The other two Dragon Kings shook their heads. Seeing this, Ao Guang furrowed his brow slightly. At this critical moment when Heaven and Earth were greatly changing, Ao Shun had rung the Dragon Gathering Bell, giving him an ominous feeling.

When the three Dragon Kings arrived at the Northern Sea Dragon Palace, they saw that the place was tightly sealed by Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, completely surrounding the Dragon Palace.

Yet despite such a display, it could not hide the fear evident on their faces.

"What has happened?" The three Dragon Kings were even more baffled.

Seeing the demeanor of these Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, there must be a formidable enemy approaching. However, judging from the state of the Northern Sea Dragon Palace, it didn’t seem like a great battle had taken place.

With such doubts, the three Dragon Kings walked into the Crystal Palace, and were immediately greeted by Ao Shun, the Northern Sea Dragon King, who had come to welcome them.

"Youngest brother, why have you hastily called us here? What exactly has happened?" Ao Guang asked.

He looked around and saw all the Dragon Sons and Dragon Grandchildren looking utterly miserable, as if a grave incident had occurred.

"Big brother, you’ve finally arrived, please come in so we can talk," Ao Shun sighed as he invited the three Dragon Kings inside and then gently explained what had happened earlier.

Upon hearing the news of the Demon Emperor’s appearance, Ao Guang sprang up from his chair and stared intensely at Ao Shun, "Are you sure you saw clearly? Was it indeed the Demon Emperor?"

"Big brother, I’m not foolish. I can certainly tell the real from the fake. It was undeniably the Demon Emperor, whose presence was as deep and fearful as an abyss, stripping away even the courage to stand," Ao Shun said with a bitter smile.

He too wished he had been mistaken, but the harsh reality told him that the Demon Emperor had indeed been resurrected.

"This is a matter of great magnitude! No wonder the Heavenly Court has abandoned Luzhou in the North. So that’s why!" Ao Guang muttered to himself, finally connecting all the events. No wonder the recent behavior of the Heavenly Court in Luzhou in the North had been so abnormal—they must have detected some clues.

However, this situation was the worst possible scenario for the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas. The strategic withdrawal of the Heavenly Court meant that forces like them, on the outer fringes, were nearly being abandoned.

"The Heavenly Court didn’t even bother to send a message; does this mean we are abandoned?" Western Sea Dragon King Ao Run said with a displeased look.

Anyone realizing they had been discarded would not be pleased, especially under these circumstances.

Without the protection of the Heavenly Court, the treasure-rich Dragon Palace would easily become a target for plundering.

"Over the years, we have offered so much to the Heavenly Court, and now they have abandoned us without a word?" Ao Qin was also enraged.

"Enough, now is not the time for such talk. Youngest brother, since the Demon Emperor has come, did he say anything else?" Ao Guang asked gravely.

He wanted to understand what the true motive of the Demon Emperor was.

"Nothing else. He just took away all my treasure, then claimed it was the debt I owed to the Demon Clan. Big brother, that was all my possessions!" Ao Shun said, feeling a surge of sadness.

Was it easy for him to accumulate these belongings, finding favor among various forces, and only after great difficulty opening up this trade route and amassing this wealth? But in the blink of an eye, his possessions were plundered.

"You should be grateful that your life was spared. Though he sought wealth, he did not take lives, and besides, he claimed it was to collect a debt. Now that he has collected it, he naturally won’t bother you again. In the future, you also needn’t worry about the Demon Court attacking your door."

Ao Guang’s words allowed Ao Shun to feel a weight off his shoulders. If things were truly as his elder brother had said, then the situation might not be so hard to accept. After all, during these turbulent times in the Three Realms, if one could trade wealth for peace, it was indeed a good deal. In the future, everyone would know he lacked wealth, and thus, those with ulterior motives would be fewer.

"But what should we do now? Where should we go?" Ao Run sighed.

In the past, they were Dragon Lords, anointed by the Heavenly Court, their authority pressing across the Four Seas. If anyone dared to defy them, the Heavenly Army was there to subdue the rebels. But now, they had become dispensable, the Heavenly Court had consolidated its defenses, and if they encountered such situations again, they could likely rely only on themselves.

"It’s better to rely on oneself than on others. It’s time to use money to raise a grand army; otherwise, in these chaotic times, the wealth in our hands would be the chains that snare our souls," Ao Guang said with a grave voice.

The vast and deep ocean housed countless members of the Aquatic Races, and each year, the number of Monster born was astronomical. However, many aquatic Monsters were accustomed to the dark life of the deep sea and had no desire to venture onto land, which was why there were no famed great Monsters in the Four Seas.

But if the Dragon Clan offered enough wealth, naturally, some Monsters would be tempted. Properly utilized, this could be a force powerful enough to intimidate the Three Realms.

However, the other Dragon Kings’ faces showed a conflicted expression. Ao Shun, now penniless, was unconcerned, but Ao Run and Ao Qin, who still possessed their amassed fortunes, found it hard to part with their wealth to raise troops.

"Elder brother, is there really no better way? You know as well as I do that our family’s resources were accumulated little by little through hard work," Ao Run asked with furrowed brows.

"You need to decide whether you want money or life. I must remind you, in these chaotic times, no one can be depended upon, and wealth often spells disaster," Ao Guang said solemnly.

He himself was not willing to do this; every piece of treasure in the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace was precious to him, but even so, he had to make a tough decision, for he was greedy but not foolish.

"Sigh! Let’s do as our elder brother says. This damned world really doesn’t leave us any choice," Ao Qin was the first to express agreement, reluctant yet understanding the urgency of the situation.

The Dragon Kings looked at each other and fell silent, a testament to the sadness of the weak. In this world where strength dictated everything, lacking sufficient power meant dreaming of a foothold was folly.

"Sigh!" A heavy sigh echoed within the Northern Sea Dragon Palace.

Not long after the Dragon Kings made their resolution, the Jade Emperor in the Heavenly Court had already received this news from the Divine Exorcist Great Saint.

The Supreme of the Three Realms asked expressionlessly, "Did he truly do nothing else?"

"Yes, apart from seizing the treasures of the Dragon Palace, he did not even kill a single person."

"It appears that these years have allowed him to grow. I thought he would decimate the Northern Sea Dragon Palace, but unexpectedly, he let them off so easily, which was beyond my expectations."

"What a pity. I originally planned to use the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas to hold him off, but it seems that move is now moot," the Jade Emperor sighed softly.

"However, he still needs to re-establish the Demon Court, and for a short time, he cannot pose a threat to us. The Buddhist Sect remains our primary target."