While Ao Qing and his attendants waited calmly in the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, the atmosphere on the Eastern Shore of the Four Seas was... tense.
Seated cross-legged atop his innate spiritual treasure—the Twelve-Rank Golden Lotus—Receiving Daoist floated quietly in the air, his white robes fluttering gently in the sea breeze as his curious gaze swept across the calm waters of the East.
At his side, a few white-robed Daoist children were visibly puzzled.
"Master," one of them finally asked, "this Eastern Sea region is guarded by the Four Seas Dragon Clan, right?
But ever since the fall of the Ancestral Dragon in the Great Desolation, their power has withered away.
At most, the strongest among them is a mere Five-Clawed Golden Dragon."
"So why are we here—waiting for them to receive us?
You could obliterate this place with a single breath!"
The others nodded in agreement, unable to understand why their venerated Master—one of the Six Saints of the Mythic World—was giving such courtesy to a once-declining clan.
Receiving Daoist chuckled.
"You only know the Dragon Clan has fallen… but have you not heard the recent news?"
His voice turned grave.
"The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea has already evolved into an Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon.
And his Prime Minister—just one move—subdued Taiyi Zhenren."
"What!?"
"Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon!?"
"And the one called Prime Minister Turtle… defeated a disciple of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable!?"
The Daoist children were stunned into silence.
Receiving Daoist's eyes narrowed.
"I've come not just out of formality.
I intend to probe the depths of the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan.
If they lack true backing, I may take this territory for my Western Sect.
But if they do have support… I'll need to reconsider."
The Western Sect, co-founded by Receiving Daoist and Bodhi Daoist, had long suffered from poor land, scarce resources, and a dire lack of talent.
By contrast, the Eastern Sea—fertile and spiritually rich—was a treasure trove of cultivators and divine resources. Whether by alliance or conquest, the Western Sect needed this land to rise.
Receiving Daoist's eyes flickered with cold calculation.
Just then, a mist began rising off the sea. Dozens of towering Lobster Warrior Soldiers emerged, weapons gleaming. Their leader, Prime Minister Turtle, stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Honored guests—thank you for your patience.
His Majesty, the Dragon King, awaits you in the Dragon Palace.
Please follow me."
At the sight of Prime Minister Turtle, the Daoist children tensed. Receiving Daoist's gaze immediately sharpened.
"That aura…!"
"It's the breath of a Sacred Beast! The aura of a Black Tortoise!?"
The children exchanged horrified glances.
Having followed Receiving Daoist for many years, they had developed keen senses for such things—and this aura was unmistakably divine-level.
Receiving Daoist was equally shaken.
It wasn't just Prime Minister Turtle's aura that alarmed him. It was the soldiers—those so-called "shrimp and crab generals" behind him.
"These… These are Lobster Warriors!
Peak-evolved battle units with Dragon bloodline traits!
There shouldn't be more than a handful across the Four Seas…"
And yet—right in front of him were a dozen of them.
"This Dragon Clan… is far from simple."
Seeing the guests momentarily frozen, Prime Minister Turtle gave a polite reminder:
"Honored guests?"
"Ah, no worries!" Receiving Daoist snapped out of his thoughts, quickly composing himself.
The Daoist children also shook off their shock. Only now did they truly understand—
This is why the Saint himself had approached the Eastern Sea so cautiously.
Even a Prime Minister radiated Sacred Beast aura!?
With a deep rumble, the sea split apart like parted curtains, revealing a wide open path carved through the waters.
"This way, please," Prime Minister Turtle gestured.
Receiving Daoist and his disciples followed solemnly.
As they crossed beneath the great cascading waves, finally entering the true heart of the Eastern Sea, their minds reeled again.
What they had seen thus far?
Was merely the tip of the iceberg.
First came the massive martial training grounds and cultivation academies.
Everywhere they looked—fish spirits, shrimp soldiers, crab generals—were training diligently, exuding rich spiritual energy.
Some were even breaking through realms right in front of their eyes!
Next, they spotted countless humanoid-formed aquatic beasts—each one serious and focused in their cultivation. The number of ordinary marine animals, however, was shockingly few.
"Master," one Daoist child finally asked, "why haven't we seen a single ordinary fish or shrimp?"
He had visited many coastal domains before, but this level of scarcity was… abnormal.
Receiving Daoist's eyes narrowed.
He, too, remembered that the Eastern Sea used to be teeming with basic marine life.
Prime Minister Turtle offered no explanation.
Why should he say anything?
Nearly all the "ordinary fish" had already evolved, becoming the new elite force of the Dragon Clan!
And so, with rising shock and unease, the delegation followed Prime Minister Turtle all the way to the entrance of the Dragon Palace.
But the real blow came when they saw it.
The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace—a palace grand beyond compare.
Lofty. Majestic. Radiating sacred power. Its vastness could rival the Heavenly Court itself!
Even Receiving Daoist found himself momentarily speechless.
"Just how much power and manpower… would it take to build this?"
"This isn't just architecture. This is civilization-level infrastructure."
"Haha! Receiving Daoist, I didn't expect your arrival.
Forgive me for the hasty preparations—I hope you won't take offense."
A voice echoed out—majestic and rich with amusement.
Ao Qing stepped forward.
At the very moment he appeared, an immense Dragon Might surged across the palace grounds.
Receiving Daoist's pupils contracted sharply.
So strong…!
This Dragon King's aura was terrifying—refined, overwhelming, and resonating with the will of the elements.
Still, Receiving Daoist forced a calm smile.
"Oh no, not at all.
I was just passing by… thought I'd drop in and say hello."
Polite words, but the shock in his heart couldn't be masked.
As they sat down and exchanged formalities, a grand feast began.
And then—right as the wine and delicacies were being served—
"Congratulations! Your Dragon Clan's Fortune has increased by 1 point!"
"Congratulations! Your Dragon Clan's Fortune has increased by 1 point!"
"Congratulations! Your Dragon Clan's Fortune has increased by 1 point!"
Ao Qing's smile deepened.
No need to guess—Receiving Daoist has been completely awestruck.
Otherwise, the system wouldn't be rewarding me with Fortune.
Ao Qing chuckled inwardly.
The bait was taken.
And the stage… had just begun.
Want to read ahead: early Chapters on: patreon.com/Zefyrus