Chapter 1224: Divine Retribution

Everyone was stunned...

Tens of thousands of Black Island cultivators were completely dumbfounded!

The mighty Dragon Emperor of the Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan, arriving with a grand and imposing army, had actually come to apologize?!

Watching the Dragon Emperor kneel and clasp his fists in a gesture of respect, everyone was utterly bewildered, unable to believe what they were seeing!

The Dragon Emperor...

The ruler of the entire Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan!

For countless years, the entire East Sea's seventy-two islands had been under the dominion of the Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan, enduring humiliation and suffering just to survive. Even the Third Prince was a terrifying, unreachable figure, his reputation alone enough to strike fear into everyone's hearts.

And now...

The mighty Dragon Emperor, the father of the Third Prince, had personally come to apologize?!

How could this be possible?!

Even though the evidence was right before their eyes, none of the tens of thousands of cultivators dared to believe it. Watching the Dragon Emperor kneel and clasp his fists, they felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity, their hearts nearly leaping out of their chests!

For a long time, everyone just stared at each other in shock, not daring to move a single step.

Even in their wildest dreams, they had never imagined that such a legendary figure would kneel before them.

They were truly terrified!

The entire scene was eerily silent, so quiet that even the sound of breathing was hard to hear.

Yi Feng was equally dumbfounded.

He had just drawn his Primordial Greatsword, ready to deliver his opening lines, and now this guy was here to apologize?!

What the hell?!

Where was the epic battle they were supposed to have?

What happened to the grand and imposing Dragon Emperor who had just arrived with such fanfare?!

He was all geared up for a fight, and now this guy shows up like a Teletubby?!

Yi Feng's fist, clenched and ready to strike, now felt like it was hitting a giant cotton ball. All the taunting words he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

"Tsk..."

He took a deep breath, his face darkening as he frowned and spoke.

"Are you really the Dragon Emperor? You're not here for revenge, but to apologize...?"

No matter how he thought about it, the Dragon Emperor coming to apologize right off the bat didn't fit the character or the plot development at all!

Logically speaking, as the situation escalated, the Dragon Emperor, being the ultimate boss, should have come to reclaim his honor. Otherwise, how could he maintain his authority in the future?

What kind of reasoning was this, coming to apologize right away?!

Yi Feng, who had orchestrated this entire conflict, suddenly found the plot veering off course, completely diverging from his script. He was at a loss!

After a long wait.

Ao Butong, still prostrate on the ground, was so nervous that his tail was almost numb.

Finally hearing Yi Feng's question, he quickly nodded and replied in a trembling voice.

"Respected sir..."

"I am indeed the Dragon Emperor, Ao Butong. It was all a misunderstanding before, and I deeply regret my actions. I have brought my people here to seek forgiveness. We have no intention of seeking revenge!"

As he spoke, Ao Butong quickly gestured behind him.

The sound of wheels turning echoed as over a dozen large carts, laden with treasures, slowly rolled forward. Countless weapons and precious materials filled the carts, their dazzling brilliance almost blinding to the eyes.

The sheer weight of the treasures left deep ruts in the ground!

The value was beyond estimation!

The leaders of Black Island suddenly felt like country bumpkins in comparison. Their wealth paled in comparison to this display.

"This is but a small token of my sincerity, a slight compensation for the humans of the islands!"

Such an overwhelming display of wealth, coupled with the Dragon Emperor's sincere explanation, made the whole situation even more bizarre and hard to believe!

Seeing the Dragon Emperor bowing and smiling nervously, the Black Island cultivators, led by Shi Tianchuan, all wore expressions of utter disbelief.

(ΩДΩ).

This is a "small token of sincerity"?!

Even for the wealthy Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan, parting with these treasures must have been a significant blow!

For the Dragon Emperor to be so humble...

Had he lost his mind?!

What was going on?!

Shock spread through the crowd once more, leaving tens of thousands of cultivators frozen in place, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Yi Feng was also growing more and more puzzled.

This really did seem like a sincere apology, but it just didn't make sense!

Before he could voice his doubts, the obedient Dragon Emperor waved his hand again, and several more luxurious carts rolled forward.

This time, they weren't carrying treasures.

Instead, they carried several Heavenly Dragon Mermen, bound and gagged.

The first few carts held Dragon Generals, their golden armor and jade ornaments immediately catching everyone's attention.

Yi Feng was even more confused now!

Coming to apologize and offering compensation was one thing, but bringing prisoners too?

Before he could speak, Ao Butong clenched his teeth and spoke with unwavering determination.

"Respected sir!"

"We are deeply aware of our sins. These treasures are but worldly possessions, a mere token of our apology. We truly do not know how to compensate the humans of the islands..."

"Therefore, we have decided to follow your previous words and offer five of our clansmen each year, to be at the disposal of the islands, as a form of atonement for our sins!"

"We will start this year, with myself, three Dragon Generals, and Ao Chang, making five in total. We are at your mercy, whether you choose to boil or fry us, we will not complain!"

Whoosh!

As soon as his trembling voice fell, tens of thousands of cultivators erupted in shock!

"Holy crap..."

"They're actually willing to offer themselves as compensation. They really are here to apologize!"

"Someone slap me, am I dreaming?"

"Incredible!"

Exclamations of disbelief echoed around, and even Shi Tianchuan and the others were visibly shaken.

Yi Feng was completely stunned, holding his Primordial Greatsword in a daze.

His earlier comment about eating mermen had just been a throwaway line to provoke them, but they had taken it seriously! Now, they had actually brought four mermen, including the Dragon Emperor himself, to offer as compensation!

What the hell?!

How had things escalated to this point? It was beyond imagination!

The more Yi Feng thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed.

The legendary Dragon Emperor was supposed to be a ruthless figure. How could he suddenly have a change of heart and come to apologize so sincerely, even willing to sacrifice himself?

Even if it looked like a genuine apology, it still didn't make sense!

Seeing his carefully planned battle about to fall apart, Yi Feng was filled with frustration.

He wasn't a fool, and he wasn't about to be swayed by a few words.

With a suspicious look, he stared intently at Ao Butong.

"Tell me, why are you really here to apologize?"

"If you can't give me a good reason, I don't care if you're truly repentant or not. This battle is happening, whether you like it or not!"

Ao Butong's heart skipped a beat in fear!

He had heard rumors of this man's terrifying power, and now, facing him directly, he dared not even think of fighting!

He immediately kowtowed and began reciting his prepared lines.

"Respected sir, please hear me out!"

"Our clan has indeed committed many wrongs, and I have been negligent in my duties, allowing the seventy-two islands to suffer great humiliation!"

"Originally, I was unaware of these misdeeds. But a few days ago, my rebellious son was struck by divine retribution, suddenly turning into a salted fish. After my subordinates reported their defeat, I finally learned the full story and realized the depth of our sins!"

"Today, I come not to seek forgiveness from the islanders, but to atone for our crimes! If you do not believe me, I am willing to take my own life to prove my sincerity!"

As he spoke, Ao Butong pulled out a Water Spirit Pearl from his sleeve.

Inside floated an ugly, lifeless catfish, causing everyone to gasp in shock!

Seeing such a pitiful sight, Yi Feng finally began to believe.

"So that's how it is..."

No wonder the Dragon Emperor had suddenly come to apologize. He had been struck by divine retribution! Truly, heaven has eyes, and evildoers will not escape justice!

While this was satisfying, Yi Feng couldn't help but feel a deep sense of disappointment, even a bit of resentment toward this unfortunate twist of fate.

It was infuriating, really.

Why did this have to happen now, of all times? If heaven were a man, Yi Feng would wish him eternal bachelorhood!

But venting his frustration wouldn't change anything.

With things having reached this point, Yi Feng had no choice but to accept it.

All his meticulous planning had gone to waste. Killing the Dragon Emperor now would only be letting him off easy. It was better to leave his fate to the island leaders. At least the islands' tragic fate had come to an end, which was a good thing.

Yi Feng took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly.

"Fine. Since you're truly repentant, your future will be decided by Island Master Shi and the others."

As his quiet words spread, Ao Butong felt as if he had been granted a pardon, kowtowing repeatedly in gratitude.

"Thank you, respected sir! Thank you, Island Master Shi and everyone else! Whether you choose to kill or spare me, I will not complain!"

His solemn voice echoed as the once-proud Heavenly Dragon Mermen all knelt in unison, their posture one of deep remorse.

Finally, the tens of thousands of cultivators at the gate erupted into cheers of joy, celebrating the end of their ten-thousand-year-long humiliation. Their voices shook the heavens, and smiles broke out on every face.

Among the crowd, the North Sea Emperor and the Sturgeon Dragon Emperor exchanged meaningful glances with the Crab Emperor. These old foxes had already guessed the truth but chose to remain silent. With such an outcome, everyone could be happy.

As the joyous atmosphere grew, the two emperors quietly let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew..."

The great calamity that had threatened the sea clans had finally come to an end.

Before noon, the exhilarating news had spread to every island. The tales of the divine retribution and the awe-inspiring power of Yi Feng earned him the admiration and reverence of millions of cultivators across the islands.

In the grand hall of Black Island, amidst laughter and emotional tears, many female cultivators regarded Yi Feng as a legend.

But as the celebrations began and everything was settled, Yi Feng himself was nowhere to be found.

After searching everywhere without success, everyone turned to Lu Xinlan and the others in confusion.

"Miss Xinlan, you're closest to the respected sir. Do you know where he is now? We're all waiting for him to preside over the victory banquet!"