Chapter 469: The Ambition of the Dao Court

In the calculations of the old Dragon Monarch, the first batch of True Dragon branch members dispatched to Jiangdong were essentially cannon fodder, their only value being to establish a resting place.

He had also foreseen that the Dao Court would suppress the True Dragon Clan, yet had no intention of intervening. He simply waited for the right time, estimating that the suppression by the Dao Court had almost run its course, and only then did he send a message—intending to boost the morale of his grandson Du Huan, hoping he would continue to serve the True Dragon Clan.

However, the situation turned out to be quite different from what he had imagined.

“Grandfather!”

Before the Dragon Monarch could speak, Lü Yang directly fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he said emotionally, “Du Huan has not let Grandfather down. Du Huan has done it.”

‘.Ah.’

For a moment, the Dragon Monarch hesitated, especially upon seeing the 【Vice Commander of the Right, All-Heaven Department】 third-rank official title above Lü Yang’s head.

Because the Jiangdong region was shrouded by the 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】, ordinary divination methods could not intervene. The old Dragon Monarch couldn’t deduce the cause and effect either. But having lived for so many years, there was little he hadn’t seen before. After a brief moment of thought, he arrived at a conclusion that surprised and delighted him.

‘Du Huan... has actually made a name for himself in Jiangdong!?’

After all, anything else might be deceptive, but that gleaming official title was not. Moreover, it seemed to correspond with 【Roadside Earth】.

Lü Yang might not know, but how could the old Dragon Monarch not?

In the current Dao Court, the Fruitional Rank passed down through generations of the Tian Wu Royal House was precisely【Roadside Earth】! In other words, his own grandson had already caught the eye of the Dao Court’s Heavenly Son! 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

“Good! Good! Good!”

Thinking this, the old Dragon Monarch laughed heartily: “As expected of my beloved grandson. I sent you to Jiangdong back then because I believed you could accomplish something!”

As the words fell, the bond between grandfather and grandson deepened.

“Du Huan, tell Grandfather—how did you rise within the Dao Court?”

“Because of a person.”

At this point, Lü Yang deliberately lowered his voice and cautiously looked around. The old Dragon Monarch immediately understood and dispersed the auspicious clouds around him.

“Speak freely!”

The old Dragon Monarch chuckled lightly: “Since I gave you this scale to contact me, I naturally have ways to help you avoid Jia You’s detection.”

“Yes, Grandfather.” Lü Yang then produced the 『Incense-Fueled Deification Method』 and the coordinates for Seven Luminaries Heaven, speaking solemnly: “It was due to a cultivation method and a corresponding Realm Heaven. The person who gave these to me disappeared afterward. That person was extremely mysterious—I suspect they’re from the Jiangbei Demonic Sect!”

“.Oh?”

At these words, the old Dragon Monarch immediately grew serious. After all, no matter how minor the matter, if it involved the Holy Sect, it was significant—it could contain dangerous traps!

“This is...”

Soon, the old Dragon Monarch finished reviewing the method handed over by Lü Yang, then performed a divination on the coordinates of 【Seven Luminaries Heaven】. His expression gradually grew solemn:

“The person who contacted you... harbors grand ambitions! This may be a Realm Heaven where a Fruitional Rank has begun to take shape, and it aligns well with the Dao Court’s system. Yet he delivered it to the Dao Court through your hands. He’s using your True Dragon identity. But with such a bargaining chip, he didn’t negotiate directly with the Dao Court.”

The old Dragon Monarch did not doubt Lü Yang’s account.

After all, the 『Incense-Fueled Deification Method』 was right there—real and undeniable. And this was his own grandson. Could he not know his grandson? He didn’t have the guts to lie to him!

“What did you do?” the old Dragon Monarch asked.

Lü Yang quickly bowed his head, adopting a submissive tone: “Du Huan used Grandfather’s name and claimed it was the True Dragon Clan’s token of sincerity—”

“Good!”

Lü Yang didn’t need to explain further. The old Dragon Monarch could easily guess the developments that followed and also understood how his grandson had managed to rise.

As for the “mysterious person” Lü Yang spoke of, the old Dragon Monarch quickly formed a judgment:

“That person... should be a reincarnated True Lord!”

A Realm Heaven with a nascent Fruitional Rank—no mere Foundation Establishment cultivator could have created that. But since he didn’t dare approach the Dao Court directly, it was unlikely he was a True Lord at present.

Thus, a reincarnated True Lord made perfect sense.

But who could it be?

In the old Dragon Monarch’s heart, the most famous reincarnated True Lord over the past five thousand years popped up: “Hong Yun? Impossible, impossible. How could he have such ability...?”

Whoever it was, it couldn’t be Hong Yun.

It had to be someone else!

The old Dragon Monarch fell into deep doubt. As for any other fallen True Lords of the Holy Sect in the last five thousand years—after calculating back and forth, perhaps only...

‘.【Ang Xiao】?’

No way? That man was supposed to be a good person.

The old Dragon Monarch stroked his chin, half-convinced and half-suspicious. Though he had a good reputation, being of the Holy Sect still made him wary.

“Oh right, Grandfather—there’s one more thing.”

At this moment, Lü Yang suddenly spoke again, recounting how he had just interrogated Zhao Xuhe and submitted the 『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』 to the Dao Court.

This caused the old Dragon Monarch’s expression to change again: “The cultivation method corresponding to【City Head Soil】—I remember the Pure Land threw it into the Holy Sect long ago. How did it end up in the Dao Court, and it was Du Huan who personally extracted it... Good! Very good! No wonder Jia You values you so much!”

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang feigned confusion: “That cultivation method... is it special?”

“You don’t know.”

The old Dragon Monarch happily explained, “That fellow Jia You cultivates【Roadside Earth】and has long coveted【City Head Soil】’s supreme position!”

“Ever since the last Millennial Catastrophe, when the Dao Court fell into chaos and the Zouyu Royal House was overthrown by Tian Wu, during the time of Buddhism’s eastward spread, the supreme Fruitional Rank【City Head Soil】was taken away. Ever since, the Tian Wu Royal House has been plotting to reclaim it—at the very least, they must seize the position of supreme Fruitional Rank again.”

“But the Pure Land... is just shameless.”

At this point, the old Dragon Monarch even twitched his eyelids: “Combined with the Dao Court’s own limitations, they’ve never found an opportunity to act.”

“But this time is different.”

“With the cultivation method for【City Head Soil】, if someone within the Dao Court can use it to establish their foundation, and Jia You confers a title upon them...”

“Then, as that person’s cultivation advances—from early Foundation Establishment, to mid-stage, to late stage, even to perfection—the Dao Court can, through the link of official titles and the concept of ‘making【City Head Soil】practitioners submit in vassalage’, forcibly demote【City Head Soil】from its position of supremacy!”

“At that time,【Roadside Earth】can take its place.”

“And Jia You would achieve his wish—ascending to late-stage Golden Core with a supreme Fruitional Rank. Not only would he have no match in this era, but the Nascent Soul path would be within reach.”

Saying this, the old Dragon Monarch even showed a hint of envy.

But he quickly returned to his senses and looked again at Lü Yang: “You’ve done well this time. From now on, serve Jia You diligently and work hard to accumulate status.”

“Your grandson understands!”

Lü Yang quickly nodded, but then put on a worried face: “But Grandfather, the discrimination against us demon cultivators in Jiangdong is far too severe. Though I’ve gained a little status, I have no foundation here. Even when I visit people in person, they shut me out.”

“I ask Grandfather to help me—grant me a way to deal with this!”

“A way to deal with it?”

The old Dragon Monarch was momentarily stunned, then his thoughts turned and he suddenly realized: What kind of place is the Dao Court? If they truly cared about the divide between humans and demons, they wouldn’t be recruiting demon cultivators.

Most likely—he’s being shut out because he has no money!

Trying to get others to help without offering anything?

‘This brat is asking me for money!’

The old Dragon Monarch suddenly understood, and with a grand wave of his hand: “No need to worry. I’ll send you a batch of spiritual materials right away. Our True Dragon Clan lacks everything...

Except money!”

At this point, the old Dragon Monarch was full of pride. Lü Yang, on the other hand, looked hesitant: “Isn’t this a bit much? These are treasures of our True Dragon Clan...”

The old Dragon Monarch laughed: “There’s nothing wrong with it. We raise troops for a thousand days to use them for a single moment—you are more valuable than these materials. But just in case, I will store them in a True Treasure and send it together. The treasure will also be lent to you for protection, to guard against malicious people.”

“Grandfather, isn’t that too much...”

“There’s nothing wrong with it!”

The old Dragon Monarch spoke with finality, directly dispersing his auspicious clouds, and across countless miles, sent down a beam of golden light with a thunderous crash that landed in Lü Yang’s palm.