Return to the Dragon Palace

With Ao Yun and the Mysterious Turtle in tow, Jiang Yun set out along the route they had taken earlier, returning to the Northern Sea Dragon Palace.

Meanwhile, within the Four Seas Dragon Palace, the selection of talented members had begun during the time Jiang Yun was away searching for opportunities with Ao Yun.

According to the Dragon Clan's original plan, this selection would only be held among the Northern Sea and Western Sea clans. Who could have expected Ao Guang of the East Sea and Ao Qin of the South Sea to hear about it and decide that it was a good idea as well, unwilling to fall behind the others?

Even if they lacked any geographical advantage this time, securing a spot in advance and establishing contact with the Western Teachings would still be worthwhile!

Thus, the original allocation plan was slightly modified. The Northern Sea and Western Sea, which had originally been allotted ten spots each, would each give up two spots to the East Sea and South Sea.

Of course, after each Dragon Palace selected its candidates, it would have to send people to escort them to Mount Sumeru to become disciples. In that regard, the Northern Sea and Western Sea were indeed at a great geographical advantage.

Ao Shun held eight spots in his hands. Four had been reserved for the main lineage within the Dragon Palace, and were only finalized after several rounds of discussion among the direct-line forces of the Dragon Palace. Of the remaining four spots, two were open for the outstanding descendants of all the branch lineages of the Northern Sea Dragon Palace to compete for. Each branch lineage selected three candidates, who then underwent several rounds of elimination until the best of the best were chosen. The final two spots were released to give the other members of the Dragon Clan's subordinate forces a chance.

At the same time, this was also a good opportunity to rally people's hearts. Ever since the Dragon Clan had retreated to the Four Seas, the growth of its younger descendants had become exceedingly difficult. With the younger generation failing to produce successors, the Dragon Palace's influence among the scale-and-armor tribes had been declining step by step. Ao Shun had heard that some Flood Dragon tribes with excellent bloodlines had expanded rapidly in recent years and were already beginning to stir restlessly.

Releasing the two spots served two purposes. First, it gave the subordinate forces of the Dragon Palace some benefits and hope, allowing them to see that following the Dragon Palace could bring them advantages. Second, it borrowed the prestige of the two primordial great powers on Mount Sumeru to suppress the ulterior motives of certain individuals.

Ao Shun first had people spread the names of Mount Sumeru's Jieyin and Zhunti, the masters of the Western Teachings. He then announced that the Dragon Palace was preparing to select several people to go to Mount Sumeru and become disciples, informing all the clans that anyone with sufficient ability could come and participate in the selection.

After the news spread, the various clans that followed behind the Dragon Palace gained a profound understanding of its foundation and connections. Some unruly clans temporarily suppressed their ulterior motives and put on the appearance of loyal lackeys of the Dragon Palace.

By the time Jiang Yun returned to the Dragon Palace with the Mysterious Turtle and Ao Yun, all the selections had concluded, and the eight candidates had been confirmed.

Jiang Yun and Ao Shun had discussed the selection criteria beforehand. As for the disciples who would join the Western Teachings, their cultivation should not be too high; the younger generation would be preferred.

First, in terms of cultivation, anyone who had reached the Golden Immortal realm or above was an important mainstay of the Dragon Palace and could not be easily spared. Moreover, beings at that level had already begun walking their own paths, making it very difficult for them to change course.

It was just like when Daoist Randeng went to the Jade Void Palace to seek instruction. Venerable Yuanshi had been unwilling to accept him as a disciple. For one thing, they had both listened to the Dao in the Purple Cloud Palace and were peers, so Venerable Yuanshi could not afford to lose face. For another, Daoist Randeng already had his own Dao and methods, and his foundation had been established. How could he possibly come and inherit Venerable Yuanshi's teachings? All Daoist Randeng wanted was to cling to a powerful backer and find someone to shelter him.

Therefore, Jiang Yun's advice at the time had been that their cultivation should remain below the Golden Immortal realm.

Second, those of lower seniority should be selected. This involved the issue of karmic burdens. Although everyone in the Dragon Clan bore karmic burdens, the karma carried by their younger descendants was certainly lighter than that of the older generation. Choosing those of lower seniority as much as possible was also meant to take this into consideration. After all, once they joined a religion, the fate of the sect and the individual's fate would become linked. If they could bear a little less karma, they should bear a little less.

In the end, the eight selected candidates were basically all at the Mystic Immortal realm. Those with lower cultivation had not managed to make it to the end. The two chosen from the Dragon Palace's subordinate forces had truly fought their way through countless competitors. Compared with the Dragon Palace's preselected disciples, they were superior in every respect except cultivation methods and bloodline.

After returning to the Northern Sea Dragon Palace, Jiang Yun first met with the eight candidates and familiarized himself with their circumstances.

Although the later Dragon Clan of the Primordial World would become so weak that anyone could trample on them, the Dragon Clan's bloodlines gave them physiques that could rival the Witch Clan's. The six from the Dragon Palace all had excellent aptitude. In Jiang Yun's eyes, every one of them could be placed in the same tier as the Little White Dragon from Journey to the West.

As for the other two, one was a seven-colored koi, while the other was a three-headed Flood Dragon. Both were unusual beings born from ancestral bloodline reversion, with extremely high aptitude. Their cultivation methods were merely somewhat ordinary, which was why they seemed less dazzling.

As for Ao Yun, he was summoned by Ao Shun as soon as he returned, and Ao Shun questioned him about what had happened during the journey.

Ao Yun recounted what he had seen and heard along the way. He explained how Jiang Yun had found the opportunity they were seeking, how he had obtained the Innate Spiritual Treasure Wood Spirit Pearl, and how, when surrounded by the five-man Northern Sea robbery squad, he had effortlessly slain them.

In particular, the leader of the group, the Nine-Headed Chiwen, had actually been in the late Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, yet Jiang Yun had still dealt with him with ease. This gave Ao Shun a direct understanding of Jiang Yun's battle prowess.

Ao Yun then spoke of how the Mysterious Turtle of the North Sea had been awakened, how it had called Ancestor Dragon a little loach, and how Jiang Yun had used the Aura of Merit to help the Mysterious Turtle break free from the shackles of its physical body and escape its crisis.

At this, Ao Shun could no longer hold himself back. He interrupted Ao Yun's account involuntarily. "You said the Mysterious Turtle of the North Sea—and when he mentioned Ancestor Dragon, he called him a little loach? Could that turtle beside you when you returned actually be it?"

When he asked this, Ao Shun's voice rose by more than one pitch.

The Dragon Kings all knew something about the ancient beings and great powers residing throughout the Four Seas. This was because the older generation of the clan had specifically taught them about such figures, so they would not accidentally provoke someone they should not.

For example, among the knowledge imparted about the Northern Sea was a mention of the Mysterious Turtle of the North Sea. He was a god-level figure from an older generation than Ancestor Dragon. There was also the Kunpeng in the depths of the Northern Darkness—but that was a rising star who had appeared somewhat later...

When Jiang Yun had brought the Mysterious Turtle back to the Dragon Palace, the Mysterious Turtle had voluntarily concealed his aura. Thus, Ao Shun had not noticed anything and had merely assumed he was an ordinary turtle creature. He had never imagined that it would actually be the Mysterious Turtle of the North Sea, an established powerhouse from ancient times.

When he thought of how Jiang Yun had actually helped such a powerful being escape its predicament and had even gained its allegiance, Ao Shun felt as though he were listening to a fantastic tale. His understanding of Jiang Yun was constantly being overturned and renewed.

At this point in time, with Old Ancestor Hongjun absent, the Mysterious Turtle, whose physical body had reached the Perfected Hunyuan realm, could practically walk sideways. With such a great god protecting him, Jiang Yun's path of growth would be smooth sailing as long as he did not court death himself. The only one who could restrain him was himself.