Chapter 468: A Bit More Suffering for Senior Brother Zhao

‘Senior Brother Zhao, you’re really out of luck.’

Inside the interrogation room of 【All-Heaven Department】, Lü Yang looked at Zhao Xuhe, who was strung up mid-air, barely clinging to life, clearly beaten numerous times, and let out a sigh.

Zhao Xuhe really was a pitiful man.

After parting ways with Lü Yang, everything had been fine for him in the Dao Court. But during a routine drill, he accidentally exposed that he was now cultivating the 『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』.

And then everything changed. 【All-Heaven Department】 arrested him on the spot, reported up the chain, and then experts from all directions took turns on him, opening with a round of Great Memory Recovery Techniques, shouting “Are you going to talk or not?” Zhao Xuhe didn’t even have time to react before he was beaten silly—no one even asked him a question!

Still, he was a disciple of the Holy Sect.

Upon learning that the Dao Court's target was the 『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』, and noticing that they hadn’t gone straight to soul-searching—seemingly wary of something—he gritted his teeth and endured.

No matter how you restore my memories, I just “don’t remember.”

Because he understood clearly:

‘If I speak, I’m truly doomed. If I don’t, they get nothing—and I might still have a chance. After all, I’m the only one who knows the 『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』!’

Just then, the cell door opened.

Zhao Xuhe looked up and saw a sharp-featured young man enter, his energy surging like the sea—seemingly more terrifying than even his own master.

But over these past few days, it wasn’t like no such figures had come before. Zhao Xuhe took a deep breath and said weakly, “You don’t have to waste your time. I won’t say anything. I’m not afraid to tell you—no one else knows this true art but me. If I die, it dies with me!”

So come on—recruit me already.

His heart burned with anticipation. He keenly sensed that what lay before him might be a crisis, but it was also an opportunity. After all, he too could be loyal to the Dao Court!

The Dao Court wanted his cultivation technique so badly.

If they couldn’t get it, they’d definitely try to win him over. Once that happened, and with the Dao Court’s support, he might even become a Foundation Establishment True Person more easily in the future!

With this thought, Zhao Xuhe became all the more determined. As a disciple of the Holy Sect, he never lacked ambition. So long as there was hope of building a Foundation, no suffering was too much—what was a little torture? In the Holy Sect, there were plenty who dreamed of taking this route and couldn’t.

“You all leave.”

Seeing the resolute look on Zhao Xuhe’s face, Lü Yang waved a hand, sending away the 【All-Heaven Department】 enforcers, and then sat down before Zhao Xuhe.

Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the Xuandu Blessed Land trembled slightly.

‘Mm, no one’s watching.’

Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction. Then, under Zhao Xuhe’s confused gaze, he didn’t ask a single question—he simply pulled out a jade slip and began recording.

『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』? I already know it!

Not only that, but I even know the more advanced 『Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Ascension Scroll』! I can even jot down some cultivation tips and knowledge points!

To Lü Yang, this was nothing short of heaven-sent merit!

So he didn’t interrogate at all—just transcribed the entire technique, and then used the 【String-Pulled Puppet】 to control Zhao Xuhe into signing and stamping it.

■ Mission accomplished!

As for Zhao Xuhe? Lü Yang, being kind-hearted, couldn’t bear to see him suffer further. So, clean and swift, he sent him off to reincarnation.

【Tianwu Hall】.

The current Son of Heaven of the Dao Court, titled 【Emperor Who Nourishes All Things】, era name Jiayou, was currently seated on the Dao platform, reviewing memorials submitted by various departments.

At that moment, Eunuch An rushed in.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! We have joyous news!”

“Oh? What news?”

The Jiayou Emperor opened his eyes at the words. With a turn of thought, he had already guessed the eunuch’s intent. “That little dragon finally gave up the technique under interrogation?”

“Your Majesty is all-knowing!”

Eunuch An quickly responded, “Heaven and Earth are within Your Majesty’s grasp; Your Majesty’s insight shines brighter than sun and moon. Indeed, Du Huan has rendered great merit.”

“Bring it up.”

As soon as the Jiayou Emperor spoke, Eunuch An immediately presented the scroll of cultivation technique that Lü Yang had “extracted.” With a sweep of divine sense, the Emperor’s face lit with satisfaction. With his cultivation, he could instantly tell the technique’s authenticity. More importantly:

『It hasn’t stirred karmic threads!』

If the 『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』 had been acquired through soul-searching, it would have triggered the karmic web and drawn the Pure Land’s attention—an offense rather than a merit.

But torture-extracted? That was different.

Since Zhao Xuhe had “willingly” handed it over, though there was still some karmic disturbance, it was subtle enough that a Foundation Establishment True Person could easily mask it—certainly not enough to alert the Pure Land.

With this in mind, the Jiayou Emperor was even more pleased.

A thought activated, and Lü Yang’s records in the 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】 surfaced in front of him—specifically, how he chose Comprehension when receiving his salary.

The Emperor wasn’t surprised.

Though the 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】 didn’t benefit most officials who relied on their posts, it was a true treasure for those who could cultivate independently.

Lü Yang’s choice had been within his expectations.

‘Trying to rapidly digest the Dao attainment of 【Noon Fire】?’ the Jiayou Emperor mused, then chuckled softly. If so, then why not grant it?

“Convey my decree.”

The Emperor spoke with golden words and jade speech: “True Dragon Du Huan, meritorious to the nation, is granted three units of salary.”

In the Dao Court, one “unit” referred to a century, and salaries were distributed once every hundred years. Thus, the Jiayou Emperor had awarded Lü Yang three centuries’ worth of salary in a single sentence!

Almost simultaneously, Lü Yang within the 【All-Heaven Department】 felt the resonance.

The 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】 radiated splendor, delivering the imperial edict and adding three salary withdrawal permissions to his official account.

“Thank His Majesty for His great grace!”

Lü Yang didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He stood where he was, flicked his right hand, his expression resolute, voice impassioned and words thunderous as he declared: “Loyalty! Devotion!”

The Jiayou Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

At the same time, Lü Yang also saw on the panel of the 【Book of a Hundred Lives】—the golden talent 【Does Not Serve Under Others】 lit up brightly.

『Talent Activated』

【Does Not Serve Under Others: The more outstanding you are in the eyes of your superior, the more favor you receive—and the greater the bonus when you betray them.】

Lü Yang understood immediately—this talent lighting up meant he had truly caught the Jiayou Emperor’s attention. If he chose to betray now, he could already reap the minimum bonus. He quickly realized—this was also a favorability gauge!

‘The brighter the talent, the more trust I hold in the Emperor’s heart.’

‘If it dims, it means suspicion—then I must plan ahead. Never thought it could serve this function too!’

As Lü Yang pondered—

Suddenly, a warm sensation emerged from his chest. He frowned and took out the source: a glowing, radiant scale.

『This is… the Dragon Monarch’s Scale!』

Lü Yang’s heart stirred. This had clearly been granted by the Dragon Monarch from across the seas to Du Huan, meant to monitor the True Dragon Clan’s situation in Jiangdong.

And now, the Dragon Monarch was sending a message.

『Well then… perfect timing!』

Though surprised, Lü Yang remained calm. After all, under the effect of 【Seizing the Nest of Another】, he now appeared to all as the genuine Dragon King Du Huan.

With that, he immediately activated the scale.

In the next instant, layers of white mist emerged from the scale, forming a cloud of celebration. From the cloud opened a pair of golden eyes, large as copper bells. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“Hmm?”

The next second, confusion flickered in those golden eyes.

For in his imagination, his dear grandson should be down and out right now, filled with grievance and unable to speak of it, maybe even harboring resentment toward him.

But in reality?

What entered his view was a heroic young man in official robes, radiating pride—where was the misery? He looked like he was riding high on success!