Chapter 515: Chapter 490 Turbulent Undercurrents
"Lu Yan, then I will take a seat first."
Mr. World, looking pleased with himself, glanced at Lu Yan, then sat down in a chair on the right, placing himself on equal footing with the various faction elders.
The people in the great hall couldn’t help but chuckle at Mr. World’s demeanor, reminding them of the master of the Array Dragon Hall.
It was strikingly similar.
However, they quickly stifaced their expressions. The old turtle of the Array Dragon Hall was not to be trifled with; it wouldn’t bode well if he were to find out.
"Alright, let’s begin the advancement ceremony for today. The Dragon Alliance originally had nine disciples, and with Lu Yan, that makes ten. The number is now sufficient, and no further disciples will be added henceforth."
Lu Shenhuang spoke.
"God Wasteland Hall Master, I still feel it’s inappropriate..."
At that moment, an elder with snow-white hair voiced his concern.
"Elder Lin, what is inappropriate?"
Lu Shenhuang asked.
"A disciple is the façade of our Dragon Alliance, and both talent and cultivation level are indispensable. Yet Lu Yan’s cultivation level is only at the Immortal Second Layer, which is still somewhat too low. Our Dragon Alliance has never before appointed someone at the Immortal Second Layer as a disciple. If this gets out, other powers might laugh at the Dragon Alliance for having no one else."
Elder Lin said.
"Elder Lin, there’s something I need to tell you."
Without waiting for Lu Shenhuang to respond, Dongfang Yunque interjected.
"Please speak."
Elder Lin turned to look at Dongfang Yunque.
"Lu Yan’s appointment as a disciple was personally decreed by the Sword Ancestor, and the Disciple Command was also given by him. If you have any objections, feel free to seek clarification from the Sword Ancestor."
Dongfang Yunque said coldly.
"This..."
Elder Lin was at a loss for words.
Who would dare to seek clarification from the Sword Ancestor?
In the Dragon Alliance, the Sword Ancestor’s word was final, and his suggestions were never opposed, even by the Alliance Hierarch.
This was not only due to the Sword Ancestor’s extraordinary strength but also because he was the father-in-law of the Alliance Hierarch.
Lu Shenhuang smiled faintly and, with a wave of his hand, decreed, "Well then, if there are no objections, let the ceremony proceed as normal."
The ceremony, as it turned out, was not complicated. With Dongfang Yunque’s guidance, Lu Yan followed the procedure and thus became one of the ten great disciples of the Dragon Alliance.
The disciple’s residence was, of course, incomparable to that of an ordinary disciple. It was a vast palace with large numbers of guards and maidservants.
Shen Yinuo naturally lived together with Lu Yan.
Mr. World, despite not being invited, shamelessly moved into the Disciple’s Residence as well.
After all, the conditions for cultivation here were excellent.
Everything was properly arranged.
"Lu Yan, as a disciple of the Dragon Alliance, the treatment is extremely generous. You can peruse various Immortality Skills and special Cultivation Skills at will, and enter various cultivation areas freely."
Dongfang Yunque explained.
"All the tomes can be perused freely?"
Lu Yan was surprised.
"Indeed, but biting off more than you can chew is ill-advised. You may take inspiration, but do not be greedy. Moreover, each disciple receives a thousand Dragon Crystals every month as a reward."
Dongfang Yunque said.
"A thousand Dragon Crystals? What are they used for?"
Lu Yan asked.
"Dragon Crystals are similar to the contribution points or credits of other powers, which can be garnered through various tasks, and can be exchanged within the Dragon Alliance for various treasures. One Dragon Crystal can be exchanged for one Magic Elixir."
Dongfang Yunque explained.
"One Dragon Crystal for one Magic Elixir."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yan’s heart heated up.
A thousand a month meant twelve thousand a year.
In one year, one could freely receive twelve thousand Magic Elixirs, a truly generous offer.
Magic Elixirs were incredibly precious.
At least, that was the case in the Desolate Land.
A major power like Skull Fire Mountain, even if turned upside down, might not have five hundred Magic Elixirs.
He estimated that with just a thousand Thunder Fire Magic Elixirs, his cultivation level could advance into the Immortal Third Layer.
"This treatment is indeed excellent," Lu Yan thought cheerfully to himself.
Joining the Dragon Alliance had not been in vain.
"The Dragon Alliance has nine great Dragon Temples, namely the Array Dragon Hall, Danlong Hall, the Hall of Dragon Instruments, Dragon Slaying Hall, Battle Dragon Hall, Art Dragon Hall, Hidden Dragon Hall, Saint Dragon Hall, and Heavenly Dragon Hall."
"If you wish to exchange for Magic Elixirs, you can go to the Danlong Hall, and if you want to view various tomes, you can head to the Art Dragon Hall. With the Disciple Command, you can freely enter and exit these places. This includes a detailed map of the Dragon Emperor City. Take a good look at it."
After finishing his explanation, Dongfang Yunque handed a Jade Talisman to Lu Yan and departed.
Lu Yan held the Jade Talisman, let his soul’s power seep into it, and a detailed map emerged in his mind.
Having looked it over once, Lu Yan figured out his plan.
"There’s no rush. I still have two thousand Magic Elixirs on hand. I’ll think about the rest later," Lu Yan contemplated.
Previously in the Desolate Land, Mr. World had extortionately obtained nearly five thousand Magic Elixirs from two top experts of the Three Emperors Alliance.
Mainly of the metal and thunder-fire attributes.
The metal attribute ones naturally went to Mr. World, the thunder attribute ones to Lu Yan, and he also took some of the fire attribute. The rest of the fire attribute ones were given to Shen Yinuo.
After being intimate with Shen Yinuo for a while, Lu Yan entered into seclusion.
"Dao Book, swallow."
Lu Yan produced a drop of blood.
This blood was given to him by Tang Feng and came from the essence of the Three-Eyed Tiger Emperor.
"Lu Yan, I have been waiting for you for a long time."
Little Phoenix was clearly excited, controlling the Dao Book to swallow the drop of blood and refine it with all its might.
"Enhance the Saint Soldier’s Formula for me," Lu Yan’s eyes shone with determination.
With the blood of the Three-Eyed Tiger Emperor, he aimed to raise the Saint Soldier’s Formula to the tenth level in one go.
Just as expected, the progress of the Saint Soldier’s Formula rapidly advanced.
The fifth layer, ten percent, the fifth layer, twenty percent...
Not long after, the Saint Soldier’s Formula had risen to ninety-nine percent of the fifth layer.
But reaching this point, no matter what, it could not be improved further.
It wasn’t for lack of energy, as the energy from that drop of blood was still abundant.
"What’s going on? Dao Book, why can’t the Saint Soldier’s Formula be improved further?"
Lu Yan asked.
"It is probably because your cultivation level is insufficient."
Little Phoenix pondered before responding.
"My cultivation level is insufficient, so I can’t improve the Saint Soldier’s Formula?"
Lu Yan was puzzled.
"The Saint Soldier’s Formula, a Body Refining Martial Art, can make your physical body extremely strong, but the body, like a blade, if too strong and the cultivation is lacking, simply cannot be wielded, that’s why you can’t break through."
Little Phoenix explained.
With guidance from Little Phoenix, Lu Yan understood.
It was like an ordinary person who has only the strength of one hundred pounds, but the blade weighs a thousand pounds; no matter what, it would be unusable.
That was the situation he was facing now.
"Only if your cultivation level improves and your soul becomes stronger can you continue to improve the Saint Soldier’s Formula."
Little Phoenix said.
Lu Yan felt helpless, his dream of pushing the Saint Soldier’s Formula to the tenth layer in one go had been shattered.
"Then I can only prioritize improving my cultivation level first, Dao Book, accelerate time to a hundredfold."
Lu Yan said.
"No problem, as long as the energy is sufficient, these are all minor issues."
Little Phoenix danced gracefully, and time within the second layer’s internal space began to accelerate.
Lu Yan took out a Magic Elixir and began to refine it.
In the outside world, one day, within the Dao Book, a hundred days.
With each Magic Elixir refined, Lu Yan’s cultivation level also continued to rise, approaching the Immortal Third Layer.
....
To the north of Dragon Emperor City, within a luxurious separate courtyard, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
"Have you found out, what kind of background does this Lu Yan have?"
At the head of the great hall, a young man wearing a purple dragon crown asked coldly.
The young man, named Fang Yunliang, was a top genius of the Dragon Alliance.
His cultivation level had long reached the peak of the Immortal Ninth Layer, and he was well-known among the younger generation of the Dragon Alliance.
He was even seen as one of the most likely candidates to become the tenth disciple of the Dragon Alliance.
On both sides of the great hall, stood more than a dozen young elites, all geniuses of the Dragon Alliance, belonging to Fang Yunliang’s faction.
"We have found out, this Lu Yan comes from the Wild Ocean, brought back by Dongfang Yunque from the Wild Ocean."
A young man reported.
"From the Wild Ocean?"
Fang Yunliang’s expression darkened.
How could a nobody from the Wild Ocean, who only has the small accomplishment of Immortal Second Layer, have caught the Sword Ancestor’s eye and been directly appointed as a disciple?
"Brother, should we send someone to challenge this Lu Yan? Just openly defeat him and prove he’s a waste. He’ll have no credibility in the Dragon Alliance, and he won’t be able to continue as a disciple."
A burly young man suggested.
"Foolish."
Fang Yunliang coldly rebuked, his gaze sharp as he said, "Lu Yan has the Sword Ancestor’s favor. A direct challenge would be disrespectful, questioning the Sword Ancestor’s authority. Can you bear the consequences?"
"This..."
The burly young man went pale.
"The Alliance Hierarch has said that ten is the limit; the Dragon Alliance will only have ten disciples at most, and no more will be added unless there is a vacancy due to someone falling or breaking through to the Creator Realm."
"Originally, the spot for the tenth disciple was within Brother Fang’s reach. Unexpectedly, this Lu Yan came out of nowhere, which is truly frustrating."
Another young man commented.
"That’s right, are we just going to give up?"
The other young men also began speaking.
As they belonged to Fang Yunliang’s faction, the higher Fang Yunliang’s status rose, the more their status would also increase, bringing them endless benefits.
"Don’t hurry, the others have always been coveting the position of disciple, and they won’t easily hand it over. Let’s see what their reactions are."
Fang Yunliang stated.
At that moment, within several luxurious temples in Dragon Emperor City, there were discussions underway.
The leaders were all the top Tianjiao of the Dragon Alliance, all potential competitors for the position of disciple.
In the end, out of fear for the Sword Ancestor’s authority, no one dared to send people to trouble Lu Yan directly.
In the outside world, one day, within the Dao Book, a hundred days.
Boom!
Having refined a thousand Thunder Fire Magic Elixirs, Lu Yan’s cultivation had finally reached the limit of Immortal Second Layer and, breaking the shackles, he stepped into the Immortal Third Layer.
After entering the Immortal Third Layer, Lu Yan, full of enthusiasm, wanted to continue improving the Saint Soldier’s Formula.
But the Saint Soldier’s Formula was still stuck at the fifth layer’s limit, unmoving.
"Ahem ahem, the fifth layer of the Saint Soldier’s Formula gives you strength comparable to the Immortal Fifth Layer, which means it’s still too strong. I estimate that once you break through to the Immortal Fourth Layer, you’ll be able to continue breaking through the Saint Soldier’s Formula."
Little Phoenix said somewhat embarrassed.
Lu Yan could only trust Little Phoenix once more.
"I still have about a thousand Thunder Fire Magic Elixirs left, let’s refine them all before deciding."
Lu Yan continued to refine the Magic Elixirs.
After all the Magic Elixirs had been refined, Lu Yan’s cultivation took a great leap forward, but it was still far from breaking through to the Immortal Fourth Layer.
Lu Yan estimated that at least two thousand more Thunder Fire Magic Elixirs would be needed.
He had to temporarily stop enhancing his cultivation.
After all, he had only recently become a disciple and needed to wait a month before a thousand Dragon Crystals would be credited to his account, only then could he exchange for more Magic Elixirs.
"Then, let’s comprehend the Zhou Tian Huan Yu Map first."
Lu Yan made up his mind.
