Chapter 83
Hao Ren woke up early the next day. He opened up the window, faced the ocean, and cultivated the Spirit Concentration Scroll for another two hours.
The fog in the morning formed some spiral-shaped water elements, and they entered the acupoints in Hao Ren's body without his awareness. The water elements went through more than a hundred of acupoints in his body, and they traveled along and stored themselves in the Dantian to irrigate the Dragon Core.
The second level of the Spirit Concentration Scroll was the realm of guiding the energy inside the body. Even though it couldn't be compared to the third level, it was still great progress for Hao Ren who just started cultivating.
After cultivating, Hao Ren's body had become more and more refined. Even though there wasn't the growth of muscle in his body, his strength increased by many folds.
Hao Ren stopped his cultivation process when he heard something outside. He opened the door and walked out.
"You're up so early?" Hao Zhonghua, who was in the hallway, asked when he saw his son walking out.
"Are you still working today, Dad?" Hao Ren asked.
"Yeah, I still have many things to finish from yesterday. You look great! Must have had a good sleep from last night?" Hao Zhonghua asked.
Hao Ren nodded with a smile.
In fact, the additional benefit of the Spirit Concentration Scroll was to restore one's stamina quickly, and it worked better than sleeping.
Both Father and Son went downstairs, and Hao Zhonghua made something simple to eat.
"Dad, can you drive me to the city on your way?" Hao Ren said as he ate.
"Today's Sunday. You don't have cla.s.ses, right?" Hao Zhonghua was a bit confused.
"I'm going to Zi' place. Uncle Zhao is taking me somewhere today," Hao Ren replied.
"Oh, okay," Hao Zhonghua ate the bread and didn't ask anything else.
Hao Zhonghua was very similar to Hao Ren. Even if they were close to someone, they didn't know how to express their feelings well.
Hao Zhonghua was also busy with his research. Therefore, Yue Yang was the one who took the initiative and went after Hao Zhonghua.
Hao Ren saw that his dad was absent-minded and knew that he was already thinking about work beforehand.
After eating breakfast, Hao Ren left a note on the table and went to the city in his dad's car.
Hao Zhonghua's biology laboratory was located in the city. When they were living in East Ocean City, he usually drove to work as well. Yue Yang's Climate Research Inst.i.tute was by the ocean and wasn't far from their oceanfront property; it was only little over a ten-minute walk.
Hao Ren felt his dad worked hard as Hao Zhonghua was even working on the Sunday. While Hao Zhonghua drove, he glanced at Hao Ren and suddenly asked, "Why do you wear bracelets like a girl?"
"What bracelet? They're just small wristbands," Hao Ren explained.
"Did little Zi give you those?" Hao Zhonghua asked.
Hao Ren shook his head.
Hao Zhonghua was just trying to get a conversation going and didn't care about the bracelets that much. It was pretty common for young guys to wear wristbands.
However, he wouldn't have thought that those two small bracelets, which looked cheap, would be something unimaginable.
He thought for a while and said, "I might have to leave in two days."
"Where are you going?" Hao Ren asked immediately.
"Connecticut, United States. There's an Academic Conference at Yale University. I also have a few friends in the biology circle there, and I have to visit them," Hao Zhonghua said.
"For how long?" Hao Ren kept asking.
"Hmm… for about two weeks," Hao Zhonghua answered.
Hao Ren
"But your mom won't go this time. She'll stay and take care of Grandma in East Ocean City," Hao Zhonghua said.
Seeing his son not answering back, Hao Zhonghua knew that Hao Ren was unhappy. "Take care of yourself and come back more often on the weekend to accompany your grandma," he said.
Hao Ren still didn't say anything. He thought his dad could stay longer this time, but who knew that he had to travel again after having a meal with Zhao Yanzi's family.
The car stopped at the door of Zhao Yanzi's house, and Zhao Guang came out to welcome them when he heard the noise.
Hao Zhonghua opened the door and quickly got out to greet Zhao Guang.
"Would you mind if I bring Ren along to somewhere?" Zhao Guang, who looked dignified in appearance, said with a loud voice.
"Haha, of course not. I've been busy with work lately. When I am free, I'll also bring Zi out with my family," Hao Zhonghua, who also had a strong figure and good temperament, responded loudly.
"Good, good, good…," Zhao Guang and Hao Zhonghua greeted and chatted with each other more.
Then, Hao Zhonghua had to go to work and left.
Zhao Guang led Hao Ren inside the house.
Hao Ren felt nervous when he thought of going to the so-called Dragon Palace.
"Are you awake, Zi?" Zhao Guang asked in a loud voice as he entered the house.
"Aiya… I still want to sleep!" Zhao Yanzi whined with a lazy voice from her bedroom upstairs.
Zhao Guang led Hao Ren upstairs and opened her bedroom door.
Zhao Yanzi was covered up in a blanket with two thin legs hanging outside the bed. Her hair was messy, and her pajamas were also crumpled. She looked like a little bird that was still not awake.
She opened her eyes semi-consciously and saw Hao Ren also standing at the door. She instantly screamed and shrunk into her blanket as she yelled, "Dad, why did you bring him up here!"
"Do you want to go to the Dragon Palace?" Zhao Guang stood at the door and asked.
"No, no, no…" Zhao Yanzi yelled from under the blanket.
Zhao Guang sighed helplessly and yelled at the bedroom next door, "You stay home and take care of Zi, Hongyu. I'll bring Hao Ren to the Dragon Palace."
"Okay," Zhao Hongyu's voice came from next door.
Their tones were so calm as if Zhao Guang was taking Hao Ren to another house of theirs to fetch something, and that destroyed the excitement and mystery Hao Ren felt.
"Forget about Zi; she still wants to sleep. Let's go ourselves. She had been preparing for her exams this week and is pretty tired. I'll let her rest over the weekend," Zhao Guang said as he brought Hao Ren out of Zhao Yanzi's bedroom.
"Okay," Hao Ren nodded. He knew Zhao Yanzi's temper and never argued with her.
Seeing Zhao Guang's calm expression, Hao Ren thought to himself again, "Maybe my expectation is too high. Is the real Dragon Palace like a broken temple or memorial temple? And is that the reason why they didn't stay in the sea and came on land to do business? Do those treasures, precious materials, and rare monsters not exist?
Hao Ren was nervous, disappointed, and yet excited at the same time.
Zhao Guang ignored Hao Ren's uneasiness, drove out his black Chevrolet, and took Hao Ren towards the beach.
As they traveled, Hao Ren found that the route they were on got them closer and closer to his home near the ocean. Gradually, he could see his family's home near the beach.
"Eh… the Dragon Palace is actually near my house… We've been "neighbors" for so many years and didn't even know…" Hao Ren thought to himself.
Suddenly, Zhao Guang turned into another area.
This place wasn't far from the lively Golden Seacoast Resort, and there were many reefs and rocks near the area. The wind and waves were huge, so it was rare for people to go there.
Zhao Guang parked the car and led Hao Ren towards the biggest reef in the area.
The shape of the reef looked like an upright sh.e.l.l, and there was a deep indentation in the middle; half of a person could almost hide in there.
"Use the Spirit Concentration Scroll and hold this in your mouth," Zhao Guang put a pearl-like bead in Hao Ren's palm.
Hao Ren followed the instructions and felt like his whole body was covered in a layer of cold air. Zhao Guang pushed on Hao Ren's back, and Hao Ren flew towards the reef.
He closed his eyes instinctively. When he opened his eyes again, he was at the bottom of the ocean.
The sea water surrounded him but couldn't get closer than a meter. The bead in his mouth became colder and drew the energy in his body bit by bit.
"I must have the legendary 'Water Repellant Bead' in my mouth! It could be counted as a dharma treasure…" Hao Ren speculated secretly.
"Don't overthink. Follow me," Zhao Guang transmitted his voice to Hao Ren in the water and led the way.
The Spirit Concentration Scroll wasn't only the Dragon Tribe's fundamental cultivation technique but also the "verification code" through the reef pa.s.sage. If one didn't cultivate Spirit Concentration Scroll, he or she can't get through.
"No wonder Su Han was very nervous when she sensed my energy; this fundamental cultivation technique is a key to their secrets and needs to be strictly controlled," Hao Ren thought while he followed Zhao Guang.
The sea water yielded automatically when Hao Ren moved around. With Water Repellent Bead in his mouth, he followed Zhao Guang closely and wasn't affected by the waves.
Hao Ren didn't know how long they had been walking, but he suddenly saw a golden object in front of them.
"Follow me and don't take any wrong steps," Zhao Guang's suddenly said to Hao Ren again and transmitted his voice over.
Zhao Guang explained further probably because he was worried, "There are many dangerous and complex array formations here. You would turn into ashes if you take a wrong step."
Hearing those words, Hao Ren suddenly focused and ceased his original intention of looking around.
"I am the son-in-law of the Dragon King. Wouldn't it be a huge joke if I died at the entrance of the Dragon Palace…" he thought.
"Two steps left, one step forward, one step right, two steps across…" Zhao Guang's calm voice was clearly transmitted to Hao Ren.
Hao Ren didn't dare to be careless. He followed the steps Zhao Guang told him and followed him steadily.
This way of walking was similar to the playground game of hopscotch, but the pressure on Hao Ren was insane!
Who would think that such dangerous array formations were hidden under the tranquil and serene sea water?
"Four steps forward, then turn right!" Zhao Guang shouted.
Hao Ren looked at his steps closely as he walked four steps forward quickly and then turned right immediately.
"We're here," Hao Ren felt relieved at Zhao Guang's words.
A short walk of ten minutes made him sweat through his entire clothes.
He rubbed his neck, raised his head, and looked up at the golden, luxurious, and grand East Ocean Dragon Palace!!