As Ao Zhao's words fell, Shen Hegui's heart beat three parts more forcefully.
If he remembered correctly, these were the very words the Dragon King had said to Great Yu Taizu back then: "Dragons are a sign of emperors!"
It was precisely this endorsement that had bound the Great Yu Imperial Family to the Dragon Clan, which then helped the Xia Family seize the realm.
Now, Shen Hegui had heard those words again.
The Dragon Clan had lived in seclusion for a thousand years and never declared its position lightly. Now that Ao Zhao had personally said Xia Xunyang had the bearing of an emperor, who knew how many fence-sitters across the realm would flock to Xia Xunyang if word spread, greatly bolstering the Shen Clan's prestige.
Of course, Ao Zhao was merely the Dragon Palace's Eighth Crown Prince, nowhere near the Dragon King's standing and strength back then.
But just because Ao Zhao fell short of the Dragon King, that did not mean he could be dismissed as a member of the Dragon Clan.
Shen Hegui took a deep breath, trying hard not to look so excited. "Your eyes are like blazing torches, Eighth Crown Prince. This child Xunyang is indeed exceptionally gifted."
Xie Ciyuan's gaze was deep as he stared at Xia Xunyang, lost in thought.
Ao Zhao beckoned to Xia Xunyang. "Come here."
While refining the Dragon Clan blood essence within his body, Xia Xunyang assessed Ao Zhao's strength.
In the end, he reached a conclusion: a newly advanced Great Grandmaster.
He was not as powerful as Xia Xunyang had imagined.
Of course, with his current strength as someone who had only just entered the Domain Realm, Xia Xunyang could not defeat Ao Zhao against the odds.
But this was the Shen Clan, his maternal family in