210: Check-in

The river water was deep and the pressure was considerable, but for Gao De and his elite subordinates, it was like returning home.

The riverbed was not flat; instead, it featured undulating hills, deep ravines, dense forests of aquatic plants, and some simple Immortal Caves and guideposts that were clearly man-made.

Along the way, Gao De noticed an abundance of shrimp and crabs in the water, far more than in other ordinary rivers.

Aside from some clearly wild, unintelligent varieties foraging on the riverbed, most were of the same species as the Black Armored Crab Generals, perhaps a method used by the Dragon Palace to Cultivate Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals.

Patrolling Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals could be seen constantly along the way; they were either cruising fixed routes, standing guard in specific areas, or driving away dangerous aquatic beasts attempting to approach the navigation channel, all in an orderly fashion.

Through observation and occasional brief conversations with the guiding Shrimp Soldiers, Gao De gained a more intuitive understanding of the basic structure under the Qianjiang Dragon Palace's command.

Based on common aquatic species such as shrimp, crabs, turtles, and fish, a massive reserve of soldiers was formed through active cultivation and enlightenment.

Most low-level Demon Soldiers were between the First and Second Tiers, while mid-level generals were at least at the Third Tier, with quite a few Fourth-Tier Demon Kings serving as generals.

In addition, the Dragon Palace's defensive construction was impressive. Besides establishing a multi-layered patrol and checkpoint network along the main river channels, important nodes were reinforced with Formations. Combined with the aquatic terrain, this formed a tight defensive system, and with the numerous Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, it created an impenetrable defensive network.

Moreover, within the Dragon Palace's jurisdiction, important Spiritual Veins, mineral deposits, and special product areas seemed to have dedicated Demon Soldiers stationed or regularly collecting resources. Gao De frequently saw resource-laden vessels being pulled by Yao Beasts, heading towards what appeared to be warehouses.

Gao De pondered in his mind: from the entrance stele to the inspections along the way, the various rules were clear and precise, and enforcement was strict, ensuring the smooth and safe flow of the waterway and upholding the Dragon Palace's authority. Some aspects were indeed worth learning for his own subordinates.

"As expected of a Dragon Palace that governs a water system and has a long Legacy, its Foundation is indeed profound," Gao De mused.

In contrast, his Qianjiao Cliff was still a nascent, "newly established force," far inferior in terms of scale, system, and heritage.

Led by the guiding Shrimp Soldiers, the team moved swiftly. After about an hour, the water flow ahead changed noticeably; the Spiritual Qi became denser, and the water color shifted from dark blue to a clear azure.

A magnificent palace, built on a raised hill at the riverbed and constructed from giant white coral and various luminous gems and shells, appeared in their line of sight.

The palace occupied a vast area, appearing brightly lit even a hundred zhang underwater. Both inside and outside the palace were pavilions and terraces, as well as mooring areas. At this moment, many boats of various designs and extraordinary aura, or aquatic beast mounts, were docked there, indicating that other invited guests had already arrived.

At the entrance of the palace, a plaque hung, bearing four grand characters written in a vigorous Dragon and Phoenix style—"Guest Welcoming Water Post."

"Great King Purple Lightning, the Guest Welcoming Water Post has been reached. Here, a reception steward will be responsible for arranging your rest, verifying your identity, and guiding you on subsequent matters to the Dragon Palace. Our duty as guides is complete; we shall now withdraw," the guiding Shrimp Soldier respectfully saluted.

Gao De nodded slightly, flicking out a few Water Spirit Pearls as a reward: "Thank you for your trouble."

The Shrimp Soldiers happily accepted them, saluted again, and then departed in Formation.

Gao De led his team, slowly swimming towards the brightly lit Guest Welcoming Water Post.

Upon arriving at the Guest Welcoming Water Post, a dedicated reception steward indeed came forward to greet them.

It was a Turtle Demon steward, shaped like an old turtle with intricate water patterns carved on its carapace, whose aura had reached the Golden Core Peak. He introduced himself as "Gui Jiu" and maintained a respectful yet appropriate demeanor.

After verifying Gao De's invitation and identity, Gui Jiu led their party to a quiet, spacious, independent Water Mansion courtyard within the post to settle down.

The courtyard was separated from the water flow by Water-Repelling Pearls, elegantly decorated inside, filled with abundant Spiritual Qi, and even had dedicated low-level Shell Maidens and Fish Servants. They also seemed to have been enlightened, all in a semi-demon form.

"Great King Purple Lightning, the Dragon Palace's Lifespan Banquet is still ten years away, and this place is still about thirty thousand li from the Dragon Palace's core waters.

Your Majesty may rest assured here, or you may use this 'VIP Token' to freely move around and visit the post and its surrounding authorized areas, as long as you do not trespass into military Forbidden Grounds or disrupt normal order.

The post has a trade market, an information teahouse, quiet cultivation rooms, and an martial arts arena for guests to use.

If you have any needs, you can always instruct the servants in the courtyard or find me directly," Gui Jiu introduced in detail.

Ten years, for a Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon with a long Lifespan, was indeed not long; perhaps it would pass in the blink of an eye.

Gao De did not plan to sit idly and wait. Given his age, ten years was still somewhat long, and this was an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Qianjiang Dragon Palace's sphere of influence, gather intelligence, and even make many friends.

"Thank you for your trouble, Steward Gui," Gao De said, taking the VIP Token and nodding.

After Gui Jiu withdrew, Gao De settled down briefly, then left Iron Profound and the other Demon Soldiers in the courtyard, instructing them to familiarize themselves with the environment, take turns on guard, and also to visit the market and other places to gain experience, but to be mindful of their words and actions and not cause trouble.

He himself changed into a more casual dark blue magic robe, taking only the Treasure-Seeking Jade Carp, which was sensitive to Spiritual Qi treasures, put away his VIP Token, and then left his accommodation.

He did not immediately go to the bustling trade markets or teahouses. Instead, he strolled seemingly casually along the outer perimeter of the post, while his Divine Sense quietly spread out, observing the construction of the water post, the words and actions of the arriving guests, and the ubiquitous low-level forces of the Dragon Palace—the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals.

Soon, he encountered a team of Shrimp Soldiers performing routine patrol duties in the waters outside the post.

The leader was a Second-Tier Middle Stage Green Armored Shrimp Soldier Captain.

Gao De proactively approached, showed his VIP Token, and calmly stated that he was new here and quite curious about the scenery under the Dragon Palace's rule. He asked if he could accompany the team for a brief visit to learn more, without interfering with their official duties.

Seeing that the VIP Token was correct and sensing the hidden Flood Dragon Qi on Gao De, the Shrimp Soldier Captain dared not be negligent and hurriedly saluted: "So it is an esteemed guest. As long as it does not involve military secrets, it is certainly permissible. I, Qing Qian, am willing to guide and introduce for Your Majesty."

Thus, accompanied by the Shrimp Soldier Captain named Qing Qian and his small team, Gao De began to carefully observe the territory of the Qianjiang Dragon Palace.