Walking inside, one could see gold and jade splendor everywhere.
It all revealed the extravagance of Tianxing Group.
Though it was a bit tacky.
Showy without substance.
The overall decor strongly resembled a Han-style ancestral hall, but lacked the sense of gravity.
Of course, Lu Ding hadn't planned to examine it carefully anyway.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
Searching for an entrance to the place where the national calamity was being suppressed.
The area had numerous interconnected passages with many paths, but they all faintly emitted the aura of restrictive formations.
For others, this place might be somewhat dangerous.But for Lu Ding, who had never turned off 【White Snake Shakes Scales】, this was practically an open road where he could walk with his eyes closed.
But now there was a problem.
Both Kim Nam-won and Gong Cang from Heavenly Perception were present.
They weren't fools like Hai Shengxiang - if a direct confrontation erupted, it might delay mission time.
Delays breed complications.
Not safe.
He needed to find a way to divert them or separate from this place to operate alone.
Easier said than done.
Just as Lu Ding was devising a plan.
An Wuyang's faint voice came through: "I can sense the demon dragon's presence!"
Lu Ding was somewhat surprised.
He had this capability?
But after his initial puzzlement, Lu Ding identified the key point.
Something he couldn't sense, yet An Wuyang could detect it.
Only two possible outcomes: either his perception technique was extremely advanced, or he had some connection to the demon dragon.
This would also explain why 749 Bureau would send a 'Tianli Sect leader' like him on this mission with Lu Ding.
Thinking of this.
A plan suddenly formed in Lu Ding's mind.
"If you can sense it, can you also provoke it?"
An Wuyang didn't quite understand Lu Ding's meaning, but he answered truthfully: "I can, but if I provoke it, it will probably go berserk."
The demon dragon lacked legitimacy.
While the man before him was the rightful Jing Dynasty prince.
Even his sweat carried more weight than the demon dragon's blood.
Getting this response, Lu Ding's eyes flickered with understanding.
Perfect!
"Later, I'll distract Kim Nam-won's attention. You time it right and aggressively provoke the demon dragon, make it go wild."
"This isn't just where the national calamity is suppressed - it's also the Kim family ancestral hall."
"When the demon dragon goes berserk, he'll definitely go check. At that moment... you understand..."
An Wuyang smiled: "I understand..."
He certainly knew about Lu Ding's ability to bypass restrictions.
When Kim Nam-won goes ahead, Lu Ding follows behind, and given the terrifying speed Lu Ding demonstrated when capturing him today.
Even if Kim Nam-won had eight eyes, he wouldn't detect Lu Ding.
After exchanging confirming glances.
They immediately began their separate cooperation.
Lu Ding pulled out his phone from his bag and directly video-called White Eagle's Angelic Divine Son, Louis.
Without lowering his voice.
He spoke right in front of Kim Nam-won: "Louis, look quickly! I'm at Mr. Kim's family ancestral hall!!!"
"It's all gold here!!"
"I'm sure you've never seen anything like this before!!!"
Someone who could become a Divine Son wasn't a fool.
Hearing Lu Ding's words, Louis instantly understood this was a signal to cut ties.
Essentially meaning:
'I've reached the mission destination, calling to notify you that when things start happening, come cut relations with me'
Later it would become: 'Great Han's Corpse-Shattering Taishui kills White Eagle officer, assumes identity to steal cover'
'While taking this opportunity, we'll spar, determine superiority, generate real combat intensity but not fight to death, accomplishing two things simultaneously while leaving evidence of White Eagle Divine Son attempting to stop Lu Ding from committing crimes and escaping, as contingency preparation'
If exposed later, this could be used to silence other nations.
One could say it killed three birds with one stone.
Individuals might act without reason, but nations must always have justification.
Even if the justification is flimsy, barely touching the ground, there must always be justification.
In the current third circle, Great Han and White Eagle were essentially first and second.
Once the justification is provided, Wei Gao will accept it themselves.
If they don't, they'll offend White Eagle and be abandoned by them, at which point Great Han could literally pick them up and play with them like toys.
Of course, this was also Lu Ding being considerate - he could have used other methods.
Using this approach was just to further lower Kim Nam-won's guard.
Louis's face appeared on screen, accompanied by his warm, spring-like voice.
"Clark, you're so fortunate to visit such a beautiful place."
At this moment.
Kim Nam-won beside them was completely stunned!!!
What... this... White Eagle's Angelic Divine Son!?
Clark actually knows him!!?
And they seem to have a good relationship!
Although Kim Nam-won had previously suspected that Lu Ding's Clark persona had extraordinary origins.
This suspicion had never been confirmed or strongly supported.
He had tried to investigate, but couldn't find much - insufficient clearance.
Until now!
Until White Eagle's Divine Son appeared on the phone, appearing to converse happily with him.
Now Kim Nam-won was certain - Lu Ding's background must be terrifying!
Because even he, the ruler of Wei Gao's top conglomerate Tianxing Group and a Heavenly Perception realm cultivator, couldn't easily meet Louis.
Let alone chat with him.
After all, he was White Eagle's Divine Son!
Now that another, even more prestigious person had appeared and praised his family ancestral hall.
The pride in Kim Nam-won's heart nearly burst through the heavens.
He gestured expansively: "Mr. Clark, Lord Shen, this area is even more beautifully constructed, please come see over here."
As he spoke, he led Lu Ding deeper inside.
As for whatever ceremony or ritual.
Unimportant, irrelevant - now there were more important people to entertain.
Let the butler Gong Cang handle the ceremony.
Watching Lu Ding and Kim Nam-won's receding backs gradually disappearing deeper inside.
Kim Yeon-ju felt complex emotions swirling within her.
The joy of freedom always seemed so fleeting.
Before she could even properly enjoy it, it was about to slip away.
Many things Kim Gyeong-joo couldn't understand, she understood clearly.
Many things Kim Gyeong-joo couldn't see through, she saw transparently.
She knew her relationship with Lu Ding was merely cooperation, or less politely put, mutual exploitation.
One sought the national calamity, the other wanted freedom.
One could say this period had been the happiest time of Kim Yeon-ju's life in over a decade - no mother's controlling desires masked as "for your own good."
No mandatory cultivation sessions.
No incessant belittling, lecturing, or psychological manipulation.
Although being this heir didn't seem like true freedom either.
She was content.
Yet a sliver of fantasy remained in her heart.
If possible, she wanted to go to Great Han, even if it meant abandoning this heir identity.
This period of freedom had addicted her.
If she went to Great Han, to that beautiful land, living freely with a new identity, Kim Yeon-ju believed her future life would be much happier.
Unfortunately, this was but a vain hope.
Lu Ding had already helped her tremendously.
Asking him to take away Tianxing Group's heir was too excessive.
So Kim Yeon-ju merely entertained the thought.
Returning to reality, her attention focused on Kim Gyeong-joo.
Human hearts were hard to guess, and Kim Yeon-ju couldn't guarantee that Kim Gyeong-joo wouldn't sabotage Lu Ding's plans. If there was even the slightest sign of such intention.
Then she would instantly erupt with lightning speed and slay Kim Gyeong-joo right before everyone's eyes!