A festive yet solemn atmosphere permeated Mount Taibai at this time.
Everywhere one looked, powerful Demon Kings were shedding their ferocity, greeting guests from all directions with smiles.
A steady stream of visitors was heading towards Mount Taibai.
Discussions and murmurs filled the air.
"Elder Long, you have finally arrived!"
"Hahaha, I didn't expect you to be here as well!"
"Lord Dragon God is the number one power on Blue Star today! How could we possibly not come?"
"Elder Long, please remember to put in a good word for us later; our lives depend on you."
"Hahaha, it's nothing."
At the entrance of Mount Taibai, groups of people and creatures mingled, greeting each other.
Regardless of their form, most treated Elder Long with great respect.
This was not because Elder Long held the position of leader of Great Xia, but rather because he *was* the leader of Great Xia.
And Ao Yuan!
Ao Yuan, now the foremost expert on Blue Star, was the Guardian Divine Beast of Great Xia.
Although Great Xia and Ao Yuan appeared as separate entities now, neither Ao Yuan nor Elder Long had ever rejected this title.
As long as this title remained, they could not help but show respect to Elder Long.
At this moment.
Dai Xiaomei and Mozi, leading a host of Demon Kings, observed the continuous influx of guests.
A sense of daze settled upon each of them.
Who could have imagined that Ao Yuan would possess such renown now?
The arrival of many nations and Demon Kings from various regions was understandable.
But even beings from the small worlds had come.
Looking at the unending stream of figures, the Demon Kings affiliated with Mount Taibai were filled with a sense of pride.
Without Ao Yuan, let alone the current situation,
Perhaps…
They would have been confined to a single territory on the vast Blue Star, living in constant hiding?
Among the inhabitants of Mount Taibai, Dai Xiaomei and Mozi felt this most profoundly.
They had witnessed Ao Yuan's growth from his very inception.
As the inhabitants of Mount Taibai continued to welcome guests, time ticked by.
Fortunately, Mount Taibai was now spacious enough to easily accommodate all visitors.
At this moment!
As the sun climbed high into the sky!
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
A series of booming sounds suddenly echoed through the air.
Everyone involuntarily stopped and turned their gaze towards the source of the sound.
At this moment.
They saw waves surging outwards all around.
Forming two distinct coastlines.
And in the center was a long pathway.
At the end of this path stood a magnificent palace, its grandeur breathtaking.
It exuded an aura of immense solemnity,
Inspiring awe in all who beheld it.
Upon closer inspection, the palace shimmered with starlight, dazzlingly bright!
At the main gate of the palace hung a massive golden plaque.
The plaque bore only two characters.
Dragon Palace!
"This… this is the Dragon Palace!"
"The residence of Lord Dragon God!"
"Doesn't the Dragon Palace usually lie hidden at the bottom of the Heavenly Lake? Why is it appearing here?"
"What is happening? The seawater is parting like this??"
…
Both the inhabitants of Mount Taibai and the various beings and tribes who had gathered for the occasion expressed astonishment.
This was especially true for the beings and tribes who were visiting Mount Taibai for the first time.
Before this, they had no idea what the Dragon Palace looked like.
This was the first time the Dragon Palace had revealed itself to the world.
"Huh, who is that figure in front? Who is that?"
"Lord Dragon God!"
Suddenly, a startled cry erupted.
All eyes turned in that direction.
Their gazes varied, showing fear, trepidation, fervor, and adoration!
And among these, adoration was particularly prevalent!
Behold!
The sealed gates of the Dragon Palace suddenly swung open.
A man clad in a loose, golden robe stood there silently.
Though he was but a single figure, a terrifying aura enveloped him.
The inherent majesty he radiated made it impossible for anyone to look directly at him.
Even their hearts involuntarily felt a sense of submission.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Inside the Dragon Palace, Ao Yuan made no sound.
However, successive roars, like the cries of a dragon, reverberated, seemingly echoing in the depths of everyone's souls.
They were like the sounds of the Great Dao.
Boom!
At this moment, the seawater around the Dragon Palace intertwined, forming an incomparably grand celestial staircase!
The celestial staircase extended from the entrance of the Dragon Palace all the way to the summit of Mount Taibai!
The staircase comprised nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, shrouded in swirling mist, with faint golden patterns shimmering.
Clack, clack, clack!
Ao Yuan stepped onto the celestial staircase, ascending Mount Taibai step by step!
At this very moment.
Silence descended upon the vast Mount Taibai, as if time had frozen.
Regardless of their species, no one moved.
Only their eyes involuntarily followed Ao Yuan's ascent.
Clack, clack, clack!
As Ao Yuan's figure moved further away from the Dragon Palace along the celestial staircase, rising higher and higher,
The roars emanating from within the Dragon Palace grew ever louder.
The luminous pearls hanging outside the main gate blazed with increasing brilliance, illuminating the entire Mount Taibai as if to rival the sun!
Faintly.
One could even see a golden figure emerging above the Dragon Palace!
This figure had horns like a deer, a head like a bull, eyes like a shrimp, a belly like a snake, and a beard like a human. Its entire form was golden.
It circled the dazzling luminous pearl.
A Dragon!
This was the shadow of Ao Yuan's true form!
Anyone who had seen Ao Yuan's true form instantly recognized it.
However, this shadow was much, much smaller than Ao Yuan.
"Roar!"
With a high-pitched dragon's cry.
Ao Yuan descended the celestial staircase and stepped onto the summit of Mount Taibai!
He turned, his gaze sweeping across the onlookers like a monarch.
"We pay homage to Lord Dragon God!"
"We pay homage to Lord Dragon God!"
"We pay homage to Lord Dragon God!"
What began as a few shouts from the inhabitants of Mount Taibai evolved into a thunderous chorus from all beings on the mountain, each wave of acclamation higher than the last!
Looking at the figures below, especially at the subordinate beasts and various Demon Kings of Mount Taibai.
Even with Ao Yuan's composure, a sense of gravity settled upon him.
This was vastly different from the feeling he had when standing alone on the summit of Mount Taibai.
It seemed…
The burden upon his shoulders had increased.
"Lord Dragon God?"
Ao Yuan murmured, his gaze sharp as he looked at the azure sky, his voice suddenly firm.
"Dragon God!"
As the words fell, Ao Yuan swept his loose robes.
Whoosh!
The sounds instantly ceased.
At this point, the gazes of the various Demon Kings towards him.
Had shed all doubt and trepidation, now filled with an indescribable fervor!