Chapter Forty-Nine: Unification of the Eastern Sea

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An endless expanse of emerald waves and blue sea, dotted with countless islands scattered like stars embellishing the sapphire waters. Above the jade sea and beneath the blue sky, it is the domain of myriad flying divine beasts. Strange and fantastic creatures of every shape and form soar freely under the heavens. Countless bizarre sea beasts stretch their languid and colossal bodies, floating atop the waves and basking in the sunlight.

Upon this ocean, there is no killing, no conquest, no struggle. In a chaotic and primordial world, such tranquil and harmonious waters are rare. This peaceful and harmonious sea is precisely the Eastern Sea, the eastern realm of the wilderness. Though most of its waters are now under the dominion of the Dragon Clan and thus at peace, a few regions remain unconquered, still plagued by slaughter, war, and strife.

Yet today, all will come to an end. The Eastern Sea is about to leave behind its age of violence and division, and enter the era of unified rule—an age under the Dragon Clan.

To the east of the Eastern Sea, at the edge of the Endless Ocean, lies the last domain resisting the Dragon Clan’s rule: the Chaos Sea.

Chaos Sea.

Above, the clouds are deep and black, boundless, shrouding the entire Chaos Sea. The whole domain is enveloped in a tempest, wind and rain pouring from the heavens. Endless lightning—threadlike, misty, fantastical—entwines tightly along the edges of the storm clouds. Within the depths of the clouds, thousands upon thousands of Thunder Dragons surge and tumble, stirring storm and electricity.

Thunder Dragons, countless, unfurl their fierce heads and open their blood-stained maws, spewing endless lightning into the boundless clouds. The storm grows ever deeper, its lightning ever more dazzling and terrifying.

Beneath the clouds, an endless, dense army of dragons stretches like the sea itself, limitless and inexhaustible. Armies of Golden Dragons, Black Dragons, White Dragons, Fire Dragons, Water Dragons, Azure Dragons, Yellow Dragons—every kind of dragon arrayed for war. Their boundless banners embroidered with rampant, clawing divine dragons, boldly waving above the Chaos Sea.

Before the dragon armies stands a vast host of servitor troops, as numerous as the waters themselves. The dragon armies make up but one-tenth of the force; the servitor troops, nine-tenths.

Jiaolongs, shrimp soldiers, crab generals, black fish, goldfish, and more—all possess a trace of dragon blood, and serve as the Dragon Clan’s loyal armies. Dragons are noble and struggle to reproduce, a decree of Heaven itself. To secure their dominion and unify the Eastern Sea, the Ancestral Dragon ordered the dragons and other sea clans to propagate, resulting in countless sea beasts bearing dragon blood.

It is precisely with these inexhaustible servitor troops that the Dragon Clan conquered the Eastern Sea and forged its unparalleled rule. Moreover, these servitor troops, bearing even a hint of dragon blood, are innately suppressed by true dragons and can never overthrow their masters.

For example, a God-King Jiaolong facing a True Dragon of the Lord God rank: the True Dragon, by virtue of its bloodline, can easily overpower the Jiaolong King. This is why the Dragon Clan relies so heavily on its servitor armies.

Yet, the rampant breeding among close kin has left the dragons with their infamous licentious nature.

Beneath the clouds, upon the water, stands a palace of golden splendor and majestic grandeur—the Dragon Palace. Nine thousand nine hundred feet high, its entirety glows gold, towering and magnificent, radiating endless golden auspicious light. Atop it coils a sacred, nine-clawed Golden Dragon, nine thousand feet long, regal and imposing.

Indeed, this Nine-clawed Golden Dragon Palace is the imperial traveling court of the Ancestral Dragon.

Above the Chaos Sea, a towering black city rises to the heavens, quietly blocking the endless dragon armies. Compared to the inexhaustible hosts before it, this city, though immense, seems as fragile as a skiff in a storm, always on the verge of destruction.

Upon the ramparts, dense ranks of black-armored soldiers stand, watching the dragon army below with vigilance, fearing the next moment they will be overrun.

“Lord of Chaos Sea, by the grace of the Dragon King, you are granted one final opportunity. Lay down your arms and surrender voluntarily. Otherwise, when the city falls, it shall be slaughtered to the last.”

A Dragon King clad in golden armor slowly flies out from the Nine-clawed Dragon Palace, approaching between the two armies, unfolding a golden decree, and proclaims it with regal authority.

Upon hearing the Dragon Clan’s ultimatum, the black-armored troops atop the city remain silent, patiently awaiting their lord’s command.

After a long pause, a voice of unmatched authority echoes from within the city, “Does the Ancestral Dragon not fear that I might destroy this Eastern Wild City?!”

The Golden-armored Dragon King stands upon the clouds, unhesitating, as if long anticipating such a challenge from the Lord of Chaos Sea, and replies arrogantly, “The Dragon Clan fears no threat!”

“Lord of Chaos Sea, make your decision swiftly!”

The Dragon King’s authoritative voice reverberates between sky and earth, forcing the Lord of Chaos Sea to choose.

Within Eastern Wild City, the Temple of Chaos Sea.

The Lord of Chaos Sea sits alone upon the throne. Hearing the Dragon Clan’s reply, he closes his eyes, tears silently streaming down his face. Two lines of clear tears slide from his brows; his once majestic countenance now haggard, his hair instantly turned silver.

“My lord!”

Elders of the Chaos Sea Clan, standing on either side, witness their once formidable lord reduced to this, and kneel one by one, eyes brimming with tears as they cry out.

Though a thousand words are in their hearts, none can be spoken; though their aspirations reach the heavens, they are powerless.

Such is the time! Such is the fate!

The Chaos Sea Clan’s fortune has ended; only surrender to the Dragon Clan remains, or else extinction awaits.

“Surrender!”

A word, heavy beyond measure, slowly escapes the Lord of Chaos Sea’s lips, echoing throughout Eastern Wild City, reaching the ears of both armies.

Bang.

The divine heart of the Lord of Chaos Sea shatters instantly, and he spits a mouthful of golden divine blood.

Such a simple word, yet so weighty!

With its utterance, every soldier of the Chaos Sea Clan turns toward the temple, kneels upon one knee, tears falling as they bow their heads.

After today, the Chaos Sea Clan will be no more.

Outside, the Golden-armored Dragon King hears the word “surrender,” nods in satisfaction, transforms into golden light, and returns to the Nine-clawed Dragon Palace to deliver the decree.

Boom!

The towering gates of Eastern Wild City slowly open on their own. The defensive formations cease, the barriers quietly dissipate.

The dragon armies swiftly rush in, taking control of the city and guarding against any Chaos Sea disorder.

Nine-clawed Dragon Palace, Ancestral Dragon Hall.

“My lord! There is no trace of the Lord of Chaos Sea. It is said he could not bear the blow, turned white-haired in an instant, and departed in sorrow with a few elders.”

Ao Yu, patriarch of the White Dragon Clan, stands below, respectfully reporting to the exalted Ancestral Dragon.

The Ancestral Dragon muses for a moment, then speaks calmly, “Let him go. The Chaos Sea Clan poses no further threat.”

Indeed, even had the Ancestral Dragon pursued him, he could not have caught the Lord of Chaos Sea. After all, a lower-ranked divine lord, if intent on escape, is difficult to apprehend.

Seated upon the Nine-clawed Dragon Throne, the Ancestral Dragon gazes toward Not-Perished Mountain, and a trace of worry rises in his heart: “Third Brother, you must be careful! Just find out Southfall’s purpose. Do not act rashly!”