Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
For every 5 Patreon memberships I receive, I'll release 15 chapters all at once. Your support means a lot to me.
*****
Above Chentang Pass, Shen Gongbao forcefully flung aside the dragon claw belonging to Ao Run.
Under Shen Gongbao's control, the severed dragon claw circled the perimeter of the entire Chentang Pass, tearing open a dimensional rift that led directly to the purgatory on the ocean floor.
Countless streams of magma surged from the fissure, cascading down into the vast ocean below.
One by one, sea monsters, still bound by the heavy chains that anchored the seas, emerged. clutching their various crude weapons. They stood at the exit of the rift, their faces twisted into expressions of savage ferocity.
However, the most terrifying presence among them was undoubtedly the three massive Sea Dragon Kings, who radiated a terrifying and majestic dragon aura.
"Report—!!!"
The messenger's voice echoed through the General's Manor, which had not yet dispersed its gathering. However, there was no need for the soldier's report; everyone present had already looked up and witnessed the striking silhouettes of the sea monsters in the high sky and the magma hanging like a waterfall of fire.
"How can sea monsters appear here? Have the Dragon Clan abandoned their duty to guard them?"
Shock and alarm instantly filled the hearts of everyone in the courtyard.
"What kind of trick is Shen Gongbao playing this time?"
Taiyi Zhenren quickly spotted Shen Gongbao hovering in the high sky and immediately knew that this chaotic situation was definitely another one of his junior brother's schemes.
Ao Bing, traumatized by the events of the past, was also startled. He quickly rose to his feet and flew toward Shen Gongbao.
"I'm going to ask Master what is happening!"
"We'll go together."
Nezha stepped onto his Wind Fire Wheels and followed closely behind.
As the Commander-in-Chief and General of Chentang Pass, Li Jing and Madam Yin naturally needed to understand the cause of this invasion. Furthermore, they were worried about Nezha's safety.
Thus, they activated the 'Wind Riding' technique from the Seventy-Two Earthly Transformations, riding the currents of air as they ascended into the sky.
Neither Li Jing nor Madam Yin were ordinary mortals; they were cultivators with cultivation bases. Although their cultivation was not profound—as they specialized more in martial combat with weapons—they knew many basic Taoist spells.
In fact, Li Jing was a disciple of the Immortal Du'e of West Kunlun. It was only because his destiny did not allow him to reach the Immortal Realm that his master had sent him down the mountain to join the royal court and enjoy the riches and honors of the mortal world.
Seeing that everyone had taken to the air, George and Taiyi Zhenren finally set down their wine cups, stood up, and flew upward as well.
"Master, why are we besieging Chentang Pass?"
Upon flying face-to-face with Shen Gongbao, Ao Bing immediately asked in an anxious tone.
Shen Gongbao, however, raised his hand to signal him to stay quiet. He waited until everyone had arrived before he finally began to explain, stuttering as he spoke:
"Because... the Dra-Dragon..."
He had barely opened his mouth when a powerful Dragon Soul flew out from the rift, transforming into a human form that stood imperiously before the group, looking down on them.
"Because this King cannot fully trust you humans. To prevent anyone in Chentang Pass from leaking the Dragon Clan's secrets, this King will encircle Chentang Pass for a few days. We will not leave until my son participates in the Immortal Ascension Examination and becomes an Immortal."
It was the Dragon King, Ao Guang. Worried that Shen Gongbao would fail to explain things clearly, he had projected his Primordial Spirit to intervene.
"Father King, this..."
Ao Bing obviously disagreed with his father's methods, but before he could offer any persuasion, Ao Guang interrupted him.
"Bing'er, this matter concerns the survival of the entire Dragon Clan; your Father King has no choice but to be cautious. Rest assured, I am only laying a siege to prevent news from leaking. I absolutely will not harm the lives of these mortals within Chentang Pass."
Seeing that his father's mind was made up, Ao Bing knew that anything he said now would be useless.
At this moment, Li Jing spoke up with a solemn expression:
"This action is absolutely not the righteous path. We should follow the rules and regulations, report clearly to the Heavenly Lord, and hope that the Heavenly Lord will see the truth with his unparalleled wisdom. To deceive him like this will only lead to endless trouble in the future. After reporting to the Heavenly Lord, my wife and I will also do our utmost to plead for leniency, ensuring that the sins of the fathers do not bring disaster upon their descendants."
"No wonder he eventually commands the entirety of Heaven's soldiers and generals," George thought to himself with a sigh of admiration upon hearing Li Jing's words.
It wasn't that Li Jing was exceptionally talented, but rather his sincere attitude and his rigid, by-the-book ideological awareness. What leader wouldn't like and trust a subordinate like that?
"A mere mortal, with only a few decades of experience, dares to preach great principles in front of this King?"
Ao Guang turned his head to glare at Li Jing, his gaze freezing over. Behind him, the Dragon King of the South Sea, Ao Qin, immediately understood the signal. He extended a massive dragon claw and snatched Li Jing into his grip.
"Did you think this King was discussing this with you? Either you agree, or this King will annihilate your Chentang Pass today!"
"Father!"
"Father King!"
Seeing Li Jing captured, Nezha furiously summoned his Fire-tipped Spear, while Ao Bing hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Ao Guang's arm.
The atmosphere instantly became heavy and tense.
"Everyone, if you have something to say, let us speak calmly. There is no need for this."
Seeing the situation deteriorate, George reached out and waved his hand toward where Li Jing was being held. Li Jing's figure instantly vanished from the South Sea Dragon King's claw and reappeared right beside George.
Just a moment ago, when the South Sea Dragon King had reached for Li Jing, George had conveniently placed a spatial marker on Li Jing's body. At such a close distance, he could effortlessly trigger the marker to activate spatial magic, teleporting Li Jing to his side.
"May I offer a word?" George asked.
"Taoist Black Dragon, please speak."
Facing George, Ao Guang's attitude improved significantly.
Firstly, he had never intended to actually destroy Chentang Pass; he had merely wanted to frighten Li Jing, and since that goal was achieved, he was satisfied.
Secondly, the Dragon Clan owed George a debt of gratitude. If George hadn't helped deal with the Heavenly Tribulation, his foolish son might have already died trying to save Nezha.
Thirdly, George himself was of the Dragon race, not a mortal.
And fourthly, Ao Guang could not gauge the depth of George's power. He speculated that the other's strength was no less than his own, and the strong always deserved respect.
The others also turned their gaze to George. Through their interactions over this period, they had come to trust him deeply.
"If everything you say is a lie, it will be hard for people to believe, and it will be difficult not to reveal flaws," George began, smiling as he laid out his perspective. "If you want Ao Bing to pass the Immortal Ascension Examination and become an Immortal, his identity as a Dragon cannot be hidden forever, because being discovered is only a matter of time."
He continued, "If, at that time, he is perceived as a spy sent by the Dragon Clan to infiltrate the Jade Void Palace, the misunderstanding will run even deeper. Therefore, what Commander Li said also holds logic."
"However," George pivoted, "you cannot confess everything either. The Heavenly Lord is currently in seclusion refining the Investiture of the Gods, and no one knows when he will emerge. The other Golden Immortals may not possess the same ability to see the finest details of truth as the Heavenly Lord does. If you confess everything now, the Dragon Clan might face immediate danger."
"Then what should be done?"
Taiyi Zhenren slapped his hands together, looking utterly headache-ridden.
George continued:
"My suggestion is: Nine truths, one lie. Confess the majority of the situation honestly, but blur the lines on the sensitive parts. Wait until Ao Bing becomes an Immortal, the War of Investiture ends, and he has established merit. Then, inform the Heavenly Lord of the full truth and request forgiveness."
"Spec—specifically, how should we say it?"
Shen Gongbao felt that George's words made sense.
Although the Primordial Lord of Heaven (Yuanshi Tianzun) cared about one's background and pedigree, he wasn't completely extreme; otherwise, Shen Gongbao wouldn't have had the chance to join the Chan Sect in the first place.
This was exactly why he had originally plotted to have Ao Bing become the Spirit Pearl incarnate and join the Chan Sect.
But now, the Heavenly Lord was in seclusion. The one presiding over the overall situation at the Jade Void Palace was the Infinite Immortal (Wuliang Xianweng). Shen Gongbao knew this eldest senior brother best.
He was ruthless and held an extreme contempt for the Demon race, wishing he could refine every demon under the heavens into elixir pills to strengthen the Chan Sect's power.
If he were to learn the whole truth, he would inevitably use the excuse that the Dragon Clan harbored treacherous intentions to mobilize the entire Chan Sect, capturing all the Dragons and sea monsters in one fell swoop to refine them into pills.
(End of Chapter)