Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Southern Continent Expedition (4)
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The idea of using a dragon's eyes as an observation tool.
Seoran and the senior researcher immediately went to find the director.
The research director was still pacing in the garden.
The senior researcher asked loudly.
"Director, what if we borrow a dragon's eyes? Dragons are legendary beings famed for their antler that reads the heavens' secrets and eyes that peer into all things under creation. We could use the power of those dragon eyes to gather the precise data the Interpretation Mechanism needs. What do you think?"
The research director didn't even respond.
His disappointment was so overwhelming that he wasn't hearing anyone else.
The senior researcher thrust his thumb straight into the director's unguarded solar plexus.
The director collapsed with a scream.
"Argh!"
The senior researcher repeated his question to the director crawling on the grass, word for word.
And asked again.
"Director, what do you think?"
This time, an immediate reply came.
"G-good idea... But how do we find a dragon, and what do we say to convince it?"
The senior researcher answered.
"No need to worry. This person here is Investigator Ryu from the Western Continent. He crossed the dangerous seas to reach the Southern Continent in search of the Flower Immortal Valley. Among the expedition members who came with Investigator Ryu, there's a dragon."
"A dragon among the expedition members? Wait... the Western Continent? Investigator Ryu, does the Western Continent suffer frequent natural disasters like here?"
Seoran shook her head.
"No, it's perfectly fine."
"Oh, really? That's truly, truly fortunate... This narrows our calculation scope considerably..."
"Calculation scope? You mean the Interpretation Mechanism?"
"Yes, exactly. If the source of the anomalies were in the dangerous seas between continents, the Western Continent couldn't possibly be unscathed. You've given us invaluable information, Investigator Ryu."
"For your information, I've also visited the Eastern Continent. No frequent natural disasters there either."
"You've even been to the Eastern Continent?!"
Seoran nodded solemnly.
"Yes, that's right. There probably isn't a greater explorer than me in the entire mortal realm."
"A monumental discovery of the ages! Thanks to Investigator Ryu's feats, we can slash the Interpretation Mechanism's required input by more than half!"
"Haha, it's nothing much!"
The three headed amiably to find Damcheong.
*****
Seoran asked.
"Damcheong, could you tell me how much longer until the Dragon Pearl is complete?"
Damcheong flinched momentarily before calmly countering.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, actually..."
Seoran explained in detail about the relentless efforts of the Celestial Net Vital Energy Research Institute to resolve the Southern Continent's anomalies and their recently completed Interpretation Mechanism.
Something about the continent suffering from natural disasters, needing more precise observation data, and the power of dragon eyes.
In summary, she was saying that the cooperation of Damcheong, now a true dragon, was absolutely essential.
Having explained fluently, Seoran asked again.
"Anyway, that's why I'm asking how long until the Dragon Pearl is finished. You said last time that once it's complete, even weather forecasting would be possible. With that level of power, it should gather the observation data the Celestial Net Vital Energy Research Institute wants."
Damcheong mumbled evasively, unable to give a straight answer.
"Uh, um... well..."
Seeing his troubled expression, Seoran asked.
"Is there a problem with the Dragon Pearl? Oh, maybe when I purified it and returned it to you before? Did something go wrong then?"
"No, no. The Dragon Pearl is fine. Yes, it is..."
"Then is it because preparations are still lacking? Last time I saw, it seemed almost complete."
Damcheong asked.
"Last time you saw? When do you mean?"
"After entering the dangerous seas, didn't you fight that horde of whale-like yokai? You took the Dragon Pearl out of the ship then."
"Oh, that time."
"Yes. I glimpsed it, and the inside was filled with radiant five-colored mist. So I thought the ritual preparations were nearly done. Is there still a lot left?"
"So, well..."
Seoran glanced back at the research director and senior researcher listening behind her, then said.
"Damcheong, please speak freely. Even if it takes a long time, it's fine. The Celestial Net Vital Energy Research Institute—not just that, the entire Cultivator Alliance—will support you. Right, everyone?"
The research director immediately chimed in.
"Of course, Investigator Ryu is right. The Cultivator Alliance has staked everything on anomaly research. Even if it takes decades, we won't mind. We can mobilize the entire continent's manpower and resources to shorten it to a few years."
The senior researcher added his piece.
"You came to the Southern Continent to find the Flower Immortal Valley, right, Investigator Ryu? If you help with our research, the Cultivator Alliance will gladly assist in your search. We'll make sure your time isn't wasted."
As the three took turns chattering, Damcheong's eyes began spinning.
Finally, the answer they'd been waiting for came.
"Th-three months or so..."
Much shorter than expected, the three beamed with joy.
*****
The entire Cultivator Alliance buzzed in an instant.
Just days after failing to back-calculate the source via the Interpretation Mechanism, the Celestial Net Vital Energy Research Institute had found a new breakthrough.
Using a dragon's eyes to observe heaven and earth vital energy.
Perfectly timed: the completed Interpretation Mechanism, the expedition from the Western Continent, a dragon accompanying humans for some reason, and an incomplete Dragon Pearl needing only the final ritual.
A miracle born from countless coincidences.
Even Cultivator Alliance officials thought this might be their last chance.
Negotiations between Seoran's Southern Continent expedition and the Cultivator Alliance concluded in a flash.
The Southern Continent's cultivation world was resolute.
If they pinpointed the anomaly source, they'd hand over half the continent.
The expedition was no less determined.
They only cared about securing the Flower Immortal Valley; the rest was irrelevant.
Before the hospitality tea even cooled, the two groups finalized the deal and immediately prepared Damcheong's ritual.
Around then, Damcheong was clutching his head.
Publicly, he was in closed-door training.
But he wasn't actually cultivating.
Damcheong's cultivation had ended years ago.
His Dragon Pearl, brimming with primal spiritual power, needed only to absorb lightning in the ritual.
Not three months—it was possible right now.
That was why he couldn't answer Seoran straightforwardly when she asked about the remaining time.
What would she say if he admitted preparations were done but he'd delayed completion?
Why bother?
The reason was, of course, something even Damcheong himself didn't know.
"Gah!"
Damcheong writhed in frustration.
Due to an inexplicable hesitation.
Then, staring into a mirror, he said.
"The reason I hesitated to complete the Dragon Pearl and become a true dragon... the reason is..."
After a brief silence, what emerged was a question.
"Because of Seoran and the Black Bamboo Sect people?"
The dragon eyes' power to discern truth from lies remained silent.
Humans knew almost nothing about dragons.
Superficial tales of antlers reading heavenly secrets, eyes peering into all creation, masters of wind, rain, and thunderclouds.
Dragons were rare, living in solitude without mingling.
So while they knew dragon eyes held the power to see all things, they didn't grasp exactly what kind.
Damcheong could distinguish truth from lies.
Not reading minds, but discerning veracity in words and actions.
Even if one rationalized or self-hypnotized, they couldn't fool dragon eyes.
But dragon eyes had one blind spot.
The dragon itself.
He could read others' hearts like palms, but not his own inner self.
Even bombarding his reflection with questions changed nothing.
"Uwaaah!"
Damcheong rolled around the room.
The three months he'd told Seoran was just stalling.
But with the Southern Continent suffering disasters and for Seoran's sake, he couldn't drag it out forever.
In the end, without a clear answer, he ended his closed-door training after half a month.
Seoran jumped in surprise and asked.
"Damcheong, you're done already?"
Damcheong nodded with effort.
"Yes, preparations are complete."
Thus, the ritual began.