CHAPTER 441: CHAPTER 441: HOW CAN YOU BE HIS FOLLOWER?

"Hahaha, you were in seclusion before, so I didn’t disturb you."

Brother Cheng still treats him differently.

He voluntarily stepped forward to support him and expressed his gratitude.

"Back then, my group of disciples were fortunate to have you looking after them."

"Otherwise, now the consequences would be unimaginable."

Ao Yang humbly replied, "It’s only right, it’s my honor to serve you!"

"All these years, I’ve never forgotten you, hoping for your return. Now that I’ve finally seen you, I am overjoyed!"

Brother Cheng laughed heartily, "I didn’t expect it would take so long to recover back then."

"Are you alright now? If there’s anything you need my help with, just let me know!"

"Everything’s fine now. You’re here to compete, right? Do your best."

Although Ao Yang didn’t understand what "do your best" meant, he still nodded earnestly.

"With you here, I have nothing to worry about!"

The three strongest late-stage Quasi-Emperors from Cyan Dragon Valley have already competed in the previous rounds.

This time, Xuanming is slightly weaker; making it to the top 32 is not difficult, but reaching the top 16 is uncertain.

After all, the Dragon Race is one of the three ancient top Demon Races. If they don’t even make it to the top eight, they will be ridiculed by other Demon Races.

So the Cyan Dragon Emperor placed his hopes on Ao Yang from Golden Dragon Valley, having summoned him several times after his seclusion and even personally guided him.

He hopes Ao Yang can secure a good rank for the Dragon Race; breaking into the top four would be even better.

This setup clearly makes him the hope of the entire Dragon Race village,

how could he not feel tremendous pressure?

Just a few million years in the Immortal Realm, yet he has to compete against those old Quasi-Emperors who have lived for tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions, of years.

Now, with Sect Leader Jiang around, he feels no pressure at all.

Reaching rank 32 and entering the Earth Division is considered mission accomplished.

As for the burden of securing a good rank for the Dragon Race, with this enormous support, why worry?

Just like when they all ascended together back then, Sect Leader Jiang was always there when the heavens seemed to fall.

Yet, this joyful notion couldn’t be grasped by other members of the Dragon Race.

Even Cang Ji looked utterly perplexed.

After all, this was Ao Yang!

The greatest genius of Golden Dragon Valley in countless billions of years; he had seen him several times and had to admit he had the demeanor of a Dragon Emperor.

During this period, he and Yikong Mo Yang compared Ao Yang to Brother Cheng in secret.

Both had ascended from the Lower Realm; one was calm and steady, the other flamboyant and lively.

One had a higher current realm, the other’s bloodline and dragon bone were superior.

They looked like the dual pride of the Dragon Race, with no clear superiority.

Absolute geniuses are often proud, and it was expected that their first meeting would spark some intense events, maybe even a duel.

But what happened? Ao Yang nearly knelt at the first meeting.

Did he just bow to Emperor Cang Cheng, performing the Dragon Race’s most solemn ritual?

Could this be an illusion?

"Ao Yang! What’s the matter with you?"

Ao Qian and the others from the Dragon Race were also dumbfounded.

Recently, on the Golden Dragon Valley’s side, Ao Yang was being touted as the stronger, leading the way alone.

Cang Cheng was forcefully dubbed one of the dual prides, while a mere Dragon King wasn’t fit to compare with a Quasi-Emperor.

Now, how are they supposed to cope with this scene?

"Ao Yang, what are you doing?"

The Cyan Dragon Emperor was embarrassed.

He had just declared that Ao Yang wasn’t a troublemaker like Brother Cheng, speaking with intent to praise one while disparaging the other.

And now this?

"You, a dignified late-stage Quasi-Emperor, an Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon, why do you need to bow to him?"

"He’s not worthy of this from you!"

He almost wished to personally drag Ao Yang back, feeling as though he had lost face.

Yet Ao Yang shook his head, scanning the incredulous Dragon Race around him.

Then he solemnly said, "In the presence of such a senior, I, Ao Yang, am just a minor role waving flags and calling out."

It wasn’t humility; he genuinely believed this.

In the beginning, in the Treasure Bottle False Immortal Realm, Ao Yang thought of himself as a heavy hitter, alongside Gui Cang Sword Immortal and Void Abyss Demon Saint, on par with Jiang Cheng.

But upon reaching the Lower Immortal Realm, the thought seemed laughable.

Faced with the Profound Immortals and Golden Immortals, they were initially vulnerable, while Sect Leader Jiang kept his unstoppable might.

After slaying the Nine Flames Immortal Emperor in the Middle Immortal Realm, they fully recognized their own position.

Although in meetings, they sat closest to Sect Leader Jiang, they were actually no different from those outside, all just followers being pulled along.

"Following him is the greatest honor of my life!"

His voice was passionate and resonant, reverberating loudly.

"With him leading the Three Great Dragon Valleys, the day of their rise is upon us!"

All the Dragon Race attendees almost got knocked over by the revelation.

What do you mean?

Following Cang Cheng, being led by him?

Based on what?

Ao Yang, you’re supposed to be the future leader of Golden Dragon Valley, how can you accept leadership from Cyan Dragon Valley and willingly be subordinate?

Not just the other Dragon Race members, even Cang Ji and the Azure Dragon Empress in the shadows were struggling to process this news.

The three Great Dragon Valleys had similar foundations and equivalent statuses.

None of the families truly submit to the other two. That’s the pride of the Imperial Race lineage.

Even an ordinary Golden Dragon would not regard the Cyan Dragon Emperor and Azure Dragon Empress as their leaders.

Ao Qian nearly fainted from anger.

"Ao Yang, have you gone mad?"

"As a Quasi-Emperor of Golden Dragon Valley, how can you say such things?"

The Cyan Dragon Emperor also grew furious.

What is this situation?

Ao Yang is willing to play the subordinate?

If you want to be somebody’s subordinate, it should be my subordinate as a Great Emperor!

How can you bow to this ’troublemaker’?

Misjudged, truly misjudged.

He thought Ao Yang was stable, but he turned out to be just as reckless and crazy!

He roared, "Have you forgotten the honor of the Golden Dragon Race? Are you becoming a traitor to Golden Dragon Valley?"

"Xuanming, words like that shouldn’t be spoken!"

The Azure Dragon Empress also came to her senses and, upon hearing those words, deliberately teased, "Didn’t you always claim to be the leader of the Dragon Race?"

"We are all part of the Dragon Race, all one family!"

"Hehe, Cang Cheng is unparalleled and full of charm, destined to lead the Dragon Race to glory. Ao Yang being willing to follow him shows foresight; what’s wrong with that?"

"Isn’t he just a mere early-stage Quasi-Emperor?"

The Cyan Dragon Emperor turned around angrily.

"Let’s see how you disgrace yourselves next!"

"Let’s go!"

With that, he led the Cyan Dragon clan away in a huff.

And Ao Qian and the Golden Dragon clan quickly took Ao Yang away from there.

Afraid that if they stayed any longer, he might actually change his name to Cang.

"How did you do it?"

The remaining Cang Ling and Cang Ji were happy but also puzzled.

"Did Ao Yang have any connection with you before?"

This is first Shangeng, and now Ao Yang; what major events did Cang Cheng do in the past?

Brother Cheng touched his nose vaguely and said, "I told you, it’s all about charisma."

In the depths of the Grand Demon Palace’s highest layer, several great emperors of the Demon Realm were also in shock from what they heard.