Within the Crystal Palace of the East Sea Dragon Palace, the glow of the night pearls remained brilliant, yet it could not dispel the gloom gathered between Dragon King Ao Guang's brows.
He sat high upon the dragon throne, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest with dull thuds.
Below the throne, Turtle Prime Minister stood with his head lowered. The dragon princes, dragon descendants, and aquatic generals all held their breath, and the atmosphere was oppressive.
"Over the past few months, three batches of Dark Scale Guards have been lost. None managed to infiltrate the core of Myriad Dao Academy; they could not even breach its outer formations.
"Those sent to disguise themselves as seekers of the Dao have likewise failed before the Three Heart Inquiry Trials."
Ao Guang's voice was low, carrying suppressed fury and a trace of exhaustion that was difficult to detect. "That Academy has been growing more prosperous by the day. The Light of Literary Splendor is nearly able to rival the watery radiance of my Dragon Palace!
"If this continues, where will the majesty of my East Sea Dragon Race remain?!"
His gaze swept toward a young dragon prince below, clad in crimson scale armor, his face arrogant and rebellious, faint flames coiling around him.
This was his seventh son, Ao Xin. Exceptionally gifted and pure of bloodline, he had reached the Golden Immortal realm of Taiyi at a young age.
Added to that was his fiery temperament and habitual disdain for everyone else. He was famously overbearing within the Dragon Palace.
"Why should Father King worry!"
Feeling his father's gaze, Ao Xin immediately stepped forward, his dragon eyes gleaming with defiance and eagerness.
"They are merely a rabble gathered at that ridiculous Academy, learning some Heretical Paths!
"In this child's view, those sent before were all useless. They could not even enter the gate and only emboldened the other side!
"Why not let this child go in person? I can patrol the East Sea and, while I am at it, pay that Myriad Dao Academy a 'visit.' I would like to see what sort of people dare act so ostentatiously on Dragon Race territory!"
His words brimmed with confidence and contempt for the Academy, as though this journey were not a probe, but a perfectly natural inspection and show of force.
Turtle Prime Minister frowned slightly at this and attempted to dissuade him. "Seventh Prince, this matter requires careful consideration. Sage Wanhua is, after all, a Primordial Chaos Sage. His strength..."
"Hmph, so what if he is a Primordial Chaos Sage?" Ao Xin cut him off arrogantly. "Would he dare disregard his status and attack a junior like me?
"My Dragon Race rules the Four Seas and is favored by the Heavenly Dao! I am going only to patrol the sea and inspect the Academy's state while passing by. It is wholly proper.
"If they know what is good for them, they will naturally open their gates to welcome me;
"If they do not know their place, then this child can properly test their mettle and let all beings of the Primordial Era know who the true master of the East Sea is!"
Ao Guang looked at his high-spirited son and pondered for a moment. He knew this child's temperament well. Trying to stop him would likely prove ineffective and might instead provoke his defiance.
Besides, continuing to spy from the shadows was indeed no solution. Letting Ao Xin go under the name of a sea patrol gave no room for criticism on the surface, and perhaps they could truly test the Academy's strength.
Even if the other side was a Sage, as long as Ao Xin did not attack first, they presumably would not easily kill a junior.
"Very well." Ao Guang finally spoke slowly. "I permit you to go.
"Remember, this journey is solely to patrol the sea and inspect the Academy's state while passing by. Do not provoke trouble, but do not weaken the prestige of my Dragon Race either! Assemble the ceremonial guard. Do not neglect proper etiquette."
He deliberately emphasized "etiquette" and "inspect." It was both a warning to Ao Xin to restrain himself and a way of giving Myriad Dao Academy—or rather, Sage Wanhua—an out.
Ao Xin was overjoyed and bowed. "Father King, rest assured. This child knows his limits!"
Yet inwardly, he disagreed completely, believing his father and Turtle Prime Minister to be overly cautious.
In his eyes, the majesty of the Dragon Race could not be challenged. On this visit, he would make that Academy understand its place!
A short while later, violent waves rose across the East Sea!
A vast procession emerged from the deep-sea Dragon Palace in extravagant splendor.
At the front, a hundred Sea-Patrolling Yakshas wielding Water-Parting Halberds and emanating fierce auras cleared the way, churning the waters.
Behind them came dozens of beautiful Shell Maidens carrying glazed palace lanterns and scattering the radiance of luminous pearls.
At the center, Seventh Prince Ao Xin manifested his true form as a hundred-zhang red dragon. His scales gleamed brilliantly, his dragon might surged forth, water and fire qi coiled around him, and he rode towering waves with his head held high.
Whale Marshal, Shark General, and other fierce aquatic commanders guarded him on both sides. Their banners fluttered in the wind, bearing enormous Runes that read "East Sea Dragon Palace."
Dragon roars rolled endlessly, and water vapor filled the skies. Wherever the ceremonial procession passed, sea creatures fled in terror. Within a radius of ten thousand miles, all could feel the overwhelming might and arrogance of the Dragon Race.
This procession did not head directly toward Myriad Dao Academy. Instead, it followed the established sea patrol route, but any discerning observer could tell that its destination was the floating continent where Literary Splendor soared into the heavens!
Such a commotion had naturally alerted Myriad Dao Academy long ago.
At the Academy's outskirts, along the edge of the Purple Bamboo Forest, some beings were meditating in the Enlightenment Zone or preparing to attempt the Three Heart Inquiry Trials.
Feeling the dragon might and water vapor sweeping toward them, their expressions changed, and they anxiously looked toward the place where sea and sky met.
"It's the Dragon Race! What terrifying dragon might!"
"Look at those banners—it is the East Sea Dragon Palace's sea patrol procession!"
"That red dragon at the front... his aura is terrifying! He must be an important figure among the Dragon Race!"
"They are coming toward the Academy!"
Xuanjizi had been instructing several newly admitted disciples in Tongue-and-Sword at the Literary Practice Field. Sensing the change outside, he frowned slightly. With a flash, he appeared in midair beyond the Academy's perimeter.
Elder Teng, Yun Xi, Jin Li, Mingxin, and the other more highly cultivated disciples soon arrived as well, their faces solemn as they watched the increasingly close and aggressive Dragon Race procession.
"Their intentions are hostile," Elder Teng said in a deep voice, faint green light appearing around him.
Yun Xi instinctively gathered Literary Qi, and a faint layer of pure white radiance protected her body.
Xuanjizi's gaze remained calm. Feeling the undisguised dragon might and the overwhelming presence of the sea patrol procession, he understood that the Dragon Race could no longer hold back.
They had finally come to probe them in a manner that was "official," yet filled with provocation.
He took a deep breath. The Seeking Literary Heart within him beat steadily as Literary Qi circulated throughout his body.
He knew that, as the Academy's First Disciple, he needed to represent the Academy and face these sudden "guests."
He showed no fear. He merely watched the rolling waves and the flaunting red dragon in silence, waiting for the other side's next move.
Riding the waves, Ao Xin spotted the floating continent from afar, as well as several figures standing suspended at its edge.
Sensing the aura around them—wholly unlike spiritual qi, yet carrying an inexplicable sense of Order—his dragon eyes flashed with contempt.
"Hmph, they do have some tricks, but with such insignificant power, they dare establish a Dao Lineage?"
He sneered inwardly. With a sweep of his dragon tail, he raised a thousand layers of enormous waves and led his grand procession toward the outskirts of Myriad Dao Academy in an almost crushing display of arrogance.
A massive shadow and dragon might descended like storm clouds overhead, shrouding this tranquil Pure Land of Literary Radiance.
The storm seemed ready to erupt at any moment.
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