In the old Dragon Lord's calculations, the first batch of the True Dragon branch sent to Jiangdong was essentially cannon fodder. Their only value was to establish a foothold.
He had also anticipated that the Dao Court would suppress the True Dragon Clan, but he had no intention of intervening. He merely calculated the timing, figuring the Dao Court's suppression had gone on long enough, and only then sent a message. He intended to fire up his grandson, Du Huan, so he would continue contributing to the True Dragon Clan.
However, the situation was not quite what he imagined.
"Grandfather!"
Before the Dragon Lord could speak, Lu Yang knelt directly on the ground, tears and mucus streaming down his face, and cried out excitedly: "Du Huan did not disappoint Grandfather! Du Huan did it!"
...Ah.
For a moment, the Dragon Lord hesitated, especially after seeing the Rank 3 official position of [Capital Skies Division Right Commander] above Lu Yang's head.
Because the Jiangdong region was shrouded by the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws], ordinary arts of karmic deduction could not interfere at all. Therefore, the old Dragon Lord could not calculate the cause and effect. However, having lived for so many years, what scenes hadn't he witnessed? After a little thought, he reached a conclusion that both surprised and delighted him.
Du Huan... he made a name for himself in Jiangdong!?
After all, anything could deceive people, but a glaring official position placed right there could not. Moreover, it seemed to be an official position corresponding to [Wayside Earth].
Lu Yang might not know, but could the old Dragon Lord not know?
In the contemporary Dao Court, the Dao Fruit inherited by the Tianwu Imperial Family through generations was [Wayside Earth]! In other words, his own grandson had already gained the regard of the Dao Court's Son of Heaven!
"Good, good, good!"
Thinking of this, the old Dragon Lord laughed heartily: "Worthy of being my beloved grandson! I sent you to Jiangdong because I felt you could achieve great things!"
As his voice fell, the scene was full of deep affection between grandfather and grandson.
"Du Huan, tell Grandfather, how did you rise in the Dao Court?"
"Because of a person..."
Speaking of this, Lu Yang deliberately lowered his voice and looked around cautiously. The old Dragon Lord understood tacitly and immediately dispersed the auspicious cloud around his body.
"Speak freely!"
The old Dragon Lord chuckled: "Since I bestowed this scale upon you to communicate with me, I naturally have the confidence to help you evade the gaze of that fellow, Jiayou."
"Replying to Grandfather." Lu Yang then took out the [Incense Offering Godhood Method] and the coordinates of [Seven Luminaries Heaven], saying in a deep voice: "It was because of a cultivation method and a corresponding World Realm... That person disappeared after handing these two things to me. This person was extremely mysterious; I suspect he was from the Jiangbei Demon Sect!"
"...Oh?"
As soon as these words came out, the old Dragon Lord instantly became serious. After all, no matter how small the matter, if it involved the Saint Sect, it was a major event. Who knew what pitfalls lay within!
"This is..."
Soon, the old Dragon Lord finished reading the cultivation method handed over by Lu Yang and deduced the coordinates of [Seven Luminaries Heaven]. His expression gradually became grave:
"The person who contacted you... has great designs! This is likely a World Realm that has birthed an embryonic Dao Fruit. It fits the Dao Court system perfectly, yet he gifted it to the Dao Court through your hands. He is borrowing your identity as a True Dragon. However, possessing such a bargaining chip, he did not negotiate with the Dao Court directly."
The old Dragon Lord did not doubt Lu Yang's statement.
After all, the [Incense Offering Godhood Method] was right before his eyes, real and authentic. Moreover, could he not understand his own grandson? He didn't have the guts to lie to him!
"How did you handle it?" the old Dragon Lord asked.
Lu Yang hurriedly lowered his head, putting on the appearance of obediently admitting a mistake: "Du Huan borrowed Grandfather's name, saying this was the sincerity of our True Dragon Clan..."
"Good!"
No need for Lu Yang to explain in detail; the old Dragon Lord could immediately guess the subsequent development. This also resolved his confusion about how his grandson managed to rise to prominence.
As for the "mysterious person" Lu Yang mentioned, the old Dragon Lord quickly formed a judgment—
"This person should be the reincarnation of a Perfected Lord!"
A World Realm that birthed an embryonic Dao Fruit wasn't something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could produce. Yet, not daring to negotiate directly with the Dao Court indicated it was unlikely to be a current Perfected Lord.
In that case, a reincarnated Perfected Lord made sense.
So who could it be?
The name of the most famous reincarnated Perfected Lord in the last five thousand years immediately jumped into the old Dragon Lord's mind: "Hong Yun? Impossible, impossible. Where would he get such great ability..."
Whoever it was, it couldn't be Hong Yun.
It must be someone else!
The old Dragon Lord fell into deep confusion. Speaking of which Saint Sect Perfected Lord had fallen, tracing back five thousand years, calculating back and forth, perhaps only...
...[Sky-shrouding]?
No way? That was a good person.
The old Dragon Lord rubbed his chin, somewhat skeptical. After all, he was from the Saint Sect. Although he had the reputation of a good person, the Dragon Lord still couldn't help but harbor suspicions.
"By the way, Grandfather, there is one more thing."
Just then, Lu Yang spoke suddenly again, recounting the matter of interrogating Zhao Xuhe and presenting the [Nine Transformations Dragon Art] to the Dao Court.
This made the old Dragon Lord's expression change again: "The cultivation method corresponding to [City Rampart Earth]... I remember the Pure Land threw it into the Saint Sect back then. How did it appear in the Dao Court, and was even interrogated out by you personally, Du Huan... Good! Very good! No wonder Jiayou values you so highly!"
Lu Yang feigned confusion upon hearing this: "Is there anything special about that cultivation method?"
"You don't know."
The old Dragon Lord was happy to explain upon hearing this, saying: "That fellow Jiayou cultivates [Wayside Earth]. He has coveted the Supreme position of [City Rampart Earth] for a long time!"
"Since the last millennial tribulation, the Dao Court was in chaos. The Zou Yu Imperial Family was exterminated by Tian Wu. It coincided with the eastward spread of Buddhism, which took away the Supreme Dao Fruit [City Rampart Earth]. The Tian Wu Imperial Family has been plotting ever since, wanting to seize back [City Rampart Earth], or at the very least, reclaim the position of the Supreme Dao Fruit."
"However, the Pure Land... is simply too shameless."
Speaking of this, the old Dragon Lord's eyelids twitched slightly: "Coupled with the limitations of the Dao Court itself, they haven't been able to find an opportunity to act."
"But this time is different."
"With the cultivation method corresponding to [City Rampart Earth], as long as a cultivator in the Dao Court builds their Foundation with this method, and then that fellow Jiayou grants them official titles and ranks..."
"Thereafter, as that person's cultivation becomes higher and higher—early, middle, late stage, and even Foundation Establishment Great Perfection—the Dao Court can use the connection between official positions and the phenomenon of 'making the [City Rampart Earth] cultivator bow their head in submission' to forcibly drag down [City Rampart Earth]'s position as the Earth Element Supreme!"
"When that time comes, [Wayside Earth] can replace it."
"And that fellow Jiayou can also achieve his wish, advancing to late-stage Golden Core with a Supreme Dao Fruit. Not to mention finding few rivals in this age, the Dao path to Nascent Soul will also be in sight..."
Speaking of this, the old Dragon Lord was even somewhat envious.
But soon he came back to his senses and looked at Lu Yang again: "You did well this time. Work hard for Jiayou from now on and strive to accumulate status."
"This grandson understands!"
Lu Yang nodded hurriedly but then revealed a pessimistic expression: "But Grandfather, the discrimination against us Demon cultivators in Jiangdong is too great. Although your grandson has a bit of status, I have no background in this land. Even if I actively visit, I get shut out by those human cultivators."
"Please help me, Grandfather, and bestow a method to deal with this!"
"Method to deal with this?"
The old Dragon Lord was stunned. His brain turned for a moment before he reacted— what kind of place was the Dao Court? If they really cared about the distinction between humans and demons, they wouldn't recruit Demon cultivators.
The reason for being shut out was eighty percent because of a lack of money!
You want me to help you giving some gifts?
He's asking me for money!
The old Dragon Lord suddenly saw the light and waved his hand immediately: "Don't worry. I'll send you a batch of spiritual materials later. My True Dragon Clan lacks everything except money!"
Speaking of this, the old Dragon Lord was truly generous. Instead, Lu Yang looked hesitant: "This isn't good, right? These are all treasures of my True Dragon Clan..."
The old Dragon Lord laughed upon hearing this: "Nothing bad about it. Soldiers are maintained for a thousand days to be used in one moment. You are more important than these spiritual materials. But just in case, I will store these spiritual materials inside a True Treasure and send them together. I lend the True Treasure to you for self-defense, to avoid you being harmed by those with malicious intent."
"Grandfather, this..."
"Nothing bad about it!"
The old Dragon Lord's word was his bond. He directly dispersed the auspicious cloud and transmitted a golden light across hundreds of millions of miles. With a boom, it landed in Lu Yang's palm.