Jiang Wang always listens to some of what Shenghai Old Dragon says, but lets most of it go. Of the little he hears, he always half believes and half doubts.

This moment was no exception.

The corpses of the Middle Ancient Dragon Emperor’s nine sons could be refined into the Eternal Nine Towns, capable of long-term suppressing the Long River.

The fact that Ao Shuyi could be compared to them is strong evidence in itself!

As for being an end-flow dragon descendant, that’s just something to hear and dismiss.

Being able to lead a faction of the water race in a split, and putting on an opposing show with the Middle Ancient Dragon Emperor – even if only in name, even if only pushed onto the stage by the Middle Ancient Human Emperor Lie Shan Shi – is not something an ordinary person could achieve.

Being a puppet titled the “common lord of the world’s water race” is not a role anyone can fill.

The human race dominates the present world, constantly innovating in cultivation and reforming systems. The Myth era, Immortal Palace era, One True era, Flying Sword era… History gallops forward one after another, with internal reforms in the human race, yet Ao Shuyi remains the Long River Dragon Lord. The world has changed hands, but the name of the water lord hasn’t. How could this be achieved by just “crying the loudest and kneeling the fastest”?

Despite his internal thoughts, Jiang Wang’s expression remained unchanged. He quietly channeled his star power, waiting for Shenghai Old Dragon’s next words.

“Of course, he also has some ability,” Shenghai Old Dragon said. “After all, those brilliant stars of his era have gradually withered and fallen. Those like His Highness Prisoner Ox were all executed, but he, Ao Shuyi, is still alive and well. How is this not ability?”

“He seems to always make the correct choices,” Jiang Wang said lightly. “History proves this repeatedly.”

Shenghai Old Dragon lowered his eyelids. “I seem to be unable to refute.”

“Continue,” Jiang Wang said.

Shenghai Old Dragon’s vast and majestic dragon body, confined by iron chains in the cramped stone chamber, looked tense and pitiful. His voice was low and dignified. “Purely by bloodline, Ao Shuyi is indeed a true-blood dragon, a pure-blood imperial descendant. He can even trace his lineage back to the Ancient Dragon Emperor Pan Wu Shi. But there are countless descendants of the Ancient Dragon Emperor, with innumerable branches. He, Ao Shuyi, is not particularly special. We dragons don’t value background, we value virtue and divine powers. Just like the Middle Ancient Dragon Emperor Xi Hun Shi had more than just nine sons; it was just that these nine were the most outstanding and gained recognition.”

Based on the historical knowledge Jiang Wang had acquired, both the Ancient era and Far Ancient era referred to the period before the Upper Ancient era. It was just that different races had different names for that time.

It was the longest era, its beginning lost to examination.

It was the most ignorant era, with no records of the demon race before the Ancient Heavenly Court.

As for the Ancient Dragon Emperor named Pan Wu Shi and the Middle Ancient Dragon Emperor named Xi Hun Shi, this was the first time Jiang Wang had heard these names. Although he had acquired a significant amount of historical knowledge and even buried himself in reading and learning in the demon world, both the human and demon races had intentionally erased the dragon race’s existence, making it difficult for him to gain detailed knowledge without specific effort.

But what made him doubtful was – “Virtue?”

Whether it was the greed and tyranny described in human history, the betrayal and evil recorded in demon history, or the “glorious deeds” of this Shenghai Old Dragon, none of it made one believe that the dragon race “doesn’t value background but values virtue.”

Shenghai Old Dragon probably also felt he wasn’t very convincing and let out a low laugh. “Our understanding of virtue is different. Virtue is force, force is virtue. Those with force have virtue.”

“As a human race heaven’s pride, presumably you have some understanding of the major schools of human learning. Mo Zu once wrote – What is the way of the wise? Those with force hasten to help people, those with wealth strive to share with people, those with the Way advise and teach people. Let the hungry get food, the cold get clothes, and the chaotic be governed…”

“So you see, without force, how can one do anything? With what can one help people? Without force, without wealth, without the Way, how can one be called wise!”

He didn’t expect this old dragon to read books!

If the layouts experienced in the Shenghai Source Realm made Jiang Wang feel this old dragon’s cunning and ruthlessness, then this citation of classics made Jiang Wang feel the terror of the dragon race as an opponent.

No matter how much human and demon history attacked the dragon race, neither denied its power.

Once subordinates of the demon race, the dragons were the strongest branch of the demon race! Later, they led the water race to independence, actually opposing the demon race’s rule. After defeating the demon race’s Heavenly Court, they were able to co-govern the present world with the human race. Then the water race split again, retreating to the Vast Sea, and still managed to form the sea race, becoming a great problem in the present world.

Such an ancient, powerful, and arrogant dragon race could also bow down, humbly learn from the human race, and proactively understand human learning – to be frank, Jiang Wang, a true human race heaven’s pride, had never read the Mo family texts that the old dragon spoke of!

The ambition of the hidden dragon, how deep in the abyss?

The dragon race could lower their posture so much naturally because they had the ambition to ascend to higher places.

“Have we ever seriously chatted before?” Jiang Wang sat cross-legged at the bottom of the Star Tower, star light flowing over his body like water, naturally composed. “Compared to the Long River Dragon Lord, I am more curious now about your identity within the dragon race and your relationship with the Long River Dragon Lord.”

Shenghai Old Dragon was locked into the base of the Star Tower back in the Dao Calendar year 3919… not long after Jiang Wang removed the Yellow River Chief and before Qi’s Heaven’s Pride won the battle of Star Moon Plain.

One could say he had witnessed Jiang Wang’s terrifying growth over these three years.

From a sharp heaven’s pride who had just ascended the world stage, to the young general with the most military merit in the column countries, holding power and prestige, and then to the White Jade Capital master who cut off everything to seek the Dao alone… He truly felt a sense of lead washed away and the truth revealed.

Too terrifying! This speed of advancement, even in that brilliant world of stars he described, the glorious grand world where the Human Emperor expelled the Dragon Emperor occurred – it was dazzling, by no means obscure.

“Yes, we’ve lived together for so long, even raising a dog would develop feelings…” Shenghai Old Dragon, eager to deepen their relationship, felt the words weren’t quite right and secretly spat, then continued as naturally as possible. “We’re familiar with each other, yet we haven’t opened our hearts to chat. Are you curious about my past, little friend?”

“Yes, I’m curious about my tenant,” Jiang Wang smiled warmly.

“My story is a long one,” Shenghai Old Dragon’s voice was thick and his speech slow, making him seem very sincere. “To be truly accurate, I am a descendant of the Upper Ancient Dragon Emperor Yuan Hong Shi, with noble bloodline and an extraordinary birth. Of course, just like Ao Shuyi, there are too many dragon emperor descendants who can trace their bloodline connections like me, so I can’t gain anything from that.”

“And when I was born, the dragon race had already retreated to the Vast Sea and become accustomed to it. I didn’t enjoy the glory of the dragon race at all, only the infinite responsibility the dragon race had in the Vast Sea… Of course, I was always willing to bear it.”

“Facing disaster, I forged ahead without hesitation; protecting the weak was my duty. I smashed the world-ending thunder, suppressed the eternal dark vortex, and guarded various sea domains. I developed sea beasts, enhanced the race’s war potential, selflessly shared spell research, and strengthened the race’s power… An existence like me should have originally proven the Dao as an Emperor Lord and achieved the honored position of Dragon Lord!”

His gradually impassioned voice suddenly dropped back. “Alas, a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind; talents like me are inevitably subject to jealousy. Treacherous villains envious of me lurked for years, schemed and framed me, causing me to painfully lose my great position and bear a bad name! I had to escape the Vast Sea and wander the universe…”

Jiang Wang didn’t believe a single word of what Shenghai Old Dragon said in this passage.

Although he knew very little about the sea race.

But ‘smashing the world-ending thunder, suppressing the eternal dark vortex, guarding various sea domains’ sounds like something Gao Ji would do. ‘Developing sea beasts, enhancing race war potential, researching spells selflessly sharing, strengthening race power’ sounds like something Fu Hai would do…

If Shenghai Old Dragon could really do these things, why did he not become an Emperor Lord for so many years and instead run to the Shenghai Source Realm to act tyrannically?

Perhaps the only truth in this passage is that he ‘had to escape the Vast Sea and wander the universe’…

Jiang Wang asked, “Who was that treacherous villain?”

Shenghai Old Dragon sighed. “You should also know, this villain is named ‘Tai Yong’.”

He ground his teeth again. “That was originally supposed to be my name!”

Dragon Pan Heaven Buddha Temple’s Emperor Lord Tai Yong!

Not only did Jiang Wang know him?

His impression was simply profound!

Putting aside other things, just that sentence, ‘Today’s blood will stain the Heaven Buddha Temple, ending with myself, Tai Yong,’ even from the opposite side, one has to praise his sense of responsibility.

Facing the human race’s massive army attack, Tai Yong proactively sacrificed himself, irrigating the dragon domain with his dragon blood, fighting for time for the Heaven Buddha Temple. How could such performance not be more reliable than Shenghai Old Dragon’s?

Jiang Wang said calmly, unmoved, “What crime did he frame you with?”

Shenghai Old Dragon laughed coldly. “Saying I stole the Heaven Buddha’s treasure, it’s simply absurd! I don’t believe in Buddha or learn Buddhism, what use is stealing it? Stealing the Dragon Emperor’s secret treasure would be almost… Uh, I mean, I’ve always stood straight and sat upright in this life, how could I be willing to be a thief?”

It seems this fellow really stole the Heaven Buddha’s treasure…

But for some reason, this Heaven Buddha treasure was sealed, or Shenghai Old Dragon’s power hadn’t recovered, so he couldn’t use it? That’s why it didn’t play a role in the process of contending for the Star Lord position with Senior Guan Yan?

Jiang Wang quickly remembered that initially he had forced Yan Xiao to tell him various secrets about Shenghai Old Dragon.

Yan Xiao cried and said many things, among which were several key points.

First, the way Shenghai Old Dragon arrived at the Shenghai Source Realm was in an uncontrollable state, directly smashing into the source realm. A huge valley is still left there today. It was clearly a state of escape, being pursued by a great enemy.

Second, Shenghai Old Dragon’s state was very poor at that time. He hid in an ancient tree and slept for many years before waking up. He slowly recovered by gathering the faith of the beings in the source realm until he completely occupied the Shenghai Source Realm.

Third, Shenghai Old Dragon hid treasures in a world crevice!

The first two points match Shenghai Old Dragon’s escape from the Vast Sea and wandering the universe. The third point matches Shenghai Old Dragon stealing the Heaven Buddha’s treasure!

Heaven Buddha was an existence who dared to contend with the World Honored One, whose left Saha Dragon Staff could confront the Chao Cangwu Sword!

The treasures left by such an existence are immeasurable in value.

Yan Xiao said at that time that he knew the exact location of the old dragon’s hidden treasure. It was very possible that Shenghai Old Dragon hid it while escaping to wait for the capture of the Jade Balance before opening it. It was a pity that Jiang Wang didn’t believe Yan Xiao at the beginning, and later was eager to ascend to heaven to help Senior Guan Yan capture the Jade Balance. In the end, Yan Xiao was directly devoured by Shenghai Old Dragon, leaving no opportunity to re-investigate.

This old dragon had previously enticed him multiple times to go to some place to learn the Cave True method, perhaps just to borrow the power of that treasure to escape? He could mention it to Senior Guan Yan and let the elder search the world crevice in the Shenghai Source Realm… Jiang Wang thought this to himself, only saying aloud, “Stealing the Heaven Buddha’s treasure… This is indeed a bit absurd. With such a crime, how would other sea races believe it?”

Shenghai Old Dragon sighed. “It’s all because I was too upright and unbending in my usual dealings, offending too many forces. That Tai Yong was also good at disguising himself and gained the trust of quite a few strong individuals. I suspect he himself stole the Heaven Buddha’s treasure and shifted the blame onto me… When they ganged up to attack, I didn’t even have a chance to explain!”

His voice became pained, and even in his dragon eyes, a little turbid tear light squeezed out. “From the day I escaped the Vast Sea, I told myself, I don’t want to be a good gentleman anymore. It’s better that I betray the world than let the world betray me again! So I just became what you saw later!”

This angle of self-defense is quite profound!

The old dragon understands human hearts.

The evil deeds he committed in the Shenghai Source Realm fundamentally have no excuse that can absolve them.

He simply opened up another path, elaborating from “why the evil dragon is evil.”

A demon with a tragic past and a good past is always easier to evoke more sympathy and gain more understanding – it was the environment that made him so, his nature wasn’t bad.

Jiang Wang solemnly respected. “So you were exiled to the universe because of this, it really wasn’t easy.”

“Like us, who are unwilling to go with the flow in the mundane world, we will always suffer more pain. In a dark world, innocence is a mistake,” the old dragon said sadly. “I have been unable to guard the pure land of my heart, completely giving up on myself, corrupt and fallen, becoming the existence I once hated the most. But what’s worth celebrating is that there are still people like you in the world, who walk cleanly in the world and remind me of the light I once yearned for.”

Jiang Wang silently recited in his heart, I am not clean, I am not clean, resisting Shenghai Old Dragon’s flattery offensive. “To say guarding the pure land of the heart, always clean and innocent, I certainly don’t count, and I haven’t seen many on this path. But Senior Guan Yan can absolutely count as one.”

“Of course,” Shenghai Old Dragon firmly agreed. “Jade Balance Star Lord is an existence like a saint or Buddha, how compassionate, how great. Thanks to him, I wasn’t able to make a big mistake and was able to pull back from the brink! Only then did I have this fate with you. These three years, I have been deeply influenced, finding in your body what I once lost, remembering myself when I was young, I am truly moved…”

Jiang Wang was almost unable to hold back; this old dragon could say such disgusting words.

“Mending the fold after the sheep are lost is not too late,” he perfunctorily said, trying hard to return to the original topic. “Speaking of which, since you were only born after the dragon race retreated to the Vast Sea, how do you understand the Long River Dragon Lord?”

“Who in the sea race would forget him?” Shenghai Old Dragon said very sensibly. “Shall we talk about Ao Shuyi again?”

Jiang Wang said, “I’m all ears.”

Shenghai Old Dragon gently tilted his head, like a kind-browed benevolent elder, narrating his distant experiences to a young person on a night with dim lamp fire. “Since we’re having an open heart chat today, I’ll also confide to you the story hidden in my heart. It’s not convenient for you to tell me first, why are you so curious about this broken-spined river dog, Ao Shuyi?”

Jiang Wang said in a casual tone, “Oh, I just received an invitation from the Long River Dragon Lord, inviting me to attend his Dragon Palace Banquet.”

“Dragon Palace Banquet?!” Shenghai Old Dragon was slightly stunned. “It’s open again?”

Jiang Wang nodded slightly. “The invitation says so, it shouldn’t be wrong?”

Shenghai Old Dragon originally wanted to scold Ao, the river dog, what qualifications he had to represent the dragon race, what qualifications he had to open a Dragon Palace Banquet, but the words reached his mouth, and he asked, “Are you planning to attend?”

“Why not?” Jiang Wang smiled faintly. “This banquet gathers the world’s proud talents, this banquet displays strange treasures, this banquet is titled ‘the world’s first banquet.’ It’s good for me to broaden my horizons.”

“Speaking of this Water Lord Majesty, his affairs I’m actually not very clear about. After all, his active era is too long ago. There are always some evil words about him circulating in the Vast Sea, but I myself don’t really believe them. How can hearsay be taken as evidence? I understand this suffering after being framed myself.” Shenghai Old Dragon awkwardly shook his dragon claw, pulling at the chains. “Are you really going?”

Thanks to book friend “Purple Golden Little Leaf” for becoming the alliance leader of this book, the 464th alliance for Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Thanks to book friend “Wind Lightly Yang” for becoming the alliance leader of this book, the 465th alliance for Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Qidian has a 515 book fan festival, a web novel famous scenes voting activity. Each reader can vote three times per day.

The top fifty in terms of votes will have visual interpretations oh.

I didn’t know about this activity beforehand and didn’t organize anything at the time. Everyone voted for many famous scenes in Red Heart, and the vote numbers were very scattered.

I looked, and the famous scene with the highest number of votes for Red Heart now is the chapter “Form Autumn Frost”, “Heaven does not abandon Great Qi, giving birth to me, Jiang Wu Qi”. It seems to be in the forties?

Everyone, just concentrate your votes on this one.

If you have extra energy, then talk about others.

Of course, you can also completely follow your own preferences for voting.

What you love is also what I love.