had previously slain possessed the ability to weave illusions, leading to the scene where Ao Bing was skillfully deceived.
Of course, if Li Mingzhu hadn't already broken through the Illusion-breaking Realm, significantly strengthening her cultivation and mental resilience, she couldn't have used the inner core so expertly.
Even the demon beast itself, most likely, couldn't have created an illusion to the degree of perfection achieved by Li Mingzhu.
Knowing Ao Bing must be tirelessly hunting her, Li Mingzhu headed to Three Mountains Island, swapped for a Spirit Boat, and inquired about Ao Bing's lair.
The saying "the most dangerous place is also the safest" proved useful, especially as Li Mingzhu harbored an audacious plan. Her sole curiosity was how deep Ao Bing's hatred for her ran.
Once Li Mingzhu stealthily positioned herself near Xuanlong Palace, it took only half an hour for Ao Bing's forces to mobilize entirely. Watching the palace garrison empty, Li Mingzhu couldn't help but laugh.
Her laughter was joyous, yet tinged with mischief.
Ao Bing, overturning the seas to find me, could you have imagined that I — Li Mingzhu — would come straight to your lair? Soon, I'll empty it out completely. Haha!
It's well-known that the Dragon Clan lives in opulence; this fact had already been confirmed when Li Mingzhu boarded the Dragon Boat earlier. Her intention to raid the palace solidified back then.
Ironically, this golden opportunity was handed to her by Ao Bing himself. If he hadn't recklessly deployed the entirety of Xuanlong Palace's forces, Li Mingzhu wouldn't have had this chance.
With the troops gone, Li Mingzhu transformed herself. In an instant, the handsome youth morphed into a rough-looking man: the very black-faced fellow from the Dragon Boat.
The Innate Taoist Body has boundless variations; even without mastery of shapeshifting arts, Li Mingzhu's transformation was remarkably lifelike.
He swaggered boldly toward the gates of Xuanlong Palace, radiating an imposing air akin to the real black-faced man.
"Halt!"
A guard loudly shouted from dozens of meters away. Li Mingzhu didn't stop; still displaying arrogance, he covertly observed Xuanlong Palace.
Truly, the Dragon Palace's reputation as the Crystal Palace is well-deserved; its entirety composed of gemstones and glazed tiles, all fortified by Talisman Arrays.
Extravagance incarnate.
"Oh, it's General Li Liang! Didn't the General just visit earlier? Why return now?"
Two guards cautiously inquired, a sign of Li Liang's considerable status.
Indeed, his status was high. Li Mingzhu suddenly recalled: wasn't Li Liang that Yaksha General slain by Nezha in her past life?
"The Crown Prince commands this General to retrieve Spiritual Treasures from the vault in order to capture that petty thief. Lead the way now!"
Li Mingzhu snorted coldly, delivering a kick to one of the guards, showcasing arrogance perfectly befitting the role of Li Liang.
The guards initially doubted him, but after enduring the kick, they believed immediately. After all, wasn't General Li Liang known for his unreasonable demeanor?
The two dared not voice complaints. Silently, they began guiding him while inwardly grumbling curses at Li Liang.
"Damned Yaksha, just wait for the day you lose your status. We'll make sure you pay then."
But such complaints remained internal; as minor officials, they understood Li Liang's downfall was unlikely, given his position as the Crown Prince's trusted aide.
Passing through palace halls and Coral Forests, the guards soon led Li Liang to the treasury entrance.
"Dismiss yourselves. Do not let anyone disturb me, or you'll face the consequences!"
Li Mingzhu barked harshly, kicking the guards again, reveling in the thrill of playing authority.
No wonder people fight tooth and nail for official ranks. The pleasure of commanding others from a position of superiority is undeniable, though it pales in comparison to pursuing eternal endeavors.
After all, the hierarchy is endless. Even as one commands others, there will always be someone higher to command you.
Once the guards departed, Li Mingzhu faced a dilemma: a tightly sealed treasury door. How to enter?
He casually pushed the door, intending merely to try—unexpectedly, it opened.
Could Ao Bing trust his subordinates so much that the treasury door went unsealed?
Surprised and skeptical, Li Mingzhu couldn't let this opportunity slip away. He stepped inside and ensured to close the door behind him, reverting to his original appearance.
Previously prepared to break the door with the Qiankun Ring, this seamless entry felt too fortuitous for Li Mingzhu to resist.
Upon entering, he was immediately dazzled—golden treasures littered the floor alongside a kaleidoscope of sparkling gems and crystals.
The items Ao Bing displayed on shelves were the lowest-grade Magic Artifacts or Spiritual Objects, supplemented by cultivation manuals and even a couple of Acquired Spirit Treasures.
Indeed, the Dragon Palace was filthy rich; Li Mingzhu marveled before decisively sweeping everything into his Qiankun Ring, whether it seemed useful or not.
After all, since he'd chosen to loot, why discriminate between valuable and less valuable items?
Stealing one item is stealing; stealing a hundred is also stealing. No point hesitating—Li Mingzhu understood this well.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Suddenly, Li Mingzhu felt a tap on his shoulder. A crisp voice chimed from behind.
Reacting instinctively, the Qiankun Ring lashed out like a blazing whip. Being so closely approached without realizing it, Li Mingzhu's immediate response was self-defense.
A sharp clang echoed as the attack was deftly blocked. Turning around, Li Mingzhu found a young girl in a pale yellow gauze dress wielding an exquisitely crafted dagger.
"What's wrong with you? It's bad enough to raid the treasury, but must you attack people?" the girl grumbled indignantly, her face full of frustration.
"May I ask who you are, Fairy? Why are you here and why did you tap me unprovoked?" Li Mingzhu's nerves were taut, leaving no room for carelessness.
The girl's silent approach and ability to block his Qiankun Ring indicated she was far from ordinary.
"Who I am is none of your concern. As for why I'm here—obviously to steal treasures! What else? Honestly, you're so ungrateful; without me, you wouldn't even have gotten in here, yet you complain first!"
The girl hopped about, her expression brimming with disdain as she pointed accusingly at Li Mingzhu.
"The error was mine. Fairy, how about we each take what we need?" Li Mingzhu smiled politely, apologizing while remaining vigilant.
"Then it's settled." The girl giggled, her seemingly heartless demeanor making her appear guileless. Yet Li Mingzhu stayed cautious.
"Little Zhu Xiong, come collect treasures."
Li Mingzhu summoned Zhu Xiong and handed it the Mixed Heaven Silk Ribbon to identify truly valuable items while he casually gathered common items, ensuring he could monitor the girl closely.
"Wow, what a cute little cat!"
The girl squealed and quickly scooped up Zhu Xiong, completely smitten. As expected, adorable creatures are irresistible to young women everywhere.
"Let go of me! I'm no cat! You're the cat—and so is your whole family! *hic*" Zhu Xiong wriggled free from her arms, agilely dodging while cursing angrily, punctuated by hiccups from its wine-drinking habits.
"A drunk cat is no good cat!" the girl scolded sternly.