Just as Ao Qing was leading the entire Eastern Sea Dragon Clan to sweep through Mount Shu, far away atop Kunlun Mountain, in the Jade Void Palace—the sacred abode of one of the Three Saints, Yuanshi Tianzun—an entirely different scene was unfolding.
At this moment, a group of disciples clad in white Daoist robes sat cross-legged before Yuanshi Tianzun, cultivating with solemn focus and silent discipline.
In front of Yuanshi Tianzun, one panting disciple stood respectfully and reported the latest developments.
"So… after the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan killed your beloved disciple, Taiyi Zhenren, the Western Sect's Guiding Daoist went to meet them? And even presented a congenital-grade treasure—the Exquisite Pagoda?"
Yuanshi Tianzun spoke slowly, brows furrowed in deep contemplation.
Ever since Taiyi Zhenren had been killed by the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan, Yuanshi Tianzun had been secretly observing their every move, trying to discern whether they had truly grown bold enough to defy him—or if someone formidable stood behind them.
But now, judging by everything his disciple just reported, it was becoming increasingly obvious: the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan had backing—a background so deep that even the Three Saints might hesitate to provoke them.
And now, even the Guiding Daoist had presented a congenital spiritual treasure to Ao Qing?
That confirmed it—someone powerful was shielding the Dragon Clan.
"Yes, Master. And recently, the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan journeyed to Mount Shu, and that Dragon King Ao Qing revealed a form no one expected—a mutated Eight-Clawed Purple-Gold Dragon!"
As soon as the words left the disciple's mouth, a collective gasp rang out through the entire Jade Void Palace. The other disciples, who had been quietly cultivating, all looked up in shock, faces full of disbelief.
Among the Twelve Golden Immortals, Yuding Zhenren—who would one day become Yang Jian's master—frowned deeply.
"I've heard before that among dragons, the number of claws is directly linked to their strength. And among golden dragons, the mutated Purple-Gold Dragon stands at the peak. But it's only been a short while, and now the Eastern Sea has such a creature!?"
"Indeed… the Purple-Gold Dragon is a legendary being. Not even the ancestral Zulong of the dragons had reached that level. Something about the Eastern Sea doesn't add up…"
"Something's definitely off with the Eastern Sea…"
The Twelve Golden Immortals and other disciples began voicing their thoughts, each more solemn than the last.
A few who had previously clamored to avenge Taiyi Zhenren were now as quiet as wilted eggplants. All bravado had drained from them—they no longer dared to raise their heads, much less talk of revenge.
"A mutated Eight-Clawed Purple-Gold Dragon…"
Yuanshi Tianzun's brow creased even deeper, his expression growing visibly grim.
This rare show of displeasure sent chills down the spines of all present.
This was a man who hadn't revealed emotion in thousands of years—and now his frustration was written clearly across his divine visage.
"Enough. I've heard enough for now. You may leave."
With a casual wave of his hand, he dismissed the reporting disciple.
The presence of the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan was now interfering with the grand plans he and Taishang Laojun had carefully laid out for the Investiture of the Gods.
And now that the entire Mount Shu had vanished from its location? Suspicion grew rapidly in his heart.
Just as Yuanshi Tianzun was lost in thought, another disciple burst into the hall in a flurry:
"Master, terrible news! The Eastern Sea Dragon Clan journeyed to Mount Shu, captured and suppressed all 100,000 cultivators, and brought them back to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace. And Mount Shu itself—it's… it's vanished!"
"Mount Shu, vanished?!"
Yuanshi Tianzun leapt to his feet.
Mount Shu—one of the most sacred lands in the hearts of countless cultivators, protected by powerful guardian generals—how could it vanish without a trace!?
It could only mean one thing: the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan was behind it.
And if they weren't stopped soon, they might completely unravel the careful plans he and Taishang Laojun had built.
What if the Eastern Sea was secretly backed by Tongtian Jiaozhu, the Lord of the Heavenly Dao!?
The more he thought, the deeper Yuanshi Tianzun's frown became.
His heart, normally like still water, began to stir.
At that moment, one cautious disciple stepped forward:
"Master… since Nezha is no longer on the Investiture list, it could be a sign that fate has shifted. What if… Ao Qing, the Eastern Sea Dragon King, is actually the one Heaven intends to elevate in Nezha's place?"
This sentence caused Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes to flash.
At once, he began to cast a heavenly divination, hands forming seals as he attempted to calculate Ao Qing's destiny.
But no matter how many methods he used, he could not see anything related to Ao Qing.
This made him even more suspicious.
"Strange… why can't I divine anything about him?"
The room fell silent.
Every disciple, whether Golden Immortal or not, suddenly felt a chill in their hearts.
Yuanshi Tianzun's strength was legendary—but now even he couldn't calculate Ao Qing's fate?
This could only mean one thing: Ao Qing had become Heaven's chosen—an untouchable child of destiny.
"Master… what should we do now? We can't just let the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan continue growing unchecked…"
Another disciple frowned, clearly worried.
But then, a different disciple had a sudden realization:
"Master, the Four Seas Dragon Clan has long been under the jurisdiction of the Water Virtue Star Lordand the Fire Virtue Star Lord. Why don't we report the situation to them? With their heavenly armies, they might move against the Eastern Sea, and we can observe the Dragon Clan's true strength."
"Water Virtue Star Lord? Fire Virtue Star Lord!?"
Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes gleamed.
He had been so preoccupied with the Investiture of the Gods that he had nearly forgotten about them.
Long ago, when the Dragon Clan submitted to the Heavenly Court, they were placed under the jurisdiction of these two Star Lords—akin to ministers of waterworks and weather control. Under their rule, countless dragons had been executed for trivial failures like a missed rainfall.
Not only that, these two Star Lords commanded elite heavenly forces numbering 100,000—heaven's most elite celestial troops.
Just as Yuanshi Tianzun began formulating a plan, another disciple rushed in, flustered:
"Master, even more terrible news! Mount Shu has reappeared at the Eastern Sea! And countless shrimp soldiers and crab generals are now training with human sword techniques!"
"What?!"
"They're learning human swordsmanship?!"
The expressions of Yuanshi Tianzun and all present shifted instantly. Shock filled their eyes.
This had gone beyond any expectations.
The Dragon Clan wasn't just growing stronger—they were evolving at a terrifying pace.