Chapter 516
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 516
Chapter Title: What Do You Mean the Dao Court Belongs to Our Dragon Clan?
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Lately, the true dragons weren't having an easy time.
To be precise, Tian Qiu's days weren't easy, while the true dragons outside were all thrilled, convinced that the era of the true dragon clan had arrived.
After all, the four Dao Lords weren't handling affairs, the various True Lords had gone into seclusion, and the true dragon clan had unified the overseas territories. On the Foundation Establishment level, they weren't inferior to the four major inland powers—in fact, some radical true dragons had already started chanting slogans, calling to seize this golden opportunity to charge back inland and wash away the shame of their exile overseas.
But Tian Qiu remained calm.
He decisively suppressed all radical rhetoric, even executing the most stubborn holdouts. It took a year or two, but he finally stabilized the situation.
And that was just the external pressure.
The real internal issue was Tian Qiu's own sense of karma. Lately, during his cultivation sessions, a strange thought would suddenly arise unbidden:
"Huh? Why not head to Jiangxi for a stroll?"
The first time it happened, Tian Qiu nearly walked right out. Fortunately, he was in secluded cultivation in the secret chamber left behind by the old Dragon Lord.
At the last moment, the old Dragon Lord's lingering power snapped him awake.
After that, Tian Qiu scoured the clan's Daoist scriptures and finally understood what was happening: Buddhist karma! That damned World Venerable had set his sights on him!
"Sigh."
In the secret chamber, Tian Qiu let out a breath, glancing at the intelligence report from Jiangxi. It detailed how the World Venerable had manifested an avatar to enlighten a Buddhist scion named Guang Ming.
What now?
After racking his brains, Tian Qiu saw only one path: accelerate the true dragon clan's domination of the overseas regions, secure enough resources for his own breakthrough to Golden Core.
If he could claim the [Heavenly River Water] fruit position first, he might still shake off this cursed Buddhist karma.
Or perhaps—
".Dao Court."
Tian Qiu looked up toward the Jiangdong direction. "Before Father went into seclusion, he once said that if things truly became impossible, we might seek refuge in Jiangdong."
Back then, he'd dismissed it as absurd, not taking it to heart. After all, he knew the deals between their clan and the Dao Court—weren't they just sending cannon fodder? What good would throwing themselves on the Dao Court's mercy do? But now, truly cornered, Tian Qiu recalled the old Dragon Lord's words.
"Maybe it's worth a shot?"
"I remember the batch that went to Jiangdong... Du Huan was leading them, right? He might have gained a little status in the Dao Court by now."
"Just not sure how high his status is, or if he can protect me."
With that thought, Tian Qiu chuckled ruefully and shook his head. "What am I thinking? Even if his status is high, the Dao Court wouldn't clash with the World Venerable over this."
Unless it was the Dao Court Sovereign.
"Fine then. If I fall to those Buddhist cultivators, the true dragon clan likely won't escape either. Better to quietly send some kin to Jiangdong—preserve the bloodline, at least."
As Tian Qiu pondered, a voice suddenly came from outside the secret chamber door. He emerged to find his beloved little sister [Sui Ling], her expression oddly peculiar. "Big Brother, dragons have come from Jiangdong. A whole bunch of them... but they seem to have gone mad."
".What?"
Tian Qiu tilted his head, not quite grasping Sui Ling's meaning. Gone mad? What nonsense—the true dragon clan reached Foundation Establishment upon adulthood. How could they go insane?
"Let's go see."
Tian Qiu shifted to human form and strode out. Soon, a voice laden with utter exasperation drifted from afar: "Great-uncle, Second Uncle, Great-uncle-in-law, Second Uncle-in-law, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Cousin... We really aren't lying! The Dao Court belongs to our dragon clan now. We've come to escort you all to live in luxury!"
Tian Qiu: "???"
They really had gone mad?
Tian Qiu's expression turned grave. He quickened his pace toward the man surrounded by the crowd of true dragons and instantly recognized him.
"Du An? What's going on? Do you still recognize me?"
The man called Du An lit up with joy. "Your Highness! You've finally come. Lord Du Huan said to deliver this to you personally."
With that, he produced a fragment.
Tian Qiu's pupils contracted. He knew that fragment all too well—it was the true treasure the old Dragon Lord had refined for years, the Sea-Commanding Conch!
"Sent by Du Huan himself?"
And this fellow showed no signs of mental damage, yet he spouted such utter nonsense. The Dao Court belongs to our dragon clan?
".Fine."
Tian Qiu didn't panic. He was at peak Foundation Establishment! His [Heavenly River Water] was a supreme fruit position. Though his conceptual image was damaged, limiting his combat prowess, he still wielded some mystical insight in divination and karma tracing. Unraveling causes and effects was child's play.
With that in mind, Tian Qiu pinched his fingers and divined: [No anomalies.]
What the hell? They straight-up say the Dao Court is ours now, and no anomalies? This reeks of karmic shielding—some massive conspiracy behind it.
Uneasy, Tian Qiu divined again:
[Truly no anomalies.]
Damn it! The heavens have turned upside down! I'm peak Foundation Establishment, the greatest below True Lord level. How can I fail to divine a simple cause and effect? I refuse to believe it.
He divined once more!
With the thought firm, Tian Qiu circulated his mana, divine abilities manifesting around him as he sought to trace the karma. But the direction felt off—
"Why upward?"
Tian Qiu looked up. On the sky that should have been starless, a candle-like starlight ignited, gazing down like an eye.
[Heavenly Fire]?
Bad!
Tian Qiu's face changed drastically, but no reaction was faster than a fruit position. A blaze of heavenly fire ignited on him, spreading across his body in an instant.
It took a long while before Tian Qiu extinguished the fire. It hadn't killed him, but it left him charred and disheveled, robes and treasures in tatters, face utterly blackened. Yet his eyes brimmed with delight:
"Fruit position favor! It's fruit position favor!"
As prince of the true dragon clan, Tian Qiu was no fool. He instantly grasped that he'd touched a taboo.
"Only those favored by [Heavenly Fire] to this degree would trigger its backlash."
"And in this world, only Du Huan cultivates [Heavenly Fire]."
"To earn such favor from [Heavenly Fire], one must perfectly match its image... Does that mean the Dao Court really belongs to our dragon clan?"
Tian Qiu's eyes widened, speechless for a long moment.
Even as his reason pieced it together into an obvious conclusion, his emotions struggled to accept it.
How?
The next instant, Tian Qiu snapped back: Who cares how? Du Huan did it! He and the dragon clan were saved!
"What are you standing around for?"
He whipped toward the other true dragons, barking, "Pack up—right now! The entire clan follows me to Jiangdong!"
"To Jiangdong?"
On the side, Sui Ling blinked curiously. "To see Du Huan?"
"Watch your words!"
Tian Qiu's voice sharpened, deadly serious as he fixed on Sui Ling. "All of you—mind your attitudes. The one we're going to meet is His Majesty!"
(End of chapter)