Chapter 126: Dragon Council

Deep within the East Sea, the surroundings were resplendent and golden, brimming with an ethereal, celestial aura. Schools of shrimp soldiers and crab generals patrolled the waters, while fish-maidens danced gracefully; many of these were spirits that had attained human form, chasing and playing behind the patrols.

Suddenly, they all fell silent. Except for the soldiers and the various armored aquatic demons on patrol, they scattered and fled, vanishing without a trace.

A moment later, hundreds of black dragons swam forth, frolicking as they advanced. Countless aquatic spirits acted as an escort, clearing the path toward the crystal palace in the deepest part of the sea. In the center were several black dragons with mottled, scarred scales, exuding a brutal aura that sent gale-force winds whistling through the water.

Where one dragon enters the sea, a host of dragons follows.

The gates of the crystal palace swung wide, and the black dragons filed in, shifting into human form. Aside from seven or eight elders, most were youths or even children. After this group passed, the water temperature rose sharply, only to plummet immediately after, coating the deep sea in a layer of frost. A group of red dragons and a group of white dragons gathered here, merging into a chaotic mass as they chased each other into the crystal palace.

Once the currents settled, the countless aquatic demons gathered once more, peering toward the distant crystal palace, their eyes filled with envy.

"Why have so many Dragon Princes come? If they come out to play, we’ll be the ones to suffer."

"Strange. I saw the three Dragon Kings..."

"Hush! You dare address the Dragon Kings so casually?"

*Splash—*

Just as the aquatic creatures outside were whispering, the crystal palace in the deep sea suddenly burst into a brilliant light that radiated outward. With a surge of bubbles, the palace vanished from sight.

"What is happening?"

"I’ve slept among the coral beside this palace for untold years, and I’ve never seen such a spectacle!"

...

Inside the now-concealed crystal palace, the dragon kin had all shifted into human form. The elders, with their long, steady breaths, sat in the lower seats, their expressions solemn. The young dragons, clearly still children, were gathered in a vast side hall, tended to by fish-maidens and aquatic spirits, while the Dragon Mothers gathered nearby, whispering among themselves.

"Big Brother, has some new crisis arisen?"

The red-scaled elder sitting in the primary seat looked toward the East Sea Dragon King, who sat at the very center, his tone tinged with confusion: "We have an agreement: only when the Four Seas must join forces to solve a problem do we sound the Conch of the Four Seas. If it is a matter requiring us to deliberate on strategy, we strike the Dragon Drums of the Four Seas. You summoned us with the sound of a dragon’s roar through the Dragon-Shattering Bell; we feared a catastrophe of heaven-shaking proportions had occurred, yet upon arriving here, we sensed no disturbance."

"Second Brother, it was not I who sounded the Dragon-Shattering Bell."

The Green Dragon elder at the head of the hall spoke, his tone heavy with lamentation and a hint of sorrow: "The Dragon-Shattering Bell sounded of its own accord. Furthermore, I just checked the Universe Bowl of the Four Seas; the mists within it have diminished by two parts!"

"What!"

"What!"

...

At these words, many of the Great Luo Dragons and the other three Dragon Kings rose to their feet in shock, their voices filled with disbelief, punctuated by low, guttural growls.

"The Universe Bowl of the Four Seas contains several bone fragments of our Dragon Ancestor. The mist within represents the fortune of our clan. How could it have vanished by two parts for no reason?"

"Indeed. Ever since we retreated to the Four Seas, we have strictly adhered to our ancestors' teachings, save for the last sermon at the Purple Heaven Palace. We have caused no trouble, and we have ignored even the demon tribes that came to provoke us..."

*Bang!*

"Enough! Cease this bickering!"

The East Sea Dragon King, sitting at the head, slammed his hand onto his crystal throne and let out a low roar: "Stop speculating! I have summoned you here to deliberate on the cause and find the truth, not to let you stand here and roar in impotence!"

At once, the dragons sat back down, their faces grim. They were either busy cultivating or sleeping; none of them knew what had transpired.

"If you speak of the clan's fortune, I already know."

A whisper drifted through the hollow crystal palace. The dragons' expressions shifted, a flicker of anger crossing their faces. But as the figure gradually materialized from a dense mist and stepped forth, their countenances softened. It was none other than the Old Wine-Maker, who had been drinking with Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi just moments before.

"Spare me the formalities," the Old Wine-Maker said, waving away their salutations, his voice remarkably calm. "I have come only to tell you that this matter is my own doing; there is no need for excessive worry."

He swept his gaze across the room, and the dragons, not daring to contradict him, lowered their heads. Yet, the Old Wine-Maker did not stop; his voice grew heavier: "Within the next twenty or thirty thousand years, the fortune of the Dragon Clan will undergo a massive upheaval. We old relics will shoulder the burden of the underlying currents; you need only cultivate diligently and remain prepared at all times."

The South Sea Dragon King, a red dragon by nature with an impatient temperament, could no longer sit still: "May I ask, Wine Ancestor... what exactly must we prepare for?"

"You have the gall to ask? As a Great Luo, can you not see the machinations at play?" The Old Wine-Maker snorted. Realizing it was hardly the man's fault, he softened his tone slightly: "Truly, the bystanders see clearly while the participants are obsessed. The Four Seas must prepare to commit at least sixty percent of their foundation for the coming war. The demon tribes harbor grand ambitions for the Four Seas; their wild greed cannot be ignored. I have employed my arts to divide and transform our clan's fortune; once this immeasurable calamity passes, we shall see what the outcome is."

"We know the demon tribes covet our lands, but so much time has passed without any real progress. Why should we fear..." The North Sea Dragon King had begun with confidence, but as he spoke, his voice trailed off, and he sat back down in silence.

"Hmph. If this were the Dragon Clan of old, we would naturally have no fear of these demon tribes; they were, at best, mere pawns of the Qilin and the Phoenix. But now, the fortune of the world favors the demon tribes, and their unification has become inevitable. What the outcome will be is no longer for you to speculate. Though our strength has recovered from its lowest ebb, we cannot withstand further turmoil. Once the demon tribes have integrated all the demons of the Great Wilderness, their power will be ten times our own. The Great Luo of the Four Seas alone cannot hold them back! We old relics will deliberate on these matters. Since you are here, prepare to head to the Purple Heaven Palace early. With the Dao Ancestor’s second sermon less than ten thousand years away, I have a premonition that something of great significance is about to occur!"