The Dragon Race Sea Patrol honor guard led by Ao Xin, carrying with it vast waves and overwhelming dragon might, finally halted on the sea roughly a thousand zhang from the outer perimeter of Myriad Dao Academy.
This distance was enough to fully display the Dragon Race's might, yet it stopped precisely at the edge of the invisible Literary Radiance Dao Charm enveloping the Academy, making it seem both provocative and slightly cautious.
The hundred-zhang Red Dragon's true form coiled atop the waves. Ao Xin lowered his enormous dragon head slightly, his flame-burning eyes sweeping over Xuanjizi and the others suspended in the sky outside the Academy.
His gaze bore undisguised scrutiny and disdain. He did not immediately take human form, seemingly believing that facing these "insignificant" cultivators in his true form would better demonstrate the Dragon Race's nobility and strength.
"Are you the disciples of Myriad Dao Academy?" Ao Xin's voice rolled like thunder, carrying the Dragon Race's distinctive pressure and sending ripples racing across the sea.
It also battered Xuanjizi and the others' minds. "Why have you not come to pay respects upon seeing this crown prince's Sea Patrol honor guard? Do you not understand proper etiquette?"
He immediately tried to overwhelm them with his status, directly accusing them of "not understanding etiquette," his manner incomparably arrogant.
Standing at the heart of the dragon's pressure, Xuanjizi felt a scorching, heavy force crash toward him. The Literary Qi within him began circulating on its own, and his Seeking Literary Heart emitted a clear radiance that dissolved the pressure into nothing.
His expression remained unchanged. He neither acted humble because the other party was the Dragon Race's crown prince nor grew angry at his verbal provocation. He merely followed the etiquette of a Confucian Dao meeting.
He cupped his hands, his voice clear and calm, yet it carried distinctly through the thunderous dragon roar:
"This humble Daoist is Xuanjizi, a disciple of Myriad Dao Academy. I was unaware of the Dragon Race crown prince's arrival and failed to welcome you from afar.
"However, this place is Sage Wanhua's Dao ground, a place of peace for the Academy. Your Highness has arrived with such a large entourage, churning the waves and imposing such pressure. May I ask what brings you here?"
Neither servile nor overbearing, he pointed out that this was a Sage's Dao ground and that the other side had been discourteous first. At the same time, he directly asked their purpose, steering the conversation back onto the proper path.
A trace of surprise flashed through Ao Xin's dragon eyes. He had not expected the other party to remain so composed beneath his dragon might, nor for his words to be so sharp and turn the tables against him.
He snorted coldly, his voice booming. "What brings me here? This crown prince is conducting a routine patrol of the East Sea and overseeing all directions. This place lies within East Sea territory, so naturally I may come!
"As for you, when you established a Dao ground here, did you report it to my Dragon Palace? Do you know the rules of the East Sea?"
He glossed over the important matter, presenting himself as the East Sea's overlord and questioning the "legitimacy" of the Academy's presence.
At that moment, Elder Teng stepped forward. His aged voice carried a power that soothed unrest. "Your Highness, the Primordial Land is vast and boundless.
"The immortal islands beyond the sea have existed since ancient times, and most are unclaimed lands. By the Sage's command, we established an Academy here to transmit the Dao, teach disciples, and enlighten living beings. We have never heard that we must 'report' to anyone.
"Rather, Your Highness has arrived at our gates with such a grand display and imposing might. That is hardly the way to treat hosts, nor is it where 'etiquette' resides."
Elder Teng refuted the claim of territorial ownership with "existing since ancient times" and "unclaimed lands."
He then explained the Academy's purpose through "enlightening living beings," before once again pointing out the other side's lack of "etiquette." His tone was gentle, but he argued from reason.
"Etiquette?" Ao Xin seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world. He raised his dragon head and burst into earthshaking laughter. "Hahahaha! In the East Sea, my Dragon Race is etiquette!
"The words of my Dragon Race are the rules! You gather here to cultivate this unclear so-called 'Confucian Dao,' stirring the East Sea's Opportunity. That is a violation of the East Sea's greatest rule!"
The brutality and tyranny in his words were laid bare. He had no interest in reason whatsoever, directly using strength to decide right and wrong.
Yun Xi, the Antlered Maiden who had been quietly standing behind Xuanjizi, could no longer restrain herself after hearing him slander the Sage's Dao Lineage so. Gathering her courage, she said in a clear voice, "Your Highness is mistaken!
"Our Confucian Dao was personally transmitted by the Sage. Clear Heart, See Nature; Literature carries the Dao. It is an upright and honorable great Dao method. How can it be 'unclear'?
"Your Highness has not even sought to understand it before speaking such slander. Is that the conduct of a gentleman?"
Her thoughts were simple. She merely felt that he had insulted her own Dao Lineage and thus spoke up to refute him, never realizing that her words sounded even harsher in Ao Xin's ears.
"Presumptuous!" Ao Xin glared, and an even fiercer dragon pressure erupted toward Yun Xi like a volcano. "A mere junior dares speak recklessly of gentlemen?
"Why should this crown prince explain his actions to you? Your Confucian Dao is nothing but petty tricks of wagging tongues and bewitching hearts. How could it be worthy of being called a great Dao?"
Unable to gain much advantage in words and having been contradicted by a "junior" like Yun Xi, anger rose within him. His language became increasingly vicious as he directly denigrated the foundations of the Confucian Dao.
The moment these words were spoken, Xuanjizi, Elder Teng, and the others all darkened in expression. Insults against themselves could be endured, but insulting the Sage's Dao Lineage touched their bottom line.
Xuanjizi took a deep breath, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. He no longer entangled himself in details and instead declared loudly, "Your Highness, the great Dao exists within heaven and earth and manifests in all things. It cannot be defined by one family's words alone.
"There is public judgment as to what our Confucian Dao is. It cannot be denied by Your Highness with a few casual remarks.
"If Your Highness is truly patrolling the sea, our Academy will naturally receive you with etiquette. If you wish to discuss the Dao, you may enter and speak with us. But if you are merely here to gain the upper hand in an argument and flaunt your might, then forgive us for being unable to keep you company!"
His words were clear. He laid bare the other party's possible intentions and offered him choices. His bearing was neither servile nor overbearing, though his words carried the implication of seeing them off.
"What a sharp-tongued little brat!"
Ao Xin laughed in rage. His massive dragon tail violently slapped the sea, raising towering waves whose spray nearly reached the Academy's outer perimeter. "This crown prince would like to see what abilities your 'Literature carries the Dao' possesses.
"Other than wagging your tongues! Today, I will show you what true strength is!"
The war of words could no longer quell Ao Xin's fury and arrogance. At this moment, the conflict slipped from a clash of words to the brink of a confrontation of strength.
Mighty dragon pressure and upright Literary Radiance Dao Charm formed an invisible standoff between sea and sky. The atmosphere was taut as drawn swords!
Before you continue