Not far from the mouth of the Great River, an underwater Sea Clan settlement stretched for miles across the East Sea. In the central water palace, Ao Jia, the East Sea's Crown Prince, wore blue battle armor as he discussed military affairs with the Turtle Prime Minister beside him.
"Report! The Sea Yaksha requests an audience with the Crown Prince! He says a Human Race expert outside is waiting on the shore to see you!"
Hearing the messenger's report, Ao Jia slowly raised his head and said, "Let the Sea Yaksha in!"
A moment later, the Sea Yaksha rushed in in a panic. "Crown Prince!"
"Go on, then. Didn't I send you to test the Great River Water Tribe's strength? And what's the situation with that Human Race expert?"
Ao Jia sat on his throne, picked up the wine cup before him, and took a small sip.
"Reporting to the Crown Prince, the Great River Water Tribe was no match for us. While we were clearing the battlefield, that Human Race expert appeared. He said he recognized the armor you bestowed upon me, and that his name was Jiang He. He wants to meet you!"
The Sea Yaksha explained what had happened.
"Pfft! What did you say? What's that Human Race expert's name?"
Ao Jia had just taken a sip of wine, but at the name Jiang He, he spat it right back out.
As the Dragon Clan's Crown Prince, he knew the name of the Human Race's Clan Leader. Besides, he had studied at the Martial Arts Academy for a while!
"I think it was Jiang... Jiang He!"
The moment the Sea Yaksha finished speaking, no one replied for a long while. He slowly lifted his head—and saw that everyone had vanished. Turning around, he caught sight of the Crown Prince speeding away, with the Turtle Prime Minister following close behind. He swore he'd never seen a turtle run so fast!
As Jiang He stood on the shore explaining things to Feng Li Yue, a sudden wave rose from the sea. A blue figure raced over and stopped in front of him.
"I, Ao Jia, Crown Prince of the Dragon Clan, greet the Human Race's Clan Leader!"
The Turtle Prime Minister hurried up behind him and said, "The Turtle Prime Minister of the East Sea Dragon Palace greets the Human Race's Clan Leader!"
"Please, there's no need for formalities. My wife and I are only passing through today. When the Yaksha mentioned that you were here, Crown Prince, I thought I'd come and meet you. We're the ones imposing on you," Jiang He said with a genial smile.
"Clan Leader, you're too kind. The Dragon Clan is an ally and totem of the Human Race. And I studied at the Martial Arts Academy for a while, so you're my senior. I should be the one showing you respect!" Ao Jia replied excitedly, seeing that it really was Jiang He.
Before, Ao Jia had been weighed down by karmic burden and unable to cultivate, often feeling so frustrated that he'd nearly given up. But ever since the Dragon Clan had allied with the Human Race, countless dragons had gone to settle in the rivers and waters across Human Race territory. His karmic burden had gradually faded, so it was no wonder he was so excited now!
Now that he'd met the Human Race's Clan Leader, he'd nearly left him waiting outside. If his father found out, he'd definitely give him a thrashing!
"Senior Jiang, this isn't the place to talk. Please, you and your wife must come to our Sea Clan camp. Let me, your junior, give you a proper welcome!"
"Yes, yes! Please allow us to welcome you both properly, Immortals! Before we left, His Majesty the Dragon King repeatedly instructed us to treat the Human Race with respect if we encountered them. All the more so since you're the Human Race's leader!" the Turtle Prime Minister urged.
"In that case, Crown Prince, show us the wonders of the Sea Clan."
They led Jiang He and his wife back to the central command's water palace. Clam Spirit Maidens brought out delicacies from the Sea Clan, and Jiang He and Feng Li Yue began enjoying the feast with Ao Jia as their host.
"Senior Jiang..."
"Now, Crown Prince, don't call me Senior Jiang. Your father and I are of the same generation. Just call me Uncle Jiang. There's no one else here, so there's no need to be so formal!"
Ao Jia had barely begun speaking when Jiang He interrupted him. Being called "Senior" over and over made him uncomfortable.
"Yes, Uncle Jiang! You can call me Ao Jia."
"Good, then I won't stand on ceremony. Ao Jia, I just saw your people clashing with the Water Tribe on the shore, and there are so many troops stationed underwater. Are you preparing for a major war? Could you tell me what's going on?"
At that, Ao Jia felt a pang of unease. Could Jiang He have come to hold him accountable? With the Dragon Clan preparing for war, it did seem wrong not to inform their ally.
"Uncle Jiang, here's what happened. Lately, the creatures of the Great River have been repeatedly invading the East Sea's waters, so my father sent me to investigate.
"According to my subordinates, they seem to have a faction called the Water God Palace backing them. I brought an army over to test their strength," Ao Jia answered honestly.
Jiang He didn't pursue the matter of them failing to inform him. After all, it was their internal affair, and he couldn't interfere too much.
"Oh? The Water God Palace. Have you found out who their leader is?"
"We haven't gotten any definite information yet. But some prisoners we captured said they serve Ji Meng of the Demon Race."
At the mention of the Demon Race, Jiang He immediately grew alert. Had the Demon Race already extended its reach here?
Ji Meng! One of the Ten Great Demon Marshals, Ji Meng was the god of rain. He had a human body and a dragon's head, commanded the innate power of water, and could summon wind and rain. During the Witch-Demon War, he had once led a naval force against Hanba. He was a core commander in the Demon Heavenly Court, responsible for its water forces.
"It looks like the Demon Race has its eye on this place. Now that the Dragon Clan is allied with the Human Race, the Human Race won't stand by and do nothing. I'll order the Xuanwu Legion to move this way and stand ready to support the East Sea Dragon Clan!"
At that moment, Jiang He was thinking that this was just the opportunity he needed to shift the Human Race's attention and push forward its development and reforms. It could also give the army some real experience. Only blood and fire could truly temper an army!
Hearing Jiang He say this, Ao Jia was overjoyed. With the Human Race joining them, the pressure on his forces would be greatly reduced. He'd been somewhat afraid when he heard the Demon Race was behind it all, but now he no longer felt so worried!
"Ao Jia!"
"Uncle Jiang, your nephew is here!"
When he heard Jiang He call his name, Ao Jia quickly answered.
"Send your troops into the Great River water palaces in separate groups. Have them advance toward Human Race territory and take control of all the surrounding waters!
"But don't act recklessly. Fight where you can; if you can't win, hold them off. Spread out across the whole area and force them to reveal their intentions!"
"Yes, Uncle Jiang! I'll see to it right away!"
Jiang He couldn't quite figure out what the Demon Race was planning. Since that was the case, he'd just have to follow the example of the great leaders and expose the paper tiger's intentions!
After Ao Jia issued the order, the Sea Clan soldiers split into multiple groups and advanced inland from the Great River!
Jiang He watched as ranks of elite Sea Clan soldiers marched past. Even the lowest-ranking Shrimp Soldiers were in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, while the Crab Generals were in the Mystic Immortal Realm! Most of the commanders were in the Golden Immortal Realm! All the commanders were mixed-blood dragons!
As Feng Li Yue watched the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals ride past on seahorses, she was quite curious. She hadn't expected that seahorses could be ridden too! (Inspired by a Chinese opera film I watched as a child. I've forgotten what it was called, but the Sea Clan rode seahorses when they appeared, and that left a deep impression on me.)
The Water God Palace in the Great River of the Primordial World
At that moment, E Yan, a Crocodile Race general serving under Ji Meng, heard that his subordinates had been defeated. Seeing his son return badly wounded, he was furious!
Before E Yan could even scold him, a little demon hurried in to report, "My lord, a huge army of Sea Clan soldiers has arrived outside! They've killed all our brothers outside the water palace and are attacking it now!"
"Those bastards are pushing us too far! Sound the conch and rally the army!"
Under the Great River, countless Sea Clan soldiers formed up into ranks and slowly advanced toward the Water God Palace!
Though they had once been overlords, a dying camel was still bigger than a horse. These Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals were well equipped and marched in formation. Their combined pressure bore down on the Water God Palace's forces!
At the center of the formation, a White Flood Dragon Race soldier held a spear and directed the troops.
The various formations covered one another's flanks and were tightly defended!
By contrast, the enemy's ranks were chaotic and undisciplined. E Yan was mortified! As a general under Demon Saint Ji Meng, he was being pinned at his doorstep by an enemy army using proper formations. It was a disgrace beyond measure. If Demon Saint Ji Meng hadn't forbidden him from deploying his own Demon Soldiers, how could he have suffered such humiliation?!
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