How Could It Really Be the Dragon Ancestor?

The generals were shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to block him.

Old Turtle Prime Minister spoke through tears, "The black spots are perilous and particularly fond of eroding the royal family. Your Highness, you haven't even reached the seventh-stage yet; going there is certain death!"

Cang Che looked back with a sorrowful smile. "So what? Am I supposed to just watch and do nothing?"

At that moment.

Rumble—

The entire Dragon Palace suddenly shook violently. A terrifying chill erupted from deep underground, instantly sweeping through the entire hall.

The seawater froze in an instant, and the temperature plummeted.

Everyone looked toward the depths of the hall in horror.

A hunched figure was slowly stepping out from the darkness.

With every step he took, a thick layer of frost formed on the ground beneath his feet.

Cang Yu's aura had withered to the extreme, like a candle flame that could be extinguished at any moment.

However, the imperial pressure he exuded still made people afraid to look at him directly.

"Fa... Father?"

Cang Che was stunned, followed by a surge of wild joy in his heart.

He pushed aside the generals blocking him and rushed over, supporting the swaying figure.

"Father! You've come out of seclusion?"

But in the next second, when he felt the almost exhausted life-force within the Sea Emperor and saw the void where his heart-blood should be, his face instantly turned pale.

"Father, your heart-blood... how could you..."

Cang Che's voice trembled, looking at his father in disbelief.

Extracting the true dragon bloodline was equivalent to destroying one's own foundation; it was a desperate measure that meant certain death!

Sea Emperor Cang Yu waved his hand, pushing aside his son's support as he struggled to stand upright.

"It matters not."

"My days were already numbered."

"If this remnant body can buy another half a month for the Eastern Region, it is worth it."

He glanced at the hall full of ministers, his gaze finally landing on Cang Che's face. A hint of softness flashed in his eyes.

"Che'er, in the future... let your royal brother Cang Ming guard the sea eye in my stead."

"The black spots on him have already gone deep; staying there might allow him to live a few more years."

"As for the position of Sea Emperor, it shall be given to you."

Facing the Sea Emperor, who was speaking as if delivering his final testament, Cang Che felt his mind go blank with a sudden buzzing sound.

He didn't want the throne.

He only wanted his father and his elder brother to be well.

"Why... Father, we haven't reached the final step yet!"

"We still have hope. Royal brother went to find the Golden Buddha. The Golden Buddha can purify the filth. When the time comes, our Eastern Region will be saved!"

Cang Che gripped the Sea Emperor's arm tightly, his tone urgent and helpless.

The Sea Emperor shook his head, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"The main reason I came out of seclusion this time is because of a message from your elder brother."

"Royal brother?" Cang Che's eyes lit up. "What did he say? Did he find the Golden Buddha?"

The Sea Emperor looked at his son's hopeful gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke.

"No, it's not the Golden Buddha."

"It's the Dragon Ancestor."

"Cang Ming said... he saw the Dragon Ancestor."

Then, the Sea Emperor informed Cang Che of the general contents of Cang Ming's message.

After listening, Cang Che was stunned for three full seconds.

Then, his first reaction was exactly the same as the Sea Emperor's had been when he first received the letter.

Disbelief.

Even... anger.

"Absurd! Simply absurd!"

Cang Che let go and took two steps back.

"Father! Elder brother has gone mad, but have you also become confused along with him?"

"The Dragon Ancestor disappeared tens of thousands of years ago. Where in this world is there still a true dragon?"

"Elder brother has been losing control frequently lately. The madness brought by the black spots has already entered his brain; his mind is no longer clear. How dare you believe what he says?"

"For a single crazy sentence from him, you drained your heart-blood and forced yourself out of seclusion regardless of your life?"

"Is it worth it, Father?"

"Is it worth it?!"

Cang Che's questioning voice echoed through the hall.

The generals also looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

The Dragon Ancestor?

Wasn't that just a story used to lull hatchlings to sleep?

The Sea Emperor looked at his agitated son and did not get angry.

He just stood there quietly, his gaze somewhat distant, as if he were looking through the top of the palace toward that distant, prosperous ancient era.

"Che'er."

The Sea Emperor said softly.

"I know you don't believe it."

"I don't believe it either."

"But..."

He lowered his head, looking at his withered palm.

"We have no other path left."

"Just consider it... for that final sliver of hope."

"Whether it's true or false, I must go and see for myself."

"What if it's true?"

"What if... Heaven does not wish for my Sea Race to perish?"

These words were spoken with immense desolation.

Cang Che opened his mouth to argue, but found his throat blocked as if by something, unable to say a single word.

How was this hope?

It was merely a straw grasped by a drowning man in his final moments of despair.

The Sea Emperor didn't explain further. He composed his emotions and suddenly asked:

"By the way, Cang Ming said in his letter that he heard two of the Dragon Ancestor's subordinates had already arrived in the Eastern Region to help in secret."

"Where are those two distinguished guests now?"

"Since they are the Dragon Ancestor's people, regardless of whether it's true or false, we cannot lack etiquette."

"Invite them up quickly; I wish to question them personally."

Hearing this, all the civil and military officials in the hall, including Cang Che, were completely bewildered.

They looked at each other, eyes wide with confusion.

What?

Someone has come to the Eastern Region?

Everything at Shanhe Pass was normal. Aside from those fleeing outward, no one had been seen coming in.

Furthermore, the patrol teams over the past few days hadn't reported any outsiders intruding.

Seeing that no one replied, the Sea Emperor's heart skipped a beat.

An ominous premonition surged in his mind.

"What? No one has seen them?"

The Sea Emperor's voice suddenly rose, carrying a sharp edge.

"Could it be... that you were blind and had a conflict with the Dragon Ancestor's subordinates?"

"Or did you arrest them as spies?"

"Go and investigate immediately!"

"If they were arrested, release them at once and apologize properly!"

"If they truly are the Dragon Ancestor's people and you offend that existence because of your negligence... see if I don't beat you unworthy descendants to death!"

Cang Che frowned and stepped forward, his tone still stiff.

"Father, you're overthinking it."

"I've been overseeing the palace these past few days, and I've personally reviewed all the battle reports."

"Forget outsiders—I'd know if even a fly flew in."

"There are simply no subordinates of any Dragon Ancestor!"

"Elder brother must be delirious from madness. Don't believe him."

The more Cang Che spoke, the more he felt he was right, and his tone became more certain.

"Furthermore, if the Dragon Ancestor truly graced us with his presence, or if his subordinates arrived ahead of him..."

"What kind of noble status would that be?"

"Since they've come, why wouldn't they openly declare their identity?"

"If the Dragon Ancestor personally came to the Eastern Region, our entire race couldn't kneel to welcome him fast enough. Why would they need to be so secretive and hide their heads?"

"It must be a fake."

Cang Che sneered, "In my view, this so-called Dragon Ancestor is likely a trick concocted by that insidious villain Yin Wudao to lure us to the provincial capital and wipe us out in one fell swoop!"

"Presumptuous!"

The Sea Emperor was furious. He slammed his hand onto the armrest of the Dragon Throne, shattering it to pieces.

"You may disbelieve, but you shall not be disrespectful to the Dragon Ancestor!"

"That is the source of our bloodline!"

"Is your elder brother that kind of person?"

"Even if he's mad, would he make a joke out of the Dragon Ancestor?"

Cang Che was startled by his father's sudden outburst of rage and didn't dare to talk back again.

But he kept his head high, his gaze still stubborn, clearly unconvinced in his heart.

Despair can cause hallucinations; he understood that.

But despair cannot make one stupid!

How could it really be the Dragon Ancestor? That was the Lord of Ten Thousand Scales. How could such a figure travel without a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon?

If it were true, he would swallow the halberd in his hand whole!