World's First Traitor System (417)

Chapter 417 - Battle of Slaying the Dragon

The Fan Clan Trading Company aggressively bought back currency from the populace, causing a short-term surge in the value of Baochao and Lingshi Quan, restoring their purchasing power to parity with gold, silver, and spirit stones.

News of this reached Empress Yao Guang in the Great Ci military camp, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Excellent."

"Fan Li truly doesn't dare to deceive me. The previous market fluctuations were merely a coincidence. I can now focus on the decisive battle with Shi Jingtang!"

Jin De and Miaoyin shared the Empress's excitement. After several probes, they were confident they had gauged the enemy's strength.

Shi Jingtang commanded one hundred thousand soldiers. While their combat prowess was indeed formidable, it was far less intimidating than the reputation of a celestial empire suggested! The fighting strength of an ordinary Jin soldier was only slightly superior to a Great Ci soldier.

But the Great Ci army outnumbered the Jin army two to one.

Even with the six first-rank Great Vehicle mechanical dragons, Jin De and Miaoyin combined could bridge the gap in combat power.

The ultimate victory rested on the clash between Yao Guang and Shi Jingtang.

The outcome of the battle between the two emperors would decide the fate of their respective nations!

"Elder Sister delayed the decisive battle because she was wary of Fan Li's schemes," Sage Ruler Jin De said with disdain.

"Now it seems he's just a coward, afraid to offend Elder Sister."

Miaoyin added, "I heard Wu Gang was injured and unconscious. Without a powerful protector, Fan Li is probably hiding in Peng City, trembling in fear. How could he possibly dare to cause trouble?"

Their mocking words resonated with Yao Guang.

"In that case..."

A cold glint flashed in the Empress's eyes.

"Issue my decree! This battle will be the decisive one. We will conquer Xiongzhou City!"

…

A raging fire consumed the city.

Walls crumbled, countless broken bodies littered the battlements, blood staining the stones crimson, then blackened and putrid by the flames.

Heavy armor and the ornate, curvaceous armor alike were devoured by the fire, leaving only twisted, broken fragments.

Sage Rulers Jin De and Miaoyin stood atop the city walls, looking at the horizon.

A man, a woman, and a colossal dragon were still locked in fierce combat.

Dragon roars!

Resounding through heaven and earth!

Anyone could hear the pain and struggle within those roars.

The gigantic mechanical dragon, formed by the fusion of six dragon sons, was struggling within Empress Yao Guang's Sea of Bitterness.

"Are you in pain?" the Empress asked.

Her gentle question was like a mother comforting her child, or a compassionate Bodhisattva, extending her mercy to all beings, even mechanical creations.

"All beings are equal."

The Empress spoke again.

"Do you seek liberation?"

"Do you desire supreme bliss?"

"Come, and inhale the fragrance of the Other Shore."

The Empress extended her jade-white right hand as if holding a flower.

A pure white Other Shore flower materialized in her hand, then drifted towards the mechanical dragon, which was groaning in pain within the Sea of Bitterness.

"Damn it!"

"Stop!"

Shi Jingtang roared, but it was a futile display of rage.

He was covered in blood, his dragon robes torn, his twelve-beaded crown long gone, his hair disheveled, resembling a madman.

Compared to Shi Jingtang's disarray, Empress Yao Guang appeared composed.

Her dragon robes and crown were intact, only a streak of crimson blood stained the corner of her lips.

The Other Shore flower slowly drifted towards the mechanical dragon, emitting an alluring fragrance.

Warned by Shi Jingtang, the mechanical dragon had been wary of the flower.

Unfortunately, the fragrance was too enticing. Even with its colossal, mountain-like body, the mechanical dragon couldn't resist the allure of the small, delicate flower.

Finally, it slowly turned its snout towards the Other Shore flower and inhaled deeply.

"Good child."

Empress Yao Guang smiled.

Her smile was gentle, yet gradually turned cruel.

"ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!"

Another dragon roar echoed.

The mechanical dragon, intoxicated by the flower's fragrance, experienced a fleeting moment of bliss, then its entire body convulsed, as if enduring unimaginable pain.

The colossal dragon's tremors were like a mountain shaking, threatening to collapse at any moment!

Above the illusory Sea of Bitterness, a verdant landscape appeared, covered in blooming flowers.

Finally, two Bodhi trees materialized.

One tree was lush and vibrant, the other withered and decaying.

Within the cycle of growth and decay depicted by the twin Bodhi trees, the mechanical dragon experienced the torment of life and death.

Finally!

Unable to withstand the cycle, it crumbled into dust and ashes, disappearing amidst the surging waves of the Sea of Bitterness.

"Dragon!"

"My dragon... cough!"

A bond existed between a mechanical master and his creations, similar to the connection between a cultivator and their natal magic treasure.

The more important the mechanical beast, the stronger the bond.

The mechanical dragon’s death meant the demise of Chiwen, Suanni, Chaofeng, Yazi, Pulao, and Bi'an!

Shi Jingtang coughed up blood.

With the six dragon sons annihilated, he suffered a severe backlash.

"If... if it were complete, it wouldn't have been defeated so easily!" Shi Jingtang's eyes were bloodshot, the veins on his face bulging, his fury reaching its peak.

Yao Guang’s smile faded.

She looked at Shi Jingtang with the same compassion and pity she had shown the dragon.

But Shi Jingtang clearly sensed that this compassion and pity were merely a facade. The true nature hidden within her gaze was the cold ruthlessness understood only by emperors.

"HAHAHAHA!"

"You are an Empress?"

"Hypocrite!"

"An Empress should be hypocritical, but hypocrisy is only a part of an Empress. You've cultivated hypocrisy to its extreme!"

"You won't go far, and your path won't last long, HAHAHAHA!"

Empress Yao Guang calmly observed Shi Jingtang, witnessing his final descent into madness.

When his laughter subsided, the Empress extended her right hand, as if holding a flower.

She plucked a pure white Other Shore flower and gently pushed it towards Shi Jingtang.

…

Peng City, Dragon God Palace.

Fan Li nervously watched Wu Gang. A scene he hadn't anticipated was unfolding before him.

The woman remained asleep.

But three orbs of dragon soul light were slowly entering her body.

The process was agonizingly slow, but Fan Li had already witnessed the first orb completely merge with Wu Gang.

The second orb was more than halfway absorbed.

"Will she be alright?"

"Should I stop this?"

"But how?"

Fan Li's mind raced, but he remained motionless.

Dragons were the most spiritual of all beings.

Fan Li didn't understand, nor did anyone else. Heaven only knew what was happening!

He could only trust Wu Gang's choice, trust that Qiuniu, Baxia, and Fuxi wouldn't harm the one who had shown them true kindness.

But as a precaution, Fan Li discreetly arranged for Master Yusheng to rush from the Southern Ridge Mountains.

He hoped Master Yusheng’s medical expertise could help Wu Gang awaken.

Suddenly!

Strange sounds filled the sky.

Despite the clear, sunny weather, thunder and lightning abruptly erupted.

Dark clouds filled the sky, and torrential rain poured down.

The rain was like Heaven's tears, weeping for someone?

Confused, Fan Li instinctively looked up at the sky and heard a voice transmitted from a thousand miles away!

"I am Yao Guang of Great Ci, and I have personally slain Shi Jingtang of the Great Jin. From this day forward, the Great Jin is erased from the mortal realm!"