"Divine beast—Azure Dragon!"
The deputy general's voice trembled as he fell to his knees.
Immediately, tens of thousands of soldiers followed suit, dropping to the ground in reverence.
They had just witnessed both dragon and phoenix appear together atop Mount Reincarnation.
At that moment, in their hearts, Mount Reincarnation became an absolute divine mountain.
Seated upon the dragon's head was a masked man—the same mysterious figure who had appeared at Jinbian Lake. It was none other than Dao Wuyin.
"Princess of Great Zhao," Dao Wuyin's voice was calm, echoing as though it came from both near and far. "Mount Reincarnation is a place of pure cultivation, untouched by worldly dust. Why have you come seeking me?"
Nangong Wan struggled to stand but her body failed her. From excessive blood loss, her vision went dark.
Still, she pressed her forehead against the cold stone steps and said, "Senior, this junior has no other way. Without your help, my Great Zhao Empire will crumble, and countless lives will be lost."
"This matter has nothing to do with me."
Dao Wuyin's tone remained indifferent.
It was clear that Nangong Wan had tried to appeal to his compassion by invoking the suffering of her people—but such manipulation failed to move him.
Biting her red lip, she said, "Great Zhao is willing to offer the Nation-Sealing Divine Artifact—Mixed Primordial Divine Iron to you, and to honor Mount Reincarnation as the supreme sect of Great Zhao for all generations to come."
"Mount Reincarnation has no interest in such things."
Dao Wuyin's reply remained calm and detached.
Nangong Wan's eyes dimmed with despair. "Please, Senior," she whispered.
She kowtowed again, the sound of her forehead striking the stone echoing softly through the mountain.
For a moment, Dao Wuyin appeared hesitant—as if moved by pity.
Of course, that was only an act.
In truth, he had already planned to bring the Great Zhao Empire under his control. But without a proper excuse, how could he gracefully "descend the mountain"?
"Enough."
Dao Wuyin sighed. "Seeing your sincerity, I shall make an exception."
At those words, Nangong Wan's expression brightened with joy. Tears shimmered in her eyes, like rain on pear blossoms—fragile yet beautiful.
"But I have conditions," Dao Wuyin continued. "From this moment on, no matter what I command, you must obey without question."
"Senior's words are law. This junior will obey without hesitation," Nangong Wan replied.
"Then come up the mountain."
With a wave of his sleeve, Dao Wuyin turned, and the Azure Dragon beneath him soared away into the mist.
Nangong Wan took a moment to steady herself, gathered what strength remained in her body, and began the long ascent toward the summit.
As she climbed past the midpoint of the mountain, her heart trembled in shock.
The higher she went, the denser the spiritual energy became.
She didn't know that Yang Cheng had spent tens of millions of Divine Stones here to construct a vast formation, concentrating the spiritual qi of the heavens and earth into this sacred place.
After a while, she came upon a small spring—its waters rippling with luminous energy.
"This is… a high-grade spirit spring!"
Her mind reeled in disbelief. Even the royal family of Great Zhao possessed only one mid-grade spirit spring, yet here, at Mount Reincarnation, such a treasure flowed freely at the mountainside.
When she finally reached the summit, her astonishment deepened—before her eyes was an even rarer supreme-grade spirit spring, radiating with a sacred brilliance.
Awe filled her heart completely.
She followed a winding stone path to a pavilion at the peak, where Dao Wuyin sat calmly, awaiting her.
The two faced each other across a simple stone table.
"Mount Reincarnation does not meddle in worldly affairs," Dao Wuyin said slowly. "If I make an exception now, it will mean bloodshed. To eliminate future trouble, I must purge all hidden threats."
His eyes glinted coldly behind the mask.
"You will submit to my control. From this day forward, you will be the new Emperor of Great Zhao. Those who might threaten or oppose your rule—all of them—will be executed in your name."
He leaned slightly forward. "Do you accept this?"
Nangong Wan froze in shock.
By his words, this would be the bloodiest succession in Great Zhao's history.
Though she was a princess, her position in the royal family had never been high. Nearly every other bloodline within the empire posed a potential threat to her claim to the throne.
But after thinking carefully, she realized she had no other choice.
If she refused Dao Wuyin, she would lose his protection—and death would be the best she could hope for.
Between killing others and being killed herself, Nangong Wan made her decision swiftly.
"I accept."
Dao Wuyin extended his hand toward her. She closed her eyes.
In the next instant, his spiritual power entered her Sea of Consciousness, leaving behind his spiritual imprint.
With that, the pact was sealed.
Dao Wuyin didn't hesitate further.
He summoned the Azure Dragon and the Phoenix, ordering them to accompany Nangong Wan back to the Great Zhao Empire.
Upon her return, Nangong Wan immediately announced the crimes of numerous royal family members—marking the beginning of a blood-soaked purge.
The Azure Dragon and the Phoenix followed Nangong Wan's command and carried out a complete massacre.
That storm of blood lasted for one full month.
By the end of it, the royal clan of Great Zhao had been cleansed entirely, and Nangong Wan's name spread across the empire—she was now known as the Bloody Empress.
After that month of slaughter, Nangong Wan once again set foot on Mount Reincarnation.
As she walked along the winding mountain path, she felt as if she were trapped in a dream.
Just a month ago, she had been a fallen princess—desperate, powerless, uncertain if she would even live to see another day.
Now, in the blink of an eye, she was the Empress of Great Zhao.
When she reached the summit, she ordered her palace maids to withdraw, leaving her alone.
Then she continued forward, her steps steady yet filled with emotion.
Finally, by the spiritual spring at the mountaintop, she saw Dao Wuyin.
She approached him slowly.
With every step she took, one layer of her gauzy robe fell away, fluttering to the ground like pale mist.
By the time she reached him, her flawless, jade-like body was bare beneath the sunlight. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Dao Wuyin from behind.
Dao Wuyin opened his eyes slightly, his voice calm and detached. "Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?"
"Master," Nangong Wan said softly, "I, Nangong Wan, am willing to offer everything I have to you. Otherwise, I will never find peace in my heart."
"For me," Dao Wuyin said evenly, "your greatest worth lies in ruling Great Zhao well. That alone is enough. If you intend to use your body as a means of service, then I don't mind replacing you with another."
Nangong Wan trembled. "If Master feels nothing for me at all, then why… why did you choose me in the first place?"
"Because of your one thousand and one kowtows," Dao Wuyin replied, his tone indifferent.
But instead of feeling humiliated, Nangong Wan's heart surged with a strange warmth.
Her eyes softened, her gaze upon Dao Wuyin filled with deep, burning devotion.
So, he hadn't chosen her for her beauty, nor for her bloodline—but for her sincerity and persistence.
For the first time in her life, she had achieved something not through her looks or her royal birth, but through her own will and effort.
That realization made her feel truly respected.
She stepped back, quietly dressed herself again, and bowed deeply. "Master, I was wrong. I am an impure woman and should not have defiled you with my body.
"If you wish, I will find the purest and most beautiful women in Great Zhao to serve you."
"In my heart," Dao Wuyin said, "there is only the Dao."
He was not truly human—not in the ordinary sense. Dao Wuyin was a spiritual projection, an incarnation created by Yang Cheng through divine power, a manifestation of will endowed with wisdom—but devoid of mortal desire.
Had any other man said such words, Nangong Wan would never have believed them.
But she had touched him moments ago—and he had not reacted at all.
She knew her beauty well enough.
Though she might not be a peerless beauty who could topple nations, she was certainly enough to stir any man's heart. Even ascetic monks would not have remained unmoved if she had pressed herself against them like that.
And yet Dao Wuyin hadn't responded in the slightest.
She could tell that he was no weak man—his blood and qi were vigorous and pure, without the slightest trace of frailty or coldness.
Which meant there was only one explanation—Dao Wuyin's heart truly held nothing but the Dao.
"Master," Nangong Wan said earnestly, "from this day forward, I will clear all obstacles from your path. Even if it means being shattered to dust, I will not hesitate."
Dao Wuyin remained calm and silent.
Nangong Wan stepped forward once more, embracing him again. She closed her eyes and breathed in his faint scent deeply, as if to carve it forever into her memory.
Then, slowly, she let go—turning away with quiet resolve—and walked down the mountain, never daring to approach him again.