Hong Huang: I am the cowherd

Chapter 35 The True Treasure Vault of the Dragon Clan!

After leaving the main hall of the Dragon Palace, Ao Guang swiftly dived deeper into the depths of the sea. Before long, he reached the ocean’s deepest abyss. There, an ancient and unadorned cave abode stood—it was the Dao Arena of Zhulong, the younger brother of the Ancestral Dragon. Only a handful of individuals within the entire Dragon Clan even knew of its existence.

“Ancestor, Ao Guang requests an audience!”

Crack! Crack!

Moments later, the stone doors of the cave abode swung open, and Ao Guang quickly stepped inside. Upon seeing the thin figure standing in the center of the cave, he immediately bowed deeply.

“Ao Guang greets the Ancestor!”

Whoosh!

Zhulong turned around and lightly waved his hand.

“There’s no need for formalities.”

“Ao Guang, why are you here instead of governing the Dragon Clan? Why disturb my seclusion?”

The reason the Dragon Clan had remained standing after the Dragon-Han Calamity was not just their own strength—it was mainly because Zhulong, a top-tier powerhouse, was overseeing them!

With Zhulong present, even though the Dragon Clan had long withdrawn from the stage of history, no one dared to make a move against them. Even during the Lich Calamity, the Demon Emperor Dijun and the Eastern Emperor Taiyi wanted to subjugate the Dragon Clan and make them serve the Demon Clan.

However, because of Zhulong’s existence, Dijun and Taiyi had no choice but to abandon the idea. Instead, they merely had the Dragon Clan join the Heavenly Court in name, without requiring them to serve the Demon Clan.

Thus, even though the Lich Calamity was devastating, the Dragon Clan, which had nominally joined the Demon Clan, remained unscathed. This alone showed how powerful Zhulong was!

Whoosh!

Hearing Zhulong’s words, Ao Guang immediately prostrated himself.

“Ancestor, please save the Dragon Clan!”

“What happened?”

Zhulong’s eyes narrowed slightly, a solemn expression appearing on his face. He had always valued Ao Guang, which was why he had entrusted him with leading the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan. If Ao Guang was saying the entire Dragon Clan was in mortal danger, then it was certainly not an exaggeration.

“Ancestor, I have inadvertently offended the Upper Clarity Saint.”

With that, Ao Guang recounted everything—how Ao Feng had attempted to kill and rob Su Chen, and how he himself had tried to use his status to suppress Su Chen. He did not dare to conceal a single detail.

After listening, Zhulong furrowed his brows, feeling exasperated beyond words. After all the sacrifices the Dragon Clan had made to rise again, they were now facing annihilation just because they had offended Su Chen? The thought alone made him so furious he nearly coughed up blood.

“Ancestor, I previously had Tingxue serve as Su Chen’s foot servant and even led him into the Dragon Palace’s treasure vault, but he didn’t care for any of it!”

Ao Guang’s expression was filled with regret.

“Thus, in order to properly atone to Su Chen and pacify the wrath of the Upper Clarity Saint, I have come to seek your help!”

Whoosh!

Zhulong immediately understood Ao Guang’s real intent.

“You mean to let Su Chen enter our Dragon Clan’s true treasure vault, allow him to select treasures, and use that to make amends and quell the Upper Clarity Saint’s anger?”

The Dragon Clan had existed for countless eons, and their true collection of treasures was far beyond what was stored in the Dragon Palace’s vault. Their real trove was hidden within an independent middle-thousand world, and only Zhulong himself had the ability to access it.

After contemplating for a long while, Zhulong finally sighed deeply.

“Very well, as you wish. Let the Upper Clarity Saint’s disciple enter our true treasure vault and select whatever he desires to atone for our mistake.”

In the current era of the Great Desolation, the age of Saints had long begun. Although Zhulong was incomparably powerful, he had not yet attained sainthood. In the eyes of the Upper Clarity Saint, he was nothing more than a slightly larger ant.

Moreover, the fault was entirely on the Dragon Clan this time. They had attempted murder and robbery first, and then tried to leverage power against Su Chen. This had thoroughly enraged the Upper Clarity Saint.

If they didn’t give Su Chen a satisfactory resolution, then the Saint’s decree to annihilate the Dragon Clan would undoubtedly come to pass.

Compared to the prospect of their entire clan’s extinction, losing some treasures was insignificant!

“This is all my fault! I beg the Ancestor to punish me!”

Hearing that the Ancestor had agreed, Ao Guang felt a wave of relief but still prostrated himself once more, pleading for punishment.

“Ao Guang, you have led the Dragon Clan for years. Though you made mistakes, you have also contributed greatly. The greater responsibility here lies with Ao Feng!”

“Thus, I hope that from now on, you will be more cautious. I also grant you the chance to atone for your sins—lead our Dragon Clan towards greater strength!”

Zhulong still valued Ao Guang greatly. Now that the Dragon Clan was on the verge of rising again, Zhulong wouldn’t waste a capable leader.

“Thank you, Ancestor! I will not fail your expectations!”

Hearing that he was allowed to redeem himself, Ao Guang was overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Good!”

“Now, go bring the Upper Clarity Saint’s disciple here.”

Zhulong waved his hand lightly.

“Yes, Ancestor!”

As Ao Guang’s figure departed, Zhulong’s eyes gleamed with a deep light.

“If one does not attain sainthood, they are nothing but an ant. Now that the karmic burden of our Dragon Clan has dissipated, where does my opportunity for enlightenment lie?”

Zhulong had existed since the same era as the Dao Ancestor Hongjun. He had personally witnessed Hongjun’s enlightenment and the ascension of his six disciples to sainthood.

Deep in his heart, he, too, harbored an unyielding ambition!

—

Before long, Ao Guang returned to the Dragon Palace and personally led Su Chen to the ocean’s depths.

“Immortal Su Chen, please enter the true treasure vault of our Dragon Clan. I hope it will satisfy you!”

Whoosh!

Hearing Ao Guang’s words, Su Chen’s eyes lit up. No wonder the so-called Dragon Palace treasury had seemed so underwhelming.So this was where they had been hiding all their real treasures!