Dragon and Turtle Vie for the Gate, the Emperor Sets the Rules with a Word

From then on, Dragon-Suppressing Pass was divided into an inner gate and an outer gate.

The outer gate stood near Guixu's perimeter, directly facing the black tide of the Northern Sea.

Ao Lie coiled atop the black reef outside the gate, his dragon body wrapped around the pass pillars as Blackwater Dragon Aura constantly sensed movements beyond.

The inner gate, meanwhile, lay near the entrance to the Guixu Womb Membrane.

Ancestor Xuan Jia led the Black-Shelled Turtle Tribe in guarding the place, gradually integrating the tribe's Black-Armor Array Runes into the pass walls.

The Northern Sea-Calming Stele Fragment hung between the inner and outer gates.

A faint sea-calming radiance descended from the stone stele, linking the aura of the entire Dragon-Suppressing Pass into one.

From that day onward, Dragon-Suppressing Pass's defenses soared.

The various Guixu races visibly felt much more at ease.

After all, the place now had two Great Principle-level combatants.

Though Ao Lie had yet to enter the Great Principle realm, he carried the bloodline of a Dragon Clan crown prince and retained remnants of the Blackwater Dragon Talisman. He was more than enough to deter ordinary aquatic races at the outer gate.

Ancestor Xuan Jia, meanwhile, was a genuine early-stage Daluo Golden Immortal.

With the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Formation, the Northern Sea-Calming Stele Fragment, and the reinforcement of the Guixu Womb Membrane, even if the Blackwater Dragon King came again, he might not gain any advantage.

Of course.

Dragon-Suppressing Pass had become stable.

But things between the inner and outer gates were far from peaceful.

Ao Lie and Ancestor Xuan Jia practically traded barbs every day.

"Old turtle, the array runes at the inner gate are crooked."

"Those are Black-Armor Array Runes. It is only natural that the Dragon Clan cannot understand them."

"I cannot understand them? The Blackwater Dragon Palace's formation manuals could fill three water palaces."

"No matter how many manuals you have, none taught you to knock before barging into Guixu."

"You..."

Whenever this happened, Han Jue liked to stand nearby and watch the show.

He had even prepared spirit fruits.

He ate while he watched.

Ao Lie found him irritating.

"Are you that idle?"

Han Jue answered with perfect confidence.

"I am observing how the two commanders of Dragon-Suppressing Pass coordinate with each other."

Ancestor Xuan Jia glanced at him.

"If you have nothing to do, take the Realm Guard out to patrol the pass."

Han Jue sighed.

"You two are becoming more and more like Fate Overseer Lan Shuang."

The moment he said that, Ao Lie and Ancestor Xuan Jia fell silent at the same time.

Then they shot Han Jue a synchronized glare.

Han Jue immediately turned and left.

He might have been hot-blooded, but he was not stupid.

Provoking both of them at once gave him a very high chance of getting beaten up.

Life at Dragon-Suppressing Pass gradually settled down amid all the bickering.

After observing for a while, Lu Chen found that the dual-guard system worked quite well.

Ao Lie was familiar with Dragon Clan communications, military formations, and sea patrol habits.

Several times, scouts dispatched by the Blackwater Dragon Palace were discovered by Ao Lie before they could even approach Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

Ancestor Xuan Jia, on the other hand, excelled at defense.

After integrating the Black-Shelled Turtle Tribe's shell array runes into the pass walls, Dragon-Suppressing Pass's ability to withstand impacts improved tremendously.

The two refused to yield to each other, which only made them more diligent in their respective duties.

Neither wanted the other to find fault with him.

Lu Chen was very satisfied with this.

"Not bad."

"They can argue all they want, as long as they get the work done."

He even felt that this arrangement of his was perfect.

Of course, Lan Shuang's interpretation was much more complex.

When she summarized the Emperor's dual-guard system during a Guixu council meeting, her tone was exceedingly solemn.

"Ao Lie was born of the Dragon Clan. Guarding the outer gate allows a Dragon to restrain Dragons."

"Ancestor Xuan Jia was born of the Turtle Clan. Guarding the inner gate allows defense to secure the foundation."

"The outer gate observes the enemy; the inner gate guards the realm."

"One moves, one remains still. One Dragon, one turtle."

"With this move, the Emperor has set the pattern for Dragon-Suppressing Pass for the next ten thousand years."

The leaders of the various races nodded repeatedly as they listened.

Lady Mingzhu sighed with emotion.

"Though the Emperor remains in seclusion within Guixu, he can still perceive the hearts of people and the trends of the races."

"No wonder even the Blackwater Dragon King dares not invade again."

Han Jue listened from the side with a serious expression.

He felt that he had learned something again.

So even assigning people to guard a gate carried such profound meaning.

Deep within Guixu.

After hearing Lan Shuang's summary, Lu Chen fell into brief silence.

He had only separated the two so they would not fight.

How had that turned into perceiving people's hearts and the trends of the races?

Forget it.

They could think whatever they wanted.

As long as Dragon-Suppressing Pass did not cause trouble, it was fine.

With the Black-Shelled Turtle Tribe settling into Guixu, changes began taking place in the inner realm once more.

The Black-Shelled Turtle Tribe was naturally skilled at stabilizing earth veins.

After entering Guixu, they immediately began repairing several peripheral areas that had originally been unstable.

The boundary of the Guixu Womb Membrane became much more substantial.

The Northern Dark Spirit Veins also began taking root deeper underground.

Around Guixu City, Blackwater Stone Forests suitable for Turtle Clan cultivation even began to appear.

The young Black-Shelled Turtles became excited one by one when they saw the stone forests and burrowed inside.

Several hundred years later, many small cave residences for young turtles to cultivate in had appeared throughout the stone forests.

Looking at those young turtles, Lu Chen felt somewhat conflicted.

The little things were round and plump, lying on rocks and basking in Guixu's spiritual radiance. They were rather pleasing to the eye.

When he thought of the Dragon Clan using them to refine armor, Lu Chen felt a trace of displeasure.

No wonder Ancestor Xuan Jia had rebelled.

The Dragon Clan truly had become more and more excessive.

Of course, displeasure was one thing.

Lu Chen still did not want to actively seek trouble with the Dragon Clan.

It was enough that the Blackwater Dragon Palace had retreated.

Ideally, they would keep out of each other's way from now on.

But the Primordial World clearly would not always follow his wishes.

On this day.

A strange ripple suddenly came from outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

Deep in the Northern Sea, beneath Blackwater, a dark-blue pillar of light shot into the sky.

Within the pillar, the phantom image of an ancient water palace faintly appeared.

Baleful Fiendish Aura churned around the water palace.

A powerful aura of an Innate Spiritual Treasure also spread outward.

The instant that aura appeared, every powerful cultivator inside and outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass sensed it.

Ao Lie suddenly raised his head.

"Northern Dark Water Palace?"

Ancestor Xuan Jia narrowed his eyes as well.

"A relic from the Beast Tribulation era has emerged at this time?"

Han Jue rushed onto the pass wall, his eyes shining.

"A treasure?"

Lan Shuang quickly received the news as well.

The Book of Cause and Effect opened on its own, revealing a blurry image.

Within that ancient water palace, a dark-blue pearl hung above an altar.

Blackwater swirled around the pearl as though it could suppress the seas and stabilize water veins.

Lady Mingzhu's breath caught slightly.

"The Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl."

"It is said that this treasure can suppress water currents and stabilize an entire sea region."

Lan Shuang's expression shifted slightly.

What Guixu needed most right now was precisely a treasure capable of stabilizing the inner realm's waters and the Womb Membrane.

If the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl entered Guixu, the inner realm would undoubtedly expand once more.

But the problem was that when such an Innate Spiritual Treasure emerged, the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan might all be drawn to it.

If Guixu competed for it, conflict with the three clans would inevitably erupt again.

She did not dare make the decision on her own.

The news quickly reached Lu Chen.

Deep within Guixu.

Looking at the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl reflected in the Book of Cause and Effect, Lu Chen was tempted as well.

It could stabilize water currents.

It could strengthen the Guixu Womb Membrane.

The treasure suited him perfectly.

But the emergence of such a treasure was certain to bring considerable trouble.

As he hesitated, the system's voice rang out.

"Detected the emergence of the Northern Dark Water Palace and the birth of the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl. Please choose, Host."

"First, personally seize the treasure and deter the Northern Sea. Reward: complete recognition of the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl as its master."

"Second, abandon this treasure and avoid conflict. Reward: one calamity-avoidance spirit talisman."

"Third, send the people of Guixu to train and seize the treasure while the main body remains uninvolved. Reward: increased solidity of the Guixu Dharma Body."

Lu Chen looked at the three options and fell into thought.

Personally taking action was immediately ruled out.

His true body absolutely could not move lightly.

Abandoning the treasure would certainly be safe.

But the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl offered Guixu far too many benefits. Giving it up so easily would be a real pity.

The third option looked good.

He could send Guixu's people.

His true body would not act.

If they encountered danger, they could flee.

If they failed to obtain it, so be it.

It would be best if they succeeded.

And it could also increase the solidity of the Guixu Dharma Body.

"Choose the third option."

"Congratulations, Host. The solidity of the Guixu Dharma Body has increased."

Afterward, Lu Chen sent down a decree to Lan Shuang.

"You may go to the Northern Dark Water Palace."

"Remember three things."

"If you cannot get it, run."

"Retreat when faced with a powerful enemy."

"Do not mention my name."

Lan Shuang respectfully accepted the order.

"This junior understands."

Lu Chen felt slightly reassured.

He believed Lan Shuang understood what he meant.

This time, when they went to the Northern Dark Water Palace, they would grab whatever benefits they could.

If the risk was too great, they were to withdraw immediately.

However, after Lan Shuang returned to Dragon-Suppressing Pass, she gathered everyone together, her expression solemn.

"The Emperor has issued a decree."

"There are three orders for this expedition."

"If you cannot obtain it, run. This means the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl is not indispensable. Do not lose your lives out of greed for treasure."

"Retreat when you encounter a powerful enemy. This means the Emperor wants us to preserve Guixu's strength and not contend with the three clans out of pride."

"Do not invoke the Emperor's name. This means this journey is a test of our true combat strength."

Han Jue's eyes lit up.

"A test?"

Lan Shuang nodded.

"The Emperor will not always stand in front of us and shield us."

"At the battle of Dragon-Suppressing Pass, the Emperor had already shown us Guixu's might."

"Now that the Northern Dark Water Palace has emerged, it is precisely the time for us to share Guixu's burdens."

Ao Lie said in a deep voice, "The Dragon Clan will definitely go."

Ancestor Xuan Jia slowly spoke. "The Phoenix Clan and the Qilin Clan may go as well."

Han Jue tightened his grip on his spear.

"Then that's even better."

Lan Shuang glanced at him.

"Remember the Emperor's decree. Do not fight recklessly."

Han Jue nodded.

"I understand."

Ao Lie sneered.

"You'd better."

Ancestor Xuan Jia tapped his cane.

"This old man will go as well."

After pondering for a moment, Lan Shuang nodded.

"With Ancestor Xuan Jia holding the line, Ao Lie familiar with the Dragon Clan, Han Jue leading the Realm Guard's elites, and Lady Mingzhu identifying treasures—"

"I will use the Book of Cause and Effect to anchor the formation."

"This expedition is not about killing enemies. It is only about seizing treasure, scouting the way, and returning safely."

Guixu's first operation beyond its borders was thus decided.

Outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

The dark-blue pillar of light from the Northern Dark Water Palace grew brighter and brighter.

The auras of experts from the three clans also began converging there from different directions.

A storm was about to rise.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen had already retreated back into the depths of Guixu.

He muttered, "Remember, if you can't get it, run."

"Don't get carried away."

A moment later, he still felt uneasy.

"Especially that kid Han Jue."

"That guy looks like the type to get carried away easily."