Chapter 123: The Choice of Prime Minister Turtle

Prime Minister Turtle’s eyes flickered as he listened, lingering on Wang Yuanfeng. He had not expected this young man to possess such a noble status.

The Dragon Lord’s claim of having lost an item was merely a pretext; his true motive was to capture the Golden Dragon and extract its essence to elevate his own cultivation. From the words and actions of these two, it was clear that their primary objective was to prevent the Dragon Lord from achieving his Dao.

The Golden Dragon spoke with gratitude: "Thank you, Divine Lord. Your subordinate will do everything in his power to assist you in this task."

"No need for formalities," Wang replied. He turned to Prime Minister Turtle, whose gaze was drifting as he pondered. "Prime Minister, where is the Dongting Lake dragon vein locked within the water mansion, and where is the Dragon Maiden being held?"

The Prime Minister stood up hurriedly. "Reporting to the Divine Lord, it is behind the main hall in the center of the water mansion." He hesitated, as if making a firm resolution, and added, "I know how to enter without alerting the water mansion’s demon soldiers."

Both Wang Yuanfeng and the Golden Dragon looked at the Prime Minister, finding this behavior highly irregular. While calling Wang "Divine Lord" was appropriate given that he possessed the Hun-Tian Instrument—a treasure capable of enshrining gods—their relationship was merely transactional. They had reached a truce: Wang would spare his life and make no further trouble, and in exchange, the Prime Minister would disclose what was happening in the Dragon Palace.

It was a fair trade, but the Prime Minister’s current submissive attitude was intriguing. Having cultivated for nearly two thousand years, his powers were not to be underestimated; while Wang and the Golden Dragon could suppress him, defeating him would not be easy.

The Prime Minister, sensing their scrutiny, felt embarrassed. Even after living for a millennium, being watched by two individuals of such immense destiny made his face burn. Suppressing his unease, he said respectfully, "I will serve the Divine Lord with all my might. Once the matter of Dongting Lake is settled, I humbly request that the Divine Lord allow me to remain here and continue my duties. I would be eternally grateful."

Wang’s expression chilled for a moment before returning to normal. He realized the Prime Minister was no simple creature; he had even divined Wang’s hidden intentions regarding the lake. Such people are often viewed with suspicion, as knowing another’s intent creates a liability. Wang knew he could not let him go. Perhaps the Prime Minister realized this as well, which led to his decision.

Wang was not a man who envied the talented, nor would he kill without reason. However, he could not release him, nor did he wish to kill him. Imprisonment or servitude were the only options. Since he could not be released at such a critical juncture, having the Prime Minister choose to serve was a welcome development—it meant Wang would not have to constantly watch his back. Still, he had to ask.

"Are you not afraid this will fail?" Wang asked. "Your own grotto-heaven would be in danger. If the Dragon Lord finds out, you would have no place to hide in the entire Dongting Lake region, or even the entire Southern Continent."

"I am aware of that," the Prime Minister replied. "I have already hung my official seal in the water mansion, ready to depart. But this is the place where I found my opportunity for the Dao, so I do not wish to leave." He paused, then continued, "If the Dragon Lord succeeds, he will have no rivals in the Southern Continent. Unifying the region would be a matter of time, and he might even vie for the world."

Wang agreed with this assessment. If the Dragon Lord were to succeed, he would inevitably expand his power.

The Prime Minister’s tone shifted. "However, the Dragon Lord has lost his way. For years, he has stirred up storms, leaving the people displaced and broken. He is the root cause of the chaos in the Southern Continent of the Great Liang Dynasty. Because of his actions, even his destiny has become unstable. If not for the suppression of this water mansion, he might have already faced disaster. Thus, his quest for the Dao will surely fail. But you, Divine Lord, possess a profound destiny, and having encountered this, you are likely the next master of Dongting."

Wang’s eyes flickered. He realized the Prime Minister’s insight was sharp; he could clearly observe the Dragon Lord’s destiny. Recalling that the Prime Minister used a turtle shell inscribed with the Eight Trigrams as a treasure, he realized the man was a master of divination.

Deciding to accept the offer, Wang felt it necessary to provide an incentive. "If this succeeds, the domestic affairs of Dongting Lake—and perhaps the entire Southern Continent—will be yours to manage. For any who refuse to submit, you have my authority to execute them first and report later."

"Yes, Divine Lord!" The Prime Minister was overjoyed. This was immense power. Seeing the infinite potential in Wang’s destiny, he concluded that Wang had long since set his sights on the Southern Continent.

The Prime Minister thought of the recent tremors in the world’s destiny, centered on Mount Tianzhu in the Central Continent, which seemed to herald a change in the heavens. Sensing a great omen of slaughter and shifting power, he decided to gamble on this being his true opportunity. Without waiting for a reaction, he knelt. "I, Gui Qiannian, swear to follow the Divine Lord’s commands. Should I betray this, may the heavens strike me down, and may I never be reborn."

*BOOM!* A thunderclap echoed from a clear sky, startling Wang and the Golden Dragon. They had not expected such a lethal oath. Practitioners were usually cautious with promises, and oaths were tied to the resonance of heaven and earth—a binding shackle. Even the Prime Minister was shocked by the celestial response.

Far away on Mount Tianzhu, the Daoist Ren felt the thunder and sensed that it had recorded something. As a master of thunder techniques aligned with the Gouchen star, he was hypersensitive to such phenomena. Through his primordial spirit, he sensed this occurred in the direction of Dongting Lake and was related to Wang Yuanfeng. Feeling the destiny of Mount Tianzhu grow heavier, he nodded, closed his eyes, and returned to his meditation.