Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
For every 5 Patreon memberships I receive, I'll release 15 chapters all at once. Your support means a lot to me.
*****
As far as Venerable Wuliang was concerned, releasing Shen Zhengdao was absolutely out of the question.
This was because, compared to the plan of refining the entire Dragon Race into immortality pills to boost the strength of the Chan Sect's disciples, he held an even more critical scheme in reserve.
Once this specific plan succeeded, the Chan Sect would reap the greatest benefits during the upcoming Investiture of the Gods, thereby cementing its status as the leader of the three great sects. The Jie Sect, which had always rivaled the Chan Sect in strength and influence, would fall into a trough from which it could not easily recover.
The core of this grand plan was none other than Shen Gongbao—a man with extensive connections, particularly one who maintained excellent relationships with the disciples of the Jie Sect.
Therefore, Venerable Wuliang had to control Shen Gongbao and ensure that he would implicitly obey his commands in the future. Shen Zhengdao was the most important insurance policy he possessed to keep Shen Gongbao on a leash; how could he possibly let him go?
As for the Dragon Race of the East Sea, he could afford to let them off the hook for the time being. There would be other opportunities later. He could take his time.
"What exactly do you want?"
Seeing that Venerable Wuliang refused to budge an inch, Shen Gongbao was trembling with rage.
He knew perfectly well that Venerable Wuliang intended to use his father as leverage to threaten him. However, given the current situation, he truly could not afford to gamble.
Just as he was hesitating, filled with anxiety and indecision, George's voice resonated in his mind once again.
"It's fine. Agree to his terms first. Stabilize the situation. I have a way to save your father."
"Fine, I agree to your terms. I only hope, Eldest Senior Brother, that you will keep your promise."
Because of George's previous performance, Shen Gongbao already possessed great confidence in him. Since George said he could find his father, there was a high probability that it was not an empty boast.
Even if they couldn't find him, in this very moment, for the sake of his father's safety, he had no choice but to accede to Venerable Wuliang's demands.
"Good, good, good! You are indeed my worthy Junior Brother. Then that settles matters for today. I must return to continue presiding over the Immortal Ascension Exam. Three days from now, come to Yuxu Palace to see me!"
Seeing Shen Gongbao finally compromise, Venerable Wuliang laughed heartily and departed on a cloud.
Naturally, his promise was never meant to be kept. The idea that he would not pursue the Dragon Race for stealing the Spirit Pearl, or that he would allow the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Pill to ascend smoothly and obtain the token of the Chan Sect, was pure fabrication.
These words were merely spoken to stabilize Shen Gongbao and to keep the situation at Chentang Pass under control.
After returning, he would have to calculate how to eliminate future troubles without damaging the reputation of the Chan Sect.
Once Venerable Wuliang had departed, George finally moved back to Shen Gongbao's side and asked, "Based on your understanding of your Eldest Senior Brother, how much of his promise can be trusted?"
"Not even ten percent."
Shen Gongbao sighed heavily, then turned to ask George, "Black Dragon, do you really have a way to find my father?"
"I possess a spell that can track your father's specific location."
George nodded. "However, there is a high probability that your father has been hidden inside Yuxu Palace. Therefore, even if we can pinpoint his location, actually rescuing him will not be that easy."
Tracking people was his specialty. Moreover, after advancing to the Single Universe Level, he had performed various optimizations and fusions on these types of spells.
He had just tested it out. Although there were quite a few formation arrays blocking the way, he had still managed to lock onto Shen Zhengdao's specific coordinates.
It was precisely in the direction of Mount Kunlun.
Thus, he estimated that Venerable Wuliang had imprisoned Shen Zhengdao in a special prison within Yuxu Palace.
"I implore you, Fellow Daoist, to help me. I, Shen Gongbao... have no way to repay you!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Gongbao bowed deeply to George.
Even if it was Yuxu Palace, even if it was Venerable Wuliang's headquarters, he had to venture inside.
"Daoist Shen, there is no need for this. We are all friends."
George supported Shen Gongbao, his face full of sincerity. Hearing this, Shen Gongbao was moved into a mess of emotions.
George had already saved his younger brother earlier. Now, he was willing to risk his life to accompany him to save his father. How could he not be moved? How could he not be grateful?
"However, Yuxu Palace is dangerous. This matter requires a long-term plan."
As he spoke, George glanced toward the three Dragon Kings standing nearby.
In truth, having saved Shen Gongbao's brother was enough for Shen Gongbao to owe him a massive favor. There was no strict necessity to risk danger by helping Shen Gongbao raid Yuxu Palace to save Shen Zhengdao.
However, he figured that since he had already offended Venerable Wuliang, he might as well offend him to the bitter end.
Taking advantage of the fact that Venerable Wuliang's main body was absent, the Primordial Lord of Heaven was away, and the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect were also gone, Yuxu Palace was currently at its weakest. It was the perfect time to pull off a big heist.
He had heard from Shen Gongbao that Venerable Wuliang had captured many demons over the years and refined a large number of top-quality immortality pills.
If he seized this opportunity to steal all those pills, it would inevitably boost his cultivation base significantly.
It was just that relying solely on himself and Shen Gongbao carried too much risk; they needed some additional assistance.
"Black Dragon, this King owes you a favor, but asking this King to accompany you to Yuxu Palace is impossible."
Before the impulsive Ao Qin could agree, the intellectually sharp Ao Run had already stepped forward to give her answer.
She was very grateful to George, but she was also rational and recognized the reality of the situation.
The words she had spoken to Venerable Wuliang earlier were not entirely lies; part of them was true.
The thousand years of suffering in the purgatory of the seabed had made her truly understand the might of the Chan Sect, as well as the consequences of opposing them.
The main reason they had stopped Venerable Wuliang earlier was that they needed George to help them unlock the Dragon-Locking Chains that suppressed the seas. It was for self-preservation.
But now, to ask them to go on an adventure into Yuxu Palace? They were certainly unwilling.
"Dragon King, do not be in such a hurry to refuse. Please listen to what I have to say..."
George was not the least bit surprised by Ao Run's reaction. Instead, he organized his thoughts and began his pitch.
Although it was a pitch intended to sway them, it was also the truth.
Regarding the current situation of Ao Run, Ao Qin, and Ao Shun: although he had unlocked their Dragon-Locking Chains, their actual status remained that of fugitives from the rebellion all those years ago.
If they wanted to survive and avoid being captured again, they could only hide in the shadows, scurrying from east to west.
The critical issue was that their subordinates—so many sea demons—were still bound by the chains, suppressed in the seabed purgatory.
Venerable Wuliang likely had no desire to release these three high-quality raw materials for immortality pills, unless the three dragons were willing to submit to being branded with talismans and lose their freedom once more.
Rather than that, it was better to join forces and storm Yuxu Palace. While rescuing Shen Zhengdao, they could steal all of Venerable Wuliang's immortality pills.
When the time came, they would split the loot evenly, obtaining a massive amount of pills to greatly enhance their strength.
In this world, under these circumstances, increasing one's strength was the only absolute truth for the three of them.
Furthermore, he promised that he would persuade the East Sea Dragon King, Ao Guang, to abandon the formation suppressing the sea demons and set them free.
After listening to his words, Ao Run was indeed tempted.
"If it is truly as you say, then... this King can consider it. It can also count as repaying the favor for unlocking the Dragon-Locking Chains."
Just as George had said, in the War of Investiture that was about to begin, and on the road of being wanted fugitives in the future, only by enhancing their own strength could they have a sliver of a chance at self-preservation.
Even cooperating with Ao Guang, whom they had hated for so many years, was not unacceptable.
If Ao Guang really agreed to George's plan, it would mean that Ao Guang's status would become the same as theirs—a wanted criminal pursued by both the Chan Sect and the Heavenly Court.
How ironic that was, and yet, it fit their desires perfectly.
(End of this Chapter)