"This should be the place."
Lu Yang and his three companions arrived at a small teahouse. It was noisy and bustling, a gathering place for all kinds of people.
"Waiter, a pot of high-mountain jasmine tea!"
"Right away!"
According to Xiao Xinghai, this teahouse was a secret spot for posting tasks. Coming here and asking for high-mountain jasmine tea—which did not actually exist on the menu—signaled that you were not an ordinary patron, but a cultivator looking to take on a job.
Members of the Dragon Clan were not stationed here around the clock waiting for cultivators to accept assignments. Sometimes one had to wait half a day before a dragon showed up, and with the worst luck, three days could pass without seeing a single one.
Lu Yang and the others were fortunate. After drinking only two pots of tea, a dragon reached out to them via voice transmission.
"Young friends, come have a word in the room at the far end of the west corridor."
Lu Yang and the others finished off their tea. Truth be told, whatever tea the waiter had brought out actually tasted quite good.
The four went to the room on the west side and found it largely empty. There was only a single dragon, wrapped tightly in clothing and clearly unwilling to let Lu Yang and his companions know his identity. Only the pair of uncovered dragon horns proved his race.
In Dragon Clan belief, horns were a source of pride that must never be concealed.
"Did you come to obtain dragon blood?"
"Yes. A friend of ours is gravely injured and needs dragon blood for treatment."
The black-robed dragon gave a cold scoff, assuming Lu Yang was merely playing for sympathy. "We are strangers meeting by chance, each taking what we need. There is no need to explain so much to me. What you want the dragon blood for is none of my concern.
"I need you to help me find Ancestral Dragon Grass."
"Ancestral Dragon Grass? The near-extinct herb said to have been favored most by the Dragon Clan Ancient Ancestor?" Li Haoran recalled the grass's origin from Qin Haoran's memories.
The black-robed dragon glanced at Li Haoran in slight surprise. He had not expected a youngster today to know about Ancestral Dragon Grass; even among the older generation, very few were aware of it.
"While my subordinate was transporting the Ancestral Dragon Grass, something happened, and their whereabouts became unknown. Perhaps they were harmed by my archrival, or perhaps some accident occurred, but I have a faint premonition that the Ancestral Dragon Grass is right here in Sea Market.
"My status is special, and my every move may be watched by rivals, making it inconvenient for me to search for the Ancestral Dragon Grass personally."
The black-robed dragon flicked out a droplet of blood. "This is a drop of my Dragon Clan essence blood. If it comes near the Ancestral Dragon Grass, there will be a reaction. Take this drop of dragon blood and search for the Ancestral Dragon Grass. If you can find it, dragon blood will be no problem."
Lu Yang produced a porcelain vial, sealed the dragon blood inside, and tied the vial to his waist.
He could sense a terrifying energy from this single drop of dragon blood. It was definitely far beyond the Soul Formation stage, and even the Void Refining stage would not have such stable fluctuations.
Could the other party be a Body Integration stage dragon?
As far as Lu Yang knew, Body Integration stage dragons were elders of the Dragon Clan.
It seemed the Dragon Clan was not entirely united either, with elders keeping each other in check.
If Fellow Daoist Xinghai could be nourished by the dragon blood of a Body Integration stage dragon, the benefits would be immense.
The black-robed dragon waved his hand. "This matter is of great importance. You must proceed in secret and not let anyone—especially other members of the Dragon Clan—notice your actions!
"There is also this box, which shields against divine sense. If you find the Ancestral Dragon Grass, place it inside, and others won't be able to tell what you are carrying."
The black-robed dragon tossed a small wooden box to Lu Yang.
"That is all. Go, and report your progress to me in three days."
Lu Yang and the others left the teahouse. Li Haoran fell into thought. He had heard that the Old Dragon Emperor revered the Dragon Clan Ancient Ancestor, and by extension was fond of Ancestral Dragon Grass as well. Could this black-robed dragon be planning to present the Ancestral Dragon Grass as a gift at the Old Dragon Emperor's birthday banquet?
Chapter 849