"Download Duobao's top-tier artifact-refining talent!"
So poor. Jiang Chen complained inwardly as he downloaded the only talent that was barely worth looking at.
Although the panels of these junior brothers and sisters were impossible to look at, Duobao's top-tier artifact-refining talent had still given him a small surprise.
A person's talent, like their constitution, was divided into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-tier.
With Duobao's top-tier artifact-refining talent, there were absolutely only a few people in the Great Desolation who could compare to him!
This showed just how precious Duobao's top-tier artifact-refining talent was.
"Ding-dong! Beginning download of [Top-Tier Artifact-Refining Talent]!"
%! %! %! ...
Soon, accompanied by a notification, the download progress appeared before Jiang Chen's eyes.
However, what Jiang Chen had not expected was that the download speed would be so fast. In an instant, the download progress had already reached 3%.
Didn't that mean it could be completed within a day?
Jiang Chen secretly rejoiced.
However, his guess had still been too conservative. Just a few breaths later, the system's voice rang out again!
"Ding-dong! Congratulations, host. [Top-Tier Artifact-Refining Talent] has finished downloading!"
At this, Jiang Chen's eyes lit up.
Top-tier artifact-refining talent was truly a good thing. Had he not seen how, in later generations, Duobao had relied on his astonishing artifact-refining talent to refine countless spiritual treasures throughout his life? Not only had this greatly increased his strength, but his wealth was also second only to Tongtian's!
Duobao was already so impressive. As for Jiang Chen, who had long since learned Artifact Refining Divine Abilities, he could certainly surpass Duobao.
Of course, more importantly, from now on, he would no longer need to painstakingly search for spiritual treasures. He could simply refine them himself!
After refining them, he could sacrifice them to speed up the download process. His Saint-level cultivation would then draw closer and closer!
"Use [Top-Tier Artifact-Refining Talent]!"
With that thought, Jiang Chen no longer hesitated and immediately chose to use it.
As his voice fell, it was as if his mind had suddenly been opened. Many points he had failed to understand before were revealed without reservation, pushing his Artifact Refining Divine Abilities to another level.
If he refined the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors again, he was even confident he could finish it within a day!
Such was the benefit of top-tier artifact-refining talent.
Just as Jiang Chen was experiencing the benefits of top-tier artifact-refining talent, a loud shout suddenly resounded throughout Golden Ao Island.
"May the Saint be well!"
"I am Dragon King Ao Guang of the East Sea. I heard that Saint Shangqing is about to preach the Dao, so I have come especially to pay my respects!"
People from the dragon clan!
Jiang Chen's heart stirred. He turned his head and saw two figures drifting over in the distance, one man and one woman—the man was old, while the woman was young.
Although he had never met them before, Jiang Chen found them somewhat familiar. Both had deer antlers atop their heads, which were unmistakably a symbol of the dragon clan!
To be honest, Jiang Chen was extremely curious about the dragon clan. He was curious not only about the treasures of the Dragon Palace, but also about the dragon clan's current situation.
As far as he knew, the dragon clan had been one of the protagonists of the Dragon-Han Tribulation, a great race that had once fought for supremacy over the heavens and earth of the Great Desolation. Yet now, there was not even a trace of news about them. How could that not make him curious?
Curious as he was, it was a different matter when they came to Golden Ao Island and shouted so loudly.
"Impudent! Who dares make a commotion on Golden Ao Island?"
Jiang Chen was the first to lose his temper. His eyes widened, and his early-stage Golden Immortal aura erupted in an instant.
This was Golden Ao Island, after all. Setting aside the possibility that those earth-shaking words might disturb his master's cultivation, if just anyone came here and behaved like this in the future, it would undoubtedly be utterly discourteous.
"Calm yourself, fellow Daoist. May I ask what relationship you all have with the Saint?"
The elderly Dragon King Ao Guang was furious at first, but for some reason, his anger instantly dissipated, and he hurriedly clasped his hands in apology.
After all, he was the Dragon King of the East Sea, and his strength had reached the Perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. Being reprimanded by an early-stage Golden Immortal junior would naturally infuriate him. However, he immediately remembered the purpose of his visit and whose territory Golden Ao Island was, and he quickly came to his senses.
This was the dojo of Saint Tongtian. How could a mere Perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal like him cause trouble here?
"This is our master's first personal disciple, Senior Disciple Brother of the Interception Sect, Jiang Chen!"
Before Jiang Chen could speak, Bi Xiao stepped forward from the side and introduced him first, her voice brimming with pride.
As Yun Xiao revealed Jiang Chen's identity, Ao Guang froze at first. Then his pupils contracted sharply. He stared at Jiang Chen's figure and sucked in a cold breath, feeling his palms grow sweaty.
There was no other reason. Jiang Chen's background was simply too terrifying. No one would have expected that this mere early-stage Golden Immortal was actually Saint Tongtian's first personal disciple, the chief disciple of the Interception Sect!
No wonder a mere early-stage Golden Immortal could cross an entire major realm and possess an aura comparable to an early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal. So he was the Saint's chief disciple!
He was astonished inwardly.
Ao Guang was not the only one shocked. Even the graceful dragon-clan girl beside him looked at Jiang Chen again, a strange light flashing through her beautiful eyes.
"Ao Guang greets the Saint's disciple!"
Ao Guang wiped at the nonexistent cold sweat on his forehead and hurriedly clasped his hands in salute.
Only then did Jiang Chen's expression improve slightly.
This was the benefit of having powerful backing. Merely one title had forced the Perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal Dragon King of the East Sea to adopt such a humble attitude before an early-stage Golden Immortal. It was not difficult to see from this what the Saint's might was like—and how fallen the dragon clan was today.
After all, All Below Saints are Ants. This was not merely an empty saying!
"Why have you come here?"
Jiang Chen asked.
One did not visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. He still understood that much.
"I heard that Saint Shangqing is about to preach the Dao, so I came here to listen. Besides that, I also wish to meet the Saint. I wonder if fellow Daoist could help introduce me?"
Ao Guang clasped his hands and explained his purpose. After learning Jiang Chen's identity, how could he still dare treat him as a junior? His words already regarded Jiang Chen as an equal.
"My master is currently in seclusion. You should return."
Jiang Chen shook his head and spoke indifferently.
Not to mention Ao Guang—even Jiang Chen, who had only just ended his own seclusion, had not yet met Tongtian. Besides, a Saint was not someone one could meet whenever one wished. If everyone who came claimed they wanted to see his master, wouldn't his master be worked to death?
Ao Guang was somewhat surprised by this answer, but then he seemed to think of something and continued, "I have another request. I hope fellow Daoist can grant it."
At this, Jiang Chen could not help raising his brows.
However, before he could speak, Ao Guang's bitter voice rang out: "My request is simply that fellow Daoist accept my daughter, Ao Yu, as your disciple!"
With that, he pushed the dragon-clan girl beside him forward. She was none other than his daughter, Ao Yu.
Accept her as a disciple?
Jiang Chen was somewhat surprised. He had been sitting at home, yet a disciple had been delivered to his door?
Moreover, she was the daughter of Dragon King Ao Guang. In other words, a Dragon Princess wanted to become his disciple?
However, none of that was the main point. When Jiang Chen saw that the Dragon Princess's cultivation was at the mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, he was astonished.
Her strength was at the mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, even higher than his own, and she was a Dragon Princess. Instead of being a good princess, she had come to become his disciple. Could the Dragon King have cultivated himself stupid?
"I am not speaking falsely. Every word is true. As long as fellow Daoist agrees, my daughter will be your disciple!"
As if he had seen the confusion in Jiang Chen's heart, the Dragon King hurriedly explained.
He had no choice. He was helpless as well.
Although the dragon clan had once been a top-tier race in ancient times, after losing the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, their glory had long since faded over the countless years. Their strength was not even comparable to the Witch-Demon race's. Recently, they had even been forced by the demon clan to join the demon clan's heavenly court. If they refused, the demon clan would send an army to subjugate them by force.
But after joining the demon clan's heavenly court, would the dragon clan still be the dragon clan? Ao Guang absolutely could not stand by and watch the dragon clan end in his hands.
That was why he had come here: to have his daughter, Ao Yu, enter the tutelage of Saint Tongtian, thereby seeking the Saint's protection for the dragon clan. But with the Saint absent, he could only settle for the next best thing.
As for the claim that the Saint was in seclusion, Ao Guang did not believe it. That was a supreme, omnipotent Saint, after all. How could he not know that Ao Guang had come?
The reason he had not responded was likely that he did not wish to see Ao Guang. Since Ao Guang could not make his daughter the Saint's disciple, he could only turn his attention to Jiang Chen.
However, he was disappointed once again.
"I have no plans to accept disciples."
Jiang Chen glanced at Ao Yu, shook his head, and refused without the slightest hesitation.
What a joke. Disciples were nothing but burdens. After accepting one, he would have to teach her cultivation, give her spiritual treasures for self-defense, and save her whenever she encountered danger. He would have to be both father and nanny. It brought countless disadvantages and not a single benefit. How could Jiang Chen possibly agree?
He had actually refused!
Ao Guang's eyes widened, as if he had heard wrong. A mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal was willing to become an early-stage Golden Immortal's disciple, yet he was actually unwilling?
Even Ao Yu's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise again and again.
"However, she could barely serve as my mount."
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