Hearing Xu Fang's roundabout words, the Four Sea Dragon Kings were all perplexed. What did he mean by "died yet not died, and finally died"?
In such a state of dying and resurrecting, what kind of condition was Zu Long in!
The Four Sea Dragon Kings couldn't help but look at Xu Fang again, their minds filled with questions.
Xu Fang, too lazy to talk further with them, directly reached into his embrace, took out a bead, and threw it out, saying:
"This bead, you should be familiar with it, right?"
"A bead? What is it? Daoist Xu Fang, now is not the time for showing off treasures. You should explain..."
The Four Sea Dragon Kings looked at the bead floating in the air and were indifferent. Ao Guang urged him repeatedly. They only wanted to know about Zu Long's whereabouts now, and had no time to appreciate Xu Fang's treasures.
However, the moment they sensed the aura emanating from the bead, Ao Guang quickly changed his tune and exclaimed in surprise:
"Wait, this is the Zu Long Pearl!"
Upon hearing this, the other three Sea Dragon Kings, feeling the dense dragon aura emanating from the bead, were all startled and examined it carefully.
The Dragon Pearl was of great significance to the dragon race. Just as demonic beasts cultivated demonic cores, dragons had Dragon Pearls.
The Zu Long Pearl, belonging to the patriarch of the dragon race, was even more extraordinary. It was not only formed from Zu Long's essence and vitality but also the object that carried and condensed the dragon race's destiny.
At this moment, feeling the rich dragon destiny and Zu Long's aura from this Dragon Pearl, the Four Sea Dragon Kings were certain that this was Zu Long's Zu Long Pearl!
The Four Sea Dragon Kings were overjoyed and bowed deeply to the Zu Long Pearl suspended in mid-air as a sign of respect.
Then, Ao Guang impatiently asked:
"Daoist Xu Fang, what you said is true. Please tell us, where is Zu Long now!"
The appearance of the Zu Long Pearl had proven that Xu Fang's words were no longer false. The most important thing now was to ascertain the whereabouts of the dragon race's patriarch.
"Alas, the Zu Long Pearl has appeared here, and you still have such unrealistic fantasies!"
Xu Fang sighed and said, which made the hearts of the Four Sea Dragon Kings clench, as they realized something.
Yes, apart from its extraordinary significance, the Zu Long Pearl was the source of Zu Long's essence and vitality. Now that it appeared here, but Zu Long was nowhere to be seen, it meant that...
"No need to overthink it. Zu Long is indeed likely dead."
Xu Fang sighed and said slowly, finally delivering the fatal blow to the Four Sea Dragon Kings, shattering their illusions.
The Four Sea Dragon Kings vehemently shook their heads, refusing to believe it.
Xu Fang did not waste any more words and immediately recounted the entire experience of encountering Zu Long's phantom in the passage, in great detail.
As the Four Sea Dragon Kings listened, their grief deepened. Upon hearing that Zu Long's phantom had self-destructed in the end, they embraced each other and wept uncontrollably, their cries filled with tears.
"So, this change in the dragon race was not orchestrated by some malicious individual, but rather Zu Long's residual soul and phantom was summoning us?"
Ao Guang, struggling to stop his tears, looked at Xu Fang and asked.
Xu Fang sighed and nodded.
Upon hearing this, the Four Sea Dragon Kings became even more grief-stricken.
"So it was the clan leader who was summoning us from behind the scenes all along! It is our fault that we were too weak to live up to the clan leader's expectations!"
"Indeed, the clan leader devoted himself to the dragon race until his death. What have we achieved?"
"If only we had been more capable, we wouldn't even have been able to see the clan leader one last time!"
"If not for Daoist Xu Fang's help, we would probably still be in the dark!"
The Four Sea Dragon Kings spoke one after another, lamenting their own incompetence and regretting that they could not see Zu Long one last time.
However, the silver lining in the misfortune was that with Xu Fang's help, Zu Long's final wish was not in vain, and the Zu Long Pearl had reappeared among the dragon race.
"That's how things are. You don't need to be too sad."
Xu Fang said, pointing at the Zu Long Pearl.
"According to Zu Long, this Zu Long Pearl contains the complete inheritance of the dragon race. Now that I am handing it over to you, I have not failed Zu Long's trust."
The Four Sea Dragon Kings nodded silently.
How could they not know the significance of the Zu Long Pearl returning to the dragon race? It not only completed the dragon race's incomplete inheritance, thus reversing the trend of the dragon race becoming weaker with each generation.
Moreover, the Zu Long Pearl was a supreme treasure of the dragon race, capable of condensing dragon destiny and preventing the dragon race from its continuous decline.
And now, Xu Fang, following Zu Long's instructions, had brought the Zu Long Pearl to them, indicating that this was Zu Long's recognition of their status. From this moment on, they were the dragon race's controllers appointed by Zu Long.
The Four Sea Dragon Kings, upon realizing this, bowed deeply to Xu Fang, respectfully and solemnly. Ao Xue also, with tears streaming down her face, followed her father and uncles in paying homage to Xu Fang.
Xu Fang did not refuse. With the great kindness he had shown to the dragon race, this bow was well deserved!
After the homage, at Xu Fang's signal, Ao Guang put away the Zu Long Pearl.
Feeling the destiny and dragon aura emanating from it, as well as the complete dragon inheritance within, Ao Guang looked at Xu Fang with a desire to speak but hesitating, finally managing to speak after several choked sobs.
"Thank you, Daoist Xu Fang. We will obey Zu Long's wishes and continue to lead the dragon race to endure in the Primordial Era."
Ao Guang was thanking Xu Fang, and also making a promise to Zu Long.
"Furthermore, we will follow Zu Long's command. From now on, Daoist Xu Fang's affairs will be the dragon race's affairs, and we would die without regret!"
Even without this incident, they would have considered Xu Fang an important ally.
Now, with Zu Long's final decree, this had become even more natural. The Four Sea Dragon Kings, without needing to communicate, had already regarded Xu Fang as an indispensable friend.
Xu Fang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.
"My Penglai and the dragon race will forever be neighbors, watching out for each other. There is no need for further words on this matter."
Although in this adventure, the most precious treasure, the Zu Long Pearl, had to be returned to the dragon race, Xu Fang was still quite satisfied.
Having obtained such a promise from the dragon race, their relationship could be described as one of shared destiny.
With the help of the Zu Long Pearl, the dragon race would undoubtedly grow stronger, becoming an absolutely reliable neighbor.
When one is out and about, having more friends opens more paths; when cultivating at home, having more allies provides more security!
In the future, if anyone dared to lay a hand on Penglai from the East Sea, they would have to face the dragon race first. This had significantly reduced his pressure. He wondered which ignorant creature would dare to offend the East Sea's Penglai.
The gazes of the Four Sea Dragon Kings were all focused on the Zu Long Pearl, filled with sighs.
The Golden Winged Great Peng and others, seeing the legendary Zu Long Pearl and hearing about Xu Fang's adventure, also felt that the trip was worthwhile.
This treasure-hunting adventure could be considered a complete success.
However, Xu Fang's gaze fell upon the Zu Long Pearl in Ao Guang's hands, and he remained puzzled.
"Strange, why is this Zu Long Pearl still like this after falling into Ao Guang's hands?"