Free Web NovelChapter 423: Chapter 406: A Look-See
"In that case, we can consider this a partnership. You are a guest—the first guest Dragon City has had in fifty years." Linglong’s voice was soft and cold, as if she were just going through the motions.
Wang Meng didn’t mind. He was fascinated by Dragon City, and if he had a chance to admire it, that would be great.
The two walked out of the great hall. Then, for some unknown reason, a wire in Master Wang’s brain must have crossed, and he asked an incredibly foolish question. "The Dragon Race lives for a very long time. How old are you?"
Suddenly, Master Wang felt a murderous aura wash over him. WHOOSH...
’Damn... Are all women in the world the same?’
’It’s not like asking will kill anyone. I’m just genuinely curious!’
In the end, with an attitude as frosty as an iceberg, the Dragon Princess led Wang Meng on a tour of Dragon City. Wang Meng would use two words to describe it: magnificent and desolate.
One could imagine Dragon City at its peak, bustling with the Dragon Race and Giant Dragons. Their combined power would likely have made even immortals and gods give way. But now, all that remained of that magnificence were the buildings.
The past was too painful to look back upon.
Linglong wasn’t talkative, but if Wang Meng asked a question, she would give a brief answer.
That evening, Tu Mu finally appeared, and Linglong returned to her own palace.
"How did it go?" Tu Mu asked with a smile.
"Linglong is very intelligent. There won’t be any problems."
Tu Mu shook his head. "Her knowledge comes from her heritage, but she has no practical experience. It’s like a castle in the sky. You’re different. Your strength was forged through countless trials. Regardless, you must take good care of her in the human world."
"Linglong is outstanding. I think she’ll adapt to human life quickly. But Old Tu, what exactly are your plans?" When Wang Meng asked this, he was genuinely worried about the Dragon Race.
"Fate has its own course. The fact that the Dragon Race still exists means there’s a reason for it. We won’t be wiped out that easily. But if we want to restore our prosperity, we must cast aside our inherent pride and make a change."
That was also why Tu Mu had broken the rules to travel the Small Thousand Realm.
"I’m entrusting Linglong to you."
Seeing Tu Mu speak with such gravity, Wang Meng also became serious. "Old Tu, I, Wang Meng, may not be the most capable, but my word is my bond. Please, rest assured!"
Tu Mu smiled and nodded. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Linglong’s personality is a bit cold, so please be patient with her."
"Actually, she’s quite understanding."
Wang Meng said, though that was only half-true.
Dragon City was magnificent, but it was deserted. Compared to the human world, it was truly boring. When Tu Mu was away, it was just Linglong alone with a few Giant Dragons... ’What kind of life is that?’
Wang Meng felt like a knight rescuing a princess, even though this princess was probably stronger than the knight.
Wang Meng and Linglong left together. The Dragon Race was very good at hiding their emotions. This was Linglong’s first time leaving Dragon City, yet the father and daughter only exchanged a few brief words, without the torrent of heartfelt sentimentality common among humans.
Watching the two figures disappear, Tu Mu gazed into the distance. A great catastrophe was coming to the Celestial Dao, but even he couldn’t see where it would originate. The problem had been brewing in secret ever since the laws were broken ten years ago.
Such was the karma of the Celestial Dao. No matter what tyrannical force broke the laws, the Power of Laws would inevitably bear fruit.
Wang Meng had that kind of aura about him.
Even Tu Mu didn’t know what the future held, but the Dragon Race had to try. Otherwise, only extinction awaited them.
Wang Meng activated his Star Ring. Having this thing really made a difference. In any case, Wang Meng wanted nothing to do with the Dragon Race’s Space Magic.
Back at the Little Holy Hall, everyone quickly gathered when they heard Wang Meng had returned. When they saw Linglong, all the men were dumbstruck, while the girls sized her up, making comparisons.
Linglong seemed very unused to being around so many people. She frowned slightly but endured it.
"Let me introduce everyone. This is Linglong... the daughter of a friend of mine. She’s just out having some fun."
’His friend’s daughter?’
Fan Hong’s eyes practically saw stars. "Big Bro, my idol! Your tastes are getting more and more vicious!"
Fan Xiaoniao’s implication was that Master Wang was now extending his demonic claws toward his friend’s daughter.
And it was always a top-tier beauty, but this one was in a league of her own—so beautiful you couldn’t even look at her directly. That golden hair was so dazzling.
PING...
Fan Xiaoniao shot up as if his butt had been set on fire. Wang Meng sighed in exasperation. "Don’t talk nonsense!"
Only then did Fan Hong and the others realize that this great beauty, Linglong, was not someone to be trifled with.
After the introductions, Wang Meng paid no more mind to Linglong. He figured if she was interested in anything, she would ask him.
"Brother Hex, has there been any movement from Hua Jianyu’s side?"
"No, it’s been very quiet lately. Ever since you became a Star Alliance Envoy, the entire academy has been in an uproar. I’m afraid that besides Ling Fei, no one would dare to cause trouble for us anymore," Hex Zui said.
The Star Alliance doesn’t make mistakes, and becoming a member is no simple feat. The public reveal of Wang Meng’s status made many with ill intentions give up their plans. Anyone who wanted to move against the Holy Hall Faction now had to weigh their own strength.
"Mengzi, my old man said you should drop by their place when you have time. He said a bunch of old friends miss you," Fan Hong said.
"Tell the senior I’ll definitely go."
Fan Ru had helped Wang Meng quite a bit. Whatever his intentions were, since he had extended the invitation, it must be about something important.
Hex Zui suddenly smacked his forehead. "Look at my memory. Ling Fei sent over an invitation."
Hex Zui took it out. Wang Meng always found Ling Fei a bit hard to read. She was overly enthusiastic toward him. While Wang Meng considered them somewhat acquainted, their friendship hadn’t reached that level. Still, her intentions were good, and Wang Meng didn’t want to judge a noble heart with a petty mind.
Opening the invitation, Wang Meng smiled slightly. "It’s an invitation to a banquet."
"A banquet? Could it be a treacherous feast?" Hex Zui said cautiously. Right now, only Wang Meng’s status was comparable to Ling Fei’s. ’Could the Empress be plotting something?’
"It’s a banquet for the younger generation of Star Alliance members from all the Small Thousand Realms. It seems to be about the matter of the Pure Land."
Wang Meng put the invitation away. "This is a good chance to go and see what it’s all about."
Although he had become a Star Alliance member, Wang Meng was still a novice when it came to the organization. This was a great opportunity to learn more about it.
"Tian’Er, you should come with me." The invitation said he could bring companions, and Wang Meng’s first thought was, almost instinctively, Ma Tian’Er.
Ma Tian’Er nodded.
"I want to go!" Linglong’s voice rang out. It was the only thing she had said in a long time, and her tone left no room for argument.
Hex Zui and the others looked at each other in dismay. ’This cold young lady is way too domineering. No one even invited her.’
Wang Meng was taken aback for a moment. The invitation didn’t specify how many people he could bring, anyway. "Alright."
"I’m tired. I want to rest."
"Okay. Tian’Er, please arrange a room for Linglong," Wang Meng said. ’She’s not tired. She’s probably just not interested in our conversation.’
’It makes sense, though. She’s a Dragon Princess, looking down from on high. Why would she be interested in the petty squabbles of humans?’
Among the various Sects, those who became Star Alliance members while still at the Minor Perfection level were generally called "Crown Princes" by ordinary disciples, as they were the future successors of their respective Sects.
These people were the true chosen ones, possessing not only immense strength but also power that ordinary Cultivators could never hope to attain.
Ling Fei was waiting for Wang Meng. However, when she saw that he had brought two beauties with him, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"You really aren’t one for keeping a low profile. As a new member, you should be mentally prepared."
Ling Fei glanced coolly at Ma Tian’Er and Linglong. She was somewhat displeased with the women around Wang Meng, but it had nothing to do with romantic feelings. She simply felt that Wang Meng wasn’t focused on what was important.
’If he can’t focus on his Cultivation, how can he ever achieve greatness?’
Although Wang Meng had reached Minor Perfection and become a Star Alliance member, Ling Fei suspected it was only due to the special nature of his Five Elements Body. ’Without a Life Artifact or a Holy Statue, he’s actually far behind the others. A slow bird has to start flying early.’ Ling Fei couldn’t help but sigh. ’He’s truly letting down *that person’s* expectations.’
"I’m so low-key, no one will even notice me. We’re just going to check out this so-called elite banquet."
Wang Meng said with a laugh.
Ling Fei was noncommittal. "Besides official members, some prospective members are also qualified to attend this gathering, like Hua Jianyu and Ji Rushan. From what I’ve heard, many people are quite unhappy that you became an official member. There’s no shortage of people eager to test you."
"See? Whether I keep a low profile or not, what’s coming will come."
Ling Fei paused. "That’s true. But this is a new circle. There are a few people you need to pay close attention to. Holy Statues also have different tiers. Someone like Mingren’s is undoubtedly top-tier. Besides him, there are seven others. You already know Lin Jinghao, with his Nine Luminaries Cyan Dragon Body."
Hearing this, a tiny arc appeared at the corner of Linglong’s mouth, an obvious sign of contempt.
Demon Crown Prince Lin Jinghao, Nine Luminaries Cyan Dragon Body.
Ghost Crown Prince Wu Wang, Night Parade of Hundred Demons Body.
Spirit Princess Longyue, Lofty and Refined Body.
Tiger Crown Prince Zou Chuang, Silent Extinction White Tiger Body.
Crown Prince Wanli, Jii Wanli, Golden Wing Roc Body.
"They all sound pretty badass. I’m looking forward to it. Who are the other two?"
Wang Meng was speaking the truth. He really wanted to meet these powerful individuals and see if he could analyze their super-strong Holy Statues. That was the true source of their power.
"The other two should be the Saintess and Sister Ling Fei. The Peacock Princess, Ling Fei, has the Peacock Ming King Body. The Holy Daughter should have the Ninefold Heaven, one of the Ten Great Sacred Bodies. Along with Mingren’s Holy Light Demon Collapse Body, they make up the Eight Emperors of the Crown Prince’s Circle that Star Alliance Cultivators love to talk about," Ma Tian’Er said.
Wang Meng immediately shot her an admiring glance. ’Little Sister Tian’Er’s knowledge is so extensive.’ It made Ma Tian’Er a little embarrassed.
"Such boasts are not worth mentioning. Just be careful when we get there. Among us, Lin Jinghao is the most good-natured. The others are very difficult to deal with."
"Ah, I would have forgotten if you hadn’t mentioned it. Isn’t Lin Jinghao looking to switch Sects? Our Holy Hall could take him."
"You absolutely cannot joke about that. The No Illusion Demon Master is not someone to be trifled with."
Sometimes, Ling Fei felt that Wang Meng was just as lawless as Lin Jinghao.
Ling Fei activated a Star Ring, and a Teleportation Array appeared. The four of them stepped inside.
The destination was the Star Cultivation Academy.
This was Wang Meng’s first time visiting another Cultivation Academy. The exit of the Teleportation Array was at the entrance of a magnificent building, where two Cultivators immediately came forward to greet them.
"Welcome, Peacock Princess. Please, come in."
Ling Fei nodded and stepped inside. Just as Wang Meng and the others were about to follow, an arm blocked their path. The slightly taller Cultivator on the left said coolly, "Excuse me, please state your names."
Wang Meng wasn’t about to argue with a gatekeeper. "Wang Meng."
The two Cultivators from the Star Cultivation Academy exchanged a glance. ’So this is the newly promoted Star Alliance member? Lifeless Artifact, no Holy Statue... and he still got in?’
