The Puppet About to Become the Spark

"Jiqu, how have you been?"

Upon hearing the words "How have you been?", Jiqu couldn't help but scoff.

"You're really good at making friends; did you learn that from your deceased father?"

This sarcastic remark, which showed absolutely no mercy, immediately brought the conversation to a stalemate.

Clearly, Jiqu is not afraid of the current Dragon King at all, nor does he intend to improve his relationship with him.

Outsiders may not know the secrets of the Dragon Spirit Species Royal Family, but Jiqu knows them very well.

After all, before escaping the sea, he and his fellow clansmen had spent many years moving between the first and Second Research Institutes of the Sea Race.

It wasn't that there weren't royal relatives in the research institute, and besides, no one would be wary of the Basket Star Type that had been experimental subjects for generations.

The secrets that can be heard are far more numerous than outsiders can imagine.

Therefore, it's useless to pretend in front of Jiqu.

The Dragon King understood his meaning, so he stopped hiding it and spoke frankly.

"No one likes being controlled by others these days. Are you interested in joining us?"

Jiqu raised an eyebrow, not replying immediately, but instead asking a question in return.

"'Us'?"

"Of course," the Dragon King's voice came calmly, "We are not the only ones who have been robbed by His accumulated power."

The Dragon King seemed to have guessed that he wouldn't readily agree to cooperate, and added.

"This is not an alliance, but merely a temporary cooperation for a common goal."

Jiqu knew that this was almost a clear indication that the Dragon King wanted to break free from the shackles that shrouded the Heaven-Controlling Realm.

It's unclear who instigated it or how long it had been planned.

Given the current lack of information, he will not give any definitive answer.

Even if the Dragon King hinted that other collaborators would join, it wouldn't make a difference.

Back then, the Beast King, the Insect Mother, and the Dragon Whisker, despite their combined strength, all ended up being suppressed.

What makes you think you, someone who only reached the Heaven-Controlling Realm in the last few decades, have gotten away with this?

Unless more than half of the Heaven-Controlling Realm join, Jiqu will not make any promises.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty the Dragon King, but I'd rather not join your plans."

With a gentle exertion of his Jiqu fingers, the hard scales shattered instantly.

"Snap!"

The sound of scales shattering echoed within the Dragon King Hall.

What followed was the terrifying pressure that slowly spread from the Dragon King due to his displeasure.

But he did not get angry.

After all, the Demon Race is currently hostile to the Sea Race, and Jiqu has old grudges with the Sea Race.

The rejection was expected.

"Father, please calm down. The Demon Race and our race have a long-standing feud, and it is normal for them to refuse to cooperate."

Yuanli's voice came from another intact molted scale, expressing his understanding of the Demon Race's refusal.

But then he changed the subject and continued.

"But our plan requires as many Heaven-Controlling Realm as possible; the Human Race alone is probably far from enough."

"If the Demon Race's Heaven-Controlling Realm doesn't cooperate, it will be detrimental to the implementation of our plan in every way."

What neither of them mentioned was that if the Demon Race's Heaven-Controlling Realm sided with the Planetary Will, their success rate would decrease further.

"It seems you have something on your mind."

Having discerned the meaning behind Yuanli's words—that he intended to persist in winning over the Demon Race Clan's Heaven-Controlling Realm — the Dragon King withdrew his leaking energy.

"Yes, please grant me permission, Father, to go to the Demon Race realm to persuade that gentleman."

"Absurd!"

Before he could finish speaking, the Dragon King interrupted Yuanli's suggestion.

"You are the Crown Prince; venturing deep into enemy territory is not something you should be doing! I will send someone else."

But Yuanli did not give up, and his voice rang out again.

"Father, this operation is extremely important; it concerns the succession of the Dragon Spirit Species Royal Family."

"Furthermore, the fact that the Crown Prince personally went to the Demon Race to negotiate so that the people would no longer suffer from the ravages of war could also be an asset in his smooth ascension to the throne and in winning over the hearts of the people."

The Dragon King pondered for a moment.

Indeed, the Dragon King had a compelling reason for being determined to break free from his constraints.

Previously, the Dragon King had not been bound by the Planetary Will.

It was only when he personally attacked Moonfall Continent that the Planetary Will descended and punished him.

The previous Dragon King —his father—was not from the Heaven-Controlling Realm.

In other words, the wisdom passed down from the previous Dragon King is of no use in the current situation.

The Dragon King could only find an opportunity to break free from the constraints when he discovered that the Planetary Will was binding him more severely than he had anticipated.

Otherwise, he would be unable to channel the vast majority of his energy into his successor when passing on the throne.

This is tantamount to severing the royal lineage of the Dragon Spirit Species Royal Family.

Therefore, the Dragon King had no choice but to challenge the shackles that bound him.

After thinking for a while, the Dragon King finally made up his mind.

"I will bring Yuan Shun back to your side tomorrow."

Go ahead, be careful.

Yuanli's voice rang out, carrying a solemnity and decisiveness, "Yes."

But what the Dragon King didn't know was that the person communicating with him on the other side of the scales was merely a puppet that was about to become the fuse.

In the dead of night, the battle between the Human Race and the Sea Race secretly ceased.

The two sides strangely ceased all movement, seemingly entering some kind of negotiation phase.

Meanwhile, the Demon Race's attack on the Sea Race continued.

However, the Sea Race, having already realized what was happening, launched a counterattack without the Human Race restraining them.

Furthermore, with the Demon Race army having already ventured deep into the ocean, logistical support has become increasingly difficult.

The Sea Race forces gradually gained the upper hand, and for a time, both sides suffered casualties.

However, the Demon Race's unstoppable momentum was completely shattered.

Just when the battle reached a stalemate...

Near a military base of the Sea Race's front line against the Demon Race, Banshee Sea Demon carrying the resentment gathered during the war.

The increasingly dense black mist obscured all external perception of the vengeful spirit within, making his arrival silent.

The Banshee Sea Demon did not stop absorbing the resentment here as usual.

Before that, he needed to complete the task entrusted to him by Shisui.

The black mist drifted across the lightless seabed, traversing thousands of meters at incredible speed, until it reached the Sea Race's military base.

Upon entering the base, he followed Shisui's instructions, enveloping a dark green sphere that emitted an aura that irritated him with black mist, and then tossed it into the Crown Prince's tent.

Once he's done all that, he can leave.

Next, he just needs to continue to absorb the resentment step by step until the time is right.

Vengeful spirits come quickly and go quickly.

The Sea Race soldiers, who were taking the time to rest, were unaware of the intruders' arrival.

Only Yuanli, in the darkened tent, had his blood-red, vertical pupils open.

He quietly got up, took the cloud of black mist, and put it away.

After daybreak, he will set off for the Demon Race territory in the Central Moonfall Continent to meet the Demon Race's Heaven-Controlling Realm.

This cloud of black mist, and whatever it envelops, will travel with Yuanli.