Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Imperial Carriage of Nine Dragons

“They’re here.”
When Li Tian saw the arrival of the Dragon Kings, he immediately set aside his interest in the song and dance performances. After all, he was now a mighty being in his own right, and he possessed sufficient self-control.
“Your servants Ao Guang, Ao Qin, Ao Run, and Ao Shun pay homage to the Heavenly Emperor.”
The four Dragon Kings exchanged glances and bowed in unison. Having already resolved to submit, they naturally observed all the proper courtesies.
“A wise decision,” Li Tian said, drinking a cup of the Dragon Palace’s exquisite wine before rising and approaching the Dragon King of the East Sea. Smiling, he said, “Dragon King, would you kindly take me to your treasury? I’d like to have a look.”
Ao Guang’s eyelid twitched, but he forced a smile. “What request does the Heavenly Emperor have?”
“Oh, nothing much,” Li Tian replied with a smile. “I simply wish to use some of the rare materials from your treasury to craft a chariot. I trust that won’t be a problem?”
“Of course not.”
Hearing that it was only for a chariot, Ao Guang let out a deep sigh of relief. So there would be no great loss after all—this Heavenly Emperor seemed rather reasonable. After all, just how many materials could a chariot possibly require?
“Also, I’d like to trouble the Dragon Kings to prepare a few five-clawed golden dragons from your clan to pull the chariot for me. Let’s say… nine in total. From now on, my chariot shall be called the Nine-Dragon Chariot!” Li Tian mused aloud.
To have five-clawed golden dragons pulling one’s chariot—how magnificent, how imposing!
That was, in fact, what the Jade Emperor would do in later times.
Five-clawed golden dragons? Nine of them?
The four Dragon Kings exchanged glances, their eyelids twitching uncontrollably. After all, aside from themselves, five-clawed golden dragons were the most noble-blooded of their clan! And now they were to be used to pull a chariot—nine of them, no less?
Yet at this point, they had no room to refuse. Well, let them pull the chariot, so long as it wasn’t themselves.
“The Heavenly Emperor’s wishes are ours to fulfill,” Ao Guang replied dryly.
“Good.” Li Tian nodded in satisfaction.
The Four Sea Dragon Kings really did know how things worked—no wonder they managed to thrive under the Jade Emperor in later ages.
Following the Dragon Kings to the dragon treasury, Li Tian finally saw the extent of the dragons’ wealth once Ao Guang, hands trembling, unlocked the great doors.
Indeed, it was worthy of a race that had once dominated the ancient world.
Before him lay a near-endless array of precious spiritual materials and treasures. Li Tian couldn’t help but consider emptying it all, but the Dragon Kings were being so agreeable that he felt awkward about taking everything.
Well, never mind. There were no truly supreme items here, nothing of use to him.
Shaking his head, Li Tian summoned the Cauldron of Heaven and Earth, and began tossing various rare materials inside: spirit stones, spiritual herbs, strange artifacts, even some refined magical treasures—all fed into the cauldron to be melted down to their most primordial forms.
The Four Sea Dragon Kings followed, hearts bleeding. Was it really necessary to take so many treasures just to build a chariot?

...My acquired-treasure Azure Dragon Sword, my Broken Halberd Spear… that’s the ancestral dragon’s ancient mirror… No!
The Four Sea Dragon Kings could scarcely bear to watch. Such priceless items—simply melted down?
Of course, they dared not voice a single objection; they could only silently follow, praying the ancestor would soon be finished.
“All right, that will do.”
Having walked through most of the dragon treasury and claimed all that caught his eye, Li Tian finally felt satisfied.
The Dragon Kings, feeling as if they had received a pardon, quickly gathered around Li Tian as he left the treasury. Ao Guang hurried to lock the doors behind them, finally feeling at ease.
Li Tian noticed their little gestures but couldn’t be bothered to care. He simply sighed at the dragons’ lack of successors; but then, that was precisely why he could so confidently take control.
After three days of effort, Li Tian finally forged a chariot to his satisfaction. The Cauldron of Heaven and Earth could transform acquired materials back to their innate forms, so this chariot, crafted from a vast array of rare materials, could truly be called an innate spiritual treasure.
Granted, it was the lowest grade of such treasures; aside from being sturdy, its only special feature was that it radiated multicolored clouds in motion… and of course, it could be used as a weapon if necessary…
Still, as a chariot, it was more than sufficient.
Throughout the ancient world, how many could boast an innate spiritual treasure chariot—pulled by nine five-clawed golden dragons, no less?
“Have you found all nine five-clawed golden dragons to pull my chariot?”
Stowing away the chariot, Li Tian sought out Ao Guang.
“Heavenly Emperor…” Ao Guang seemed uneasy. “I must confess my guilt: I have only managed to find eight five-clawed golden dragons…”
“Are there no more five-clawed golden dragons in your clan?”
Li Tian frowned, releasing a tremendous pressure.
He did not believe such a vast dragon clan could not produce nine five-clawed golden dragons; the Jade Emperor of later times had precisely that.
“My children are also five-clawed golden dragons, but… they are still young…” Ao Guang wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He had originally wanted to conceal this, but simply did not have the nerve.
“Your children—bring them here for me to see,” Li Tian ordered, frowning.
He intended to see just how old Ao Guang’s children were; if they were too young, he’d make do with eight dragons for now and reconsider later.
“As you wish.” Ao Guang forced a smile and nodded.
Though he was loath to let his children pull a chariot, he dared not refuse.
Before long, Ao Guang returned with a troop of little girls and boys—at a glance, over a dozen.
Li Tian couldn’t help but marvel at the fellow’s prolific offspring, but then, dragons were known for their lustfulness.

“Pay your respects to the Heavenly Emperor!” Ao Guang turned sternly to his brood.
“Greetings to the Heavenly Emperor!”
Faced with a figure that even their father feared, the children dared not misbehave, bowing hastily to Li Tian.
“These are my children, Heavenly Emperor,” said Ao Guang, forcing a smile.
Li Tian nodded, casting his gaze over them.
Not bad—they seemed fit enough to pull a chariot. But which to choose?
His gaze settled on one of the chubbier young boys standing at the back.
“What is your name?”
“My name is Ao Ming.”
“Very well, Ao Ming. You will do.” Li Tian nodded, making his choice.
The other children let out a collective sigh of relief—they would not have to pull the chariot!
Ao Ming, however, looked utterly crestfallen. Why must it be me?
Ao Guang cast a reluctant look at Ao Ming as well. Of all his sons, this one was among the brightest, and he had always been especially fond of him.
But he dared not protest, only standing aside with a forced smile.
Thus ended the journey to the dragons, and with the acquisition of the Nine-Dragon Chariot, Li Tian was in high spirits. When Ao Guang summoned the eight already-prepared five-clawed golden dragons, Li Tian at once produced the newly forged chariot.
Including Ao Ming, the nine five-clawed golden dragons were disgruntled, but none dared disobey. Ao Ming was slightly smaller than the others, but with him flying in the center and slightly ahead, the difference was barely noticeable.
“Dragon Kings, the Celestial Court will hold the Grand Sacrifice to Heaven in just over eight hundred years—I trust you will not be absent,” Li Tian reminded Ao Guang as he sat upon his chariot. The ceremony had originally been scheduled for a thousand years hence; with over a hundred years already passed, eight hundred remained.
“We will certainly attend!” Ao Guang hastened to promise, bowing deeply.
Satisfied, Li Tian nodded, then set off in grand style for Mount Buzhou in his chariot. Ao Guang stood in place, watching him disappear, and let out a long sigh of relief.
At last, this fearsome ancestor was gone.