Chapter 429: Submission or Surrender?

“Boom!”

The battle raged on fiercely.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The Sea Dragon King stirred up waves at will, summoned lightning, and called forth thunder. Its four claws were razor-sharp and deadly.

Meanwhile, the two white rhinoceroses worked as a team—one in its original form, the other transformed into a giant white rhinoceros humanoid. Both had tough hides, immense strength, and mastery of magic, spitting beams of divine light as they fought in perfect coordination.

From Song You’s perspective, the Sea Dragon King clearly had superior cultivation compared to the two white rhinoceroses—and by a significant margin. However, cultivation level didn’t always directly equate to combat power. There were plenty of elderly immortals in the Heavenly Palace with high cultivation who were poor at fighting.

The Sea Dragon King, having spent most of its time cultivating in the ocean and rarely interacting with the Central Plains, had developed many of its skills in a more primitive fashion.

Nonetheless, it had the advantage of home terrain, ruling over the sea.

The white rhinoceroses, on the other hand, had their own strengths. There were two of them, and they inherited the powers of an ancient lineage, likely on par with the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox.

As a result, the battle was deadlocked.

Unfortunately, the surrounding sea was suffering greatly.

The Daoist rode toward the battlefield on a small boat, his figure appearing minuscule amidst the raging storm. He looked like a single leaf or a floating bean, insignificant in this violent scene. The white rhinoceros giant’s legs, when up close, resembled towering pillars holding up the sky.

The white rhinoceros in its original form charged across the ocean like a moving mountain. And then there was the colossal Sea Dragon King.

Divine light tore through the ocean, and flames burned through the rain.

Black smoke hung like a curtain, and lightning flashed across the sky like piercing eyes.

Thunder cracked and scattered across the surface of the sea.

Despite their intense battle, both sides quickly noticed the tiny boat.

The small boat, barely more significant than drifting coral or patches of seaweed, swayed wildly in the storm. But to withstand the wind, rain, lightning, and fire, it radiated a protective spiritual light. In the dim and chaotic world of the storm, that light resembled a seed of hope—small but unwavering.

Both sides turned their attention toward the boat.

Standing on the boat, the Daoist leaned on his staff, steady despite the turbulence.

“Boom...”

The charging white rhinoceros halted mid-step, and the white rhinoceros giant, which had been gripping the Sea Dragon King's tail, involuntarily loosened its grip. Both sides stood there, momentarily stunned.

Even the Sea Dragon King seemed to recognize the Daoist.

The nervous yet excited Bai Liu watched with wide eyes, his heart racing. He had imagined many possible outcomes of this encounter, but he had never anticipated that the moment the Daoist appeared—without uttering a single spell or incantation—the battle would immediately cease.

Even the raging waves gradually began to settle.

“Why are the three of you fighting here?” The Daoist’s calm voice echoed across the sea.

“Your... Your Excellency...”

The white rhinoceros giant was the first to speak, turning its head in confusion before asking, “Why are you here?”

“The matter at Mount Ye has been resolved. I’ve been traveling the world ever since. I heard of some strange occurrences at sea, and curiosity led me here. I’m also searching for the Five-Directions Soil, so I sailed out to the ocean,” Song You explained, calmly observing the two rhinos before turning his gaze to the Sea Dragon King.

He continued, “I heard that ever since the two of you arrived, you’ve been fighting with the Sea Dragon King. The resulting storms have frightened many merchant ships away from the sea. Is that true?”

Though his tone was calm, it made the two demons’ hearts tremble—not only with fear but also with guilt.

Seeing their reaction, the Sea Dragon King, though unsure of the full situation, dared not act rashly. With a thunderous roar, its colossal form ascended into the sky, coiling within the storm clouds, its enormous eyes watching the scene below.

“Your Excellency! We’re innocent!” the white rhinoceros giant pleaded. “This is only the second time we’ve fought with the Sea Dragon King, and both times, he was the one who initiated the conflict. Moreover, no mortals have been harmed during these encounters!”

“We never intended to provoke him,” added the other white rhinoceros, transforming into a giant humanoid and bowing respectfully to Song You. “When you released us, we followed your instructions and traveled east along the Yin River to the sea. Our goal was to find a place rich in spiritual qi where we could cultivate peacefully. Upon arriving, we learned of the Sea Dragon King’s presence and deliberately avoided him.”

“However, not long after, he sought us out, claiming we had trespassed on his palace grounds. He initiated the first battle. Though the fight ended without a decisive victor, we left the area immediately. We then moved to another location, only for him to come after us again today...”

“The sea is different from the land. Areas rich in spiritual resonance and abundant energy are especially full of spirituality, but desolate and barren places are exceptionally lacking. We've already retreated once—do you think we can afford to retreat again?”

“Our white rhinoceros clan is a legitimate descendant of the Central Plains, from the lineage of ancient great beings. How could we allow ourselves to be insulted by an outlying flood dragon?”

“May you judge fairly, sir!”

The waves were gradually subsiding.

The small boat was lifted by the waves and then dropped heavily.

Song You stood motionless, but Lady Calico had already lowered herself, her claws digging into the wooden planks of the boat to stabilize herself.

Bai Liu, however, was thrown back and forth like a ragdoll.

Yan An was the most composed. Whenever he couldn’t maintain his footing, he flapped his wings and hovered in the air until the boat steadied, at which point he would settle down again.

Despite being knocked around the boat and crashing into the cabin walls several times, Bai Liu didn’t seem to feel any pain. Instead, he gazed upward, wide-eyed, committing every detail of the towering giants and the dragon coiling in the clouds to memory. In the past, when he encountered the Sea Dragon King while traveling the seas, he had never dared to get close and would always take a wide detour.

Now, seeing its true form up close, Bai Liu felt that even if this journey cost him his life, it would be worth it.

This was a sight he would never forget. The grandeur and awe overwhelmed him.

Then, he heard the Daoist’s calm voice beside him, “Is this the truth?”

“I would not dare deceive you, Your Excellency.”

“If I’m lying, may I be struck down by lightning and fire!”

“Since that’s the case...” Song You lifted his head again and looked at the flood dragon coiled within the clouds, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. “The ocean is vast, and with over a thousand years of cultivation under your belt, why is your tolerance so small?”

Bai Liu’s gaze flickered with astonishment. His heart raced, though his expression remained composed.

Since arriving in the former Fierce Beast Kingdom, this Daoist had shown no display of grand abilities beyond politely mediating disputes and guiding conversations. Whether with cats or dogs, he had always been courteous and humble.

Yet, here he was, openly questioning the Sea Dragon King.

Bai Liu’s realization hit him—

I’m traveling with a true deity.

“Rumble...”

A continuous rolling sound interrupted Bai Liu’s thoughts.

At first, it sounded like a spring thunder that wouldn’t cease or perhaps the heavy wheels of divine chariots grinding across the clouds. But upon closer listening, it became clear that the sound was coming from the depths of the dragon’s throat, steady and resonant.

As the deep rumble echoed across the sea, the enormous dragon lowered its head from the swirling storm clouds. Lightning crisscrossed the sky, and thunder rolled as the dragon’s head, majestic and imposing, emerged with the aura of a divine being.

Bai Liu and Lady Calico stared in awe. Even Yan An widened his eyes.

“Who are you?”

The dragon loomed over the tiny boat on the ocean, as a man might gaze down at an ant.

“My name is Song You. I am a human cultivator from the Great Yan,” Song You replied, tilting his head up to meet the dragon’s gaze. The contrast between the colossal dragon and the seemingly insignificant man on the boat was striking—like a mortal confronting a god.

He said, “These two great demons were released into the eastern seas by me. If they have caused any disturbance to the Sea Dragon King, I must take responsibility for that.”

“Rumble, rumble, rumble...”

A series of thunderclaps echoed across the sky.

The dragon’s eyes glowed with a bluish-white light, as if endless lightning churned within them. Its gaze locked onto Song You from above, the scene of the dragon’s head hovering over the crashing waves and the tiny boat creating a surreal contrast.

They stared at each other for a long time, and the very air seemed to freeze.

Finally, the Sea Dragon King withdrew his gaze, lifting his head back into the churning storm clouds. Thunder rolled, and lightning crackled as the dragon’s deep voice rumbled from within the storm. “Land-dwelling demons come to my sea, take over my palace. Yet, you think I shouldn't drive them away?”

“If they’ve caused trouble, they should indeed be driven away,” Song You responded calmly. His voice was much softer compared to the booming thunder, but it remained steady, carrying across the turbulent sea. “But what about this time?”

“They are occupying the sea route to my palace.”

“And where does Your Majesty suggest they go to avoid further conflict?”

“The thousands of li of sea in the southeastern waters are all part of my ocean kingdom. If they wish to cultivate, they must go at least two thousand li away.”

“Thousands of li?”

“What of it?”

“You certainly have an expansive domain.”

“It has always been so.”

“...” Song You's gaze flickered briefly before he spoke again. “You are not a true dragon, so why be so overbearing?”

“Boom!”

Thunder exploded across the sky.

The Sea Dragon King’s massive head suddenly emerged from the clouds, his glowing eyes radiating lightning as he locked his gaze onto Song You. His presence was suffused with divine authority.

“What did you say!?”

“Crash!”

The ocean erupted with towering waves. It seemed as though the entire sea was mirroring the dragon’s fury.

The two white rhinoceros giants immediately reacted. One thrust out a hand, combining brute strength with spiritual energy to forcibly suppress the waves. The other tilted its head back and roared at the dragon, “How dare you disrespect the Immortal Master!?”

The Sea Dragon King remained coiled in the storm clouds, overlooking the sea. His eyes flickered with uncertainty, but in the end, he dared not act rashly.

“I’ve heard that the Sea Dragon King has been stirring storms across the sea recently, making life unbearable for coastal nations and preventing the people of Great Yan from setting sail. Trade with overseas nations has been halted. This is not a good situation,” Song You said, still looking up at the dragon. His expression was calm, but his tone had grown heavier.

Great Yan was flourishing economically, with thriving trade routes connecting it to various overseas nations.

The inability to sail was unacceptable.

“Your Majesty may indeed be angry due to the arrival of these two,” Song You said, calmly gazing at the massive dragon winding through the storm clouds above. “This sea is, after all, your domain, and land-dwelling demons entering without permission is indeed disrespectful. But the ocean is vast, and claiming thousands of li of it as your exclusive territory is a bit excessive, don’t you think?”

He continued, his voice steady. “Why not let me mediate? I will help these two demons find an island where they can settle without disturbing you. You remain the ruler of the sea, and they will only occupy a remote island that you rarely visit. You won’t interfere with each other. In return, you will refrain from stirring up trouble on the sea and disrupting maritime trade. How does that sound?”

“And who exactly are you?”

“My name is Song You, style name Menglai, a Daoist from Lingquan County in Yizhou, Great Yan,” he replied, this time giving more detail. After a brief pause, he added, “I come from the Hidden Dragon Temple.”

“Hidden Dragon Temple! How audacious!”

“It takes its meaning from ‘to remain hidden.’”

“And if I refuse to listen?”

“Then, if you endanger maritime trade, the meaning will shift to ‘to subdue the dragon.’“

“How arrogant!”

“Boom, rumble...”

The heavens roared as wind and rain intensified, and thunder echoed across the ocean.

The Sea Dragon King’s colossal, jet-black body—hundreds of meters long—coiled through the storm clouds, its shining scales reflecting flashes of lightning.

The two white rhinoceros giants readied themselves, bracing for battle.

Yet, despite the bluster of wind, rain, and thunder, the storm gradually subsided.

The Sea Dragon King, though powerful, was well aware of the strength of Great Yan’s cultivators, especially those who followed the ancient traditions. Against the two white rhinoceroses, he could still hold his ground, especially with the advantage of the sea.

But with the addition of this mysterious Daoist—a man who even these two powerful demons revered—the odds were no longer in his favor.

From within the storm clouds, the dragon’s voice echoed, still carrying its imposing majesty, “What does ‘won’t interfere with each other’ entail?”

“Your Majesty will demarcate your palace, your territories, and your fishing grounds. They will not enter those areas without permission. Your Majesty is a sea serpent and primarily cultivates underwater, while they will remain on the surface. As long as neither party intentionally provokes the other, they will naturally have no reason to interfere.”

“And will they listen to you?”

“...”

Song You didn’t answer directly but instead turned his gaze toward the two white rhinoceros giants.

“Immortal Master, you have shown us great kindness, and we will naturally follow your guidance without question!”

“You sea serpent! We are creatures of the land. We came here with no ill intent, only seeking a peaceful place to cultivate. If not for your repeated provocations, why would we ever seek trouble with you in the sea?”

The two great demons’ voices boomed across the sea like thunder.

“If you dare set foot underwater again, I will destroy you!”

The Sea Dragon King’s voice rumbled, followed by a long, resonant dragon’s roar. Suddenly, the massive figure dove from the stormy clouds, its hundreds of meters of coiling body cutting through the air before plunging into the ocean, vanishing beneath the waves.

As the Sea Dragon King disappeared, the storm clouds gradually dissipated, and the raging waves calmed. The once-violent sea transformed into a tranquil surface, reflecting the sunlight that now streamed down.

A rainbow arched gracefully across the sky, formed by the lingering sea mist.

The small boat drifted peacefully in the center of the rainbow’s arc, with the massive legs of the white rhinoceros giants towering like pillars on either side. Lady Calico tilted her head as far back as she could, trying to see the tops of those legs, while Song You simply stood at the boat’s bow, quietly observing the sea.

He had already discerned one important fact—this sea dragon had a terrible temper and was prone to mood swings.