"His aura blazes like fire and radiates a light of virtue. It must be your third brother returning. Let’s go and see," Ao Run said softly, his expression somewhat excited.

Since their last farewell, a considerable amount of time had passed. Ao Run had always hoped to see his son again. Unfortunately, the events of the past had deepened their misunderstandings, preventing such a reunion.

Now sensing Ao Lie’s aura, he became extremely excited.

The two revealed their true dragon forms and swam through the ocean, stirring up waves that caused the surrounding fish and shrimp to scatter.

Above the majestic ocean, massive waves surged as two white True Dragons leaped from the sea, their great power causing the water to roar tumultuously.

"ROAR!" A deep dragon roar echoed across the sky.

As a True Dragon, Ao Lie caught sight of a familiar figure and a trace of complexity flashed through his eyes.

The three of them, after many years, finally met again, their feelings vastly different from before.

After a while, Ao Lie dispelled his true form and transformed into a white-clad man, looking at Ao Run and speaking, "Father, elder brother, it’s been a long time."

"Indeed! It has been a long time," Ao Run replied.

Ao Run gazed at Ao Lie, seemingly having a thousand words to say, but they all condensed into that simple phrase.

Father and son stood facing each other, not knowing where to start, making the atmosphere grow somewhat awkward.

Seeing this, Prince Mo’ang hurriedly spoke up, "Since we last saw our third brother during the Journey to the West, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen him. Today, we must celebrate properly."

His words finally broke the awkward mood. Ao Run glanced down at the trembling Xie San and the others, frowning and asking, "What’s going on here?"

The tense situation seemed like it could erupt at any moment, which he found displeasing; his son had finally come home, and he didn’t want any more trouble.

From the earlier scenario, Xie San naturally guessed that the newcomer was the infamous Ao Lie, the Third Prince.

After all, the Third Prince had a significant reputation in the Western Sea.

Years ago, he had burned the Imperially bestowed pearls, leading the Old Dragon King to accuse him of treason to the Heavenly Court, where he was to face execution on the Dragon Slaying Platform.

This incident had caused an uproar back then, and many people secretly criticized the Old Dragon King for his ruthless heart; after all, sending his own son to the execution block was a harsh act.

Later, Ao Lie was rescued by Guanyin Bodhisattva and followed the Tang Monk to the Western Heaven to seek the True Sutra. Many ridiculed the dragon son for becoming a mortal’s mount.

However, once Ao Lie achieved enlightenment and attained the Bodhisattva Fruit Position, the ridicule turned into envy.

After all, that was a Bodhisattva position, considered among the most distinguished beings in the Three Realms, especially in the eyes of the Aquatic Races. To them, a Bodhisattva was a supreme figure, a true personality of high stature.

Initially, he thought that his emperor would disapprove of this Third Highness, but it seemed the current situation was different from what he had expected. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

This made him increasingly nervous; if the Third Highness decided to punish him, given his status and power, he would only be facing a dead end.

At this moment, all his previous satisfaction and arrogance dissipated, and he began sweating profusely, cautiously observing Ao Lie’s expression.

He knew his life was now in the hands of this Third Highness whom he had never met; just one word from the other party, and he was likely to be beheaded.

At this moment, he was filled with regret. Why did he have to be so ambitious? Could he not have proceeded more steadily?

In Xie San’s worried gaze, Ao Lie revealed a hint of a smile and said, "It’s nothing serious, I just haven’t been home for a long time and wanted to announce it."

Ao Run knew that his son still harbored resentment. Although it was a necessary sacrifice in the long run, it was undoubtedly a great blow to Ao Lie at the time.

Thinking of this, a hint of guilt appeared on his face, and he sighed, "It’s good that you’re back; your mother has been missing you."

Speaking of his mother, a trace of warmth surfaced on Ao Lie’s face. After that incident, his father had been indifferent, and many others took pleasure in his misfortune, but only his mother had tirelessly sought help, hoping someone would save his life.

"Is Mother well?"

"Don’t worry, Third Brother; Mother is healthy, though she occasionally worries about you," Prince Mo’ang said with a smile.

The three of them set off together towards the Western Sea Dragon Palace. Before leaving, Ao Run glared at Xie San as a warning, terrifying the newly appointed Patrolling Sea Crab General into trembling.

Only when the Dragon King’s receding figure had completely disappeared from sight did Xie San finally breathe a sigh of relief, feeling his whole body go weak, and he couldn’t help but sit down on the ground.

The surrounding Shrimp Soldiers immediately showed expressions of schadenfreude. They had no good feelings for this newly appointed superior who had been throwing his weight around, and seeing him deflated, they all suppressed their smiles.

On the other hand, under Ao Run’s guidance, Ao Lie had returned to the Western Sea Dragon Palace, the place where he had grown up.

The surrounding people looked at this Third Highness with surprised faces, curious as they were, hadn’t it been said that this Highness had broken with the Dragon Palace and never visited?

Furthermore, some discreetly went to the inner palace to convey the news to the Dragon Queen, knowing how much she had expended in spirit for the Third Highness.

Ao Lie looked around the Dragon Palace with a complex expression. Everything here was so familiar; it seemed as if time had lost its effect, everything remained exactly as it had been when he left.

"After you left, Mother ordered that nothing here be touched, afraid that you wouldn’t recognize it when you came back," Prince Mo’ang said wistfully.

Ao Lie’s eyes reddened slightly; he had not returned home for many years due to his resentment, which was truly unfilial.

Just then, a disturbance came from behind, and a woman’s voice rang out, "Has Lie’er returned?"

A woman dressed in palace attire, exuding a majestic aura, came from behind. It was the Dragon Mother of the Western Sea, Ao Lie’s mother.

Seeing his mother, Ao Lie’s eyes reddened, and he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to his mother, "Mother, your unfilial son Ao Lie has returned."

The Dragon Mother also gently wiped her eyes and then smiled, saying, "It’s good that you’re back, good that you’re back, as long as you have returned."

Then she stepped forward to help Ao Lie up, chastising him, "You’re a Bodhisattva now, how can you kneel so easily? Get up quickly and let Mother see if you have lost weight."

She scrutinized her child, seemingly never having enough of looking at him.

Ao Lie hurriedly laughed and said, "Mother, rest assured, now that your child is honored as a Bodhisattva, how could he possibly suffer hardship?"

"Nonsense, do you think I don’t know? There are many factions in the Mount Ling Sect, and being new, not from the Buddhist Sect, how could it be easy? How could those Buddhist Sect disciples not make things difficult for you?"