Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts-Chapter 413 - Could It Be...?

Dragon King’s Soar soared into the air, flying towards the North Sea. It hadn’t been long before a phantom of Dragon King’s Soar appeared and merged with it.

The brilliance of the phantom enveloped Dragon King’s Soar, and under its pull, it accelerated rapidly toward the North Sea.

Waves surged across the Four Seas as spiritual energy swept through. The white clouds in the sky condensed and stretched, while a warm breeze gently caressed every island and its inhabitants.

In the ocean, more and more fish swam joyfully, reveling in an unusual sense of ease. Some were even so relaxed that they flipped onto their backs before they had even perished.

Sharks that had originally been on the hunt suddenly felt an inexplicable fullness and a deep sense of contentment. They leisurely drifted through the sea, abandoning all desire to hunt, content to simply laze about for the day.

For most islanders and the countless underwater races, the cause of this phenomenon remained unknown. However, many had heard from their ancestors that every few hundred or even thousand years, a special wind would blow, and a warm current would flow through the sea.

After being bathed in this wind and current, all creatures would experience enhanced health, and any ailments afflicting their bodies would vanish instantly. Even the most ordinary of people would live to at least eighty or ninety years old, free of sickness and calamity.

On a coral mountain, Long Hai, who had been waiting for this moment, slowly opened his eyes.

“It has begun.”

With a powerful leap, Long Hai transformed into a horned dragon.

“Roar!”

He exhaled a breath of dragon essence toward the formation at the peak of the coral mountain.

In an instant, the formation erupted with dazzling light, and a pillar of radiance shot into the sky, visible to the entire Dragon Capital.

For Long Hai, the outcome was already set in stone. At this point, even if the Dragon Empress noticed, it would be too late. No one could stop the handover of Dragon King’s Soar.

However, Long Hai had no intention of stopping the process.

All he wanted was to leave a mark on Dragon King’s Soar.

With another breath, he spat out a dagger, which flew straight into the formation.

The moment the dagger embedded itself into the formation, it was as if the array had been activated. Thunder raged wildly, and spiritual energy converged onto the dagger.

“Crack!”

A bolt of lightning shot skyward, piercing the clouds and striking directly into the phantom of Dragon King’s Soar.

Whether in the North Sea or the Eastern Sea Palace, the tremors began.

The entire palace shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.

Guests in the North Sea began to wonder if something had gone wrong or if this was simply how the process was meant to be.

“Xu Ming, something feels off.”

On the other side, Ao Yin’er gently tugged at Xu Ming’s sleeve.

Xu Ming turned to the nervous girl beside him. “What feels off?”

Ao Yin’er blinked and whispered, “I’ve attended the Four Seas Grand Ceremony before, and this isn’t how it usually goes.

“When Dragon King’s Soar is handed over, it should be smooth. A single pillar of light shoots up, connects with another Dragon King’s Soar, and then, auspicious light spreads across the Four Seas as the transition completes seamlessly.

“But this... this feels different. I have this strange, unsettling feeling, like my very soul imprint has been shaken.”

Xu Ming furrowed his brows and looked toward the Dragon Empress.

It seemed his worst fears had come true.

Just as he had suspected, their target was indeed the supreme treasure of the Four Seas.

But at this point, there was no need to warn the Dragon Empress.

Even Ao Yin’er had sensed something was wrong—there was no way the Dragon Empress hadn’t noticed as well.

Yet, the Dragon Empress remained perfectly composed.

Not only her—Xu Ming noticed that Xiao Lan, who served at her side, also appeared utterly calm, showing not the slightest hint of panic.

It was as if everything was within her expectations.

“Lord Xu need not concern yourself. We will handle everything. You should simply enjoy the banquet.”

Xu Ming recalled the words Xiao Lan had spoken to him earlier.

“Could it be...?”

A sudden thought struck Xu Ming.

Could it be that the Dragon Empress had known all along? That she had been playing along with their scheme from the start?

Previously, Xu Ming had thought Xiao Lan was being far too careless. When it came to the safety of her own ruler, every possible risk should have been eliminated.

But now, Xu Ming realized—their side had been prepared for the enemy’s plan all along.

Otherwise, the Dragon Empress—an emperor who had ruled for ten thousand years—would not have reacted this way. Even a turtle living for ten thousand years could attain enlightenment. If Ao Yin’er had been emperor for ten thousand years, she too would have become a qualified ruler.

And Xiao Lan, who served so closely by the Dragon Empress’s side, was no exception.

A fool had no place beside the Dragon Empress.

Furthermore, having everyone witness the ceremony was already an unusual move.

So the question was:

Since the Dragon Empress had discovered the enemy’s plot and had countless ways to stop them, why had she chosen to play along?

What exactly was she after?

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Dragon King’s Soar had traversed a million miles and arrived on the outskirts of the North Sea Dragon Palace.

The enemy was already prepared.

At the very moment Dragon King’s Soar flew past Coral Mountain—

The dagger shot upward at lightning speed, piercing directly into Dragon King’s Soar.

“Zzzzt!”

Dragon King’s Soar was intercepted.

Countless bolts of lightning surged from below, engulfing it entirely.

In less than half a breath, the thunder unleashed by the formation wrapped around Dragon King’s Soar like massive iron chains, tightly binding it and pulling it downward!

Blinding flashes of lightning illuminated the area for a hundred miles.

In the Dragon Capital, many citizens lifted their heads to gaze in the same direction—where massive bolts of lightning erupted into the sky.

The North Sea Dragon Palace trembled violently. Even the palace housing Dragon King’s Soar’s phantom image was beginning to collapse.

From just outside the Dragon Capital, waves of spiritual energy swept in.

Now, everyone knew—something had gone wrong with Dragon King’s Soar.

“Boom!”

The grand hall crumbled, and people scrambled to escape.

With a wave of her hand, the Dragon Empress soared toward Coral Mountain.

The others exchanged glances, uncertain whether they should follow.