MSBITRS Chapter 40 V2

During those early decades, his tutors used every one of those hours to drill him in etiquette, poetry, music, and celestial techniques.

After all, he was the second dragon son of the current East Sea Dragon King, and his bloodline, inherited directly from the Ancestral Dragon, was purer than his elder brother’s. His potential to ascend to the Grand Luo Immortal stage one day marked him as a future pillar of their race.

Initially, the teachings filled Ao Yi with pride. He believed dragons to be the strongest beings in the world—the natural rulers of all creation and the true masters of the prehistoric lands.

But he vividly remembered a morning in the East Sea, 163 years ago, when his daily consciousness within the egg had extended to five hours.

A music tutor, perhaps tipsy, confided in him about the dragon race’s grim reality.

Dragons were no longer the strongest.

The heavens had saints, and the earth had humans.

The ancient war, where dragons, phoenixes, and qilins shattered the once boundless prehistoric lands, left countless lives devastated. Dragons became eternal scapegoats, cursed by the heavens and forsaken by fate.

Confined to the Four Seas, their mighty elders sacrificed themselves to seal the unstable sea abysses—corrupt vortices of destruction—to atone for their race’s sins.

The sea abyss: a relentless crucible of torment.

From that day forward, Ao Yi became burdened with worry and contemplation.

As the Dragon King’s son and a direct inheritor of the Ancestral Dragon’s bloodline, what could he, Ao Yi, possibly do for his people?

Over time, a disheartening truth became clear.

Most dragons still deluded themselves into believing they were the strongest race.

Many glorified their punishment—guarding the Four Seas—as a noble sacrifice, claiming it demonstrated their benevolence and altruism.

Even more clung to their past glory, loudly proclaiming their superiority over humanity. After all, dragons were still worshipped as symbols of power and divinity. That alone, they argued, was proof of their eternal dominance.

Pathetic.

Laughable.

The current survival of the dragons was bought with the blood of their predecessors, who filled the sea abysses with their lives.

Today, the Saints could obliterate the dragon race with a mere flick of their fingers.

Humanity, with its rapid growth, now far outpaced the dragons in strength and influence.

Yet the majority of his people still dreamed of ancient glory, preferring to flaunt power at humanity rather than face reality.

Just days ago, his elder brother, the Crown Prince, resorted to petty tricks against the Duoxian Sect yet lacked the courage to issue them a proper challenge.

This was the once-mighty dragon race?

This was the decayed and distorted remnant of an ancient hegemon?

And what could he, Ao Yi, a mere ten-year-old dragon, do about it?

Ao Yi’s gaze shifted to the high platform, where his father, a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, sat. His father’s throne was secure, and even if he abdicated, it would pass to an uncle or elder brother—not to Ao Yi.

Smirking bitterly, Ao Yi thought, In truth, I’m just a puppet dressed up to maintain the dragon race’s so-called dignity.

That’s all.

“My son, during today’s gathering, make sure you defeat a disciple from Duoxian Sect convincingly. Bring glory to your father.”

His mother’s advice echoed in his mind.

“Your Highness, take care not to truly harm your opponent, or the aftermath will be difficult to handle.”

That was the Turtle Chancellor’s cautious reminder.

But none of them knew his true intentions.

“…Let us now welcome today’s birthday star, the Second Crown Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, to the stage!”

The Turtle Chancellor’s announcement rang out.

Maintaining a calm expression, Ao Yi stepped into the arena, feeling the weight of countless gazes, yet ignoring the non-dragon beings among them.

The chancellor’s introduction soon reached the part where Ao Yi would select an opponent to spar with—a prelude to the Demon-Slaying Gathering’s formal events.

It was also a calculated opportunity to publicly humiliate the Duoxian Sect.

Ao Yi, of course, knew his strength well.

Despite having only hatched ten years ago, his extensive preparation within the egg, pure bloodline, and innate divine powers made him far superior to most newly ascended dragon immortals.

But today…

Here, in this grand assembly, surrounded by celestial beings and powerful cultivators of the East Sea…

He, Ao Yi, the ten-year-old Second Crown Prince, would do something extraordinary.

Just moments ago, he had scanned the disciples of Duoxian Sect and identified the weakest among them.

Proud dragons, still dreaming of your ancient glory. Was the sting of Duoxian’s earlier strikes not enough to wake you?

Very well. Today, I, Ao Yi, shall lose. And not just to anyone—but to the weakest disciple of Duoxian Sect!

This slap in the face—is it loud enough?

Wake up, dragons!

Awaken, those of you still lost in your dreams of grandeur!

It’s not too late to change. The dragon race must abandon its hollow pride, seek a new path, and encourage its gifted youth to train under the human Saints. Only then will we find a future!

The Turtle Chancellor smiled. “Now, our birthday star, the Second Crown Prince, shall select a worthy sparring partner from the assembled sects…”

It was time.

Ao Yi took a deep breath, stepped forward, and directed his gaze toward the Duoxian Sect’s seating area.

The entire assembly followed his line of sight.

“You.”

Lifting his right hand, Ao Yi pointed at the weakest disciple he had already chosen.

With his still-youthful voice, he declared:

“Come spar with me, Crown Prince of the East Sea.”