Ye Chen's thoughts were tumultuous, like a raging sea.

He had promised to help find the villainous dragon hidden within the Great Zhou Dynasty and resolve the matter as a way to repay the kindness of a Dragon Race elder within the Sword Tomb.

He also suspected that the villainous dragon might be related to the royal family.

But he never imagined that the villainous dragon would turn out to be the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

The Emperor, originally named Zhou Potian, is a legendary figure. He was just the son of the previous Emperor and a palace maid, bearing the Zhou surname but holding no status.

However.

Zhou Potian, without any background or support, ascended to the throne with extraordinary strength.

Moreover, during the decades after he ascended the throne, the Great Zhou Dynasty flourished, overpowering other dynasties like Great Qin, Great Shang, and Great Ming.

Even though some of Zhou Potian's actions have been criticized in recent decades, his brilliance remains undiminished.

When Ye Chen was in Cyan Cloud Town, he often heard tales of Zhou Potian's heroic adventures... But now, discovering that Zhou Potian is a villainous dragon shatters some deeply rooted beliefs within him.

In the Sword Tomb, Luo Qingyi said that a villainous dragon, with a serpent-like body, achieves greatness by devouring all living beings, a true menace!

Luo Qingyi's words did not make Ye Chen doubt, but when this person turned out to be Zhou Potian, he had his judgements, suspecting a misunderstanding.

But now, it's not just Luo Qingyi's one-sided story.

Ye Chen looked at his teacher, Yang Tianji, and realized that this teacher, considered by Luo Qingyi to have the potential to become a saint, might have long suspected Zhou Potian!

Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this point now.

"Will the teacher kill Zhou Potian?" Ye Chen wondered. He couldn't fathom the answer. In this situation, Ye Chen knew he had no room to interfere, so he watched and waited for developments!

Yang Tianji gazed at the deep, abyss-like palace hall before striding toward it.

When his foot stepped inside the hall,

the light of the sun and moon emanating from him dispelled the darkness.

The ominous atmosphere vanished.

Following Yang Tianji, Ye Chen finally saw clearly the appearance of Zhou Potian sitting on the dragon chair within the hall.

A robust figure clad in a robe embroidered with nine golden dragons, wearing an imperial crown, exuding a majestic and domineering aura.

It seemed the sinister and eerie atmosphere from before was just an illusion.

But Ye Chen knew this appearance of Zhou Potian was indeed the illusion!

Yang Tianji stood in the hall, looking at Zhou Potian, and said calmly, "Emperor Zhou, what do you have to say about tonight's events?"

Zhou Potian laughed, "Yan Song, serving as Prime Minister all these years, committed many crimes in secret, deserving death, and his cronies are no better. For their deaths, Yang Lao and Ye Chen have contributed greatly to the Great Zhou!

I've already drafted a decree. Tomorrow morning, the world will know about the crimes of Yan Song and his associates. Is this the result Yang Lao is satisfied with?"

Yang Tianji smiled lightly, "The Emperor is wise."

The Emperor said, "Yang Lao, now that you've got what you wanted, is there anything else?"

Yang Tianji replied, "Nothing else."

"Then, don't meddle with the Nine Dragon Array again!" Zhou Potian's tone suddenly turned cold and severe.

The Nine Dragon Array is the protective formation of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the lifeline of Jiulong City, traditionally controlled solely by each reigning Emperor of the dynasty.

Yang Tianji's reversal of the Nine Dragon Array touched the very foundation of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

Facing Zhou Potian's anger, Yang Tianji just smiled, said nothing more, turned to Ye Chen, and said, "Let's go."

Then.

A force burst out from within Yang Tianji, tearing through space, and took Ye Chen away.

After Yang Tianji left,

the doors of the Imperial Palace Hall closed again.

The hall returned to its deep darkness.

Zhou Potian spat a large mouthful of blood, and these bloodstains, like worms, crawled on the ground before climbing back onto Zhou Potian, gnawing into his flesh.

"Yang Tianji, Ouyang Shang, you're really something. One reversed my Nine Dragon Array, one injured my Primordial Spirit Essence. Just you wait, I'll settle these scores with you!"

Zhou Potian roared, his expression twisted!

......

In the barren desert within the Great Zhou Dynasty's territory, waves of yellow sand collapsed into the ground, forming massive whirlpools.

Ouyang Shang and Elder Bai Mei emerged swiftly from beneath the sand.

Elder Bai Mei was breathless, and Ouyang Shang appeared slightly disheveled.

"What nonsense dragon vein, just as I guessed, it's merely a primordial spirit essence of a giant serpent demon.

The primordial spirit essence was hidden here, drawing on the power of its form to devour the fortune of the Great Zhou Dynasty in Jiulong City, secretly nourishing and growing its spirit essence. Unfortunately, we underestimated its strength and couldn't destroy the essence, allowing it to escape!"

Ouyang Shang cursed.

Elder Bai Mei glared at Ouyang Shang, "If you don't explain clearly today, then don't call me your teacher in the future!"

Ouyang Shang chuckled, "Teacher, don't be angry. The actual truth will only be determined when Yang Tianji returns from the capital. Then, I'll explain everything in your presence!"

......

Outside Jiulong City.

Yang Tianji walked with Ye Chen through a deserted and silent mountain forest.

Ye Chen's heart was full of questions.

This teacher of his made such a grand spectacle today, yet just like that, it ended with an anticlimax.

Ye Chen didn't understand the purpose behind Yang Tianji's actions, but he didn't ask. He knew if Yang Tianji wanted to speak, he would share. If not, asking would be pointless.

"Tell me, what did you discover?" Yang Tianji suddenly asked.

Ye Chen thought for a moment, choosing not to directly mention the villainous dragon and said, "I feel the Emperor isn't human!"

Yang Tianji was taken aback, "Your instincts are sharp enough to sense that."

Ye Chen tentatively asked, "Teacher, what's the story with the Emperor?"

Yang Tianji continued walking as he explained, "Originally, I couldn't be certain, just felt that Zhou Potian was acting strangely these past decades, so I thought to test him.

This test concluded that the current Zhou Potian is not the Zhou Potian of before.

If he were the real Zhou Potian, he wouldn't have yielded even if I reversed the Nine Dragon Array today!

Yet this Zhou Potian compromised!

However, his physical presence decidedly matches Zhou Potian, suggesting he might be possessed by a powerful entity. As for what exactly, we need to return and consult Ouyang Shang to find out."

"Dean Ouyang?" Ye Chen was somewhat curious.

"This time, we acted separately, he discovered a suspected fortune dragon vein linked to Jiulong City's fortune.

So he went to investigate that while I reversed the Nine Dragon Array in the capital.

If you caused a stir in the capital, we'd have this trump card, so no harm would come to you.

But you beheaded Yan Song with one sword, prematurely triggering some conflicts and suppressing others before they even erupted, so I saw no need to wait and took you to the Imperial Palace directly.

Although we found Zhou Potian's issue, regardless of authenticity, he remains the Emperor, and killing him would immediately collapse the Great Zhou Dynasty, leading to invasions, chaos, and potential widespread death.

I realized we, including Ouyang Shang and I, could not – and must not – bear the consequences of the chaos that might ensue."

Upon hearing Yang Tianji's reasoning, Ye Chen's doubts eased.

As they continued forward, he suddenly noticed a sunken desert, swirling vortices forming.

Ouyang Shang and Elder Bai Mei emerged swiftly from beneath the sands.

Elder Bai Mei was panting, and Ouyang Shang seemed slightly disheveled.

"What nonsense dragon vein, as I guessed, it's the primordial spirit essence of a serpent-like grand demon.

The essence was hidden here, feeding on the fortunes of the Great Zhou Dynasty within Jiulong City to grow stronger. Unfortunately, we underestimated its strength and couldn't destroy it, allowing it to escape!"

Ouyang Shang cursed repeatedly.

Elder Bai Mei glared at Ouyang Shang, "If you don't explain things clearly today, you can forget about calling me teacher ever again!"

Ouyang Shang chuckled, "Teacher, don't be angry. The exact truth will only come to light once Yang Tianji returns from the capital, then I'll explain everything to you!"

......

In the silent forest outside Jiulong City, amidst the desolate desert, Yang Tianji walked accompanied by Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's mind was full of questions.

Why had his teacher orchestrated such a grand event today only to have it dissipate anticlimactically?

"Speak, what have you discovered?"

Ye Chen hesitated, then said, "I feel the Emperor isn't human!"

As they walked, Yang Tianji responded, "Your intuition is sharp, indeed."

Continuing, Yang Tianji said, "When Zhou Potian became Emperor, he was a different person.

Now, however, it's clear something powerful has possessed him, as his physical form unmistakably remained Zhou Potian, though he is no longer the same individual.

All this commotion in the Capital, had it not been for the card up our sleeves, would have been much worse.

His true identity and the mystery behind it require us to return and confer with Ouyang Shang for the full picture," Yang Tianji explained.

Ye Chen's curiosity peaked, "Dean Ouyang?"

"Yes, with him investigating separately, he found a colossal primordial spirit essence at work, likely that of a serpent spirit hiding underground to secretly devour the Great Zhou's divine dragon veins, helping its essence to grow.

We underestimated the power and couldn't destroy it; instead, it escaped!" Ouyang Shang said, cursing under his breath.

Elder Bai Mei glared at Ouyang Shang, "If you don't explain this clearly today, don't call me teacher hereafter!"

Ouyang Shang laughed, "Teacher, don't get angry. The full truth awaits once Yang Tianji returns from Capital City. Then we'll both explain everything to you!"

......

Outside Jiulong City.

Amidst a desolate forest, away from civilization, Yang Tianji walked with Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's mind swirled with thoughts.

Why did his teacher orchestrate such a significant event today, only to let it drift into nothingness?

He pondered without understanding, but chose silence knowing the answer would come if his teacher wished it.

Finally.

Yang Tianji faced the depths of a dilapidated Mountain God Temple that appeared out of nowhere, halting atop the hill's steps, observing an untidy old Taoist seated at the entrance.

"Teacher, what is this place?"

Yang Tianji stopped, looking at Ye Chen, and said, "Later, when I and Ouyang Shang return from the capital, we'll explain everything to you properly."

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