Chapter 401 – The Dragon Palace Arrives: The Arrogant Dragon Clan

Confident of their impending victory, the dragon princes and grandsons who left the Dragon Palace hall, along with the Lords of Aquatic Tribes, even began to pity Mu Lin.

“To be targeted by both a Human King and our Dragon Clan—that Mu Lin truly is pitiable.”

“Heh, you can’t blame us for this. If anyone’s to blame, it’s his own arrogance and weakness.”

“He was indeed far too arrogant. If he hadn’t pressured the East Sea King so relentlessly, the East Sea Kingdom would never have given us an opening to intervene.”

“Likewise, if he weren’t so weak, our Dragon Palace wouldn’t have dared to involve itself so freely.”

As they conversed, the various Lords of Aquatic Tribes and Dragon Lords made their way out.

While walking, many of the Aquatic Tribe leaders pondered how to secure positions for their descendants in rivers and lakes, appointing them as Lords of Water Manors.

Some were eager to seize advantageous positions, while others turned their attention to a Dragon Lord who wore a deeply furrowed brow.

“Lord Ao Cheng, are you still troubled by the matter of Mu Lin?”

“Yes, I have an uneasy feeling about this. That Mu Lin won’t be so easy to kill.”

“My lord, you worry too much. What does it matter if he’s hard to kill? Within the same realm, our Dragon Clan fears no one, and besides, this time it’s an Earth Immortal dealing with a Mortal Shedding cultivator. Moreover, to ensure success, the Dragon King has even sent Lord Ao Huan to the treasury to select a Treasure. With such overwhelming advantages, I see no way for Mu Lin to survive.”

“…You’re right. I am indeed overthinking this.”

After reasoning through the situation logically and concluding that Mu Lin truly had no means of escape, Ao Cheng—who had once seen Mu Lin in person—finally set his worries aside.

…

Due to the East Sea King’s urgent demands, the Dragon Palace acted swiftly.

Not long after the matter was settled, news was simultaneously released by both the Dragon Palace and the East Sea King:

The Dragon Palace’s Ninth Princess, Ao Xuan, was to marry the East Sea King’s second son.

Moreover, an Earth Immortal-level Dragon King, Ao Huan (note: adjusted titles and realms for the Dragon Clan—Dragon Kings are Earth Immortals, Dragon Lords are Celestial Masters, and the Dragon Palace’s ruler is equivalent to a Human Race True Lord or an outer realm Deity), would soon escort Ao Xuan to Skysea City.

Once this news spread, it caused a massive uproar not only in the East Sea Kingdom but throughout the entire Human Race.

As those in positions of power, few were truly foolish; even if they were, they had advisors and strategists to guide them.

Thus, whether it was the North-South Clans, the Great Spirit Imperial Dynasty, or the local clans of the East Sea Kingdom, all clearly understood that the East Sea King’s alliance with the Dragon Palace at this time was undoubtedly aimed at dealing with Mu Lin—and would come at a steep price.

In response, a blizzard of condemnations poured into the East Sea King’s Manor from all directions.

However, since the East Sea King dared to take such action, he had naturally prepared his justifications.

First, he completely absolved himself of any accusations of betraying his country or selling out the interests of the Human Race.

“Rumors, all rumors! As a king, how could I possibly betray the interests of the Human Race?”

“Ao Xuan marrying into the East Sea King’s Manor is simply a matter of two young people falling in love. What, do you expect me to stand in the way of true affection?”

“As for selling out Human Race interests to the Dragon Clan—that’s utter nonsense. The Aquatic Tribes entering the East Sea Kingdom are merely guards provided by the Dragon Palace out of love for their daughter.”

“The Aquatic Tribes being stationed in various regions is because Ao Xuan is kind-hearted and cannot bear to see the Human Race thrown into chaos by rebels. They are there to maintain order.”

Second, he even turned the accusations back on his critics.

“Moreover, you should be grateful.”

“The Doomsday Calamity is approaching. To address this crisis, what’s wrong with me seizing this opportunity to form an alliance with the Dragon Palace? Isn’t this a good thing?”

“A bunch of troublemakers, why can’t you understand my well-intentioned efforts!”

These words seemed flawless on the surface, much like some public intellectuals in a past life who clamored that saving Beacon Country was saving oneself.

Unfortunately, while there appeared to be no issue on the surface, delving deeper revealed problems.

Forming an alliance should entail peaceful coexistence between equals. Yet now, the East Sea King had completely relinquished control over the kingdom’s waterways.

This was akin to handing over one’s main artery to others—an act that undoubtedly betrayed the interests of the Human Race.

However, even though the matter couldn’t be scrutinized too closely, the East Sea King had executed it flawlessly on the surface.

And this left many without a reason to intervene.

Well, it was a special era, and some were unwilling to take significant risks.

Otherwise, reasons could be found aplenty.

…

Though he bore immense infamy and turned the local aristocratic families of the East Sea Kingdom against him completely, the alliance between the East Sea King’s Manor and the Dragon Palace was nearly finalized.

As Ao Xuan gradually approached Skysea City, everyone understood that the moment she entered the city would mark the formation of their alliance.

Sensing this, others merely frowned and felt uneasy, but the aristocratic families within the East Sea Kingdom grew genuinely anxious.

The Dragon Palace Aquatic Tribe entering rivers and lakes would come at their expense.

Thus, the aristocratic families in the East Sea Kingdom intensified their denunciations of the East Sea King.

At the same time, some reached out to Mu Lin, explaining the pros and cons and urging him to assassinate the Dragon Palace’s Ninth Princess, Ao Xuan.

“Mu Lin, the primary goal of the East Sea King’s alliance with the Dragon Palace is undoubtedly you. You must not let their alliance succeed. Once they unite, you’re finished.”

“So, I suggest you intercept and kill Ao Xuan. As long as she’s eliminated, you can disrupt this alliance.”

The aristocratic families spoke with such sincerity, as if they genuinely had Mu Lin’s interests at heart.

However, in response to these people and their nonsense, Mu Lin offered only one word: “Scram!”

Such a blunt rebuke angered the person who had contacted him.

“Mu Lin, what kind of attitude is this? We’re trying to help you…”

This made Mu Lin laugh.

“Help me? Hah, if you’re so kind-hearted, why don’t you go assassinate Ao Xuan yourselves? Wouldn’t that be the greatest help to me?”

“…”

These words left the person contacting Mu Lin somewhat speechless.

As he stammered, unsure how to respond, Mu Lin’s icy voice came through.

“Don’t take me for a fool. The Dragon Palace’s arrival is indeed troublesome for me, but I don’t care. I’ve already exacted enough revenge and vented most of my anger. So, I can leave for distant lands anytime and return for revenge once I’m stronger. What, will the Dragon Palace chase me all the way to the Northern Wastelands? But it’s different for you. Your Spirit Fields, mines, and clansmen are all in the East Sea Kingdom. It’s you who should be worried.”

“If you want me to help you deal with the Dragon Palace, fine. But get your attitude straight and offer me benefits.”

“Don’t even think about sitting back and watching me charge forward. Heh, such a good deal will never fall into your laps.”

Click!

The merciless words and abruptly ended communication left the aristocratic families of the East Sea Kingdom with grim expressions, filled with deep resentment toward Mu Lin.

Though Mu Lin couldn’t see their reactions, he could easily guess them. However, he simply didn’t care.

The East Sea King was no saint, and these aristocratic families were nothing but bloodsucking parasites and profiteers on this land.

Scheming against them and seizing benefits from their grasp caused Mu Lin not the slightest hesitation or guilt.

“Besides, because of my conflict with the East Sea King, you’ve already taken more than enough.”

“Before, when I had to fight the East Sea King, I needed you to stay on the sidelines, which allowed you to amass wealth unscrupulously.”

“But now it’s different—you’re the ones begging me.”

“The ones who should be anxious are you, not me.”

As Mu Lin pondered with a profound gaze, his main body was approached by Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo, who hurried over to deliver a message.

“Brother Mu, the clan head sent me word. They want me to tell you that you absolutely must not attempt to assassinate Ao Xuan. If you don’t act, they’ll have a harder time dealing with the situation. But if you make a move, everything will be over—you’ll fall right into their trap.”

“I know.”

Mu Lin indeed wouldn’t carry out an assassination lightly, as it would be extremely disadvantageous for him.

—Whether among the Human Race or the Dragon Clan, unless one’s power transcends all, actions must adhere to certain rules.

Mu Lin’s previous actions might have seemed arrogant and unrestrained, but he had always operated within the bounds of these rules—within the East Sea Kingdom, he never killed indiscriminately, targeting only the East Sea King’s Manor and those connected to it.

Since it was the East Sea King’s Manor that first broke the rules by attacking Mu Lin, his current retaliation was justified. Such killings wouldn’t provoke intervention from the true powerhouses of the Human Race.

But if he were to kill indiscriminately, everything would change.

Similarly, Mu Lin couldn’t act recklessly, and neither could the Dragon Clan.

For them to come ashore, the East Sea King had to formally invite them in name.

The East Sea King also needed a pretext—such as an alliance or marriage—to allow the Dragon Clan to settle in the various water domains within the kingdom.

At the same time, once ashore, the Dragon Clan couldn’t act without restraint either.

After allying with the Dragon Clan, the best course of action for the East Sea King would be to conceal the matter and have the Dragon Clan’s experts strike suddenly when dealing with Mu Lin.

This would give Mu Lin an extremely high chance of dying.

However, while the East Sea King might want the Dragon Clan to act this way, the Dragon Palace… unless they were utterly foolish, would never dare.

To attack Mu Lin, the Human Race’s top Prodigy, by overpowering the weak and resorting to a sneak attack would thoroughly enrage the Human Race’s great powerhouses.

Perhaps the Human Race wouldn’t immediately declare war on the Dragon Palace, but afterward, the Dragon Palace’s princes and the offspring of the various water lords would no longer dare to venture out to sea.

If they so much as showed their heads, hawkish Human Race experts would undoubtedly target them for assassination.

What’s that? You say assassinating Mu Lin was at the East Sea King’s invitation and has nothing to do with the Dragon Palace—that it’s an internal conflict of the Human Race?

Well, what a coincidence. There’s a little snake in the ditch next to my home, and it invited me to assassinate your Dragon Palace’s crown prince. This is an internal matter of your Dragon Palace Aquatic Tribe and has nothing to do with us, the Human Race.

As for why I, a Celestial Master of the Human Race, would have any connection with a water snake—that is none of your business.

Or perhaps, must I report to your Dragon Palace about who I, a Celestial Master of the Human Race, befriend?

The Human Race’s territory has expanded so extensively that hawks, or even human supremacists, have never been rare within it.

Unless they intend to wage an all-out war against the Human Race, if the Dragon Palace wishes to take action against Mu Lin, they must find a plausible reason—one that can be justified.

This is also why Ao Xuan of the Dragon Palace is making such a grand spectacle of marrying the second son of the East Sea King.

At the same time, this is why the Dragon Clan did not use a Mystic Treasure to fly directly to Skysea City but instead leisurely made their way step by step through the East Sea Kingdom.

They… are waiting for Mu Lin to make the first move.

As for Ao Huan, he is filled with eager anticipation for Mu Lin’s arrival.

“Mu Lin, I hope you won’t disappoint me. Let me enjoy myself to the fullest.”

(End of Chapter)