Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me
Chapter 616: Four Nine Eight: Kidnapping the Dragon Clan

Chapter 616: Four Nine Eight: Kidnapping the Dragon Clan

If it were any other treasure, exchanging it with the Dragon Clan wouldn’t be a big deal. Even if he traded it for an Innate Spiritual Treasure, Jiang Chen would not be at a loss.

But this involved a Divine Artifact. Jiang Chen had to be cautious. With the Incense Fire Divine Path not yet established, if he handed over the Thunder Pool to the Dragon Clan, there might be a chance that some wise individual from the Dragon Clan would grasp the fundamentals of the Divine Dao and derive the entire Divine Dao system.

If that happened, Jiang Chen would truly lose more than he gained.

Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for Jiang Chen to hand over the Thunder Pool to the Dragon Clan. However, from the Old Dragon King’s attitude, one could tell that he was determined to obtain the Thunder Pool.

If he were to not hand over the Thunder Pool, Jiang Chen had no doubt that sometime in the future, skilled individuals from the Dragon Clan would surreptitiously infiltrate Cang Mountain.

Fate’s treasures were incredibly important to any race as they embodied the lineage; hence, they needed to steal it if they had to.

"Such a headache!"

While complaining inwardly, Jiang Chen began pondering countermeasures. After a short while, he had an idea.

Handing the Thunder Pool over to the Dragon Clan was not possible. But he could cooperate with the Dragon Clan, allowing their younger generation to cultivate within the Thunder Pool.

Thinking this way, Jiang Chen began to speak: "Dragon King, to be honest with you, the item you’re searching for is both important and not important to me, but it absolutely cannot be handed over to outsiders."

"Even if it were someone from my own Jiang Family who asked for it, there’s no way I could give it to them."

Listening to Jiang Chen, the Old Dragon King realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately asked: "What kind of treasure is it that it’s so important?"

Jiang Chen feigned mystery and remained silent.

However, the Old Dragon King seemed to understand, assuring Jiang Chen: "Rest assured, once this matter leaves your lips and enters my ears, no third party will know."

By saying this, he was agreeing to keep it a secret for Jiang Chen. To further emphasize his sincerity, the Old Dragon King personally activated a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, sealing off this part of Heaven and Earth, cutting off all forms of divination.

"Alright, you can speak now. Although my strength isn’t notable, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Unless a Great Divine Transcendent makes a move, no one will be able to hear our conversation."

The Old Dragon King’s words rendered Jiang Chen speechless. When did he ever notice the Old Dragon King could be so pretentious? If the Old Dragon King, with his Taoist Master Level strength, still wasn’t worth mentioning, then what would a Dao Monarch be considered?

Trash?

Speechless, Jiang Chen didn’t answer the Old Dragon King’s question. Instead, he took out the Thunder Pool and placed it in front of him for inspection.

If the Old Dragon King was willing to keep a promise, then it meant he was sure to keep the secret and not talk recklessly as he could not afford the consequences. Hence, Jiang Chen unreservedly brought out the Thunder Pool to show him.

"An exceptional treasure, truly a legacy treasure of our Dragon Clan!"

As soon as the Thunder Pool emerged, the Old Dragon King was filled with awe. His eyes, full of greed, were like those of a lustful man who had just seen a peerless beauty.

If not for his restraint in front of Jiang Chen, the Old Dragon King would have thrown himself at the treasure without a second thought.

Without closer inspection, the Old Dragon King knew that the Thunder Pool was an invaluable treasure of the Dragon Clan. Even if it wasn’t equivalent to the Dragon Gate or the Dragon Transformation Pool, it wasn’t far off.

The Dragon Power naturally emitted from it alone was enough to induce a strong sense of oppression in the Old Dragon King. If this wasn’t a Dragon Clan treasure, then what was?

What ordinary Magic Treasure could exhibit such power? Only those treasures that could carry the fate of the Dragon Clan could emit such a formidable Dragon Power that could cause even a Dragon Monarch to feel oppressed.

This was definitely a Dragon Pearl-level treasure.

If the Dragon Gate and the Dragon Transformation Pool were still at their peak, the Thunder Pool would naturally not be comparable. However, they were damaged and their powers had significantly declined.

As such, the Thunder Pool was now qualified to contend with those two treasures.

The Old Dragon King scrutinized the Thunder Pool covetously for a while, reminding himself of the task at hand. Afterward, the greed in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a gaze filled with caution and surprise.

"This is..."

The Old Dragon King stuttered but couldn’t continue. With his discernment, he naturally recognized what the Thunder Pool represented.

Could this be the Divine Artifact that caused such a huge upheaval in the Prehistoric World in the past?

He never would have expected to see it here.

Moreover, he never would have expected the creator of this Divine Artifact would be Jiang Chen.

"No wonder you were so cautious. I see," The Old Dragon King’s gaze at Jiang Chen suddenly became complex.

Although he estimated Jiang Chen at his highest value, he didn’t expect that he still underestimated him. How tremendous were the achievements and courage needed to blaze a new trail? Compared to this, the Dao Sovereigns seemed insignificant.

Frankly speaking, creating an Innate Dao Sovereign might be rare, but if prime powers like the Dragon Clan or Human Race truly wanted to nurture one, they could brute force their way through with resources.

However, pioneering a new path wasn’t something that could be accomplished just by pouring resources into it. Simply put, becoming a Dao Sovereign could be achieved with resources, while blazing a new path depended solely on oneself.

Those individuals who managed to accomplish this were extraordinary prodigies through the ages. The weakest of them now have achieved the Quasi-Saint position.

Knowing the origin of the Thunder Pool, the Old Dragon King realized that it was impossible to take it from Jiang Chen.

However, getting to see the Thunder Pool firsthand, he understood it’s importance for the Dragon Clan even better. To ask him to give up was something he absolutely couldn’t do.

Torn between the choices, the Old Dragon King found himself struggling with how to ask for the Thunder Pool from Jiang Chen.

However, fortunately, Jiang Chen seemed to empathize with his dilemma and took the initiative to say, "Old Dragon King, I have a suggestion. I wonder what you think of it?"

"The Thunder Pool, adhering to the essence of innate thunder, creates a small thousand worlds within, assisting all beings in dragon transformation, whether into thunder dragons, or heavenly dragons, or starry sky giant dragons... the varieties are diverse and countless."

"Although I can’t give the Thunder Pool to the Dragon Clan, the Dragon Clan can send dragon descendants into the Thunder Pool to metamorphose into True Dragon bodies."

Upon hearing Jiang Chen’s proposal, the Old Dragon King’s eyes lit up. Immediately, however, as if thinking of something, he suddenly frowned and asked him, "Young man from the Jiang Family, surely you don’t expect this suggestion of yours to come without a price?"

Jiang Chen nodded frankly: "Indeed, although I, Jiang Chen, am a benevolent person, I won’t let others take advantage without giving something in return. If the Dragon Clan descendants want to enter the Thunder Pool, they would have to become my disciples first."

"I am someone of principles; good things are reserved for my own. If the descendants of the Dragon Clan become my disciples, they will be considered as my own, and I would certainly not be stingy with them."

"Conversely, why should I supply benefits to those with no ties to me?"

Jiang Chen was making a decisive move, striving to tie the Dragon Clan to his own chariot.

Once they enter his sect, they become his disciples, naturally recognizing him as the superior. If trouble arises in the sect in the future, can these disciples just stand by?

On the other hand, if Jiang Chen encounters troubles in the future, these disciples can’t stay out of it and need to come up with a way to help.

If not, should Jiang Chen face any difficulties, these disciples would not fare better off.

At the same time, these disciples are also the Dragon Clan’s heirs. If they encounter any distress, can the Dragon Clan just stand by and watch? They will certainly offer assistance.

Doesn’t that equate to helping Jiang Chen?

In plain words, those Dragon Clan descendants who will enter the Thunder Pool will become the tools Jiang Chen uses to control the Dragon Clan, making the Dragon Clan stand by his side, supporting him wholeheartedly.

The Old Dragon King naturally understood what Jiang Chen meant and chuckled, "You indeed have a cunning plan. However, I agree to your proposal."

The Old Dragon King did not reject Jiang Chen’s proposal, but he didn’t fully agree either. Because what he said was, "I agreed," not that the Dragon Clan agreed.

Seemingly there isn’t any difference but there is a big difference between the two. The former represents the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea, the latter represents the entire Dragon Clan.

The Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea is just the tip of the iceberg among the Dragon Clan’s forces and cannot represent the whole clan. Thus, regarding matters of the Dragon Clan, it isn’t the Old Dragon King’s place to be making decisions; it can only govern the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea.

Nonetheless, even this result has satisfied Jiang Chen.

The Thunder Pool, although important, is ultimately not as valuable as the Dragon Transformation Pool and Dragon Gate. Therefore, the Dragon Clan won’t possibly bet on Jiang Chen just for the sake of the Thunder Pool.

Sending the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea to test the waters is advisable; even if there are problems in the future, they would have only lost one palace and won’t hurt the foundation of the Dragon Clan.

Jiang Chen understood the Old Dragon King’s thoughts, but he didn’t think much of it because he was sure to tie the Dragon Clan to his chariot sooner or later.

The current Thunder Pool indeed doesn’t deserve the Dragon Clan’s heavy betting.

But as the Thunder Pool grows stronger, its power will grow stronger and stronger, eventually catch up with the peak-era Dragon Transformation Pool and the Dragon Gate, and perhaps even surpass them. This is not impossible.

At that time, even if Jiang Chen does not take the initiative to ask, the Dragon Clan will proactively arrive, begging for them to join his chariot.

Since ancient times, only interests have moved people’s hearts.

People all seek benefits. The Dragon Clan is not willing to bet heavily now, for nothing more than the current lack of sufficient benefits.

Just as long as they discover that the benefits Jiang Chen brings them far exceed their imaginations, the instinct to seek benefits will naturally cause them to approach, even to the point of pleasing Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen sees through this very clearly, so he is not afraid that his plan will fail.

The bait has been set, and the Dragon Clan has taken the bait. Next, they just need to give them more benefits, allowing the Dragon Clan to recognize the potential of the Thunder Pool. Eventually, they will gradually place heavier bets until they are completely tied to Jiang Chen’s chariot.

...

The Old Dragon King is a straightforward person. After agreeing to Jiang Chen’s proposal, he continued, "Alright, Jiang Chen, if you have any more demands, please state them all at once. It will save us some time instead of dealing with them one by one."

Seeing that the Old Dragon King was so forthcoming, Jiang Chen made it straightforward as well, "The senior’s magnanimity is appreciated, I won’t waste time beating around the bush. They are all going to be my disciples in the future, so it wouldn’t be right for me to profit from them."

"So, I have two conditions."

"Firstly, once they enter the Thunder Pool, they are not allowed to leave without my command. I believe the senior can understand this point. After all, the matters of the Thunder Pool are of great importance. Until I am ready, its news must not be leaked."

The Old Dragon King nodded in agreement, "That’s reasonable. Your words are not inappropriate in the slightest. However, I must personally check on their condition from time to time to prevent any problems from arising."

"What do you think of this?"

This was to be expected, and Jiang Chen certainly didn’t object: "As long as the news of the Thunder Pool is not leaked out, I have no objections."

Upon reaching consensus for the first condition, the Old Dragon King then asked, "What is your second condition?"

Regarding the second condition, Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Senior, I won’t lie to you, I calculated that the Thunder Pool will soon encounter a calamity. Therefore, I would like to request senior’s assistance in helping the Thunder Pool get through this crisis."

ps: Asking for a subscription,

Reporting the results, the average subscription has dropped from 2950 to 2940...

I can’t describe how I feel right now.