sinovels Chapter 29 The Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang
Chapter 29 The Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang
Although Taiyi Zhenren was respectful, his words carried a questioning tone. No wonder Haotian was anxious; none of the disciples from the three religions truly respected him.
Haotian's brow twitched slightly, but he did not retaliate. Instead, he circulated his spiritual energy even more rapidly.
He looked at the stiff dragon corpse in the hall, then at the righteous and eloquent round face of Taiyi Zhenren, and remained silent for a moment.
His gaze inadvertently swept over Yun Zhongzi, who stood with his hands at his sides, eyes downcast and expression serene.
After a long silence, "Issue the imperial decree."
His voice was authoritative and resonated throughout the hall.
"The Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang, has been lax in his governance, resulting in the sea patrol yaksha killing innocent people first, and the third prince Ao Bing committing evil deeds later. Ao Guang is hereby ordered to enter the Rolling Dragon Pool to be punished. The affairs of the East Sea shall be temporarily taken over by his eldest son, Ao Guang. This is hereby decreed."
Taiyi Zhenren was overjoyed, but he forced himself to remain calm and cupped his hands, saying, "Uncle Haotian, you are wise!"
Yun Zhongzi knew that Haotian had dealt with the matter so decisively just to shut the two up. Otherwise, once the scheme was exposed, no one could say for sure how Yuanshi Tianzun would react.
"I, your disciple and grand-disciple, take my leave."
The three of them exited the South Heavenly Gate and descended on clouds.
Taiyi Zhenren laughed heartily from the clouds, patting Nezha on the shoulder: "Your master's complaint was brilliant!"
Nezha grinned and did a somersault on the cloud while holding the Universe Ring.
Yun Zhongzi remained calm, knowing that the matter was not over.
Inside the Lingxiao Palace.
Haotian dismissed his attendants and stared at the three figures that had disappeared into the sea of clouds. His gaze was gloomy. After a moment, he turned his attention to the stiff dragon corpse in the hall and coldly uttered two words.
"waste."
The imperial edict was sent to sea.
Inside the Crystal Palace, Ao Guang knelt on the ground, his dragon head glazed over.
He never expected that before he could even go to the Heavenly Court to file a complaint, the imperial edict would be issued first.
The Rolling Dragon Pool? That Rolling Dragon Pool is a pot of boiling oil, not to mention horned dragons, even azure dragons would find it hard to endure. Even if he survived, he would lose half his life.
Ao Guang stood to the side, his face full of worry, and stepped forward to support Ao Guang:
"Father, you go and be punished first. When you return, I will use all the power of the East Sea to help you recover. You will need to recuperate for a hundred years." His eyes, however, could not hide the barely suppressed joy.
Ao Guang gave his eldest son a deep look.
How could he not know Ao Guang's thoughts? He had been neglected since childhood, and even that brat Ao Bing dared to show off in front of him. Now he had finally made it.
"snort."
Ao Guang snorted coldly, shook off Ao Guang's hand, transformed into a dragon, soared into the sky, and flew towards the Heavenly Court.
Ao Guang watched the dragon's shadow disappear into the sea, and the worry on his face gradually faded.
Side hall.
Maitreya had already left, but the smiling Taoist priest left just as quickly.
Ao Guang was not annoyed. He turned and walked towards his palace with light steps.
He knew his father disliked him, but when the opportunity presented itself, he didn't hesitate. He strode into the palace with his head held high, the doors slowly closing behind him.
"The Crown Prince."
A gentle voice came from behind.
Ao Guang suddenly turned around, and a figure in white was already standing behind him.
Clad in white like snow, with kind eyes and gentle features, surrounded by twenty-four five-colored pearls shimmering with light, his aura was as warm and gentle as jade, yet it made Ao Guang's hair stand on end.
"Who are you! How dare you trespass into the Dragon Palace!" Ao Guang shouted sternly, his hand on the jade belt at his waist.
The benevolent corpse smiled slightly: "This humble Taoist is Yun Zhongzi from Yuzhu Cave in Zhongnan Mountain."
Ao Guang's pupils suddenly contracted.
He knew Yun Zhongzi, the famous "Golden Immortal of Fortune and Virtue," who didn't know him?
Ao Guang hurriedly bowed respectfully: "This humble dragon greets the Immortal. I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."
The benevolent corpse waved his hand and cut to the chase: "Ao Guang, do you wish to remain the ruler of the East Sea forever?"
A glint flashed in Ao Guang's eyes. Having grown up in the cracks of power, he was most sensitive to such matters.
He had long observed the conflict between the three religions. His father had allied himself with the Heavenly Court and had some business dealings with the Western Religion. Now that the people of the Western Religion had just left, the people of the Chan Religion had arrived.
But no matter what, as long as he can gain benefits, he doesn't care what kind of power it is. Besides, the one who came to him now is the more powerful Chan Sect.
"If only I could permanently hold the position of Dragon King of the East Sea."
Ao Guang raised his head, looked at the benevolent corpse, and said, word by word, "This little dragon shall obey the command of Immortal Yun Zhongzi."
The benevolent corpse laughed heartily.
What a remarkable person!
He meant to obey only the orders of "Yun Zhongzi," not only the orders of the Chan Sect. This future Dragon King of the East Sea understood the principle that a local official is more powerful than a distant one far better than his short-lived third brother.
The benevolent corpse did not answer, but simply smiled slightly before its form vanished from the hall.
Ao Guang remained bowed for a long time before slowly straightening up, a smile appearing on his lips.
But he knew that the immortal was very pleased with him.
The benevolent corpse remained hidden in the Dragon Palace.
Yun Zhongzi sat cross-legged on the stone couch in the General's Mansion and opened his eyes.
His mind was inexplicably restless, as if he felt there was something he had overlooked. He stood up and paced back and forth in the cave, carefully reviewing the events of the day from beginning to end.
From eavesdropping on Maitreya and Ao Guang's conspiracy in the Dragon Palace, to Nezha being bewitched by unorthodox magic and killing Yaksha and Ao Bing, to complaining to the Heavenly Court and forcing Haotian to issue an edict to punish Ao Guang, and finally subduing Ao Guang, the East Sea Dragon Clan has obviously fallen under his control.
Every step was ahead of the Western religion's plans, and every move was perfectly timed.
Logically, the system should have issued a notification long ago regarding this interception of Western religions.
He brought up the system interface, which was just like any other day.
The plan to intercept the East Sea Dragon Clan, preserve Nezha's body in the Nine Heavens, and thwart the Western Sect's scheme to have Ao Bing possess Nezha's body was quite elaborate, and the intercepted luck value was no small amount, yet the system showed no reaction.
What's wrong?
Yun Zhongzi closed his eyes and switched his perspective to that of the benevolent corpse.
The Benevolent Corpse Bewitching Immortal Array was activated, standing above the Crystal Palace, with twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls surrounding it. Its five-colored radiance was contained within, isolating it from all divine sense probing.
Ao Guang was gathering his former subordinates from the Dragon Palace in the front hall, reading out the imperial edict from the Jade Emperor, and officially assuming the position of Dragon King of the East Sea. Shrimp soldiers and crab generals knelt on the ground, and the Turtle Prime Minister tremblingly presented the Dragon King's seal. Everything was proceeding according to plan.
The benevolent corpse's every move in the East Sea was logical, and Ao Guang's reaction was entirely expected. However, as these images flooded into his consciousness simultaneously, the sense of unease in Yun Zhongzi's heart grew stronger and stronger.
Everything went too smoothly; Maitreya left too decisively.
That smiling fat monk used the Seven Treasures Tree to bewitch Emperor Xin in Nuwa Palace, and silently took away three demons in Xuanyuan Tomb. His fellow disciples were setting up a scheme in the North Sea, and the Lion Camel King and the three demons under his command were pawns for the future Journey to the West. Every time he made a move, it was a flawless plan.
If it weren't for the twelve Golden Immortals, transformed from non-human forces, interfering several times, these schemes would have already borne fruit.
Would someone who possesses a sacred treasure and plans carefully before acting simply give up because of a rebuke from the Taiyi Zhenren and a decree from the Haotian Emperor?
Unless... this was the moment he had been waiting for all along, and he left so that people would think he was really gone.
Yun Zhongzi's heart pounded wildly, his primordial spirit in his Niwan Palace trembled incessantly, and a chill comparable to that of Beiju Luzhou surged from the depths of his sea of consciousness, instantly spreading to his primordial spirit.
The benevolent corpse was connected to his mind and spirit, and understood him without words.
Deep within the Crystal Palace, the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls around the benevolent corpse suddenly shone brightly, their five-colored radiance no longer concealed, but bursting forth with a roar.
Then his figure suddenly blurred, transforming into a white light, carrying twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, and rushed towards the sea at top speed.
Beyond the East Sea lies the Three Immortal Islands. If there is any danger, only the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation in the clouds can save the benevolent corpse.