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Inside the East Sea Dragon Palace, which resembled a ruin:
Shen Gongbao stuttered through a recounting of everything that had happened at Chentang Pass, from beginning to end, to the East Sea Dragon King, Ao Guang, who was coiled around the Divine Needle that Calmed the Sea.
Ao Guang listened and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:
"I am... uneasy about this matter."
"I understand, it's just that... at the time... there was no other choice."
Shen Gongbao and Ao Guang had been friends for many years; he naturally knew what Ao Guang was worried about.
The fact that the Dragon Clan had stolen the Spirit Pearl was not only known to Taiyi Zhenren, Ne Zha, and Li Jing and his wife, but almost all the citizens of Chentang Pass knew about it too.
If anyone accidentally leaked the news, let alone turning their fortunes around, the Dragon Clan's survival would be in question.
Furthermore, Yuanshi Tianzun was currently in seclusion refining the Investiture of the Gods, and the one holding the power of the Jade Void Palace was the Eldest Senior Brother, the Infinite Immortal (Wuliang Xianweng).
Shen Gongbao knew best what kind of person the Infinite Immortal was; he would love for the Dragon Clan to make a mistake so he could refine the entire clan into immortal elixirs.
But under those circumstances, he truly had no other choice.
Moreover, what that Daoist Black Dragon said was not unreasonable. If they had exterminated the entirety of Chentang Pass, they certainly wouldn't have been able to hide it from the Heavenly Lord.
"Big Brother, Little Sister has a plan that could help solve your worries."
Just then, three giant dragons bound by chains crawled out from the magma deep underground. One of them, a colorful dragon with beautiful coral-like horns, rose to the side of the East Sea Dragon King, Ao Guang, and spoke.
She was Ao Guang's younger sister, the Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Run. She had been imprisoned in the subterranean magma for a thousand years for rebelling against the Heavenly Court.
"Speak!"
Ao Guang's dragon eyes stared intently at his sister, his tone filled with authority and vigilance.
He knew his sister was cunning by nature and exceedingly intelligent, but she also hated him, her big brother, to the bone.
A thousand years ago, the Dragon Clan rebelled against the Heavenly Court. However, because the Heavenly Court had the assistance of the Three Sects, the Dragon Clan was no match for them.
If they had fought head-on, the entire Dragon Clan would have been annihilated.
So, he had no choice but to surrender to the Heavenly Court to preserve the clan.
It just so happened that the Heavenly Court didn't want a fight to the death either. Although the combined forces of the Heavenly Court and the Three Sects could crush the Dragon Clan, their losses would not be small.
Thus, they were willing to accept the Dragon Clan's surrender, but on the condition that the other three Dragon Kings and their subordinates, who refused to surrender, must be forever suppressed in the Undersea Purgatory.
And he, Ao Guang, would lead the East Sea Dragon Clan to suppress the three Dragon Kings for eternity.
He accepted this condition. Although he could not leave the East Sea, at least they survived, and there would be a chance to rise again in the future.
But the three Dragon Kings didn't see it that way. They believed their big brother had betrayed them to live a meager life, causing them to be suppressed in the magma hell for a millennium.
So, all these years, they had been cursing him constantly, dreaming of coming out to kill him.
"Big Brother seems to have forgotten Little Sister's ability."
Ao Run swiped her dragon claw, and a spatial rift appeared beside her.
"I know, the Rift... Rift... Rift..."
Shen Gongbao pointed a finger at Ao Run, stuttering for a long time without getting the words out.
Ao Guang glanced at his friend and helplessly finished for him:
"The Void-Rending Claw."
This was Ao Run's proudest divine ability. She could tear through space and travel instantly, ignoring distance.
Back then, it was precisely because of this ability that the Dragon Clan army possessed terrifying mobility and the confidence to rebel against the Heavenly Court.
Unfortunately, the Three Sects had too many top-tier magic treasures. Once the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord's Taiji Diagram came out, Ao Run's Void-Rending Claw was rendered useless.
"If Daoist Shen takes this dragon claw to Chentang Pass and opens a rift directly to me, the undersea demons can help Big Brother raze Chentang Pass to the ground. And with the Sea-Calming Chains, you don't need to worry about us escaping."
Ao Run snapped off one of her dragon claws and flicked it toward Shen Gongbao, who caught it.
But Ao Guang glanced at the dragon claw without being moved.
"This King does not intend to raze Chentang Pass."
Although he was worried about someone in Chentang Pass leaking the secret, Daoist Black Dragon was right; doing so would be too easily exposed.
It wasn't that he pitied the lives of those humans.
If he could be 100% sure that no secrets would leak, he wouldn't mind exterminating the entirety of Chentang Pass.
The main issue was that his son, Ao Bing, would definitely disagree. Also, the Demon Pill and Taiyi were not weak; it would be hard to guarantee they could all be kept there.
And then there was Daoist Black Dragon. Although he was of the Dragon Clan, his stance was not clear.
In the current situation, Ne Zha hadn't died under the Heavenly Tribulation, and Taiyi Zhenren—Yuanshi Tianzun's favorite disciple—was there to put in a good word.
Even if the theft of the Spirit Pearl was exposed, since no one was hurt, the entire Dragon Clan probably wouldn't be exterminated.
But if they massacred so many human civilians in Chentang Pass, once exposed, the Dragon Clan could wait for annihilation. There would be no reason for them to survive.
So, facing his sister Ao Run's temptation, he didn't take the bait at all.
Ao Run seemed to have anticipated that her brother wouldn't agree, so she continued with a giggle:
"Then besiege it. Surround the entire Chentang Pass and let no one leave. Naturally, you won't have to worry about the theft of the Spirit Pearl being exposed."
"Absurd. We can besiege it for a moment, but can we besiege it for a lifetime? As time goes on, it will inevitably be discovered."
Ao Guang rejected Ao Run's proposal again.
But Ao Run continued to explain unhurriedly:
"So, during this period, you can let that Taiyi Zhenren take my third nephew to the Jade Void Palace to participate in the Ascension Assessment. Once he passes, he will be an Immortal.
"When that happens, you will never have to worry about the matter being exposed again."
"Th-this plan is feasible!"
Shen Gongbao nodded upon hearing this.
With Ao Bing's strength, he could pass the Ascension Assessment with 100% certainty.
Once Ao Bing became an Immortal with the identity of the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl, and made contributions in the future Investiture War, he would inevitably be valued by the Master.
Even if the Master really sensed some issues, he wouldn't look too deeply into it.
Because of Ao Bing, the Dragon Clan could gain the true trust of the Heavenly Court and the Three Sects, thereby escaping their sea of suffering.
As Ao Bing's true mentor, he would also prove his ability to the Master, and perhaps have a chance to rank among the Twelve Golden Immortals.
As for the details, they could discuss them further with Taiyi.
"Are you satisfied with this solution that benefits both sides, Big Brother?"
Seeing the temptation on Ao Guang's dragon face, Ao Run chuckled.
Ao Guang snorted coldly:
"You wouldn't be so kind. Speak, what are your conditions?"
"In this purgatory, the flames burn my body every day, and each day feels like a year. If Big Brother is willing to slightly lower the fire and alleviate the suffering of the burning, we are willing to serve you like dogs and horses."
Ao Run understood her brother's character well. Knowing that he had approved of her plan, she gave a reason that sounded reasonable enough.
Indeed, her goal was naturally not to truly help Ao Guang, nor was it because she couldn't stand the burning of the magma in the purgatory; after so many years, she was long used to it.
She knew that if she remained locked in this Undersea Purgatory, she would never have a chance to escape, even in another ten thousand years.
As for waiting for Ao Bing to become an Immortal? The one enjoying glory and wealth would be Ao Guang. They would still be dangerous sea demons, continuing to be suppressed in the Undersea Purgatory.
Ever since the betrayal back then, she had no trust left in Ao Guang. She didn't believe he would release them in the end.
Only by leaving this Undersea Purgatory could she find a chance to escape.
Anyway, if she still hadn't found a chance to escape by the time Ao Bing became an Immortal, she would unite with Ao Qin and Ao Shun to lead all the sea demons.
While Ao Guang wasn't paying attention, she would wash the ground with magma and exterminate the entire Chentang Pass.
At that point, Ao Guang wouldn't be able to explain himself even if he had a hundred mouths. His end wouldn't be any better than theirs—perhaps he would be suppressed in the Undersea Purgatory just like them.
(End of Chapter)