Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme - Chapter 575

Chapter 575: Chapter 350: Countermeasures

Although their divine thoughts were interacting, there were no spoken words; yet their gazes and expressions still transparently conveyed their thoughts, further infuriating the Dragon Monarch.

Justice resides in the human heart!

Though before the absolute force of martial power, the weight of justice and public opinion indeed seemed insignificant, but…

In the face of this man, the current him, the current Southern Sea, had no such absolute martial force!

At a time when martial strength was insufficient and authority was lacking, the importance of public opinion and justice became particularly significant.

Now that he lacked both, how could he reclaim the treasured item?

With no other choice, the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch could only grit his teeth and forcefully argue, “While the fortunes of the Grand Void Sea Realm are up for grabs, items with owners are not part of this. Over a hundred thousand years ago, when the Grand Void Sea Realm first appeared, the Ancient Iron Mountain and the Essence Gold Divine Iron belonged to my Southern Sea Dragon Palace. How can you allow yourself to seize them so forcefully?”

“Forceful and unreasonable, shamelessly sophistic!”

Hearing this, Xu Yang also retorted coldly, “The way of the Southern Sea Dragon Palace’s door is indeed enlightening to behold!”

“You…!”

The Southern Sea Dragon Monarch’s words faltered, and though furious, he found it difficult to refute, only managing to forcefully demand, “Are you going to return it or not?”

“Hmph!”

Xu Yang snorted coldly, unafraid, “As a Taoist cultivating righteousness and preserving integrity, I heed only the Heavens, Earth Path, and public justice. How can I bow and kowtow to authority? If you wish to be unreasonable and use force to intimidate, then let us fight and let life and death settle the dispute!”

“You…”

“Very well, very well!”

“Then let us fight, and you shall witness the might of the Southern Sea Dragon!”

The Jiao Dragons of the Southern Sea possess exceedingly powerful physiques and naturally fierce temperaments. Faced with such provocation, how could they endure it? They exploded with rage, the Dragon Head rose high, claws outstretched, ready to engage in a fierce battle to the death.

“Hold on!”

Just as both sides were on the brink of combat, at the edge of eruption, the Southern Sea Dragon Queen suddenly stepped forward to block the Dragon Monarch’s movements and spoke to Xu Yang, “A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. My husband drank excessively, speaking drunken words. I ask that you, Taoist friend, don’t take offense. The opportunities of the sea realm are indeed for the capable to take…”

“My Lady?!”

Such words only enraged the Dragon Monarch further, yet he was stopped by a divine thought from the Dragon Queen, grinding his teeth forcefully to restrain himself.

“The Dragon Queen is indeed sensible and understands the situation.”

Seeing this, Xu Yang smiled as well, “Then I will take my leave!”

With that said, he didn’t wait for any reaction and turned to leave the realm.

“…”

The Southern Sea Dragon Queen said nothing, just watched him leave before turning to look at her husband.

“Hmph!!!”

The Southern Sea Dragon Monarch snorted coldly, his anger barely concealed, abruptly rising and returning to the Dragon Palace.

The Dragon Queen, seeing this, did not get angry but instead addressed everyone, “My husband drank too much and is hard to deal with, causing such a misunderstanding that left everyone laughing. I invite you all back to the palace for a renewed feast. Those who wish to explore the Grand Void Sea Realm, feel free to do so.”

Having said that, she no longer spoke further, turning to follow the Dragon Monarch, leaving everyone exchanging glances.

“This…”

“I’ve long heard that the Southern Sea Dragon Queen is virtuous, kind, and wiser than most. Seeing this today, it is indeed no exaggeration.”

“Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, when he first joined Mahayana, defeated Buddhism’s Cloth Sack and Pagoda-carrying Arhats. Now, six hundred years later, his foundation has not only solidified, but he has also mastered two Heavenly Gang Divine Powers and the Innate Five Elements Wonderful Skill. His strength is immense. Even among those in Mahayana, he is a top individual.”

“The Southern Sea Dragon Monarch, though physically powerful and frighteningly strong in battle, facing this vastly powerful Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, is likely not to gain any advantage. Moreover, the Southern Sea Dragon Palace is not in the right in this matter. If a major dispute breaks out, and they are left in disarray, it will be even more humiliating. Better to let him go and seek a peaceful resolution.”

“In doing so, the reputation of the Southern Sea Dragon Palace and the Grand Void Sea Assembly can be maintained, without losing the lady and the troops.”

“Why bother with so many complicated thoughts? In my view, she’s just sharp-sighted, knowing that her husband is no match for him. From the brief confrontation just now, facing the Five Elements Divine Light, the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch had already suffered a setback. If a real battle were to break out, wouldn’t it result in a bruised and bloodied end?”

“Wuzhuang Temple’s Zhen Yuanzi, under his illustrious name, indeed there is no unworthy person!”

“…”

The crowd buzzed with discussion, further fermenting the incident, as undercurrents surged.

Elsewhere…

“Hmph!!!”

Inside the Crystal Palace, the Dragon Monarch returned in a furor, causing Turtle Deputy, Clam Girl, and the shrimp soldiers to tremble with fear and trepidation.

Ao Jiang, the Dragon Prince, also followed close behind, filled with unease as he entered the palace.

However, as soon as he entered the palace, he saw the Dragon Monarch in a rage, striking him to the ground with a palm, “You worthless thing, bringing this disaster upon us, causing the Southern Sea to lose a treasured item, losing the Essence Gold Divine Iron, not to mention allowing someone to take away the Ancient Iron Mountain. How am I to explain this to your Dragon Ancestors?”

The words were laced with annoyance and fury.

He wasn’t to be blamed for reacting this way; the Essence Gold Divine Iron, ranked at the Eighth Order, having three seals and nine orifices, imbued with the essence of the Five Elements, was a divine artifact formed over hundreds of thousands of years through the nurturing of the Earth Vein connected to the Ancient Iron Mountain. It could be used as the main material for refining a Superior Immortal Implement, its value being self-evident, and it was crucial to the lifeline of the Southern Sea.

The Ancestor of the Southern Sea, his father and king, had been severely injured in the last True Dragon Tribulation, and the Tribulation expenditures were immense, almost depleting the Southern Sea’s reserves, leaving only a few treasures like the Essence Gold Divine Iron for the resources for the fourth True Dragon Tribulation. Now that it had been taken away, what was he to do?

There was also the ancient Iron Mountain mine, from which most of the military treasures of the South Sea Dragon Palace were produced, which had now been taken away. In the event of a major war, where would he find replacements? The South Sea Dragon Palace would suffer untold damage because of this.

Who would take responsibility for all this? Who would bear the burden?

Facing the furious South Sea Dragon Monarch, Ao Jiang, having been slapped to the ground, felt wronged: “This matter truly has nothing to do with me, it was Zhen Yuanzi who came uninvited. As the host of the Grand Void Sea Realm, in full view of everyone, I couldn’t just reject him at the door, could I?”

“Even if you couldn’t reject him at the door, you shouldn’t have led him to the Essence Gold Divine Iron!”

The anger of the South Sea Dragon Monarch was unabated: “Just send him off anywhere, why lead him to take the Essence Gold Divine Iron, do you wish for your father’s early demise, only to be satisfied by infuriating me to death?”

“I wouldn’t dare!”

Hearing this, Ao Jiang felt even more wronged: “It was he who said he wanted to find the Mysterious Iron Refined Gold to refine treasures. I merely mentioned it offhand, not expecting him to actually…”

“I told you to mention it offhand, I told you to mention it offhand!”

Before he could finish, wine cups and tea bowls came flying at his head, smashing him into a sorry state.

“Husband!”

Seeing this, the Dragon Queen of the Southern Sea, who had returned with him, stepped forward to comfort him, saying, “Indeed, this matter cannot be blamed on Jiang. Zhen Yuanzi clearly came prepared and was set on the Essence Gold Divine Iron. Even if Jiang hadn’t mentioned it, he would have still made his move.”

“My Lady!”

Hearing this, the anger of the South Sea Dragon Monarch finally subsided somewhat, but his dissatisfaction was still apparent: “If you knew as well that Zhen Yuanzi harbored ill intentions, coveting the treasures of our Southern Sea, then why did you stop me just now?”

The Dragon Queen shook her head and said calmly, “If I hadn’t stopped you, would you truly have fought Zhen Yuanzi to the death?”

“So what if I had?”

The South Sea Dragon Monarch was furious: “Am I supposed to be afraid of him?”

The Dragon Queen looked at him and shook her head: “How does my husband compare to the Buddhism’s Cloth Sack and Pagoda-carrying Arhats?”

“…”

At this statement, the South Sea Dragon Monarch fell silent, not knowing how to respond.

With a calm expression and steady words, the Dragon Queen said: “Those two Arhats, both venerable Mahayana elders and devout Buddhists, are Tathagata’s protectors and Buddha’s attendants, and their combat prowess need not be elaborated upon.”

“Given this, six hundred years ago, at the Pill Origin Gathering, both of the Arhats conceded defeat and retreated. Although they possessed the Seven-Layered Exquisite Pagoda, they dared not to use it against him in a life-and-death struggle, which shows his capability.”

“This was six hundred years ago, when he had just ascended to Mahayana. Now, his Divine Power far exceeds that of the past. If my husband were to fight him to the death, the outcome…”

The final words, though unfinished, held an obvious implication.

“Hmph!”

The South Sea Dragon Monarch knew this but still snorted coldly, stubbornly adding, “That’s because he was at the Wuzhuang Temple, with friends to aid him and a Great Array to empower him. The Cloth Sack and Pagoda-carrying Arhats were unwilling to perish with him, hence they conceded defeat. Now in my Southern Sea, how could I allow him to run rampant?”

“Does my husband wish to perish together with him, both suffering losses?”

The Dragon Queen shook her head and asked in a deep voice, “Can my husband guarantee that, when the battle begins, that so-called group of friends will lend a hand rather than stand by and watch, and that after activating the Great Array, we will definitely be able to capture him instead of allowing him to forcefully break the Array, causing greater loss to the South Sea Dragon Palace?”

“This…”

The South Sea Dragon King hesitated, at a loss for words.

“This person is extraordinarily talented, already possessing the stance of a True Immortal!”

The Dragon Queen spoke gravely: “With such a character, one shouldn’t act unless one can follow through without reservation, otherwise a beaten snake may come to cause endless trouble. We needn’t wait for the future; he is already capable of causing difficulties for the South Sea Dragon Palace now. Should that happen, it would not only result in loss of face but also countless other losses. Does my husband truly wish to make such an unwise move?”

At these words, the South Sea Dragon King wavered, though he still found it hard to let go: “So we just let him take the Essence Gold Divine Iron away?”

“My husband, do not worry!”

The Dragon Queen shook her head to comfort him: “I’ve heard this person has repeatedly declined invitations from the Heavenly Court, preferring to be a carefree wandering True Immortal in the South Observance territory. With his ever-growing reputation at the Pill Origin Gathering, the Heavenly Court will surely be uneasy. Why not use this incident to lodge a complaint against him, claiming that his forceful acquisition of our Southern Sea Divine Iron caused the Earth Veins to quake and the seas to churn, resulting in countless deaths and injuries among the Aquatic Clan? Let the Heavenly Court send troops to bring him to justice!”

“This…”

The Dragon Monarch was taken aback: “Would that work?”

“Whether it works or not, we’ll only know if we try!”

The Dragon Queen smiled serenely: “If it succeeds, we can shift the trouble to the Heavenly Court, let them handle this hidden danger, retrieve the Divine Iron for our Dragon Palace, and if it fails, our Dragon Palace will have a pretext. When the great war between the Immortal Gods occurs later, the king can personally take action, rightfully slaying him, and the Heavenly Court won’t be able to say anything.”

“This…”

The South Sea Dragon King still hesitated somewhat.

The Dragon Queen shook her head and suggested another plan: “If my husband finds this improper, we can also seek help from the East Sea, gathering the force of the Four Seas Dragon Palaces to attack the Wuzhuang Temple. It’s just that by doing so, we would owe a favor to the other three seas. Although we are all connected by Dragon Clan bloodlines, and there shouldn’t be any counting of favors amongst brothers, if the attack goes poorly and there are losses…”

“I understand now!”

The South Sea Dragon King’s eyes hardened, cutting off her words: “Let’s do as you say. At the court meeting, I will personally go to the Heavenly Court to lodge a complaint against him. If the Heavenly Court remains unmoved, then when the great war between the Immortal Gods occurs, my father the king will personally take action, making him pay a thousandfold for today’s actions!”

“My husband is wise!”

Hearing this, the Dragon Queen also broke into a smile and softly nestled into his embrace.

Ao Jiang: “…”