The Hehuan Sect cultivates alchemy; my senior sister helps me refine alchemy throughout the world.

The hall fell silent once more. Everyone put down their wine cups, looked at the Dragon King, and waited for him to speak.

Ao Ming looked around, nodded to Ao Chong, and smiled. Ao Chong was also looking forward to him announcing Xi Yao's good news, and returned the smile.

Ao Ming slowly said, "I have been on the throne for three hundred years. Although I have not achieved any great feats, the East Sea has been relatively peaceful. However, in recent years I have felt that my strength is failing, and the foundation of the Dragon Clan must eventually be handed over to the younger generation. Therefore, I have decided to pass the throne to my son, Crown Prince Ao Ting."

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing an uproar throughout the entire hall.

"What? Passing the throne?"

"The Crown Prince is still young, this..."

"Your Majesty is in the prime of your life, why...?"

Ao Chong thought it over and over, but he never expected that Ao Ming would announce the succession in this kind of occasion!

The succession ceremony is a major event for the dragon clan. According to the rules, preparations must be made at least three months in advance, and dragon clans in various regions must be notified. A grand ceremony is indispensable.

This was clearly a surprise attack by Ao Ming. He hurriedly whispered a few words to two of the prince's trusted confidants, who then quietly left the hall.

Seeing the two leave, Ao Chong said, "Brother, wasn't this matter a bit too hasty?"

"No rush, no rush." ​​Ao Ming waved his hand. "Ting'er should take on some responsibility. I have managed the Dragon Palace well over the years, so it won't be difficult for him to take over."

"Shouldn't my second sister know about this?"

"You mean Ao Yun... she came last night, and she... she agreed!"

Ao Chong was immediately terrified and broke out in a cold sweat!

"Second sister is here? She...she came by herself?"

"No, she brought eight thousand dragon riders."

"What did you say!" Ao Chong could no longer hold back, abruptly standing up and shouting sharply, "Big brother, what do you mean by this?"

His words silenced all the officials in the hall, who all turned to look at the two men.

Ao Ming's smile remained unchanged. He sat in the main seat, holding his wine cup, and took a slow sip. "Third brother, why are you so agitated? I merely said Ao Yun has arrived. Is it really necessary to be so frightened?"

Ao Chong realized he had lost his temper and quickly suppressed his anger, sitting down again. "Brother, I just felt that such a big matter as the succession should be planned carefully. According to the rules of our dragon clan for thousands of years, the succession ceremony must be prepared three months in advance and announced to the world. I'm afraid that the other dragon kings will think that our East Sea Dragon Palace is not polite if you announce it so suddenly."

"Third brother is right." Ao Ming put down his wine cup and nodded. "However, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. I have been overworking myself these past few years, and my health is not what it used to be. I just want to hand over my responsibilities as soon as possible and have a few days of leisure with Jing Ci."

After he finished speaking, he deliberately coughed twice, pretending to be weak.

Shen Yifei nodded slightly from below the stage; the Dragon King was already fully immersed in the role.

Ao Chong looked up at Ao Ting sitting not far away, then at Shen Yifei, and the feeling that something was wrong in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

Ignoring Ao Chong's unpredictable expression, Ao Ming continued, "Third brother, you have contributed a lot to the Dragon Palace over the years. Ting'er is young and will need your help in the future."

"Brother, you flatter me." Ao Chong forced a smile. "Ting'er is my own nephew, so of course I will do my best to assist him."

"That's good, that's good." Ao Ming laughed heartily, raised his wine cup, "Come, everyone, let's drink to this! May my East Sea Dragon Palace prosper for ten thousand years!"

The officials all raised their cups and drank them down in one gulp.

Ao Chong held the wine glass, hesitated for a moment, and then drank it down.

He was now completely certain that today's banquet was not so simple. Ao Ming's sudden announcement of the abdication of the throne and Ao Yun's arrival with eight thousand dragon riders were all aimed at him.

But he can't make a move now; the plan can't be disrupted.

His dragon generals, scattered throughout the East Sea, hadn't arrived yet, and the sea monster reinforcements were still on their way. If he turned against them now, he would have too few men at his disposal, and his chances of winning would be slim.

Therefore, he had no choice but to endure it.

As the officials set down their wine cups, Ao Ming pulled a golden token from his robes, held it high, and declared, "This is the Dragon King's Decree. From this day forward, it is officially handed over to Crown Prince Ao Ting!"

Ao Ting stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked towards the main hall, preparing to receive the Dragon King's order.

When Ao Chong saw the Dragon King's Token, something he had always dreamed of, he could still hold back, but the Dragon King's Token was like a fire that instantly ignited him!

The Third Prince, who had been so gentle and smiling just moments before, now had his facial muscles twitching.

His eyes were fixed on the golden token!

Ao Ting walked up to the high platform, received the Dragon King's decree with both hands, then turned to face the officials and raised the token.

"Greetings to the new king!"

Someone shouted first, and then all the officials stood up and knelt on the ground.

Many officials hesitated, but seeing that Ao Chong had no reaction, they also knelt down!

Ao Chong could no longer contain himself as he watched the officials kneel down in a flurry!

"Ao Ting, put down the Dragon King's Decree!!"

Upon hearing this outburst, Ao Ting nearly dropped the Dragon King's Token in his hand.

He turned his head, his face filled with terror, "Third Uncle, what did you say?"

"I said, put down the Dragon King's decree!" Ao Chong's voice echoed in the hall. All the officials knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads or even breathe.

Ao Ming sat in the main seat, his smile gradually freezing. "Third brother, what do you mean by this?"

"What do you mean?" Ao Chong sneered. "Brother, I believed everything you said earlier. But you suddenly want to pass the throne to Ao Ting and even summoned Second Sister beforehand. Do you think I'm a fool?"

He turned to the kneeling officials and said, "Get up!"

The officials looked at each other, none of them daring to make a move.

Ao Chong's face turned ashen. "Brother, I didn't want to take action so soon. Since you've gone this far, don't blame me for not showing any brotherly affection."

Before the words were finished, the sound of clashing weapons came from outside the hall!

Ao Chong knew that his men had arrived, and there were eight dragon generals waiting outside the door. Even if something unexpected happened, these men would be enough to deal with the people in the main hall!

Ao Ting stood on the high platform, holding the Dragon King's Decree in his hand. "Third Uncle, are you trying to rebel?"

"Rebellion?" Ao Chong sneered. "The throne should have been mine all along! My father intended to pass it on to me before he died! It was your father who used underhanded means to snatch the throne from me!"

Ao Ming remained calm. "Third brother, what you're saying is incorrect. Father passed the throne to me because I was the eldest son, and you personally witnessed him stamping the edict of succession. Now you're saying such things; are you planning to disobey Father's dying wish?"

"Disobey Father's dying wish?" Ao Chong laughed loudly, his laughter echoing through the hall. "Ao Ming, don't try to intimidate me with Father's name! For the past three hundred years, you've clung to the throne, turning the Dragon Palace into a lifeless place. During your reign, the sea beasts of the East Sea rebelled, and you sent troops to suppress them, killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of your own. When the North Sea Dragon Palace came knocking, you ceded territory and paid reparations, utterly disgracing the dragon race. What right do you have to be this Dragon King?"

Ao Ming laughed heartily, "Third brother, back then when the sea beasts rebelled and the North Sea Dragon Palace came knocking on our door, all of these things were orchestrated by someone in the shadows, stabbing us in the back at the crucial moment!"

Ao Ming paused briefly, then pointed at Ao Chong, "You're the one who stabbed me in the back!"