Chapter 209: Experience the world with Zi?!

One guy having dinner with three beauties would arouse envy in any other guy. Although Su Han had never talked to the Lu sisters, they had a chance to get to know each other by sitting around the hotpot today.

It was a major progress for their relationship since Su Han and the Lu sisters were not sociable people. Su Han was aloof with everyone while the Lu sisters were cold to everyone except Hao Ren.

Little White chirped in Hao Ren's hidden space until Hao Ren tossed an Essence Replenishment Pill for it to eat.

Although the elixir pills Su Han just gave him were not the best ones, it was not as cheap or ordinary as cabbages. It would be a test for Hao Ren to feed and nurture Little White properly.

After one hour, the dinner came to an end. Obviously, Lu Linlin and Lu Lili had never had hotpot before. From the look of it, Su Han never did as well.

"According to my intelligence network, West Ocean is gaining up on East Ocean. It's ok for you to tame a Demon Beast, but you must work harder on your cultivation," Su Han advised him before she left.

"Got it." Hao Ren nodded.

"If you have any questions, come to find me," Su Han said to him coldly before taking her leave.

Looking after Su Han's back, Lu Linlin pouted. "Gongzi, let us go home with you!"

"I need to cultivate in a quiet place. You should go back to your place." Hao Ren waved off their request, mulling over the hidden meaning in Su Han's words.

Seeing his serious face, the sisters didn't bother him anymore. They lived at Lu Qing's place, so they had a general understanding of the situation East Ocean was in. However, they didn't want to interfere as long as Hao Ren was safe. They rather enjoy the peaceful school life they had now.

After eating the Essence Replenishment Pill, Little White slept in Hao Ren's hidden space while Hao Ren drove back to his home by the sea. Then, he let it out to play while he went up to his room to cultivate.

There were two ways to unlock openings. One of them was to absorb the essence from nature; when the amount of the essence was enough, it would unlock the openings in the Dragon Core. The other one was to shoot the hundun sword energy into the clouds and bring back the lightning power to force a breakthrough.

Comparatively, the first method was steady and safe, building a solid foundation for himself. The second one could increase his strength greatly in a short time, but he would be in danger if the Heavenly Lightning Bolts were accidentally triggered. After careful consideration, Hao Ren decided not to use the lightning cultivation method of the Light Splitting Sword Shadow Scroll until he has reached Zhen-level.

Having eaten an Essence Replenishment Pill, Little White was livelier when it was released from the hidden space. It ran around in its original Snow Lion form in the spacious living room.

Buzz... Hao Ren's cell phone on the bedside table vibrated.

He picked it up and saw Zhao Hongyu's number on the screen.

"Hello, Auntie?"

"We came out of the Dragon Palace today. We are by the sea and can drive you back downtown," Zhao Hongyu said over the phone.

"Ok." Eager to ask them about Zhao Kuo, he immediately summoned Little White and put it in the necklace before walking to the seaside.

Zhao Guang and his family were waiting for him at the rock by the sea.

"How is Third Uncle?" Hao Ren asked as soon as he got to them.

"We'll talk about it when we get home." Zhao Guang waved at him.

Both Zhao Hongyu and Zhao Yanzi looked grim, and Hao Ren's heart sank at the sight of this.

The black Chevrolet was parked not far from the sea.

"How is everything going for you?" When they were in the car, Zhao Hongyu asked Hao Ren.

"It has been ok," Hao Ren answered. In fact, he had been worried about Zhao Kuo these past few days, but he didn't want to bother them by going back to the Dragon Palace as he knew that they were busy handling the situation.

"We were busy handling internal affairs and forgot to send guards for you. It's good to know that you are fine." Zhao Hongyu nodded with satisfaction.

Zhao Yanzi kept silent, gazing out of the car window.

The car drove swiftly and arrived at their home shortly.

They entered the house and sat down on the sofa in the living room.

Zhao Yanzi looked pale. Although she didn't go to school these past few days, she was obviously exhausted after taking care of her Third Uncle in the Dragon Palace.

"We declared to the outside world that Zhao Kuo had passed the Heavenly Tribulation. In the past few days, I had to host the celebration ceremony while making plans with the core elders. That's why we didn't contact you," Zhao Guang said.

On the one hand, they must gather the elders to discuss and make strategies; on the other hand, they had to celebrate while Zhao Kuo was recovering from his serious injuries. Hao Ren knew they were exhausted both emotionally and physically.

"Zhao Kuo appeared in the celebration ceremony as a victor, and everyone thinks he has passed the Heavenly Tribulation successfully. Only the most loyal generals, soldiers, and core elders know the truth, including you," Zhao Guang continued.

He was frank with this information, taking Hao Ren as one of the core members of East Ocean.

Hao Ren nodded solemnly, understanding the grim situation.

"After the celebration ceremony, Zhao Kuo's body recovered. He decided to leave the Dragon Palace and cultivate while traveling," Zhao Hongyu said.

"Cultivate while traveling?" After a moment of consideration, Hao Ren said, "On one hand, he could slowly reclaim his strength. On the other hand, people will think that he is traveling around because he entered the Heavenly Dragon Realm. Am I right?"

"Good. You have a clear mind." Zhao Hongyu looked at Hao Ren with appreciation. "Zhao Kuo has decided to start again with his cultivation. He wants to travel back to the places he has been to."

Hearing her words, Hao Ren had a higher regard for Zhao Kuo.

He had lost all the cultivation strength he had accumulated for the last 200 years; his hope for the last 200 hundred years was crushed in one night. Another man would have collapsed with the loss of self-confidence, but Zhao Kuo has decided to start again with cultivation as soon as he recovered.

"It proves the saying that you have to fall back before you could advance. It's not a bad thing for Zi's Third Uncle," Zhao Guang said.

Hao Ren nodded, imagining the scene when Zhao Kuo left the Dragon Palace. He wondered what Elder Xingyue was thinking when she looked at Zhao Kuo as he took his leave...

"Besides Zhao Kuo, we have another thing to talk to you about today," looking at Hao Ren, Zhao Guang said abruptly.

"Oh, what is it?" Hao Ren looked at him. Zhao Yanzi also sat up straighter beside him.

"Zhao Kuo's success at the Heavenly Tribulation is a great event among the four oceans. So, the Four Ocean Dragon Clans decided to open the Nine Dragon Palace to celebrate it and encourage the younger generations to cultivate harder," Zhao Guang said.

Seeing Hao Ren's puzzlement, Zhao Guang explained, "The Nine Dragon Palace is a dragon palace in the prehistoric time, and it is the birthplace of the Four Ocean Dragon Clans. It's under the common management of the Four Oceans. It hovers in the void and shows up only when all Four Ocean Dragon Clans activate the array formations together."

"A godly palace in the void?" Hao Ren was surprised.

Zhao Guang continued, "The Nine Dragon Palace is activated every fifty years. It's only thirty years from the last opening, and we decided to make an exception this time to celebrate Zhao Kuo's success with the Heavenly Tribulation."

"Was it proposed by West Ocean?" Hao Ren asked.

"Yes." Zhao Guang nodded.

"West Ocean is very sly. They proposed to open the Ninth Dragon Palace, the ancestral temple of the four ocean dragon clans, to celebrate Third Uncle's success with the Tribulation. During the event, we will worship the ancestors and report Third Uncle's success to them. If the truth gets out one day, East Ocean would be guilty of deceit," Hao Ren said.

Zhao Guang's eyes lit up, surprised at Hao Ren's clear logic and judgment.

"You are right. We are at a disadvantage now since Zhao Kuo failed in the Tribulation. We have to deal with it step by step. Anyway, the fact that Zhao Kuo is good and healthy and that he is traveling will give them the impression that he has passed the Tribulation, and they will not make a move against us rashly. The most important thing right now is that we can't come back from the Nine Dragon Palace empty-handed."

Zhao Guang was a man of few words. But now his meaningful words and tone showed he had high hopes for Hao Ren.

"Ren, you stay the night here since tomorrow we'll travel to the meeting spot," Zhao Hongyu added. "Each time the Nine Dragon Palace opens, only eight people are allowed in there, which means each dragon palace sends two of their best young cultivators. We, East Ocean, decided to send you and Zi to the event."

"Zi?" Hao Ren was baffled since Zi, without her Dragon Core, was just an ordinary schoolgirl.

"Right. The Nine Dragon Palace only opens for six hours in every fifty years. Except for the grand palace where we worship the ancestors, the other places are still unexplored. In this ancient dragon palace, there are many ancient treasures and precious herbs which are very rare and hard to find in today's mortal world. It will be an amazing opportunity for the younger generations since a top-tier elixir pill could help you break through three or four realms in one breath. That's why the four ocean dragon palaces usually send their descendants there," Zhao Hongyu said.

Hao Ren nodded, understanding their intention. Zi was weak in cultivation, but as long as she was qualified to enter the Nine Dragon Palace, Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu would get her in. Maybe she would be fortunate enough to find some way in the Nine Dragon Palace to grow another Dragon Core. If not, she would probably get other benefits.

It was a rare chance that came every fifty years, and the leaders of the dragon palaces would certainly give it to their own children. After all, their children would one day inherit the throne.

"I'll give you the specific instructions before you enter the Nine Dragon Palace tomorrow. It's late now; you both go upstairs and sleep," Zhao Hongyu said to Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi.

"Ok!" Hao Ren looked back at Zhao Yanzi before standing up from the sofa.

Zhao Yanzi snorted as if not happy to be partnered with Hao Ren. She stomped up the stairs.

Hao Ren smiled helplessly and walked up the stairs slowly. It suddenly dawned on him that Zen Yitao would also participate in the event.