Chapter 465
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Summons
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In Tianwu Hall, behind layers of heavy curtains.
The Dao Court Emperor withdrew his gaze. The deafening roar of "loyalty" still echoed faintly in his ears. He touched his chin with an inscrutable expression.
‘He sensed my attention?’
‘Impossible. Even at peak Foundation Establishment with a blessed land formed, perhaps—but mid Foundation Establishment? Not even a true treasure would let him detect me.’
‘So he was putting on a deliberate show?’
At the thought, the Dao Court Emperor broke into an amused smile.
“This little dragon sent by the Old Dragon Lord is capable. A fine talent.”
In his early days as Emperor, he had scorned such flashy flattery. He had even repeatedly declared in private that he would ban sycophancy. But as the years passed, those words of praise grew ever more pleasing to his ear. They even started to feel stale for lack of originality.
Lu Yang's performance, though, was clearly original.
The Emperor could see it was contrived, of course. But what of it? Nearly every official in Jiangdong put on such shows.
The Tianwu imperial family's blue-eyed elite were infamous, after all.
No one knew when the Emperor might spy on them. So even in private, with no one around, they professed loyal and patriotic sentiments.
Thanks to that habit, the Emperor had witnessed countless such displays.
He could hardly recall who had performed them.
But he remembered perfectly well who hadn't.
Lu Yang's show didn't bother him in the least. Quite the opposite—he approved. If you won't even play the part on the surface, how can I trust your loyalty?
“Pass my decree.”
With the thought firm, the Dao Court Emperor's lips parted. Majestic immortal tones rang out from Tianwu Hall in an instant, resonating at once with the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law.
“Order the Dongting Dragon King Du Huan to enter the capital without delay.”
Meanwhile, in a remote cave manor.
Lu Yang led the group of demon cultivators to take seats one by one. Though he had hypnotized them all with String Puppet Technique, he did not seize rigid control.
As long as the String Puppet Technique remained dormant, the demon cultivators showed no abnormalities. They would only act under compulsion when Lu Yang required it. This was a method he had learned from the World Honored One—the logic behind the World Honored One's One Heart as One, used to command the Pure Land monks.
But just then.
The Dongting Dragon King official seal above Lu Yang's head shuddered violently. An immortal tone drifted forth from it, prompting drastic changes in the expressions of the demon cultivators around him.
“Order the Dongting Dragon King Du Huan to enter the capital.”
Thud!
In that instant, the demon cultivators knelt to the ground almost uncontrollably, prostrating in grand obeisance. Their own official seals had resonated in that moment.
A verbal decree from the Emperor!
In a flash, even without the String Puppet Technique's influence, fervor kindled in the black-robed demon cultivator's gaze toward Lu Yang.
‘The Emperor summoning him in person—via the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law directly, no messenger or decree scroll. What immense favor!’
On the other side, Lu Yang offered a solemn salute.
“Your minister obeys the decree.”
As the words fell, the ethereal immortal tone gradually faded upon receiving his reply. At the same time, Lu Yang saw the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law cast brilliant light upon him.
[Proceed to Tianwu City within one day to pay audience to His Majesty.]
[Failure to arrive before the deadline will result in immediate stripping of your official position per the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law, with no chance of future reinstatement. Depart at once.]
“Everyone, it seems I cannot stay long.”
Lu Yang smiled faintly. He turned to the black-robed demon cultivator.
“May I have this friend's name?”
“This lowly one is Xiao Shan.”
The black-robed demon cultivator replied in haste.
“It is the name I chose after gaining spiritual awareness. Dragon King, as you head to the capital—if there's ever anything you need, we will all heed your call!”
Lu Yang let out a light chuckle at the words.
“In that case, why not set up a way to stay in touch? We can watch each other's backs from here on. Feel free to bring in other demon cultivators too. Let's all get acquainted. We're demons, after all—a natural alliance.”
“Your subordinate understands!”
Xiao Shan beamed with wild joy. The Dragon King before him had accepted their allegiance. Could he truly hope to elevate the status of demon cultivators?
Seeing the scene, Lu Yang nodded to himself. These demon cultivators held little value to him now. But who knew about the future?
This was one of the Dao Court's great advantages.
With connections above and an official position bestowed, one's cultivation soared faster than a rocket! Actual combat strength was another matter, but one's status would certainly measure up!
“As for this alliance, we ought to give it a name.”
“Please bestow one, my lord.”
Xiao Shan spoke deferentially.
Lu Yang nodded upon hearing this.
“We are all loyal servants, our hearts set solely on serving the Dao Court and repaying His Majesty's grace in raising us up.”
“Why not call it the One Heart Society, then!”
Tianwu City.
Lu Yang rode his escape light onward at full speed. Bolstered midway by one of his innate divine abilities, Material Self-Refinement, he reached his destination in less than half a day.
Boom!
The moment he drew near Tianwu City, Lu Yang felt a vast and boundless force crash down, shattering his escape light and forcing him to land.
‘This is the heart of the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law!’
Lu Yang's eyes flashed. Through the perspective reflected in his Xuandu Blessed Land, he gazed toward Tianwu City.
What met his eyes was a sea of golden clouds!
The cloud sea undulated, hovering above the imperial palace at the city's center. Countless threads radiated from it in all directions across Jiangdong, delineating the full structure of the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law. And deep within that cloud sea, Lu Yang vaguely glimpsed four beams of radiant light in motion.
‘Heavenly Status Fruits.’
Lu Yang understood at once. Locked away in the cloud sea's depths, bound layer upon layer by the Immortal Kingdom Dao Law, were the four heavenly status fruits under the Dao Court's control!
As he pondered, someone approached of their own accord.
“Dragon King.”
Lu Yang looked up at the voice.
The man had a solemn demeanor and a robust aura. The official seal above his head shone with the script for Supervisor Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
‘No rank.’
Lu Yang's brows lifted slightly. From Wu Tai'an's memories, the Directorate of Ceremonial was an inner court organ. Its status fell even below the Capital Heaven Department.
At least the Capital Heaven Department had ranks.
The eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial—and the entire inner court system—held no ranks. They were not true cultivators at all, merely borrowing the Emperor's authority.
That said, Lu Yang betrayed no disdain on his face. He returned the salute gravely instead.
“True Dragon Du Huan greets this friend.”
The man eased visibly at the response.
“The Dragon King is too courteous. This servant is surnamed An—unworthy of 'friend' from the Dragon King... Please follow me into the palace. His Majesty instructed that you see him at once.”
“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist An.”
Lu Yang cupped his hands.
Soon, under the inner court eunuch's guidance, Lu Yang passed through the grand and imposing Proclamation Martial Gate. He beheld the towering majesty of Tianwu Hall, like a mountain.
He crossed the threshold and entered the hall.
What lay before him was a grand dao platform, draped in layer upon layer of curtains. They silhouetted a faint human figure—features indistinct, gender unclear.
Yet in that instant, Lu Yang felt a profound illusion. The figure concealed behind the heavy curtains did not sit upon some mere dao platform. No—he sat enthroned amid Jiangdong's mountains and rivers, its lands and realms in their tens of thousands. As the palace doors sealed shut behind him, heaven and earth alike plunged into utter stillness.
“Your minister Du Huan pays respects to Your Majesty!”
Lu Yang dropped to one knee without a word. He promptly produced a jade slip.
“This is the coordinate for the corresponding realm heaven of the Incense Fire Deification Method.”
“Please review it, Your Majesty.”
“...”
Lu Yang's sudden move left even the Dao Court Emperor—who had been mulling how to broach the matter—momentarily stunned.
He hadn't paid yet, and the goods were already delivered?
Such loyalty?