BOOK 2: CHAPTER 459: TREASURE TROVES AND PROFESSIONAL THRESHOLDS

Vol 2 Chapter 459: Treasure Troves and Professional Thresholds

"Honestly," the Sword Dao Avatar said, completely disregarding the captive dragons' feelings as he enthusiastically suggested, "Our disciples' theoretical practice lacks real combat experience. Why not use them as training dummies?"

The Heavenly Emperor Avatar glanced back at Second Prince and the others, his expression thoughtful yet hesitant. "We should treat prisoners humanely."

"How naive!" The Sword Dao Avatar snorted. "If our sword formation disciples never shed blood, how can they shoulder great responsibilities in the future? We may treat them kindly, but would others extend the same courtesy if they captured our disciples? Kindness invites bullying!"

The Heavenly Emperor Avatar fell silent as the Sword Dao Avatar continued, "Can't you see what these mudfish are thinking? Do they look obedient to you?"

"We are! Absolutely obedient! We harbor no disloyal thoughts!" Second Prince hurriedly shouted, his neck tingling with fear as he looked at the Sword Dao Avatar. This Zheng Fa was a living King of Hell! Entering the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation would mean certain death—hadn't the Four Sects' members been trapped in the Underworld until now?

The four dragons pleaded with their eyes at the Heavenly Emperor Avatar, who hesitated before slowly shaking his head. "The sect has uses for them..."

Hearing this, the Sword Dao Avatar sulked but stopped arguing.

Second Prince exhaled in relief, resolving to become an indispensable dragon within the Jiushan Sect.

"Let's go."

The Heavenly Emperor Avatar beckoned, and the four dragons hurriedly followed him forward. Behind them, the Sword Dao Avatar's reluctant gaze prickled their backs like needles, making the Cangming dragons stick even closer to the Heavenly Emperor Avatar, terrified of being left behind.

All four dragons bore injuries and remained in their majestic true dragon forms, their massive figures drawing awed gazes from disciples as they passed through the Three Enclosures and Four Dormitories. Those who knew of the Xuanwei Sea battle couldn't help but cheer quietly, enthusiastically explaining to uninformed juniors with animated gestures. Some mortal households even set off firecrackers.

Never having experienced such humiliation, the dragons maintained a stiff silence until they reached an island in the Azure Dragon Dormitory. At its center lay a large lake where their Jiushan Realm water palace had been constructed beneath the surface.

"This is Dragon Coil Island," the Heavenly Emperor Avatar introduced.

Compared to the North Sea, this island was cramped—practically a prison cell. Second Prince understood the implied warning in its name. But having seen the Sword Dao Avatar's temperament, he dared not complain—small as this place was, it might be more spacious than the sword formation.

No sooner had they entered the water palace than Jiushan Sect members began arriving. First came Jiao Wuji and Ancestor of the Blood River. Seeing the four true dragons, Jiao Wuji instinctively hunched his shoulders before straightening proudly to scrutinize them.

The dragons naturally despised this half-breed, particularly his brazenly condescending stare, but as captives, they swallowed their anger. Next arrived Zheng Fa and Lord Shuyu Dragon accompanied by Uncle Pang and Elder Yuan, with Yuan Xiaoniao and Little Golden Crow fluttering behind.

While Zheng Fa's group came to handle the prisoners, the two birds had other intentions. "So these are dragonkind?" Yuan Xiaoniao craned her neck, examining Second Prince like a zoo exhibit before suddenly adopting a philosophical expression—so unusual that even Zheng Fa turned to look.

"What are you thinking?" Even Elder Yuan, who raised her, grew curious.

Yuan Xiaoniao first produced an audible slurping sound before asking eagerly, "Are dragons tasty?"

"......"

The four dragons glared at the Nascent Soul-stage Yuan Xiaoniao, their anger lasting only a moment before fizzling out. Lord Shuyu Dragon's expression darkened, likely recalling the Golden-Winged Great Peng. ɽάƝΟВƐŚ

Noticing this, Yuan Xiaoniao hastily added, "Weren't they supposed to pull Uncle Pang's chariot?"

Uncle Pang's eyes lit up before he shook his head at his own slight frame. "A monkey wearing a crown remains a monkey." His desire was clear, but so was his fear.

"Join me!" Little Golden Crow suggested. "Otherwise I never get days off!" His primary duty recently involved pulling the Heavenly Emperor Avatar's chariot—or more accurately, transforming into a sun to patrol Jiushan. This wasn't vanity but a cultivation method, as the avatar observed the crow absorbing incense fire power to rapidly advance, similar to how dragons absorbed worship from aquatic beings. Now at late Nascent Soul stage, Little Golden Crow might even surpass Yuan Xiaoniao soon.

Second Prince felt slightly relieved. Accustomed to dominance in Dragon Abyss Realm, he'd never willingly pull a chariot—but compared to being refined into the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation or stewed by that stupid bird, chariot-pulling at least meant survival.

Zheng Fa looked between Lord Shuyu Dragon and the dragons before stating bluntly, "There's debate within the sect about your disposition."

Tension gripped the dragons' faces—they knew exactly who advocated harsh treatment: that King of Hell version of Zheng Fa.

"Alternative opinions exist," Zheng Fa continued slowly. "Because of the Dragon Lord, we're willing to spare your lives."

Lord Shuyu Dragon's expression softened slightly as she glanced at the four. "Thank you, Sect Leader." Zheng Fa noted this was her first time directly addressing him as such—she cared for her kind, even enemies, and would bear emotional scars if they were slaughtered. Not that Jiushan Sect shared such qualms;keeping these dragons simply followed their waste-not philosophy—every part of a dragon was valuable!

"Any objections?"

The dragons shook their heads vigorously.

"Good. Then you'll participate in several research projects."

"Research projects?"

Lord Shuyu Dragon looked curious—she only knew of one: dragon egg cultivation, which had originally ensnared her with Jiushan Sect.

"First remains dragon egg cultivation." Zheng Fa turned to Jiao Wuji, who nodded. "We're uncertain about those eggs' genetics. With these four, our sample size increases significantly, possibly allowing improvements." Lord Shuyu Dragon nodded eagerly—this mattered greatly to her—now eyeing the Cangming dragons like treasures.

The baffled dragons remained silent, understanding nothing about "genetics."

"Second is our Talisman Path Academy's project," Uncle Pang announced. "We'll use dragon blood to attempt new talismans."

"Dragon blood..." Lord Shuyu Dragon frowned but stayed silent—she'd done her part sparing their lives. She wasn't foolish enough to jeopardize relations with Jiushan Sect for enemies.

Zheng Fa acknowledged talismans' importance as Uncle Pang elaborated, "Our most mature talismans currently use blood from Great Freedom Demon Sect disciples. But dragonkind's methods resemble demonic techniques—they likely share similarities."

Senior Sister Zhang added, "Elder Pang and I long discussed this. Dragons descend from Dragon Ancestor, progeny of a Golden Immortal surpassing Great Freedom Demon Ancestor's cultivation. Talismans made from them would far surpass previous ones." She glanced at Lord Shuyu Dragon. "We might even replicate some draconic maritime abilities."

Lord Shuyu Dragon stiffened. While unsure about the talismans' purported power, she recognized their potential value—if Jiushan disciples gained draconic abilities, the sect's maritime dominance would soar.

Zheng Fa observed her—dragon blood talismans gained even greater significance for maritime strategy. Not that they expected matching Lord Shuyu Dragon's abilities, but such talismans would grant Jiushan disciples clear advantages against others, even Four Sects members.

The four dragons exchanged bleak glances but remained silent.

"First was Agriculture Academy's project, second was Talisman Path Academy's," Zheng Fa continued. "Third is my personal—or rather, the entire Jiushan Sect's—project."

Lord Shuyu Dragon looked astonished—if dragon blood talismans seemed revolutionary, what could surpass them?

"You may not know," Zheng Fa explained, "our sect possesses a technique called Heavenly and Earthly Fiend Transformations."

"Your shape-shifting method?"

"Exactly. It remains incomplete."

"Incomplete?" She remembered Zheng Fa's transformations vividly—the Cangming Dragon King likely remembered even better. Yet Zheng Fa called it unfinished?

"Heavenly and Earthly Fiend Transformations' first level involves basic form and aura changes. The second transforms into inanimate objects. Third becomes living creatures, including humans and mundane beasts." Zheng Fa pointed at the dragons. "Fourth—our theoretical level—involves transforming into exotic beasts, divine creatures, even Demon Ancestors."

"You mean... ancient dragons?" Lord Shuyu Dragon sounded dazed.

"Not just ancient dragons—more accurately, Dao Fruit descendants." Creatures like dragons resembled families created by Demon Ancestors, their abilities stemming from bloodlines. The technique's incompleteness primarily stemmed from insufficient understanding of Dao Fruit descendants. While the sect had Great Freedom Demon Ancestor's descendants, their cultivation was too low and human-like. These four dragons, however, were Scattered Immortals—Dao Fruits brimming with research value.

Heavenly and Earthly Fiend Transformations formed the foundation of Yellow Court Scripture. While others marveled at its combat applications, Zheng Fa saw deeper significance—cultivation's essence was life's evolution, which fundamentally meant targeted transformation. Thus, this technique touched cultivation's core. Transforming into Dao Fruit descendants meant retracing their paths to extract suitable elements, ultimately forging myriad paths into Yellow Court!

Hence Zheng Fa personally oversaw this project. Though unaware of his ambitions, the notion of becoming ancient dragons stunned Lord Shuyu Dragon into silence until Zheng Fa added, "Fourth project—Blood River, you explain."

She looked up puzzled—why did Zheng Fa sound oddly amused?

Ancestor of the Blood River stepped forward, beaming at Second Prince, who shuddered under his gaze.

"Fourth project concerns Jiushan Animal Husbandry and Fisheries!" Blood River grinned. "And you'll feel absolutely no pain!" He pointed at Second Prince. "Especially you!"

"Me?"

"Word is you kept many concubines in Cangming Dragon Palace? Even kidnapped female cultivators?"

"That... that was before! I've reformed!"

"Reform what? No need! We've prepared a grand harem for you!"

Second Prince gaped—such generous prisoner treatment?

Blood River handed him a jade cylinder. "Check the roster."

For a moment, Second Prince felt Jiushan Sect's warmth—until he saw the contents: Jiushan Breeding Species Catalog.

"Cows... horses..." His face twisted in agony. "Fine, but what's this emerald water lizard?"

"A spirit beast with valuable skin. We hope to enhance its bloodline." Dragons were infamous not just for power but absurd reproductive abilities—"dragons' lustful nature" was proverbial in Xuanwei Realm. For Jiushan Realm, this meant superb breeding potential—any spirit beast with draconic lineage saw dramatic quality improvements. Jiushan's fisheries and husbandry awaited Second Prince's... contributions.

"I've truly reformed! I've lost all interest in women!"

Seeing their disbelief, he gritted his teeth. "I suffer from... performance issues."

Zheng Fa shook his head sadly. "Then you're... useless?"

Second Prince shuddered. Useless dragons went to the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation!

"Useful! Very!" He turned desperately to Little Golden Crow. "I can pull chariots too!"

The crow perched on Zheng Fa's shoulder, tilting its head arrogantly. "You think just anyone qualifies to pull the Sect Leader's chariot?"