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*****
Having settled matters with the three Sea Dragon Kings, George and Shen Gongbao used the passage left by Ao Run's Sky-Rending Claw to travel directly to the core of the Dragon-Locking formation within the East Sea Dragon Palace.
What entered George's vision was a sea of magma radiating terrifying heat. Surrounded by this magma stood numerous stone pillars covered in formation arrays.
Coiled around each pillar was a massive dragon. These dragons were continuously pouring their magical power into the arrays on the pillars, maintaining the might of the entire sealing formation.
At the convergence point of the formation stood a super-colossal stone pillar.
Coiled upon this pillar was the most powerful dragon of them all—the East Sea Dragon King, Ao Guang. He was the core supplier of mana and the presiding host of this formation.
"Eh... this stone pillar..."
George looked at the stone pillar at the core of the formation, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes. He could feel that the pillar Ao Guang was coiled around was far from simple; it contained an extremely potent power.
It was likely an extraordinary magical artifact.
Suddenly, a thought stirred in his mind, and he formed a bold guess.
This was the East Sea Dragon Palace. What was the most famous artifact of the East Sea Dragon Palace, particularly one in the shape of a staff or cudgel?
"What has happened?"
Sensing Shen Gongbao's aura, Ao Guang immediately opened his dragon eyes, revealing a look of confusion.
Reasonably speaking, Shen Gongbao was supposed to be presiding over the three Dragon Kings encircling Chentang Pass. Unless something extremely important had occurred, he wouldn't have returned, especially not with Daoist Black Dragon in tow.
"Ao Guang, Venerable Wuliang he..."
Shen Gongbao, with a grave expression, recounted the entire sequence of events and then explained George's plan.
"Venerable Wuliang's promises cannot be trusted. The previous plan is no longer viable. We must now prepare for the worst."
"Sigh. I didn't expect it to come to this final step. I was too naive!"
After listening to Shen Gongbao's narrative, Ao Guang understood clearly that the plan to rely on Ao Bing ascending to immortality to turn the tide for the Dragon Race had completely failed.
Venerable Wuliang had made it clear he intended to refine the entire Dragon Race into immortality pills. Even if they survived this time, there would be a next time. How could they defend against it forever?
"Since that is the case, let us proceed according to your plan."
Sure enough, the success rate is higher when Shen Gongbao does the talking, George mused silently, seeing that Ao Guang accepted the proposed scheme without much resistance.
Compared to George, Ao Guang certainly trusted Shen Gongbao more. Thus, having Shen Gongbao persuade Ao Guang yielded the highest chance of success.
The key factor was that Ao Guang had never truly submitted to the Heavenly Court and the Chan Sect in his heart. A thousand years ago, he had chosen to surrender only to preserve the Dragon Race.
Now that Venerable Wuliang intended to frame the Dragon Race and refine them all into pills, continuing to obediently guard the sea demons here while hoping for Ao Bing to turn things around would be utterly foolish.
Furthermore, given the current situation, Ao Bing might also be in danger at Yuxu Palace.
Therefore, George had been confident that Ao Guang would agree to his plan.
"For this, you have my thanks!"
After concluding the discussion with Shen Gongbao, Ao Guang transformed into his human form and solemnly thanked George.
The Dragon Race already owed George a favor regarding the Heavenly Tribulation, and this time the favor was even greater.
If George hadn't defected the three Dragon Kings in time, the black pot for the destruction of Chentang Pass would inevitably have been strapped to the Dragon Race's back.
When Venerable Wuliang eventually arrived with his great army, coupled with the three rebellious Dragon Kings, the Dragon Race would truly have been beyond redemption.
So, it could be said that George had saved the entire Dragon Race this time.
"We are all dragons; we ought to help one another!" George said with a smile. "The main issue now lies with the three outside. I hope, Dragon King, that for the sake of the bigger picture, you can make some concessions."
"Yes, we are all dragons. If we are not united, how can we cope with the tribulations of the future?"
Ao Guang waved his hand. "Rest assured, I know what needs to be done."
Passing through the rift opened by Ao Run, Ao Guang did not project his primordial spirit this time but stepped through with his true body, arriving at Chentang Pass.
Seeing Ao Guang appear, the eyes of Ao Run and the other two instantly revealed an uncontrollable hatred.
Although they had agreed to George's plan, the three of them could not forget the betrayal of the past, nor the thousand years of suffering in the seabed purgatory.
Intellectually, they knew their big brother, Ao Guang, had done it to preserve the entire Dragon Race. But knowing it didn't mean they were willing to understand or accept it.
Because they were the ones sacrificed to preserve the race. They had truly suffered a millennium of torture.
They could accept becoming sacrifices for the Dragon Race voluntarily, but they could not accept being betrayed and forced into becoming sacrifices passively.
Especially when the one doing it was their own big brother.
"Ao Qin, Ao Shun, Ao Run... Big Brother was wrong!"
After Ao Guang emerged, he did not explain that his betrayal back then was for the sake of the Dragon Race, or that he never intended to kill his siblings or those sea demons.
He didn't explain that he was merely stalling for time, trying to find a way to change the Dragon Race's fate through Ao Bing's ascension.
He had said these words many times, and his three siblings had heard them many times.
So, upon coming out, he simply knelt directly in front of his three siblings.
Clearly, this action by Ao Guang greatly exceeded the expectations of Ao Run and the others. The mocking words they had prepared to say were instantly choked back.
Ao Guang—the Dragon King with the purest, noblest bloodline and the greatest strength, the true ruler of the Dragon Race, and their big brother.
He had always been high and mighty, always looking down from above, never admitting his mistakes.
Yet now, not only did he admit he was wrong, but he also knelt before them. This was simply inconceivable.
"I thought that as long as we compromised, as long as we surrendered, there would come a day when we would gain their trust, allowing you to regain your freedom and restoring the glory of our Dragon Race.
"I was too naive.
"I should not have betrayed you back then. If we had worked together with one heart, perhaps there really would have been a different outcome."
Ao Guang's tone was incredibly sincere, causing the eyes of Ao Run and the others to redden involuntarily.
"You... don't expect us to forgive you. In this lifetime, I will never forgive you, Ao Guang!"
Ao Run pointed at Ao Guang, her eyes swimming with tears.
Ao Guang, however, revealed a gentle smile.
"It is only right that you do not forgive Big Brother. Big Brother does not ask for your forgiveness.
"I only beg that, for the sake of us all being dragons, you will join forces to resist Venerable Wuliang and the Heavenly Court in the future, and work together to complete the plan ahead."
"Hmph. Rest assured. Since we promised Black Dragon, we will do our best.
"As for our future cooperation, do not think it is because you are our big brother. It is for our own sakes."
Ao Run calmed her emotions and lifted her head with a touch of arrogance.
"Your big brother is still your big brother, after all!"
Watching everything happening outside through the rift, George sighed in admiration. Ao Guang was indeed a leader of the Dragon Race; to ensure his three siblings would cooperate properly, he could bow and submit when necessary.
And he had truly hit the mark.
This was for the best. If there were still knots in their hearts, problems would inevitably arise later.
(End of this Chapter)