Translator: Noodletown Translations  Editor: Noodletown Translations

“Oh… The East Ocean Dragon Palace?” Zhao Yanzi blinked and looked at Hao Ren in surprise.

On Fifth Heaven with abundant nature essence and protection of the array formation around Ethereal Summit, it seemed like a better place than the East Ocean Dragon Palace.

Besides, after Zhao Kuo lost the battle, the elders in the East Ocean Dragon Palace were heavy-hearted, and Hao Ren would cause another upheaval in the East Ocean Dragon Palace if he planted the mystic crystal there.

Xie Yujia also looked at Hao Ren in bafflement, but she trusted Hao Ren's every decision and wouldn't stop him.

“Gongzi, you are right. With the strong protection of the East Ocean Dragon Palace, it's safest to plant the mystic crystal there,” Lu Lili said.

After all, Fifth Heaven was the human cultivators' territory with a lot of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and several Soul Formation Realm cultivators monitoring it.

Planting mystic crystal was a very risky process, and it must be done in the safest place that a cultivator could find. Like a breakthrough in realm, one might fail if they couldn't calm down completely.

Despite the protection of the array formation, Ethereal Summit was only a safe corner on Fifth Heaven, and too many accidents had happened. Any little disturbance would affect Hao Ren's mind.

In contrast, the entire East Ocean and the adjacent land were under the control of the East Ocean Dragon Clan, and close to one million soldiers guarded the East Ocean Dragon Palace. Even if some powerful enemies came to attack it, it could last for a while.

Therefore, Lu Linlin and Lu Lili knew that it was a wise decision for Hao Ren to plant the mystic crystal in the East Ocean Dragon Palace despite its relatively scarcer nature essence.

Hao Ren moved his hand and sucked out the golden s.h.i.+eld that was hiding at one corner, and it spun toward Hao Ren's feet.

Seeing the abundant nature essence around the Seven Heart Colorful Lotuses, the golden s.h.i.+eld was tempted to suck the nature essence from it. However, the Lu sisters' Yin-Yang Bracelets engulfed the three Seven Core Colorful Lotuses, and it couldn't get close to them.

However, it received other benefits in the last few days. While she wasn't making elixir pills, Xie Yujia had scrubbed its body with the Ruyi Cloth, and its appearance now matched its name; it was flas.h.i.+ng golden lights like a celestial treasure!

However, once it moved, it showed its nature. It moved around restlessly without any composure of a celestial treasure.

Hum!

Without hesitation, Hao Ren stepped onto the golden s.h.i.+eld and flew up.

Seeing Hao Ren and the others were about to leave, the snow lion cubs rolled over, seeming reluctant to see Xie Yujia and the others go.

Xie Yujia felt pity for them and picked up four snow lion cubs.

These snow lions had doubled in sizes since they came here, and each was heavy. Fortunately, Xie Yujia was a cultivator. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to carry them.

Seeing their peers being picked up by Xie Yujia, the other snow lion cubs all looked up and barked anxiously.

After living in Ethereal Summit, they had found the pattern, which was that they would get fed when Xie Yujia appeared. Otherwise, they would go hungry.

After all, the spiritual fields in the valley were protected by fences and array formation, and they couldn't get close.

Laughing, Lu Linlin and Lu Lili each picked up four snow lion cubs, and Zhao Yanzi picked up two.

Then, Duan Yao picked up the last one since this snow lion reminded her of Luojia in Sky Mountain Sect.

“Greetings to Master!”

Seeing Hao Ren flying out from Ethereal Summit, the three nearby sects greeted together.

This scene where several powerful cultivators had snow cubs in their arms was a stunning one.

Looking back at Ethereal Summit, Hao Ren wondered if he would come back. After tonight, Su Han would charge at the Heavenly Dragon Realm. If Hao Ren could successfully plant the mystic crystal tonight, he would manage to catch her big day.

A moment later, Hao Ren and the others had returned to First Heaven from Fifth Heaven and then dashed into East Ocean.

Liu Yi had returned to East Ocean already, and he was in charge of guarding the area between the dragon palace and land. Seeing Hao Ren coming back, he immediately came over to greet him.

Hao Ren had now reached mid-tier Xun-level, and Liu Yi knew that he could never attain such a cultivation speed.

“General Liu, strengthen the guarding force around the dragon palace by three times.” Seeing Liu Yi coming over, Hao Ren instructed.

“Yes! Sir!” Liu Yi answered without asking any questions.

“There might be some changes in the surroundings later tonight. Tell the soldiers not to be alarmed since I will be planting my mystic crystal,” Hao Ren continued.

Liu Yi looked at Hao Ren in surprise and then nodded immediately before marching off to the troops around the dragon palace to make the arrangements.

Trusting Liu Yi, Hao Ren didn't hide the truth to him, knowing that this general that he promoted wouldn't betray him.

Liu Yi was a bit surprised. After all, Hao Ren was the Commanding General of East Ocean, and him planting his mystic crystal was an important event.

“Morale is now low since Third Lord got defeated by Su Han. If the Commanding General fails… Nonsense! General Hao is miraculously brave and won't fail!” Liu Yi slapped himself heavily before entering the military campsite.

Meanwhile, Hao Ren led Xie Yujia and the others into the East Ocean Dragon Palace through the gate.

“Gongzi Hao…” Hunchbacked, Premier Xia was relieved when he saw Hao Ren. “Third Lord has locked himself in seclusion and declared that he wouldn't come out in the next 200 years. You must talk to him!”

Now that Zhao Kuo had become sulky and locked himself in seclusion, leaving the troops of the East Ocean Dragon Clan to Hao Ren. Premier Xia was afraid that Hao Ren would drop his duties as well. If that happened, East Ocean would be in big trouble.

“Ok…” Hao Ren nodded. “I'm going to plant my mystic crystal. Premier Xia, please make the preparations for me.”

“Plant… mystic crystal?” Premier Xia tried to straighten his back and looked at Hao Ren in astonishment.

He looked carefully and saw that Hao Ren had indeed reached mid-tier Xun-level, and it was quite common to plant mystic crystal at this realm.

“Premier Xia, please find me the quietest spot fitting for cultivation,” Hao Ren said.

“This… This…” Premier Xia retreated several steps and replied, “I'll go and make arrangements immediately!”

Seeing the calm expression on Hao Ren's face, he was a bit expectant as he thought, “It possible that Gongzi Hao could reach the Heavenly Dragon Realm one day with his miraculous cultivation speed?”

It was a big event that Hao Ren would plant his mystic crystal, and the dragon palace began to bustle.

Outside of the dragon palace, Liu Yi guarded the palace with tens of thousands of soldiers.

Getting the news that Hao Ren would plant his mystic crystal, Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu both came out of the main palace, which brought tension to Zhao Yanzi.

She had waited for Zhao Kuo while the latter planted his mystic crystal on that small island. Despite everyone's worry, it had gone well.

“Is the process of planting mystic crystal really this dangerous?” she thought.

More than a dozen purple-robed elders who had been discussing the East Ocean Dragon Clan's future strategy got the news and hurried out after Zhao Guang.

The place that they prepared for Hao Ren was Zhao Haoran's cultivation palace.

It was in the center of the East Ocean Dragon Palace and the center of the grand defensive array formation. Even the purple-robed elders couldn't get close to this area, but Zhao Guang had arranged it for Hao Ren, offering the latter the best cultivation environment.

To some extent, Hao Ren had an inheritance from Zhao Haoran, and Zhao Guang hoped that Hao Ren could absorb Old Dragon King Zhao Haoran's presence by cultivating there.

“Mom, is it very dangerous?” Seeing Hao Ren entering the secret chamber, Zhao Yanzi stood by Zhao Hongyu's side and asked repeatedly.

“Your third uncle had the experience of planting mystic crystal before, and he succeeded in one try. At mid-tier Xun-level, Hao Ren's realm is not low, but putting the mystic crystal into the body isn't an easy thing,” Zhao Hongyu said.

“Then, we must ask Hao Ren to cancel it!” Zhao Yanzi was regretful.

“Hao Ren is determined to plant the mystic crystal, and we can't shake his determination. Your third uncle had planned to charge at the Heavenly Dragon Realm in these two days, saying that it is the perfect time for making breakthroughs,” Zhao Hongyu said.

In fact, she had been astonished when Hao Ren suddenly announced his plan of planting the mystic crystal. Since Hao Ren had found the most fitting mystic crystal, he should plant it as soon as possible so that he could increase his cultivation speed.

After finding the proper mystic crystal, every dragon cultivator would be eager to plant it so that they could charge at a higher realm.

Standing on the other side of Zhao Hongyu, Xie Yujia was also anxious.

Duan Yao clenched her fists while she watched Hao Ren enter the secret chamber with complicated feelings. During these days that she had been with Hao Ren, she had been wanting to kill him for revenge. She had some opportunities to do it but couldn't make her move somehow.

All the snow lion cubs sat in a row by Xie Yujia's feet.

When the purple-robed elders saw these snow lions, they all looked surprised, not expecting that Hao Ren had gotten so many level 2 spirit beasts!

“Gong… Gongzi!”

After hesitating for a few seconds, Lu Linlin and Lu Lili ran toward Hao Ren.

“Let us… guard you, Gongzi!” The Lu sisters said firmly.

“It's not necessary.” Hao Ren shook his head.

To guard him in cultivation, they must connect their mind to his. If Hao Ren failed the procedure, they might get hurt in the process.

“Gongzi, your Immortal Physique is connected to us. Besides…” Lu Linlin looked at Hao Ren and said after half a second of hesitation, “This might be the last time that we can help you, Gongzi.”

“You…” Hao Ren looked at them reluctantly.

“We have to go back.” Lu Linlin smiled helplessly and looked sad. “Gongzi, you have reached mid-tier Xun-level. If you can plant the mystic crystal successfully, you will elevate to a higher realm. You won't need Linlin and Lili anymore.”

Hearing her words, Lu Lili bit on her lip while tears gathered in her eyes. Even though she wasn't as vivacious as Lu Linlin, she was reluctant to leave Hao Ren as well.

“Besides, we have two 10,000-year-old lotus seeds. Lili and I can plant with each other and join our forces with yours,” Lu Linlin continued.

“Ok…” After a glance at their sincere expressions, Hao Ren saw that the time was up and turned to enter the secret chamber.

Hao Ren had known that Lu Linlin and Lu Lili were not cultivators of this world and would return sooner or later.

In fact, when he heard the voice call them Chenxin and Chenyi on Seventh Heaven, he had sensed that the Lu sisters wouldn't stay here for long.

When they mentioned the alternation of the Ancestral Dragons, he knew for sure that they would return.

He had hoped that the Lu sisters could stay by his side and live happy lives. However, he knew that he couldn't keep them to himself and thus didn't ask them to stay.

Watching the Lu sisters entering the secret chamber with Hao Ren, Zhao Yanzi and Xie Yujia knew that they would guard him in cultivation. Among them, Lu Linlin and Lu Lili had the highest realm and were most intimate with Hao Ren.

They only hoped that everything would go well with Hao Ren.

Creak… The stone door of the secret chamber closed slowly.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Dragon G.o.d Shrine, the nine Deputy Shrine Masters stood in one row, facing the back of the Shrine Master.

“Shrine Master, do you really want to offer the Dragon G.o.d Shrine as the venue for Su Han's Heavenly Tribulation?”

One of the Deputy Shrine Masters couldn't help asking.

Facing the wall, the Shrine Master didn't look back nor speak.

“The Heavenly Tribulation is more than an ordinary cultivator can take. The Dragon G.o.d Shrine rules the Dragon Tribe and hovers in the high sky…”

“Many prisoners are locked in the Dragon G.o.d Shrine. If anything happened to the array formation…”

“Shrine Master…”

The nine Deputy Shrine Masters began to talk one after another.

Even Yue Zilong felt like it was quite risky to make the Dragon G.o.d Shrine the venue for Su Han's Heavenly Tribulation.

The array formation of the Dragon G.o.d Shrine could block some heavenly lightning bolts. However, if Su Han couldn't block the Heavenly Tribulation, the power would crash onto the Dragon G.o.d Shrine and destroy it.

It would be nice if one of the inspectors could become a Heavenly Dragon cultivator, but it would be a heavy price to pay if the entire Dragon G.o.d Shrine was sacrificed in the process.

“It's decided. Don't mention it again.” The Shrine Master raised his hand and stopped the protests from the nine Deputy Shrine Masters.

Two of the Deputy Shrine Masters tried to speak but found that they had lost their voices.

“You must know that the Dragon G.o.d Shrine can't last forever like this,” the Shrine Master said.

The nine Deputy Shrine Masters remained silent.

The Dragon G.o.d Shrine was first established to stabilize the cultivation world which had just experienced a major war. Its responsibility was to supervise the severely unbalanced dragon clans and guard against the human cultivation sects, preventing them from breaking the agreement and returning to land.

After hundreds of years of management and adaptation, the cultivation sects had stayed above Fifth Heaven and lost interest in land which had little nature essence. Meanwhile, the dragon cultivators had settled down and merged gradually into the mortal society while the balances among the dragon clans had become stable.

Despite its ever-growing strength, the Dragon G.o.d Shrine was basically a temporary organization.

Although the nine Deputy Shrine Masters didn't say it, they had to admitted that it was true.

“If Su Han pa.s.ses the Heavenly Tribulation, I'll hand the Dragon G.o.d Shrine to her. If she fails, just forget everything that I said.”

The Shrine Master turned slowly and looked at the nine Deputy Shrine Masters while saying the words in an indisputable tone.