At this very moment…
On the Eastern Shore, just outside the East Sea Dragon Palace, in one of the grand training grounds—
The former Dragon King, Ao Guang, had just finished instructing a group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals. But suddenly, he paused mid-sentence.
A tremendous surge of dragon might swept across the heavens.
Instinctively, he raised his massive dragon head and turned toward the palace—his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Th-This... this aura... it's the presence of an Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon!? He's evolved again?! After becoming a Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon, he's already evolved again…?"
His thoughts were in chaos. Just how much time has passed since the last evolution? This rate of progression—was it even possible?
Without another word, Ao Guang instantly transformed into his true dragon form, his dozens-of-zhang-long body soaring straight toward the East Sea Dragon Palace at full speed.
Southern Shore of the Four Seas.
Prime Minister Turtle, having just finished handling some military affairs in the South Sea, was preparing to issue new orders to his subordinates.
But before he could speak, his entire body froze.
His head snapped toward the East.
"That... that aura—"
As a fully evolved Black Tortoise, enhanced through Ao Qing's Evolution Points, Prime Minister Turtle's sensitivity to energy—especially the Dragon King's presence—was unparalleled.
The instant Ao Qing evolved, he felt it.
Without hesitation, he gave a few brief instructions and then transformed into a massive Black Tortoise form, leaping into the sky and racing toward the East Sea Dragon Palace.
And if anyone were watching closely, they would've noticed something incredible:
—Golden dragon scales had begun to sprout faintly across his shell!
He was evolving—toward the mythic form of a Dragon-Turtle God-Beast.
And all of it… was because of Ao Qing.
It wasn't just the Eastern and Southern Shores.
From the Western Sea to the Northern Shore, all the Dragon Clan elders and powerhouses felt it.
The moment that overwhelming dragon aura swept across the world, they too lifted their heads—eyes filled with shock and awe.
Then—all at once—they transformed and flew toward the Dragon Palace.
Only a fool couldn't tell:
Their Dragon King, Ao Qing, had evolved again—into an Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon!
And as his loyal followers, how could they not rush to pay homage!?
Ao Guang and Prime Minister Turtle were among the fastest.
Once in their true forms, they covered the distance in no time.
But upon arriving at the East Sea Dragon Palace, even they—who had expected to be impressed—were completely stunned.
Hovering above the palace was a massive dragon—over a thousand zhang long—coiled silently in the sky, blanketing the entire palace in its shadow.
Its golden scales were flawless and radiant, shimmering with multi-colored divine light.
But more than its sheer size, what shook them to the core was its head.
Though vaguely qilin-like in shape, it was even more majestic and awe-inspiring. Every whisker on its snout was thick as a pillar. Every breath it exhaled shook the heavens.
It was a being so enormous, so sacred, so ancient in aura, that it felt like a myth made manifest.
If Ao Qing rose into the sky at this moment, his body would stand tall as Mount Tai itself.
"Congratulations to the Dragon King on evolving into the Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon!" Prime Minister Turtle shouted first, bowing deeply.
Ao Guang followed immediately with respectful bows and repeated praises.
Their own transformed bodies were dozens of zhang in size—but compared to Ao Qing's current form, they were utterly insignificant. Like ants before a mountain.
"Congratulations to the Dragon King on your ascension!"
"Congratulations to the Dragon King on your ascension!"
"Congratulations to the Dragon King on your ascension!"
One by one, the elders of the Dragon Clan arrived and knelt in reverence, voices unified, their hearts pounding with awe.
It was overwhelming.
How much time had passed since the Dragon King's last evolution into a Six-Clawed Golden Dragon?
Now, so soon after—he had already stepped into the realm of Eight Claws...
"Rise, all of you," Ao Qing's deep voice rumbled like thunder. "But know this—evolving into an Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon… is not the full extent of what I've become."
The crowd blinked, stunned.
Prime Minister Turtle, eyes glowing with awe, quickly stepped forward.
"My Lord… I can sense it! There's Thunder Tribulation Energy coiled around your form! Could it be… that you've become the pinnacle form of the Eight-Clawed lineage—the Eight-Clawed Hunyuan Dragon of the Five Elements Calamity Suppression!?"
His words set off a shockwave.
The entire East Sea Dragon Palace fell silent.
Not a single elder could speak.
They all turned to Ao Qing, their eyes wide as saucers.
"The Eight-Clawed Hunyuan Dragon of the Five Elements Calamity Suppression…! That's the strongest form among all Eight-Clawed Golden Dragons! A being capable of summoning Thunder Tribulation—the very force used by the heavens to judge immortals!"
"Back in the Great Desolation, even among the Zulong's forces, there were only a few of these dragons—and they each destroyed countless peak-level powerhouses!"
"It's said that even Saint-level experts fear crossing them. Because in the Dragon Clan, only dragons with eight or more claws in this class can summon Thunder Tribulation!"
"And the heavenly tribulations that cultivators fear during ascension? Those are descended by dragons like this one!"
"We never thought… the Dragon King would evolve into that form!"
The Dragon Clan elders were beyond ecstatic.
Over just a few short weeks, Ao Qing had utterly defied imagination, evolving again and again—reaching heights they once considered legendary.
"Indeed," Ao Qing said calmly. "I can clearly feel it now—this Thunder Tribulation power flows through me. It's more than just might. My perception of the world… my comprehension of Dao… everything has leapt to a new realm."
This was no mere power boost.
He could sense it in his very soul.
His understanding of the heavens had transcended.
He still remembered how overwhelming the power of the Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon had felt.
Now—as an Eight-Clawed Tribulation Dragon—he could hardly imagine his upper limit.
Then, he turned to Prime Minister Turtle.
"By the way… while I was in closed-door cultivation, what's the current status of the Four Seas?"
Military strength had always been one of Ao Qing's top priorities. It was the foundation of his ambition to conquer the Three Realms.
"My Lord," Prime Minister Turtle beamed, stepping forward. "I have already compiled all the key stats and developments of the Four Seas. Please… have a look."
He bowed respectfully and handed over a thick scroll, both hands trembling slightly with excitement.