Mushroom Man

Chapter 329 The Dragon King Returns to the Palace, Miaoyin is Punished

In the Dragon Palace there is a bell, named Dragon Bell.

The three chimes signified that the Golden Dragon King had returned to the Dragon Palace, which was now leaderless.

"Father is back?"

When Prince Ao Tang heard the bell, he was first stunned, and then cold sweat poured down his back.

Before his father left, he instructed him to go into seclusion to cultivate and focus on breaking through to the next level. Only when he reached the fourth level could he emerge from seclusion.

His early departure from the pass is undoubtedly a disobedience to his father's orders.

If his father finds out that he wasn't focused on breaking through his bottleneck but instead came to fight, he certainly won't let him off easily.

The Golden Dragon King was extremely strict with his offspring.

Prince Ao Tang will also be severely punished if he makes a mistake.

At the same moment, Ao Miaoyin, who knew what the bell meant, also had a slight change in expression.

She was well aware of just how deep her Uncle Aoli's prejudice against humans ran.

Now that Uncle Ao Li has returned to the palace, if he discovers Young Master Wu, it might cause some misunderstandings.

We must immediately have my father greet Uncle Aoli.

Upon thinking of this, Ao Miaoyin immediately sent a message to her father via the communication mushroom.

"Brother Wu, please take good care of Sister Miaoyin."

"Once I have completed my cultivation, I will take it back from you."

"This prince will take his leave first..."

Crown Prince Ao Tang also realized what was happening. After a few hasty words, he tried to return to his secluded retreat before his father discovered him.

However, it was too late to leave at that point.

Wu Liang frowned, and just as he was about to say something, he felt an extremely domineering aura enveloping him from afar.

The next moment, a majestic and cold voice resounded in everyone's ears.

"Ao Tang, where are you going?"

Upon hearing this voice, Prince Ao Tang froze on the spot, like a mouse seeing a cat.

His expression was stiff, and he forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

"Father, King, why have you returned?"

"I'm about to go into seclusion to break through my cultivation barrier!"

Prince Ao Tang spoke up somewhat guiltily.

As soon as he finished speaking, a golden rainbow descended from the sky.

Wu Liang's mind stirred, and he looked up.

Then the rainbow light dissipated, and a middle-aged man emerged, exuding an air of authority and solemnity.

Although this man was middle-aged, he was more robust and imposing than the plump and overweight Silver Dragon King, standing proudly like a pine tree on a cliff.

Golden dragon horns, amber vertical pupils, and a thick, powerful dragon tail.

All these characteristics indicate that this dragon-man is in his prime, at the peak of his life.

Without a doubt, this person is none other than the leader of the dragon people, second only to the Lord of the Dragon Palace... the Golden Dragon King!

Without saying a word, the Golden Dragon King slowly descended to Prince Ao Tang's side.

Seeing his father's state, Crown Prince Ao Tang knew that disaster was imminent and there was no way to escape.

He silently lowered his head, awaiting his father's punishment.

However, the Golden Dragon King didn't even glance at him, instead turning his gaze to the only outsider in the room... Wu Liang.

The Golden Dragon King's gaze was sharp and tangible.

Under this gaze, Wu Liang felt a long-lost pressure.

I wonder if it's just my imagination...

He actually sensed a bit of Abbot Shanren in the Golden Dragon King.

Of course, please don't misunderstand, this doesn't mean that the Golden Dragon King and Abbot Shanren have any connection.

The feeling that Wu Liang sensed was actually the aura of a peak fifth-level expert.

obviously……

Like Abbot Shanren, the Golden Dragon King is also someone who has reached the end of the mortal realm and stepped onto the peak of the mortal world.

People like Bone Master, although they are also fifth-level mushroom masters, are completely different from them.

Once these mushroom masters achieve immortality, they will undoubtedly be able to stand out from the crowd and make a name for themselves.

Wu Liang was meeting the Golden Dragon King for the first time and had never seen him make a move, so he did not know his specific strength.

Based solely on the oppressive aura emanating from him, he was able to make a rough judgment about his strength.

'This guy is definitely no weaker than Abbot Shanren, and may even be stronger.'

Wu Liang's thoughts flashed by in an instant, and he immediately felt a sense of apprehension.

Compared to the benevolent abbot who hides in remote and impoverished areas and exploits the people for his own use, the Golden Dragon King possesses a Dragon Palace and is backed by the Dragon Immortal.

Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the Golden Dragon King was able to maintain his control over Abbot Shanren.

Moreover, the Golden Dragon King's potential might even surpass that of Abbot Shanren.

One has the potential to become an immortal, the other has no hope of becoming one.

The winner and loser are obvious.

"I have only been away from the palace for half a year, how come bedbugs have crawled into the Dragon Palace?"

"Who can explain this to me...?"

The Golden Dragon King's gaze remained fixed on Wu Liang, exuding an oppressive aura and a sharp tone that sent chills down one's spine.

If it were an ordinary person, being stared at like that by the Golden Dragon King, they would probably have been so terrified by the oppressive feeling that they would have lost their composure and made a fool of themselves.

However, Wu Liang was no ordinary person...

He had seen more of the world than the Golden Dragon King had ever eaten, so how could he be intimidated by him?

Let alone the Golden Dragon King, even if Zhuge Huowang were to appear in person... well... he might not be able to scare him.

In Wu Liang's eyes, although the Golden Dragon King was very strong, he was not an immortal who was beyond his reach.

It's just a tough piece of mushroom substrate. Given time, it might be possible to process it into mushroom substrate.

Because of this confidence, Wu Liang was not afraid at all. On the contrary, under the gaze of the Golden Dragon King, he remained neither humble nor arrogant, and his expression was calm.

At that moment, despite the pressure, Ao Miaoyin bowed to the Golden Dragon King as a junior.

"Miaoyin greets Uncle Aoli."

“Uncle Aoli, you may not know this, but Young Master Wu is no pest. He is Miaoyin’s friend and also Father’s guest.”

"Please, Uncle Ao Li, don't hurt Young Master Wu. He's a good man."

Ao Miaoyin pursed her lips and spoke softly.

When the Golden Dragon King saw Ao Miaoyin, his serious expression softened.

However, when he heard that this person was Miaoyin's friend and his father's guest, his brows furrowed instantly.

"Nonsense!"

"A filthy human vermin, worthy to be a guest of the Dragon Palace?"

"It's one thing for an inexperienced junior like you to act foolishly, but Ao Ren, as the Dragon King of the Western Palace, has also acted foolishly."

"Don't you know that I once said that no dragonman is allowed to bring outsiders into the Dragon Palace?"

The Golden Dragon King spoke up, his voice cold and merciless.

Wu Liang listened to him repeatedly calling him a "human bug," but remained expressionless, letting it go in one ear and out the other, not taking it to heart at all.

Of course, this wasn't because his ability to endure had improved, but rather because he had heard these kinds of things far too often and had become somewhat desensitized to them.

He had anticipated this ever since he decided to stay in the Dragon Palace.

Therefore, he was not angered by these harsh words.

Anyway, one day, those dragon people who have cursed him will eventually become worthless, so there's no need to act impulsively.

However, Wu Liang didn't care at all, but Ao Miaoyin couldn't stand by and watch the Golden Dragon King insult her friend and belittle her father.

Ao Miaoyin raised her head, looked directly at the Golden Dragon King, and said in a neutral tone, "Golden Dragon King, please be careful with your words."

"You are not the only leader of this Dragon Palace."

“Miaoyin’s father has the right to allow Miaoyin to bring any of her friends to the Dragon Palace as guests, without needing your permission or having to consider your opinion.”

Ao Miaoyin no longer called him Uncle Ao Li, but instead called him Lord Golden Dragon King.

Without a doubt, it was extremely disrespectful for Ao Miaoyin, as a junior, to say such things.

If it were anyone else, and they dared to speak to the Golden Dragon King like that, even if the other party was a descendant of the Golden Dragon King, they would probably be slapped so hard they wouldn't know where they were.

However... Ao Miaoyin was clearly not someone else.

In the entire Dragon Palace, only Ao Miaoyin had the courage to speak to the Golden Dragon King like that.

Once upon a time, when the Golden Dragon King brought Prince Ao Tang to propose marriage, Ao Miaoyin also spoke in the same way.

As a result, Ao Miaoyin was imprisoned for several years and is still not allowed to leave the Dragon Palace at will.

Now, Ao Miaoyin is clearly going all out for her friend Wu Liang and for her father's reputation.

If the Golden Dragon King were to take this to heart, he would likely face severe punishment.

as predicted……

Upon hearing this, the Golden Dragon King immediately let out a cold snort.

Ao Miaoyin was struck as if by a heavy blow, and her face turned deathly pale instantly.

Clearly, the Golden Dragon King was angered.

However, he remained prudent and only gave him a slight reprimand, without actually doing anything to him.

Regardless of the circumstances, Ao Miaoyin is the daughter of the Silver Dragon King.

With the adults not around, he naturally wouldn't bully the younger generation or punish a junior.

If this were his own offspring, they would probably have been beaten half to death by now.

However, what the Golden Dragon King didn't know was...

This small punishment was something Ao Miaoyin could hardly bear.

Ao Miaoyin was frail and sickly, and had a congenital chronic illness.

Previously, because of Huang'er, she had become agitated, which caused her condition to worsen.

The reason Ao Miaoyin is still standing here is simply because she is putting on a brave face.

Now, the minor punishment from the Golden Dragon King has only made matters worse for him.

"cough……"

Ao Miaoyin's brows were furrowed, and a pale, sickly face appeared, with blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

Her body swayed almost imperceptibly, nearly falling over.

At the critical moment, Wu Liang was the first to see the problem, and he caught her, saving her life.

The anger entered Ao Miaoyin's body, but it did not improve her condition in the slightest.

However, thanks to Wu Liang's support, Ao Miaoyin did not fall to the ground and lose face as a young lady.

"Ok?"

Seeing the two of them acting like this, the Golden Dragon King immediately misunderstood something.

He slightly raised his hand, about to lash out.

Fortunately, at the crucial moment, he noticed the sickly look on Ao Miaoyin's face, and then lowered his hand, refraining from slapping this filthy human vermin to death.

When Ao Miaoyin saw Wu Liang supporting her and trying to heal her wounds, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

This gave her even more confidence. She stubbornly looked up at the Golden Dragon King, her expression showing no sign of backing down.

The atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense...

Prince Ao Tang, who had remained silent the whole time, surprisingly put on a brave face and said something kind for the two of them.

"Father, Father, please don't be angry."

“Sister Miaoyin is naive and speaks without thinking, so please don’t take it personally.”

"As for this Brother Wu, I actually think it wouldn't be a bad thing to let him stay in the Dragon Palace."

"This guy is amazing, he's even a near-master in the Dao of Refining!"

(End of this chapter)