55: Spiritual possession
Outside the Water Mansion, time flowed, and several more years passed quietly.
The Dongting Lake region gradually formed a new, fragile balance during the new round of reshuffling.
Relying on their first-mover advantage, the Lin family and the Green Wave Sect carved up the most lucrative Legacy left behind by Demon King Fushui, establishing their dominant position on the surface.
Some powerful aquatic tribes or Loose Cultivator Yao Race individuals occupied the peripheral areas, forming separatist regimes.
After the initial chaos, foreign merchant caravans also re-established order, though frictions with local forces occurred from time to time.
On the surface, the entire lake region had returned to its former bustle and trade, but undercurrents still surged in the dark, simply because that top-tier Fourth Tier power was absent.
The Deep Pool Water Mansion remained in extreme tranquility.
On this day, Gao De slowly awoke from a deep state of meditation.
The aura around his body was rounded and restrained, his Demonic Power was vast yet calm, and he had already reached the Peak of the Second Tier Late-stage, with no room for further advancement.
He was just one opportunity away from attempting to condense the flood dragon pearl and trigger the Heavenly Tribulation.
Years of dormancy and polishing had made his Foundation incredibly solid, and his control over his power had reached the ultimate level for this stage.
It was time.
He did not immediately leave seclusion, but first used the tianji mirror to carefully browse through the external intelligence that Turtle Three Thousand had compiled over the past few years.
He gained a clear understanding of the current distribution of forces, major events, and the flow of resources.
Subsequently, his Divine Sense stirred slightly, and he summoned Turtle Three Thousand.
A moment later, Turtle Three Thousand respectfully swam into the quiet room. Feeling the unfathomable yet contained majesty on Gao De, his awe deepened: "My Lord, you have finished your seclusion!"
"Mn." Gao De nodded slightly. "You have worked hard these years. I have already grasped the general situation outside. Now that the flood dragon has gone far away and the layout is initially set, it is precisely the opportunity for us to act in the dark."
Turtle Three Thousand's spirit lifted: "What are your orders, My Lord?"
Gao De pondered slightly and said: "The primary matter is still that 'Thunder-Controlling Alligator Dragon Puppet'. Although your contact with the Hundred Ingenuities Sect was interrupted, the line may not necessarily be broken. Disguise yourself and cautiously make contact with the connection you made previously to probe whether they are still in Dongting Lake, whether that mechanical beast has yet to be sold, and if the exchange conditions have changed."
"Yes! This one will go handle it immediately!" Turtle Three Thousand accepted the order.
"Secondly," Gao De continued, "I need some things. Through anonymous channels, keep an eye out for and acquire the following types of items: First, spiritual objects or Medicinal Pill that can quickly replenish a large amount of Demonic Power; Second, treasures that can stabilize the mind and resist the intrusion of Heart Demon; Third, any information, Materials, or Magical Artifact fragments related to resisting the Lightning Tribulation, even if they are just rumors, record them down."
These were all preparations for his Dragon Transformation Heavenly Tribulation.
Although the dragon pearl fossil was his greatest reliance, having one more preparation meant one more percentage point of success.
"This one has noted it down!" Turtle Three Thousand noted the requirements earnestly.
"Finally, pay close attention to the movements in the core area of Demon King Fushui's old territory, especially... any clues regarding the potentially existing entrance to the Dragon Palace ruins." A flash of sharp light crossed Gao De's eyes.
Demon King Fushui was able to obtain the dragon pearl by relying on his background, so his old lair must be extraordinary.
Now that his descendants were all dead, that area was regarded as a forbidden zone by the Lin family and the Green Wave Sect and was heavily guarded, but it was not without opportunities.
This might be the key for him to obtain Cultivate resources for the next step after Dragon Transformation.
"Understood! My Lord, rest assured, this one will definitely handle it properly!" Turtle Three Thousand felt the determination contained in Gao De's words, knowing that after years of deep cultivation, his Lord was finally going to start taking the initiative.
After Turtle Three Thousand left, Gao De did not act rashly.
He knew well that haste makes waste in all things.
He first began to work on further strengthening the defenses of the Water Mansion.
Combining his comprehension of Formation knowledge from the Legacy memory over these years, as well as his own understanding of the Law of Water, he personally took action, using his own Essence Blood mixed with many spiritual Materials to re-inscribe and reinforce several layers of concealment and defensive Talisman runes in the core area and key nodes on the periphery of the Water Mansion.
In particular, he made key enhancements in resisting lightning and fire, and isolating auras.
He wanted to forge this place into a fortress for his Undergoing Tribulation.
At the same time, he also began to consciously adjust his own state.
He no longer conducted high-intensity Demonic Power Cultivate, but instead, by guiding the energy of the dragon pearl fossil, gently nourished his Physical Body and Divine Soul, making himself stay in a full and peaceful optimal state, ready to trigger his Bloodline at any time to impact the flood dragon pearl.
He was like a commander about to step onto the most important battlefield, calmly and meticulously checking himself, polishing every weapon in his hand, waiting for the final moment.
Several days later, Turtle Three Thousand brought back news.
"My Lord, the people from the Hundred Ingenuities Sect are still here! That 'Thunder-Controlling Alligator Dragon Puppet' has not been sold yet! However, their conditions are still harsh; they insist on ancient water-attribute Yao Race cores or ancient spiritual Materials containing pure Dragon Clan aura. Following your instructions, this one did not expose the stone, but only re-confirmed their intentions. They indicated that as long as the items meet the requirements, the price is negotiable."
"As for those resources for Undergoing Tribulation that you wanted, My Lord, there are very few circulating on the market, and the prices are exorbitant. The 'Millennium Water Spirit Milk' that can quickly replenish Demonic Power occasionally appears, but is snapped up by major forces. The 'Clear Heart Glazed Grass' that stabilizes the mind is even more priceless and marketless. Regarding treasures for resisting the Lightning Tribulation... they are mostly broken Magical Artifacts or ancient Talisman with unknown effects, and it is difficult to distinguish the true from the false."
"Over at the old territory of Demon King Fushui, the Lin family's guards are extremely tight, having laid down layers of Formation, making it difficult for ordinary people to get close. However, this one heard a rumor from an old fish Yao who has been hunting in that water area for years, saying that in the depths of the Demon King's lair, occasionally on the night of the full moon, one can hear a faint, low reverberation similar to a Dragon roar, accompanied by weak spatial fluctuations. It is just a rumor, and no one can verify it."
Gao De listened quietly and quickly weighed the options in his heart.
The path to the Hundred Ingenuities Sect was still there, which was good news.
It was time to consider selling that glowing stone.
Resources for Undergoing Tribulation were hard to come by, which was within his expectations; he could only slowly look for opportunities.
And the rumor about Demon King Fushui's lair... made his heart speed up a little.
A Dragon roar reverberation? Spatial fluctuations? This sounded very much like the signs of a certain ruin entrance opening periodically!
"Well done." Gao De praised him and immediately ordered: "Prepare yourself; I will attach a wisp of Divine Thought to your body. You take that stone and go contact the Hundred Ingenuities Sect again. I will personally judge the value of that mechanical beast and decide whether to trade."
He had to personally confirm whether that 'Thunder-Controlling Alligator Dragon Puppet' lived up to its name.
At the same time, he also wanted to personally perceive whether these outsiders from the Hundred Ingenuities Sect had brought any other useful information.
"Yes!" Turtle Three Thousand replied excitedly. To be able to have his Lord's Divine Thought possess him was a great trust.
A moment later, a wisp of weak yet incomparably pure Divine Thought, carrying an awe-inspiring Dragon might, separated from between Gao De's brows and silently merged into Turtle Three Thousand's Sea of Consciousness.
Turtle Three Thousand felt his Divine Soul clear up, and his perception became much sharper. Daring not to be negligent, he carefully placed the glowing stone into a specially made insulating jade box and quietly left the Water Mansion.
Gao De's main body remained sitting cross-legged in the quiet room, with most of his mind following Turtle Three Thousand, while the other part maintained absolute control over the Water Mansion and himself.
A new operation had already begun.
The competition for resources on the road to Dragon Transformation had officially kicked off.
Like a calm chess player, Gao De finally placed the chess piece in his hand onto the key point of the chessboard.