Green Flood Dragon had an inseparable relationship with the Dragon Clan and knew many of their secrets.

He was especially familiar with the Ao Guang brothers, thus he was certain, that the dispatch of troops this time absolutely involved trickery, and it couldn’t possibly be a command from the Ao Guang brothers.

This also meant that within the Dragon Clan, there was a second force influencing the situation.

This power, hidden and unassuming, had already been able to sway the stance of the Dragon Clan, which was a matter worth investigating.

"This isn’t something we can worry about. Anyway, all we need to do is knock the teeth out of anyone who dares to come at us and show them our might," the Great Sage who Overturns the Seas said spiritedly.

He did not wish to delve deeper into the situation of the Dragon Clan because he was well aware that with such a power hidden so deeply, they outsiders had no way to find a trace; now, when they were short on manpower, they should not expend their limited strength on this matter.

Currently, the only thing Luzhou in the North could do was to deal heavy blows to all those with ill intentions, letting them know they were not to be trifled with and that angering them would come at a cost, the only way to strive for peace.

Hearing this, Green Flood Dragon also nodded slightly, acknowledging that in the current situation, there indeed was no spare strength to manage these matters.

A great victory had been a precious win for them, but it had also exhausted everyone’s strength. After a night of killing, they were all out of energy.

Fortunately, the joy of victory kept their spirits high.

"Retreat, back to camp!" the Great Sage who Overturns the Seas shouted excitedly, leading a host of Little Demons back to their own camp.

With that, the massacre came to an end; the allied armies of the four seas were decimated and had it not been for the desperate resistance of a few princes, they would have scattered long ago.

On a desolate island, Ao Ming looked at the surviving Aquatic Races with a trace of sorrow.

It was his first time in control of the overall situation and it had turned out like this, which was without a doubt a heavy blow for this ambitious Dragon Son.

The Aquatic Races around him were wounded, fear evident in their eyes.

The bloody slaughter they had witnessed had terrified them; although there were frequent conflicts among the Four Seas, overall, a calm was maintained, and they had never seen such a bloody scene.

The cruelty of war was laid bare before them for the first time, shattering their illusions.

"It seems we all overestimated ourselves," Ao Ming said with a wry smile.

"Mr. Ao Xing had said before that this would be a path filled with death. No race’s rise isn’t accompanied by blood and sacrifice. We should have been prepared for this," Ao Yan said in a deep voice.

This Dragon Son, ordinary in appearance, exuded a sense of steadiness. Compared to the sharp and exposed Ao Ming, he seemed much more low-key.

Yet, all the Dragon Sons present could not ignore his words. This Dragon Son named Ao Yan was not only the strongest among them but also the one who could best comprehend the intentions of Ao Xing.

"I had thought about it, but I didn’t expect it to be so grim. For a moment, I was a bit..." Ao Ming sighed.

The previously brutal scene had indeed caught him off-guard, so much so that he still felt lingering fear and trepidation.

At this moment, however, Ao Yan stepped forward and said, "My fellows, have you forgotten our aspirations? Longing for change isn’t something that can be achieved simply through talk; it requires struggle and sacrifice."

"The gruesome battle this time should have awakened us. The world will never be tender and affectionate; it’s the cruel bloodshed that plays the main theme. If we wish to see the Dragon Clan rise again in the Three Realms, we have a long and arduous journey ahead."

"Next, it’s time for us to pick up the pieces. Although we’ve suffered heavy losses in this battle, correspondingly, those from the Aquatic Races who were staunchly loyal to the old powers have been wiped out, allowing us to develop our own forces at ease," Ao Yan said softly to console everyone.

His words finally restored some confidence to these disheartened young dragons, who began to systematically reorganize the army.

In the sky, the Divine Exorcist Great Sage noticed the scene on the desolate island and nodded to himself, "The Dragon Clan, after all, is a major race in the Three Realms; there is still some talent among them. These young dragons may be inexperienced, but their potential is boundless."

The spy beside him also spoke up, "It’s just a pity that they, though new to power, have been dealt such a blow by the Great Sage who Overturns the Seas, and it’s likely they won’t be able to launch an offensive for some time."

This situation slightly contradicted the grand strategy of the Heavenly Court. They had originally planned to have the Allied armies of the four seas flank the Demon Clan from both sides, aiming for a quicker end to the war.

But given the current situation, it had almost become impossible.

The Divine Exorcist Great Sage was not unaware of this predicament. He too hadn’t expected the allied armies of the four seas to be such a disappointment—allowing the Great Sage who Overturns the Seas to seize a sliver of opportunity and culminate in the present situation.

"This war has progressed to such a point that a deadlock is inevitable. If we could successfully open up this second front, we could greatly deplete the war potential of the Demon Clan. Luzhou in the North is, after all, barren and underdeveloped, and can’t hope to compete with the Heavenly Court in a prolonged war of attrition."

"That’s when our chance will come. We can afford to wait for a while, as long as these people, after consolidation, can muster respectable combat capabilities, our objective will be met," the Divine Exorcist Great Sage said in a low voice. In fact, when this campaign had begun, he and the Jade Emperor had prepared for the worst outcome. After all, times were different. With the departure of the Three Pure Ones, the Heavenly Court had lost its supreme status, meaning many past circumstances had consequently changed.

Gazing at the disordered Aquatic Races below, he murmured, "I hope they can give me a pleasant surprise."

Having said that, he left the place with the spy.

A few days later, news of the defeat at the front lines reached the Dragon Palace, causing a huge uproar.

No one expected that the combined force of the Four Seas, led by so many great generals, would be decimated to the point of a bloodbath and a complete rout—a shock to the Aquatic Races who had become accustomed to the notion of being invincible in the Four Seas.

In the Crystal Palace, Ao Guang was so furious that he smashed his favorite wine goblet to pieces.

"Fools, a bunch of fools! Lacking the ability, they were still full of false confidence, seeking to earn merit. If the Demon Clan of Luzhou in the North were so easy to deal with, why would the Heavenly Court seek us out at all? The Great Sage who Overturns the Seas holds a fierce reputation; where were they when he strutted around the Four Seas in his pomp?"

After cursing them out, he still felt not quite relieved, but upon seeing the scattered fragments of the goblet on the floor, he felt some regret; that was his favorite goblet, after all.

"Where’s Prime Minister Turtle? Didn’t he go to convey my orders? Why hasn’t he returned to see me yet?" Ao Guang said with a furrowed brow.

Without Prime Minister Turtle, the Dragon King always felt somewhat ill at ease; none of the Clam Ladies or young dragons around him seemed able to understand his thoughts as well as Prime Minister Turtle did.