Chapter 1373: No Insiders, Here Come Some Jiao Dragon Jokes (Two-in-One)

Sea Mane King, Mantis King, Jade Qilin————

One after another, long-famed, awe-inspiring Yao Kings echoed through the grand hall, causing the passing dragon-people and dragon-sturgeon to look on with worry, worried whether the Great King could truly withstand them.

Many, far too many.

The Sea Mane King, a top-tier high-claw among hegemons, possessed a supremely high realm himself, and moreover grasped a Minor Position Fruit.

The Mantis King's realm was not high, yet he possessed an extremely ferocious racial talent, and unlike the Eight-Clawed's kind of transformation, it was the absolute top-tier killing talent!

Long Zong Yin couldn't help but cast his gaze toward the Bai Yuan on the throne. He only saw the Bai Yuan wave a hand, unmoved, tossing three iron balls in his hand while shooting the breeze and cracking jokes with the other Yao Kings, even occasionally throwing in some vulgar jokes and trivial facts about a certain Yao beast.

Besides the carp being all freeloaders, the remaining large half of the jokes were about Jiao Dragons.

Something about normal snakes being extraordinary, able to last six hours at a time, yet the Jiao Long Wang only half a breath; and something about how as a child he saw it and couldn't help but shiver, and if his clan snakes saw, he'd lose all face, so he was that desperate to molt into a True Dragon to save himself, and before success he turtle-shrunk in the Long Gong, not daring to emerge again.

Key point: the Bai Yuan would often not finish his own joke, laughing uproariously halfway through, bending backward and forward, revealing canine teeth, slapping his knee hard, his white fur rising and falling with it, utterly unconcerned by the Yao Kings announcing names.

Long Zong Yin considered himself already accustomed to the Bai Yuan's temperament, accustomed to the difference from the Dragon Lord, but listening to the vulgar jokes, even now he felt powerless to retort.

In the grand hall today.

Aside from the old faces from the Jianghuai Great Marsh, the Whale King, Crow King, Sword King, Horned Shark King, Sea Tooth King, Greater and Lesser Horse Kings — over ten Yao Kings from the former Southern Frontier expedition gathered for the most part, merely three excusing themselves with the need for seclusion and not attending the banquet.

How long has it been since such a grand scene?

Long Zong Yin always couldn't help but turn his head to look.

The Old Dragon Lord was ever magnanimous, often convening banquets, inviting Yao Kings and Great Yaos to the central courtyard for revelry, the most approachable beast among the Yao Emperors.

In childhood, he often followed behind elders, watching elders arrange everything in perfect order; if the world's crucible had a benchmark, Long Zong Yin believed the Old Dragon Lord was the very benchmark erected by heaven and earth.

Ever since the Old Dragon Lord vanished, the Jiao Dragon usurped the nest.

The vast Long Gong fell silent for a full hundred years; even after the Bai Yuan reclaimed it for several years, it did not count as true revival, until today, until this day, the entire Long Gong seemed to truly revive, recovering its former vitality.

Long Zong Yin's own memory was somewhat blurred, blurred whether the former grandeur was as concrete as today; he hoped beyond hope, hoped this was not a fleeting flash.

He could only hope Liang Qu truly had a bamboo in his chest.

Though their temperaments differed considerably, one had to admit, Liang Qu was more "refined" than the Dragon Lord, and "refined" by a lot.

"Jade Qilin————"

Little did they know, the Bai Yuan just heard the name and narrowed his eyes, attention turning to the North Sea.

Here it comes!

It really came!

The vast majority of river-stones are in a relatively static state; any that move are like torches in the dark, clearly visible.

Unlike the other Yao Kings, who before moving would more or less first go to other Yao Kings' territories — needless to say, certainly to discuss matters — the Jade Qilin had shown no sign prior, heading straight for the Jianghuai Great Marsh.

Coming to eat, or coming to fight?

Aside from Liang Qu himself harboring doubts about the Jade Qilin's identity and thus paying close attention, the assembled Yao Kings did not pay much heed, because compared to the Mane King, Mantis King and their ilk, the Jade Qilin simply "was not worth mentioning".

Beneath the Crucible, the White Long Wang was perhaps the Yao race's number one Yao King, a born True Spirit, Middle Position Fruit, age enduring, unfathomable; his existence made the North Sea territory special. Yet the Jade Qilin, styled North Sea's Three Kings, was himself an exotic species, but placed in the East Sea, whether he could squeeze into the Seven Great Hegemons appeared strained.

South Sea, North Sea, East Sea — three great sea domains, only the East Sea was most flourishing; the South and North combined might not have as many Yao Kings as the East Sea alone.

"Huff!"

The steel balls in his hand jumped faster and faster; the Bai Yuan constantly monitored the "river-stones" movements; his canine teeth, because of uproarious laughter, never once retracted.

Faster.

Even faster.

Run over here!

It's been three days since getting the Position Fruit; he really — couldn't wait any longer!

The Bai Yuan wasn't anxious; the other Yao Kings naturally couldn't be anxious for the Bai Yuan, and continued cooperating with the liveliness.

Frog eyes rolling, frog webs extending and retracting, the old toad with a lotus leaf on his head poked about, relying on his small size to weave among the Yao Kings, stealthily taking the treasure fish from their plates.

The Whale King reached out and grabbed, caught nothing; lowering his head for a look, he puzzled whether he ate that fast. This Jianghuai treasure fish — he hadn't even tasted the flavor before it was gone?

The dragon-people nearby saw the plate empty and hurriedly withdrew to replace it, secretly sighing that this Whale King really could eat; in this short while he'd added so many fish, had he come starving for three days? And he's an East Sea Hegemon, yet still greedy for such petty advantage.

"Brother, why are you hiding here? I just searched for you a good while; this fish is delicious, don't know who cooked it, you got any clue?"

Fat Fish pressed against the wall corner, secretly eavesdropping; the big hand clapped, he startled a great jump; turning back, he discovered it was the Whale Dali who had introduced him to the Whale King before.

Fat Fish hurriedly raised his long whiskers, emitting a hush sound.

No way around it.

His current identity was truly intricate and complex. Outside there were the Frog King, Whale King, and Turtle King; later there might even be the Jiao Long Wang; he couldn't easily show his face, could only eavesdrop on the corner, listening to Yao Kings' reminders, observing the situation a bit.

Whale Dali misunderstood, thinking Fat Fish had just been sneakily watching the Whale King, and was resentful over the Whale King's ambiguity, not acknowledging he was a tiger whale; he felt secretly aggrieved, and hurriedly comforted: "Brother, don't blame the Great King either; with you like this, besides being fat, this color, this build, this strength, you're definitely our long-lost blood brother.

Our tiger whale clan, individual strength is already top-tier, none surpass it; key is being this strong yet this united, a top-tier large clan in the East Sea; going out, who doesn't have to call out 'Whale Grandpa'? Our Great King also protects his own, all have to give three parts face.

Just take my big brother before — still a Yao beast when he went to the Leopard clan, right in front of their Great Yao clan chief ate two seals, packed two portions, finished and still slapped the Leopard clan chief's nose; that Great Yao clan chief didn't dare say anything.

However, precisely because too united, they're rather exclusionary, and won't easily accept other fish; even if you're tiger whale clan, still need more vetting; your situation, the bad part is you took Dragon Lord essence blood, became Dragon Seed, no blowhole, and grew whiskers; but brother don't worry, I'll go back and persuade the Great King a few more times, definitely can get you into the clan register!"

Fat Fish was overjoyed, fished in his yellow skin bag, took out a cow-nose pomfret, cut off head and tail, patted off scales and innards, first gave it to Whale Dali to eat, then took one himself to accompany, savoring the treasure fish flavor while swaying his long whiskers.

Whale Grandpa or not, didn't matter. He got along fine under the Ape King's command, spoke with weight in the Jianghuai; mainly just wanted to enter the tiger whale clan register, so later he could return to his roots, not coveting any Whale clan power or Heavenly Yao offerings.

"Brother, sincere!" Whale Dali moved.

Fat Fish waved a hand, indicating it had always been so; also precisely because he hoped to return to his roots, he wanted to understand more about the Whale King's strength, and how strong the other Hegemons were.

"Ha, you've asked the right fish; these East Sea Seven Great Hegemons, divided into upper three, lower three, and one middle — not by strength, but the upper three all have Minor Position Fruits, the lower three are all Great Perfection, the middle, heh, just being polite, aren't we?"

Whale Dali accepted the second treasure fish, leaned against the wall savoring, "The middle is only because stance is neutral, doesn't participate in struggles, also the only plant Yao King, the Algae Ball King; no one knows what the Algae Ball King looks like, appears just a giant green hair ball, heard undying and indestructible.

The upper three are the Sea Mane King, Blue Lid King, and Pot King; these three Yao Kings all have Minor Position Fruits, among them Mane King and Blue Lid are refined, Pot King unclear, but seems a racial trait causing though unrefined, can still activate; the Position Fruits inside some are inherited, like Pot King, Sea Mane King — their own realms haven't even reached Perfection.

The lower three are the Ice Bear King, Whale King, and Azure Long Wang; all are Perfection pinnacle experts, purely hard strength strong, and all extraordinary; just like our Great King———— you say Mantis King? Mantis King isn't a Hegemon, he's just a Yao King with strong strength, probably invited by Sea Mane King to assist.

What Position Fruit? Don't know, all don't know; who would tell the Position Fruit name and refining method? Only your Great King, stupid, cough, formidable strength, has strong-man pride, not fearing other fish's coveting.

Ordinary Yao Kings worry other Yaos knowing will come to snatch; not knowing, they don't dare easily snatch; after all, getting the Position Fruit is one thing, not refining it means strength can't greatly increase, might be snatched away by other fish again."

The fat fish had sharp ears and clear eyes; while recording the demon king's information, it quietly demoted its big brother to a minor lackey, then swapped the sent-out horned fish for red-blooded perch.

The whale king didn't notice the problem; red-blooded perch tasted the same, and it chatted on happily.

"Never mind the name of the fruit or its refining method—just the fruit's abilities, even the fish aren't too clear on them. I only know the Sea Lice King's saliva is extremely potent; you must never touch it, or you're dead for sure. No one has survived it yet."

"As for the strength hierarchy among the overlords, who knows? They've all climbed to the top, rarely showing their fins now, having made their names before reaching the summit. Uh, quick look! That up there looks like the Sea Lice King! Da Shun really didn't stop it."

Boom!

Two white streaks flashed across the horizon, speeding out like contrails left by a plane slicing through the sky.

The Imperial Astronomy Bureau, clerks staring at the armillary sphere scanning the four wilds, fixed on the dense cluster of light points.

All demon kings turned in unison, staring at the white ape cracking jokes about the iron-head fish.

From the moment demon kings began rushing over, they couldn't help but feel nervous for the white ape, yet the white ape maintained the bearing of a great general.

The trench filled ahead without changing color, swordfish appeared on the left without blinking, seated on the throne, solemnly telling them dragon jokes—key jokes rather vulgar, making them itch inside.

Now no need for spiritual sense; the naked eye can see them directly!

"You say it's funny or not, iron-head fish, hahaha, I can't take it anymore————" The white ape roared with laughter to heaven, until the dragon girl behind patted its shoulder, then it stopped laughing, looked toward outside the hall, exhaled, shook its head, "Ha, finally here—I've waited so long. Too bad only two came; can't finish in one go. Looks like I'll have to wait for their return to chat to my heart's content."

The whale king twitched the corner of its mouth; it truly felt the white ape had swollen with pride.

"Big brother, esteemed younger brothers, I'll be back shortly."

Upon saying this, the whale king and the other demon kings ceased all movement.

Hai Fangzhu approached, asking if they wanted to merge.

The white ape patted Hai Fangzhu's azure wrist-foot, comforting her to sit and keep eating sea grapes.

"Everyone, I'll be back shortly!"

Crack!

Bai Mao's big foot sliced through the water, stepping onto the carpet.

After another flash, the white ape had already arrived outside the palace gate.

Fire trees and silver flowers blazed with brilliant light.

Sea Lice King, of the Sea Lice Lizard clan, a large, sturdy lizard; upon becoming a demon king, its appearance changed drastically—ferocious and menacing, dorsal fin sharp and erect, long tail swaying slowly, stirring up turbulence.

Mantis King, body five-colored and variegated, tail bearing two huge color patches like another pair of eyes; staring too long causes dizziness and vertigo; striking is the pair of enormous shrimp claws on its chest, looking extremely thick, curled at the chest like a spring compressed to its base.

First wave, perhaps just probing—only two came.

"Huu~"

Airflow jetted from nose and mouth, transforming into two small white dragons wandering about.

The water flow clung to the body like Hai Fangzhu's wrist-foot, soft and snug against every inch.

【Endowed by Heaven and Earth, the Spirit of All Things! Greatly favored by Jianghuai, wandering in water, physical consumption greatly reduced, spiritual consumption greatly reduced, injury in water greatly reduced, recovery in water greatly increased.】

【————Martial talent increased seventeenfold, damage against water-attribute demon beasts increased by seventeen percent.】

Rotating the arms, aside from being unable to use spiritual abilities, everything felt just right.

The favor was just right, the position just right.

Though human-form spiritual abilities remained unusable, ape-form spiritual abilities, within this Jianghuai Great Marsh, had loosened considerably.

Bones crackled and snapped.

The Sea Lice King swayed in high air, glancing at the Long Gong; dense river stones piled together like a majestic mountain range, while they were merely two small dirt mounds.

The white ape laughed: "Rest easy, since only you came, naturally only I am here."

The Sea Lice King, unpretentious: "Can we do a wheel battle? Can we do a repeated battle?"

"Yes, but only one medium-grade creation grand medicine per round. You're the first wave, haven't fought yet—you can retreat first, wait for the second wave, then come up together, or wait here first."

"Win and yield the position; lose and count it as sparring?"

"Yes."

"The ape king is truly magnanimous—I admire him." The Sea Lice King took out two medium-grade creation grand medicines as entry fees, tossed them lightly, and had a dragon-person nearby leap to collect them, swiftly returning, "The Water Lord's position truly intrigues me; originally I had no thoughts, but the ape king posted the notice—so tempting, blatantly laid out on the table—if I lightly gave up, I fear it would deal a greater blow to my cultivation."

"Understood."

"Right here?"

"The Long Gong is nurtured by the Old Dragon Lord, residence of the demon emperor, vast and unobstructed, not easily destroyed—let's stay here."

"Good! Come on!"

The words landed.

The Mantis King beside the Sea Lice King suddenly vanished, leaving a vacuum where water surged in.

Then appeared, the Mantis King solidly floating behind the white ape, the small segments on its mouthparts jerking, emitting white vapor; its chest gripping a pair of solid shrimp shells surged with luster, triggering a strong sense of crisis among the demon kings in the hall.

The Sea Lice King opened its massive mouth, eyes locked firmly on the white ape, predicting its several escape routes.

However, appearing simultaneously with the landing of the words, was a vast, surging flood that instantly filled every corner of heaven and earth, as if the white ape had opened something, severing heaven and earth.

The two kings' bodies lightened, heaven and earth filled with turbulent flow; they felt slight resistance but soon stabilized—this bit of luck could not possibly affect the demon kings.

The Mantis King's eye stalks twitched, and it lashed out with a punch.

However.

The white ape, back to the Mantis King, neither dodged nor evaded, twisted its body, shook its shoulders, looked forward—it actually intended to trade punches with the Mantis King!

The Mantis King stared coldly; its punch speed ranked first under heaven, yet the white ape turned and counterattacked—too late to meet it, and even if they met—this thought just arose, it only felt the white ape flicker before its eyes, while its vision followed the rotation, as if space actively shifted—one mantis, one ape, from initial back-to-back, became face-to-face.

The Mantis King's expression changed; unaware how its cargo shifted, it watched wide-eyed as its forest and the white ape's fists collided.

Their extremely fast attacks simultaneously drew out a narrow, silent vacuum band; silver bubbles occupied, violently shaking, dragging out a strange ripple of light.

An unbelievable scene occurred.

In the trembling silver light-shadow, solid shrimp shells and hairy fists collided; the Mantis King only felt a primordial immense force transmitted from the white ape's body, a chaotic surging power seeping into its carapace.

"Crack!"

A crisp cracking sound rang out.

Two shattered pieces of carapace flew outward!

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