NOVPUBAfter the First Elder and the Third Elder left, Yuan returned to purifying the poison.
A week later, the pitch-black taint that once clouded the waters had completely vanished. The sea now shimmered with clarity, indistinguishable from the untouched stretches around it—serene, pure, and free of corruption.
Once he purified all of the poison, Yuan made his way back to the Azure Dragon Clan's residence while taking the now-purified orb with him.
However, he didn't even make it halfway back to the Azure Dragon Clan's living quarters before he encountered Jiao Zhenhai, Holy Dragon Emperor, and the others.
"Senior Envoy! Are you okay?" The Dragon Emperor asked him.
"Yes, I am fine."
"W-What did you do to this place?" Jiao Zhenhai asked, his expression one of utter disbelief. "It used to be filthy, and we could barely get this far without blacking out…"
Yuan held out the now-purified orb and spoke calmly, "This was the source of the poison. But I've already cleansed it. If you go a bit further down, you'll see a corpse."
"I see… I'll have the First Elder analyze it," said Jiao Zhenhai. "By the way, where's the First Elder? He came out here with you, correct? We came all the way out here because we sensed his Celestial Qi and thought he was in a fight."
"..."
Yuan didn't immediately respond.
"What's wrong?" Jiao Zhenhai asked.
Yuan looked at the Second Elder, who was still with the Azure Dragon Clan, and said, "You won't like what I am about to say. Hell, you might even get angry at me for even saying it."
After taking a deep breath, Yuan continued, "The First Elder betrayed the Azure Dragon Clan. He had a hand in the poison, and he attacked me while I was trying to purify it."
"WHAT?!"
Everyone in the Azure Dragon Clan exclaimed loudly, their faces filled with disbelief.
"It's not just the First Elder, either. The Third Elder is also involved."
Jiao Zhenhai subconsciously took several steps back from absorbing the shock.
"T-There's no way! You're making that up!" Jiao Binglan suddenly shouted. "The First Elder and the Third Elder are some of the most loyal members of the family! They wouldn't do something like betray us!"
Yuan shrugged and said, "Why don't you listen to the details before you come to a conclusion? Here is what happened…"
Yuan recounted the entire series of events in detail—from the moment he first began purifying the poisonous orb, to the fierce battle that followed with the First Elder, and how the Third Elder had appeared unexpectedly, intervened at the last moment to save his fellow conspirator before vanishing without a trace.
"Hahaha! Do you really expect us to believe that you'd defeated the First Elder, who was at the second level of God Ascension and forced the Third Elder to escape, when you're only at the peak of Divine Emperor?!" Jiao Binglan laughed out loud, finding his claims humorous and ridiculous.
"If you don't believe it, I can show it to you? How I defeated the First Elder, that is. However, it's going to be a very painful experience." Yuan narrowed his eyes at her.
Jiao Binglan immediately erupted in anger, causing her aura to surge.
"STOP!" Jiao Zhenhai suddenly roared.
"B-But father—"
"If the First Elder and the Third Elder are innocent, they will appear before us to explain everything," he said before looking at Yuan and continuing, "If what you claim is true, they probably won't return to the Azure Dragon Clan, right?"
Yuan shook his head and said, "No, they will undoubtedly return. However, it'll be to destroy the Azure Dragon Clan or finish whatever I intervened."
Jiao Zhenhai clenched his fists in frustration.
"We don't know that for sure. For all we know, they could've already returned to the residences and are waiting for our return."
"Then why don't we return to the residence first?" Yuan suggested.
Jiao Zhenhai nodded, and they began making their way back to the Azure Dragon Clan's living quarters.
"I'm sorry you have to experience this, Senior Envoy…" The Dragon Emperor apologized to him as they moved. "If only we hadn't gambled away the key…"
"It's fine."
Sometime later, they returned to the Azure Dragon Clan's living quarters.
"Has anyone seen the First Elder or the Third Elder?! Did they return yet?!"
Jiao Zhenhai questioned every single individual they passed by in the courtyard.
"No, Your Majesty. The First Elder and the Third Elder have not returned yet. We can send them a message requesting their return."
"Do it immediately! If they don't respond, let me know!"
The servants hurriedly went to contact the First Elder and the Third Elder through their communication jade slip. However, neither of them responded.
Sometime later—
"Your Majesty, we tried contacting them several times, but neither of them is responding."
"No way…"
Jiao Zhenhai suddenly staggered backward, his face pale with disbelief. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor, breath shallow, eyes wide. The reality that two of the clan's highest elders, pillars of the Azure Dragon Clan, had betrayed them from within was sinking in.
"Father, there must be an explanation!" Jiao Binglan cried out, her voice trembling. "First Grandpa and Third Grandpa would never betray us!"
Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head in denial. They had been there since the day she was born, watching over her, guiding her, even treating her as their grandchild. The thought that they could turn against the Azure Dragon Clan—against her was too painful to accept.
Xuanbing and the Second Elder remained silent, but their pale faces and trembling forms betrayed the storm of emotions churning within them.
"Why…?" Jiao Zhenhai muttered, his voice cracking under the weight of disbelief. "Why would they betray the Azure Dragon Clan? They've been supporting the clan for longer than even I have…"
His fists clenched, and a hint of denial lingered in his tone. "It doesn't make any damn sense…"
Instead of sticking it in their faces, Yuan remained silent and patiently waited for them to accept the situation.
