[Supreme Dragon King].
Before Lu Yang's words even fully settled, it was as if a door had been pushed open. In an instant, the resonance coming from the Ancestral Dragon's heartbeat spiked by several levels.
A violent anomaly expanded outward with him at the center. When the sound reached the Old Dragon Lord's ears, it transformed into an earth-shattering dragon's roar, laced with intense fury and profound unwillingness. It nearly shattered his soul and erased his Golden Nature. If this weren't the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness], a heavenly tribulation would have likely descended already!
The Old Dragon Lord pressed his body even lower.
At this moment, he was practically flattened against the ground. After a long while, he spoke weakly, "Father's vision is as clear as a mirror. Yes, it is exactly the [Supreme Dragon King]."
This was the very Dao Fruit the Old Dragon Lord intended to attain through Void Attainment.
Its foundation was similar to Immortal Venerable Taiyin's [Gathering the Wealth of All]—both relied on borrowing the power of living beings. However, the target of the [Supreme Dragon King] was the True Dragon clan.
"As long as I can attain the [Supreme Dragon King], the True Dragon clan will inevitably receive the blessing of the Dao Fruit. From then on, they will no longer be restricted by the Water element, and their bloodline can return to the level of the nobles of heaven and earth from the past. Given time, if the [Supreme Dragon King] advances to the Great Perfected Lord level, then any adult True Dragon will automatically become a Golden Core Perfected Lord."
One clan nurtures one Dao.
The two rise and fall together. If the True Dragon clan is exterminated, the [Supreme Dragon King] collapses. Conversely, if the [Supreme Dragon King] is powerful, the True Dragon clan grows stronger.
So, what was the price?
The [Supreme Dragon King] symbolizes the head of the True Dragons, and the former head of the True Dragons was the Ancestral Dragon. The merging of these two phenomena would give the Ancestral Dragon an opportunity to break free.
This offended the Four Dogs of the Immortal Nexus.
On the other hand, the [Supreme Dragon King] fundamentally steals the Ancestral Dragon's power. If it is truly attained, the Ancestral Dragon will inevitably be further weakened.
This offended the Ancestral Dragon.
For the Four Dogs of the Immortal Nexus, the Ancestral Dragon's seal was already perfect. Even if the Old Dragon Lord could weaken the Ancestral Dragon, it wouldn't have much meaning; it would only needlessly introduce variables.
For the Ancestral Dragon, although the [Supreme Dragon King] could offer him a chance to break free, that wasn't the Old Dragon Lord's true intention. It was like a powerful minister seizing control of the court while the emperor was still on the throne. Even if the results of seizing the court were good, the intentions were bad, and the minister's entire clan would still be executed afterward.
This old loach has quite the nerve!
Lu Yang had actually already grasped the core of the Old Dragon Lord. The answer was simple: the True Dragon clan. That was his greatest weakness.
After all, did the [Supreme Dragon King] actually benefit the Old Dragon Lord himself?
Of course it did, but not by much.
With his abilities, the Old Dragon Lord could have entirely chosen a different path for Void Attainment—one that was safer, more beneficial to himself, and devoid of hidden dangers.
Yet, he chose the most dangerous path, the [Supreme Dragon King] that offended both sides. Was it because he couldn't see the situation clearly? Of course not. What kind of figure was the Old Dragon Lord? Having survived from the Golden Age to the present, it wasn't that he couldn't see clearly. On the contrary, he saw it too clearly, which gave him the audacity to take such a desperate risk!
So what made him willing to take that risk?
It's the True Dragon clan.
Through the life settlement of [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], Lu Yang was absolutely clear about the Old Dragon Lord's thoughts when he made this decision. To put it bluntly, it came down to a single phrase:
To reforge the glory of the True Dragons, it is my bounden duty!
"Interesting."
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "It's a pity, Ao Guang. Your [Supreme Dragon King] has not yet been attained. You are stuck at the final hurdle of the outward resonance of the Five True Treasures."
The path of Void Attainment is divided into inner and outer aspects.
The inner pursuit lies in 'Borrowing,' while the outer resonance lies in 'Seizing.'
The inner pursuit refers to the refinement of the fourth True Treasure. The key to breaking through the bottleneck lies in 'Borrowing'—also known as borrowing the false to refine the true.
The outer resonance involves twisting the five True Treasures together into a single strand, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses. Then, resonating outward to seize the profound creations of heaven and earth, perfecting one's own Dao Fruit. Therefore, this difficult hurdle is mysterious and profound. It depends not only on comprehension but also on fortuitous encounters, Fortune, and even whether you have the Destiny for it.
To put it plainly, it depends on whether the Dao Lords allow it.
If the Dao Lords allow it, then even if you are a pig with zero Light of Wisdom, fortuitous encounters will still flock to you, your Fortune will soar, and you will be destined to achieve Void Attainment.
If the Dao Lords do not allow it, then even if your talent is peerless and your comprehension reaches the heavens—like the First-generation Beast Taming Peak Master—you will still be a hero thwarted by fate.
[Sky-shrouding], Feixue, Vanquishing-Demon, Immortal Venerable Taiyin.
Which of them wasn't like this?
And clearly, the Old Dragon Lord did not fall into the category permitted by the Dao Lords. That was why, even after gathering all five True Treasures, he was still unable to achieve Void Attainment.
Thump!
Suddenly, the Old Dragon Lord, who had been kneeling on the ground, straightened his upper body. Then, without a word, he forcefully knocked his forehead heavily on the ground before Lu Yang.
"Dad, I beg you to lend me a hand."
He saw through it.
Lu Yang didn't seem to have any intention of killing him. Even after learning of the existence of the [Supreme Dragon King], his attitude remained incredibly calm, devoid of any intense reaction.
With his sharp instincts, the Old Dragon Lord immediately reached an epiphany: He doesn't oppose it? No, he actually supports me! Otherwise, why would he say so much to me? Wouldn't it be simpler to just kill me cleanly? Moreover, this person's connection to the Ancestral Dragon is deeper than mine. Perhaps he can help me take that final step!
At this thought, he kowtowed deeply once again.
However, seeing this, Lu Yang's expression didn't change in the slightest. He merely raised his chin and spoke in a low voice with an indiscernible tone:
"Ao Guang, now you know to beg me."
"We haven't seen each other for many years, and now, the moment we meet, you perform such a grand salute. But I can't even remember the last time you bowed to me."
"To be frank, you never wanted to see me. You were afraid to see me."
Hearing this, the Old Dragon Lord gritted his teeth. "I just didn't want to cause trouble..."
"I understand."
Lu Yang nodded slightly. "You severed the connection of your bloodline. You cultivated the Grotto-Heaven method. Those four in the Immortal Nexus protect you, and you're living quite well now."
"Of course you don't want to see me."
As his words fell, Lu Yang's voice grew even deeper, his tone chilling. "Yet now, you stand here and say you want me to lend you a hand."
"You don't respect me at all."
"You aren't even willing to call me Master."
The moment these words were spoken, the Old Dragon Lord's expression completely crumbled. A genuine, unmistakable terror leaked from the depths of his eyes, as if his deepest secret had been seen through.
Yes, this was the true title between the Old Dragon Lord and the Ancestral Dragon.
The so-called father-and-son relationship was merely packaging used for outsiders. The Ancestral Dragon was singular. He had created the dragon race out of thin air; why would he ever consider them his kin?
This was a secret that even the Dao Lords didn't know.
For a moment, the Old Dragon Lord's face shifted between light and dark. A long time passed before he forced out a voice:
"What must I pay?"
"Ao Guang, oh Ao Guang. What exactly did I do to make you disrespect me so much?"
Lu Yang shook his head and sighed. "If you come to me as a servant and beg, then today you will receive the help you desire."
"If my servant is wronged, then his enemies will also be my enemies."
"Conversely, the same applies."
Hearing this, the Old Dragon Lord fell silent again, understanding the underlying meaning of these words: what the other party wanted wasn't benefits, but a clear stance.
My enemy? My friend?
After a long silence, the Old Dragon Lord finally looked up at Lu Yang and said respectfully, "Master."
At this moment, he had stopped pondering whether the person before him was truly the Ancestral Dragon. None of that mattered. What mattered was whether there was profit to be made.
I don't care if you're my dad or not.
As long as you can help me attain the [Supreme Dragon King], from now on, you are my real dad!
(End of Chapter)