Chapter 457: Chapter 451: The Bird That Sticks Its Head Out Gets Shot, Playing It Safe
As Emperor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, Yang Yu’s cultivation was at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm, but in a clash between National Guardian Martial Saints, he was completely powerless to influence the outcome. Instead, if something were to happen to him, the entire Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty would suffer the consequences.
The consequences would be even more severe if he were captured alive by the Jin Meng Empire.
While it wouldn’t be a complete catastrophe, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s prestige would surely suffer a massive blow.
Even if things didn’t escalate to that point, and his safety was guaranteed, problems would inevitably arise if he wasn’t overseeing things in White Jade City.
After all, the Old Emperor’s reputation wasn’t exactly sterling. Countless Princes of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had died by his hand—and they were his very own sons.
Officially, all these Princes were said to have plotted rebellion, but if the Old Emperor was truly blameless, why would they have ever done so?
Power is a seductive thing. Once you have it in your grasp, you can never bear to let it go.
Naturally, Yang Chan found it strange that the Emperor had appeared in Jinyun City. Given his usual habits, he would never place himself in such a perilous situation.
Yang Chan couldn’t understand it, but he didn’t pay it too much mind at the moment. He was more concerned with the Emperor’s words: ’Those who wish to leave may leave.’ He loved hearing words like that.
"Open the city gates!"
Old Emperor Yang Yu commanded.
As his voice faded, the city gates facing the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty swung wide open, a clear signal of the Great Zhou Imperial Family’s stance.
"Go?"
Song Yunxiang looked at Yang Chan and asked.
He wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the situation, and the Old Emperor’s words made him hesitate.
"Wait. Let’s observe the situation first. If we see people leaving safely, we’ll follow them out."
Yang Chan knew not to stick his neck out. Regardless of what Old Emperor Yang Yu’s intentions were, he just needed to wait patiently. There was no need to rush a decision.
Following the crowd was the safest course of action.
Sure enough, as the gates swung open, the members of the major Sects hesitated for a moment. Then, someone shot out, moving with incredible speed and vanishing from sight. Once it was clear there was no trap, a massive wave of people followed them out of Jinyun City.
"Let’s go too!"
Song Yunxiang looked at Yang Chan, who was already on his feet.
After taking a Healing Elixir, Yang Chan had, of course, ’recovered’ enough to walk normally. The other disciples of the Cyan Yuan Sect had gathered beside them.
"Mm."
Seeing that nothing had gone wrong, Yang Chan and the others left with the crowd.
No matter what tricks the Great Zhou Imperial Family was up to, leaving Jinyun City at this time was the best choice.
As the disciples from the major Sects departed, the crowd that had gathered in Jinyun City vanished. All who could leave had left; not a single soul remained behind. The only ones still there were those who had no way out.
High in the void, two Golden Giant Dragons continued to clash. The sky thundered without cease, a sound that made one tremble.
This spectacle was a major reason why everyone from the major Sects was so desperate to get far away from Jinyun City.
"Hmph. The matter of guarding the city gates will be handed over to Commander Han!"
After watching the members of the major Sects leave, Old Emperor Yang Yu’s expression instantly darkened. He immediately stripped the previous commander of his post.
The man had nearly ruined their plans and jeopardized their entire arrangement. Naturally, the Emperor wasn’t about to show him any kindness.
If he hadn’t known the man was simply too blunt and had no ties to any major Noble Family or Sect, he would have had him secretly eliminated long ago.
But after this incident, the man was, in his eyes, no longer fit for any important responsibilities.
A single sentence from the Emperor washed away all the man’s hard work.
"I thank Your Majesty for this promotion! I shall not betray your trust!"
The newly promoted Commander Han was overjoyed, immediately dropping to one knee to express his gratitude.
For him, this was a delightful surprise.
The Old Emperor paid him no mind, his figure quickly disappearing. Although he had exposed himself for a short while earlier, it no longer mattered, because the crucial moment had arrived.
In the sky above, the two Golden Giant Dragons were now locked in a life-or-death battle, rapidly consuming the Power of National Fate. In a short while, to restore themselves to their peak, the two dragons would have to draw upon the most fundamental Original National Fate. This was their target—the very reason they had joined forces.
They were incapable of using the ordinary Power of National Fate. Only this backlash of power—the most primordial and pure force, something all living things could utilize—was their true target.
Although absorbing it would bind them to the Imperial Dynasty’s fate and have repercussions, it wasn’t enough to deter them from their choice.
"Grand Ancestor, is the time right?"
Old Emperor Yang Yu couldn’t help but ask.
He no longer possessed his earlier imposing aura. His gaze was fixed on the two Destiny Golden Dragons in the void, their forms growing increasingly faint. It was obvious they were both gravely wounded.
"Don’t be anxious. We must wait a little longer!"
Grand Ancestor Yang Sheng said calmly, looking at the two Destiny Golden Dragons.
His tone was calm, but his gaze never wavered. The window to strike would only last an instant, and he had no intention of missing such a perfect opportunity.
Furthermore, in the opposing Jin Meng Empire’s city, Martial Saint Ancestor Wulan Tianjue was also biding his time. Soon, they would have to clash over the prize.
For now, both were waiting for the very instant the Original National Fate would surge back.
...
"This is somewhat similar to the Destiny Golden Dragons of legend. I originally thought these were just myths and legends, but I never expected them to actually exist."
Song Yunxiang led Yang Chan and the other members of the Cyan Yuan Sect, running without pause until they were a hundred li from Jinyun City. Only the physique of a Martial Artist could sustain such an effort. Disciples of the Cyan Yuan Sect were still running behind them when they finally stopped.
Here, on the open plains, they had a clearer view of the sky. Golden light flashed as the two giant Golden Dragons continued their clash. The radiance surrounding them grew ever weaker, flickering as if it were about to shatter.
"If the Destiny Golden Dragon disappears, does that mean the national fate of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty is gone?"
Yang Chan asked with great curiosity.
He didn’t know much about the Destiny Golden Dragon, only that it was a power converged from hundreds of millions of people, its fate inextricably linked with that of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty—to flourish together and perish together.
But he had no idea what would happen if the Destiny Golden Dragon were actually slain.
"I’ve read a record that said if a country’s Destiny Golden Dragon dies, that country will soon be destroyed and a new Imperial Dynasty will take its place. After the new dynasty is established, a Destiny Golden Dragon will coalesce once more and go into hiding."
Song Yunxiang had only read about this in some obscure texts, so he couldn’t be certain.
If he hadn’t seen the Destiny Golden Dragon with his own eyes today, he would have dismissed it all as myth. Now, it seemed those weren’t just stories, but historical records.
"When the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty overthrew the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty, did no Destiny Golden Dragon appear?"
Yang Chan continued to ask.
He had never come across any such records in the Cyan Yuan Sect. Of course, the number of books he’d read was limited, and his reading choices were heavily skewed. He didn’t read many such obscure texts and never paid them much mind.
"I haven’t read any related records. If there are any, then the Sect Leader, the Supreme Elder, and the others might know."
Song Yunxiang shook his head.
Even though he was an Elder of the Cyan Yuan Sect, he wasn’t privy to certain secrets. That knowledge was reserved for the Sect Leader and his inner circle.
The previous dynasty fell over five hundred years ago. The events of that era have long since become secrets, buried deep within the annals of history, completely unknown to the common person.
"But based on the current situation, the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty back then must have had a Destiny Golden Dragon as well."
Song Yunxiang watched as every clash between the two Destiny Golden Dragons made the void tremble and golden light flash. Even from so far away, he could still see traces of it and even feel a fraction of its might.
He was now much farther away than he had been in Jinyun City, yet he could still feel it. The power of the Destiny Golden Dragon was simply staggering.
"Should we keep moving and get further away?"
Yang Chan glanced at the two clashing Destiny Golden Dragons, having no desire to keep watching. ’These are beings that can traverse the void itself,’ he thought. ’It seems safe for now, but if those two shift their battlefield, they could cross this distance in no time.’
’This isn’t safe. The best choice is to get even farther away.’
’It’s like watching a fight from the sidelines—you might just catch a stray punch and get dragged into it.’
’It’s best not to be a spectator at all. And if I must watch, it should be from much, much farther away. Anyone who gets too close is asking for trouble.’
With this in mind, Yang Chan naturally wanted to put more distance between them and the battle.
"Pharmacist Yang, don’t worry. It’s not just us here; there are people from other Sects as well."
"Those Destiny Golden Dragons are hovering over the border. We’re still well within the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s territory, so we should be safe. Besides, a battle between Destiny Golden Dragons is a sight one might only see once in several hundred years! It can’t be missed!"
Song Yunxiang said reassuringly, gesturing to the vast distance and the crowds from the other major Sects.
Feeling that his life wasn’t in danger, he was naturally unwilling to give up such a rare opportunity to watch the battle. It might even be the only chance in his entire life to witness such a clash.
"Alright, Elder Song. But it’s crowded here with too many prying eyes. Let’s move a little further, over by that patch of woods. Just in case there are any assassins or killers hiding among the trees."
Having gotten his agreement, Yang Chan once again used the excuse of assassins and killers to move even farther away.
Too many Sect members were gathered here. Inside Jinyun City, they had presented a united front, but out here, without the restraining influence of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, the relationships between the various Sects were not nearly as friendly.
No one was making a move now, their attention captivated by the two Destiny Golden Dragons, but that was no guarantee that things would remain peaceful.
’If we were to be besieged,’ he thought, ’the situation would become dire. If it came to that, I’d be forced to reveal my true cultivation. That’s not a good option for me, so it’s better to play it safe.’
’By avoiding the crowd and watching from a distance, we’ll have time to react and escape any trouble, no matter where it comes from.’
’Plus, being near the forest means we can duck inside for cover if we need to. It’s a decent spot.’
"Alright, let’s do as Pharmacist Yang says!"
After hearing this, Song Yunxiang looked around and then nodded.
Yang Chan’s reminder made him realize it too: a large crowd wasn’t necessarily a good thing right now. Where there are people, there is trouble, and chaos can hide in their midst. It was better to keep their distance.
Therefore, he did not object.
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