Blood Prison Dragon's Sha, Noble and Upright

Moon Empress.

Lan Chang'an's Cross-Sea Teleportation Array appeared in the Luoxia Archipelago.

The elder guarding the formation was none other than the portly Chen family elder from the Giant Shark Chen Family.

The two exchanged brief greetings.

Elder Chen was secretly surprised and glanced at Lan Chang'an, who looked unwell.

Compared to when he first emerged from the deep water, Lan Chang'an's condition had improved significantly.

On the Mystic Water Big Turtle, Lan Chang'an sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, heading straight for the main island where the Merchant Association Headquarters were located.

General Affairs Hall, Headquarters of the Merchant Alliance.

"Elder Lu only took on the mission a few months ago, and he's already back?"

The General Affairs Elder noticed his complexion and said with a smile:

"Could it be that Elder Lu has already severely injured that Ink Flood Dragon and driven it out of the Heavenly Star Sea?"

This statement was merely a polite probe.

In the Heavenly Star Sea Region, there have been Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivators attacking the Ink Flood Dragon in the past.

That Ink Flood Dragon is cunning and resourceful, adept at fighting and attrition in the Deep Sea. When encountering a powerful opponent it cannot defeat, it possesses considerable survival skills in the Deep Sea.

Its best achievement was that cultivators from other forces severely injured and drove away the dragon.

"As you have entrusted, I, Lu, have resolved the threat of the Evil Flood Dragon."

Lan Chang'an remained calm and composed, with a smile on his face.

"Oh? Daoist Lu has indeed completed the mission? Congratulations!"

The General Affairs Elder' eyes lit up, and he was filled with respect, without expressing any doubt.

"However, mission confirmation still requires information from the Intelligence Hall..."

"There's no need to go to such lengths."

Lan Chang'an waved his sleeve and took out a dark dragon head that was almost the size of a woodshed.

The moment the dragon's head appeared, it emitted an invisible Sha Qi and the lingering pressure of the Dragon Descendant.

"This is..."

The General Affairs Elder' pupils suddenly contracted, and he instinctively became alert, activating his Law Power.

Meeting the Ink Flood Dragon's wide-eyed stare, the General Affairs Elder felt a chill run down his spine.

"True Lord Lu is truly a man of great hidden talent."

The General Affairs Elder took a deep breath, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"Elder, you flatter me."

Lan Chang'an smiled wryly, "To be honest, I was a minor realm higher than the dragon, and with the help of a fourth-tier Spirit Pet, I barely managed to kill this Evil Flood Dragon..."

The General Affairs Elder remained noncommittal and quickly sent a message to the alliance's bigwigs.

This is no small matter; it involves a huge contribution and a reward.

Not long after.

Alliance Leader Zuo Tianxiong and Vice Alliance Leader Qiu Luoyan arrived at the General Affairs Hall.

Upon seeing the head of the Ink Flood Dragon, the two Merchant Alliance exchanged glances, unable to conceal the astonishment in their eyes.

The two alliance leaders had considered that Lan Chang'an was quite powerful and might be able to seriously injure or drive away the Evil Flood Dragon.

Unexpectedly, the Ink Flood Dragon that had plagued the seas for years was beheaded by this person.

Within the alliance, aside from the Azure-Eyed Sacred Beast, perhaps only the Grand Elder at his peak and the alliance leader Zuo Tianxiong had the opportunity to achieve this.

After verifying the remains.

The Alliance Leader Qiu's long eyelashes fluttered, and a rare hint of appreciation appeared in her clear, calm eyes.

Curious, he inquired about Lan Chang'an's process of slaying the dragon.

Lan Chang'an repeated what he had said to his Star Palace dao companion.

The two alliance leaders nodded, seemingly deep in thought.

They had already noticed that Lan Chang'an's aura was unstable and his Law Power energy was depleted.

Despite being two against one, a level above the opponent, the feat of slaying the Ink Flood Dragon wasn't particularly impressive when it got out.

Only cultivators who have fought against the Ink Flood Dragon and understand its true nature know the significance of its kill.

High reward for a kill.

However, it won't greatly increase your fame or reveal too much of your strength.

This is one of the reasons why Lan Chang'an chose this mission.

After verification by the two alliance leaders, Lan Chang'an handed over the mission.

Exchange for hundreds of thousands of the Merchant Alliance contribution points, as well as bounties for fourth-tier spirit pills, rare Law Treasure, and a large amount of Spirit Stone.

They only severely injured and drove away the Ink Flood Dragon; they didn't contribute as much to the Merchant Alliance.

The two alliance leaders decided to double the contribution.

However, there is one additional condition.

The materials from the corpse of the Ink Flood Dragon that Lan Chang'an killed should be traded and processed within the Merchant Alliance first.

The two alliance leaders took the corpse of the fourth-tier Dragon Descendant very seriously.

It contains many rare materials, which can enhance the strategic reserves of the Azure Sea Merchant Alliance and its influence in the sea area.

Lan Chang'an agreed to this priority.

The Merchant Alliance has a large quantity of the fourth-tier high-grade materials and body-refining elixirs that he needs.

Lan Chang'an first processed a batch of non-core materials from the Ink Flood Dragon's corpse, exchanging them for the Merchant Alliance contributions.

For example, large quantities of Dragon Blood, Flood Dragon meat, and partially damaged dragon scales.

Lan Chang'an intends to use the Flood Dragon's Essence Blood for body refinement and will not part with it.

As for ordinary fourth-order Flood Dragon flesh and blood, it had little effect on Lan Chang'an, who had cultivated to the fourth order of body refinement.

The flesh and blood of Flood Dragon are not easy to preserve for a long time.

Even with Law Technique preservation, the spiritual effects will gradually diminish over time.

Of course, for cultivators in the Nascent Soul Early Stage realm, especially those in the Golden Core Realm, the flesh and blood of a fourth-order Flood Dragon are highly nourishing.

It can even improve physical health, but such opportunities are rare and hard to come by.

Lan Chang'an also left Zhao Shiyao Flood Dragon flesh and blood, which could be used to enhance her physique through dietary therapy and medicinal baths.

In addition, on the way back.

Lan Chang'an bestowed some of the Dragon Blood and the internal organs of the Flood Dragon upon Di Yan Jun.

Di Yan Jun likes to eat the Demon King's internal organs.

The Flying Rat King looks even weaker; it's a good time to give it a boost.

Upon confirming that Lan Chang'an had killed the Ink Flood Dragon, Fei Flying Rat King appeared even more reserved, keeping a smiling face.

"My two alliance leaders! We'll trade the remaining core materials within the alliance once I've recovered from my injuries and regained my strength."

Lan Chang'an cupped his hands in farewell and rose to take his leave.

He planned to wait for the right price, and slowly sell the core Flood Dragon materials within the alliance.

Besides its headquarters, the Azure Sea Merchant Alliance also includes several medium-to-large-sized maritime merchants.

For example, the Alliance Leader Zuo, the Alliance Leader Wan, and Elder Wei all have the interests of merchant Lineage behind them.

The Alliance Leader Qiu is an exception.

She was Nascent Soul Cultivator trained by the Merchant Alliance's headquarters, and received guidance from the Grand Elder when she was young.

Qiu Luoyan lived alone, without offspring, and therefore had no merchant Lineage behind her.

Having cultivated to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, she held high power and influence, and even ordinary Nascent Soul True Lord could hardly catch her eye.

"No problem! We can discuss this further after Elder Lu recovers. The alliance's offer will certainly not leave Elder Lu at a disadvantage."

The Alliance Leader Zuo laughed heartily.

The two alliance leaders rose to see him off, their attitudes toward Lan Chang'an having undergone a complete change.

Lan Chang'an returned to the Hidden Mist Island Dao Field.

"Brother Lu."

A graceful figure in sky-blue robes came out to greet them.

Seeing Lan Chang'an return safely, Zhao Shiyao breathed a sigh of relief, and a look of joy appeared on her face.

I will be in seclusion for a month and will not be receiving guests during this period.

Lan Chang'an gave Fairy Zhao a few instructions.

He also gave her some dragon meat Dragon Blood, and taught her the methods of dietary therapy and medicinal baths.

And so, Hidden Mist Island erected a sign declaring it closed to visitors.

Representatives of the maritime merchant Lineage who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, including Wei Dongjun who arrived shortly after, all found nothing.

Inside the Cloud Sea Cave, in Secret Chamber.

Lan Chang'an took out the [Heaven-Splitting Axe] and observed and sensed it for a moment.

A faint fluctuation of consciousness emanated from within the axe.

"According to the records in the <Mending Heaven Spirit Nourishing Art>, this axe will give birth to Artifact Spirit in a few decades to a hundred years, thus attracting First Spirit Treasure Tribulation."

Lan Chang'an pondered.

This is just a normal speed estimate.

The Fourth Life the [Nine Imprint Tablet] descended time and again, offering themselves as nourishment.

The actual speed at which the Artifact Spirit is nurtured far exceeds that of ordinary beings.

Therefore, the [Heaven-Splitting Axe] underwent the First Spirit Treasure Tribulation much earlier than expected.

"Fortunately, as long as the quality of the Law Treasure meets the standard and the Artifact Spirit born from it is not too weak, the First Spirit Treasure Tribulation is not too difficult."

Since obtaining the [Heaven-Splitting Axe], Lan Chang'an has searched for related ancient books.

Regarding Spirit Treasure's tribulation, there is relevant inherited information among the Nascent Soul Old Monsters he slew.

Spirit Treasure possesses almost limitless growth potential, and the difficulty increases exponentially with each subsequent tribulation.

As the most basic first tribulation, it's not very difficult, and can be considered a small bonus.

Lan Chang'an gripped the [Heaven-Splitting Axe] and began to calculate again.

As the owner of the Spirit Treasure, he was not affected by the effect of "divine objects concealing themselves".

He wanted to determine the approximate time of the Spirit Treasure Tribulation.

Spirit Treasure must be at least of the fifth rank.

Without sufficient information mediums, even if Yan Donglai possessed fifth-level divination skills, it would be difficult for him to divine the secrets related to the Spirit Treasure out of thin air.

The Heaven-Splitting Axe was a gift from the current Tianyi Divine Monarch, adding another layer of Heavenly Secret Fog.

"Twenty-two years later, no more than twenty-seven years later."

Lan Chang'an consulted the oracle for a long time and obtained the result.

The Spirit Treasure Tribulation is fraught with uncertainties, and it is already quite an achievement to pinpoint a general timeframe.

At that time, he can go out in advance to a remote place to undergo the Spirit Treasure Tribulation.

Put away the quasi- Spirit Treasure.

Lan Chang'an then took out a black jar.

It was filled with intense Dragon Blood Sha Qi, and faint, malevolent dragon shadows could be seen roaming within.

This is the finished product obtained by Lan Chang'an when he was disposing of the corpse after slaying the dragon, using the <Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art>.

The Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art is a blood-based Body Refining Cultivation Method that uses the Essence Blood and Sha Qi of Dragon Descendant to slaughter and devour them. It can be used to improve physical strength and promote Body Cultivator- refining cultivation.

This was compensation that Great Yu received from the Emperor Yu during their conquest of the past.

Originally, Lan Chang'an only asked for the <Blood Refining Demon Transformation Canon>.

This Secret Method method is relatively gentle, strengthening one's physical body and Qi and Blood by refining the Essence Blood.

The Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art is an unorthodox Evil Dao Cultivation Method that takes shortcuts and has side effects.

This was Emperor Yu's initiative to compensate and give gifts; clearly, he had ulterior motives.

Now, Lan Chang'an understood his intentions.

Firstly, he was already tainted with the murderous Sha Qi of slaughtering Flood Dragon.

If the slaughter consumes too much Essence Blood and Sha Qi, it will distort the cultivator's mind and affect future advancement.

The royal family would love for him to devote more energy to body training.

Fortunately, Lan Chang'an's soul was comparable to that of a great cultivator, allowing him to easily suppress it. With the help of the Evergreen Art, he could slowly eliminate this Sha Qi.

Secondly, this Blood Path Body Refining Cultivation Method is most effective for Dragon Descendant; otherwise, its effectiveness is greatly reduced.

To achieve rapid body refinement, one must slaughter a large number of Dragon Descendant.

Such actions will inevitably provoke the Demon Race overseas, and may even alarm the Nine Dragons Hall.

Lan Chang'an knew perfectly well that this was just an experiment.

Even if he were on par with a great cultivator, he wouldn't dare to be so arrogant as to slaughter a large number of dragons overseas.

His conservative plan was to occasionally hunt down a fourth-tier Dragon Descendant, and then consider the next move once the Sha Qi had dissipated.

The target must have a clear background and connections; they cannot be Dragon Descendant of the Nine Dragons Hall.

In the world of Demon Beast, Di Yan Jun and Flying Rat King help with the search for those fourth-tier Dragon Descendant who are aloof and unpopular.

Flying Rat King also ate the Flood Dragon's flesh and organs, which can be considered as a pledge of loyalty, and he can be trusted.

Furthermore, as Heaven Grade Bloodline, the Flying Rat requires a much larger amount of resources and spiritual materials to advance to the mid-stage of the fourth tier.

Several days later, in Secret Chamber.

Lan Chang'an activated the Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art, absorbing all the Dragon Blood Sha Qi from the Black Jar.

Hmm~

Blood-red dragon shadows hovered around Lan Chang'an, emanating terrifying roars of ferocity.

A foul-smelling, black, bloody haze floated overhead.

A faint bluish-black tinge appeared on the forehead.

"In such a short time, his physique improved, and his Qi and Blood were significantly enhanced..."

Lan Chang'an was pleasantly surprised, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

Combined with the special effects of underworld Cultivation Method, his face subtly exudes a Evil Dao and ferocious aura.

The effects of the Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art were astonishing, exceeding Lan Chang'an's expectations.

In just a few days, his Body Cultivator has been equivalent to that of many years in the past.

In the past, I endured a lot of hardship, going through medicinal baths and rigorous physical training.

The exhilarating feeling of physical enhancement and improvement captivated Lan Chang'an.

If I slaughter a few more Dragon Descendant, wouldn't I be on the verge of reaching the mid-stage of the fourth-tier body refinement realm?

"Don't get addicted! Don't get addicted..."

Lan Chang'an's divine soul power, comparable to that of Nascent Soul Late Stage, suppressed the strange blood-path Sha Qi that had invaded his physical Nascent Soul.

His mind cleared, and he used the Evergreen Mana to slowly dissipate the influence of the Sha Qi.

If an ordinary cultivator were to try this method, how could they resist the temptation and avoid having their mind and true nature distorted?

"I've heard that there's Buddhist Sect lineage in Xiang Province on the Tianheng Continent."

"If we could get our hands on Buddhist Sacred Relic, that would be much better; it would eliminate that eerie Blood Dragon Baleful Qi much faster."

Thinking of this, Lan Chang'an couldn't help but shake his head.

Xiang Province located in the inland hinterland, too far from overseas, making it simply unrealistic.

Moon Empress.

The Dragon Blood Sha Qi could no longer be felt on Lan Chang'an's body.

The internal influence has seeped in and will require a considerable amount of time to eradicate.

Afterwards, he used the conventional method, refining and absorbing the Essence Blood of the Ink Flood Dragon through the <Blood Refining Demon Transformation Canon>.

This method is gentler, as it involves repeated purification of the Flood Dragon's Essence Blood, resulting in minimal side effects.

Of course, it also wastes a lot of medicinal effects, as it is not as simple and brutal as the <Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art>, which allows for faster body refinement and advancement.

"The body-refining effect of the Ink Flood Dragon's Essence Blood is similar to that of the Lord Mystic Water."

Lan Chang'an pondered for a long time, then nodded in agreement.

The Essence Blood of the Demon King is rare.

Very few can achieve the same level of harmony as Lord Mystic Water.

Even if you exploit every last drop of blood from the Mystic Water Turtle, it's still a drop in the ocean.

Heavenly Star Sea was right to come; now he has a new source of blood.

From now on, his body-refining Essence Blood will primarily consist of the Dragon Descendant and the Lord Mystic Water.

If this continues, Lan Chang'an's physique may possess the combined qualities of a dragon and a tortoise.

However, the Flood Dragon- type Demon King are extremely powerful and rarely seen in ordinary overseas areas; they are more numerous in the Deep Sea sea.

Moreover, the Flood Dragon's Divine Ability are greatly enhanced in the sea, making it quite difficult to kill.

Even if other Nascent Soul Cultivator had this idea, it would be difficult for them to implement it.

Lan Chang'an believed that if he hunted Dragon Descendant in a restrained and selective manner in the future, the risks should not be too great.

To be on the safe side, he did some divination, only predicting the general direction of fortune.

The result was an extremely ominous sign!

"It seems I was just making assumptions..."

Lan Chang'an frowned and began to carefully consider the matter.

Which step was overlooked?

With his extensive experience in memorizing, Lan Chang'an quickly found the reason:

The source of Sha Qi!

For every Dragon Descendant he kills, Lan Chang'an will be tainted by the karma of the deceased, adding another source of Sha Qi.

This is not just a superficial Sha Qi, but involves the realm of cause and effect.

If it proceeds according to the original plan...

Every few decades, he would systematically hunt down fourth-tier Dragon Descendant, choosing those with poor backgrounds as his targets.

Once the source of Sha Qi accumulates to a certain level, those with True Dragon Bloodline Holder will be able to sense it.

Once those True Dragon bloodlines get close, they will smell the deathly aura of their kind on Lan Chang'an, and they will feel a chill and become wary.

Let alone higher species like Dragon Descendant.

Even a stray dog can keenly smell the scent of a butcher or dog thief.

Killing one or two third- or fourth-tier Dragon Descendant wouldn't have much of an impact on Lan Chang'an.

If you kill too many dragons, you'll develop the Dragon Slayer profession, and the dangers will only increase.

"The source of Sha Qi... involves the soul... involves cause and effect."

Lan Chang'an pondered for a long time, then a flash of inspiration struck him.

"Cause and effect? The cycle of cause and effect!"

In the legends of the Cultivation World, cause and effect are closely related to reincarnation.

The [Nine Imprint Tablet] is a supreme treasure of reincarnation.

Can this stele resolve the karmic consequences arising from the source of Sha Qi?

It is theoretically feasible.

However, the various abilities of the [Nine Imprint Tablet] will gradually unlock as the levels are illuminated.

Some abilities still require Lan Chang'an to explore on his own.

This is the downside of not having Artifact Spirit.

As his understanding of the realm deepened, Lan Chang'an confirmed that the [Nine Imprint Tablet] was incomplete.

The stele shows signs of damage, especially on the back.

This treasure of reincarnation may have suffered some kind of severe damage, losing most of its spiritual essence.

The Nine Imprint Tablet was the name he gave to the mysterious ancient stele.

Lan Chang'an composed himself, his consciousness merging with the [Nine Imprint Tablet] deep within his mind.

Lan Chang'an's consciousness touched the mysterious ancient stele, and he transmitted his thoughts to it.

The cause and effect of resolving the source of Sha Qi.

When the concept of cause and effect appeared, the Nine Imprint Tablet immediately reacted, conveying a vague and abstract information concept.

"Consuming high-level Reincarnation Power can resolve the karmic connection to the source of Sha Qi."

Lan Chang'an extracted useful information from the feedback on the abstract concepts.

No special method is needed.

He understood immediately and invoked the Reincarnation Power within the Sixth Life frame of the Nine Imprint Tablet Stele.

The Sixth Life corresponds to the Void Refining Realm level.

Some of the Nascent Soul that were once devoured only illuminated a very small area.

Buzz!

As soon as Lan Chang'an had a thought, a bright, crystalline white light flashed within the Sixth Life's frame imprint area.

This wisp of reincarnation power swept across Lan Chang'an's Nascent Soul Sea of Consciousness, aiming at the clearest and most intense blood- Ink Flood Dragon shadow.

Hold head high!

A faint dragon's roar and scream echoed in his Sea of Consciousness, sounding very similar to the voice of that Ink Flood Dragon.

"It's done?"

Lan Chang'an felt a sense of relief, as if he had somehow ended and nipped a causal Sha Qi in the the Unseen.

Even the negative effects of the Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art have largely dissipated.

Within the Sixth Life's frame, the missing Reincarnation Power is equivalent to devouring the illuminated area of a Nascent Soul.

Lan Chang'an's soul was, of course, also tainted by other chaotic sources of Sha Qi, numerous in number, which was why it was only faintly visible under the stimulation of the Reincarnation Power.

However, the source of the Sha Qi of the target devoured by the Nine Imprint Tablet was extremely faint, negligible.

Over time, the source of the Sha Qi will gradually wear down and fade.

Lan Chang'an didn't bother with the other sources of Sha Qi; he couldn't afford to waste the Reincarnation Power.

Spending money wisely is essential.

"[The Nine Imprint Tablet] can resolve and eliminate karmic Sha Qi, so when hunting high-ranking Dragon Descendant in the future, one will not be afraid of being tainted by the source of Sha Qi. One can even be unafraid of divination regarding the karma of the deceased..."

The successful verification of the Reincarnation Power filled Lan Chang'an with joy.

in this way.

With his profession as the Changqing Dragon Slayer, he doesn't need to worry about karmic retribution from the Nine Dragons Hall.

With the biggest challenge in improving his Body Cultivator solved, Lan Chang'an was in high spirits.

He couldn't help but chuckle, looking back towards the direction of the Central Region of the Great Abyss:

"A mere royal family, with its paltry tricks, dares not presume to show off its meager skills before me?"

Lan Chang'an looked forward to the day when he would master the Blood Prison Dragon Baleful Art and visit the Great Yu Imperial City.

During Lan Chang'an's "seclusion to heal his wounds"

The news of Ink Flood Dragon's slaying gradually spread throughout the Merchant Alliance headquarters and the Luoxia Archipelago, causing a sensation.

The Main Headquarters Forbidden Area.

The therapeutic pool was shrouded in mist and filled with the fragrance of herbs and trees.

A gaunt old man with white hair and wrinkled skin lay in the sedative pool with his eyes half-closed, trying to slow down the aging of his life Qi and Blood.

This Grand Elder of the Merchant Alliance had sparse white hair tied in a topknot, prominent cheekbones, and a face like withered skin, dotted with dark brown age spots.

It's hard to imagine that this frail old cultivator is the supreme ruler of the Azure Sea Merchant Alliance, one of the top overseas powers.

"Grandpa, Intelligence Hall from within the alliance, no one knows the details of Elder Lu's killing of the Ink Flood Dragon."

"The closest bystanders were a Nascent Soul Realm dao companion from the Star-Moon Palace."

Wei Dongjun reported in a gentle, calm voice and with a respectful tone.

"This person claims to be a refugee from the inland, and his strength is considered formidable among those in the Nascent Soul Middle Stage; he is truly extraordinary."

The Grand Elder's voice sounded like the hoarse echo of a drumhead:

"In the current alliance, apart from the Azure-Eyed Beast, probably no one can subdue him. This kind of person of unknown origin cannot be trusted and should not be given important responsibilities."

Wei Dongjun found it difficult to refute and remained silent for a moment.

From the very beginning, Grandpa didn't really trust Elder Lu, who joined the group midway.

The Grand Elder then asked, "Have you been able to obtain any information about Guest Elder Lu within the Near Sea mainland region?"

"No."

Wei Dongjun shook his head, his voice low.

Heavenly Star Sea is too far from the mainland. Even though the Azure Sea Merchant Alliance has special communication methods, it is difficult to find out Lan Chang'an's identity and background in just a few years.

Nascent Soul Middle Stage, fourth-order water-type Sacred Beast —there are some Near Sea continents that meet these criteria, but none of them fit the bill.

"If you, Grandfather, were in your prime, able to contend with and exchange blows with great cultivators, you would surely have no need to fear this person and could confidently rely on Guest Elder Lu."

Wei Dongjun changed the subject, subtly offering a compliment.

Elderly people, entering their twilight years, like to reminisce about their past glories.

The Grand Elder was no exception; whenever he recalled the past, a smile would involuntarily appear on his lips.

This time was no different; the grandfather and grandson reminisced about past glories, Grand Elder was in much better spirits.

Before parting.

The Grand Elder's smile faded, and he looked solemnly at his most promising grandson:

"A-Dong, tell me your true opinion of Lu Guest Elder?"

The old fox could tell that Wei Dongjun disagreed with Lan Chang'an's views, but he didn't want to refute him.

The Grand Elder did not meet with Lan Chang'an, wanting to hear his grandson's opinion.

Wei Dongjun considered carefully and said, "My grandson has had more contact with Elder Lu and has a certain understanding of his temperament."

"This person's Wood-Type Technique is pure and gentle, like the wind, unlike a Evil Dao cultivator."

"Elder Lu treats his concubine kindly, keeps his promise, and helps Zhao Shiyao Second-Turn Core Transformation; this is truly commendable."

"Lu Guest Elder took a liking to the intelligent and virtuous Zhao Shiyao, but did not also take the jealous Zhao Family's younger sister into his harem. This shows that he is a man of noble character and integrity, worthy of being befriended."

Wei Dongjun shared his feelings.

He was the first Nascent Soul Cultivator overseas to interact with Lan Chang'an.

Recalling all the details.

Wei Dongjun had a gut feeling that this person probably didn't have any bad intentions towards the Azure Sea Merchant Alliance.

The Grand Elder nodded and said, "Since you trust him, you can befriend him appropriately. But appearances can be deceiving; you must always be wary."

"Yes, Grandpa."

Wei Dongjun felt relieved and immediately agreed.

With Grandpa's lifespan limited, the Azure Sea Merchant Alliance is entering a critical period of power transition.

At this time, Lan Chang'an, whose origins were unknown and whose strength was immense, appeared, and the Grand Elder remained wary of him.

"These past few years, I've often visited Uncle Azure-Eye's Water Mansion."

Finally, the Grand Elder gave further instructions.

"Grandson understands."

Wei Dongjun took a deep breath, inexplicably feeling an immense weight on his shoulders.

The transfer of power at the Merchant Alliance headquarters and the ownership of the Great Demon King, the Azure-Eyed Beast, are of paramount importance.

After the Grand Elder's death, who will take care of the Azure-Eyed Beast's Spirit Contract Jade Tablet?

This is a very sensitive issue.

Wei Dongjun is relatively young and has not yet reached the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. His experience and strength are inferior to those of the three alliance leaders.

Unfortunately, he was the grandson of the Grand Elder, and since they both shared the surname Wei, they also had the Wei Family behind them.

The Grand Elder wanted to entrust the Spirit Contract Jade Tablet to Wei Dongjun for safekeeping.

Only in this way can the Wei Family's power and status within the alliance be continued and preserved after his death.

The Grand Elder had privately probed the matter, but was met with strong opposition from the Alliance Leader Zuo and the Vice Alliance Leader Wan.

The reason is simple.

The Azure-Eyed Beast is the Grand Elder's Spirit Pet, but it is by no means his private property!

The Azure-Eyed Beast was hatched in the Merchant Alliance very early on, and a bond was formed between them from a young age, making it willing to protect this force.

He received dedicated support from the Merchant Alliance and eventually advanced to the late stage of the fourth tier.

Being supported and respected by a top-tier power is far more comfortable than being Demon King who rules over a mountain.

To take over the Spirit Contract Jade Tablet, the approval of the Azure-Eyed Beast is crucial.

This beast is equivalent to Nascent Soul Great Cultivator; it's not something you can control or command at will simply by grasping its Spirit Contract and knowing its life or death.

If you hold this kind of mindset, then you should be prepared to be backfired at any time.

Therefore, if anyone wants to take over the Spirit Contract Jade Tablet, whether it's Wei Dongjun, the Alliance Leader Zuo, or the Vice Alliance Leader Wan, they must respect the Azure-Eyed Beast and cultivate a good relationship with it.

Wei Dongjun's biggest advantage is that, thanks to his grandfather's connections, he has more contact with the Azure-Eyed Beast and a closer relationship with it compared to the three alliance leaders.

According to Grandpa, as long as one gains the approval of the Azure-Eyed Beast and obtains the Spirit Contract Jade Tablet, Alliance Leader Zuo and the Vice Alliance Leader Wan combined would be no match for it.

The remaining Alliance Leader Qiu, was a trusted confidant whom Grandpa had personally promoted, so he wouldn't object to this matter.

However, Wei Dongjun couldn't help feeling uneasy:

Firstly, he lacks sufficient cultivation and experience, and worries that he won't be able to control the situation after his grandfather's death.

Secondly, although the Azure-Eyed Beast was close to him, it never explicitly expressed its support for anyone.

If the Azure-Eyed Beast remains neutral, Wei Dongjun will appear to be outnumbered and outmatched.

The Alliance Leader Qiu has no Lineage backing.

The Lineage behind the Alliance Leader Zuo and the Vice Alliance Leader Wan are powerful, and they have established a complex web of relationships within the alliance through marriage.

Both parties control a significant portion of the Merchant Alliance's interests and influence.

Wei Dongjun is eager to gain more allies' support.

Therefore, he tried to befriend Elder Lu, a newly joined Nascent Soul Middle Stage Guest Elder, by offering him precious resources such as Star Dust Crystal Sand.

Since Lan Chang'an returned after slaying the Ink Flood Dragon, Hidden Mist Island has attracted much attention in the archipelago waters.

That day.

Lan Chang'an, who had been in seclusion for a month, finally emerged.

The sign on the island indicating it was closed to visitors has been taken down.

Next, Lan Chang'an will process the valuable materials from the Ink Flood Dragon's corpse.

Such as the claws, bones, scales, Dragon Elixir, and venom sacs of Flood Dragon.

Lan Chang'an and Puppet Master Wei discussed that these materials were not suitable for integration into the fourth-order Puppet Array system.

After all, the Puppet in a fourth-order Puppet Array are all humanoid.

Over the years, Lan Chang'an has focused on the quality of the Puppet rather than their quantity.

The first step is to upgrade all the fourth-tier humanoid Puppet in the Puppet Array to Tier 4 Low-Grade high-quality ones.

The second step is to advance to the fourth-tier mid-grade Puppet Master. First, upgrade the core commander, the Green-Armored Puppet, to the fourth-tier mid-grade level.

The first step is not difficult.

For this dragon-slaying and processing of its Flood Dragon and blood and other peripheral materials, Lan Chang'an received a huge contribution from the Merchant Alliance.

This contribution was enough for him to exchange for materials and upgrade all the Puppet in the General's Formation to the highest quality.

The second step is to prepare more high-grade fourth-tier treasure materials.

A fourth-tier mid-grade Puppet Master may not be able to achieve mastery overnight; more spare materials will definitely be needed.

Therefore, Lan Chang'an readily agreed to sell important parts of the Ink Flood Dragon in exchange for the precious materials he needed.

It only took half a day.

Several Nascent Soul representatives from major merchant guilds arrived in Cloud Sea Abode.

For example, the Zuo Family, the Wan Family, the Lin Family, the Chen Family...

Each Lineage wields considerable influence within the Azure Sea Merchant Alliance.

Because there were many representatives and the matter involved trade secrets, Lan Chang'an received each of them individually for a period of time.

"The Zuo Family and the Wan Family have the highest bids and the strongest capabilities."

Lan Chang'an's initial negotiations only resulted in the exchange of a portion of the dragon scales and dragon bones.

Barter as much as possible.

The materials he needs are at least mid-grade fourth rank, which won't be easy to obtain.

Most maritime Lineage need to leave some profit margin.

Lan Chang'an, however, adopted a wait-and-see approach, resulting in a low initial transaction rate.

The Dragon Essence Great Elixir, the sinews of Flood Dragon, and dragon claws have not yet been traded.

The value of the Dragon Essence Great Elixir goes without saying.

The sinews of Flood Dragon can be used to forge Law Treasure bows.

Dragon claws can be used to craft claw-type Law Treasure.

Until sunset.

Wei Dongjun arrived late.

After watching the representatives leave with a smile, he spoke with Lan Chang'an alone.

After taking his seat, Wei Dongjun smiled calmly:

"Having seen Mr. Wei's offer, Elder Lu will no longer transact with a third party."

"Oh? Brother Wei is so confident?"

Lan Chang'an looked surprised as he sized up the confident Wei Dongjun.

He accepted the Jade Slip handed to him.

Lan Chang'an scanned the area with his Divine Sense, his expression shifting.

He was surprised and looked at Wei Dongjun, who was smiling.

Lan Chang'an couldn't help but be moved.

The tradable pills, spiritual items, and materials for refining Puppet listed in the Jade Slip are of a far higher quality than those of others.

A few of these rare items can only be brought out by Nascent Soul Great Cultivator.

Moreover, Wei Dongjun's valuation of the core material of the Ink Flood Dragon was very high, exceeding that of others by at least 30%.

Some of the quotes are even higher than the normal market price.

It was only slightly lower than the auction price.

Auction prices should not be used as a standard for market prices.

After all, holding an auction requires a significant amount of human and financial resources.

In other words...

Wei Dongjun's valuation quote leaves absolutely no profit margin.

We may even incur losses on our reserves of rare and valuable items.

The items and resources listed on the Jade Slip are far more valuable than the core components of the Flood Dragon.

Lan Chang'an sighed softly, and said meaningfully:

"Elder Wei, as a cultivator from the Merchant Alliance, doesn't pursue profit; he truly possesses noble character."