Chapter 747

Dan Zhu will die.

The sacrificial firelight scorched the ages, ignited myriad generations; once on the road, there was no turning back.

However, at the last moment of his life, he decided to do something.

He called for Yinglong, gesturing for her to come forward.

Yinglong hesitated a moment, warily eyeing the Yao Marshal Shangyang, claws clenched, faintly revealing some forbidden great killing implements.

Not originating from Nüwa, then from Yandi, and some origins indiscernible, yet these small trinkets brimming with deterrent aura seemed to warn Shangyang—

She is not someone to be provoked!

Who in Honghuang has the most complicated connections and the strongest backing?

That must be her!

She once served as a driver for Nüwa.

She once served as a teacher for Yandi.

She once served as an enforcer for Huangdi.

She has met the Dao Ancestor in person.

She is an unnamed relative of the Dragon Ancestor.

In the foreseeable future, she will still have to do hard labor for the Xia dynasty.

Wait, wait, etc.

Who is the number one connection household in Honghuang?!

Yinglong's figure performed a tactical lean-back; she claims second place, and no one dares claim first.

If anyone could achieve Pangu using the Great Dao of Connections, it would certainly be none other than Yinglong.

Shangyang looked at her, his mouth twitched, wanting to speak but holding back; in the end he said nothing, turning a blind eye, allowing her actions.

Only then did Yinglong step forward, walking to Dan Zhu's side.

A pair of former rivals, meeting again, gazing at each other, both felt the sense of things changed, people gone.

Yes, they were once opponents.

Back then, Yinglong held the Dragon Ancestor's "last orders," and should have become a trusted minister of the Dragon Sect, but alas… she had barely taken charge of the Dragon Sect for a few days when she was confusedly driven out by the Bird Sect.

In this process, the Dragon Sect leadership headed by Dan Zhu inevitably pulled strings behind Yinglong's back, contributing nothing while causing her to fight alone against the Bird Sect, after which it was only natural that she be expelled.

At that time, Yinglong was still young and could not see the ins and outs of it.

But after some old foxes gave hints, she gradually grasped the inner workings, realizing she had been shot in the back by the Dragon Sect.

That was the confrontation of those days, ending with Yinglong fleeing in a sorry state, which counts as her loss.

But upon later reflection… Yinglong lost, and as the then-victorious Dragon Sect leadership, they ultimately did not win in the end.

Today's plight of the Dragon Sect is certainly due to the myriad schemes of that sovereign in the Bird Sect, but without the Dragon Sect's former leadership colluding with tigers, causing the Dragon Sect to lose its voice and be unable to recover, letting the Bird Sect roll a snowball and grow enormously… it would not have come to this!

Even if they would suffer losses, they would not suffer so completely as to have the Dragon Sect, seeking revival, bury itself in a developmental trap and be taken lock, stock, and barrel.

In the end.

The winner, only one side…… is the Bird Sect's Chonghua!

Looking back, there is some feeling, some speechlessness.

If back then the Dragon Sect had accepted Yinglong and faithfully obeyed orders, would there still be today's outcome?

This is a possibility no one can clarify.

However, if the Dragon Sect became Yinglong's property, and there truly was a danger of being taken lock, stock, and barrel, then whether it's Yandi or Xuanyuan, they would surely be anxious… for Yinglong's property is their property, after all!

Yinglong is still young; with such a large New Year's gift, she cannot hold onto it, so naturally her guardian helps her manage it… whoever moves this fortune is moving the wealth of the Yan and Huang emperors, snatching food from their pots!

Beat them to death!

We must beat them to death!

No……

Not even such behavior will be given a chance to occur.

Let alone, at that time Xuanyuan was not wandering around skirmishing with the Heavenly Court, but directly brought his main force to the Dragon Sect, making it his stronghold!

A peak powerhouse guarding, holding part of the righteousness of humanity and the Wu Clan—how could the Heavenly Court easily bite into that?!

Unfortunately.

Now saying anything is too late.

The Dragon Sect pursued the autonomy and freedom they wanted, but thereby lost their lives and overturned their foundation.

However, perhaps it could also be considered as attaining benevolence through benevolence.

Better to die standing than to live kneeling.

As long as one's heart bears no regret, life and death… what is there that cannot be taken lightly?

Dan Zhu, for his past and his choices, paid with his life, but before death he did not really regret it, only feeling a faint sorrow.

"I am going to die."

He looked at Yinglong and spoke calmly.

"You might possibly survive." Yinglong pondered, raising a hand, with blood light condensing and not dispersing, "Here, I have some of Cang's blood flowing."

"By using it to sustain your life, then awaiting the Human Emperor's salvation… there is a sliver of hope, to help you escape the deadly situation."

"No need." Dan Zhu refused, "If I live, only I alone benefit."

"But if I die, all under heaven will benefit… even the Dragon Sect."

"When the game has reached this point, my death is the result that would satisfy all players the most."

"Hmm…" Yinglong's eyes flickered, "Dan Zhu, you… perhaps you regard yourself too highly?"

"Some players have broad minds and lofty patterns… if it were your father, they would be very vigilant, caring about life and death. But you…"

Yinglong shook his head repeatedly.

Her words were a bit spiteful.

Of course, this was also to stir Dan Zhu's fighting spirit…… The Dragon Marsh's high-ranking officers' willing sacrifice gave her a jolt; it was rare to see the last one still alive, and she hoped this flame of sacrifice could keep burning, illuminating the dark age, becoming a model for all beings.

But Dan Zhu refused.

"Perhaps." Dan Zhu smiled faintly, facing death, he let go of everything; what he once pursued now seemed insignificant at this moment: "To some big shots, even if I were alive, I couldn't pose much threat or trouble for them."

"But the Dragon Marsh…… is different."

"I've become the key to the clan's debt…… If I don't die, it'd be hard to reasonably default on the debt."

"Dragon Marsh needs to be reborn from destruction; any lingering issues…… if they can be handled, handle them beforehand."

Dan Zhu's smile was radiant, as if the topic at hand wasn't his life-or-death matter at all.

Yinglong listened, silent and speechless.

Dan Zhu…… this is him using his own death to try to free the Dragon Marsh from its shackles as much as possible.

Being harsh toward others isn't truly harsh.

Being harsh toward oneself—that's truly harsh!

Thinking this, Yinglong looked at Dan Zhu with a complex gaze.

——He is a hero of his generation.

His temperament and wisdom are both lacking nothing.

However……

Born at the wrong time.

He got dragged into the great melee of the old Yin Bi, where more than one Pangu fell on the battlefield, and even the Human Dao damn became a fine spirit, secretly messing things up behind the scenes!

Such a situation is too unfriendly for the youth; it can be called unsolvable!

Dan Zhu, trapped in such a situation, has managed to hold on until now, and even took the life of a Yao Marshal…… That's already quite outstanding.

But no matter how outstanding, he cannot escape the fate of death.

"Back then, you could have stayed within the Dragon Marsh, holding the base." Yinglong said.

"That would be meaningless……" Dan Zhu said in a low voice, "The Weak Water turned into disaster, collapsing our command; the base's defenses were nominal, impossible to hold. If I remained there, I'd only make the Dragon Marsh's territory the most brutal battlefield."

"In that case, even if I wanted to sacrifice myself to kill enemies, I wouldn't dare…… The people must die cleanly first."

"Your consideration for the Dragon Marsh to this extent truly earns my admiration." Yinglong praised sincerely, "I fall short."

"But my path ends here." Dan Zhu said calmly, "I can't go on any further; I can only leave the rest to the Dragon Marsh itself."

"The dead have no power to resolve the troubles of the living……"

"And in this situation, my Dragon Marsh has lost, lost completely…… The state has been shattered, resources exhausted, the remaining clansmen can only scatter and flee, trying to preserve whatever living strength they can."

"But the enemy…… won't let us off."

"This is also what I wish to entrust to you."

Dan Zhu looked at Yinglong, eyes pleading, "I want to ask you…… to become the new leader!"

"Rebuild the Dragon Marsh!"

Yinglong's expression changed.

She said in a heavy tone, "Are you serious?"

"I think you should know—I'm just a white glove!"

"I was pushed out to infiltrate, and even to become the spokesperson who controls the Dragon Marsh!"

"Handing the Dragon Marsh over to me means…… I think you already know what that implies."

"It's nothing more than giving an advantage to outsiders, but what of it?" Dan Zhu lowered his brows and eyes, continuing, "Once, the Dragon Marsh was the anchor of my father Pangu, lodged in Honghuang heaven and earth and the Human Dao, serving as a support."

"Therefore, back then I was determined to safeguard its autonomy and freedom."

"Even to a certain extent, we could sacrifice the people's interests for a great cause——because as long as we ultimately win, all losses can be recouped, even doubled."

"That's a very profitable deal."

"But now…… it has shattered."

"This path is no longer viable."

"Then what remains for me to consider is the duty of a king…… to be responsible for every subject."

"At this moment, to live…… is what matters most."

Dan Zhu earnestly gazed at Yinglong, "This time, that time."

"Back then I rejected you; now I must accept you."

"Even if the shadows behind you are dark…… but even from the simplest perspective, if you want to make use of the Dragon Marsh, you must ensure it can survive and develop, right?"

"Even if that isn't the case!"

"But even if it's just for a image project, you should still put on a show before the world, giving some aid."

"I will hand over the great righteousness of leading the Dragon Marsh, in exchange for capital that lets the clansmen evade pursuit and survive; for this I can endure any amount of hardship, even if they treat me as a laborer…… Is this deal not very profitable for you?"

"After all, the Heavenly Court still exists, and even in this struggle it has gained the upper hand…… This is the most necessary moment to unite."

Dan Zhu had reached the brink of death, yet he saw things more clearly than ever before.

Striving to live.

This is the Dragon Marsh's most important mission at this moment of shattering collapse.

To bow before the Heavenly Court and the Bird Marsh, these great enemies, is impossible.

But substituting a former "Grand Imperial Princess" with status to rule…… is not impossible!

Yinglong was speechless.

Dan Zhu has said all this; what more could she possibly say?

"You've ruined your family estate like this, I don't have much to say." Yinglong fell silent for a moment, then said, "When your father returns and sees this situation so miserable, the final decision to ruin the family will still be yours to make personally… He might even expel you from the family register, or even kill you with a single palm."

"Don't blame me for not warning you."

"Then I'll accept that." Dan Zhu smiled.

"Heh..." Yinglong curled his lips, "At that time, if you were scared, you could come hide with me."

"That's not necessarily so." Dan Zhu's eyes clear, "I might as well tell you… things here might not come to such a miserable state."

"Although his father emperor has always been... decisive in action, strict in conduct, but he is also good at seizing opportunities."

"And I… although I handed over the Dragon Sect's orthodox righteousness, I also didn't have much goodwill."

Dan Zhu, about to die, his words were also kind, he did not deceive Yinglong: "I don't know how those people behind you managed to seize your father emperor's foundation, giving you the bloodline of the Dragon Ancestor."

"This is your reliance, like a snake swallowing an elephant, to usurp the Dragon Sect's foundation; but conversely, it could also lead to a repeat of the plot."

"I intend for you to rebuild the Dragon Sect, but in the end, can you keep control of it to the end, so it won't be retaken by the returning father emperor, merely making a wedding dress for others?"

"Then… it depends on your own ability."

Dan Zhu frankly admitted, he also had a bit of ill intent.

He entrusted Yinglong, it was a matter of calculating, waiting for the behind-the-scenes black hand behind Yinglong to painstakingly bring the Dragon Sect out of the deadlock, then the Dragon Ancestor would come back and, in one gulp, the Dragon Sect would return to its rightful owner!

By then, the struggle for Pangu, who will win the deer, is still unknown.

"This… thanks for the info." Yinglong gave Dan Zhu a deep look, nodded seriously, "I'll be careful."

"However, you're so sincere, aren't you worried I'll cause trouble?"

"Worried, yet not worried…" Dan Zhu smiled faintly, "The Dragon Sect's downfall comes from the Heavenly Court and the Bird Sect joining forces, the situation changes, the Fire Sect and Cloud Sect will find themselves in a difficult spot… If we don't lend the Dragon Sect a hand, who will check the Bird Sect?"

"If the Human Emperor is short-sighted, nitpicking, insists on fighting the crippled Dragon Sect for immediate gain, indulging the true enemy, then let them contend."

"Anyway, in the end, it's just a burial with my Dragon Sect… we don't have much to regret."

"After I die, what care I for floods rampant?"

Dan Zhu was very carefree.

"Indeed." Yinglong nodded, solemnly receiving the item Dan Zhu handed over, which was the heavy artifact representing the Dragon Sect's lineage, the supreme orthodox righteousness!

This is a jade seal, not large, not heavy, yet it was the reliance of the Dragon Sect's fortune.

And besides that, there was nothing else.

Dan Zhu came here already with a resolve to die… since he's dead, what treasure would he still carry on his person?

Those that could strengthen the sacrifice have already been burned… those that couldn't be burned were also given to the leaders who led the Dragon Sect's fire seed in breaking out to survive.

Only a seal symbolizing identity remains as the last remnant.

Watching Yinglong receive the jade seal, Dan Zhu's face bore a smile, but the light of his life dimmed.

"Ah…" he let out a long sigh, exhaling his last breath of life, "This era is hard…"

"Where lies the path of all beings…"

Having spoken, he suddenly passed away.

The torrents of time surged, sweeping past, Dan Zhu's body turned into light, turned into rain, drifting in all directions.

Only a dim spiritual light remained at the spot, sunk into the bottom of the river of time, motionless.

(End of chapter)