Chapter 335 – What, Your East Sea Gate Wants to Declare War on Azure Cloud Sect?

Game World, Central Province, Eight Treasures Palace.

As one of the hundred sects in Central Province, Eight Treasures Palace wasn’t particularly powerful, with only one Peak Nascent Soul Stage elder in the entire school.

Yet as a renowned Artifact Refining sect in Central Province, Eight Treasures Palace held considerable prestige throughout Central Province and maintained connections with many schools.

However, the once prosperous Eight Treasures Palace now lay in complete disarray.

“Ao Yu, I’ve already told you – while we did have some conflicts with that little bastard Ao Lie, his death truly has nothing to do with us!”

“Just because of some minor dispute, your East Sea Gate wants to destroy our Eight Treasures Palace!”

“Ao Yu, do you really think Central Province is your East Sea Gate’s personal domain where you can do whatever you want?”

Zuo Shaojun, the Peak Nascent Soul Stage elder of Eight Treasures Palace, glared furiously at his subdued disciples and the overwhelming number of East Sea Gate cultivators surrounding them.

Dragons were inherently lustful by nature. Although East Sea Gate cultivators weren’t true dragons – they merely strengthened their Flood Dragon Bloodline through their Cultivation Manuals to achieve Dragon Transformation – the powerful Dragon Bloodline granted them not only the dragon race’s formidable Physical Body and cultivation talent, but also some of their inherent vices.

Lustfulness was a defining characteristic of East Sea Gate disciples.

Not long ago, Ao Lie, a Direct Lineage Disciple of East Sea Gate, had taken a liking to a female disciple from Eight Treasures Palace.

Though Eight Treasures Palace was far inferior to East Sea Gate, in today’s Central Province where major sects like Azure Cloud Sect maintained order, they weren’t particularly afraid of them.

Thus, the Eight Treasures Palace disciple firmly rejected Ao Lie’s advances.

This action enraged Ao Lie.

Influenced by his Dragon Bloodline and East Sea Gate’s characteristic arrogance, Ao Lie actually kidnapped her by force.

Though Ao Lie returned her to Eight Treasures Palace a few days later, the female disciple ultimately chose to end her life, unable to bear the humiliation.

Thus began the feud between Eight Treasures Palace and East Sea Gate.

Due to East Sea Gate’s power, Eight Treasures Palace hesitated to demand an explanation, despite their desire to do so.

Never did they expect that before they, the victims, could take any action, East Sea Gate would strike first, clearly intending to place blame.

Facing such unprecedented humiliation, though Eight Treasures Palace recognized their inferiority to East Sea Gate, they couldn’t simply swallow their pride.

Yet before absolute power, any resentment and anger remained merely theoretical, unable to change anything…

Ao Yu, Sect Leader of East Sea Gate, manifested his half-dragon Incarnation, pressing Eight Treasures Palace Sect Leader Zuo Shaojun’s head down with a single hand.

His massive dragon claw completely covered Zuo Shaojun’s crown.

The terrifying force left Zuo Shaojun immobilized, forced to kneel on the ground.

Though both were Peak Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, the gap in their strength was incomparable.

Ao Yu paid no mind to Zuo Shaojun’s furious glare.

His transformed dragon head lowered slightly, two streams of dragon saliva dripping from his mouth onto Zuo Shaojun’s head.The disparity in strength left him unable to react, only able to glare at the towering Ao Yu before him with a mix of fury and faint terror.

Faced with Zuo Shaojun’s questioning, Ao Yu replied in an icy tone, “What you say is irrelevant. What matters is my perspective.”

“If I suspect you are connected to my son’s death, then you are connected.”

As he spoke, Ao Yu lifted his head and glanced to the side.

By then, the Dragon descendants of the East Sea Gate had already subdued all the Disciples of the Eight Treasures Palace.

Those who attempted to resist were mercilessly slaughtered by the East Sea Gate.

The tyranny of the East Sea Gate was on full display at this moment.

“Speak. Which of you has encountered my son recently?”

Hearing Ao Yu’s words, the Disciples of the Eight Treasures Palace trembled uncontrollably.

Their fear peaked, especially when they caught sight of the scattered corpses not far away.

“No one wishes to speak?”

Ao Yu observed the pale-faced yet silent Disciples of the Eight Treasures Palace.

His gaze chilled slightly before he casually fixed his eyes on one individual.

Noticing this, the Dragon descendants of the East Sea Gate immediately understood. They seized the person Ao Yu had singled out and dragged him forward.

Confronted with Ao Yu, who had partially transformed into a Dragon and bore a ferocious expression, the Eight Treasures Palace Disciple was seized with terror.

“Speak. Are you involved in my son’s death?”

When the Disciple remained silent long after Ao Yu’s question,

Ao Yu’s brow furrowed instantly.

Then, in a frigid tone, he commanded, “Take him away.”

At Ao Yu’s order, the East Sea Gate members restraining the Disciple promptly complied.

Soon after, a scream echoed from the distance.

Hearing that cry, the Eight Treasures Palace Patriarch trembled with rage.

Yet the hand gripping his skull had completely Sealed his Qi, rendering him immobile.

If even the Patriarch was powerless, how much more so the Disciples whose cultivation fell far short of his?

With this grim example, the fear on the faces of the remaining Eight Treasures Palace Disciples intensified visibly.

And this was precisely the effect Ao Yu sought.

“Next.”

Ao Yu’s voice, to the ears of the other Eight Treasures Palace Disciples, was like the whisper of death, sending chills down their spines.

Though they harbored thoughts of resistance, facing the East Sea Gate—one of the ten great Sects—

not just one Eight Treasures Palace,

but even ten more like it would scarcely pose a threat to them.

The second Disciple pulled forward proved far more resolute than the first.

“You old bastard, do what you will—kill me, slice me, I care not. If only I had encountered that little beast of yours, I would have stripped his sinews, pulled his bones, and ground his remains to ashes, offering them in tribute to the innocent souls he wrongfully slaughtered.”

His words stunned not only the Eight Treasures Palace Disciples

but even the members of the East Sea Gate.

For what he said went beyond merely cursing Ao Yu to his face—

it was a direct slap across it!

Such audacity was unthinkable, not just from a mere Eight Treasures Palace Disciple,

but even from their Patriarch.

Yet this very outburst, filled with venom and finality, ignited a fire in the hearts of the Eight Treasures Palace Disciples, stirring their previously subdued spirits.

And after the man finished speaking, Ao Yu, who had remained still for so long, moved at last—a rare occurrence.He released his dragon claw that was gripping Zuo Shaojun and approached the Eight Treasures Palace disciple.

Ao Yu didn’t say much, merely casting a cold gaze toward him.

That look was as if he were staring at a lifeless corpse.

Being watched in such a manner by a powerhouse at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage,

the Eight Treasures Palace disciple felt unprecedented pressure.

Yet he gritted his teeth and held his ground.

Moreover, from the hatred-filled look in his eyes, it was clear that

if he survived today,

he would inevitably seek vengeance against the entire East Sea Gate in the future.

As the Sect Leader, Ao Yu couldn’t be bothered to waste words on this individual and simply raised his hand.

After all, in his eyes, ordinary cultivators like this one who hadn’t even reached the Golden Core Stage

were little different from ants on the ground.

Crushing them would evoke no feeling whatsoever.

But before Ao Yu could bring his hand down, a sword light shot through the air.

Ao Yu immediately frowned, then swiped his claw toward the direction of the flying sword.

Clang!

Accompanied by a crisp metallic clash, Ao Yu looked at his palm in surprise.

A shallow blood mark had appeared on his palm.

It was worth noting that his current physical body was nearly comparable to that of an ancient dragon.

Even ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivators would struggle to breach his physical defenses.

Meanwhile, the suddenly appearing immortal sword now stood steadily between him and the Eight Treasures Palace disciple.

Its blade was entirely dark and mysterious, with intricate immortal markings carved on both sides.

These markings intertwined to form a distinctive dragon pattern.

Instead of examining the immortal sword, Ao Yu lifted his head to look skyward.

Several figures had silently appeared in the sky.

Among them were many old acquaintances of Ao Yu.

However, the one who had just wielded the sword was unfamiliar to him.

It was the work of a rising star with an extraordinary aura.

Considering the Azure Cloud Sect attire the person wore,

Ao Yu quickly deduced their identity after a moment’s thought.

“The peerless sword cultivator of the Azure Cloud Sect, once in ten thousand years. Impressive, quite skilled.”

As he spoke, the wound on his palm began to heal rapidly.

Though Ao Yu’s tone remained calm, the killing intent radiating from him was unmistakable.

A cultivator possessing ancient dragon bloodline and reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage,

even when merely releasing killing intent without any other action, still demonstrated terrifying power.

Instantly, the previously clear skies above the Eight Treasures Palace darkened with dense clouds, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling.

It was evident that Ao Yu’s inner state was far from as composed as he appeared.

Yet amidst this overwhelming killing intent, Lu Chen remained completely unaffected.

Moreover, as a formidable sword intent erupted from Lu Chen,

the thick clouds were torn apart, severed at their waist as if by an invisible giant sword.

This scene made Ao Yu narrow his eyes slightly.

Although he had heard of Lu Chen, the prodigy of the Azure Cloud Sect, and learned of his terrifying strength and talent through East Sea Gate disciples who participated in the True Immortal Trial,

hearing about it was one thing—witnessing it firsthand was another.

And wasn’t this so-called prodigy a bit too monstrous?

Feeling the slight sting in his palm and sensing the sharp, unveiled sword intent from Lu Chen,

Ao Yu had to admit,

even though Lu Chen’s current cultivation was only at the sixth revolution of the Golden Core Stage…Yet the sense of threat he exuded surpassed even that of the Eight Treasures Palace’s Nascent Soul Stage Peak ancestor standing beside him.

At this thought, the killing intent in Ao Yu’s heart grew even more intense.

Lustful, jealous, arrogant…

All the inherent vices of the ancient Dragon race were now fully manifested in Ao Yu.

Previously, lacking the right opportunity, he had been forced to restrain himself.

But now, under the pretext of revenge, Ao Yu had completely cast aside all pretenses.

Unfortunately, had Lu Chen been alone, he might have truly made his move.

Yet at this moment, Lu Chen was surrounded by quite a few people.

Most of them were Elders and patrons from various major sects, their strength generally at or above the Nascent Soul Stage.

And not just ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivators at that.

Among these people, the one Ao Yu feared the most was undoubtedly Sikong Ming from the Azure Cloud Sect’s Ten Thousand Talisman Peak.

Especially when he saw Sikong Ming’s blindfolded eyes, Ao Yu’s back ached with a dull, phantom pain.

“Sikong Ming, you actually dare come to my territory? Do you truly believe I wouldn’t dare take action against you?”

Hearing Ao Yu’s words, a faint smile appeared on Sikong Ming’s refined face. “You’re welcome to try.”

Try?

Ao Yu was arrogant, not foolish.

In their younger days, their conflicts could have been dismissed as rivalry among the rising generation.

But now, if they were to clash recklessly, the implications would be entirely different.

After all, he now represented the Sect Leader of the East Sea Gate, while Sikong Ming represented the Peak Lord of the Azure Cloud Sect’s Ten Thousand Talisman Peak.

Their every word and action represented their respective sects.

Unless Ao Yu was prepared to declare war on the Azure Cloud Sect.

Otherwise, he could only make empty threats, not daring to actually take action.

However, on this occasion, Ao Yu believed he absolutely could not show weakness.

Otherwise, this rare, golden opportunity to strengthen the East Sea Gate would slip through his fingers.

Driven by his ambition, though Ao Yu recognized Sikong Ming’s purpose in coming,

He pretended ignorance and sneered coldly, “Azure Cloud Sect, Jade Void Mountain, Martial God Mountain… and the rest of you Fellow Daoists, with such a formation, do you intend to persuade me to abandon my vengeance for my son’s death and turn back?”

“Persuade?”

Sikong Ming’s previously refined demeanor shifted, as if he had heard some ridiculous joke.

He actively descended from the sky, finally stopping right in front of Ao Yu.

Though his frame was considerably slimmer than Ao Yu’s,

For some reason, to onlookers, Sikong Ming’s Aura at this moment was in no way inferior to Ao Yu’s.

“Ao Yu, we’re not here to persuade, but to notify.”

“You currently have only two choices: either take your people and leave voluntarily, or… be beaten half to death and carried back.”

“As for Ao Lie’s death, we will give you a satisfactory explanation. Choose.”

Upon hearing this, Ao Yu’s face instantly twisted into a ferocious snarl.

The look he directed at Sikong Ming was one of pure, unadulterated hatred, as if he wished to devour him alive.

Others might fear Ao Yu in this state,

But Sikong Ming showed not the slightest trace of fear.

Thus, after a brief standoff, Ao Yu suddenly took a step forward, his gaze vicious and aggressive as he stared at Sikong Ming.

To this, Sikong Ming responded with utter indifference, “What, has your East Sea Gate finally decided to declare war on our Azure Cloud Sect?”As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.

After an unknown length of time, Ao Yu, after giving Sikong Ming a deep look, directly turned around and waved his hand.

“Let’s go.”

Lu Chen, watching this scene from above, couldn’t help but recall what Sikong Ming had specifically instructed them before they came.

‘Little Lu, the East Sea Gate is a bunch of bone-devouring lunatics.’

‘Although we’re here this time to help them settle matters, that doesn’t mean we have to yield to them.’

‘First provoke them, make these little Dragons adjust their attitude, then find a way to resolve the matter—this is the best way to deal with them.’

‘So no matter what I say or do later, don’t be surprised.’

‘First courtesy, then force—nothing more than this.’

Initially, Lu Chen thought Sikong Ming intended to reason with the East Sea Gate first.

But now it seemed Sikong Ming’s ‘reason’ wasn’t what he had imagined at all.

Clearly, Sikong Ming meant…

The Azure Cloud Sect is reason itself.

If they refuse to accept it, then gather the troops and fight!

This was the Azure Cloud Sect’s way of ‘first courtesy, then force.’

(End of Chapter)