The palace halls that usually rang with celestial music and gleamed with pearls and treasure were now shrouded in a suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere.
Seventh Prince Ao Xin had returned to human form. His face was livid, and though his robes remained luxurious, they could not conceal the gloom and humiliation between his brows.
Standing in the hall, he gave an embellished account of how, while on Sea Patrol near the outskirts of Myriad Dao Academy, he had exchanged words with the Academy's disciples, how they had "twisted their words" and "relied on formations" to resist his power.
He further described how they had ultimately "invoked a Sage's name" to force him into retreat.
Naturally, he omitted the details of his own initial attack and how their reasoning had left him speechless, instead emphasizing the Academy's "arrogance and insolence" and its "strange formation."
"Father King!" Ao Xin's voice carried suppressed rage and unwillingness. "That Myriad Dao Academy clearly has no regard for our Dragon Race!
A mere handful of disciples who have not even reached the peak of the Golden Immortal realm dare to act so brazenly just because they possess a few Heretical Paths!
If we do not teach them a harsh lesson, where will the dignity of our East Sea Dragon Race remain? In the future, would not every stray cat and dog dare cause trouble in the East Sea?!"
The moment he finished speaking, a wave of outraged agreement rose through the hall.
"Outrageous! How dare they disrespect the Seventh Prince!"
"That Academy truly does not know the meaning of death!"
"Your Majesty, they must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others!"
A number of hot-blooded young dragons and fierce aquatic generals spoke up one after another, their indignation boiling as though they had suffered an enormous insult. The Dragon Race had dominated the East Sea for countless ages. When had they ever endured such humiliation?
Especially in the East Sea, which they regarded as their own backyard, where a group of Rogue Cultivators inferior to them in both origins and cultivation had made them lose face.
Bang!
A tremendous crash shook the entire hall! Dragon King Ao Guang slammed his palm against the armrest of his throne. The armrest, carved from ten-thousand-year warm jade and incomparably sturdy, was struck until it was covered in cracks!
He abruptly rose to his feet, dragon might spilling uncontrollably from his body. The entire Crystal Palace trembled faintly, the luminous pearls upon the ceiling swayed, and even the seawater seemed to freeze!
"Good! What a Myriad Dao Academy! What a Sage Wanhua!"
Ao Guang's voice was like ice from the deepest abyss, filled with boundless fury. "First, he seized an immortal island in my East Sea. Then he humiliated the crown prince of my Dragon Race! Does he truly think my Dragon Race is made of clay?!"
His dragon eyes widened as flames of rage burned within them, along with the violent fury of one whose reverse scale had been touched. He had endured the seizure of Three Immortals Island; he had also endured the repeated failures of his covert scouts.
But now, the other side had actually dared to openly clash with the crown prince of the Dragon Race and even "force him back." This was no longer merely a provocation. It was a naked slap across the face!
If they still did not respond forcefully, how could the Dragon Race retain any standing in the Primordial Era?
The surging dragon might was like a tangible tsunami, crushing the aquatic clans in the hall until they could barely breathe. Even the dragon descendants who had been shouting moments ago fell silent in fear.
Feeling his father's fury, Ao Xin experienced a trace of satisfaction at the success of his scheme, yet he also inwardly shuddered.
Just as this rage was about to erupt completely, an aged yet steady voice sounded once more.
"Your Majesty, quell your anger! Please restrain your thunderous wrath!"
Leaning on his Jade Cane, Turtle Prime Minister stepped forward tremblingly and bowed deeply. He still looked frail with age, but wisdom shone from his cloudy eyes.
"What does the Prime Minister have to say?" Ao Guang forcibly suppressed his fury, though his voice remained icy. He valued this old minister greatly and knew that his plans ran deep.
Turtle Prime Minister said slowly, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince has been humiliated, and the dignity of our Dragon Race has been damaged. This old servant shares Your Majesty's feelings and finds it difficult to contain his indignation!
This grudge cannot go unanswered! Yet how we retaliate and when we retaliate require careful consideration. We must plan before we act."
He first affirmed the necessity of revenge, soothing Ao Guang and the Dragon Race, before changing the direction of his words.
"That Wanhua is a genuine Primordial Chaos Sage! His strength is unfathomable; he can even neutralize an attack from the Dao Ancestor.
If our Dragon Race rashly marches an army against him and clashes with him head-on, even if we can contend with him using the Myriad Dragon Formation, the final result will likely be mutual destruction, perhaps even... consequences beyond prediction.
At that time, how would the other powers of the Primordial Era, such as the Demon Race and the Witch Race, react? Would they take advantage of our weakness? This is something we must consider!"
He pointed out the most crucial hidden danger—the strength of Wanhua and the chain reaction that might follow.
"Moreover," Turtle Prime Minister continued, "although the Academy's disciples are not highly cultivated, their methods are strange, placing particular emphasis on defense and disputes of 'reason.'
Today, they could use a formation to block an attack from the Seventh Prince. If our army goes there another day, they may rely on the Academy's advantageous terrain and whatever contingencies Wanhua has arranged to hold their ground and refuse battle.
If our army attacks for a long time without success, would that not further damage our prestige and make us the laughingstock of the Primordial Era?"
He pointed out the tactical predicament that a direct assault might face.
Ao Guang frowned deeply upon hearing this. His anger subsided somewhat, replaced by grave contemplation.
Every word Turtle Prime Minister spoke made sense. They were precisely the greatest concerns buried in his heart.
Though the Dragon Race was powerful, facing a Primordial Chaos Sage—especially one whose methods were unknown—they truly had no guarantee of victory. They also had to beware of the snipe and clam fighting while the fisherman profited.
"Then in the Prime Minister's view, what should we do?
Must we simply swallow this humiliation?" Ao Guang asked in a deep voice, no longer as violently enraged as before.
"Certainly not." A sharp glint flashed through Turtle Prime Minister's eyes. "An open spear is easy to evade; a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. Since a direct assault carries too much risk, we should use strategy instead."
"How should we proceed?"
"This old servant believes we can begin from three directions." Turtle Prime Minister had clearly thought this through long ago. "First, continue strengthening our surveillance and infiltration of the Academy.
This time, we can send elite agents more skilled in transformation and firmer in resolve. We may even... consider cooperating with certain Primordial Era beings particularly skilled in such matters.
At any cost, we must uncover the truth of their internal situation, especially the core of their formation and the key to the disciples' cultivation."
"Second, isolate them. Myriad Dao Academy promotes Education for All, attracting many lowly beings and Rogue Cultivators.
Our Dragon Race can secretly exert pressure, tempt them with benefits, or coerce them, cutting off some of their connections with the outside world and making it difficult for them to replenish their ranks. Gradually, they will be trapped on an isolated island.
At the same time, we can spread unfavorable rumors about them throughout the Primordial Era, question the origins of their Dao teachings, and weaken their influence."
"Third, and most importantly," Turtle Prime Minister lowered his voice, "find a flaw in their 'reason,' or perhaps use an outside force to restrain them.
From this old servant's observation, their Dao teachings are entirely at odds with the mainstream of the present Primordial Era, particularly conflicting with the Order established by the Heavenly Court and the Demon Race's path of conquest. Perhaps...
We can secretly contact some forces that are likewise uneasy about their existence. There may be no need for an alliance; with only a little guidance, we can borrow another's strength to strike them."
He did not explicitly state whose strength they would borrow, but the core figures present, including Ao Guang, understood at once.
In the present Primordial Era, the Dragon Race was certainly not the only power wary of Wanhua, this Anomaly.
After hearing him out, Ao Guang remained silent for a long while. Only the faint sounds of ocean currents flowing and the glow of the luminous pearls shifting remained in the hall. The anger on his face gradually gave way to deep calculation.
"The Prime Minister is seasoned in statecraft. Your words are most correct."
At last, Ao Guang slowly spoke, his voice regaining the majesty and calm of the Dragon Race's ruler. "Rashly starting a war is indeed not the best course. Ao Xin!"
"Your son is here!" Ao Xin hurriedly answered.
"You are impulsive by nature. For this incident, you shall be confined for a hundred years to reflect upon your mistakes!
Without this king's command, you are not to approach Myriad Dao Academy again!" Ao Guang first dealt with his troublemaking son. It was both punishment and protection.
Though unwilling, Ao Xin did not dare disobey and lowered his head in acknowledgment.
Then Ao Guang swept his gaze over Turtle Prime Minister and several trusted senior ministers. "We shall act according to the Prime Minister's plan.
Surveillance, infiltration, isolation, and seeking an opening—we shall pursue all four at once! Any resources required may be freely mobilized.
Myriad Dao Academy must learn who truly rules the East Sea!
But remember this: all actions must remain secret. Before we find their fatal weakness or draw sufficiently powerful outside forces into the matter, we must not clash with them head-on again!"
"Your servants accept the decree!" Turtle Prime Minister and the gathered senior ministers answered in unison.
The Dragon King's fury did not directly become a torrent of destruction. Instead, it transformed into a more covert, colder scheme that demanded greater patience.
Within the Crystal Palace, the killing intent had not dispersed. It had merely sunk into the deeper seabed, like a lurking vicious dragon awaiting the moment to deliver a fatal strike to its prey.
Beneath the brief calm of Myriad Dao Academy, greater undercurrents were quietly beginning to surge under the Dragon Palace's careful planning.
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