When the decree of the Dragon Clan Main Lineage reached Dragon-Suppressing Pass, all of Abyss instantly grew tense.
Although Blackwater Dragon Palace was powerful, it was ultimately only a branch of the Northern Sea Dragon Tribe.
Even though the Blackwater Dragon King was a Great Luo Golden Immortal, he could not be mentioned in the same breath as the Dragon Clan Main Lineage.
Behind the Dragon Clan Main Lineage stood the Ancestral Dragon.
The supreme overlord who now ruled the Four Seas and whose might oppressed the Primordial World.
The Dragon-Han Cataclysm had yet to truly erupt at its peak, yet the Ancestral Dragon's might had already made all races tremble in fear.
Anything related to the Ancestral Dragon Main Lineage was no small matter.
Outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
A young man in a blue-gold dragon robe stood atop the black waters.
He was handsome, with cold, stern brows. A pale golden dragon scale on his forehead emanated pure dragon might.
Unlike Ao Lie and Ao Zheng of Blackwater Dragon Palace.
The dragon aura on this man was purer, and far more arrogant.
He was a sea patrol envoy under the Ancestral Dragon.
Ao Xuan.
Supreme Unity Golden Immortal Peak.
Judging solely by cultivation, he might not have been much stronger than Ao Yin.
But behind him stood the Dragon Clan Main Lineage.
Thus, even Ancestor Xuan Jia, a Great Luo expert, did not act rashly.
Ao Xuan held the decree as he stood outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
His gaze swept across the walls, first landing on Ao Lie, then shifting to Ancestor Xuan Jia, before finally stopping on the Book of Cause and Effect in Lan Shuang's hands.
"Abyss is even more imposing than the rumors suggest."
His tone was calm.
Yet it carried an innate scrutiny.
As though simply standing there placed him naturally above everyone else.
Han Jue greatly disliked that look.
He tightened his grip on his spear, only to be restrained by a glance from Lan Shuang.
This was not the time for impulsiveness.
Ao Lie's expression was also somewhat grave as he looked at Ao Xuan.
He was the third prince of Blackwater Dragon Palace.
But Ao Xuan came from the main lineage.
Though both were dragons, their statuses were vastly different.
Ao Xuan looked at Ao Lie.
"You are Ao Lie of Blackwater Dragon Palace, the one punished to guard the gate?"
Ao Lie replied flatly, "I am."
"Do you know that your actions have brought shame upon Blackwater Dragon Palace before the main lineage?"
Ao Lie fell silent for a moment.
"I trespassed into Abyss and was punished with guarding Dragon-Suppressing Pass."
"I accept this."
Ao Xuan sneered.
"Whether you accept it is unimportant."
"A dragon's bloodline being punished outside is a loss of face for the Dragon Clan."
Ao Lie looked at him.
"Then do you know why I was punished?"
Ao Xuan said indifferently, "This envoy only looks at the result."
Han Jue could not help muttering, "He's even more punchable than Ao Yin."
Ao Lie actually nodded.
"Most who come from the main lineage are like this."
Ao Xuan's gaze turned cold.
"Are you discussing this envoy?"
Han Jue raised his head.
"Your hearing is pretty good."
Lan Shuang's expression darkened.
"Han Jue."
Han Jue shut his mouth.
Ao Xuan did not continue paying attention to Han Jue.
In his eyes, an Ice-Scaled Tribe Golden Immortal was not qualified to make him seriously angry.
He unfurled the decree in his hand.
A dragon's might from the Ancestral Dragon Main Lineage spread from the decree.
Quite a few cultivators atop Dragon-Suppressing Pass changed expression slightly.
Ao Xuan announced loudly, "A decree of the Dragon Clan."
"Northern Sea Abyss has sheltered fugitive dragons, detained Dragon Clan bloodlines, and privately occupied the spiritual treasure of Northern Dark Water Palace."
"Mysterious Abyss Emperor is ordered to proceed to Eastern Sea Dragon Palace within a thousand years and explain this matter to the Dragon Clan."
"If he does not arrive after a thousand years, the Dragon Clan Main Lineage will personally come to Abyss."
The decree's voice echoed across the Blackwater Sea.
A deathly silence fell over Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
Han Jue's expression darkened.
Lady Mingzhu frowned deeply.
Ancestor Xuan Jia leaned on his cane, his eyes profound.
Lan Shuang immediately sent the message into the depths of Abyss.
After Lu Chen heard it, he felt terrible.
Go to Eastern Sea Dragon Palace to explain?
What kind of joke was that?
If he went to Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, whether he could return would be a problem.
That was the Ancestral Dragon's lair.
Experts of the Dragon Clan Main Lineage were as numerous as clouds.
Wouldn't a Northern Sea Black Tortoise like him be delivering himself right to their doorstep?
And privately occupying the spiritual treasure of Northern Dark Water Palace?
They had clearly retrieved the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl through their own abilities.
Besides, the Dragon Clan had not gotten it either. What right did they have to accuse Abyss of privately occupying it?
But before the main lineage dragons, no one would likely listen to such reasoning.
Lu Chen had a terrible headache.
The system's voice rang out at that moment.
"Detected sea patrol envoy Ao Xuan of the Dragon Clan Main Lineage has arrived. Please choose, host."
"One: Accept the decree and proceed to Eastern Sea Dragon Palace to explain. Reward: a trace of the Ancestral Dragon's favor."
"Two: Tear up the decree and formally sever ties with the Dragon Clan Main Lineage. Reward: one layer of Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation."
"Three: Seal the decree and discuss it again after a thousand years. Reward: one piece of Heaven-Deceiving Tortoise Shell."
Lu Chen looked at the third option and barely hesitated.
Stall.
He had to stall.
He could not go to Eastern Sea Dragon Palace now.
Nor could he tear up the decree.
Tearing up the decree would be the same as slapping the Ancestral Dragon in the face.
The Ancestral Dragon was currently at his peak. Why provoke him?
Discuss it again after a thousand years.
That was the best option.
In the Primordial World, a single period of seclusion could last thousands or tens of thousands of years. Delaying for a thousand years was perfectly reasonable.
"Choose three."
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained one piece of Heaven-Deceiving Tortoise Shell."
A gray, hazy tortoise shell fragment fell into the depths of Lu Chen's Primordial Spirit.
This thing could conceal part of the heavenly secrets and even temporarily blur outside calculations concerning Abyss.
Lu Chen felt slightly relieved.
Then, his voice traveled to Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
"Leave the decree behind."
"After a thousand years, I will give you an answer."
Outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
Ao Xuan's gaze immediately turned cold upon hearing those words.
"After a thousand years?"
"Mysterious Abyss Emperor certainly has airs."
"With a Dragon Clan decree before you, you will not even show your face?"
Lu Chen did not respond.
He feared that the more he said, the more mistakes he would make.
Lan Shuang stepped forward instead.
"Emperor is in seclusion and has not emerged."
"Now that the decree has been delivered, Abyss will naturally seal it away."
"After a thousand years, Emperor will make his own decision."
Ao Xuan looked at Lan Shuang.
"Can you represent Mysterious Abyss Emperor?"
Lan Shuang answered calmly, "I merely convey Emperor's decree."
Ao Xuan sneered.
"Good."
"Very good."
He raised his hand and threw the Dragon Clan decree toward Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
The decree did not fall into Lan Shuang's hands. Instead, it hovered in midair and transformed into a golden dragon sigil.
Like a nail, the dragon sigil pierced into the black waters outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
"This envoy will wait for a thousand years."
"After a thousand years, if Mysterious Abyss Emperor does not go to Eastern Sea Dragon Palace."
"The Dragon Clan Main Lineage will personally come to Abyss."
After Ao Xuan spoke, he turned and left.
Before departing, his gaze swept over Ao Lie.
"You had better think this through."
"Abyss can protect you for a time, but not for a lifetime."
Ao Lie remained silent.
Only after Ao Xuan had gone far away did he slowly speak.
"The trouble is serious."
For once, Han Jue did not argue.
"Is the Dragon Clan Main Lineage much stronger than Blackwater Dragon Palace?"
Ao Lie looked into the distance.
"Much stronger."
"Blackwater Dragon Palace is only a Northern Sea branch."
"The main lineage represents the Ancestral Dragon's will."
"Ao Xuan was only a sea patrol envoy today. If main lineage experts truly come after a thousand years, they will be at least Great Luo Late Stage."
"There may even be Quasi-Saints."
Han Jue's expression grew grave.
Quasi-Saint.
Those two words were far too heavy for the current Abyss.
Ancestor Xuan Jia also said solemnly, "The Ancestral Dragon has many experts under his command."
"If the main lineage truly moves, Dragon-Suppressing Pass may not be able to stop them."
Lan Shuang looked toward the depths of Abyss.
"Since Emperor said to discuss it again after a thousand years, he must have arrangements."
Those words put everyone slightly at ease.
But everyone understood.
This time was different from Blackwater Dragon Palace.
The real pressure had arrived.
Deep within Abyss.
Lu Chen listened to everyone's discussions, his heart in turmoil.
Plans?
What plans did he have?
His plan was to stall for a thousand years.
Over those thousand years, he would reinforce whatever he could.
He would enter seclusion as much as he could.
Ideally, a thousand years later, the Dragon Clan Main Lineage would be busy with the Dragon-Han War and forget about this trivial matter of Abyss.
"Ancestral Dragon, Ancestral Dragon."
"You're so busy, so stop keeping an eye on this turtle of mine."
Lu Chen thought silently.
But he also knew that such prayers were not very reliable.
So, he could only send orders to Lan Shuang.
"Seal off some of the external passages."
"Reduce trips outside."
"Reinforce Dragon-Suppressing Pass."
"No clan may provoke the Dragon Clan."
"For the next thousand years, Abyss will enter the Calamity-Avoidance State."
After hearing this, Lan Shuang's eyes brightened slightly.
She understood the Emperor's deeper intent.
The Emperor was finally going to have Abyss enter true prewar dormancy.
The decree of the Dragon Clan Main Lineage was pressing down upon them.
Abyss would yield on the surface while secretly building up its strength.
A thousand years later, it might be Abyss's first great trial against the Main Lineage.
She respectfully lowered her head.
"This junior understands."
Lu Chen suddenly felt somewhat uneasy.
Did she really understand?
Why did he always feel that what she understood was not the same as what he had in mind?