Eastern Sea.
Ancestral Dragon Palace.
The deep sea was lightless, yet this sacred palace of the Dragon Clan shone as brightly as day.
Dragon-patterned divine pillars held up the water palace's vault, their surfaces entwined with ancient True Dragon carvings. Every scale pattern seemed to contain the waterborne fortune of the Four Seas.
Outside the palace, hundreds of millions of Water Clan beings bowed low.
Inside, powerful members 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, a name that filled every race of the Primordial World with reverence.
The Ancestral Dragon sat high above.
He had not revealed his colossal True Dragon form, instead sitting upon the dragon throne in the guise of a middle-aged man in dark robes.
Yet even so, the pressure emanating from him still kept every Dragon Clan member in the hall from raising their heads.
Ao Cang knelt below the throne.
The face of this Great Luo Late Stage elder of the main lineage was still somewhat pale.
The Primordial Spirit damage inflicted 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 drew a deep breath and recounted everything he had seen and heard outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass in the Northern Sea without omitting a single detail.
From Abyss sheltering the clans fleeing the Northern Sea.
To the establishment of Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
To Ao Lie being punished with gate duty.
To his own journey to Abyss, where he entered the formation as a Great Luo Late Stage cultivator, only to have his Primordial Spirit injured by a dream manifestation.
He explained every matter with utmost clarity.
By the end, the expressions of the Dragon Clan experts in the hall had changed.
A Great Luo 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, Dragon Clan members would likely have stepped forward long ago to denounce him for exaggeration.
The Ancestral Dragon, however, remained calm.
He did not immediately comment, nor did he ask how terrifying the dream had been.
He merely asked three questions.
"Did the Black Tortoise True Form appear?"
Ao Cang lowered his head.
"It did not."
"Did you force out his true cultivation level?"
"I did not."
"Did Abyss actively harm my Dragon Clan Main Lineage?"
Ao Cang fell silent for a moment.
"It did not."
After those three answers, the atmosphere in the hall grew even heavier.
The Ancestral Dragon slowly leaned back against his throne.
"His true form remained hidden, his cultivation remained concealed, and he chose to withdraw from conflict."
"This tortoise is more patient than I expected."
A Dragon Clan elder could not help saying, "Your Majesty, Abyss has sheltered fleeing clans, detained Ao Lie, and privately seized the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl of the Northern Dark Water Palace. If we allow it to grow stronger, the Water Clan of the Four Seas may all begin harboring disloyal thoughts."
The Ancestral Dragon glanced at him.
The elder immediately lowered his head.
The Ancestral Dragon said lightly, "Are the Water Clan of the Four Seas harboring disloyal thoughts because Abyss took them in, or because the Dragon Clan's conscription has become too burdensome?"
As soon as he said that, none of the Dragon Clan members in the hall dared respond.
The Dragon Clan was currently waging war in every direction, consuming enormous resources.
Countless subordinate minor clans had been conscripted, exploited, and forced onto the battlefield.
Of course the main lineage knew this.
But the Dragon-Han Strife had already reached this point.
If the Dragon Clan wished to suppress the Phoenix Clan and the Qilin Clan, it had to keep expanding.
Everyone could see karmic debt piling up.
Yet no one could stop.
The Ancestral Dragon spoke again.
"Has Northern Sea Abyss ever actively attacked a Dragon Clan water palace?"
Ao Cang answered quietly, "It has not."
"Has it ever declared itself an enemy of the Dragon Clan?"
"It has not."
"Has it ever recruited troops to wage war upon the Four Seas?"
"It has not."
The Ancestral Dragon gently tapped the armrest of his 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 this man has taken in the remnants of three clans and established the Book of Cause and Effect and the Three-Lives Rules. He seems to be creating another order."
A profound glint flashed through the Ancestral Dragon's eyes.
"Another order."
He slowly repeated those four words.
The water currents in the hall seemed to stagnate for an instant.
A moment later, the Ancestral Dragon suddenly smiled.
"In the Primordial World, there are not many beings left who dare establish rules between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans."
"I would like to see what he relies 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 out a Dragon Token."
"Invite Mysterious Abyss Emperor to the Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace for a discussion of the Dao."
"If he dares to come, I shall see him."
"If he does not come..."
The Ancestral Dragon's gaze shifted slightly.
"Then I shall personally go and see his Abyss."
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, everyone atop the pass walls turned solemn.
This time, the one delivering the order was neither Ao Xuan nor Ao Cang.
It was a True Dragon Decree sent directly from the Ancestral Dragon Palace.
The decree hovered outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass, transforming into a small golden dragon.
Though tiny, the little dragon carried the pure aura of the Ancestral Dragon.
The moment Ao Lie sensed that aura, he lowered his head.
Even though he now guarded Dragon-Suppressing Pass and had come to identify with Abyss, the Ancestral Dragon was still the lord of the Dragon Clan.
That bloodline pressure remained difficult for him to completely ignore.
Lan Shuang stood atop the pass wall, her expression solemn.
The little golden dragon spoke in a majestic voice:
"By order of His Majesty the Ancestral Dragon."
"We have heard that Mysterious Abyss Emperor of Northern Sea Abyss has avoided tribulation and guarded his domain, establishing a separate lineage."
"His Majesty specially invites Mysterious Abyss Emperor to the Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace for a discussion of the Dao."
"The Dragon Clan is willing to receive him with the honors due a distinguished guest."
As the words fell, Dragon-Suppressing Pass immediately 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 he go?"
Ao Lie said quietly, "He should not go lightly."
Feng Li hurried over from the outer city, her expression equally grave.
"The Ancestral Dragon's move 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 unsuitable.
Refusing was even more unsuitable.
Lan Shuang did not respond immediately, instead seeking instructions from the depths of Abyss.
Beside the Abyss Sea Eye.
Upon hearing the contents of the Dragon Token, Lu Chen felt terrible all over.
"They want me to go to the Eastern Sea again?"
"Why do these Dragon Clan people keep trying 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 truly went, and they shut the doors to study him, would his turtle shell still be safe?
Lu Chen was a hundred times unwilling.
But the Ancestral Dragon had personally issued the order. Refusing outright carried risks as well.
After all, the Ancestral Dragon currently shook the Primordial World and was at the height of the Dragon Clan's power.
He could still endure offending the Blackwater Dragon King.
But offending the Ancestral Dragon would truly mean he had been living too peacefully.
The system's voice sounded at that very moment.
"Detected that the Ancestral Dragon has sent an order inviting the host to the Eastern Sea for a discussion of the Dao. Please choose."
"First: Go 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."
"Second: Refuse the Ancestral Dragon's Dragon Token and hold fast to Abyss. Reward: three Tribulation-Evasion Talismans."
"Third: Receive the order using the Abyss Dharma Body and keep the Ancestral Dragon's messenger outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass to discuss matters. Reward: clues to the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale."
Lu Chen immediately fixed his eyes on the third option.
Going to the Eastern Sea was absolutely impossible.
Refusing outright was too hard-line.
The third option was just right.
He would not go.
But 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.
"I choose three."
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained clues to the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale."
A wisp of profound energy entered Lu Chen's Primordial Spirit.
He vaguely sensed an extremely faint aura of the Reverse Scale 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 Abyss Dharma Body above Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
A colossal phantom of the Black Tortoise slowly emerged.
The little golden dragon raised its head and looked toward Lu Chen's Dharma Body.
Lu Chen's voice was calm.
"The Dragon Token has arrived."
"Abyss accepts it."
"My true body is in seclusion and will not visit 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 clans at Dragon-Suppressing Pass trembled.
Even when faced with an invitation from the Ancestral Dragon, the Emperor still would not leave Abyss.
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 one of equals.
Lan Shuang's eyes shone brightly.
As expected, the Emperor had never feared the Ancestral Dragon.
The so-called seclusion was merely because the Emperor was unwilling to personally enter the Dragon Clan's game.
The little golden dragon fell silent for a moment, seemingly transmitting some kind of message.
Then, it slowly lowered its head.
"The Dragon Token has delivered its message."
"This token will return to the Eastern Sea."
After saying that, the little golden dragon transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the depths of the Northern Sea.
Everyone at Dragon-Suppressing Pass turned to look at the Abyss Dharma Body.
Lu Chen said nothing more.
The more he said, the more likely he was to make a mistake.
He directly dispersed the Dharma Body and sank back into Abyss.
But within the Eastern Sea Ancestral Dragon Palace.
When the little golden dragon brought back Lu Chen's reply, the expressions of the Dragon Clan experts in the hall turned grim.
An elder angrily said, "His Majesty personally invited him, yet this turtle dares refuse to come?"
The Ancestral Dragon merely smiled.
"His true body is in seclusion and will not visit the Eastern Sea."
"If there is business, it may be discussed outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass."
He slowly rose to his feet.
"Good."
"Then I shall personally go and see."
The dragons in the hall were shaken.
Ao Cang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the war between the Dragon and Phoenix clans is about to begin. Your true body..."
The Ancestral Dragon raised a hand.
"There is no need for my true body."
"A single thought will suffice."
The next moment, the Ancestral Dragon raised his head and looked toward the Northern Sea.
"Black Tortoise."
"I want to see just what you have hidden inside that shell of yours."