Donghai Longzi and Honglin traveled to the deepest depths of the sea in the True Dragon Realm. The seafloor glowed with an otherworldly hue from the radiance emitted by the seafloor. The light grew in intensity the closer one was to the True Dragon Realm’s largest city that stretched for kilometers on end.
Although it was a city, it was entirely different from human cities. Most of the buildings didn’t have roofs, and most of the denizens were not in humanoid forms. Most had serpentine bodies, and all had scales. Some resemble shrimp monsters, turtles, and all kinds of scaled beasts. The only common feature they all had was that they all possessed draconic features of some sort.
At the very center of the city was a colossal reef that exuded a rainbow radiance. Situated atop the rainbow reef was a crystal palace. The palace itself did not emit light, but it reflected the light exuded by the rainbow, causing it to appear as if it was coated in a layer of prisms that emitted myriad rays of light. Not only did it appear grand, but it also exuded a divine aura.
Thanks to Honglin, Donghai Longzi learned that it was suspected to be a divine artifact. Although no one had seen it exert any power since its first appearance, most of the Dragon Clan believed the crystal palace was the same Crystal Palace as the one in the East Sea before the Primordial World shattered.
Donghai Longzi and Honglin entered through the entrance. Even demons in the Demon Emperor Realm could not fly directly to the Crystal Palace, much less demon kings like Donghai Longzi and Honglin. Although it wouldn’t result in them getting attacked, it would severely displease all members of the Dragon Clan. The underwater city, and especially the Crystal Palace, was a sacred ground for the Dragon Clan.
The two demon kings did not wander the streets and walked toward the center. There, they saw a first-step demon king guarding one of the four entrances to the Crystal Palace. Demon lords guarded the city entrance and demon kings guarded the palace entrance.
The demon king guard allowed the two to pass after verifying their identities.
Not long after entering, Donghai Longzi saw a giant serpentine creature with crimson scales and horns seemingly formed of condensed blood. He nodded. “Emperor Redraco.”
“Grandfather,” Honglin said as she flew forward. Like her grandfather, she also possessed a long serpentine body, but only a fraction of his size, and her scales were much more vibrant. More scarlet than crimson.
“Not bad,” Demon Emperor Redraco said after inspecting Honglin. “You already stabilized your cultivation base shortly after entering the First-Step Demon King Realm.”
“I’ll be able to enter the second step soon enough.”
“From entering the Demon King Realm to the first step and from the first step to the second step is the fastest, but you shouldn’t underestimate the process. If you fail your fusion of the elemental qis, your body will be injured for decades if not hundreds of years,” Emperor Redraco said.
“I understand, Grandfather. Don’t you know me by now? How could I make such a low-level mistake?” Honglin said.
“Just think of it as an old dragon’s concern.” Emperor Redraco then turned toward Donghai Longzi. His eyes lit up. “Not bad, not bad. It seems that the True Dragon Realm will have another dragon king in the near future.”
The official names of the cultivation levels for the immortal equivalent demons were the Demon Lord Realm, Demon King Realm, Demon Emperor Realm, and Demon Sovereign Realm, but dragons had a slightly different title for their members. Dragons in the Demon Lord Realm were known as true dragons; in the Demon King Realm, they were known as dragon lords; in the Demon Emperor Realm, they were known as dragon kings, and in the Demon Sovereign Realm, they were known as dragon emperors. Only in the Divine Realm would dragons be titled dragon sovereigns, and only peak divinities could call themselves dragon gods. This was a manifestation of the Dragon Clan’s innate arrogance.
“It’s only a little bit of progress. The Demon Emperor Realm is still far away,” Donghai Longzi said.
“Don’t be modest,” Demon Emperor Redraco said. “Among all the dragon lords, many agree that you are one of the top three to become a dragon king.”
“What about me?” Honglin asked.
“You?” Demon Emperor Redraco asked. “Don’t even think about it. You just entered the Demon King Realm, and you think you would even be considered?”
“Don’t underestimate me,” Honglin said. “I’m the one that’s going to become the Dragon Clan’s next dragon sovereign. I might be weaker now, but I’ll surpass Longzi, Grandfather, and even Ao Yujiao.”
Ao Yujiao was currently the one most of the Dragon Clan expected to become a dragon emperor. He wasn’t a Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon, but his heritage was still noble. He was descended from Ao Lie, the dragon that became Bai Longma, Tang Sanzang’s white horse from the Journey to the West.
He was a Nine-Clawed Jade-Horned Dragon. Although not a golden dragon, most of the Dragon Clan’s elders estimated that Ao Yujiao’s blood purity rivaled a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon at the very lowest. Before Donghai Longzi appeared, he was the undisputed number one of the Dragon Clan’s younger generation.
Even Demon Emperor Redraco thought so. Still, he didn’t rebuke his granddaughter. In his eyes, a dragon should have this aspiration, even if the bloodline was weaker. “Then I’ll eagerly await that day.”
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“Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let’s get to business,” Demon Emperor Redraco said. Instantly, the atmosphere tensed, and Donghai Longzi and Honglin couldn’t help but tense slightly despite themselves. “As you know, although the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System is not united under one power, it is still predominantly ruled by humans. We tried several times to turn it into ours, but we always failed, forcing us to live in the Divine Beast Pseudo System.”
Donghai Longzi and Honglin nodded. Although the weaker demons may not know the true situation and think the Demon Clan is the strongest in the entire universe, those in the Demon Lord Realm and above know the truth.
“There’s been a reshuffling of power in the human world. Originally, there’s only two major forces that our Demon Clan needed to pay attention to, the Buzhou Immortal Sect and Numinous Sword Sect. After the Buzhou Immortal Sect conquered the Huang Realm, they used a mysterious method to upgrade it and named it the Primordial Realm before renaming themselves the Immortal Court.”
Demon Emperor Redraco snorted. “I can roughly guess their thoughts. The Immortal Court wants to reestablish the order from the Primordial World with them as top. We, the Demon Clan, will never allow this to happen. Had it not been for the titans, the Demon Clan would have ruled the Primordial World instead of the Heavenly Court. Even the Three Pure Ones had to consider whether or not they could afford to offend the Demon Clan.”
“The Immortal Court has the ambition, but not the power. Naming themself this not only earned the ire of the Numinous Sword Sect, but likely Buddhism, too.” A sneer appeared on the crimson dragon’s face. “That’s not all. Although it’s new, there is a new force that is likely to contend with the Immortal Court and Numinous Sword Sect, the Saintly Scholar School. Although it’s troublesome that so many powerful experts are appearing in humanity, the new force will add to the chaos, making it easier for us to attack them at the right time. If possible, I really want all three to destroy each other, but that’s impossible. Although the three are likely wary of each other and want nothing more to destroy the other, they are more wary of us, the Demon Clan.”
“The three forces’ competition for hegemon is an inner dispute among the human race. It’s fine for them to attack each other, but they will never let non-humans rule the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System,” Demon Emperor Redraco said.
“Grandfather, you’re getting really long-winded,” Honglin interjected. “Can’t you get to the point already?”
Demon Emperor Redraco glared at her. He looked at Donghai Longzi and felt that he was becoming more pleasing to the eye by the second. Still, he acquiesced to his granddaughter’s demand. “I’m just explaining the layout of the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System. You’re venturing into enemy territory. If you’re not careful, you’ll bring a lot of trouble.”
“Since the end of the Primordial Era and the creation of the Divine Beast Pseudo System, it’s always been us with the initiative. Part of the reason is that the humans can’t find our true location, but another part is because of their fragmented power. If they are fully united, it would only be a matter of time before we are discovered. Even so, it doesn’t mean that there is no risk of discovery.” Demon Emperor Redraco’s expression turned serious. “The truth is that the Divine Beast Pseudo System is not static. Every once in a while, we would switch our location. If we stay, the risk of humans finding us increases. Most demons stay in the Divine Beast Pseudo System, but we do occasionally go out. However, that also means it increases the risk of exposure.”
“Originally, it should be another fifty thousand years before we relocate, but the Immortal Court has fully united the Primordial Realm. Before, the Immortal Court didn’t have the spare energy to search for us, meaning that we only needed to hide from the Numinous Sword Sect and the Buddhists. But the future will be different. Although the three forces might restrain each other, it’s equally likely they will focus their attention on us. So, we have decided to relocate ahead of schedule.” Demon Emperor Redraco turned toward Donghai Longzi and Honglin. “Your task is both simple but dangerous. You will be a distraction.”
Demon Emperor Redraco didn’t let them think for too long. “Don’t worry, we aren’t going to sacrifice you guys. It’s also to help you two. Because you two are so young, you haven’t experienced war, and this distraction will allow you to experience it. And one of the Four Divine Beasts will also take part.”
“Grandfather, it’s not going to be you?” Honglin asked.
Demon Emperor Redraco shook his head. “No. Emperor Blacktiger is still recovering, and I have other matters to attend. Xuanwu has already entered the Demon Emperor Realm. Between Xuanwu and Bluefeather, the former has a higher defense and strength, but he is too slow. Not to mention too important.”
He had to sigh at the sheer speed that this generation’s Black Tortoise cultivated. But recalling his unique situation, this was normal. “Bluefeather is weaker, but her life-saving means are numerous, so she will take charge of this operation. Make sure to listen to her.”
“If the situation is too dangerous, you can escape and hide yourself ahead of schedule. Once it calms down, we’ll find you and take you back. Of course, this is just the worst-case scenario. Ideally, you should make your way to the pre-appointed location after hiding and lose the human tails,” Demon Emperor Redraco finished.
“Understood,” Donghai Longzi and Honglin said.
“Dragon King, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Will San Jiuling be also part of the group?” Donghai Longzi asked.
“That human?” Demon Emperor Redraco snorted, his whiskers coiling from his simmering anger. “I don’t know how he does it, but that damn human managed to seduce one of our dragon lords. She’s head over heels with infatuation for him. That disgrace even chose to willingly stay in a human form!”
Donghai Longzi rubbed his nose. He also liked to stay in human form.
As if recalling that fact, Demon Emperor Redraco said, “Of course you’re different. It’s understandable that you chose a human form in order to blend in and hide. It can’t be helped that you formed a habit, but remember, only your true form can display your strongest power.”
“Thank you, Dragon King,” Donghai Longzi said, with a stiff smile.
Demon Emperor Redraco’s summoning was only to brief the two. The time before the operation officially began was still a few decades away. When that time came, Donghai Longzi and Honglin appeared in the Vast Void of the Divine Beast Pseudo System. There they landed in Demon Empress Bluefeather’s realm artifact. Inside, they saw many demons, including Tulong, the dragon that lost to Donghai Longzi at the banquet to welcome him.
All in all, there was only a single demon emperor, eleven demon kings, and sixty demon lords. But it was one demon king that caught Donghai Longzi’s eye in particular.
Said demon king was a jade-scaled dragon with horns seemingly carved out of white jade and a body that nearly rivaled Demon Emperor Redraco. He was Ao Yujiao, the Nine-Clawed Jade-Horned Dragon. The moment Donghai Longzi looked at him, Ao Yujiao’s gaze connected with his.