Chapter 136: When Dong Dang

Again, in the dead of night, at the Grand Sea God Temple in Anshui City.

'Brother Changshou?'

The golden and jade statue nearby sent out wisps of spiritual calls.

A short while later, the main statue responded, and two wisps of spiritual thoughts re-entered the misty dreamland. Ao Yi saw again the figure standing at the foot of the statue.

Ao Yi stepped forward quickly, his eyes sparkling, his youthful face radiant.

"Brother Changshou! My father, the Dragon King, has already begun mobilizing troops! Those Westerners... those people have coveted our Dragon Clan for a long time! This time, we will definitely let them know that our Dragon Clan is not to be trifled with!"

Hearing this, Li Changshou felt no ripple in his heart; this was within his expectations.

The Dragon Clan still retained their pride, and it was unlikely they would retreat without a fight.

However, the events that followed needed careful planning.

He couldn't hurt the Western Sect too much, to avoid striking the young and drawing out the old. Nor could too many mortals be harmed or killed, to prevent accumulating negative karma for himself.

Li Changshou said, "Don't be too happy; this time, we're not dealing with ordinary enemies. Moreover, if war breaks out, casualties are inevitable, and that's nothing to be happy about."

"You're right, Brother Changshou."

Ao Yi immediately reined in his smile, cupped his hands in a daoist salute, and showed a look of shame.

Then, Ao Yi recounted his actions of the past two days.

He rushed back to the East Sea Dragon Palace to meet his father and, as Li Changshou had instructed, presented the matter.

The East Sea Dragon King pondered for a moment, then summoned the Dragon Clan elders for discussion.

Except for one or two old tortoise immortals who felt they shouldn't confront the Western Sect head-on, the other elders were filled with righteous indignation and all requested to fight.

Ao Yi declared firmly:

"This time, Father King has decided to dispatch 30,000 immortal Flood Dragon soldiers, over 600 Dragon Clan masters, and 20 Golden Immortals! Should the battle become urgent, several elders within the clan are also ready to join the fray at any time!"

Li Changshou: ...

He felt a slight... a tiny bit of guilt in his heart...

For no other reason than that the Dragon Clan brothers were truly — too straightforward.

At the drop of a hat, it was 20 Golden Immortals, 600 Dragon Clan masters, and 30,000 immortal Flood Dragon soldiers!

This military force, if other factors weren't considered, was enough to wipe out a major immortal sect!

Inactive, they were still; active, they brought landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

The Dragon Clan's ability to survive from ancient times until now truly had its unique merits...

Li Changshou couldn't help but feel a little guilty; with the Dragon Clan making such a grand display, while the other side had only sent a dozen or so True Immortal realm great demons...

That would be quite awkward.

Ao Yi said, "Brother Changshou, do you have any more instructions? I'm about to meet with several uncles, and we'll head from the sea to the South Sea."

"Brother Yi, your cultivation is still shallow; it's not suitable for you to participate in the battle..."

"I am the Grand Protector of the Sea God Sect; how can I be absent from this battle?"

Ao Yi's gaze was quite firm. "I have received so much merit without earning it; it's impossible for me to let my clan members bleed and fight for me! Father King has already appointed me as commander; this time, we must strike hard at the strong enemy! As for you, Brother Changshou, you don't need to worry about this battle, nor do you need to come."

"How can I not worry? Since that's the case, you must protect yourself well and not act recklessly or aggressively."

Li Changshou said, "In the past few days, I've prepared a strategy to repel the enemy. It's placed behind our statues in Anshui City, in a blue package. You can have a swift-footed master secretly retrieve it first; there's also a letter for you inside. Let me also speak boldly: As long as you can execute these strategies as intended, the Dragon Clan will be able to advance or retreat, and as long as no transcendent masters beyond heaven and earth make a move, there definitely won't be many casualties."

Ao Yi blinked and instantly thought of something. He whispered, "This strategy to repel the enemy, is it from above..."

Li Changshou smiled profoundly and said nothing more.

He waved his hand, and the dream dissolved.

On Little Qiong Peak of Duxian Gate, Li Changshou composed himself and began the next step.

Meanwhile, in the East Sea Dragon Palace...

Ao Yi acted as instructed, enlisting a swift-flying Dragon Clan master, who immediately rushed to Anshui City and secretly retrieved the enemy-repelling strategy.

By the time this Dragon Clan Golden Immortal flew back to the East Sea Dragon Palace on clouds, the Dragon Palace's 30,000 aquatic soldiers were already prepared in the sea.

Second Prince Ao Yi, bearing the commander's banner, changed into a set of jade battle armor, with several masters of profound aura guarding him closely from behind.

That master's voice carried from afar:

"Your Highness, I've got it!"

Ao Yi, who had been pacing back and forth on the seabed, his eyes lit up, and he immediately went to meet him, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle!"

The Dragon Clan master transformed into human form and floated over, pulling out from his sleeve, pulling out...

A square wooden box, two feet long.

The wooden box was indeed wrapped in blue cloth.

Ao Yi and the many Dragon Clan masters were instantly stunned. Ao Yi quickly wrapped the wooden box in immortal power, to prevent it from being crushed by the seawater.

After opening the wooden box, they saw several neatly stacked piles of bamboo slips.

Above the many bamboo slips, there was also a message jade talisman.

Picking up the jade talisman, Ao Yi's immortal consciousness probed into it, and quickly saw a few simple sentences:

Circumstances require acting on discretion; reasons cannot be elaborated in detail. The steps to follow are contained within, a total of twenty-six steps. Step One: 'Marching Chapter' - must be read before departure; after reading, the reason for Step Two will be clear.

Ao Yi put away the jade talisman, looked down to search, and soon picked up a bamboo slip.

He slowly unrolled the bamboo slip. The writing on it was clear, and the carved characters seemed to possess some magical power, quickly drawing Ao Yi's gaze, engrossing him...

Before long, Ao Yi finished reading the first chapter.

After a slight deliberation, Ao Yi decided to proceed according to this strategy. He immediately took out the Nine Dragons Soaring Heaven Seal bestowed by his father and announced loudly:

"All uncles, fellow clansmen, divide your troops and advance immediately! Ten percent of the forces will travel on the sea surface, entering the South Sea by water, but you must conceal your aura, raise no banners, and not be ostentatious! The rest of the army will conceal their tracks and circle north; travel through the earth's veins, pass through the East Victory Divine Continent and enter Southern Jambudvipa, avoiding detection by various immortal sects, and proceed to the southwest of the Southern Continent!"

A Dragon Clan master frowned and asked, "Your Highness, why are you dividing the troops?"

Upon hearing this, a sentence he had just read on the bamboo slip immediately surfaced in Ao Yi's mind:

'If anyone asks why the troops are divided, tell them to consider the enemy we are facing this time.'

Ao Yi calmly said, "Uncle, please consider the enemy we are facing this time."

The Dragon Clan master's brow furrowed, and he immediately said no more.

Another old dragon said, "Our Dragon Clan soars above the Nine Heavens; when have we ever burrowed through the earth?"

Ao Yi felt a slight surprise in his heart, thinking to himself, "Can the master behind Brother Changshou perhaps foresee the future?"

This question was also noted on the bamboo slip.

At this moment, Ao Yi, without haste and maintaining his composure, said:

"The great earth was transformed from the body of Pangu, the Great God, and clouds are merely Pangu, the Great God's breath; how can we not travel through the earth's veins?"

The old dragon pondered for a moment, bowed in salute, and dared not say more.

The Dragon Clan masters no longer raised objections, and all shed their disrespectful attitude towards Ao Yi.

Thus, the Dragon Clan's aquatic army divided and headed to the southwest of the Southern Continent, one group heading south, one north; one in plain sight, one concealed.

Ao Yi further instructed:

"I also ask the clan elders to make a move, to help conceal the Dragon Clan army's heavenly secrets."

"Your Royal Highness, rest assured," a white-haired elder with a dragon's head chuckled, "it is already being done."

Ao Yi nodded, re-read the bamboo slip in his hand, and soon collected the many bamboo slips below.

A Flood Dragon carriage arrived. Ao Yi and several Dragon Clan masters sat inside, also taking the sea route to attract the enemy's attention.

While en route to the South Sea, Ao Yi began to peruse the twenty-six bamboo slips.

After the 'Marching Chapter' was the 'General Treatise Chapter,' followed by 'Battlefield Selection,' 'Ambush Chapter (Part 1, 2, 3),' and 'Luring the Enemy Chapter.'

After the 'Luring the Enemy Chapter,' there were three branches, with corresponding strategies to be chosen based on the opponent's reactions; and further subdivisions followed.

Before long, Ao Yi, holding the bamboo slips, became utterly engrossed.

'As expected of a Human Sect master, the thoroughness of these strategies is simply astounding to dragons!'

Soon, Ao Yi, following the instructions on the bamboo slips, smilingly took out the complete set of 'Ambush Chapters,' allowing the various masters to first understand this kind of tactic...

"All uncles, come and see this method of ambush; it can be called truly rare in the world!"

Several Dragon Clan masters nodded with a smile, initially not paying much mind, but as they took the three bamboo slips and examined them, their expressions quickly turned serious.

"'Breaking up the whole into parts, appearing scattered but with unified spirit...'"

"'The surface ambush is for luring the enemy, making it impossible for them to discern the situation. The shallow ambush is for harming the enemy, and after that, there are mid-level, deep-level ambushes, and reserve troops... So meticulous, truly powerful.'"

"Is this how the Human Race defeated the Witch and Demon Clans back then?"

However...

Although they felt good about this method of ambush, they did not advise Ao Yi to use these somewhat cunning strategies.

But Ao Yi simply said:

"When two armies confront each other, what is there to call cunning? Compared to this pointless pretense, I care more about the lives of my clan members!"

The Dragon Clan masters of the Dragon King generation each nodded and followed the order.

The Dragon Clan's laws and regulations were very strict. For this battle, Ao Yi held the commander's seal and had full decision-making power.

Thus, a few days later...

Three thousand immortal Flood Dragon soldiers and dozens of masters from the Dragon Palace 'stealthily' arrived at the South Sea, and hid in the sea area near Anshui City.

Their movements naturally could not be hidden from the 'enemies' who had been watching the sea route.

This Dragon Palace army had long been closely watched by several black mosquitoes.

A few more days passed;

Deep beneath the earth, batches of immortal Flood Dragon soldiers gathered consecutively. They hid underground and did not reveal themselves.

Even if the Dragon Clan masters were exceedingly cautious, and their methods of concealment exceptionally clever...

The tracks of these immortal Flood Dragon soldiers were still observed by someone.

However, the one observing them was a certain South Sea Sea God who had already arranged everything in a short amount of time.

How many could have imagined...

That the usually somewhat arrogant Dragon Clan, before anything even happened, would be so cautious and come burrowing through the earth?

When Li Changshou saw:

That nearly 30,000 Dragon Clan soldiers began to advance in a 'spiral' fashion, under the pre-selected continuous desolate mountains, setting up one shallow and six deep, a total of seven layers of ambush!

With various masters working together to conceal their tracks...

Finally, one-fifth of the heavy stone in Li Changshou's heart had settled.

Li Changshou hadn't been idle these past few days either;

He had arranged reliable divine envoys and paper effigies at the Sea God Temples most prone to conflicts among followers, and had the divine envoys calm the believers in advance.

The other side, with high probability, would likely start with conflicts among mortal believers...

As expected.

Only six days after the Dragon Clan army's ambush was set, several sects adjacent to the South Sea God Sect gathered large numbers of followers, and began surging towards several major cities of the South Sea God Sect...

It was truly a massive cross-city confrontation.

Forces from mortal kingdoms also sent troops to monitor, but they dared not provoke these followers.

These groups of believers were naturally going to smash the Sea God Temples.

Most of them were actually poor people; the majority participated in this matter, driven by some monetary gain...

Li Changshou didn't want to accumulate negative karma, so he naturally wouldn't be ruthless towards them.

In the enemy-repelling strategy given to the Dragon Clan, it was also repeatedly mentioned that mortals must not be harmed.

A few days later, thousands of followers from other sects first found a Sea God Temple outside the city...

At noon, the sky was dim.

In front of the Sea God Temple, a strong young man, holding a long staff, loudly proclaimed:

"The South Sea Sea God is an evil god who bewitches people's hearts! Destroy this place, and let more people believe in our God Lima! Smash it!"

Immediately, thousands of mortals surged forward, one after another, a mighty tide!

They wielded hoes, carried wooden staffs and choppers, shouted slogans, and surged towards the tightly closed Sea God Temple...

But, as these thousands of people surged forward barely ten *zhang*, the main gate of the Sea God Temple suddenly swung open!

Two burly men in full armor jumped out, roaring in unison:

"Hold on!"

The dense crowd was instantly startled by these two fierce-looking door gods, each one bewildered, but all quickly halted their steps.

Among the mortals, several dark figures who were about to secretly make a move also slightly frowned at this moment and temporarily observed.

The burly man on the left asked the crowd, "Are you... here to smash our Sea God Temple?"

The young man who had been leading moments before braved himself and shouted:

"That's right! You false gods, you evil gods!"

"Please!"

The two burly men roared in unison and simultaneously made gestures inviting them in.

One man pulled a small drum from his embrace, held it in his hand, and began to lightly tap it.

The other burly man, straining his voice, following the rhythm, began to shout line by line:

"You're all our fellow villagers, let me tell you something! If you want to smash the temple's statues, then smash them, but don't harm anyone with cruel intentions! The main gate is only two *zhang* wide; everyone, don't push and shove! Before smashing the gate, tear down the walls first, then after tearing down the entrance, smash the statues! Everyone, don't panic, just one smash each and it's done! Statues aren't worth much, but congestion can lead to loss of life! We brothers will leave quickly now. Everyone, rest after smashing, there's another round to come!"

After speaking, the two burly men cupped their hands towards the crowd below, and the drumming stopped.

"Good!"

"Another verse!"

"What 'another verse'! Did you come here to listen to songs?!"

Amidst the clamor, the two burly men hastily retreated into the temple. Under everyone's watchful eyes, they dashed to the temple's backyard...

And climbed over the wall to escape...

The group of mortals was instantly bewildered, but someone still rushed in first. A crowd of followers from other sects immediately tore down the surrounding walls and surged into the Sea God Temple.

Underground, the paper effigy, imbued with Li Changshou's thoughts, faintly smiled.

As long as no negative karma was incurred, the smashing of the temple only meant a loss of some assets for the Sea God Sect.

At this moment, in a cave dwelling somewhere on the border of West Niu He Continent, Daoist Wenjing, who had been secretly observing this scene through her blood mosquito puppets, also had a slightly bewildered look in her eyes...

What was the meaning of this?

But soon, Daoist Wenjing's secretly deployed blood mosquito puppets detected dozens of Dragon Clan auras heading towards the smashed Sea God Temple;

And the Dragon Clan 'army' in the South Sea had also begun to surface and gather.

"Hmph," Daoist Wenjing curled her lip and continued to watch the show, waiting for the best moment to unleash her 'children'...