Recently, the days have not been easy for the True Dragon Clan.
To be precise, Tian Qiu's days were not easy, while the True Dragons outside were all very excited, feeling that the era of the True Dragon Clan was coming.
After all, the four Dao Lords didn't manage affairs, and all the Perfected Lords were in seclusion. The True Dragon Clan, united overseas, was not weaker than the four major powers of the inland at the Foundation Establishment level. Some radical True Dragons had even started chanting slogans, saying they should take this good opportunity to fight their way back inland and wash away the shame of fleeing far overseas.
However, Tian Qiu was very calm.
Not only did he make a prompt decision to suppress all radical speech, but some stubborn ones were even executed directly by him. It took him a year or two to finally stabilize the situation.
This was just the external cause.
The true internal cause was Tian Qiu's own sensing of karma... In recent days, he often suddenly had inexplicable thoughts while cultivating:
Alas! Why don't I go for a walk in Jiangxi?
The first time this thought arose, Tian Qiu almost walked out. Fortunately, he was in seclusion in the secret chamber left to him by the Old Dragon Lord at that time.
At the last moment, the mighty power left by the Old Dragon Lord awakened him.
Since then, Tian Qiu searched through the clan's Daoist Canon and finally understood what happened: This was a Buddhist affinity. The damn World Honored One was calculating him!
Sigh.
Inside the secret chamber, Tian Qiu sighed, looking at the intelligence sent from Jiangxi, which stated clearly that the World Honored One had a dharma aspect descend into the world, and the enlightened Buddha Child was named Guang Ming.
What to do?
Tian Qiu thought about it over and over. The only way was probably to accelerate the pace of the True Dragon Clan's rule over the overseas regions, seizing enough resources for himself to seek the Golden Core.
As long as he could attain [Heavenly River Water] one step ahead, perhaps there was still hope to get rid of this damn buddhist affinity on him.
Or maybe—
...Dao Court.
Tian Qiu raised his head and looked in the direction of Jiangdong: Father once said before going into seclusion that if things really couldn't be done, perhaps we could go and seek refuge in Jiangdong.
At that time, he only thought it was absurd and didn't take it to heart. After all, he knew clearly about the transaction between his family and the Dao Court.
Wasn't everyone sent to the Dao Court cannon fodder? What was the point of seeking refuge with them? However, now that he was truly in a predicament, Tian Qiu recalled the Old Dragon Lord's entrustment again.
Maybe I can try?
I remember the group of True Dragons that went to Jiangdong... the leader was that child Du Huan, right? Maybe he has already gained a little status in the Dao Court.
I just don't know if his status is high enough to protect me.
Thinking of this, Tian Qiu shook his head with a laugh: "What am I thinking... Even if his status is high, the Dao Court wouldn't clash with the World Honored One for this."
Unless he was the Son of Heaven of the Dao Court.
"Never mind. If I die at the hands of buddhist cultivators, the True Dragon Clan probably won't be able to escape either. Better to send some secretly to Jiangdong, counting as preserving the bloodline."
Just as Tian Qiu was pondering, suddenly, a voice came from outside the secret chamber door. Tian Qiu went out to look, only to see his most beloved little sister Sui Ling, who said with a strange expression: "Brother, dragons came from Jiangdong. A lot of them... but they all seem to have gone crazy."
"...What?"
Tian Qiu tilted his head, somewhat not understanding Sui Ling's meaning. Crazy? What a joke. The True Dragon Clan reaches Foundation Establishment upon adulthood; how could they go crazy?
"Go and see."
Tian Qiu transformed into human form and paced out. Soon, a voice full of helplessness came from afar: "Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, Eldest Maternal Uncle, Second Maternal Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Cousin... We really aren't lying. The Dao Court belongs to our Dragon Clan now. We came this time to pick you up to enjoy happiness!"
Tian Qiu: "???"
Really crazy?
Tian Qiu's expression turned serious instantly. He walked forward quickly, looking at the man surrounded by a group of True Dragons in the center, and instantly recognized the other party's identity:
"Du An? What's going on? Do you still recognize me?"
The man whose name was called instantly showed a look of joy upon hearing this: "Your Highness! You finally came. Lord Du Huan said he wanted to hand this item to you personally."
After speaking, he took out a fragment.
Tian Qiu's pupils shrank instantly upon seeing this, because he was all too familiar with that fragment. It was exactly the True Treasure [Sea-Ordering Conch] that the Old Dragon Lord had refined for many years!
Was it really sent by that child Du Huan?
And looking at the other party, he didn't seem to have suffered damage to his divine sense. Yet he spoke nonsense with a straight face. What did he mean the Dao Court belonged to the Dragon Clan?
...Fine.
Tian Qiu wasn't flustered. He was Foundation Establishment Perfection! The [Heavenly River Water] he cultivated was a Supreme Dao Fruit after all. Although he couldn't display his due combat power because his concept was damaged, he still had some divine wonders in aspects like deducing karma. Calculating causes and consequences was as easy as turning over his hand.
Thinking of this, Tian Qiu immediately formed his fingers to calculate:
[No abnormality]
Damn it, they say the Dao Court has become our Dragon Clan's, and there's still no abnormality? This is protected by karma means. There must be a big conspiracy behind this.
Tian Qiu felt uneasy in his heart. Calculate again:
[Nothing unusual]
Ha! This is outrageous! I, a dignified Foundation Establishment Perfection, the greatest under Perfected Lord, can't calculate your causes and consequences? I don't believe in this heresy.
Continue calculating!
With this thought, Tian Qiu immediately activated his spiritual power. Divine abilities appeared all over his body, wanting to trace the karma directly. But he found that the direction of this tracing seemed a bit wrong—
Why is it going up?
Tian Qiu looked up, only to see that on the curtain of heaven where all stars should have been hidden, a candlelight-like starlight was lit up, looking at him like an eye.
[Heavenly Fire]?
Not good!
Tian Qiu's expression changed drastically in an instant, but no matter how fast his reaction was, it was not as fast as the level of a Dao Fruit. A heavenly fire instantly ignited on his body, burning his entire body in an instant.
After a long while, Tian Qiu finally extinguished the heavenly fire. Although it wasn't enough to kill him, it still burned him to a crisp, his treasure and clothing to shreds, and his face was completely charred. Yet, his eyes were filled with surprise
The Dao Fruit's favor! It's the Dao Fruit's favor!
Tian Qiu was the Crown Prince of the True Dragon Clan after all; his knowledge was not low. He immediately understood that the scene before him was because he had touched some taboo.
To attract the counterattack of [Heavenly Fire], I must have calculated the person it favors.
And in the world today, only Du Huan cultivates [Heavenly Fire].
But to obtain such a degree of favor from [Heavenly Fire], he must extremely fit its concept... In that case, the Dao Court really became my Dragon Clan's?
Thinking of this, Tian Qiu widened his eyes, unable to speak for a long time.
Even though his rationality had already sorted out the logic for him and reached the most obvious answer, his sense still found it somewhat hard to accept this matter.
How did he do it?
The next second, Tian Qiu suddenly came back to his senses: Damn it, who cares how he did it? The important thing is Du Huan did it! Myself and the Dragon Clan are saved!
"What are you still standing there for?"
With this thought, Tian Qiu suddenly turned his head to look at the other True Dragons and said sternly: "Pack your things. Immediately, right now, the whole clan follow me to Jiangdong."
"Go to Jiangdong?"
On the other side, Sui Ling was a bit curious upon hearing this: "To see Du Huan?"
"Watch your words!"
Tian Qiu's voice suddenly rose, looking at Sui Ling with incomparable seriousness: "Correct your attitude... The one we are going to see now should be His Majesty!"