Night had fallen, yet Nine Caverns Lake shimmered with dazzling lights, illuminating the vast waters as if it were daytime.

  Elegant and uniquely crafted treasure ships dotted the lake’s surface, their multicolored lanterns reflecting off the water, casting a dreamlike glow through the mist. The scene was surreal, like something out of an illusion.

  "The eastern winds stir ripples in the night,

  Silver blossoms bloom upon jade palaces bright.

  The moon's reflection shimmers upon the tide,

  A pearl upon the river, a sight of pure delight."

  Despite the many vessels present, the sheer expanse of Nine Caverns Lake ensured there was no sense of overcrowding. It remained vast and open, as if effortlessly accommodating all who had gathered.

  Standing at the bow of their treasure ship, Han and his companions watched as the vessel steadily drifted toward the lake’s center.

  In the heart of the lake, an enormous area was veiled in a silken mist, shimmering under the moonlight, obscuring what lay within.

  “That is the Water Origin Mystic Realm,” the Dragon Maiden explained.

  Treasure ships from various regions sailed in steadily, each carrying guests of different backgrounds. Many who recognized the Dragon Maiden either observed her with curiosity or greeted her with smiles.

  Her status among the aquatic clans was undeniably prominent.

  Because of this, their ship was allowed to approach closer to the mystic realm than most.

  Han, with his omniscient perspective, scanned the attendees of this grand gathering.

  There were people from different counties and districts, aquatic beings from all directions, and even government officials stationed at the lake’s edge to maintain order. Barriers had been set up to keep ordinary folk away.

  A world as mysterious and supernatural as this was far beyond the reach of common mortals.

  By dawn, who knew how many new legends would emerge from this night?

  A Familiar Presence

  “Hm? They’re here too,” Han mused, spotting several red-bordered figures among the crowd.

  In a sea of white-bordered avatars, the red ones stood out conspicuously.

  The Huang family from Tianyue County!

  Han recalled the Dragon Maiden mentioning a Water Origin treasure—the Nether Spring Yin Dew—an artifact known for its potent effects on spirits and the undead.

  The Huang family was the most renowned ghost-taming clan across the surrounding counties, making it highly likely that this treasure was their target.

  However, Han found himself in a peculiar predicament.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  He had never directly wronged the Huang family, aside from a minor verbal spat with Huang Mingri.

  And yet, here they were—all marked in red on his interface.

  Was the Huang family really so united that a mere quarrel with one young master meant becoming an enemy of their entire lineage?

  The thought made Han chuckle.

  As their treasure ship came to a stop near the Water Origin Mystic Realm, the Dragon Maiden pointed toward the veiled area.

  “The gathering has yet to officially begin,” she said. “But on the other side of the mystic realm, many creatures have gathered—it’s quite lively. If you’re interested, we can take a look.”

  From his omniscient perspective, Han could already see that the other side of the mystic realm was indeed bustling. Rare treasures littered the area, constantly being claimed and stored away into spatial pouches.

  It was a temporary trade hub.

  Aquatic beings, who rarely left their native waters, had brought exotic items from their regions. Such gatherings were a rare opportunity for exchange—what was scarce in one lake might be abundant in another.

  Han found this quite fascinating. He had already spotted a few valuable items.

  Before he could voice his thoughts, Jiao Gu spoke up.

  “Your Highness, the Dragon King instructed that upon our arrival, we must first pay our respects to the Nine Caverns Dragon Lord.”

  A lake as vast as this naturally had its ruler.

  Though not as powerful as the Cloud River Dragon Lord, the Nine Caverns Dragon Lord was still a dominant force across Tianyue’s counties, his strength exceeding that of Enlightened Saints and Bone Refinement warriors alike.

  The Dragon Maiden hesitated for a moment before turning to Li Lingxiu.

  “XiuXiu, you don’t need to accompany us to the Dragon Palace. Stay with Young Master Han.”

  “Alright!” Li Lingxiu readily agreed, looking delighted.

  Gui Mian, the plump and perpetually drowsy youth, sighed enviously. “Your Highness, why don’t I accompany Young Master Han instead? Let XiuXiu go with you.”

  “You’re coming with us,” the Dragon Maiden refused immediately.

  She knew if Gui Mian were left alone, he’d probably find a quiet corner and fall asleep.

  With a sigh of resignation, Gui Mian lamented his tough life as a turtle.

  The Dragon Maiden and the others dove into the water, heading toward the Nine Caverns Dragon Palace.

  “Let’s go, Young Master Han,” Li Lingxiu said, hopping off the ship and landing lightly on the water’s surface.

  “You can step down directly—the Nine Caverns Dragon Lord has cast a great spell, allowing even land-dwellers to walk on water.”

  “You can just call me Han,” he replied, stepping off the ship.

  He was surprised—the spell extended across the vast expanse of Nine Caverns Lake, which stretched over three thousand miles in diameter.

  With his Water-Rejecting Pearl, Han could also walk on water effortlessly, but the scale of the Dragon Lord’s spell was on an entirely different level.

  Looking around, he saw others similarly treading upon the water, all making their way toward the trade hub.

  The Floating Lotus Bazaar

  As they approached, the scene before them unfolded in a mesmerizing display.

  Countless lotus leaves surfaced beneath each step taken by those entering the marketplace, forming a natural path across the water.

  Clusters of lotus flowers bloomed among the leaves, each cradling a rare treasure, with traders positioned behind them.

  The more people arrived, the more lotus leaves appeared; as individuals left, the leaves would gradually vanish.

  A sea of floating lotuses, carrying thousands of beings, each engaged in barter and trade—a magnificent and mystical sight.

  This was the marvel of Daoist arts, an unfathomable spectacle of the mystical world.

  Compared to cultivators, martial artists in their early stages were no different from primitive beings.

  “So many people!”

  Li Lingxiu tiptoed excitedly, scanning the crowd.

  “There’s the aquatic clan from Tianhai… and those are from Lingyang Lake…”

  She listed off various aquatic territories.

  Among the water domains of Tianyue’s counties, the four ruling regions were Cloud River, Tianhai, Lingyang Lake, and Nine Caverns Lake—each presided over by a Dragon Lord.

  Smaller lakes and waterways, in comparison, were far less influential.

  Tonight, all these forces had gathered in one place.

  And the real event… had yet to begin.