Since the Dragon Clan had decided to join the Immortal Court, their efficiency was quite swift.
The Dragon Clan quickly selected suitable elite disciples, led personally by Candle Dragon, and headed towards Penglai Immortal Island.
Upon receiving the news, Eastern King Duke specifically waited outside the Immortal Island in advance, with the immortals of the Immortal Court standing solemnly behind him. This posture showed he gave the Dragon Clan ample respect.
Not long after, in the distant sky, a mighty Dragon might permeated the air, and dozens of figures broke through the clouds, heading straight for Penglai.
The leader was none other than Candle Dragon, and the Dragon Clan members following him all had profound auras, clearly indicating they were elites.
"Fellow Daoist Candle Dragon, it is an honor to have you. This poor Daoist has failed to welcome you properly," Eastern King Duke said loudly.
"Fellow Daoist Eastern King Duke, you are too kind," Candle Dragon replied calmly. "This old one has brought his clansmen here, troubling Fellow Daoist."
"Not at all," Eastern King Duke made a gesture of invitation. "It is the good fortune of my Immortal Court that the Dragon Clan elites can join us. Please come in."
After a brief exchange of greetings, Eastern King Duke led the Dragon Clan members through the layers of Restriction on the Immortal Island and into Penglai Immortal Island.
Inside the main hall of the Immortal Court.
Candle Dragon and Eastern King Duke took their seats as host and guest, while the other Dragon Clan elites stood solemnly behind Candle Dragon.
"Fellow Daoist Eastern King Duke, this time my Dragon Clan has selected forty-nine elites, all of whom will join the Immortal Court and await Fellow Daoist's command. What do you think?" Candle Dragon spoke first, his voice steady.
Forty-nine people.
Eastern King Duke's heart stirred slightly. The Great Expansion is fifty, and one is left out; this number secretly aligns with the mysteries of Heavenly Dao's operation.
"Good!" Eastern King Duke clapped his hands. "Good. The forty-nine Fellow Daoists of the Dragon Clan are all pillars of talent, and this poor Daoist welcomes them immensely."
Seeing Eastern King Duke agree, Candle Dragon's heart settled slightly, but then he changed the subject, his expression becoming more solemn: "Fellow Daoist Eastern King Duke."
"Now that my Dragon Clan elites have arrived, can you tell us what confidence the Immortal Court truly has to contend with the Yao Race's Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation?"
"It's not that this old Dragon doesn't trust Fellow Daoist, but this matter is of great importance. It concerns not only the safety of my Dragon Clan's disciples but also the survival of the Immortal Court."
"This old Dragon, I have to ask clearly."
His question was direct, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly became a bit more solemn.
Eastern King Duke heard the probing and doubts in Candle Dragon's words and knew that if he didn't give an explanation, this old Dragon would likely not be at ease.
He pondered for a moment, organized his words, and said, "This poor Daoist naturally understands Fellow Daoist's concerns."
"To be frank with Fellow Daoist, my Immortal Court indeed possesses a peerless great formation called the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation."
"This formation was meticulously deduced by this poor Daoist, consuming countless efforts, and it can gather the power of myriad immortals, consolidating it into one."
"Its might is enough to shake heaven and earth, integrating offense and defense, with myriad transformations."
"Although it may still be somewhat inferior to the Yao Race's Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation, the gap will certainly not be too large."
Eastern King Duke paused: "Now, with the addition of Fellow Daoists from the Dragon Clan, my Immortal Court's strength has greatly increased."
"The power of this Ten Thousand Immortals Formation will surely rise to another level! At that time, contending with the Yao Race will not be an empty boast!"
As Candle Dragon listened to Eastern King Duke's description, his brows furrowed slightly, and the doubts in his eyes did not dissipate.
He had lived for a long time; what kind of storms hadn't he seen?
He had heard too many of these grand promises.
Candle Dragon slowly spoke: "This formation... Fellow Daoist, I'm afraid it hasn't been fully deduced to Perfection yet, has it?"
"If this formation were truly complete and flawless, and its power as strong as Fellow Daoist claims, with Fellow Daoist's ambition, you would have probably already led the Immortal Court army to attack the Demon Clan Heavenly Court, nipping the danger in the bud, instead of waiting until today?"
Candle Dragon's words were incisive, directly hitting the core.
The smile on Eastern King Duke's face froze slightly, then returned to normal.
"To be frank with Fellow Daoist, this formation has indeed not yet reached Perfection, but it is only one step away," Eastern King Duke admitted frankly, without any concealment.
"Fellow Daoist can rest assured, this poor Daoist would never joke with the lives of countless immortals in my Immortal Court, nor with the entire foundation of the Immortal Court."
"Without considerable confidence, how could this poor Daoist easily confront the Yao Race?"
His tone was sincere, and his eyes met Candle Dragon's, seemingly expressing his determination and sincerity.
Candle Dragon heard this and remained silent, just steadily looking at Eastern King Duke.
The atmosphere in the grand hall became somewhat stagnant for a moment.
After a long while, Candle Dragon slowly spoke: "Alright, this old Dragon will trust Fellow Daoist this one time."
He paused, then continued: "Fellow Daoist Eastern King Duke, the elites of my Dragon Clan who have come this time will be led by Ao Hai."
"In the future, if Fellow Daoist has any commands, just directly instruct him. Since they have joined the Immortal Court, they are people of the Immortal Court, and they shall naturally obey the Immortal Court's orders."
Having said that, Candle Dragon turned to Ao Hai behind him and said in a deep voice, "Ao Hai, why don't you step forward and pay your respects to Fellow Daoist Eastern King Duke."
Upon hearing this, Ao Hai immediately stepped forward and bowed to Eastern King Duke: "Ao Hai, greets Mister Mu."
The forty-eight Dragon Clan elites behind him also bowed in unison: "We greet Mister Mu!"
Their voices were loud, echoing throughout the grand hall.
Eastern King Duke felt satisfied hearing this address. This indicated that the Dragon Clan elites, in name, recognized him as the Lord of the Immortal Court.
"Good, everyone, please rise quickly."
"Since Fellow Daoist Candle Dragon trusts this poor Daoist so much, this poor Daoist will certainly not mistreat you all."
"From today onwards, you all officially join my Immortal Court and shall enjoy the Luck of the Immortal Court!"
As Eastern King Duke's words fell, in the ethereal Realm, an invisible force descended from above the Immortal Court, enveloping the forty-nine Dragon Clan elites.
This force was precisely the Luck of the Immortal Court.
In an instant, these Dragon Clan elites felt their bodies lighten.
The Karma that had troubled them for countless years, like maggots clinging to bones, seemed to have been significantly diluted by this power of Luck.
Even more so, some Dragons who had been stuck at a Bottleneck for many years even vaguely felt their Realm loosen, as if they could Breakthrough at any moment!
"This... this is the Luck of the Immortal Court?"
"What pure power! I feel the Karma in my body has lessened!"
"My Bottleneck... it seems to have loosened!"
Among the Dragon Clan elites, suppressed gasps and discussions arose, their faces filled with unbelievable joy.
Candle Dragon, standing by, clearly felt the changes in his clansmen.
In his ancient eyes, a long-lost smile finally appeared, mixed with relief and anticipation.
And Eastern King Duke, at the moment the Dragon Clan elites integrated into the Immortal Court's Luck, also keenly noticed that the Immortal Court's already increasingly prosperous Luck.
After absorbing this Dragon Clan power, not only did it not suffer any drag or backlash from Karma, but it even subtly increased by a segment!
It seems that Wu Ming's method is truly feasible!
Eastern King Duke's heart settled, and the smile on his face became even more genuine.
For a time, inside the grand hall, both host and guests were joyful, and the atmosphere became even more harmonious.
Candle Dragon and Eastern King Duke chatted a few more words, mainly about the arrangements for the Dragon Clan elites in the Immortal Court. Eastern King Duke stated that he would properly settle them.
Ao Hai and the other Dragon Clan elites stood by, their hearts complex. They were the hope of the Dragon Clan, and also the gamble of the Dragon Clan.
They knew that from today onwards, their fate would be tied to the Immortal Court.
Once everything was settled, Candle Dragon prepared to leave.
"Fellow Daoist Eastern King Duke, this old one will return to the East Sea first," Candle Dragon stood up. "There are still some matters in the clan that need to be dealt with."
Eastern King Duke also stood up to see him off: "Fellow Daoist, take care. If you need anything in the future, you can come to Penglai anytime."
Candle Dragon nodded and left Penglai Immortal Island.