Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 777: It Was Them!

“Items that block spiritual consciousness are nothing more than cloth and boxes—things extremely common in the sea market. This is the Dragon Palace’s sea market, the most prosperous sea market in the entire East Sea. Using cloth or boxes for wrapping during transactions is perfectly normal.”

Another elder shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. This already narrows the range. The cloth or box containing the Dragon Pearl won’t be too large and will be of a high grade, impossible for even a Fusion cultivator to see through.”

“Cloth or boxes of such level are rare. The Dragon tribesmen we’ve dispatched for the search are minimally at the Divine Transfiguration Stage. A box they can’t see through has a high probability of being the target.”

The theft of the Dragon Pearl was a matter of great importance. The elders mobilized all forces they could to track it down.

“Should we narrow the suspects to Fusion cultivators?”

“No. The culprit is undeniably at the Fusion Stage, but they likely have subordinates. To evade us, the culprit might have a subordinate carry the Dragon Pearl.”

“Of course, we must investigate every Fusion cultivator currently in the sea market, regardless of reputation!”

Another elder slammed the table angrily. “Last time the Dragon Pearl was stolen, it was the work of the Old Taciturn Scoundrel. Which scoundrel is it this time?!”

“Alright, that’s enough. What’s the point of saying this now? The utmost priority is to find the Dragon Pearl as soon as possible, else we’ll face the Palace Leader’s wrath.”

~~~

“Where should we go to find the Ancestral Dragon Grass?” Meng Jingzhou was conflicted. They were completely in the dark about the sea market and had no leads.

“Take it slow; just treat it as touring around the sea market.” Lu Yang was not stressed. “By the way, Junior Brother Li, have you been to the sea market before?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Alright then.”

Lu Yang and the other three casually strolled around the sea market. They still had three days and were not in a rush.

“Hmm, the dragons have temples too?” Lu Yang passed by a temple teeming with worshippers who were both seafolk and humans coming here to offer incense.

“What temple is this?” Curious, Lu Yang entered the temple but found no statue inside. There was only a memorial tablet inscribed with the words “Great Venerable Dragon Mandate.”

Li Haoran replied, “Don’t you know, Senior Brother Lu? This is the temple of the Great Venerable Dragon Mandate. It’s famous among sea tribes.

“Legends have it that the Great Venerable Dragon Mandate was a supreme powerhouse among ancient dragons, controlling celestial phenomena. Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning shifted with his mood. There are even rumors that the Great Venerable Dragon Mandate was a true dragon stronger than the Dragon Tribe’s Ancient Ancestor.”

Lu Yang remarked inwardly, I have indeed heard of a Dragon Mandate. He is called the Heaven Mandate Immortal. He cultivated the Dragon Transformation Mantra and could transform into a true dragon, hence the name “Dragon Mandate.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy mentioned this when explaining the Dragon Transformation Mantra.

If I’m not wrong, the Heaven Mandate Immortal and the Great Venerable Dragon Mandate should be the same person.

Considering his mind was full of the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s embarrassing dark history, and considering he still had to undergo a lightning tribulation at the Divine Transfiguration Stage, Lu Yang had a guilty conscience. He felt he should offer an incense stick to the Heaven Mandate Immortal.

Lu Yang lit an incense stick and imitated the crowd, making a proper bow.

“Every grievance has its culprit, every debt has its creditor. If you seek revenge, please go find the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.

“Also, please help find Ao Ling and the Ancestral Dragon Grass.”

Seeing Lu Yang burn incense, Meng Jingzhou and the others assumed he was experiencing East Sea culture. They also lit incense sticks and bowed to the Great Venerable Dragon Mandate.

Unfortunately, the Great Venerable Dragon Mandate wasn’t efficacious. A day passed, and despite visiting countless places, they still hadn’t located the Ancestral Dragon Grass.

“Strange, why do I feel like someone’s following us?” Lu Yang frowned. He kept feeling spiritual consciousness scanning the wooden box in his bundle, but upon careful examination, he couldn’t sense anything.

Either I’m imagining things, or the other party has terrifying stealth skills.

“Could the Dragon Tribe have detected our actions? That shouldn’t be,” Lu Yang murmured, utterly perplexed. We haven’t found the Ancestral Dragon Grass yet; why are we already being watched?

In the shadows, two Dragon tribesmen were startled.

“Did he discover us?”

“It can’t be, right? He’s only at the Intermediate Nascent Soul Stage. We’re at the Apex Divine Transfiguration Stage and specialize in cultivating spiritual consciousness. How could he possibly detect us?”

“Do you think those four have any connection to the missing supreme treasure?” After two days of searching, the Dragon Tribe had secretly identified several suspects, including Lu Yang and his companions, who were deemed suspicious for carrying a wooden box.

“Hey, did you hear what he said? He said, ‘Could the Dragon Tribe have detected our actions?’ It must be them!”

“Don’t get agitated. It might be a coincidence. Let’s observe a bit more.” The steady Dragon Tribe member restrained his companion.

~~~

The second day.

“Big Brother, bad news! The Dragon Tribe has started searching the pocket dimensions!” The third brother hurriedly entered their rented pocket dimension.

They sent one person out daily to scout the situation and check on the progress of the Dragon Tribe’s search. It was the third brother’s turn today.

“Don’t panic. Give the details.”

“The Dragon Tribe has started searching the pocket dimensions one by one! Regardless of cultivation or race, no one should be spared!”

The big brother furrowed his brows. “Even those in seclusion are being searched?” He had planned to use seclusion as a pretext to evade the search.

“It’s useless. Those who entered seclusion within the last three days had the Dragon Tribe barging in. Only those who’ve been in seclusion for over three days aren’t disturbed.”

Entries and exits from pocket dimensions were recorded. Seclusion exceeding three days indicated one hadn’t left, making it impossible for them to have stolen the Dragon Pearl.

“Troublesome.”

“Big Brother, why is it troublesome? The Dragon Pearl isn’t with us. Even if they search, they won’t trace it to us.” The second brother was baffled.

The big brother shook his head. “We have no proof of identification. Normally, that’s not a big deal, but at such a critical period, the Dragon Tribe will definitely list us as suspects. How would we move the coffin then?”

“Then what should we do?”

The big brother gritted his teeth. “Leave the pocket dimension. At worst, we’ll stroll around for these few days. The Dragon Tribe can’t possibly check everyone’s identity on the streets.”

“Alright.”

~~~

The third day.

“It’s so hard to find.” Man Gu sighed. It’s already been three days.

Suddenly, Lu Yang felt the Dragon blood at his waist stir. His eyes locked onto the Juxuan Island Four Thieves passing by, and he sneered. “Found it!”

Clearly, these four aren’t subordinates of the black-robed Dragon Tribe elder. They must have killed and robbed, seizing the Ancestral Dragon Grass. But fearing the black-robed dragon, they dare not sell it.

“Follow them!” Lu Yang secretly transmitted an auditory message.

Meng Jingzhou and the others perked. We’ve finally found it.

“Big Brother, someone’s following us.” The second brother transmitted an auditory message. As the Juxuan Island Four Thieves, tailing and infiltrating were their bread and butter.

“I’ve sensed it too. But don’t worry, they’re only at the Nascent Soul Stage,” the big brother said unhurriedly. “They’re human, so they’re unrelated to the matter of the Dragon Pearl. Let’s lure them to a deserted place and see what they want.”

The Juxuan Island Four Thieves weren’t afraid of Lu Yang’s group. Lu Yang and the others could tell the big brother had discovered them and was intentionally leading them to a deserted place. They weren’t afraid either.

The eight met at a remote, secluded spot at the edge of the sea market.

“I believe I don’t know you four. What do you want?” The big brother stared coldly at Lu Yang and the others.

The closer Lu Yang got, the more he felt the Dragon blood’s restlessness. The Ancestral Dragon Grass must be on them.

“You’ve taken something you shouldn’t have. Are you really not afraid of offending a Dragon Tribe elder?”

Hearing Lu Yang’s words, the big brother relaxed by half. This person said “Dragon Tribe elder” and not “Dragon Tribe,” which implies it’s indeed not related to the Dragon Pearl.

“What thing? I’m not clear.” The big brother shook his head. If I really have anything related to a Dragon Tribe elder, it should be that unidentified grass. But why should I give that thing to four Nascent Soul cultivators? Simply eliminating them would settle everything.

“Not clear? Killing Dragon tribesmen and murdering for wealth, yet you tell me you aren’t clear what thing it is? Fellow Daoist, do you think I’m easily fooled? If that’s the case, should I call the Dragon Tribe elder backing me?”

The big brother’s gaze sharpened. Involving a Dragon Tribe elder might expose the matter of the Dragon Pearl.

I can’t let you all live!

The Juxuan Island Four Thieves acted simultaneously, aiming to eliminate Lu Yang’s group instantly.

Lu Yang drew his sword, and sword qi erupted, carving a deep trench in the ground. His gaze turned deadly. “Do you truly wish to turn this to blows? That is something the Old Dragon Emperor likes. I advise you to hand it over, Fellow Daoist. Then we can go our separate ways peacefully.”

For a moment, both sides reached an impasse.

From the black-robed Dragon Tribe elder’s tone, Lu Yang discerned that the latter didn’t want the matter blown up. If the four of them fought the other four, it would likely be brought to everyone’s attention.

The big brother’s heart jolted with alarm. That sword qi just now was extremely dangerous. The leader is not easy to deal with; he’s a tough nut to crack. I’m afraid a decisive outcome can’t be achieved quickly. There’s no need to fight here over an unidentified grass.

We shouldn’t have taken that grass away in the first place.

Although it was humiliating, he knew how to give and take. He produced the wooden box and tossed it to Lu Yang. “This?”

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was also curious what this “Ancestral Dragon Grass” was. She scanned it with her immortal consciousness, and realization dawned upon her. “I thought it was something special. When Little Ling started gardening, her skill wasn’t up to par, and she grew a bunch of weeds. Lianyi often mocked her for it. Little Ling was stubborn and insisted she liked growing weeds.

“This Ancestral Dragon Grass is just the weeds from Little Ling’s backyard!”

Lu Yang, “...”

I heard nothing. Senior Ao Ling, please don’t come after me.

With the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s confirmation, Lu Yang was sure the box contained the Ancestral Dragon Grass. He directly placed the box inside the box provided by the black-robed Dragon Tribe elder. Double boxes ensured the outside world couldn’t see inside, making it absolutely secure.

In the shadows, the two Dragon tribesmen transmitted auditory messages to each other, somewhat excited.

“Did you hear that? One side tried to pull a double-cross, and the other side’s people came knocking.”

“They obtained the thing by killing a Dragon tribesman, and it’s even something the Old Dragon Emperor likes—it must be the Dragon Pearl! It was them!”

“To think there’s even an elder involved in this!”