Ancestral Dragon's Summons, Lu Chen Keeps Playing Dead

Eastern Sea.

Ancestral Dragon Palace.

The deep sea was lightless, yet this sacred palace of the Dragon Clan shone as brightly as day.

Pillars etched with dragon patterns held up the water palace's vaulted ceiling. Ancient True Dragon reliefs coiled around them, every scale seeming to contain the waterborne fortune of the Four Seas.

Outside the palace, countless members of the Water Clan bowed low.

Inside, experts of the Dragon Clan Main Lineage stood in ranks on either side.

This was the place that held the greatest authority in the Four Seas.

It was also the core of the Dragon Clan, spoken of with awe by all races of the Primordial World.

The Ancestral Dragon sat at the head.

He had not assumed his True Dragon form, vast beyond measure, and merely sat upon the dragon throne in the guise of a middle-aged man in black robes.

Even so, the pressure emanating from him kept every Dragon Clan member in the hall from raising their heads.

Ao Cang knelt below the dais.

The face of this Great Principle Late Stage elder from the main lineage was still somewhat pale.

The Primordial Spirit backlash brought by the Great Dream Black Tortoise Technique was far more troublesome than any external injury.

After returning, he had recuperated for a full hundred years before daring to enter the Ancestral Dragon Palace and report back.

The Ancestral Dragon lowered his gaze.

"Speak."

Just one word.

The entire hall instantly fell silent.

Ao Cang took a deep breath and recounted everything he had seen and heard beyond Dragon-Suppressing Pass in the Northern Sea, without omitting a single detail.

From Guixu taking in the clans fleeing the Northern Sea.

To the establishment of Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

To Ao Lie being punished and assigned to guard the gate.

To his own journey to Guixu, entering the formation with his Great Principle Late Stage cultivation, only to have his Primordial Spirit wounded by a dream manifestation.

He explained every matter with utmost clarity.

By the time the Dragon Clan experts in the hall heard the end, their expressions had changed.

A Great Principle Late Stage cultivator had been injured upon entering the formation?

Mysterious Abyss Emperor had not even revealed his true form?

A single dream had made Ao Cang bleed from all seven orifices?

It sounded far too bizarre.

Had the speaker not been Ao Cang, some Dragon Clan member would likely have already stepped forward to condemn him for exaggeration.

The Ancestral Dragon remained calm.

He did not immediately offer an assessment, nor did he ask how terrifying the dream had been.

He merely asked three questions.

"Did he reveal his Black Tortoise True Form?"

Ao Cang lowered his head.

"No."

"Did you force out his true cultivation realm?"

"No."

"Did Guixu actively harm the Dragon Clan Main Lineage?"

Ao Cang fell silent for a moment.

"No."

With those three denials, the atmosphere in the hall became even heavier.

The Ancestral Dragon slowly leaned back against his throne.

"His true form remains unseen, his realm undisclosed, and he has actively withdrawn from conflict."

"This tortoise is more patient than I expected."

A Dragon Clan elder could not help saying, "Your Majesty, Guixu has sheltered fleeing clans, detained Ao Lie, and privately taken the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl from the Northern Dark Water Palace. If we allow it to grow, the aquatic clans of the Four Seas may all develop rebellious thoughts."

The Ancestral Dragon glanced at him.

The elder immediately lowered his head.

The Ancestral Dragon said blandly, "Does the Water Clan of the Four Seas harbor rebellious thoughts because Guixu took them in, or because the Dragon Clan's conscription has grown too harsh?"

The moment those words were spoken, none of the Dragon Clan members in the hall dared respond.

The Dragon Clan was currently waging war in all directions, consuming immense resources.

Countless small subordinate clans had been conscripted, exploited, and forced onto the battlefield.

Naturally, the main lineage knew this.

But the Dragon-Han Strife had already reached this point.

If the Dragon Clan wished to overpower the Phoenix Clan and Qilin Clan, it had to continue expanding.

Everyone could see karmic debt accumulating.

Yet no one could stop.

The Ancestral Dragon spoke again.

"Has Northern Sea Guixu ever actively attacked a Dragon Clan water palace?"

Ao Cang answered softly, "No."

"Has he ever declared himself an enemy of the Dragon Clan?"

"No."

"Has he ever recruited troops to wage war across the Four Seas?"

"No."

The Ancestral Dragon lightly tapped the armrest of his dragon throne with one finger.

"Then that means he does not wish to go to war with the Dragon Clan, at least not yet."

Ao Cang hesitated before saying, "But he has taken in the remnant branches of three clans and established the Book of Cause and Effect and the Three-Lives Rules. There are signs that he intends to create another order."

A trace of deeper meaning flashed through the Ancestral Dragon's eyes.

"Create another order."

He slowly repeated those four words.

The water in the hall seemed to stagnate for an instant.

A moment later, the Ancestral Dragon suddenly laughed.

"In the Primordial World, there are not many living beings who dare establish rules between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans."

"I would like to see what he is relying on."

Ao Cang's heart jolted.

"Your Majesty intends to personally visit the Northern Sea?"

The Ancestral Dragon shook his head.

"The Dragon-Phoenix War is imminent. My true form should not leave the Eastern Sea for too long."

"First, send a Dragon Token."

"Invite Mysterious Abyss Emperor to the Eastern Sea to discuss the Dao."

"If he dares come, I will see him."

"If he refuses..."

The Ancestral Dragon's gaze shifted slightly.

"Then I will personally go and see his Guixu."

Ao Cang lowered his head and accepted the order.

"As you command."

Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

When the Dragon Token from the Dragon Clan Main Lineage arrived, the expressions of everyone atop the walls turned grave.

This time, the one delivering the order was neither Ao Xuan nor Ao Cang.

It was a True Dragon Decree issued directly by the Ancestral Dragon Palace.

The decree hovered outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass and transformed into a small golden dragon.

Though tiny, the little dragon carried the pure aura of the Ancestral Dragon.

The instant Ao Lie sensed that aura, he lowered his head.

Although he now guarded Dragon-Suppressing Pass and had come to identify with Guixu, the Ancestral Dragon was still the lord of the Dragon Clan.

That pressure from his bloodline was still difficult for him to completely ignore.

Lan Shuang stood atop the wall with a solemn expression.

The little golden dragon spoke in a majestic voice:

"By order of His Majesty the Ancestral Dragon."

"I have heard that Mysterious Abyss Emperor of Northern Sea Guixu has avoided tribulation and guarded his domain, opening a separate lineage."

"His Majesty specially invites Mysterious Abyss Emperor to the Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace to discuss the Dao."

"The Dragon Clan is willing to receive him as an honored guest."

As the words fell, Dragon-Suppressing Pass instantly went silent.

The Ancestral Dragon was inviting the Emperor to the Eastern Sea to discuss the Dao?

This was enormous news.

Han Jue frowned deeply.

"Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace?"

"Can we go?"

Ao Lie said quietly, "We cannot go lightly."

Feng Li hurried over from the outer city, her expression equally grim.

"The Ancestral Dragon's gesture appears courteous, but it is truly a test."

Lin Yue had also arrived. He said in a deep voice, "If the Emperor goes to the Eastern Sea, he will be entering the Dragon Clan's core territory."

Ancestor Xuan Jia leaned on his cane.

"But if we refuse outright, we will be slighting the Ancestral Dragon."

Everyone fell silent.

This Dragon Token was difficult to answer.

Going was improper.

Refusing was even worse.

Lan Shuang did not immediately respond, instead seeking instructions from the depths of Guixu.

Beside the Ruins Sea Eye.

After hearing the order, Lu Chen felt awful all over.

"They want me to go to the Eastern Sea again?"

"Why do these Dragon Clan people always want to trick me into leaving home?"

What kind of place was the Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace?

It was the Ancestral Dragon's lair.

There were countless main-lineage experts there.

If he really went and they shut the doors to study him, would his turtle shell survive?

Lu Chen was a hundred times unwilling.

But the Ancestral Dragon had personally issued the order, and refusing outright carried risks as well.

After all, the Ancestral Dragon currently shook the Primordial World, and the Dragon Clan was at the height of its power.

He could hold on after offending the Blackwater Dragon King.

But offending the Ancestral Dragon would truly mean he thought his life was too peaceful.

The system's voice rang out at that moment.

"Detected the Ancestral Dragon's decree inviting the host to the Eastern Sea to discuss the Dao. Please choose."

"One: Travel to the Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace and discuss the Dao with the Ancestral Dragon face-to-face. Reward: a trace of the Ancestral Dragon's favor."

"Two: Refuse the Ancestral Dragon's Dragon Token and remain in Guixu. Reward: three Tribulation-Evasion Talismans."

"Three: Receive the order through the Guixu Dharma Body and keep the Ancestral Dragon's messenger outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass to discuss matters. Reward: clue to the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale."

Lu Chen immediately took a liking to the third option.

Going to the Eastern Sea was absolutely out of the question.

Refusing outright was too confrontational.

The third option was just right.

He would not go himself.

He would give them a little face.

They could discuss matters, but leaving home was out of the question.

And the reward was related to the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale.

Something like that sounded extremely precious.

"Choose three."

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained a clue to the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale."

A thread of profound aura entered Lu Chen's Primordial Spirit.

He vaguely sensed an exceedingly faint trace of the Reverse Scale's aura hidden within that golden Dragon Token.

Lu Chen's heart stirred slightly.

This token from the Ancestral Dragon seemed to be more than an invitation.

It also carried a test.

He manifested his Guixu Dharma Body above Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

A colossal phantom of the Black Tortoise slowly emerged.

The little golden dragon raised its head and looked at Lu Chen's Dharma Body.

Lu Chen's voice was calm.

"The Dragon Token has arrived."

"Guixu accepts it."

"My true body is in seclusion and will not go to the Eastern Sea."

"If the Ancestral Dragon has business, he may send an envoy to discuss it outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass."

As these words spread, the hearts of the various races at Dragon-Suppressing Pass trembled.

Even when faced with an invitation from the Ancestral Dragon, the Emperor still would not leave Guixu.

What confidence!

What composure!

In their eyes, the relationship between the Emperor and the Ancestral Dragon was no longer that of an ordinary visit.

The Ancestral Dragon had invited the Emperor to the Eastern Sea.

Yet the Emperor had told the Dragon Clan's envoy to come to Dragon-Suppressing Pass to discuss matters.

Such bearing was practically an equal footing.

Lan Shuang's eyes shone brightly.

As expected, the Emperor had never feared the Ancestral Dragon.

His so-called seclusion was merely because the Emperor did not wish to personally enter the Dragon Clan's game.

The little golden dragon fell silent for a moment, as though transmitting some sort of message.

Then, it slowly lowered its head.

"The Dragon Token has been delivered."

"This token will return to the Eastern Sea."

With that, the little golden dragon turned into a streak of light and vanished into the depths of the Northern Sea.

Everyone at Dragon-Suppressing Pass looked toward the Guixu Dharma Body.

Lu Chen said no more.

The more he said, the more likely he was to make a mistake.

He directly dispersed his Dharma Body and sank back into Guixu.

But within the Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace—

When the little golden dragon brought back Lu Chen's response, the Dragon Clan experts in the hall all wore grim expressions.

An elder roared angrily, "His Majesty invited him personally, yet this turtle dares refuse to come?"

The Ancestral Dragon merely smiled.

"His true body is in seclusion and will not go to the Eastern Sea."

"If there is business, it may be discussed outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass."

He slowly rose to his feet.

"Good."

"Then I will personally go and see."

The dragons in the hall were shaken.

Ao Cang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the war between dragons and phoenixes is about to begin. Your true body..."

The Ancestral Dragon raised a hand.

"My true body is unnecessary."

"A single thought will suffice."

The next moment, the Ancestral Dragon lifted his gaze toward the Northern Sea.

"Black Tortoise."

"I want to see just what you are hiding within that shell."