Chapter 334: Chapter 10: Venerable of the Four Seas, Overlord of the Water Race
’I remember the Dragon Race isn’t just powerful on its own. It’s also the chief of all scale insects, the Venerable of the Four Seas, and the Overlord of the Water Race...’
As this thought crossed her mind, she turned to glance at Zhong Ming’s draconic form floating in mid-air, then at the subtle silver scale on Xiyue’s temple. Suddenly, it all made sense.
’Is it because of this status that Xiyue submitted?’
Luo Zhiwei’s guess was spot on.
Xiyue’s attitude had changed so drastically, and her deference to Zhong Ming was so absolute, precisely because of his status as a member of the Dragon Race.
The Human Race was on equal footing with the Dragon Race, perhaps even stronger. Human Cultivators were wary of a dragon’s strength, but they didn’t fear them to their very bones—ordinary mortals aside.
But it was different for the hundred clans of the aquatic regions. Whether it was their Roots as scale insects or their identity as part of the Water Race, the Dragon Race was destined to be their natural superiors, the sovereigns holding the power of life and death.
The Merfolk were one of the most orthodox of these aquatic clans, and also one of the Dragon Race’s most common vassals and dependents.
Basically, every Dragon Palace had Mermaids as handmaidens and Merfolk as guards.
And this relationship between dependent and lord wasn’t just a matter of a few thousand years; it had a history spanning tens of thousands, or even millions of years.
Through such a long history of evolution and subjugation, the Dragon Race’s suppression of the Merfolk had long been carved deep into their bloodline and genes.
Even a single Flood Dragon could exert immense pressure on the Merfolk.
As Zhong Ming possessed a True Dragon Body thanks to his Supreme Dao Foundation, the pressure his Long Wei exerted on Xiyue was naturally even stronger.
The fact that she didn’t collapse to her knees from his oppressive aura the moment Zhong Ming transformed was already a testament to Xiyue’s exceptional Talent.
But the Dragon Race’s oppressive aura was real. The fear, like facing a natural predator or a Divine Spirit, made her entire body go limp, unable to summon a shred of strength.
Zhong Ming, for his part, could feel Xiyue’s fear, but he was also curious. "You’re submitting to me just like that. Aren’t you afraid of retaliation from the Celestial Sea King’s faction?"
"I am."
This straightforward answer first made Zhong Ming raise an eyebrow in surprise, but soon, an even more astonishing reply followed: "But this servant is even more afraid of Your Highness’s and the Dragon Palace’s punishment."
"..."
This response left Zhong Ming speechless for a moment. It made him understand even more clearly that the Dragon Race hadn’t held the seat of Overlord of the Four Seas for hundreds of thousands of years by being merciful.
And that was indeed the case. Although the Dragon Race was a clan unto itself, their social structure was still similar to the Demon Race’s. As everyone knew, the Demon Race adhered to the principle of the strong preying on the weak. Living in such a social order, the Dragon Race naturally couldn’t escape this iron law.
Compared to benevolence, the reputation the Dragon Race had forged was one of arrogance, dominance, power, and recklessness.
For example, when a Flood Dragon traveled through the waters, it would often flood a million acres of fertile farmland, a clear display of the Dragon Race’s recklessness.
When faced with defiance, they wouldn’t show mercy, nor would they follow rules and target only a single individual.
By betraying Shen Wanshang, Xiyue and her clan might only face threats and suppression.
But if she were to make an enemy of Zhong Ming and the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas found out... the annihilation of her entire clan would be a foregone conclusion.
However, after sorting everything out, Zhong Ming still had one question. "You should know that I transformed from a human into this True Dragon Body. Does your Merfolk clan still acknowledge someone like me?"
"Of course, we do." Xiyue, still prostrated on the ground, spoke in an even more reverent tone. "The great True Dragon Race is born perfect, but for this very reason, they are constrained by heaven and earth, making it difficult to produce offspring. Even if two True Dragon highnesses become Dao partners, their children will not be True Dragons, but Flood Dragons."
"When Flood Dragons reproduce, their offspring are merely creatures with Dragon Blood, or at best, Dragon Beasts."
"Those born as True Dragons are rare, with only a few appearing every thousand years."
"To continue the bloodline of the True Dragon Race, the Ancient Dragon Ancestor long ago established the law of the Dragon Sect—no matter the race, as long as one can leap over the Dragon Sect and condense a True Dragon Body, they are a True Dragon in their own right. Your Highness’s transformation is a sign of the Dragon Sect. You are naturally part of the True Dragon Race and deserve the worship of the hundred clans of the aquatic regions!"
After she said this, Zhong Ming made a strange discovery. In addition to ’Daydreaming’ and ’Regret Medicine’, he now also possessed ’King’s Dominating Aura’.
And this wasn’t just some empty description. Relying on the formidable reputation the Dragon Race had built over millions of years, he really could unleash his aura and make other members of the Water Race bow their heads in submission.
But of course, he had no intention of going to a Dragon Palace. It didn’t take a genius to know that the tangled web of interests deep within those palaces was likely a hundred times more complex than the power struggles in Immortal Martial City.
"Alright, I understand your decision. You may rise. From now on, you are my subordinate."
Although he wasn’t planning on going to a Dragon Palace, Zhong Ming was still prepared to accept this subordinate.
However, just as his words fell, Luo Zhiwei’s cool voice rang out, "Wait, Zhong Ming. You’ve caused too big of a stir this time. You must place a Restriction on her so she can’t leak any information about you. Otherwise, you could be ambushed and killed by Golden Core, or even Nascent Soul, Cultivators."
The reason Luo Zhiwei hadn’t stopped Xiyue and Chu Hanzhen earlier was because she had already resolved to place a Restriction on them, even if it meant offending the Celestial Sea King. If necessary, she was even prepared to kill them.
Whether it was for the sake of the Human Race or for her own path of the Dao, she didn’t want anything to happen to Zhong Ming.
As for why she was only targeting Xiyue and not Chu Hanzhen, it was because she, as her best friend, was well aware of the latter’s pragmatism and gentle nature.
’After seeing Zhong Ming’s power, if I were to propose placing a Restriction, she definitely wouldn’t refuse.’
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