Summoners: One Golden Term per Level

”This... this...” An elderly dragon with a turtle shell and white hair and beard spoke in a trembling voice; he is an Elder of the Dragon Race, renowned for his wisdom.

”There might be hidden truths in this matter! Although Ao Lie is reckless, collaborating with the Abyss to betray our realm is absolutely not something our Dragon Race would do.

He must have been schemed against!”

”Moreover, why was Ao Lie there? All of this must be investigated. We cannot hastily jump to conclusions!”

He wanted to mention Ao Spirit, but he swallowed his words under the other’s icy gaze.

”Hidden truths?” Ao Spirit sneered, ”Great Elder, All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds only look at the results, who cares about the complications within?

The Yuqing Dao Lineage collaborating with the Abyss has already become a public enemy of the Dao Realm! And an Elder of our East Sea Dragon Race wielding a Magical Treasure.

Appeared on the battlefield besieging key personnel of the Human Emperor Palace.

This is the fact that all creatures in the Dao Realm see!”

She looked around at everyone, her voice resolute: ”Whether Ao Lie was schemed against or blinded by hatred.

His actions have dragged our East Sea Dragon Race to the edge of an inescapable abyss.

If we continue to harbor luck and attempt to clear our name, it will only make the Dao Realm think our Dragon Race is irresponsible, adding to our cover-up! Confirming our name as traitors to the realm!”

”Then... what should we do?” Another Elder spoke in a trembling voice, full of despair.

”Cut off the tail to survive!!” Ao Spirit’s voice was cold and resolute, ”Only with the most decisive attitude, the most severe punishment, can we show the Human Emperor Palace and all beings of the Dao Realm the stance of our East Sea Dragon Race.

What Ao Lie did was his personal audacious act of betraying the clan, unrelated to the East Sea Dragon Race! The Dragon Race and the Abyss are irreconcilable!”

She stepped forward, an invisible pressure like a deep sea undercurrent enveloping the entire scene: ”I propose that Ao Lie’s powers and titles be stripped immediately.

And the Dragon Palace must swiftly declare that this was Ao Lie’s personal act, and we have just discovered this.

Also, the Dragon Race must sincerely apologize! This is the only way to quell the Dao Realm’s fury and preserve the bloodline foundation of our Dragon Race!”

”You... you are putting our Dragon Race and Ao Lie in jeopardy!” One Elder suddenly raised his head, his eyes almost bursting with anger.

He himself was on good terms with Ao Lie, even being of the same faction.

”In jeopardy?” Ao Spirit’s gaze was like lightning, piercing into him, ”I am saving the Dragon Race! Allowing Ao Lie’s faction is like allowing a ticking time bomb, ready to explode and shatter the entire East Sea Dragon Race to pieces.

Or are you, Elder Qiu Zhan, willing to bear the name of betraying the realm alongside Ao Lie and let our Dragon Race be buried with him?!”

”I.” Elder Qiu Zhan’s face shifted from red to purple, his massive body trembled violently, ultimately yielding under the heavy reality, lowering his head, unable to utter another word.

The grand hall fell silent once more, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing and the desperate beating of hearts.

”Alas...” A sigh unexpectedly echoed from the depths of the grand hall.

At the far end of the hall, atop the nine crystal steps of the gigantic dragon throne, space rippled like water. A figure sat silently and still.

The newcomer was none other than Ao Shun, the current Dragon King of the East Sea Dragon Race.

He wore a Mystic Black Dragon Robe embroidered with the Map of Ten Thousand Dragons Facing the Sea using secret silver thread, each piece of Scale Armor seeming to flow in the darkness.

His visage was stern and square, with high-arched brow bones, dragon eyes opening and closing, not revealing thundering wrath, only a profound, fathomless chill.

Suspended above the Dragon King’s head was the ”Vast Sea Dragon Pearl” symbolizing the authority and Qi Fortune of the East Sea, its glow now dim.

The once softly flowing blue halo had become like solidified ice marrow, emitting waves of chilling decay and sorrow.

The dimming of the Dragon Pearl spoke more than any roar about the titanic waves in the Dragon King’s heart.

This was a direct representation of the Dragon Clan’s fortune being tarnished by Ao Lie’s actions, reflecting the future fate of the East Sea Dragon Race.

The Dragon King’s gaze slowly swept over the silent assembly of dragons below, finally landing on the Mirage Mirror projecting the Void Battlefield at the center of the grand hall.

Even though the image had disappeared, the shameful scene remained seared into the heart of every Dragon Race member.

The Dragon King remained silent for a long time, and the many high-ranking members of the Dragon Race dared not speak.

This quiet scene persisted for a while.

”Ao Spirit.” The Dragon King’s voice finally sounded.

”I am here.” Ao Spirit stepped forward, bowing deeply, her demeanor reverently respectful.

”Your suggestion.” The Dragon King’s gaze was like a tangible Ice Cone, falling upon Ao Spirit with scrutiny and an indescribable heaviness, ”Approved.”

Just a single word, yet it resounded like thunder, exploding within the silent grand hall!

The Dragon King’s voice continued, announcing the final judgement: ”Ao Lie collaborated with the Abyss and disregarded my decree, recklessly departing from the Dragon Race.

From this day forth, Ao Lie is stripped of all posts and titles, forever removed from the ranks of Dragon Race Elders!

All Sea Split Guards under his command, the authority over the Seven Sea forces, the one hundred thirty-two secret mines and Spirit Veins, the two Water Mansions ’Furious Waves’ and ’Shattered Stars’... all transferred under Ao Spirit for governance and rectification!

Should anyone defy or disobey... they will be considered traitors, to be slain without mercy!”

Each place name, every removal and transfer of authority, struck like a heavy blow to the hearts of those Elders who once depended on Ao Lie.

This was defining the nature of Ao Lie’s actions.

Ao Spirit bowed deeply: ”I accept the decree! I will not fail the trust placed in me by Father King, and will purge remnants and rejuvenate the Dragon’s Might!”

The Dragon King’s gaze passed Ao Spirit, looking beyond into the void, his eyes seemingly piercing through layers of palaces to the direction of the Human Emperor Palace, perceiving the raging undercurrents of the Dao Realm. His voice carried a nearly weary heaviness, yet held an irrefutable determination: ”As for Ao Lie, I... shall personally go to the Human Emperor Palace and offer an apology with a thorned stem!”

”Your Majesty!”

”Dragon King, reconsider!”

Several old dragons, all with white hair and steady auras like deep seas, spoke almost simultaneously.

They had been hidden in the shadows, now finally making their presence known, exuding the pressure of the Golden Immortal Realm.

The leading old dragon, dragon whiskers trailing down to his chest, his scales cast in dark gold, nearly bronze, was one of the last remaining Elders of the Dragon Race, Zhu Kun.

He spoke gravely: ”The Dragon King is the Lord of the East Sea, with a body as precious as gold! How can he move lightly? To offer an apology to the Human Emperor Palace, I am willing to go in place of the King!”

The Dragon King slowly shook his head: ”This sin, if not undertaken personally by me, cannot show sincerity, cannot quell the public anger.”

”Now, we cannot afford to provoke widespread anger! Moreover, the Human Emperor Palace these years has produced two more Taiyi, even less can we provoke them.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Kun and the other Elders thought about the influence of the Human Emperor Palace, considering how the palace stood at significant levels even below Taiyi.

Now with two more Taiyi emerging, indeed, the East Sea Dragon Race cannot afford to provoke them, and its allies would not risk offending the Human Emperor Palace for the sake of a realm-betraying traitor.

Thus ultimately they could only transform their resolve into a heavy sigh, bowing and accepting the order: ”As commanded by the King.”

The Dragon King’s silhouette on the crystal dragon chair gradually became transparent, eventually blending into the deep sea’s light and shadow, silently dissipating.

Ao Spirit slowly straightened, her ice-blue robe brushing across the Crystal Palace’s floor.

The major concern in her heart was finally removed, after such a great struggle.

A single action with multiple gains.