Chapter 1955 — 1955: Underwater City

After forming an airtight barrier of spiritual energy around himself—functioning like a self-contained air tank—Yuan stepped forward and followed Jiao Zhenhai into the depths of the Sea of Dragons.

The waters of the Sea of Dragons were remarkably clear, allowing Yuan to see his surroundings with ease, even without the aid of any special techniques or artifacts.

Once they had descended deep enough into the sea, one of the soldiers accompanying Jiao Zhenhai suddenly shifted into his true form—a massive, blue-scaled dragon whose presence seemed to ripple through the surrounding waters with raw majesty and power.

"Hop on."

Jiao Zhenhai said to them as he stood on the dragon's back, treating it like a mount.

Flying treasures that functioned underwater were rare and not as fast as they were in the sky, but for the Azure Dragon Clan, such tools were unnecessary. Masters of the sea, they traversed the waters with ease, relying on their natural prowess rather than external aid.

"We will arrive at our destination in a month," said Jiao Zhenhai.

"A month? Your base isn't as far as I expected," Yuan remarked.

Jiao Zhenhai laughed at Yuan's remark and said, "It only takes a month because we're taking a shortcut. If we travel normally, it'd take several years to reach our place."

"By shortcut, do you mean the underwater currents?"

"A few of those and a natural teleporter."

Just as the Primal Expanse possessed natural teleporters, so too did the Nine Heavens, though most of them were hidden deep beneath the sea.

As for the underwater currents, they functioned like one-way tunnels, allowing anything within them to travel at incredible speeds with minimal effort.

A few days later, they reached their first underwater current. The moment the dragon entered it, a powerful force surged around them, and their speed increased severalfold, propelling them through the depths like an arrow loosed from a bow.

However, these water currents are not without drawbacks. One of the drawbacks to these underwater currents was their sheer intensity. Some were so powerful that they could tear a body apart if one wasn't strong enough to withstand the force.

'It's been a while since I entered one of these…' Yuan thought to himself as he reminisced about the previous times he'd traveled underwater as Tian Yi, the Immortal Monarch.

The Azure Dragon Clan wasn't the only one to call the ocean depths their home. Countless species and races had carved out their own domains beneath the waves.

While the underwater world wasn't nearly as densely populated as the lands above, it was far from empty, filled with a wide variety of beings who had adapted to life in the vast, mysterious deep. When he was still living as the Immortal Monarch, he'd even visited cities that were entirely built under water.

After spending several days riding the current, they finally reached its end.

However, it wasn't long before they came across another one just a few hours later—and without hesitation, they entered and let it carry them onward through the depths once more.

As for Yuan's barrier, it was under constant assault from the powerful currents. If not for his physique that constantly replenished his spiritual energy and experience, maintaining it would have been impossible for someone at his cultivation level.

Half a month later, they arrived at their first natural teleporter, which existed in a suspicious-looking fissure at the sea floor.

Throughout their journey, Yuan encountered many unique sea beasts, some bearing a striking resemblance to dragons, although lacking the distinct, commanding aura that true dragons possessed.

Yet despite their size or appearance, these creatures would always steer clear once they sensed the group's presence, instinctively avoiding the path of the Azure Dragon Clan. Hell, Yuan even came across a few Flying Leviathans, but like the rest of the sea beasts, they veered away the moment they sensed the group's presence.

After passing through the deep fissure, Yuan's group emerged into an entirely different region of the sea.

The terrain had shifted so drastically that without thousands of years of experience living in these waters, it would be nearly impossible to navigate or know where to go next.

After passing through several more currents and one final natural teleporter, Yuan and his group finally arrived at the Azure Dragon Clan's territory.

Nestled deep within the tranquil blue of the sea, the territory resembled a small, self-contained city—its structures crafted from a combination of gleaming coral, crystal, and flowing stone that shimmered with life and energy.

Towering spires curved like sea serpents, and wide pavilions were anchored to the seabed by living roots that pulsed faintly with energy.

Glowing flora swayed with the tides, illuminating the surroundings with a gentle bioluminescence. At the same time, aquatic beasts native to the region glided peacefully between structures, coexisting in harmony with the Azure Dragons.

Despite being underwater, the city exuded a quiet, regal grandeur—an ancient calm that reflected the pride and heritage of the Azure Dragon Clan.

Unlike the Holy Dragon Clan, which remained largely self-contained within the Dragon Spiral Mountain, the Azure Dragon Clan operated more like a traditional royal house, complete with its own city, infrastructure, and citizens. They didn't just command a bloodline; they ruled a domain.

As for the inhabitants of the Azure Dragon Clan's territory, they weren't limited to dragons alone. A diverse array of sea races could be seen moving through the city, most of them bearing the human form.

Just like most land-dwelling beasts, sea beasts had adopted human forms for convenience, making interaction, movement, and daily life far easier within a structured society.

As Yuan's group passed over the city from above, the scene below shifted. Everyone, regardless of race or status, paused what they were doing and looked up. With reverent expressions, they offered respectful bows or gestures, honoring the presence of the Azure Dragon Clan.

"Is this your first time seeing an underwater city?" Jiao Zhenhai suddenly asked Yuan.

He shook his head and responded with a slight smile, "No, but it's definitely been a while since I've visited one."