The vast East Sea, blue waves stretching ten thousand li, sky light and cloud shadows playing together. Tang Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu traveled south from the Northern Plains Snow Region. Before reaching the Southern Frontier, midway they received an urgent request for help transmitted through the dragon race's secret technique from East Sea Dragon Palace Crown Prince Ao Qin. In the transmission jade talisman, Ao Qin's voice carried a rare anxiety: "Brother Xiao Qi, there is change in the East Sea. The subordinate sea races 'Mysterious Turtle Tribe' and 'Thunder Jiao Tribe' haveunited rebelled, besieging the thirty-six islands outside the Crystal Palace, wanting to seize the 'Tidal Spirit Eye.' The Dragon Palace's elite forces are mostly deployed at the Abyss Demon Rift and cannot return to help in time. I earnestly request you to come quickly to help calm this chaos. Ao Qin will be endlessly grateful!"
Xiao Qi crushed the jade talisman, his eyes flashing with gravity. The East Sea Dragon Palace had deep friendship with him, and Ao Qin had helped him multiple times—this help could not be refused. He immediately changed direction, taking Zhao Tiezhu, transforming into three flowing lights, shooting straight toward the East Sea shore.
Several days later, the three arrived at "Sea-Gazing City," the largest port city on the East Sea coast. The once-prosperous port now had asolemn killing intent atmosphere, with warships gathering on the sea, flags waving, but most were flags of various subordinate races to the Dragon Palace, true Dragon Palace war boats were few, and many showed damage. The air was filled with faint blood and gunpowder smells, and in the distance where sea and sky met, spell collision lights and explosions could faintly be seen.
Ao Qin personally came out of the temporary command post to welcome them. This usually elegant and noble dragon crown prince was now in armor, his brows carrying fatigue and worry. Seeing Xiao Qi, he quickly stepped forward, heavily patting Xiao Qi's shoulder: "Brother Xiao Qi, you've finally come!"
"Ao Qin, what's the situation?" Xiao Qi went straight to the point.
Ao Qin led him into the command tent, spread out a sea chart, and said gravely: "The rebels are mainly Mysterious Turtle Tribe, with Thunder Jiao Tribe as auxiliary, having roped in dozens of small tribes with long-standing grievances against the Dragon Palace or who go with the flow, their forces not under a million. They've occupied the 'Shattered Star Islands' that must be passed through to reach the Crystal Palace, relying on the islands to set up the 'Myriad Currents Return to Void Grand Formation,' mobilizing undersea currents and spatial rifts, easy to defend and hard to attack. My Dragon Palace's main force is tied down suppressing key nodes at the Abyss Demon Rift, and the forces that can be mobilized in the short term are less than two hundred thousand. Several forced attacks have all suffered heavy losses."
Zhao Tiezhu looked at the densely marked rebel strongholds on the sea chart, exclaiming: "Good heavens, a million sea race? If we fight hard, when will it end?"
Xiao Qi stared at the position of that Tidal Spirit Eye, pondering for a moment, then asked: "What caused the rebellion? Just resource disputes?"
Ao Qin sighed, his face showing complexity: "On the surface it's fighting for control of the Tidal Spirit Eye and complaining about the Dragon Palace's unfair resource distribution. But according to my planted scouts' reports, there seems to be traces of demonic qi erosion behind it. Some rebel leaders have had their natures greatly changed, acting ruthlessly and decisively, unlike their usual selves. I suspect it's related to the scattered power of demon remnants, having infiltrated the sea races, magnifying greed and resentment."
Xiao Qi's eyes sharpened. The demon's influence had already spread to the four seas! He said gravely: "In that case, we must quell it even faster. Forced attacks lose too much—Ao Qin, have you tried surrender negotiations?"
"Tried," Ao Qin shook his head, "Three waves of envoys sent, two were detained, one was beheaded and sent back. The rebel leader Mysterious Turtle Ancestor has a hard attitude, claiming unless the Dragon Palace gives up the East Sea hegemon position and hands over Tidal Spirit Eye control, he won't stop."
"Stubbornly ignorant." Xiao Qi coldly snorted, "In that case, I'll meet this Mysterious Turtle Ancestor and see if his turtle shell is really as hard as rumors say."
Ao Qin was shocked: "Brother Xiao Qi wants to enter the enemy camp alone? Absolutely not! The Shattered Star Islands are now a dragon's pool and tiger's den, with layers of formations and a million-strong army..."
Xiao Qi waved his hand, interrupting, a confident arc on his lips: "No matter. A million is just a mob. Formation advantages depend on who operates them. Ao Qin just needs to gather troops outside, listen for my signal—once the enemy is in chaos, attack and annihilate them in one stroke."
He was now Golden Core late stage peak, carrying Four Symbols Soul Crystals, World-Purifying Spirit Flame, and Green Lotus Origin, his combat power far exceeding ordinary Nascent Souls. Though a million sea race was numerous, their top combat power was lacking—he had his methods.
That day, Xiao Qi didn't rush to act, but had Ao Qin arrange a small boat. He sat alone at the bow, with Zhao Tiezhu staying on shore for coordination. The small boat had no sail or oar, drifting slowly toward the Shattered Star Islands with the waves.
Approaching the islands, patrolling Thunder Jiao warriors immediately discovered it. Seeing only a small boat with one person sitting, these fierce sea race members gathered around, holding thunder tridents, shouting.
"Who comes? Stop immediately! This is Mysterious Turtle Ancestor's territory, trespassers die!" A Thunder Jiao leader shouted sternly, his trident flashing with lightning.
Xiao Qi didn't even raise his eyelids, just calmly said: "Go inform Mysterious Turtle Ancestor that Qingxu View's Tang Xiao Qi has come to visit, wanting to discuss East Sea trends with him."
His voice wasn't loud, but clearly entered every sea race member's ears, carrying an irresistible majesty. Those Thunder Jiao warriors only felt their minds shaken, unable to generate any thought of attacking.
That Thunder Jiao leader had seen the world too—hearing the three characters "Tang Xiao Qi," his expression drastically changed. In recent years, Tang Xiao Qi's name had resounded through the cultivation world, purifying demonic sources, heavily damaging demon leaders, already a legendary figure. He dared not slight him, hurriedly sending someone to report back to the island.
Not long after, an aged, thick voice came from deep in the islands, like undersea muffled thunder: "Tang Xiao Qi? That human race's so-called 'World-Purifying True Monarch' brat? Hmph, such audacity, daring to come alone! Let him in, this old man wants to see what ability he has!"
The blocking Thunder Jiao warriors all made way. Xiao Qi's small boat still unhurried, sailed toward the islands' core. Along the way, he sensed countless curious, wary, or malicious divine senses sweeping over, and hidden formation fluctuations, but he seemed unaware, his whole body's aura complete and natural, as if merging with this heaven and earth.
Passing through layers of fog and currents, the view suddenly opened. On a massive island, a simple yet imposing stone hall had been built. Before the hall's square, densely packed with various sea races, flags waving, weapons forested. In front was an old man wearing mysterious black heavy armor and carrying a massive turtle shell, his face ancient, eyes sharp, his whole body emitting Nascent Soul early stage's powerful aura—this was Mysterious Turtle Ancestor. Beside him stood a Jiao old woman in blue scales holding a thunder staff, her aura yin-cold—she was the Thunder Jiao Tribe's chief.
"Tang Xiao Qi, instead of dominating on land, you come to my East Sea to stir up trouble, what do you intend?" Mysterious Turtle Ancestor's voice was like a great bell, carrying interrogation.
Xiao Qi's small boat stopped several zhang from shore. He slowly stood up, his gaze calmly sweeping over all the sea races present, finally landing on Mysterious Turtle Ancestor: "Ancestor's words are mistaken. The East Sea is under Dragon Palace's rule, and Crown Prince Ao Qin is my close friend. Now you raise rebellion, besiege the Crystal Palace, slaughter living beings—how can I stand by when I encounter this?"
"Hmph! The Dragon Palace is unjust, exploiting us all—the East Sea hegemon position should have changed long ago!" Mysterious Turtle Ancestor angrily said, "The Tidal Spirit Eye was created by heaven and earth—how can the Dragon Palace monopolize it? You've come at the right time, let this 'World-Purifying True Monarch' taste my sea race's Myriad Currents Grand Formation!"
His words barely fell when Mysterious Turtle Ancestor and Thunder Jiao Chief simultaneously formed hand seals. Instantly, the entire Shattered Star Islands changed color, sea water reversing, countless massive water tornadoes rising to the sky, mixed with thunder lightning and spatial rifts, from all directions strangling toward Xiao Qi! The Myriad Currents Return to Void Grand Formation activated!
Facing this terrifying formation sufficient to strangle Nascent Souls, Xiao Qi neither dodged nor avoided. He deeply inhaled, the Four Symbols jade pendant in his body slightly vibrating, especially the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal blazing with light. His hands raised hollowly, a vast aura passing through his body, not to fight but to guide.
"Water has no fixed form, Dao follows nature. You mobilize myriad currents, yet don't understand the principle of all currents returning to source!"
One could only see those countless violent water tornadoes and thunder, upon approaching within a hundred zhang of Xiao Qi, seemed to meet an invisible barrier, becoming docile, slowly rotating around him. Not only did they not attack, they madly gathered the heaven and earth's spiritual qi. Xiao Qi stood in the vortex center, clothes fluttering, like a water god descending to the world.
Using the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal's absolute control over all waters in the world, combined with his own understanding of heaven and earth laws, he had in an instant turned the tables, seizing partial control of the grand formation!
"What?!" Mysterious Turtle Ancestor and Thunder Jiao Chief were shocked—the formation they relied on was actually ineffective against the other?
"Good formation, unfortunately, the formation masters have polluted Dao hearts." Xiao Qi's gaze was like lightning toward Mysterious Turtle Ancestor, his voice suddenly stern, "Mysterious Turtle! You are eroded by demonic qi, greed magnified, raising war—do you know you've made a grave mistake? Turn back now, still in time!"
As he spoke, Xiao Qi activated the Source of Purification, a soft yet pure white light spreading from him as the center. This light wasn't blinding, but carried power that washed away all filth and soothed all restlessness.
Where the white light passed, those sea race warriors influenced by demonic qi, with blood-red eyes full of violence, their gazes gradually cleared, their faces showing confusion and struggle. Even Mysterious Turtle Ancestor himself violently shook, a trace of struggle flashing in his eyes—his internal demonic qi, under this pure light, like ice meeting sunlight, rapidly melted.
"I... I am..." Mysterious Turtle Ancestor looked at his callused hands, then at the sea territory in flames around him, for the first time his face showing regret and pain, "Demonic delusion... it was demonic delusion!"
Xiao Qi seeing this, knew the timing was right. His voice turned gentle, yet carried heart-shaking power: "The East Sea is vast enough to accommodate all races. The Dragon Palace's rule is an ancient alliance maintaining order in the four seas. The Tidal Spirit Eye is heaven's gift—the Dragon Palace has never monopolized it, always distributing according to merit. You were instigated by others, used by demonic qi, raising civil war, depleting the cultivation world's vitality against demonic calamity, breaking the hearts of billions of living beings in this endless sea!"
His every word and sentence, containing Dao rhyme and purification power, struck every sea race member's heart. More and more rebels lowered their weapons, the hostility in their eyes replaced by shame and awakening.
Thunder Jiao Chief gave a long sigh, dropping the thunder staff in her hand, kneeling on one knee toward the Dragon Palace direction: "This old one was confused, blinded by demonic qi, nearly causing catastrophe... willing to accept any punishment from the Dragon Palace."
Mysterious Turtle Ancestor was even more tearful, bowing deeply toward Xiao Qi: "True Monarch's words awakened the dreamer! This old man... deserves ten thousand deaths! Willing to disband the tribe, personally go to the Crystal Palace to apologize to the Dragon King!"
Seeing the leader surrender, the million-strong rebel army instantly collapsed, one after another kneeling to surrender.
Xiao Qi then sent word to Ao Qin. The Dragon Palace army that had been waiting outside for a long time, led by Ao Qin, entered the Shattered Star Islands bloodlessly, receiving the surrender and stabilizing the situation.
Ao Qin looking at the scene before him, was incomparably shocked in his heart. He had thought there would be a tragic bloody battle, never expecting Xiao Qi to resolve this million-strong army's armed conflict with just one person and some words, his might and virtue already transcending ordinary powercategory.
He came to Xiao Qi's side, sincerely admiring: "Brother Xiao Qi, today I finally understand what 'conquering with virtue' means. You not only resolved my East Sea crisis, but saved countless sea race lives, merit boundless!"
Xiao Qi smiled, looking at the gradually calming sea surface, softly saying: "The use of power lies in the heart. Breaking enemies is easy, conquering hearts is hard. I hope after this, the East Sea can truly welcome long-lasting peace."
That night, the Dragon Palace held a grand banquet, celebrating the rebellion being quelled and welcoming Xiao Qi. At the banquet, Ao Qin on behalf of the Dragon Palace solemnly gifted Xiao Qi three drops of "True Dragon Origin Essence Blood" and a batch of East Sea rare treasures to show gratitude. Xiao Qi couldn't refuse, so he accepted.
After this battle, "World-Purifying True Monarch" Tang Xiao Qi's reputation in the four seas and eight wastelands reached a new peak. His deed of bloodlessly quelling the East Sea chaos with supreme magic power and benevolent heart quickly spread throughout the world, not only thoroughly establishing the Dragon Palace's unshakable authority in the East Sea, but also making human, demon, and sea races even more recognize the importance of unity and the righteous path. And Xiao Qi himself, in the process of resolving this catastrophe, gained deeper understanding of the "guardian" and "guidance" Dao.