Once he is tricked into visiting the Dragon Palace using the Dragon Transformation Pool as an excuse, wouldn’t he be just like a turtle in a jar or a bird in a cage, manipulated at will, his life and death no longer his own?

But upon reflection, it’s understandable; different races naturally harbor different intentions.

Even among the same people, individuals from different regions might find each other disagreeable, let alone different species?

In the East Sea Cultivation Realm, the human race naturally holds the greatest influence, with the Dragon Race following closely. However, despite the human race’s vast power, their forces are too scattered and varied, making unification difficult.

Moreover, the vast majority of humans are weak and ordinary, hardly worth paying attention to.

Anyone who achieves a significant level of cultivation is exceptional, the cream of the crop among humans, the phoenixes and dragons among men.

In contrast, the Dragon Race is born with a strong physique, possessing cultivation strength at the Dao Foundation or even Golden Core Realm from the moment of birth, alongside innate great divine abilities.

Moreover, the True Dragon Race doesn’t need to actively cultivate. Simply by eating and drinking according to routine, they become beings of Yang Spirit level once they reach adulthood.

Should they possess good cultivation talent, there is even a chance to advance to a Primordial Spirit True Immortal, achieving the immortal Dao Fruit.

Of course, as the saying goes, you gain one thing and lose another. Despite their high talent, the Dragon Race is few in number, due to their difficulty in reproduction, and reaching the level of a Primordial Spirit True Immortal is even more challenging.

Therefore, in the East Sea Cultivation Realm, the relationship between humans and dragons is complicated, due to competition over resources, old grudges, and survival space, making them both friends and foes.

When strengths are equal, it’s a balance of offense and defense. When one is stronger, they may choose allyship; when weaker, they may be bullied mercilessly.

Currently, the relationship between the Dragon and Human races is neither good nor bad, but humans are generally much stronger.

The Dragon Race, meanwhile, remains vigilant of the human race, as humans grow at a remarkably fast pace.

In particular, the true geniuses of the human race grow rapidly, are intensely aggressive, and pose a threat to the Dragons by their very existence.

If those geniuses pose such a threat, what about the infamous Chu He?!

In the East Sea Cultivation Realm, Chu He and a handful of others are the most famous amongst the young generation of cultivators.

As for Wang Chan, he is abandoned, merely a guise of Gu Yuan, who stopped using it after complications arose, whereas the guise of Chu He has recently become prominent.

Repeatedly engaging in life and death platform duels, not only winning but doing so decisively, without hesitation, downright unrestrained.

This formidable individual unsurprisingly will become a major concern for the Dragon Race in the future.

Hence, Ao Kui uses people merely as tools, polite when in need and dismissive once goals are achieved.

Before getting his hands on the Black Dragon Imperial Seal, Ao Kui was polite to Gu Yuan, but now that the seal is in hand and goals achieved, civility is forgotten, plotting to lure Gu Yuan to the Dragon Palace, to eliminate the future threat.

It’s fortunate that Gu Yuan wasn’t too interested in the so-called Dragon Transformation Pool and remained cautious, refusing the offer.

Otherwise, Gu Yuan would likely be facing a grim fate.

"Should I take advantage of the situation and deal with him now..."

Gu Yuan pondered but ultimately decided not to take action.

The East Sea Dragon Palace is powerful, home to at least six or seven Primordial Spirit True Immortals, perhaps more, and several still dormant Primordial Spirit levels, biding their time.

It’s merely due to the greater strength of human factions that they behave.

But this doesn’t mean the Dragon Palace is easy prey.

If he really killed Ao Kui, the consequences would be severe.

Far more serious than when Gu Yuan killed Xue Wulong from the Yuqiao Immortal Palace on Luofu Immortal Island!

Although Xue Wulong held a very high position within Yuqiao Immortal Palace, they lack the power to track Gu Yuan’s movements.

In contrast, the Dragon Race is notoriously arrogant and domineering. If Ao Kui died by Gu Yuan’s hand, the East Sea Dragon Palace would likely go on a rampage seeking vengeance and hunting the culprit down.

For instance, it’s said that within the East Sea Dragon Palace there is a Spirit Treasure called the Divine Water Mirror, with the terrible capability to monitor the entire East Sea. By paying certain costs, it can reveal who committed the act and the whereabouts of the culprit.

With such powers and terrifying reserves, Gu Yuan is indeed wary.

He cannot guarantee he can escape the Spirit Treasure’s tracking.

Of course, since Ao Kui harbors ill intentions, Gu Yuan won’t hesitate to retaliate fiercely when the time is right or when he has enough strength.

As for Ao Kui’s suspicion that he came not in his true form but as a clone...

Well, Ao Kui guessed correctly.

Indeed, the current Gu Yuan is a clone.

When invited by Ao Kui, Gu Yuan agreed but stated he had some matters to handle first, suggesting they meet in a few days.

Once Gu Yuan returned to his temporary cave mansion, he replaced himself with a clone.

Gu Yuan has always been cautious.

In hindsight, his actions proved correct. Although the clone is now safe, who knows what might happen in similar situations next time?

As Gu Yuan’s cultivation grows, he becomes more cautious, willing to take additional steps or pay certain prices to ensure his cultivation is not wasted.

Gu Yuan then concealed his form and used the great divine technique of Eternal Divine Escape, quickly leaving the scene.

Reuniting with his primary body, the gain this time, the Five Elements Celestial Book Supplement, insights from delving into obstacles set by the Five Spirits, and experiences related to the Five Elements, along with the Black Gold Dragon Bone Pill, were all received by his primary form.

Following this...

Gu Yuan proceeded to enter seclusion.

His primary form, linked with his clone, despite the distance, can receive the clone’s memories and insights, though this is limited to ordinary memories.

Regarding memories of the Five Elements Celestial Book Supplement and Five Elements experience and comprehension, these are absorbed more slowly.

Fortunately, as both primary and clone share the same origin, once Gu Yuan merges with the clone, the experiences of the Five Elements become naturally absorbed and understood by him.

Consequently, the Five Spirits Xuanyuan Demon Sword Array he cultivated within subtly changed, the connection between the six flying swords becoming tighter, with an aura both sharp and domineering, flowing like water, intertwining together.