Meanwhile, another gang leader under Li Qing's control set out from his own city.
This gang leader had originally been a low-level cultivator from a city in the north.
His name was Dongfang Ao, and he led the Money Gang in East Mausoleum City.
After Li Changkang took Long'er away, Li Qing told him to take good care of Long'er. Only then did he have Dongfang Ao board a Dragon Palace boat bound for the Pu River Dragon Palace.
Dongfang Ao had originally been only a Foundation Establishment cultivator facing his Human Tribulation, but with the cultivation formula Li Qing had passed on to him, he had reached the True Method Realm.
Though he had only reached that level in magical power, it was enough for him to control the Dragon Palace's grotto-heaven.
Once they entered the Dragon Palace, a faint smile appeared on the Pujiang Dragon King's avatar's face. "Fellow Daoist, follow me."
Li Qing followed the Pujiang Dragon King deep into the Dragon Palace, where they soon arrived before a huge, exquisite crystal stele.
"This is the Crystal Palace's central hub. Control it, and you can control the entire Dragon Palace grotto-heaven."
"Use it as you please, Fellow Daoist."
"All right. I'll first see how much power this Crystal Palace can provide me, then I'll begin setting things up."
The Pujiang Dragon King nodded slightly and watched in silence.
Controlling Dongfang Ao, Li Qing extended a hand. A modest stream of magical power sank into the stele.
The magical power soon reached the stele's depths, and a trace of Li Qing's spiritual imprint merged with it. Every power of the Dragon Palace was now under his control.
Li Qing was surprised to find vast amounts of essence within the Dragon Palace grotto-heaven. But that essence came from the