Chapter 401

Chapter 401: The Arriving Dragon Palace and the Arrogant Dragon Clan

Confident of their impending victory, the Dragon Princes and their descendants departed the Dragon Palace’s main hall alongside aquatic leaders, even pitying Mu Lin.

"To face both human rulers and our Dragon Clan’s combined might—how wretched Mu Lin’s fate is."

"Don’t blame us. His own arrogance and weakness caused this."

"True. Had he not pressured East Sea King relentlessly, we’d have no chance to meddle in East Sea Kingdom’s affairs."

"Exactly. If he weren’t so feeble, our Dragon Palace wouldn’t interfere so boldly."

While conversing, the aquatic leaders and Dragon Kings walked away.

Many pondered how to secure water territories in rivers and lakes for their offspring during the stroll.

Some schemed to claim prime positions first, while others noticed a frowning Dragon King.

"Lord Ao Cheng, still troubled about Mu Lin?"

"Yes. My instincts warn he won’t die easily."

"You overthink, my lord. Even if tough to kill, our Dragon Clan fears no equals. Besides, we’re sending Earth Immortals against his Transformation stage. Dragon Emperor even ordered Ao Huan to fetch a treasure from the vault—with such advantages, how could Mu Lin survive?"

"…You’re right. I worried needlessly."

After logical analysis, Ao Cheng—who’d once met Mu Lin—relaxed, convinced the Chase would succeed.

……

Urged by East Sea King’s impatience, the Dragon Palace moved swiftly.

Soon after negotiations concluded, both powers announced:

The Dragon Palace’s Ninth Princess Ao Xuan would marry East Sea King’s second son.

Earth Immortal Dragon King Ao Huan promptly escorted Ao Xuan toward Tianhai City.

This news shocked not just East Sea Kingdom, but the entire human race.

Those in power rarely lacked cunning. Even fools had shrewd subordinates. Thus North and South Aristocrats, Great Spirit Dynasty officials, and East Sea Kingdom’s local nobles all recognized this marriage targeted Mu Lin—and cost East Sea King dearly.

Snowstorm-like condemnations poured into East Sea King’s manor from all regions.

But East Sea King had prepared defenses. First, he denied betraying humanity:

"Lies! As ruler, I’d never sell our people’s interests!"

"Ao Xuan’s marriage stems from young love! Should I tear lovers apart?"

"Claiming I surrendered human interests to dragons is nonsense! Water beings enter East Sea Kingdom merely as the Dragon Palace’s bridal guard for their daughter."

"They maintain order across regions because Ao Xuan pities humans suffering under Traitors’ chaos!"

Then he counterattacked:

"You should thank me!"

"The calamity approaches. Allying with Dragon Palace strengthens our crisis response—isn’t this wise?"

“A bunch of fools! Why can’t you see the depth of my plans!”

The words sounded reasonable on the surface, like those preachers from past lives who claimed saving the Lighthouse Nation meant saving themselves.

But while the surface seemed smooth, the truth couldn’t withstand scrutiny.

A true alliance meant equals coexisting peacefully. Yet East Sea King had surrendered all Leadership of his kingdom’s waters.

This was no different than handing control of his own veins to outsiders – an outright betrayal of the human race.

Still, East Sea King’s flawless public stance left critics no openings. The times were special, so some weren’t willing to risk it. Otherwise, excuses to act could’ve been found easily.

……

Though East Sea King now faced total opposition from his kingdom’s aristocrats and bore endless curses, his pact with the Dragon Palace neared completion.

Every step Ao Xuan took toward Tianhai City signaled the alliance’s impending seal. While others merely scowled, East Sea Kingdom’s powerful clans grew desperate. The Dragon Palace water tribe’s control of rivers and lakes meant their riches would bleed away.

Their protests against East Sea King grew louder. Some even reached out to Mu Lin, explaining the situation while urging him to assassinate the Dragon Palace’s Ninth Princess.

“Mu Lin, this alliance targets you. Stop it before it solidifies! Once they unite, you’re finished.”

“Kill Ao Xuan before she reaches the city. That’ll ruin everything.”

They sounded sincere, like true allies. Mu Lin answered with one word: “Scram!”

The rejection angered his contact. “We’re trying to save you!”

Mu Lin chuckled. “Save me? Then why not stab Ao Xuan yourselves? That’d help more.”

“……!”

As the man fumbled for words, Mu Lin’s voice turned frosty. “Don’t play dumb. The Dragon Palace annoys me, but I’ve had my revenge. I could flee to the North Wilderness anytime and return stronger later. You think they’d chase me there? But you…”

“Your spirit fields. Your mines. Your families. All stuck in East Sea Kingdom. You’re the desperate ones.”

“Want my help? Bring offerings. Beg properly.”

“You won’t hide safely while I fight your battles. That dream ends now.”

*Thwack!*

The ruthless words and the abruptly ended communication left the powerful clans of East Sea Kingdom with dark expressions, their resentment toward Mu Lin palpable.

Though Mu Lin couldn’t witness this firsthand, he could guess their reactions—yet he remained indifferent.

East Sea King was no saint, and these clans were nothing but parasites feeding on the land.

Scheming against them and wresting benefits from their grasp stirred no hesitation or guilt in him.

“Besides, you’ve already feasted enough from my conflict with East Sea King.”

“Before, when I fought him, I had to let you sit idle and watch as you hoarded wealth.”

“Now it’s different—you’re the ones begging me.”

“The ones who should be anxious are you, not me.”

While Mu Lin pondered deeply, his main body was approached by Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo, who rushed over with urgent news.

“Mu brother! The head of the family sent word—they insist you must not assassinate Ao Xuan. If you stay your hand, they’ll struggle to act. But if you strike, it’ll be a disaster. You’ll walk right into their trap.”

“I know.”

Mu Lin had no intention of randomly attempting an assassination; it would only backfire.

For both the human race and the dragon clan, unless one wielded absolute power, actions had to abide by rules.

Mu Lin’s earlier boldness had always stayed within those boundaries—within East Sea Kingdom, he targeted only the East Sea King’s manor and its affiliates, never slaughtering indiscriminately.

Since East Sea King had broken the rules first by attacking him, Mu Lin’s retaliation was justified. Such targeted killings wouldn’t provoke the true powers of the human race.

But wanton slaughter? That would change everything.

The dragon clan, too, couldn’t act recklessly. Their presence on land required a formal invitation from East Sea King, who needed the pretext of alliance and marriage to settle them in the kingdom’s water territories. Even then, their actions were constrained.

Had East Sea King hidden the alliance and unleashed the dragon clan’s experts in a surprise attack, Mu Lin’s survival would’ve been unlikely. But the Dragon Palace would never dare such folly—ambushing Mu Lin, the human race’s greatest genius, would enrage their powerful figures.

War might not erupt outright, but afterward, no Dragon Prince or water territory king’s offspring would dare venture beyond the sea. The moment they surfaced, hawkish human experts would hunt them down.

“What? Claiming East Sea King invited the assassination and it’s ‘internal strife’?”

“Well, there’s a tiny snake in the ditch near my home. It ‘invited’ me to kill your Dragon Prince. Consider it your Dragon Palace water tribe’s internal matter—nothing to do with humans.”

“And why a human seer associates with a water snake? None of your concern. Must we report our friendships to the Dragon Palace?”

Human territory had expanded so widely because hawkish factions and supremacists were hardly rare. Unless seeking all-out war, the Dragon Palace needed a plausible reason to target Mu Lin.

Hence Ao Xuan’s grand marriage to East Sea King’s second son. Hence the dragon clan’s slow march through East Sea Kingdom instead of flying straight to Tianhai City with magic.

They waited for Mu Lin to strike first.

Ao Huan, especially, yearned for his arrival.

“Mu Lin, don’t disappoint me. Give me a worthy challenge.”