CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 71: THE HELPLESSNESS OF THE DRAGON CLAN

The clear skies above the East Sea were devoid of clouds or mist.

The Four Sea Dragon Kings floated midair, seemingly very irritable.

"Big brother, is Penglai Island really here?" West Sea Dragon King Ao Run, who was naturally impulsive, had already grown impatient. Had it not been for the possibility that this place might be the North Emperor’s practice field, he would likely have lost his temper by now.

"Shut up, the fourth!" Ao Shun glared furiously at Ao Run, scolding him with exasperation: "When will you ever grow up, huh?"

Ao Run looked at Ao Shun grievously and muttered, "Picking on me again!"

Aoguang gazed indifferently at the void in front of him and said, "Do not rush! The Array Formation Jade Plate bestowed by His Majesty indicates that Penglai Island is right here. All we need to do is wait patiently!"

"Boom!"

Just then, the void before the four dragons turned tumultuous with rising mist, and an extraordinarily eye-catching, massive island gradually appeared before them.

"Wow, it’s so beautiful..." Staring at the Penglai Immortal Island in front of him, Ao Run opened his mouth wide in surprise, drooling at length.

At this moment, Penglai Island seemed different from years past, less cold and more dream-like. Within the vast Penglai Immortal Island, radiant with colors, and auspicious qi in myriad streams, it was beautiful beyond measure, incomparable even to the Crystal Palace.

"Swoosh!"

Suddenly, a golden bridge burst forth from Penglai Island, reaching directly into the sky. Qing Han, dressed in a pink Daoist robe, slowly walked out from the island, her serene face adorned with a faint smile.

Qing Han greeted the four Dragon Kings with a curtsy, saying, "Qing Han has seen the four Dragon Kings. The master has decreed that you are to follow me to the Vitality Hall to discuss affairs!" Brightening up, her rosy cheeks revealed two adorable dimples.

Aoguang hurriedly stepped forward to return the courtesy, saying, "The Immortal Child is polite!"

Qing Han stepped aside slightly and led the way towards the Vitality Hall.

Leading the Four Sea Dragon Kings to the Vitality Hall, Qing Han said, "Dragon Kings, please enter!"

"Thank you, Immortal Child!" Aoguang smiled once more and bowed, then stepped into the hall.

As soon as they entered the hall, they saw Li Qingming sitting prominently in the main seat, with Kong Xuan and Guang Chengzi seated on either side of the hall.

Aoguang and the other three Dragon Kings all knelt on one knee, softly calling out: "East Sea Dragon King Aoguang, together with brothers Ao Qin, Ao Shun, and Ao Run, pay respects to the North Emperor Your Majesty!"

Li Qingming extended a hand and lifted the four Dragon Kings with gentle force, saying, "Fellow Daoists, it has been a long time! How fares the Dragon Clan now?"

Aoguang stepped forward and said, "Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. Ever since Your Majesty created the Dragon Transformation Pond, our clan’s population has been increasing day by day, now exceeding ten million. We will forever remember Your Majesty’s grace!"

Li Qingming waved his hand, saying, "It is heaven’s will to perpetuate your Dragon Clan, what does it have to do with me? Speak plainly! Why have you left your Four Seas Dragon Palaces and come to Penglai Island?"

Ao Shun took out a scroll of bright yellow silk, saying, "Your Majesty will understand once you see this!"

Li Qingming curiously gestured with his hand and the bright yellow silk flew from Ao Shun’s hand into his own.

Li Qingming unfolded the silk and examined it closely, only to see the following: "Imperial Decree: By the command of the Tao Ancestor, Emperor Xuanqiong of the High Heavens now suppresses the Heavenly Court and governs all of Huaxia’s heavens. However, with the recent establishment of the Heavenly Court, there is a scarcity of Immortal Positions. Since ancient times, the Ancient Primordial Dragon Clan has controlled the water veins of Huaxia and should, therefore, inherit the will of Heaven and Earth and receive enfeoffment at the Heavenly Court to have rightful authority. This we hope the Dragon Kings heed carefully! Decree this!"

Li Qingming frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before asking, "What do you think?"

West Sea Dragon King Ao Run glared furiously, speaking in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this Hao Tian clearly intends for our Dragon Clan to return to his Heavenly Court and be subject to his control. How is this different from the Demon Court of old?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ao Shun interjected, "Since the dawn of creation, our Dragon Clan has weathered the Dragon Han Calamity and the Witch Demon Great Tribulation. Both calamities nearly eradicated our clan! Our wish was to withdraw from the struggles of Primordial times and enjoy a peaceful life. Hao Tian’s actions are essentially pressuring us to serve him, aren’t they?"

"Aoguang, what is your view?" Li Qingming handed back the imperial decree to Ao Shun and suddenly turned to Aoguang.

"There are pros and cons to this matter!" Aoguang, as the current Clan Leader of the Dragon Clan, often thought more deeply than the others.

"Oh?" Li Qingming showed a trace of interest, saying, "Go on!"

"Every twelve Yuan Hui cycle in Heaven and Earth heralds a Calamity. When the Calamity descends, all but the Quasi-Saints are within its grasp. Even if one secludes oneself and avoids worldly affairs, it is hard to escape!" Aoguang sighed and continued, "Our Dragon Clan failed to evade both great calamities, but Hao Tian’s invitation might be an opportunity!"

Admiration flickered in Li Qingming’s eyes as he said, "Indeed, the next Calamity is sure to descend upon the Heavenly Court!"

"For this reason, I, too, am hesitant. Joining the Heavenly Court will certainly put us under its control, stripping the Dragon Clan of its freedom. Yet, if we don’t join, in the face of the Calamity, our clan is also doomed to face disaster! Alas, what to do?" Aoguang felt a profound sense of helplessness. No matter how powerful a race, without achieving Saint status, it remains as insignificant as ants.

Li Qingming gently shook his head and said, "Aoguang, even after ascending to the Heavenly Court, you will certainly not be restricted by others!"

The silent Four Sea Dragon Kings were startled at these words and chorused, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"

"Firstly, the Dragon Clan is by nature a Divine Beast with a Water attribute, and has monopolized the Primordial Water Veins for years, establishing a deep-rooted position. Without you, Heaven and Earth would be in chaos with the seas overturning and rivers flowing in reverse, and rain falling erratically! This would wreak havoc on the land of Huaxia Divine Land, and naturally, the Karma would fall upon the head of the ringleader, Hao Tian. Do you really think Hao Tian would be so foolish?" Li Qingming said with a mocking smile while looking at the Four Sea Dragon Kings.

The Divine Light in Aoguang’s eyes grew brighter, as if he had understood something.

It was Ao Qin, always silent, who spoke at this point: "Does Your Majesty mean that the Dragon Clan has merely nominally submitted to the Heavenly Court, but in reality, we are still in control ourselves?"

"Smart!" Li Qingming chuckled lightly, not expecting that the most intelligent of the Four Sea Dragon Kings would be Ao Qin. Interesting.

"Good, then we shall comply with Hao Tian’s decree and receive our titles as Dragon Kings in the Heavenly Court!" Finally, Aoguang concluded and made a decision on the future direction of the Dragon Clan.

Pingyu Jia Yitian, Yaochi Holy Land.

"Brother Tian, isn’t your early action against the Dragon Clan a bit rash?" In the Yaochi Holy Land, Qin Han tenderly embraced Hao Tian, her charming, delicate face showing a hint of exhaustion.

"Rash?" Hao Tian laughed silently, "Silly girl, the Dragon Clan is not as simple as you think! Do you think that after their old ancestor transformed into the Holy Beast Azure Dragon, the Dragon Clan was left without a pillar to lean on?"

Qing Han looked up in confusion, asking, "Isn’t that the case?"

Hao Tian turned around, enveloping Qing Han in his arms, and said, "Behind the Dragon Clan stands Qingmingzi Daoist Brother, untouchable, indeed untouchable!"

Qing Han covered her small mouth in astonishment, exclaiming, "How can this be!"

...

Time passed quietly like a swift steed.

For cultivators like Li Qingming in the land of Huaxia Divine Land, time was often the least valuable thing.

At this very moment, East Kunlun Mountain was adorned with lights and festooned with streamers. The originally auspicious and radiant Three Pure Ones Hall was now filled with joy by the playful decoration of the Xuan Sect’s Third Generation Disciples, a scene brimming with happiness.

In a side hall to the left of the Three Pure Ones Hall, female disciples from both Chan and Jie Sects like Ci Hang, Gui Ling, Wudang, and Ganoderma Immortal were playfully teasing the bashful and shy Jin Ling.

"Sister Jin Ling, you look so beautiful! No wonder Daoist Brother Yu Ding is so smitten with you!" Ci Hang touched Jin Ling’s delicate face that seemed to be as fragile as spun sugar, feeling quite emotional.

Jin Ling brushed off Ci Hang’s hand and said, "Go away, you naughty girl! Even making fun of your senior sister, I won’t let you get away with this!"

With that, she stood up to pursue, her breath fragrant as she blew towards Ci Hang’s snowy neck.

"Giggle, sisters, Sister Jin Ling is bullying me; why don’t you lend a hand?" Ci Hang dodged Jin Ling with giggling laughter, scrambling with hands and feet, using Gui Ling and the others as human shields.

"We won’t help you! Who told you to always tease us on ordinary days!" Han Zhi Immortal said with a smile, stretching out her slender fingers, even reaching towards Ci Hang’s full chest.

In just a short half-moment, Gui Ling and Wudang were also drawn into the fray, the group of senior and junior sisters frolicking in the large side hall, panting and sweating.

On the other side, in a side hall to the right of the Three Pure Ones Hall, the atmosphere was eerily quiet.

A bunch of old masters from both Chan and Jie Sects sat facing each other, with Yu Ding enclosed in the center. All of them wore expressionless faces, sitting stiff with backs straight, eyes wide open, silent.

Suddenly, Yu Ding, the groom, could no longer bear the agony. He blinked slightly.

"Hehe!" Duobao, little chubby, laughed with his eyes nearly closed, exclaiming, "I knew Yu Ding couldn’t sit still. His heart must be racing like a little rabbit."

Guang Chengzi shook his head helplessly and pulled out a bottle of superior Eight-Transformation Golden Pills from his storage space, saying, "A lost bet is a lost bet. Why talk so much?"

The remaining brothers of the Chan Sect, too, put on bitter faces and similarly retrieved Golden Pills from their storage spaces, handing them over to the Jie Sect disciples across from them.

"Hey hey, I was actually planning to ask the eldest senior brother to make some Eight-Transformation Golden Pills. Now I can save the trouble!" Duobao held tight to a pile of Jade Bottles, swinging his legs boastfully, quite pleased with himself.

"Yu Ding, you’re such a disappointment! We only bet whether you could stay silent, motionless, and without blinking for an hour, and you failed at the very last moment. Where have your meditation skills gone?" Guang Chengzi knocked on Yu Ding, his words laden with reproach.

"Why make bets at my expense..." Yu Ding rubbed his head, feeling wronged.

"Hahaha, alright, that’s enough!" At this moment, Xuan Dou walked in from outside the hall, saying, "Stop the fussing, and start preparing Yu Ding; the appointed hour is almost upon us."

"Senior Brother, has the eldest senior brother arrived?" Yu Ding let his brothers fiddle with him, suddenly asking a question.

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