The Dragon King's Fury, Plotting Revenge

The palace, which usually drifted with celestial music and glittered with jewels, was now shrouded in a suffocating, low-pressure atmosphere.

The Seventh Prince, Ao Xin, had returned to his human form. His face was ashen, and though his robes remained luxurious, they could not hide the gloom and humiliation etched into his brow.

He stood in the center of the hall, recounting how he had patrolled the perimeter of the Myriad Dao Academy, how he had engaged in a verbal altercation with the academy disciples, and how the other party had used "glib tongues" and "relied on formations" to resist his might.

Finally, he embellished the story of how they had "invoked the Sage's name" to force him to retreat, reporting the events with added fuel and vinegar.

Naturally, he omitted the details of his own unprovoked attack and the fact that he had been rendered speechless by the opponent's logic, focusing instead on the academy's "arrogance and rudeness" and their "bizarre formations."

"Father!" Ao Xin's voice carried suppressed anger and resentment. "That Myriad Dao Academy clearly does not hold our Dragon Race in any regard!"

"A mere few disciples who haven't even perfected their Golden Immortal realms, relying on some Heretical Paths, dare to be this insolent!"

"If we don't teach them a profound lesson, where will the dignity of our East Sea Dragon Race remain? In the future, won't any stray cat or dog dare to run wild in the East Sea?!"

As soon as his voice fell, a wave of uproar and agreement erupted within the hall.

"Preposterous! To dare to be rude to the Seventh Prince!"

"That academy truly doesn't know how to die!"

"Your Majesty, we must punish them severely to serve as a warning to others!"

Some hot-blooded Dragon Sons and Grandsons and fierce aquatic generals spoke up one after another, their indignation mounting as if they had suffered a great insult. The Dragon Race had dominated the East Sea for billions of years; when had they ever suffered such "cowardly grievances"?

Especially since they had been slighted in the East Sea, which they considered their own backyard, by a group of "Rogue Cultivators" whose origins and cultivation were inferior to their own.

"Bang!"

A loud crash shook the hall! The Dragon King, Ao Guang, slammed his hand onto the armrest of his dragon throne, and the armrest, carved from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade and incredibly hard, was shattered with dense cracks!

He stood up abruptly, his dragon aura uncontrollably permeating the air. The entire Crystal Palace trembled slightly, the pearls on the ceiling swayed, and the seawater itself seemed to stagnate!

"Good! A fine Myriad Dao Academy! A fine Sage Wanhua!"

Ao Guang's voice was like ice from the Nine Netherworlds, containing monstrous rage. "First they occupy my East Sea islands, then they insult my Dragon Prince! Do they really think my Dragon Race is made of mud?!"

His dragon eyes widened, burning with fury and a violent streak triggered by his reverse scale. He had endured the occupation of the Three Immortals Island; he had endured the repeated failures of his secret agents;

But now, the other party dared to openly clash with his Dragon Prince and even "force him back." This was no longer just a provocation; it was a naked slap to the face!

If he did not make a strong response, what face would the Dragon Race have left to stand upon in the Primordial World?

The surging dragon aura was like a physical tsunami, pressing down on the aquatic beings in the hall until they couldn't breathe, and even the clamoring Dragon Sons and Grandsons fell silent as cicadas in winter.

Ao Xin felt his father's rage; while he felt a shred of satisfaction that his scheme had succeeded, he also felt a secret chill.

Just as this rage was about to explode completely, an old and steady voice sounded once more.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Please temporarily suppress your thunderous wrath!"

The Turtle Prime Minister leaned on his jade cane, trembling as he stepped forward and bowed deeply. He remained his usual decrepit self, but his murky eyes flashed with wise light.

"What does the Prime Minister have to say?" Ao Guang suppressed his rage, his voice still cold. He relied heavily on this old minister, knowing his wisdom was profound.

The Turtle Prime Minister said slowly, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince has been humiliated, and our Dragon Race's dignity has been damaged. This old minister feels the same indignation and cannot calm his heart!"

"This grudge must be avenged! However, how we avenge it and when we avenge it requires careful deliberation. We must plan before we act."

He first affirmed the necessity of revenge, soothing the emotions of Ao Guang and the Dragon Race, before shifting his tone.

"That Wanhua is a genuine Primordial Chaos Sage! His strength is unfathomable; he could even neutralize a strike from the Dao Ancestor."

"If our Dragon Race rashly presses our army to their borders and clashes with him head-on, even if we could use the Myriad Dragon Formation to contend with him, the final result would likely be mutual destruction, or even... consequences beyond our control."

"At that time, how would other forces in the Primordial World, such as the Demon Race or the Witch Race, react? Would they take advantage of our weakness? This must be considered!"

He pointed out the most critical hidden danger—the strength of Wanhua and the potential chain reaction it could trigger.

"Furthermore," the Turtle Prime Minister continued to analyze, "although the academy disciples are not high in cultivation, their methods are bizarre, especially their focus on defense and the debate of 'logic'."

"Today they could block the Seventh Prince's strike with a formation. If our army goes there in the future, they might rely on the academy's geographical advantage and whatever backup plans Wanhua may have laid, holding their ground and refusing to come out."

"If our army fails to take it after a long siege, wouldn't that further damage our dignity and make us the laughingstock of the Primordial World?"

He pointed out the tactical dilemma they might face in a frontal assault.

Hearing this, Ao Guang frowned, his rage slightly abated, replaced by deep contemplation.

Everything the Turtle Prime Minister said was reasonable; it was exactly the concern deep within his own heart.

Although the Dragon Race was strong, facing a Primordial Chaos Sage, especially one with unknown methods, they truly had no guarantee of victory. They had to be wary of the snipe and the clam fighting, only for the fisherman to reap the benefits.

"Then, in the Prime Minister's opinion, what should be done?"

"Are we to just swallow this insult?" Ao Guang asked in a deep voice, his tone no longer as furious as before.

"Naturally not." A flash of light appeared in the Turtle Prime Minister's eyes. "Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. Since the risk of a frontal assault is too great, why not win through wisdom?"

"How do we win through wisdom?"

"This old minister believes we can proceed in three ways." The Turtle Prime Minister clearly had already thought it through. "First, continue to strengthen our surveillance and infiltration of the academy."

"This time, we can send elites who are better at transformation and have firmer wills, or perhaps... we might consider Cooperation with certain Primordial oddities who excel in such matters."

"At any cost, we must uncover the truth of their interior, especially the core of their formations and the key to their disciples' cultivation."

"Second, isolate their influence. That Myriad Dao Academy promotes 'Education for All', attracting many low-level beings and Rogue Cultivators."

My Dragon Race can apply pressure from the shadows, whether through enticement or coercion, to sever part of its connection with the outside world, making it difficult for them to replenish their ranks and gradually trapping them on an isolated island.

At the same time, we can spread unfavorable rumors throughout the Primordial World, questioning the origins of their Daoist methods to weaken their influence.

"Third, and most importantly," Turtle Prime Minister lowered his voice, "we must find a flaw in their 'logic,' or perhaps use External Force to keep them in check.

This old subject has observed their Daoist methods, and they are incompatible with the mainstream of the current Primordial World, especially conflicting with the order established by the Heavenly Court and the path of conquest favored by the Demon Race. Perhaps we could...

Secretly contact some factions that also feel uneasy about their existence; we don't necessarily need to form an alliance, just a little guidance is enough to use their strength against them."

He did not explicitly state whose strength to borrow, but the core members present, such as Ao Guang, all understood perfectly.

In the current Primordial World, the Dragon Race is certainly not the only one feeling wary of the "anomaly" that is Wanhua.

After listening, Ao Guang remained silent for a long time; the only sounds in the hall were the flowing currents and the subtle shimmer of the night-luminescent pearls. The anger on his face was gradually replaced by a deep, calculating scheme.

"The Prime Minister's counsel is prudent and wise; what you say is absolutely correct."

Ao Guang finally spoke slowly, his voice regaining the majesty and composure of the Lord of the Dragon Race, "Rashly starting a war is indeed not the best strategy. Ao Xin!"

"Your son is here!" Ao Xin replied hurriedly.

"Your temperament is impulsive; for this, I punish you with a hundred years of confinement to reflect on your mistakes!

Without my command, you are not to approach Myriad Dao Academy again!" Ao Guang dealt with his troublemaking son first, serving as both a punishment and a protection.

Although Ao Xin was unwilling, he dared not disobey and lowered his head in agreement.

Subsequently, Ao Guang swept his gaze over Turtle Prime Minister and several trusted high officials: "We shall proceed according to the Prime Minister's plan.

Surveillance, infiltration, isolation, and finding openings—all four methods shall be employed simultaneously! You may utilize whatever resources are required.

We must ensure that Myriad Dao Academy understands who truly rules the East Sea!

But remember, all actions must be kept secret. Until we find their fatal weakness or draw in a sufficiently powerful External Force, there must be no more direct confrontations!"

"We obey your decree!" Turtle Prime Minister and the high officials answered in unison.

The Dragon King's fury did not manifest as a destructive torrent, but instead transformed into a more covert, colder, and more patient scheme.

Within Crystal Palace, the murderous intent did not dissipate but sank into the deeper seabed, like a lurking vicious dragon waiting for the moment to deliver a fatal blow to its prey.

Beneath the brief tranquility of Myriad Dao Academy, a greater undercurrent was quietly surging, meticulously orchestrated by the Dragon Palace.