The purer the dragon bloodline, the easier it is to advance in cultivation, with a higher ceiling.
Little Green Dragon’s rapid attainment of seven claws greatly benefited from its potent bloodline, though it was also inseparable from the vast resources of the dragon clan.
However, the higher the realm, even with a pure bloodline, progress becomes exceedingly difficult.
Along the way, Lin Yun chatted quite a bit with Little Green Dragon.
…
Ancient Desolate Sea.
The Ancient Desolate Sea is a region where the four dragon palaces converge, a shared territory among them. Due to its unique nature, none of the four dragon palaces dare claim sole ownership of the Ancient Desolate Sea. Any attempt to do so would surely provoke a united assault from the other three.
Thus, the Ancient Desolate Sea serves as a buffer zone for the four dragon palaces. The region is vast, and the Qianlong Abyss is located within it.
Little Green Dragon led the West Sea Dragon Palace team to the outskirts of Qianlong Abyss.
“Is that Qianlong Abyss ahead?” Lin Yun gazed forward.
Before them was a massive underwater ravine, as if a mountain peak had been cleaved in two, forming a vast underwater abyss.
The entire abyss was enveloped by a giant barrier of light.
“Yes, that’s it. Qianlong Abyss is usually sealed, only opening once every century,” Little Green Dragon said.
“Dragon King, it seems we’re the first to arrive,” a five-clawed golden dragon beside him remarked.
“Hm, there’s about a day left until Qianlong Abyss officially opens. We’ll wait here,” Little Green Dragon replied.
The West Sea Dragon Palace team settled down to rest, awaiting the opening of Qianlong Abyss.
Not long after, another dragon clan team arrived.
“It’s the East Sea Dragon Palace, led by their elder,” Little Green Dragon noted.
The East Sea Dragon Palace’s Dragon King didn’t come in person, for a simple reason: Qianlong Abyss opens once every century, and the East Sea Dragon King, aged tens of thousands of years, had already visited multiple times long ago.
Those who come to Qianlong Abyss are mostly the younger generation of the dragon clan.
Of course, some older dragons with modest progress in strength also come to try their luck or to lead teams.
Little Green Dragon, having recently become the West Sea Dragon Palace’s Dragon King, hadn’t visited Qianlong Abyss much, so he came in person.
“The East Sea Dragon Palace is currently the strongest among the four dragon palaces. Our West Sea Dragon Palace used to rank second, but we’ve never gotten along well with them,” Little Green Dragon whispered.
After the East Sea Dragon Palace team arrived, they sized up Lin Yun’s group.
“Hm? Why is there a human?”
The dragons of the East Sea Dragon Palace all fixed their gazes on Lin Yun.
In their eyes, Lin Yun was clearly an outsider, standing out starkly.
“West Sea Dragon King, Qianlong Abyss is a sacred place for our dragon clan. How dare you bring a foreign race here? What’s the meaning of this? Make him leave at once!” the East Sea Dragon Palace’s head elder demanded, his tone sharp as he addressed Lin Yun’s group.
At these words, both Lin Yun and Little Green Dragon showed a trace of displeasure, and the West Sea Dragon Palace dragons’ expressions shifted slightly.
The Second Elder, standing behind Little Green Dragon, stepped forward and said, “He is our West Sea Dragon Palace’s guest elder, with a trace of dragon bloodline in him. Naturally, he’s qualified to be here!”
For this trip to Qianlong Abyss, Little Green Dragon brought two elders, the Second Elder being one of them, while the First Elder and others stayed to guard the palace.
“What? Guest elder? Haha, your West Sea Dragon Palace made a human a guest elder? Are you so short of talent?” a young member of the East Sea Dragon Palace laughed.
The East Sea Dragon Palace team snickered.
The dragon clan has always held itself in high regard, viewing dragons as a noble race and looking down on humans.
To them, making a human a dragon clan guest elder was laughable and shameful.
The East Sea Dragon Palace’s head elder, with a mocking tone, said, “West Sea Dragon King, you made a human a guest elder. Don’t you feel ashamed? Even if you don’t, you’re disgracing our dragon clan.”
Anger flared in Little Green Dragon’s eyes. “East Sea Dragon Palace Elder, you’re meddling too much. How my West Sea Dragon Palace conducts itself is none of your business!”
“I don’t care how you act, but I have a right to question anything that tarnishes the dragon clan’s reputation! How dare your West Sea Dragon Palace disgrace our honour?” the East Sea Dragon Palace elder retorted arrogantly.
“Little Green Dragon, don’t waste words on him,” Lin Yun said, holding him back.
Lin Yun knew Little Green Dragon’s fiery temper, but the East Sea Dragon Palace was powerful. Little Green Dragon, newly appointed as West Sea Dragon King, shouldn’t clash with them, as it could lead to significant trouble.
The West Sea Dragon Palace’s Second Elder also urged, “Exactly, Dragon King, don’t waste words. We shouldn’t make enemies with them now.”
At that moment, the South Sea Dragon Palace’s team approached from a distance, their large group moving grandly.
The West Sea Dragon Palace’s Second Elder leaned in and whispered to Little Green Dragon, “Dragon King, the elders believe that, with our West Sea Dragon Palace weakened by internal strife and your recent ascension, we should try to build diplomatic ties with the South Sea Dragon Palace. It would benefit us greatly.”
“Hm, the First Elder mentioned this to me before,” Little Green Dragon nodded.
For a long time, the West Sea Dragon Palace ranked second among the dragon clans, but internal conflicts had significantly weakened it.
“Second Elder, come with me to meet the South Sea Dragon Palace. Kid, you come too,” Little Green Dragon said.
“Alright.”
After nodding, Little Green Dragon and Lin Yun headed toward the South Sea Dragon Palace’s team.
The South Sea Dragon Palace was led by their head elder.
In no time, the three reached the South Sea Dragon Palace’s team.
“South Sea Dragon Palace Head Elder, let me introduce our new West Sea Dragon Palace Dragon King,” the West Sea Dragon Palace’s Second Elder said.
“Head Elder,” Little Green Dragon greeted.
“So you’re the new West Sea Dragon King. I’ve heard you were born with our dragon clan’s first-grade bloodline. I’ve long admired you,” the South Sea Dragon Palace’s head elder said with a smile.
Such a first-grade bloodline is extremely rare. The Dragon Emperor’s child was born with a first-grade bloodline, but the next generation weakened to second-grade.
Most dragons born today have fifth- to ninth-grade bloodlines. Reaching third or fourth grade is already impressive.
The South Sea Dragon Palace’s head elder, for instance, has a third-grade bloodline.
