Chapter 403

Chapter 403: East Sea King: Mu Lin, go for it! I believe you’re the strongest of the human race’s younger generation!

The Dragon Palace water tribe’s panic made East Sea King instantly assume Mu Lin had made his move.

When he realized what was happening, he didn’t get angry. Instead, he sighed in relief, thinking, *It finally happened.*

He then relaxed and watched to see how the Dragon Palace would handle it. His mindset was clear—he wouldn’t mind if the dragon clan suffered heavy losses. The Dragon Palace water tribe’s earlier arrogance had clearly angered him.

……

Like East Sea King, Dragon King Ao Huan and Dragon Prince Ao Yi also believed Mu Lin had acted.

But neither felt urgency or grasped the gravity of the situation.

Dragon King Ao Huan even cheerfully told East Sea King, “I thought Mu Lin was too scared of the Dragon Palace to show his face! If he’d fled, your agreement would’ve been hard to honor.”

“Now that he’s here, this’ll be simple. Hmph—I’ll admit he’s got some guts. But he’s reckless, impulsive, and a fool.”

“He has no idea what mighty power he’s crossed.”

Ao Huan’s tone made East Sea King frown. While he wanted Mu Lin dead, the Dragon Palace water tribe’s haughtiness irked him. Still, he held back criticism and warned:

“Don’t underestimate him. Mu Lin isn’t weak.”

Before Ao Huan could reply, Dragon Prince Ao Yi cut in. Younger and brasher, his voice dripped with disdain.

“Ha! Only *you* think he’s tough. Don’t lump us in with your kind. To the dragon clan, Mu Lin’s a bug. In a fair fight, he’d lose to me!”

“Enough, Ao Yi,” Ao Huan chided. “Our clan is strong, but some human prodigies aren’t worthless… And show East Sea King respect.”

“…Yes.”

As they spoke, the panicked water tribe member arrived. Staring at Ao Huan and Ao Yi, he hesitated, too scared to speak.

Ao Huan snorted impatiently. “Out with it! Whatever Mu Lin did, I won’t punish you.”

“Th-thank you, Dragon King!”

The tribesman gulped and began: “While we entered the city, Mu Lin struck. But not at Tianhai City or our forces. He attacked… a dragon lord stationed in East Sea Kingdom. And he… he extracted the dragon’s tendons and bones—”

*Crack!*

The moment “extracted tendons and bones” left his mouth, Ao Huan and Ao Yi’s faces twisted. Such an act treated their kind like slaughtered livestock—the ultimate insult.

Ao Yi roared, “That *vermin*! How dare he?!”

Ao Huan’s voice turned icy. “Mu Lin, your arrogance will be your end. You’ll learn the cost of defying the dragon clan.”

“I’ll rip out your soul and drown it in the Abyssal Depths for ten thousand years!”

Rage burning, Ao Huan gathered his magic, ready to hunt Mu Lin down.

But he did not escape; East Sea King blocked his path.

"What are you doing?"

Ignoring Ao Huan’s murderous rage that could devour a man, East Sea King spoke calmly since his own forces remained unharmed: "Wait. Hear the full story before acting. Though Mu Lin acts arrogantly, he’s no reckless fool. This might be a trap."

After briefly calming Ao Huan, East Sea King turned to the water tribe member and asked quietly: "Answer this – who struck first between that dragon and Mu Lin?"

"…The dragon lord attacked first. But he had reason! That bastard Mu Lin publicly declared the dragon clan looked like mere long worms, comparing them to…"

"Out with it!"

Ao Huan’s thunderous roar made the water tribe member’s soul nearly leap from his body.

Stammering urgently, the creature confessed:

"Yes, Dragon King. Mu Lin said… he said dragon clan members resemble elongated insects, nothing special or fearsome…"

"BOOM!"

The dragon clan’s arrogance made them view all creatures as inferior. Comparing them to worms struck like tearing off their reverse scales – the ultimate insult.

Ao Yi and Ao Huan’s eyes blazed with endless fury. Seeing their reaction, East Sea King understood – that dragon had been thoroughly provoked into attacking Mu Lin.

What followed proved simple. The dragon couldn’t match Mu Lin, who then treated it like livestock – extracting tendons and bones.

"By doing this, he further provokes the dragon clan while ensuring Ao Huan can’t retaliate." East Sea King grimly acknowledged Mu Lin’s cunning.

Humans and dragons constantly clashed over territory and resources. But as land and sea’s dominant powers, they resembled two nuclear-armed nations – cautious to avoid direct war that would destroy both sides.

Instead, they fought through proxies and champions. The unspoken rule demanded battles between equals – no elders crushing juniors.

Though Mu Lin’s brutal dragon-slaying resembled butchery, it remained a duel between peers. This meant senior Ao Huan couldn’t intervene without breaking the pact. Even if he tried, human experts would stop him.

Just as a citizen humiliating rival superpowers becomes a national hero, Mu Lin’s triumph boosted human prestige. Powerful human backers would surely shield their rising star.

If Ao Huan dared to bully the weak through direct action, certain supremacist powerhouses of the human race wouldn’t hesitate to strike him down.

Both East Sea King and Ao Huan had considered this reality, leaving the latter’s face clouded with uncertainty.

Clearly, Ao Huan recognized Mu Lin’s troublesome nature.

The Dragon Palace water tribe wasn’t without means for retaliation regarding the draconic creature’s slaughter.

Blood feuds and equivalent retribution held legal standing here – any dragon or water tribe member could challenge Mu Lin under the banner of vengeance.

Even the dragon clan itself could attack Mu Lin by claiming personal insult.

But such challenges required strict adherence to rank equivalency: Transformation against Transformation, high-level resources versus high-level resources.

Only through such "fair" battles would the upper echelons of both races refrain from interference, letting combatants settle Life and Death themselves.

Having pieced this together, East Sea King muttered darkly:

"So Mu Lin schemes to confine all conflicts with the Dragon Palace to same-tier battles… Troublesome indeed."

Multiple clashes with Mu Lin had overturned the East Sea Kingdom itself. While burning with hatred, East Sea King acknowledged his enemy’s strength.

Though the near-divine Golden Race commanded vast waters and countless tribes, he doubted even their finest could best Mu Lin.

One’s greatest understanding comes from one’s rival – East Sea King already deemed Mu Lin the human race’s greatest genius of this era.

Only Mu Lin’s overwhelming pressure had driven him to involve the Dragon Palace and descendants of evil gods.

Yet even these two major powers proved inadequate against the cunning warrior…

"Wait," East Sea King’s eyes suddenly cleared. "This conflict now lies between Mu Lin and the Dragon Palace. My feud with him becomes secondary."

Freed from psychological burdens, he gleefully prodded: "After flaying that dragon and ripping its tendons, surely Mu Lin didn’t stop there. What else did the cur say?"

True to his rival’s expectation, the vindictive Mu Lin had prepared more insults:

"That Mu Lin declared…" the messenger trembled. "’Golden Race? Near-divine? This overgrown worm failed to amuse me.’"

"’Let your scaled masters challenge me at Moon Water City if they dare. Should they cower, I’ll deliver this Long Worm Monument to their precious Dragon Palace…’"

BOOM

Ao Huan and Ao Yi’s murderous aura exploded before the water mirror’s projection finished. The trembling messenger kowtowed wildly:

"Great Dragon Kings! These words came from Mu Lin himself! He carves the monument publicly – soon all will know of this shame!"

"Heh…"

Upon hearing the phrase "spread throughout the world," East Sea King secretly chuckled to himself.

He realized the situation had escalated beyond control. For the sake of saving face, Dragon Palace would have to retaliate fiercely now.

Only through overwhelming force could they restore their lost dignity.

But while dragons valued pride, humans did too.

Both races were dominant powers locked in constant rivalry – sometimes cooperating, often clashing.

In this endless contest, anyone who humiliated the opposing side became a celebrated hero.

It reminded him of legendary human champions like Huo Qubing.

Such heroes earned public admiration, and human leaders had to protect them – humans might kill their own, but never allow outsiders to crush them.

Otherwise, they’d lose popular support and struggle to maintain unity.

With both sides avoiding open warfare, Dragon Palace’s only option was same-level challenges.

Yet Mu Lin had already proven himself humanity’s strongest young warrior.

East Sea King doubted any Dragon Palace water tribe youth could match him.

Feigning outrage, he turned to Dragon Palace’s Ao Huan and Ao Yi: "Mu Lin’s arrogance crosses all limits! He calls your dragon clan mere serpents! Even Buddha would rage at this insult!"

"Ao Huan! Order your warriors to teach this upstart about dragon might!"

"Ao Yi! Didn’t you call Mu Lin a worthless coward? Here’s your chance to prove it!"

"Crush him like the cur he is! Name your battle date and needs – I’ll handle everything!"

Though certain of Dragon Palace’s defeat, East Sea King didn’t care.

He hadn’t invited these sea-dwellers to grovel before them like some dragon-worshipping fool.

His motives were purely selfish – containing Mu Lin’s influence and checking local powerful clans.

He saw Dragon Palace as temporary tools, maintaining constant vigilance against them.

The dragons reciprocated this distrust.

Since this conflict didn’t endanger his plans, but made two rivals destroy each other…

East Sea King eagerly fed the flames.

"Fight! Fight harder!" he mentally cheered.

"Dragon Palace! Will you endure this slap to your face?"

"Mu Lin! Show these lizards why you’re humanity’s champion! Wipe out their entire younger generation!"