Although Jin Kou Yu Lu seemed powerful, it was merely an earthly technique.
There were still two extraordinary realms beyond it: Yan Chu Fa Sui and Chu Kou Cheng Xian, which possessed great power and terror.
Especially the realm of Chu Kou Cheng Xian, which could even distort world rules, rivaling innate deities.
Clearly, Nan Cai Cheng had not reached this realm yet. However, with just the realm of Jin Ke Yu Lu, he was already among the strongest in Da Xia.
With his words, the river split on both sides, revealing the muddy riverbed.
"Dry up."
Nan Cai Cheng casually pointed, and the muddy riverbed instantly lost its moisture at a visible speed, turning into cracked mud slabs.
Only then did Nan Cai Cheng and Marquis An Bo step onto the riverbed, heading towards the water mansion.
Marquis An Bo looked with some surprise at the water curtains on both sides. Many fish within the water curtains were also looking at them curiously. Some bolder ones even leaped out from the water curtains, landing on the dry riverbed, gasping for air, on the verge of death.
The two paid no mind to these fish and continued forward. As they walked past, the river water behind them quickly closed in, and these fish were thus spared.
Their arrival had naturally alerted Zhu Yin E long before.
As the Dragon Lord of the Yangtze River, she inevitably had to deal with government officials and naturally recognized Nan Cai Cheng.
However, Zhu Yin E was a woman, and her nature was rather laid-back, rarely managing affairs. Thus, she didn't interact much with the government. Seeing the two arrive together at this moment, she couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
"Yu Chan, we have guests. Go and welcome them outside."
After all, Nan Cai Cheng was one of Da Xia's top powerhouses; he had to be given face.
"Yes, Madam." Zhu Yu Chan responded, turning to head outside.
"I want to go too, I want to go too…"
Little Carp, who was almost going stir-crazy at home, quickly followed with her short legs.
Zhu Yu Chan glanced back at Zhu Yin E. Seeing that she hadn't spoken, it meant she tacitly agreed. Thus, she took Little Carp's hand and walked towards the entrance.
"Who's here? Could it be big brother?" Little Carp asked curiously.
Her family rarely had visitors throughout the year. The most frequent visitor was probably Ao Jiang Yue, which was why Little Carp felt so surprised.
"I don't know. We'll know when we get to the door."
Little Carp scratched her head. Looking down, she found something shiny on the ground. With a little wiggle of her hips, she picked it up and discovered it was a hairpin.
"Oh, isn't this Madam's hairpin? It's been lost for a long time." Zhu Yu Chan said with some surprise.
It was a phoenix-head hairpin, entirely golden, with several pearls adorning the tail, looking very luxurious.
"Oh, it seems to be Mother's. I'll return it to her, will she be very happy?"
"She certainly will be." Zhu Yu Chan smiled.
"Then, if she's very happy, will she let me go out and play?"
Zhu Yu Chan: ...
"It seems the Dragon Lord already knows we're here." Marquis An Bo said, looking at the water curtains around them.
All dragon races in the world were one family. There were River Dragon Kings, Yangtze River Dragon Kings, Sea Dragon Kings, and so on. The greatest was naturally the Sea Dragon King.
Therefore, people could directly address him as Dragon King. As for the others, although also called Dragon Kings, their titles had to be accompanied by their names or they were addressed with the title "Lord." These had their nuances, and only those who understood these nuances would address them as such. Others could call them whatever they pleased, as no one would bother them.
Marquis An Bo said this because the fish in the water curtains beside them all turned their heads in one direction, pointing the way for them like signposts.
The two walked forward and soon the Yangtze River water mansion appeared before them.
However, standing in front of the water mansion were two girls, one big and one small, which surprised them.
At this moment, Little Carp was curiously looking at the water curtain beside her, occasionally poking it with her small hand.
"Zhu Yu Chan, attendant to the Dragon Lord, welcomes you both."
Upon seeing the approaching figures, Zhu Yu Chan stepped forward a few paces and bowed.
"Apologies for the intrusion." Marquis An Bo stepped forward to reply, then looked curiously at the little carp standing nearby, her face tilted upwards.
He naturally knew who Little Carp was, so he smiled and greeted her: "Hello."
"Oh, hello." Little Carp looked blankly at the uncle in front of her.
Then she looked at Nan Cai Cheng, who stood silently behind Marquis An Bo.
Nan Cai Cheng sized up Little Carp from head to toe, then smiled slightly at her.
Little Carp was handsome, with clear eyes, a face full of innocence, and brimming with childlike charm. Anyone who saw her would feel affection.
Seeing him smile at her, Little Carp also grinned, showing a big smile.
The three people beside them immediately felt an inexplicable joy rise within them. Their mouths curved upwards, and they couldn't help but show their happiness.
"Not good."
Marquis An Bo was very vigilant. He quickly suppressed the stray thoughts in his heart. Although he retracted his smile, the joy in his heart could not be dispelled. After all, joy was one of human emotions, and it was not so easy to dispel.
"Calm your minds." Nan Cai Cheng said with a soft shout.
Everyone immediately felt an immense tranquility in their hearts, and the sense of joy vanished.
Nan Cai Cheng looked at Little Carp beside him with a peculiar expression.
Little Carp also restrained her smile because of that shout, scratching her little head in confusion.
Zhu Yu Chan also reacted at this moment.
"Apologies, Miss has only recently learned a divine ability and cannot yet control it freely. Please forgive her." Zhu Yu Chan quickly explained.
"It's nothing." Marquis An Bo's gaze fell on Little Carp, his eyes filled with admiration.
Even Nan Cai Cheng looked approvingly.
Such a divine ability, able to affect their state of mind without them realizing it. Putting aside its power, its foundation was absolutely extraordinary.
But Little Carp still looked dazed, completely unaware of what had happened.
"Please, the Dragon Lord has been waiting for a long time." Zhu Yu Chan gestured forward.
Marquis An Bo turned and stepped back, letting Nan Cai Cheng go forward. Although they were friends, their identities, status, and strength were very different. Therefore, when outside, proper respect had to be maintained. Marquis An Bo saw this clearly.
Nan Cai Cheng nodded slightly, stepped forward, and Marquis An Bo quickly followed behind.
They passed through a thin film and arrived at the entrance of the water mansion. This thin film separated the surging river water, creating a world of its own at the bottom of the river.
As the two entered, the separated river water outside quickly closed.
The two walked up the steps and were about to step into the water mansion.
Suddenly, a clatter, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, reached everyone's ears.
The few people looked down and found that it was a string of jade beads attached to Nan Cai Cheng's waist that had fallen off. They landed on the steps in front of the water mansion, rolled down the steps, and finally rolled to Little Carp's feet, who was following behind them.
"Golden beads." Little Carp's face lit up with joy as she bent her little hips and picked up the beads one by one.
These beads were golden all over and densely covered with talismans, very exquisite. At a glance, they were clearly not ordinary golden beads.
Nan Cai Cheng was also greatly surprised. This jade pendant had been hanging from his waist for many years, and it was the first time a bead had fallen off.
The so-called pendant beads were actually similar to tassels, hanging below the jade pendant. There were three strings, each with three beads, totaling nine beads.
The number three gives birth to all things, and nine is the greatest number, representing the ultimate yang, yet it also signifies that nothing in the world can be perfect.
Little Carp picked up the nine beads one by one, then handed them to Nan Cai Cheng, intending to return them.
Nan Cai Cheng was stunned for a moment. He carefully examined Little Carp, his face filled with surprise, then took off the jade pendant and placed it in her small hand.
Little Carp looked confused.
"President Nan is giving you this jade pendant." Marquis An Bo explained on her behalf.
"How can this..." Zhu Yu Chan, standing beside them, was about to refuse when she saw Nan Cai Cheng look at her, and she immediately fell silent.
Little Carp didn't know about politeness. Hearing that she was to be given these golden beads, her face immediately lit up with joy.
This joy immediately infected everyone, giving them a sense of shared happiness.
Sensing Little Carp's joy, Nan Cai Cheng did not suppress it this time. Instead, he showed a faint smile, turned around, and continued to walk inside.
Little Carp, following behind, held the golden beads in her hands, her small brain wondering how many lollipops these golden beads could be exchanged for.