When the Dragon Island Decree was produced, the crowd erupted in commotion. The several hundred warriors gathered were all long-time residents of Half-Dragon City, and naturally well-acquainted with the concept of the Dragon Island Decree—though they had only ever heard of it. This was their first time seeing the real thing. In an instant, several hundred pairs of eyes locked onto the Decree, staring without blinking.
Fu Chi let out a derisive snort. "You pull out some random token and claim it's the Dragon Island Decree? You think the Dragon Clan is that easy to fool?"
He was genuinely furious with Yang Kai, which was why he couldn't resist the jab.
Yang Kai looked at him as though gazing at a fool. "The Grand Elder has already confirmed this is the Dragon Island Decree. You think your eye is better than the Grand Elder's? Or perhaps you don't trust the Grand Elder?"
Fu Chi froze, his expression turning ugly. "Boy, don't you dare make false accusations."
The label of distrusting the Grand Elder was not one he could easily wear, even as an Eighth-rank Thunder Dragon. He hurriedly turned to Zhu Yan. "Grand Elder, that is not what I meant."
Zhu Yan waved his hand slightly and looked at Yang Kai. "Although I agree that the aura of this Dragon Island Decree appears authentic, whether it truly is the genuine article still requires careful verification. If it's not too much trouble, might I take a look?"
Yang Kai lowered his gaze to Zhu Qing. When she nodded, he smiled. "Then I'll leave it in the Grand Elder's hands."
He tossed the Decree, and it flew toward the Grand Elder.
Zhu Yan caught it, formed a hand seal, and pressed a finger against the token.
In an instant, the dragon figure upon the Decree began to swim and coil, and a resonant dragon cry rang out.
Fourth Elder Zhu Kong nodded. "It is genuine. Without question, this is the Dragon Island Decree."
In truth, the moment they laid eyes on the token, the Elders had already been eighty percent certain. But given the gravity of the matter, verification was only proper.
Yang Kai smiled faintly. "I've heard that whoever holds the Dragon Island Decree may present one request to Dragon Island—" Mid-sentence, his expression suddenly shifted to alarm and fury. "What are you doing?!"
In that very instant, the Second Elder had lunged toward the Dragon Island Decree held in the Grand Elder's hand with blinding speed, her outstretched palm dissolving into a cascade of afterimages as it swept toward the Decree.
Zhu Yan clearly had not anticipated Fu Zhun's sudden move. He flipped his wrist to evade, but the Second Elder had been prepared in advance, shadowing his every motion.
The two great Elders of the Dragon Clan stood rooted in place, yet their hands transformed into countless afterimages, clashing silently.
After a single crisp snap, everything went still.
Zhu Yan's brow furrowed. Fu Zhun's expression remained as cold as ever. Zhu Kong glanced between the two and let out a long sigh.
Under the gaze of every person present, the Dragon Island Decree in the Grand Elder's hand crumbled into a pile of fine powder, sifting through his fingers and vanishing completely in the blink of an eye.
"What is the meaning of this, Second Elder?!" Yang Kai's face was dark, his teeth clenched as he glared at Fu Zhun. He had never imagined that this woman would openly destroy his Dragon Island Decree. It was utterly shameless. He could hardly conceive that a powerhouse rivaling a Great Emperor could do something like this in front of so many people.
He had already harbored some distrust toward her, which was why he had consulted Zhu Qing before handing the Decree to the Grand Elder. Yet he had still miscalculated.
Zhu Yan also turned his head to regard Fu Zhun, seemingly waiting for an explanation.
Fu Zhun spoke with indifference. "I do not need to explain my actions to you. Since the Grand Elder and the Fourth Elder have both confirmed it was the Dragon Island Decree, I naturally won't deny it. Let us say it was the Dragon Island Decree, for the sake of argument."
"For the sake of argument?!" The veins on Yang Kai's forehead pulsed wildly. Was she not lying through her teeth? One phrase of "for the sake of argument" and the Decree's authenticity was dismissed?
But Fu Zhun did not linger on that point. She merely said in a cold voice, "You trespassed on Dragon Island without the Dragon Clan's permission—that is your first crime. You caused a disturbance on the day of the Dragon Clan's wedding—that is your second crime. You defiled the honor of a Dragon Clan maiden—that is your third crime. Each one warrants death. However, I will not kill you today. Consider that Dragon Island Decree as having purchased your life. Leave at once!"
Yang Kai shot back defiantly. "Did I ever say I wanted to trade the Decree for my life? Isn't the Second Elder being rather high-handed about this?"
He was genuinely enraged. He had produced the Dragon Island Decree and hadn't even stated his request before this woman destroyed it, and then she had the audacity to declare that it had been exchanged for his life.
Even forced trades didn't go this far.
"If you won't trade for your life, then you choose death!"
Yang Kai craned his neck and shouted, "I want your Dragon Clan to release someone. Let me and Qing'er leave this place."
"Dream on!" Fu Zhun sneered repeatedly.
Zhu Qing spoke with anguish. "Second Elder, the Dragon Clan's ancestral rules state that whoever holds the Dragon Island Decree may make one reasonable request. You may be the Second Elder, but you cannot disregard the teachings of our ancestors!"
Yang Kai turned his gaze to Zhu Yan, his eyes sharp as blades. "Grand Elder, I need an explanation."
There was no reasoning with a woman like Fu Zhun. She was nothing more than a block of unyielding ice—no amount of words would make a difference and would only raise his blood pressure. Yang Kai could only shift his focus to Zhu Yan.
The Dragon Island Decree had been destroyed on his watch. No matter what, he could not escape that responsibility.
Zhu Yan nodded upon hearing this. "Indeed. The Dragon Clan's ancestral rules do contain such a provision."
Yang Kai's spirits lifted. He clasped his fists. "In that case, I have no other request. I only ask that the Grand Elder show leniency and allow me and Qing'er to depart in peace."