Chapter 424

The true contenders for the Sea King Sacrifice Champion were many dragon sons and grandsons dressed in three-clawed royal god robes.

Leading them were naturally Xuan Chou and Xuan An, two primordial spirit-level dragon princes.

These two wore four-clawed royal god robes, followed by Bai Shuang, then the Fifth Prince Xuan Chen, Sixth Prince Xuan Gu, Ninth Son Xuan Luo, Tenth Prince Xuan Shang, and so on.

Besides the dragon princes of the main line of the Qingping Sea Dragon Palace, there were also dragon sons and grandsons from other branches.

Yet the most eye-catching was still a graceful young dragon maiden in green robes.

From the discussions of many cultivators nearby, Zhang Jian learned this dragon maiden was called Xuan Nao.

She was a primordial spirit-level dragon maiden.

In the Qingping Sea Dragon Palace, she was a living legend.

The Qingping Dragon Lord and Dragon Mother first ascended the high platform.

Upon the towering sacrificial platform now stood a vast stone relief, dark gold in hue, with a majestic dragon shadow coiling upon it, as if occupying the vast earth and azure heavens.

Its entire body shone with dark gold.

The relief emanated a primordial, vast aura, as if it were a treasure left from the barbaric ages.

The Qingping Dragon Lord and Dragon Mother both wore solemn expressions; after burning the Qingci before the great dark gold dragon totem, dozens of dragon elders stepped forward to sacrifice to Heaven and announce to the ancestors.

Many of these dragon elders carried the divine offices and positions of the Water Earl, their bodies surging with immense divine power.

True dragons are divine beasts by nature, granted longevity, and may be called gods.

Moreover, endowed with powerful water-system divine power, when dozens of dragon elders stepped forward to the platform, even without hearing their resounding, vast ancestral Qingci, merely sensing their immense divine power was enough to shock.

Zhang Jian etched this scene into his memory.

As the dragon elders completed their sacrifice, they retreated one by one to the side.

Then the Qingping Dragon Lord stepped forward again.

His gaze swept over the high-ranking cultivators gathered below the platform, a faint smile touched his lips, and he loudly proclaimed.

"Please, dragon sons and grandsons, come forward, offer the sacrificial items, and kowtow to our dragon ancestors!"

Hearing this, dozens of dragon sons and grandsons, following the rules, walked one by one to the central altar, advancing according to their status and rank.

At this moment, each held a golden tray, covered with red cloth; inside, spiritual light flowed or divine essence lay hidden—clearly all extraordinary objects.

Watching this, the Qingping Dragon Lord's expression showed slight satisfaction, then he shouted loudly.

"One kowtow: sons and grandsons, kowtow to Heaven above, pray that Heaven blesses my true dragon clan to flourish and spread, filling the heavens and earth!"

As his voice faded, many dragon sons and grandsons kowtowed in turn.

Bai Shuang stood in the first row, just behind the eldest dragon prince Xuan Chou and the third prince Xuan An, taking the third position.

At this moment she held the golden tray, and she bowed deeply, placing the tray before her.

"Two kowtows: dragon sons and grandsons, kowtow to the Ancestral Dragon, pray that the Ancestral Dragon blesses our clan's glory never to fall!"

"Three kowtows: Qingping Sea Dragon Clan, kowtow to our ancestors, pray that the ancestors enjoy the offerings, and may the true dragon lineage's incense never cease!"

As many dragon sons and grandsons performed the three kowtows.

The Qingping Dragon Lord then turned, bowed respectfully to the relief, and said.

"Please, Sea King, manifest and enjoy the offerings!"

As he bowed.

Hummm!!!

Yet from the depths of the void, it seemed a primordial dragon's roar echoed.

At that moment, the dark gold relief emitted a hazy radiance, as if it had truly come alive from the relief itself.

A dark gold dragon shadow soared into the sky, as if flying forth from the river of time, instantly transforming into a hundred-zhang dark gold azure dragon swirling above the towering sacrificial platform.

Vast dark gold light spilled across every inch of the void.

A primordial divine power surged forth; the cultivators below felt their hearts sink, and under this immense primordial divine power, they were like a tiny leaf boat in a raging sea, ready to capsize at any moment.

Zhang Jian gazed ahead, yet within he faintly saw a vast divine energy—this divine energy far exceeded his observational limits, its inner divine energy boundless, as if formed by the Heaven and Earth Great Dao.

"A fifth-tier immortal treasure!"

Sensing the power deep within this treasure light, his heart trembled inwardly.

This immortal treasure's aura was unique—vast, primordial divine power; it should belong to a primordial divine Dao treasure.

"I just don't know what the true form of this fifth-tier immortal treasure is."

Zhang Jian's gaze swept around.

He noticed that not only him, but many high-ranking cultivators from major immortal sects and powers present also wore strange expressions.

Clearly, they too were greatly shaken.

This was a naked display of martial power.

Yet such a display was clearly very effective.

At least, many high-ranking cultivators who had attained primordial spirit in the field wore solemn faces.

In the future, if one wished to act against the dragon and water cultivators of the Qingping Sea Dragon Palace, they would have to consider the consequences of provoking the Qingping Sea Dragon Palace, and whether they could withstand a single strike from this fifth-tier immortal treasure.

And on the altar, as the vast dark gold dragon shadow appeared, the red cloth on the offerings held by the dragon cultivators flew open.

Their prepared offerings now revealed their true form.

Among them, the gifts prepared by Xuan Chou, Xuan An, and the dragon maiden Xuan Nao shone with the most spiritual light.

At this moment, a lazy, lively voice came from the void.

"Young one, three hundred years have passed, and this time the participants in the ancestor sacrifice are indeed many more—Xuan Cheng, you've done well!"

Hearing this voice, the Qingping Dragon Lord's face remained solemn, and he hastily performed a respectful salute, clasping his hands and saying.

"Xuan Cheng pays respects to Your Majesty, the Sea King!"

"You're still as boring as ever!"

The vast golden dragon's large dragon eyes glanced at Xuan City, then its gaze fell upon the many dragon sons and grandsons holding up golden trays.

At this moment, many high-ranking cultivators below also directed their gaze toward the people on the stage.

Although separated by hundreds of zhang, this distance is nothing to many high-level cultivators.

The crowd's gaze first fell upon Xuan Chou and Xuan An.

Looking over, they saw that Xuan Chou's golden tray held a page of scripture, which at this moment emitted a vast divine power, as if it could summon the descent of the Heavenly Dao.

"Is this the scripture of the ancient sages? Not light in weight, Your Majesty takes a look... seems to be the *Wood Virtue True Classic* of the Wood Virtue King!"

As the voice from the heavens above rang out, everyone's expressions shifted, a hint of surprise appearing in their eyes.

The Wood Virtue King was an ancient sage-king born in primordial times.

His reign was brief, and he was soon forced by his arch-enemy to ascend to the Heavenly Gate, causing the vast Wood Virtue Dynasty to collapse.

Yet the *Wood Virtue True Classic* he forged remains a sage's classic, enduring through time.

Especially the many profound passages within it discussing the mysteries of creation, still regarded as a standard by many alchemists.

A sage's true scripture, even if only a single page, naturally holds immense value.

Everyone's gaze fell upon Xuan Chou, whose face now showed a hint of joy as he spoke in a deep voice.

"This junior wishes to offer this page of the *Wood Virtue True Classic* to the Forefather!"

The golden dragon shadow's eyes gleamed, then it spoke.

"The value is indeed not ordinary, quite good!"

But to it, it seemed merely good!

Such a treasure, in its long existence, had only ever been this!

This evaluation left Xuan Chou somewhat disappointed!

Immediately, its eyes shifted and fell upon Xuan An.

At this moment, Xuan An's golden tray held a pearl emitting a dense divine light, within which contained a fierce divine radiance, like a condensed flame.

It stared at the pearl, light flickering in its dragon eyes, then praised after a moment.

"This should be the *Sheji* Divine Dao, a small ornament worn close by the *Sheji* Emperor!

Its grade is not bad, likely a heaven-earth divine artifact-level divine fire seed refined with great care, containing a wisp of the Emperor's imperial aura and dragon aura, possessing unique value, truly extraordinary!"

"Little one, you put in much effort, Your Majesty is pleased!"

Hearing the golden dragon shadow's evaluation, Xuan An, clad in black armor, showed a hint of a smile in his eyes, but as the dragon shadow's following words came, his smile stalled.

"However, emptying one's own worth to exchange for such a grade—this is somewhat unwise, little one; in the future, act within your limits, do not overconsume your growth potential!"

Upon hearing this, Qingping Dragon Lord and Dragon Mother exchanged glances, both furrowing their brows.

Qingping Dragon Lord's eyes burned with even more irritation.

He greatly valued Xuan An, a descendant who had mutated with the Nine Abyss Carp Dragon bloodline, and had treated him exceptionally well, but now Xuan An had drained his own cultivation resources to prepare for this Sea King祭.

This would delay Xuan An's cultivation progress.

Next, the golden dragon shadow's eyes fell upon Bai Shuang.

At this moment, Bai Shuang's golden tray held only a small copper furnace as an offering.

A stick of incense burned upon it.

Many high-ranking cultivators below could see that the copper furnace was nothing special, merely an ordinary magical artifact, which made many high-ranking cultivators feel somewhat strange.

Bai Shuang is the Goddess of Flowing Water, noble as a deity, and should not be so shabby.

At this moment, the golden dragon shadow slowly lowered its hundred-zhang dragon body.

Countless fine golden lights covered its golden dragon form, majestic and heavy dragon might descending; Bai Shuang felt a scorching pressure, her expression exceedingly solemn.

Its eyes fell upon that single stick of incense, its nose twitched slightly, then it split its dragon jaws.

"Truly a fine offering; Your Majesty has long smelled this tempting aroma, fortunate dragon clan maiden, from where did you obtain the aid of a Divine Dao Emperor? Hmm, likely not the *Sheji* Emperor, but the aura of another Divine Dao great one.

The flawless incense born from this stick of incense is intensely fragrant, enough for Your Majesty to enjoy for many years!"

The golden dragon shadow slightly turned, its high-raised dragon head's whiskers flying, as if in high spirits.

"A fine offering; though your talent is ordinary, having the protection of a Divine Dao great one makes you not ordinary; Your Majesty believes you have the potential to become this session's champion!"

"Divine Dao great one?"

At this moment, upon hearing this, many high-ranking immortals present widened their eyes, then stared in shock.

Those whom this Sea King calls a Divine Dao great one are all ancient immortals and ancient gods of myth.

Such immortals and gods are few in this realm.

The Flowing Water Goddess before them actually gained the favor of a Divine Dao great one?

Qingping Dragon Lord and Dragon Mother beside the platform also turned their gazes, expressions stunned.

Such news, to them, was no less than a bombshell falling into their hearts, a feeling of shock.

When did Bai Shuang receive the protection of a Divine Dao great one? They had no idea!

Before the altar, the kneeling Bai Shuang felt even more dizzy.

Her Dao heart violently fluctuated.

How this stick of incense came to be, she knew perfectly well.

It was merely something the Great Xia Emperor casually rolled up.

But the Sea King's secret treasure, having once followed ancient heavenly divine objects, would obviously not misjudge so easily.

After the intense shock, Bai Shuang then felt an unprecedented joy, a sense of gratitude.

Meanwhile, behind Bai Shuang, Xuan Jing and Xuan Gu felt as if they had lost their parents.

Bai Shuang had already obtained a great sacrificial treasure prepared by a Divine Dao great one; though their prepared treasures were precious, how could they have the confidence to overwhelm?

Especially Xuan Gu, his heart surged like ten thousand horses galloping.

For this Sea King Festival, he had taken great risks, sought outside help, and even put himself on the line, calculating for Xuan Chou and Xuan An, yet never expecting the sudden appearance of Bai Shuang as an accident.

Xuan Gu was sweating all over at this moment, yet he had no way to do anything.

He didn't even dare to take revenge afterward.

This Sea King Lord said the other party was protected by a divine path great power.

Even the Qingping Dragon Lord would not dare to act rashly against Bai Shuang.

The Xuan Jin Dragon Shadow soared, its gaze passing over Xuan Shen and the offerings prepared by Xuan Gu.

"Hmm, a bone scroll containing the ancient dragon-phoenix seal script!"

"A sacred king's secret treasure—this should be the Xuanming Staff used by the ancient Sacred King, the Black Emperor. Though damaged, it's still quite good!"

Listening to the Xuan Jin Dragon Shadow Sea King's commentary, all eyes turned to the golden tray held by the Sixth Prince, Xuan Gu.

Sacred king's secret treasure—this is a heavyweight treasure.

Even for many high-level cultivators, it is worth fighting over.

The Qingping Dragon Lord and the Dragon Mother also turned their gazes over, though with some suspicion in their eyes; two glances fell on Xuan Gu, making him break out in a sweat.

He was now a little flustered, according to their original plan.

If he could obtain the leadership of this realm's Sea King Festival with this treasure, even if the Qingping Dragon Lord had doubts, they could be easily covered up.

But now there is trouble.

Xuan Gu felt a vague sense of unease in his heart.

Sure enough, the Xuan Jin Dragon Shadow's gaze swept over the golden trays offered by many dragon sons and grandsons, and he shook his head repeatedly, saying.

"With pearls and jade before you, your treasures, though good, are tasteless to me and a pity to discard!"

His form turned into a golden light, instantly flying to Bai Shuang's front.

"I have decided—this time's fortunate one is you!"

It let out a soft cry, instantly raising its head and spewing a golden bolt of lightning into Bai Shuang's forehead, while a soft laugh echoed beside her ear.

"Young fortunate one, you may also bring a like-minded companion to share in the gift bestowed by the first Dragon Lord from millions of years ago—the ritual will center on you and your companion!"

Amid the laughter, it circled Bai Shuang once and in one breath swallowed the incense stick inside the small cauldron.

This scene caused many dragon elders to also show complex expressions.

Everyone knew, this was the appointed leader.

The Sea King Festival produces a chief sacrificer every three hundred years; the fifth-rank immortal law blessing bestowed upon the chief sacrificer far surpasses what others receive.

The Crown Prince Xuan Chou and the Third Prince Xuan An are examples.

Xuan Chou was the chief sacrificer of the Sea King Festival six hundred years ago; under the support of the fifth-rank immortal law, he seized the opportunity to awaken a layer of innate divine power, and in a short time stepped into the golden body level, cultivating the Primordial Spirit Golden Body.

The Third Prince Xuan An was even more fortunate, using the fifth-rank immortal law to purify his bloodline, further returning the ordinary Li Dragon bloodline to its ancestors, transforming into the Nine Abysses Li Dragon, a superior true dragon.

Now, in the Qingping Dragon Palace, he even surpasses the Crown Prince by half a chip.

After all, he is a superior true dragon in body, cultivates faster, and many primordial spirit immortal laws, even immortal law cultivation, proceed more smoothly.

This is a real and tangible advantage.

But now, this great fortune has fallen upon the 'outsider' Li Shui Shen Fei.

Many envious and hateful glances fell on Bai Shuang.

Though the gods harbored envy and hatred in their hearts, they dared not show any doubt.

But then, the Xuan Jin Giant Dragon's body surged with clouds and mist, and it dropped dozens of rays of light onto several dragon princes and the dragon lady Xuan Niao's head, signifying recognition of these dozen or so dragon deities, who will gain qualification to participate in the upcoming core ritual.

As for the offerings before them, they were merely siphoned of a trace of treasure light by the sea products, and not taken!