Despite saying that, Lu Yang had no intention of continuing the conversation with [Sky-shrouding].
After all, this wasn't his first time conversing with [Sky-shrouding]. He knew deeply that facing this extremely cunning old Primordial Saint Sect member, the more he said, the more mistakes he would make.
I still have to lure him first!
After all, the current me doesn't have the capital to control [Sky-shrouding] yet. The two sides are unequal, so now is not the best time for me to converse with him.
The best time would be after dealing with Hong Yun.
When he held Hong Yun's Golden Nature in hand and could false holding [Overturned Lamp Flame] at any time, that would be the time to truly face [Sky-shrouding] and bargain.
With this thought, Lu Yang didn't give [Sky-shrouding] a chance to speak further. He directly operated his Divine Ability, suppressing and sealing the Grotto-Heaven fragment in his hand, then threw it into the [Myriad Spirits Banner] to cut off the connection with [Sky-shrouding]'s main body. With Patriarch Nether Whisper watching, he wasn't afraid of anything going wrong.
This was thanks to [Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue].
If she hadn't shattered the entire Grotto-Heaven, making it difficult for [Sky-shrouding] to exert more mighty power, he probably wouldn't have caught him so easily.
"...Hmm."
Just then, Lu Yang's heart moved suddenly.
...
Jiangdong, Tianwu Capital.
Lu Yang's main body opened his eyes. The next second, he left the cave abode and landed above the vault of heaven, only to see a eunuch in brocade robes walking towards him.
"Lord Du Huan, I apologize for disturbing your seclusion."
"Not at all!" Lu Yang looked solemn and hurried forward to bow: "Troubling Fellow Daoist An to make a trip personally, is there another sacred decree from His Majesty?"
"Exactly."
Eunuch An smiled slightly, appearing very amiable. After all, Lu Yang's opening sentence addressed him as Fellow Daoist An. Although he said there was no need for this, he enjoyed it in his heart, wishing Lu Yang would call him that a few more times.
Having established a relationship, he naturally didn't mind revealing some information:
"Actually, it's a good thing."
"A few days ago, news came from the [Directorate of Astronomy]. They have locked onto the location of the World Realm presented by you, Lord Du Huan. His Majesty intends to retrieve it personally."
"I am here specifically to invite Lord Du Huan to accompany him."
IRequesting my accompaniment?
Lu Yang's heart moved slightly, but his face showed no hesitation. He said immediately: "It is exactly what I wish for!"
Seeing this, Eunuch An said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "His Majesty has witnessed Lord Du Huan's loyalty. Please, sir, do not disappoint His Majesty"
What did that mean?
Lu Yang narrowed his eyes. Although everything had gone very smoothly since the start of this life, with the lessons from the previous life, Lu Yang was still very vigilant.
Had his cover been blown?
Hmm it was imposible...
His current identity was obtained using [Turtle Dove Occupying the Magpie's Nest]. With [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]'s stature there, how could Emperor Jiayou see through it?
Since that's the case... it can only be that my incarnation was exposed! Could it be that Emperor Jiayou discovered that I secretly created an incarnation and sent it to Jiangbei?'
Lu Yang muttered in his heart, somewhat unsure. After all, the existence of the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] allowed the Dao Court's control over Jiangdong to reach a heinous level. Even if the incarnation was truly exposed, it wasn't unacceptable. The problem was... did Emperor Jiayou know more?
After all, he did quite a few things in Jiangbei.
Fighting Hong Yun, catching [Sky-shrouding]—which one wasn't extraordinary? If Emperor Jiayou saw all this, he would inevitably doubt his identity.
I didn't sense any Golden Core gaze along the way.
But he is a Perfected Lord after all. If he truly exerted full power and used Divine Abilities to monitor me, I might not necessarily discover it.
I can't overestimate myself.
Lu Yang thought left and right, but eventually calmed down.
In the end, he leaned towards Emperor Jiayou was unaware, because just now, he checked the status of [Unwilling to be Subservient] when facing Emperor Jiayou.
The light was still bright!
The value of the talent settled by [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] went without saying; you could trust it completely.
[Unwilling to be Subservient] being bright indicates Emperor Jiayou still values me. Perhaps he has some scrutinizing thoughts but it shouldn't have reached the level of suspicion.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang suddenly felt confident—
The Incarnation should be exposed, but Emperor Jiayou most likely doesn't know the details. He only knows I sent an Incarnation out of Jiangdong, but doesn't know what I did.
With a judgment, the remaining decision was easy to make.
...
[Tianwu Hall].
A Daoist platform rested above the myriad regions of the Nine Provinces. Behind layers of curtains on the platform, a majestic figure was reflected—Emperor Jiayou, sitting cross-legged in meditation.
Lu Yang paced into the great hall.
The next second, the palace doors closed heavily. The surrounding aura was cut off, and an invisible pressure fell on Lu Yang instantly like a tide.
Immediately after, a melodious sigh rang in his ears:
"Having cultivated a form like a crane, two scrolls of scripture beneath a thousand pines. I come to inquire about the Dao, but there is nothing more to say; clouds in the blue sky, water in the bottle."
As the voice faded, the curtains were drawn back, and for the first time, Lu Yang truly saw Emperor Jiayou, the sovereign and father of the millions of people and cultivators of Jiangdong.
At this moment, Emperor Jiayou was also looking at him:
"Du Huan, my dear minister,"
his voice was flat, revealing no emotion, yet it resonated throughout the hall like a great bell—"Do you consider yourself a cloud or water?"
Lu Yang didn't say a second word upon hearing this. He bowed directly and said: "Everything depends on Your Majesty's will. If Your Majesty wishes me to be a cloud, then I am a cloud; if Your Majesty wishes me to be water, then I am water."
"Hahaha."
Emperor Jiayou laughed loudly upon hearing this, but there was no smile in his eyes. He said faintly: "It seems Minister Du has gained greatly from the seclusion these past few days."
"Your Majesty sees clearly."
Lu Yang nodded, revealing an honest and simple expression, saying: "These past few days, this subject sent an incarnation overseas to meet the Dragon Lord, recounting Your Majesty's grace. The Dragon Lord was greatly gratified and entrusted this subject to serve Your Majesty well, to repay Your Majesty's grace of promotion."
As his voice fell, Emperor Jiayou was stunned for a moment.
Just as Lu Yang guessed beforehand, he indeed knew Lu Yang sent an incarnation away from Jiangdong. He was thinking of using this to reprimand him a little, to test Lu Yang's loyalty.
As a result, before he even made a move, Lu Yang confessed voluntarily.
The next second, a trace of genuine smile surfaced in Emperor Jiayou's eyes. He found Lu Yang more and more pleasing to the eye. What is a loyal minister? This is called a loyal minister!
Not concealing anything is the greatest loyalty!
Moreover, there was an implication behind Lu Yang's words— the dignified grandson of the Dragon Lord actually needed to send an incarnation overseas to contact the Dragon Lord.
What did this show?
This showed the True Dragon Clan was sensible and didn't secretly leave any contact methods that could deceive the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]. This made Emperor Jiayou even more satisfied.
However, despite that, Emperor Jiayou's tone still didn't fluctuate at all—
"You are the Dragon Lord's grandson, yet addressing him as Dragon Lord, isn't that too distant?"
"Your Majesty's words are incorrect!" Lu Yang shook his head, saying solemnly: "When working, one should address by title. How can we discuss length of bloodline?"
Emperor Jiayou's heart moved slightly again upon hearing this, then he nodded:
"Since the True Dragon Clan has submitted to my Jiangdong, as long as they are loyal to the country, they will naturally have a place to share the fate of the nation in the future. Dragon Lord sees things clearly. You may rise as well."
"Thank for your profound grace, Your Majesty."
Lu Yang stood up, clenched his right hand into a fist, looking solemn: "Loyalty!"
Although Emperor Jiayou concealed it well, watching the increasingly brilliant light of [Unwilling to be Subservient], Lu Yang knew he had passed this hurdle.
The next second, Emperor Jiayou suddenly said:
"Speaking of which, I heard you contacted quite a few Demon cultivators before and founded an organization called the [One Heart Society]. I wonder what is your purpose?"
Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged, saying calmly:
"Demon cultivators have a wild nature that is hard to tame. Receiving Your Majesty's grace, they only seek their own benefit and do not think of repaying the country."
"This subject founded the [One Heart Society] precisely to teach them how to repay Your Majesty wholeheartedly, making them guard Your Majesty like stars arching around the moon!"
Emperor Jiayou: "..."
Good servant!
The corner of Emperor Jiayou's mouth twitched slightly, then he flicked his sleeve and stood up: "Enough. I intend to make a trip to the outer heavens to retrieve the incense World Realm you mentioned before."
"You may accompany me."
The next second, Lu Yang saw the light of [Unwilling to be Subservient] bloom. If he betray at this moment, the talent bonus would probably reach fifty percent!