The Sealed Title of Yangseo
Song Gwan stood straight, holding the stone tablet with both hands as his expression turned solemn. Simultaneously, the maidservants who had been standing behind him like shadows stepped back three paces.
"What is your name?"
"Jekyeong."
Jekyeong looked down at Song Gwan and answered in a low voice. As he spoke, his attention was drawn entirely to the stone tablet. It felt as though the tablet was pulling his awareness—no, his very consciousness—toward it. He could not shake the feeling, nor did he have any desire to.
"Do you pride yourself as a dragon?"
"No."
"Oh?"
"But I believe the day will come when I shall undergo my Dragon Ascension."
"..."
Song Gwan looked slightly taken aback and glanced down at the stone tablet. He quickly recovered his composure and continued in a serious tone.
"Do you harbor ill will toward the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace?"
"No."
"Will you enter the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace and become a member of the Dragon Clan's bloodline?"
"I will."
"Now that you have entered the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace and become a member of the Dragon Clan's bloodline, as long as the Palace fulfills its duties and you fulfill yours, the covenant shall be maintained."
The Palace shall govern and protect its clansmen.
The clansmen shall obey the Palace's decrees and serve its interests.
So long as both parties fulfill their duties, this covenant shall endure.
A glowing line was carved onto the dark stone tablet. The moment the mark—resembling both a drawing and a character—etched itself into the stone, Jekyeong felt a profound connection form. The sensation was similar to when he first connected with Bul-mang-won, yet distinctly different.
"It is done. Now we are of the same clan and the same Dao," Song Gwan said, putting away the tablet with a smile.
"The entry procedure for the Outer Court is quite simple, as you can see. However, if Fellow Daoist enters the Inner Court in the future, you will have to undergo a far more rigorous verification process."
"I hope such a day comes."
"Haha. I hope so too. But I feel it will come eventually. Your resolve in pursuing the Dao is among the most steadfast I have ever witnessed."
"My eyes are merely fixed on the heavens," Jekyeong replied humbly, but Song Gwan simply shook his head with a smile, clearly dismissing the modesty.
"By the way, you mentioned duties earlier. What exactly do those entail? What must I do for the Dragon Palace?"
"Ah, you don't need to worry too much about that. Duties are just duties. The Palace has the duty to govern and protect its clansmen, and the clansmen have the duty to obey the Palace's decrees and serve it. However... these duties are highly open to interpretation."
Song Gwan lowered his voice slightly.
"You have likely heard stories from Senior So-byeok. That Outer Court clansmen gain almost no benefits other than borrowing the Dragon Palace's name for a bit of prestige, while having to perform all sorts of menial chores for the Palace."
"I have heard similar accounts."
"Yes. Those stories are partly true; that is the very reason for the Outer Court's existence. To work for the Palace from the outside. But what can one do for the Dragon Palace from the outside? For the most part, it is gathering resources to offer as tribute."
Song Gwan did not hide the truth. Perhaps because they were now considered family, his tone had become much more direct.
"But you don't need to worry too much. Don't you have a reliable senior backing you? Since you entered the Palace through Senior So-byeok's recommendation, the Palace cannot help but show him respect. It is your matter, but since the Palace accepted you into the Outer Court on his recommendation... the Dragon Palace must show its sincerity to Senior So-byeok at least once."
"Won't that put me in too deep a debt to Senior So-byeok?"
"Haha. It is fine. Senior So-byeok recommending you was for your sake, but also for his own. By recommending you, he essentially agreed to all of this. So wait with a peaceful mind. I will handle the matters as quickly as possible. Though I cannot guarantee it here, it will likely proceed in a way that minimizes your duties as much as possible."
A moment later, Mukwa, who had been waiting outside, re-entered, and the three of them conversed amiably about various matters. Several days passed in this manner.
"Well then, take care."
"Fellow Daoist, look forward to good news."
Jekyeong escorted them to the outskirts of the Seongya Archipelago, seeing them off with a smile. He hovered silently in the air until the carriage, pulled by six spiritual birds—Great Demons said to inherit the blood of the phoenix—vanished into the distance.
"Phew."
Only when the distant carriage completely vanished from his sight did he finally let out a long sigh.
"Lord Dragon."
Upon his return to the Black Cult Palace, Hyeon-gu greeted him. The turtle demon carefully observed Jekyeong's expression before speaking. "Did it end well, Lord Dragon?"
"Yes. It ended well."
He had gained entry to the Outer Court, and though nothing was set in stone, his burdensome duties would likely be significantly reduced. This was a highly satisfactory outcome, even if it wasn't the absolute best-case scenario.
"Remember these characters."
Channeling his monster power, Jekyeong carved four characters onto a pillar in the main hall.
The moment Hyeon-gu laid eyes on those characters, a suffocating pressure and primal fear seized him.
"L-Lord Dragon, this is..."
"It is the Sealed Title bestowed upon me by the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. Carve this into the array eyes of our protective formation and throughout our spiritual veins. With this, petty scoundrels won't dare approach, and it will serve as a warning to external enemies."
Jekyeong had only just joined the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, and merely as an Outer Court member at that, yet the benefits were already substantial. This Sealed Title was one of them, though it was currently only an informal version granted by Song Gwan. Once the title received the official approval of the Dragon Palace, its power would grow even stronger.
The Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace... truly worthy of boasting as the number one faction of the Beast Race.
Both Yu Gon and So-byeok-ik-wang—powerhouses Jekyeong had to look up to from a great distance—had shown blatant wariness toward the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. When he had first sensed their discomfort, he had only vaguely thought of the place as formidable. Now that he had aligned himself with them, he understood why.
From his brief conversation with Song Gwan and the fleeting glimpse he had caught as an Outer Court member, Jekyeong could clearly feel that the true depth of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace was far beyond his ability to measure.
The Black Flood Dragon of Yangseo.
Jekyeong stared at the Sealed Title he had carved. The Black Flood Dragon of Yangseo Lake. It was a title with nothing to add and nothing to take away—plain, lacking in both grandeur and poetic flair. It would be a lie to say he didn't wish for a more impressive title.
But.
For now, this is appropriate.
No matter how much one adorned oneself with falsehoods, it would ultimately prove hollow and laughable. Without strength, any embellishment was meaningless; with strength, a golden crown and dragon robes would naturally follow even if one paid them no mind. What else mattered besides absolute strength?
A short while later, with Cheongo's assistance, Jekyeong unleashed a storm of slaughter within his dreams to vent his instincts. The moment his hazy consciousness cleared, he immediately plunged into deep meditation.
He ruthlessly crushed and ground down the persistent demonic obsession, cooling the fiery heat of his mind over and over again. His arrogant and ferocious beastly nature, which had bloomed without his knowledge, sneered at the tempting whispers of the demonic obsession and turned away in disdain.
"Lord Dragon."
When he opened his eyes to Hyeon-gu's cautious call, Jekyeong realized he still had a significant amount of energy to spare. He felt as though he could have easily continued his meditation for at least another half-month.
Have I improved, or has the demonic obsession decreased?
Looking up at the Sealed Title carved on the pillar, Jekyeong sensed that the pressure radiating from it had become significantly stronger than before.
The power of the Sealed Title has grown. Have I been influenced by it as well?
According to Song Gwan, a Sealed Title bestowed by the Dragon Palace was a treasure in its own right. Merely carving it could project immense pressure, and the owner of the title could enjoy various beneficial effects through its protective blessing.
Previously, Jekyeong could understand its ability to project pressure, but he hadn't been able to feel the effects of the blessing. Now, it was different. It seemed that during the month he had spent immersed in meditation, the official sealing of his title had been finalized by the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace.
An unexpected joy.
To think the blessing of a Sealed Title could suppress demonic obsession. Though he didn't understand the underlying principle, it was undoubtedly a welcome development. Even if it meant relying on external power, he was in a position where he would borrow any help he could get to deal with the demonic obsession.
Jekyeong checked the transmission talisman left behind by Song Gwan. Sure enough, a message from Song Gwan had arrived on the talisman, which was etched with a faint dragon pattern.
Jekyeong wanted to write a reply to maintain this favorable rapport, but unfortunately, the transmission talisman only allowed for one-way communication. It was originally designed for the Dragon Palace to issue directives to Outer Court clansmen.
Song Gwan had expressed regret over this, but it was a rule of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, and as a Welcoming Envoy, he had no choice but to comply. Jekyeong had initially found Song Gwan's overly strict adherence to the rules puzzling, but seeing Mukwa accept it as if understanding something, he secretly surmised that some form of binding restriction was at play.
In the cultivation world, there were numerous methods to bind cultivators, such as mental suggestions and solemn oaths. A powerhouse of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace's caliber would undoubtedly possess the absolute finest means in that regard.
For me, this is for the best.
While it was beneficial that Song Gwan held a favorable view of him, Jekyeong had no desire to become too deeply entangled with him—or, for that matter, with any other powerhouse of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace.
***
Having received the official sealing of his title from the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, Jekyeong immediately revealed the existence of the Seongya Archipelago. Rather than loudly proclaiming it to the world, he had Hyeon-gu quietly spread the word through whispers. Such covert rumors were often far more effective than overt announcements, and this time was no exception.
A mysterious Demon King of the lake. A Black Flood Dragon coiled in the ruins of the ancient Yojeong. A member of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, the supreme power of the Beast Race. Every single detail captured the intense interest of all cultivators in Yangseo Lake, including the Human Race.
The ignorant were merely intrigued; those slightly more informed trembled in fear; and the truly wise calculated their moves with utmost caution. They pondered deeply over what these shocking, simultaneous revelations signified and how the future would unfold.
This was precisely what Jekyeong had intended. He had revealed himself, yet remained hidden.
The cultivators of Yangseo Lake now knew that the Black Flood Dragon of Yangseo, backed by the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, had claimed the Seongya Archipelago, but they had no inkling of his true intentions. And Jekyeong had no intention of ever revealing his hand.
The greatest fear always stems from the unknown. They would relentlessly try to probe his hidden depths, but they would ultimately uncover nothing. For Jekyeong had absolutely no intention of stepping into the spotlight, at least for the foreseeable future.
Jekyeong was acutely aware of his current circumstances. He had too much on his plate. He needed to completely resolve the issue of his demonic obsession, map out his future cultivation path, prepare to face the Transformation Tribulation, and devise methods to gather cultivation resources. With so much to do, how could he afford to waste his time and mental energy on trivial matters? The clever ones could drown in the depths of their own overthinking. As for the foolish... they weren't even worth his consideration.
"We have received word from Ju-hyeong. He was curious to know if the rumors are true."
"And from Han Cheongyu?"
"Nothing."
Jekyeong nodded, having fully expected this. "Tell them both the truth."
"Yes, Lord Dragon."
"How is your cultivation progressing?"
"I am deeply ashamed... but I feel I will be able to break through soon."
"Hmm."
Though Hyeon-gu expressed shame, Jekyeong remained unbothered. Nothing in this world was purely advantageous; in exchange for their immense lifespans, turtles were burdened with slow bodies. Turtle Demon Beasts were no different. Their lifespans were generally more than double those of other beasts of the same rank, but their cultivation progress was agonizingly slow. Hyeon-gu was no exception. Of course, Hyeon-gu was far from foolish. There was a good reason he felt so frustrated with himself.