Lu Chen's Deal with Torch Dragon

Within an enormous crystal palace beneath the sea, dazzlingly multicolored from the outside and extravagantly magnificent.

An aged, imposing man with two horns growing from his forehead sat upon a crystal throne, his arms around two gorgeous women whose profiles bore faint silvery-white scales. The white scales did not make their faces ugly; instead, they added an exotic allure and several shades of seduction.

Each of the women held a crystal-glass cup.

Amid coquettish laughter and fawning gestures, they continuously brought the cups to the old man's lips.

"A mighty expert has arrived. Go receive them, and remember to show proper respect!"

An aged voice exploded within the old man's mind.

So startled was he that he shoved the two women from his arms away, nearly slipping from his chair.

Yet he paid it no heed. Tears welled up in his aged eyes, and his face was filled with irrepressible excitement.

"Ancestor, you still remain!"

Though there was no reply, the excitement in the old man's eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

His ancestor had spoken just now. That alone was proof enough!

"Attend me!"

"Dragon King, what are your orders?"

An old man with a turtle shell on his back walked in.

The old Dragon King waved a hand.

"Arrange the grandest reception the Dragon Palace can offer."

Without caring about the turtle elder's shock, he reached up to straighten his robes and strode outside.

No mighty expert had visited in all these years. Yet now, someone even his ancestor acknowledged as a great power had come to call. Only by personally receiving him could he display sufficient respect.

After all, the Dragon Clan no longer possessed its former glory.

Lu Chen and Six Ears had only just caught sight of the Crystal Dragon Palace when they saw a horned elder approaching them with a genial smile and a face full of respect.

"I am Ao Lin, the current Dragon King of the Dragon Clan. Knowing that a senior had arrived, I came specially to welcome you."

The Dragon Clan truly has declined. Even such an aged Great Luo can become Dragon King.

As he looked at Ao Lin, the old Dragon King shrouded in the aura of twilight years, Lu Chen sighed inwardly.

The world had not yet shattered. Though the Dragon Clan's control over the oceans had gradually weakened, the seas had not yet been divided among the Four Sea Dragon Kings as they would be in later generations. For now, there was still only one great Dragon King overseeing all affairs of the Dragon Clan.

Moreover, the Witch-Demon War had now reached its final verdict. It had not followed its original course of rivers of blood, with all mighty experts of the Witch and Demon races perishing.

This was still an era where Quasi-Saints walked everywhere and Great Luos were as numerous as dogs.

Yet in such an age, the helmsman of the Dragon Clan was actually an aged Great Luo, and only an early-stage Great Luo at that.

Unless the Dragon Clan was deliberately concealing its edge, its strength must have been rapidly weakened beneath the crushing weight of its immense karmic burden.

Judging by the divine sense Lu Chen had sensed upon entering the East Sea, the old relics from the Dragon-Han Era might still exist, but they were merely dragging out a lingering breath.

But whether the Dragon Clan was intentionally hiding its strength or had truly declined had nothing to do with him. Even if the Dragon Clan really had hidden reserves, they would not dare lay a hand on him.

"There is something I wish to ask you."

"Please speak, Senior. This little dragon will surely speak all he knows and leave nothing unsaid."

Ao Lin bowed deeply and spoke respectfully.

"Does your Dragon Clan possess any information regarding the Three Immortal Islands?"

"The Three Immortal Islands?"

Ao Lin's heart jolted. Naturally, he had heard of the Three Immortal Islands, but... he did not know their whereabouts.

A trace of regret appeared on Ao Lin's face. If he knew where the Three Immortal Islands were, he could tell Lu Chen and form a good karmic bond with him. In the future, his Dragon Clan might perhaps gain someone to rely upon.

"Young friend, I know the approximate location of the Three Immortal Islands."

"Ao Lin, bring the young friend to Dragon-Sinking Abyss!"

"That Senior..."

Ao Lin heard his ancestor's voice once more. He was both shocked and delighted, but hesitation appeared on his face as he looked at Lu Chen.

Whether they went or not depended on the senior's wishes.

Seeing the hesitation on Ao Lin's face, Lu Chen smiled faintly. "Take me to see him."

"Very well, Senior. Please follow me."

Lu Chen did not move. Instead, he looked at Six Ears beside him and casually introduced him. "This is my disciple, Six Ears."

Ao Lin's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Senior, if you do not mind, your disciple may rest awhile in the Dragon Palace."

"What do you think, Six Ears?"

"I will follow Master's arrangements."

Six Ears answered with an obedient expression.

"Go on, then."

"This way, Senior. Prime Minister Turtle, take the Senior's beloved disciple to rest in the Dragon Palace."

Ao Lin led Lu Chen toward Dragon-Sinking Abyss and summoned Prime Minister Turtle to take Six Ears back to the Dragon Palace.

Dragon-Sinking Abyss lay in the deeper reaches of the seabed beyond the Dragon Palace. The immense pressure of the sea made Ao Lin's face flush red.

"Senior, Dragon-Sinking Abyss lies another three hundred thousand meters below. I will not go any farther."

Seeing Ao Lin's somewhat purplish-red face, Lu Chen nodded and stepped toward the deeper waters.

That little sea pressure was beneath his notice.

When Lu Chen arrived at the Dragon-Sinking Abyss Ao Lin had mentioned, he fell silent.

"No wonder it is called Dragon-Sinking Abyss."

The pitch-black seabed was covered in gleaming white bones, with Killing Intent and crimson karmic power coiling around them.

These bones should all have belonged to the Dragon Clan.

"Some of these remains belong to great Dragon Clan cultivators who fell during the era of hegemony."

"Others belonged to outstanding dragons who later died because endless karmic burden wrapped around them."

An aged voice tinged with remembrance rang out from the seabed.

"You have already become like this. Transmitting your voice to me through divine sense will only hasten the destruction of your dragon soul."

Before Lu Chen floated a dark-red scale. Upon it appeared an ancient, decrepit old dragon, emaciated and scarlet all over.

"Heh, in my condition, what difference is there between living and dying?"

"Tell me the whereabouts of the Three Immortal Islands, and I shall owe you a karmic debt. If the Dragon Clan encounters danger in the future, its descendants may come seek me out."

"I can act once on behalf of the Dragon Clan to repay this karmic debt."

Lu Chen knew why the old dragon had gone to such lengths to summon him and straightforwardly stated his terms.

He ordinarily never made promises, much less one like this to act on another's behalf. The reason he was willing to make such a promise to the old dragon was that the Three Immortal Islands were worth the price.

The Three Immortal Islands had all formed from fragments of Chaos. Their whereabouts could not be found through divining the secrets of heaven.

"On behalf of the Dragon Clan, I thank you, young friend. This is the approximate location of the Three Immortal Islands."

"Back then, a member of the Dragon Clan sensed something unusual there. Restricted by the formation, he could not set foot upon the islands and reported the information to the clan."

"Before we could explore and develop the place, war erupted."

A dark light appeared upon the dark-red dragon soul's claw and entered Lu Chen's mind.

To make his words more believable, he even explained why the Dragon Clan had known the location of the Three Immortal Islands but had not claimed them for itself.

Lu Chen did not care about any of that, nor did he fear that the old dragon would give him false coordinates.

The old dragon had paid the price of dying early just to contact him, only to deliberately deceive him with fake coordinates.

That would be making a mountain out of a molehill, and he would still have to bear the consequences of deceiving Lu Chen.

The losses would outweigh the gains.

"Which ancestor of the Dragon Clan are you?"

"This old man is called... Torch Dragon!"

Upon hearing the name Torch Dragon and seeing his current state, Lu Chen's face showed a trace of melancholy.

Once the Dragon Clan's second most important figure, a mighty expert from the same era as Dao Ancestor Hongjun, he had once enjoyed boundless glory.

Now, however, his physical body had been ground away, leaving only a wisp of feeble dragon soul lingering in the world.

If the Investiture Catastrophe comes and the Jie Sect loses... perhaps my end will not be much better than Torch Dragon's.

Seeing Torch Dragon's miserable fate, Lu Chen could not help associating it with himself.

Although he had been in the Primordial World for so long and had indirectly changed many things, even influencing the greater course of events to some degree, he had always done so as an observer.

He had merely said a few extra words and had not personally participated.

But in the Investiture Catastrophe, he would be one of the central figures. Even if he wanted to withdraw, he would have no chance.

Unless he swore an oath now and declared his departure from the Jie Sect.

But Tongtian had treated him well—one could even say extremely well. If Lu Chen knew of the danger and simply ran away, could he still call himself human?

As Lu Chen thought this, determination appeared in his eyes. This was the first time he had established his position with such certainty.

Previously, he had only thought of how to scheme and preserve his own worthless life through the Investiture War.

Now that he had obtained the location of the Three Immortal Islands, Lu Chen turned and left Dragon-Sinking Abyss.

When Lu Chen returned to the Dragon Palace, surprise appeared in his eyes.

Six Ears stood in the great hall, wielding a Chaos-colored iron rod and practicing with it.

Perhaps monkeys were born with a profound understanding of staff techniques. Six Ears handled the rod with convincing form, looking somewhat the part.

"Six Ears."

Hearing him, Six Ears planted the iron rod on the ground and turned to run toward Lu Chen.

"Master, this Compliant Iron Rod was selected for me by the old Dragon King from the Dragon Clan treasury as a gift."

"But I did not accept it. I was only playing around with it."

"Compliant Iron Rod... is this fate?"

A trace of emotion surfaced in Lu Chen's eyes. Seeing the suppressed longing in Six Ears's gaze, he gave a soft laugh.

"Since the old Dragon King gave it to you, accept it."

The Three Immortal Islands had already formed a connection with the Dragon Clan. Accepting one more spiritual treasure now was nothing much.

"Yes, Master."

Upon hearing Lu Chen permit him to accept it, Six Ears no longer suppressed the longing in his eyes. He began playing with the Compliant Iron Rod, his face brimming with joy like a child who had received a beloved toy.

"Ao Lin, let Six Ears remain here with you for a while."

"Ah, yes, no problem, Senior! Your beloved disciple may stay in the Dragon Palace for as long as he wishes."

"Master, I will wait for you in the Dragon Palace."

Six Ears stopped his movements and spoke to Lu Chen.

He did not intend to accompany Lu Chen. He could sense that Lu Chen was in a good mood now, so he must have obtained information about the Three Immortal Islands.

Since Lu Chen was not taking him along, the place was likely dangerous, and he would only become a burden if he went.

He was an obedient and sensible disciple. He would not make his master dislike him.

"Mm. Cultivate well. I will come back for you."

Lu Chen nodded, then took a step forward. Ripples spread through the air as his entire figure vanished from the Dragon Palace.

Thirty million miles beyond the Dragon Palace,

upon a tranquil, wave-less expanse of azure sea, Lu Chen stepped out of the void.

He casually swept his gaze around.

There was nothing at all. Other than the sea, there was only more sea; not even a piece of driftwood could be seen.

Had Torch Dragon not given him this location, who knew how long he would have needed to search before finding it?

Lu Chen slowly closed his eyes and released his divine sense, carefully sweeping every corner of the sea's surface.

After an unknown length of time, a faint smile appeared on Lu Chen's face.

"It truly knows how to hide. If I had not also cultivated the Dao of formations, I really would not have been able to detect that faint fluctuation of a formation."

After catching the formation's fluctuation, Lu Chen summoned the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase.

He directly poured all his power into the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase toward the direction where he had sensed the formation fluctuation.

The Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase unleashed an irresistible suction force comparable to a black hole.

The seawater formed columns and poured backward into the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase.

Boom!

After an unknown amount of time, a tremendous sound erupted.

Heaven and earth trembled as a pillar of light shot straight into the clouds.

Then came a second, and a third.

The three pillars of light varied in strength.

Within each pillar, the faint outline of an island could be seen...

"Come to Zixiao Palace to discuss matters."

A cold, imposing voice spread throughout every corner of the Primordial World.

Upon hearing it, Yuanshi and Laozi hurried toward Zixiao Palace.

Tongtian was also roused from seclusion by those words, confusion appearing in his eyes.

What did their teacher want with them at this time?

As Tongtian pondered this, he rose and transformed into a streak of dark light, shooting into the sea of clouds and entering the realm of Chaos.

Would he not know once he went to listen?

"Teacher, why have you summoned all of us here today?"

As the eldest senior brother, Laozi spoke first.

Seeing that only five people sat upon the six meditation cushions, Hongjun shook his head.

Speaking of which, he truly admired Nuwa's decisiveness.

"The Witch Clan has now retreated to the Netherworld, while the Demon Race has focused all its attention upon the stars. Neither side has any interest in the Heavenly Court."

"The Heavenly Court is presently in ruins and awaiting renewal. A Heavenly Emperor must be chosen. What are your thoughts?"

"Teacher, I..."

"You two should stay wherever it is cool. Choosing the Heavenly Emperor is a matter for us of the East. What does it have to do with you Westerners?"

Zhunti had only just opened his mouth when Yuanshi interrupted him.

"The Heavenly Court governs the Primordial World. How can there be any distinction between East and West?"

Jieyin glanced at Zhunti before speaking slowly.

"The Heavenly Emperor governs heaven and earth, but with those useless fellows under you, even if you were given the chance, could you possibly be chosen?"

Tongtian snorted coldly from the side.

Yuanshi Heavenly Venerable rarely agreed with him, but this time he nodded. "Correct. Teacher, I believe my Chan Sect's chief disciple, Guangchengzi, possesses deep fortune, exceptional talent, and formidable foundations. He may become the Heavenly Emperor."

Second Brother really knows how to boast. If someone with Guangchengzi's aptitude can become the Heavenly Emperor, then what is my Jin Ling?

Tongtian mocked inwardly.

It should be known that when the two had first entered, their cultivation levels had been about the same. Yet now, Jin Ling's cultivation was a whole tier above Guangchengzi's.

"Does that mean Jin Ling can become the Heavenly Emperor as well?"

"Master, I believe my disciple Duobao can serve as the Heavenly Emperor."

Laozi watched the show from the side. Seeing Tongtian and Yuanshi join forces to make Zhunti lose face, his beard twitched, clearly putting him in a fine mood.

"Master, my disciple Xuandu can also serve as the Heavenly Emperor."

Thinking of his excellent disciple Xuandu, Laozi casually mentioned him.

"Elder Brother!"

Yuanshi let out a low growl, disbelief flashing across his face.

This was far too sudden!!

Tongtian had many disciples under him, so it was normal for him to want the Heavenly Emperor's position. Those people of the Jie Sect could support the Heavenly Court.

But Elder Brother had only Xuandu under him!

And he actually wanted Xuandu to compete with my Guangchengzi for the position of Heavenly Emperor?

"Second Brother, I merely mentioned it in passing."

Laozi seemed to explain.

After he spoke, everyone turned their eyes toward Hongjun.

After all, Hongjun was the one who would decide the outcome. Laozi had only spoken to state his position.

"Haotian, Yaochi, come here."

Hongjun beckoned to the young male and female attendants beside him.