Dragon Prince Patrols the Sea, Arrogantly Descends upon the Academy

Inside the Crystal Palace of the East Sea Dragon Palace, the glow of the night-luminescent pearls remained brilliant, yet it could not illuminate the heavy clouds of gloom gathered between the brows of the Dragon King Ao Guang.

He sat high upon the dragon throne, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest, producing a dull, muffled sound.

Below the dais, the Turtle Prime Minister stood with his head bowed, while a crowd of Dragon Sons and Grandsons and aquatic generals held their breath, the atmosphere stifling.

"For months now, the Dark Scale Guard has lost three successive batches, all failing to infiltrate the core of the Myriad Dao Academy, unable to even breach the outer formations.

Those sent to pose as seekers of the Dao have also largely returned in defeat before the Three Heart Inquiry Trials."

Ao Guang's voice was low, carrying suppressed fury and a trace of imperceptible exhaustion. "Now, the aura of that academy grows more prosperous by the day; the light of its culture almost rivals the water-glow of my Dragon Palace!

If this continues, what will remain of the dignity of our East Sea Dragon Race?!"

His gaze swept toward a young dragon prince below, who was clad in crimson scale armor, possessed a rebellious expression, and was wreathed in an aura of faint, flickering flames.

This was his seventh son, named Ao Xin, who was gifted with extraordinary talent and pure bloodline, having reached the realm of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal at a young age.

Coupled with his fiery temperament and a history of looking down on others, he was notoriously arrogant within the Dragon Palace.

"Why must Father worry!"

Feeling his father's gaze, Ao Xin immediately stepped out of the ranks, his dragon eyes flashing with defiance and an eagerness to act.

"They are merely a mob gathered at that ridiculous academy, learning some Heretical Paths!

In my view, those sent previously were all trash who couldn't even enter the gates, only serving to bolster the enemy's morale!

Why not let me go personally? I shall patrol the East Sea and 'pay a visit' to that Myriad Dao Academy along the way. I want to see exactly what kind of characters dare to be so ostentatious on our Dragon Race's territory!"

His words were filled with confidence and disdain for the academy, as if this trip were not a probe, but a natural inspection and show of force.

Upon hearing this, the Turtle Prime Minister frowned slightly and attempted to dissuade him: "Seventh Prince, this matter requires careful deliberation. After all, Wanhua is a Primordial Chaos Sage, and his strength..."

"Hmph, so what if he is a Primordial Chaos Sage?" Ao Xin interrupted the Turtle Prime Minister, saying proudly, "Could he possibly disregard his status and strike at a junior like me?

Our Dragon Race rules the four seas and is favored by the Heavenly Dao! My trip is merely to patrol the sea and incidentally observe the academy's aura, which is perfectly in line with etiquette.

If they are sensible, they will naturally open their gates to welcome me;

If they are unappreciative, it will be the perfect chance for me to weigh their worth and let all beings of the Primordial World know who the true master of this East Sea is!"

Ao Guang looked at his high-spirited son and pondered for a moment. He knew his son's temperament well; persuasion would likely be ineffective and might even provoke a rebellious reaction.

Moreover, remaining in a passive state of observation was truly not a solution. Letting Ao Xin go under the guise of a sea patrol would leave no room for criticism on the surface, and perhaps it could truly test the reality of the situation.

Even if the other party were a Sage, as long as Ao Xin did not initiate an attack, he assumed the Sage would not easily kill a junior.

"Very well." Ao Guang finally spoke slowly. "I grant you permission to go.

Remember, this trip is only for patrolling the sea and 'observing' the academy's aura. You must not initiate trouble, but you must not weaken the prestige of our Dragon Race! Assemble the honor guard; do not lose our sense of propriety."

He specifically emphasized "propriety" and "observing," both as a warning for Ao Xin to restrain himself and as a way to give the Myriad Dao Academy—or rather, the Sage Wanhua—a face-saving exit.

Ao Xin was overjoyed at these words and bowed, saying: "Father, rest assured, I have my own sense of measure!"

In his heart, however, he disagreed, feeling that his father and the Turtle Prime Minister were being far too cautious.

In his eyes, the dignity of the Dragon Race could not be challenged, and this trip would surely make that academy understand the consequences!

A moment later, waves surged upon the East Sea!

A vast and mighty procession emerged from the deep-sea Dragon Palace, making a grand spectacle.

In the lead were a hundred Sea-Patrolling Yaksha holding water-splitting halberds, their auras fierce as they churned the waves;

Behind them were dozens of beautiful Shell Maidens, carrying glazed palace lanterns and scattering the light of pearls;

In the center, the Seventh Prince Ao Xin manifested his hundred-zhang Red Dragon true form, his scales Shining Brightly, his dragon might vast, and his body wreathed in the energy of water and fire as he rode the ten-thousand-zhang waves, moving forward with his head held high;

To his left and right were fierce aquatic generals like the Whale Marshal and the Shark General, with banners fluttering, inscribed with the massive Runes for "East Sea Dragon Palace."

Dragon roars echoed, and water vapor filled the sky. Wherever the procession passed, all creatures in the sea fled in terror. For ten thousand miles around, one could feel this immense, arrogant pressure of the Dragon Race.

This procession did not head directly for the Myriad Dao Academy but followed a set patrol route; however, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the direction they pointed toward was that very floating continent where the light of culture soared into the heavens!

Such a commotion naturally had long since alerted the Myriad Dao Academy.

Outside the academy, at the edge of the Purple Bamboo Forest, some beings who were meditating in the "Enlightenment Zone" or preparing to attempt the "Three Heart Inquiry Trials" felt the overwhelming dragon might and water vapor. They changed color one after another, looking toward the horizon where the sea met the sky in panic.

"It's the Dragon Race! Such powerful dragon might!"

"Look at those banners, it's the patrol honor guard of the East Sea Dragon Palace!"

"The Red Dragon in the lead... his aura is terrifying! He must be an important figure in the Dragon Race!"

"They are coming toward the academy!"

Xuanjizi was in the "Literary Practice Field" guiding several new disciples in the cultivation of "Tongue-and-Sword." Sensing the changes outside, he frowned, and with a flash of his figure, he appeared in the air above the outer perimeter of the academy.

Elder Teng, Yun Xi, Jin Li, Mingxin, and other disciples with higher cultivation also arrived one after another, looking with grave expressions at the menacing Dragon Race procession drawing ever closer.

"The visitors are not here with good intentions," Elder Teng said in a low voice, green light flickering around his body.

Yun Xi subconsciously gathered her literary energy, a layer of faint, pure white radiance protecting her.

Xuanjizi's gaze was calm. Feeling the unmasked dragon might and the vast momentum of the patrol, he understood in his heart that the Dragon Race could no longer restrain themselves.

Finally, they were coming to test the waters in a way that was "official" yet full of provocation.

He took a deep breath, his Seeking Literary Heart beating steadily within him as literary energy flowed throughout his body.

He knew that as the First Disciple of the academy, he had to represent the institution and deal with these sudden "visitors."

He showed no signs of fear, merely watching the churning waves and the posturing Red Dragon with calm, waiting for the opponent's next move.

Ao Xin rode the waves, spotting the floating continent and the several figures standing in the air at its edge from afar.

Sensing an aura on them that was distinct from spiritual energy yet carried an inexplicable sense of order (literary energy), a flicker of contempt flashed through his dragon eyes.

"Hmph, so there is some substance to this place after all, but to dare establish a Dao Lineage with such meager energy?"

He sneered inwardly, flicking his dragon tail to whip up a thousand-fold wave, leading his grand procession toward the perimeter of Myriad Dao Academy with an almost crushing momentum, approaching with arrogance!

The massive shadow and dragon might descended like dark clouds, shrouding this tranquil Pure Land of Literary Radiance.

A storm seemed ready to break at any moment.