Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 409: Chapter 409: I Am the Rightful Heir to the Dragon Palace

Overseas, the Four Seas Sect.

With the fall of the Celestial Python, the Eastern Island Dragon Palace was thrown into utter chaos. Demonic energy surged to the heavens, threatening to completely submerge the entire palace.

What happened to Summon was by no means an isolated incident.

For years, the Overseas had suffered under the Dragon Palace. To gather resources, the True Dragon Race had scoured the lands, leaving nothing of value behind.

But before, the Dragon Palace had the Celestial Python—a True Dragon at Foundation Establishment Perfection—to keep things in check, so it had always remained as stable as a mountain.

But now, the Celestial Python was dead.

So no one could be blamed for turning on them. Besides, the wealth of the True Dragon Race was legendary. Who wouldn’t want to fish in troubled waters and seize the chance for a big score?

They could always flee inland after the looting.

There was safety in numbers, after all.

A hopeful thought crossed everyone’s mind: ’I’ll just take a little. The Dragon Monarch might not even care when he returns. And if I hide inland, I’ll probably be fine.’

Spiritual Treasures, Daoist Skills, Abilities.

They crashed against the Dragon Palace like a tidal wave, only to be neutralized by a Grand Ward that shot up into the sky, instantly dissipating their power.

At the same time, figures flew out from the Dragon Palace in streaks of light, revealing their true forms. There were Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals and cultivators of the True Dragon Bloodline. Among them were even a couple of old dragons at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. They took control of the Grand Ward and quickly stabilized the situation, preventing a total collapse.

”Who dares trespass upon our Dragon Palace!?”

”You’re courting death! Do you not fear the Dragon Monarch’s return? He will settle the score with each and every one of you!”

”Hold the Grand Ward!”

In an instant, the entire Dragon Palace was thrown into chaos. Meanwhile, the other three powers of the Four Seas Sect sealed their gates, clearly choosing to turn a blind eye.

”So that’s the Dragon Palace’s Grand Ward...”

Lü Yang watched from a distance, a wary expression on his face. This was a power with a Perfected Lord, after all. With such a Grand Ward in place, no one could possibly break through.

Lü Yang, of course, had no intention of openly joining the fray. Instead, he took the ”secret passage” Summon had mentioned. It was on a remote island about ten kilometers from the Dragon Palace. The island housed a specially built Teleportation Array that provided direct access to the Dragon Palace’s interior through a back entrance.

”The Dragon Palace would allow such a secret passage to exist?”

In response to Lü Yang’s skepticism, Summon smiled calmly. ”You might not be aware, Senior, but this secret passage was originally meant for private use by those inside the Dragon Palace.”

”Private excursions?” Lü Yang raised an eyebrow.

”Correct.”

Summon explained, ”I don’t know the specific details myself. I just happened to discover that this is a place for secret dealings between the Dragon Palace and the Dao Court.”

’Dealings with the Dao Court?’

Lü Yang stroked his chin. He wasn’t worried that Summon was lying; after being bound to the Myriad-Soul Banner, it was impossible for Summon to deceive him without being discovered.

Soon, Lü Yang and Summon stepped into the Array. A visible pattern of light suffused the area. The scene before Lü Yang’s eyes shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself inside a secluded palace. Faintly, he could hear the din of battle cries from outside.

”We’re really in!”

Lü Yang grew even more surprised. A secret passage that could bypass the Dragon Palace’s Mountain Protection Grand Array and lead directly inside must be incredibly well-kept.

Otherwise, with the Dragon Palace in turmoil and cut off from the outside world, the True Dragon Race would have surely severed a passage like this by now.

The fact that it hadn’t been severed could only mean that very few knew of its existence. Perhaps only the Dragon Monarch and the Crown Prince, the Celestial Python, were aware of it.

At this thought, Lü Yang beckoned with his hand.

In the next instant, a striking, handsome young man appeared beside Lü Yang. It was none other than the Celestial Python, whom the outside world believed to be dead!

After all, he was a True Dragon at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

And given Lü Yang’s frugal habits, cultivated in the Stain Sect, he was determined to make the most of every person and every resource. There was no way he would just let the Celestial Python reincarnate.

Refining him into a Banner Spirit was only fitting. One could even call it a karmic gift.

”What is this place?”

”A secret hall my father established,” the Banner Spirit Celestial Python answered obediently. ”I was usually stationed here, responsible for negotiations with the Dao Court in the East.”

”Negotiating what?”

”Negotiating for the True Dragons to join the Dao Court.”

The Celestial Python immediately revealed a stunning secret. ”My father has always wanted to return to the mainland. To that end, he has been in contact with both the Pure Land in the West and the Dao Court in the East.”

”However, the Pure Land in the West is too insidious; even my father was deeply wary of them. So, in the end, he decided to cooperate with the Dao Court in the East. The Dao Court would allow us to return to the mainland as a national totem and retake control of the eastern waters, but we would have to renounce our fated status as nobles of Heaven and Earth...”

Soon, Lü Yang understood the whole story.

In short, the Dao Court’s Celestial Wu Royal Family had always coveted the True Dragon Race’s fated status as nobles of Heaven and Earth—a destiny that allowed them to reach Foundation Establishment upon adulthood—and they wanted it for themselves.

And so they sought to recruit the True Dragon Race.

To this end, the Dao Court offered generous terms: the status of a national totem, a destiny intertwined with the empire’s, and even a degree of autonomy.

The two sides had even reached a preliminary agreement.

’A hundred years ago, the Dragon Monarch had secretly sent a group of young dragons to the Dao Court to govern the waterways. It was an experiment, and the results were satisfactory to both sides.’

Unfortunately, plans rarely go as expected.

’Further cooperation was supposed to follow, but with the appearance of Master Chong Guang, the world’s Perfected Lords went into seclusion, and the collaboration naturally fizzled out...’

Lü Yang filed away this potentially useful information. He used one of his Abilities to conceal their presence, then had the Celestial Python lead him and Summon. The trio advanced unimpeded into the deepest part of the Dragon Palace, finally stopping before a palace that resembled a coiling dragon.

’Dragon Palace Treasure Vault!’

The entire palace looked like a coiled True Dragon, its great doors forming a dragon’s head with tightly shut eyes. Its tranquil appearance radiated a silent, oppressive might.

”My father established this place as well.”

The Celestial Python whispered, ”Before today, I was the only one in the entire True Dragon Race who could enter, because my bloodline is superior. I am my father’s second son.”

”But now...”

At this, the Celestial Python’s expression turned troubled.

To retain one’s mortal form, a soul must enter the banner willingly while still alive. But he had been slain by Lü Yang and forced into the banner; it was impossible for him to have retained his bloodline.

”Don’t worry.”

Lü Yang just smiled. He was a True Dragon now, too. Thanks to the Talent Skill granted by the [Centome], his bloodline was surely no weaker than the Celestial Python’s.

With this in mind, he stepped forward and stood before the entrance to the Dragon Palace Treasure Vault.

In the next instant, the great dragon-head door shuddered. Its tightly shut eyes snapped open, casting a beam of Splendid Light upon Lü Yang.

Then, the dragon-head door began to move.

With a deep, grinding rumble, the dragon head slowly opened its gaping maw, revealing the sight within: a blinding expanse of Mythical Light!

GASP!

Instantly, one after the other, Lü Yang and Summon acted. With practiced speed, they smothered all the Mythical Light, not allowing the slightest glimmer to escape outside.

’Mine, it’s all mine!’

At this moment, Lü Yang had only one thought in his mind:

Take it! Take it all!

’The True Dragon Race has always respected bloodline above all else. With the Dragon Monarch in seclusion and the Celestial Python dead, when it comes to bloodline, I am the Dragon Monarch’s rightful heir!’