Xiuxin had likely known she would leave a trail behind.
But in truth, she was already a spent arrow drawn on a fraying bow. She understood that as more pursuers joined the hunt, her chances would grow slimmer and slimmer. A part of her had already accepted her fate.
Moreover, Xiuxin truly could not bring herself to commit the sin of theft, to break her own precepts. That was why she left her prayer beads behind for the villagers as an offering in exchange.
Just as Chen Kuang had once thought, monks from the Pure Land were fools bound to die from their own goodness.
And yet, in this world, only a secluded place like the Pure Land could ever cultivate such people.
The name "Pure Land" was no hollow title. It was the real deal.
Xiuxin looked at the pursuers surrounding her. She noticed them using various secret techniques to send messages, more were definitely on the way.
A kill order personally issued by the Three Great Chan Masters of the Pure Land, regardless of what the actual reward was, it would be enough to tempt even top-tier Profound Realm experts to act.
Xiuxin had already been fleeing for three straight days. Even if she managed to break through this siege, there would be a second wave... a third wave... until the moment she died.
She sighed softly.
With the label of "Pure Land's traitor" slapped on her back, no one would believe her no matter how true her words were.
She pressed her palms together in front of her chest and lowered her head, giving up the thought of escape.
If she kept running, her pursuers would only become more extreme, perhaps they'd seal off the entire mountain forest, invert earth and sky using terrain-collapsing techniques to force her out.
For them, dragging her out was an easy matter.
But there were still scattered mortal villages in this forest. If they acted with such force, innocent lives would be caught in the destruction.
Xiuxin couldn't bring herself to create such wanton killing.
The pursuers exchanged looks. A few of them were starting to feel uncertain.
But in the end, their patience ran out, they prepared to strike.
Xiuxin had already resolved herself to accept death.
But at that very moment, a fingernail-sized, deep-blue scale flew from her sleeve!
Xiuxin was startled: "Chen Kuang?! When did...?"
Back when Chen Kuang first entered the Pure Land, his not-quite-human, half-demon identity had already been exposed.
However, because his body was that of a merfolk, and the Illustrated Canon of the Dragon's Harmonious Offspring that he cultivated had profound ties to the Buddha himself, it actually hadn't sparked much outrage.
In fact, it had even earned him some admiration...
The moment that scale appeared, Xiuxin felt Chen Kuang's aura.
She instantly recalled the Void-Slicing Sword from that day.
With mastery over the Dao of Time and Space, hiding something like a scale would've been effortless for Chen Kuang.
The scale began to shine with a brilliant light.
At first, the pursuers didn't notice.
But very soon, they heard a piercing, ancient dragon's roar.
"ROAR-!"
It came from far away, then closer, transforming from illusory to real.
In the distant sky, a streak of white light suddenly surged forward like a bolt of silk.
As it neared, the crowd realized: this was no strip of fabric, it was an enormous, heaven-shaking white dragon!
The white dragon's golden eyes gleamed. Everywhere it passed, the sky turned dark, thunder rumbled, and thick moisture condensed in the air.
Mist rolled like ocean tides.
The pressure was overwhelming.
"BOOM!!!!"
Faces turned ashen with fear, people scrambled to retreat.
"A true dragon?! That's impossible!"
"No one's heard of a real dragon appearing recently!"
"They say when the spirits of mountains and rivers gain awareness, they become true dragons. If a dragon appears, it means a Saint has descended, so the legends were true?!"
"It's... coming right at us?"
"The scale! It's the scale in front of that Pure Land traitor!"
"Damn it, she can summon a true dragon?!"
"Run, RUN!"
In the ensuing chaos, some who sensed danger early had already bolted.
But most remained, either unable to grasp the situation or unwilling to give up the prize of Xiuxin's head so close at hand.
It wouldn't matter.
"RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!!!!"
The massive white dragon's body swept across the sky. Clouds and mist surged like a tidal wave, flattening everything in its path.
The dragon coiled atop a nearby peak and lowered her head as her golden eyes gazed directly at Xiuxin.
The pursuers were nothing now, just a few specks of blood beneath her claws.
A single bead of sweat slid down Xiuxin's bald head.
This white dragon was none other than Yu Xuelong, the dragon Chen Kuang had cultivated through the Illustrated Canon of the Dragon's Harmonious Offspring.
She stared at Xiuxin for a long while, then shifted her gaze to the floating, deep-blue scale. Her fierce golden pupils softened.
She reached out a claw and gently touched the scale's surface with its sharpest tip.
A ripple of deep-blue light spread outward.
The scale drifted into her palm, and she softly enclosed it.
Her dragon whiskers floated gently, breath cloaking the area in mist.
Then, she spoke:
"Do you know my father? Do you know where he is?"
Xiuxin had guessed this white dragon must be closely tied to Chen Kuang when she responded to the scale.
But her words stunned her.
"Father?"
Xiuxin fell silent.
Leaving aside how miraculous it was to have a true dragon call someone 'Father', Chen Kuang was a merfolk, wasn't he?
How could a true dragon born from the essence of mountains and rivers mistake someone like that?
There must be a deeper secret here...
Still, that wasn't what troubled her most now.
What puzzled her more was: why would Chen Kuang leave such a scale with her? Why would he send a true dragon to save her?
After all, wasn't it Chen Kuang who had orchestrated the whole betrayal?
Though Xiuzhu was the one leading the charge on the surface, Xiuxin wasn't stupid.
A simple reconstruction of the events would reveal that the real puppet master behind it all, was Chen Kuang.
Though she didn't yet know what Chen Kuang truly was, it was clear the man was tied to the heavenly demons.
Yet here he was, sending a true dragon to rescue her?
Xiuxin couldn't make sense of it...
After a long pause, she finally raised her head and said:
"You mean Chen Kuang? He's currently in the Pure Land, this generation's third Buddha-Child. If you want to find him, head to the Western Desert. There's a small shrine there, it serves as the Pure Land's entrance."
Yu Xuelong shook her head.
"I'm not going to find him anymore. I'm helping him carry out a task."
She opened her claw.
The scale in her palm had already turned to dust and scattered into the wind.
Yu Xuelong had already learned the entire story.
Although not being able to see her father left her a little disappointed, what Chen Kuang had asked her to do... was quite interesting.
She liked interesting things.
Xiuxin asked warily and in confusion, "What is it?"
Yu Xuelong cheerfully replied, "I'm taking you to the Kingdom of Yang!"
Xiuxin was stunned. Before she could react, she was already snatched up in Yu Xuelong's claws and soared into the sky!
Even if she wanted to resist, it was no longer within her power.
The pursuers had been right, when a true dragon appears, it means a Daoist Shore Realm Saint has been born!
This white dragon before her was a genuine Daoist Shore Realm being!
Even at her peak, Xiuxin would not have been her match, let alone now, while gravely wounded. She could only be carried away like cargo.
With fierce winds howling past, they crossed tens of thousands of li in the blink of an eye. Xiuxin couldn't help but shout:
"Why is Chen Kuang sending me to the Kingdom of Yang?!"
Yu Xuelong replied:
"To find the little princess of the Liang Kingdom and her strategist! He said that once you arrive, you'll know what to do."
...
The Kingdom of Yang.
After a period of upheaval, the fragmented territories of the former Liang Kingdom were finally on the path to reunification.
With the efforts of Su Huaiying and the Martial Saint Bureau's investigations, the truth came to light: the Yang Emperor and the Department of Shennong had, while hiding among the demon race, reversed black and white, executing ordinary mortals as if they were monsters, all to consolidate power.
Once the atrocities were revealed, countless persecuted civilians stepped forward to testify. The royal family of Yang and the Department of Shennong's reputation was utterly destroyed.
Even those cultivators who had supported them under the pretense of righteousness began to turn their backs.
"The virtuous attract allies, the wicked stand alone."
What was once a deadlocked struggle immediately tipped in Su Huaiying's favor.
At present, Su Huaiying had already taken up residence in the imperial palace of the Kingdom of Yang.
Thanks to the wisdom gained from over sixty cycles of reincarnation, she could clearly discern who was human and who was a ghost within the court.
With Zhang Zhizhou assisting at her side, a thorough purge was carried out, and her position was firmly secured.
The newly appointed Martial Saint, Mo Xu, was currently in seclusion. When he emerged, he would fully inherit the Dao of Tyranny, the same Dao Mu Zhao once wielded.
Even if Yuanjun Wangshu, trapped by the power of national fate, never returned, it would not hinder the rise of Yang, no, now it should be called the New Liang.
Internally and externally, Su Huaiying now held absolute power. After a brief ceremony, she once again declared herself Empress.
Only this time, it had come much earlier than in any of her past illusory lifetimes.
"But... to face the Zhou Dynasty, this still isn't enough."
Su Huaiying spoke as she placed a piece on the board opposite Zhang Zhizhou.
However, her petite fingers struggled to reach the spot, after all, our newly crowned Empress was... just five years old.
Zhang Zhizhou chuckled:
"The Zhou Dynasty is no longer our concern."
Su Huaiying frowned:
"Zhou Yanwei... no, it should be Ji Yanwei now. Even if he becomes Crown Prince, he won't succeed the throne."
"Ji Chengtian is obsessed with immortality. He won't give up the throne. Ji Yanwei's efforts are pointless."
Zhang Zhizhou shook his head and replied:
"What I meant is, if Ji Chengtian dies, Ji Yanwei's existence will prevent Zhou from falling into extremism."
Su Huaiying understood what kind of "extremism" he meant.
She herself was the consequence of Ji Chengtian's extremity, a vengeful soul with nothing left to lose.
Though Ji Yanwei was the legitimate heir of Zhou, he was also a friend of Chen Kuang. He was a righteous and kind-hearted knight.
When the time came, he would use himself as a lock, to bind the Zhou remnants' hatred and keep it from spiraling.
That was Ji Yanwei's true purpose.
Before leaving Liang, Ji Yanwei had left this message at the Chen Estate, to be passed on through Zhang Zhizhou's network.
In other words, he had given up his bid for the throne.
This change of heart appeared to have occurred after he obeyed Ji Chengtian and used the Chen family to threaten Chen Kuang.
Su Huaiying didn't quite understand.
Logically, that should have meant Ji Yanwei had abandoned his friends in pursuit of supreme power.
Yet afterward, he instead chose to give it all up.
"You don't understand?"
Zhang Zhizhou smiled.
"He grew up in a palace steeped in ambition and power. Of course he couldn't remain pure. He had ambition, but couldn't sever his kindness. So he gave himself a test, to measure his own heart."
Su Huaiying narrowed her eyes:
"The matter with the Chen family... he was testing himself."
Zhang Zhizhou nodded:
"Now, he's found what he truly wants."
Su Huaiying fell silent.
She couldn't help but admire Ji Yanwei.
The human heart was the most fragile thing of all, she'd experienced it countless times over many reincarnations, watching people crumble under temptation.
Yet Ji Yanwei had dared to test his own heart, and emerged stronger for it.
That was something Su Huaiying herself would not dare to do.
The little princess suddenly recalled the days she spent in the imperial prison. She asked:
"Still no word on Chen Kuang?"
Zhang Zhizhou answered:
"The Pure Land is sealed. Only a few days ago did someone escape, branded a traitor. No news beyond that. But it's said Chen Kuang became a Buddha-Child, so I assume he's doing well."
Su Huaiying scoffed:
"The moment he becomes a Buddha-Child, one of the others turns traitor? Tell me that's a coincidence..."
Her accusation sounded unreasonable, but both she and Zhang Zhizhou knew exactly what kind of person Chen Kuang was.
If one day Chen Kuang claimed he intended to behave and play it safe, the sun might as well rise in the west.
"Not an unreasonable suspicion-"
Zhang Zhizhou mused as he placed another piece.
Then his expression suddenly shifted, grave and intense:
"Urgent report: In the southwest of Yang, a true dragon has appeared! After circling the desert for a day, it vanished without a trace!"
Su Huaiying's pupils shrank. She leapt to her feet:
"A true dragon..."
To possess a true dragon was no different from gaining the blessing of a nation's fate.
National Fate was the sum of all human destiny, and true dragons were the physical manifestation of Mountain and River Qi.
True dragons had not appeared for a very long time. No ruler in the world would ignore such news.
Zhang Zhizhou's expression grew increasingly bewildered. It was rare for Su Huaiying to see him so uncertain.
He clicked his tongue and muttered:
"The true dragon... it's flying toward the palace?"
Even Su Huaiying couldn't help but cry out in surprise.
Not once in her hundreds of past lives had such a drastic event occurred!
Although things had diverged from her illusionary reincarnations, everything so far had remained within her grasp.
Only this dragon, was a complete unknown.
Before either could react, a tall, dark-skinned youth clad in black battle robes appeared before them.
It was Mo Xu.
His figure was imposing, aura frigid and sharp. His face was darker than most, more mature than his age suggested, he exuded a calm majesty completely different from his former self.
At this moment, his emergence from seclusion meant he had successfully inherited Mu Zhao's Dao from the remnants of his Dao Domain.
He was now the new Martial Saint.
Mo Xu was still not yet twenty, yet had already stepped into Daoist Shore Realm. His talent was terrifying, surpassing even Chen Kuang and Shen Xingzhu.
But the suffering he had endured was just as immense, akin to rebirth through fire.
Only after Mu Zhao's death did Mo Xu realize that the statue erected at Mount Tai's Martial Saint Pavilion had been part of the Divine Flame Apotheosis Method, a secret technique Mu Zhao had used to become a Martial Saint.
He had never ascended through sheer cultivation, but through public worship.
That was why he sought fame, why his heart was so easily broken by one sentence from Chen Kuang.
Yet in the end, that very method allowed Mo Xu to rapidly grow stronger. And if not for Chen Kuang dragging him into that monumental fraud, deceiving the entire martial world, Mo Xu would have remained a broken youth, wasting away in a brothel.
Just a nameless servant boy.
Mo Xu felt nothing but sincere gratitude toward Chen Kuang.
Even now, as a Martial Saint, in front of Chen Kuang, he would still be the same simple boy.
He had once promised, if he ever had the chance, he would repay Chen Kuang.
That promise would never be broken.
Su Huaiying and Zhang Zhizhou exchanged glances, pleasantly surprised by Mo Xu's transformation.
Mo Xu looked into the distance, his expression suddenly alert.
Soon, a white dragon carrying wind and rain roared through the skies.
He frowned:
"It seems... it has no hostile intent. And there's a faint aura of Buddhism... Profound Realm."
Su Huaiying blinked:
"Buddhism? From the Pure Land? But the only Profound Realm monk recently... was-"
The Pure Land traitor: Xiuxin.
The white dragon descended swiftly, opening its claws.
Within its palm stood Xiuxin, pale-faced.
She stumbled upright. When she saw the little girl before her, she remembered the contradictions in Chen Kuang's behavior.
In the end, she took a deep breath and made a decision:
"The Three Great Chan Masters of the Pure Land have been possessed by Heavenly Demons. We must inform all major sects on the front lines, immediately!"
"...It was Chen Kuang who sent me."
She added solemnly.