"Everything I've done is solely to solve the reproduction issues of the Vidyadhara. Once I succeed, no one will blame me!
I will be the greatest Dragon Sovereign of all generations!"
Dan Feng kept numbing his mind with such words.
Beside him, Ying Xing took one last look at the jade flask before saying to Dan Feng, "Wait for me to prepare a few things. Where is our destination?"
Dan Feng frowned. "Prepare things? Enough! Hurry, we're going to Scalegorge Waterscape!"
...
The scene shifts, transitioning to another perspective.
Ying Xing and Dan Feng had already arrived at Scalegorge Waterscape.
Dan Feng had completed the sea-splitting ritual, exposing countless Vidyadhara eggs before the two of them.
At this moment, dozens of Vidyadhara stood in their way.
"This is sacred Vidyadhara ground—entry is forbidden!"
"Lord Dan Feng, only the power of the Dragon Sovereign can accomplish the sea-splitting. Why have you brought a short-lived species to our race's reincarnation site?"
"Send someone to inform the Cloud Knights immediately! The Ambrosial Arbor is still inside. Without the ancient sea's suppression, who knows what could happen to it?"
"..."
Ying Xing turned to look at Dan Feng. "Our path is blocked. If you cannot face your own people, then I will bear this sin!"
He summoned two longswords and charged at the Vidyadhara before him.
Though Ying Xing was a short-lived species, his talent in craftsmanship was unparalleled, and he often sparred with Jingliu and Dan Feng in swordsmanship.
His strength was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Ying Xing had no intention of harming the innocent—his goal was only to repel them.
But he was already covered in wounds.
Gasping for breath, he struggled to speak:
"Shuhu is dead. We won. But how many more times can we win? How much more must we sacrifice like this?"
"Look at the Ambrosial Arbor—it's still alive. As long as it stands, the monsters… they can come back again and again."
"The war between the Xianzhou natives, the Foxians, and the Vidyadhara against the abominations will never end."
"Yes! None of us are special! Each of us only has one life—to sacrifice for this, to die for that…"
"All of it is our own choice. Just like how she chose to save you and Jingliu…"
"Just like how she chose to let more people live!"
War, and the lives lost in it—everyone was just like him, breathing, living people.
Dan Feng recalled their faces, wearily closed his eyes, and steeled his resolve.
"If given the chance, we too would choose to let her—and more people—live."
"The Vidyadhara have their own way of salvation!"
Dan Feng used the Yunlai technique to erect a wall of water, blocking all pursuers.
"I'll give you one hour. Do everything you can. Remember—just one hour!"
"I know!" Ying Xing took out several mechanical tools and, with his masterful craftsmanship, assembled them into an alchemical furnace.
Then, from a mysterious black box, he retrieved the flesh of Shuhu—long dead, yet still "alive."
"I'll use the alchemy of the Zhuming to extract the power of Abundance."
"I understand. Though the power of the Dragon Ancestor can reshape living forms, it cannot create from nothing. We must use the power of the Plague Author… the power of Abundance!"
"The blood of my ancestors, the soul of my ancestors—the art of draconic transformation, the Vidyadhara reign supreme! Baiheng will surely be revived!"
On their way here, Dan Feng and Ying Xing had already discussed their plan.
They had to use the power of the Emanator to forge a new body, and Shuhu likely had the ability to recall souls.
But this alone wouldn't count as true revival—they still needed the art of draconic transformation.
Thus, Baiheng would be reborn as a new Vidyadhara, and the reincarnated Vidyadhara had to return to the ancient sea of Scalegorge Waterscape.
Before long,
Ying Xing placed Shuhu's flesh into the alchemical furnace.
Seeing that Ying Xing was ready, Dan Feng took out a silk handkerchief containing blood-stained hair.
Ying Xing extracted the power of Abundance, slowly gathering it into Dan Feng's hands.
At this moment,
The hair and the blood began multiplying endlessly,
Quickly forming into a mass of flesh.
Dan Feng immediately used the power of the Dragon Ancestor—the ability to alter biological traits.
Through Dan Feng's efforts, Baiheng's new body was reconstructed.
Seeing this, Ying Xing's heart raced. He knew that if they succeeded,
The Vidyadhara's population crisis would be solved, and Dan Feng would become the hero of their race!
His beloved would also be revived!
No more fear of death, no more enduring the pain of parting!
At this moment, Baiheng appeared at the center of the screen, curled up like a Vidyadhara ready to emerge from its egg.
Dan Feng knew that relying solely on Vidyadhara blood could not achieve true resurrection—it would only be a soulless shell.
But by applying the art of draconic transformation and the power of the Dragon Sovereign, they could succeed.
With this thought, he poured all his strength into activating the Dragon Sovereign's inheritance!
A protective barrier formed around Dan Feng, enveloping the two of them.
However, Dan Feng did not realize that while inheriting the Dragon Sovereign's power, he had also inadvertently loosened the seal on the Ambrosial Arbor.
Even if only slightly,
The power leaking from the Arbor's roots formed a thread, continuously absorbed by the flesh in the furnace.
With a "boom," the furnace exploded, flames erupting around them.
Ying Xing, standing beside the furnace, was caught in the blast.
Everything spiraled out of control.
At this moment, Ying Xing slowly stood up. His body had been struck in vital spots by the furnace's debris, and his life was nearing its end.
But from the furnace emerged a monster covered in branches.
With a casual wave of its hand, several Vidyadhara eggs dissolved into liquid, absorbed as nourishment.
Under Ying Xing's gaze, it drew closer and closer to Dan Feng.
"No… I can't let it disturb Dan Feng! Damn Shuhu—still not dead? Where did it get this power?"
Ying Xing forced his faltering body upright, as if experiencing a final surge of strength.
In his mind, he recalled the face of his master, Huaiyan.
"Ying Xing, this human sealing technique was used by the Zhuming to seal the Sui-Yang. However, times have changed, and such dangerous seals have been replaced by safer instruments."
"Then, Master, do you know the human sealing technique?" Little Ying Xing looked at Huaiyan with innocent eyes.
"Hahaha, why ask me this? Do you wish to learn it?"
"I swear to master a hundred crafts—if it exists, I want to learn it!"
"Then I'd best not teach you. What if you, little brat, do something reckless one day?"
—
The scene returns to Scalegorge Waterscape. Ying Xing smiles in resignation.
"Master Huaiyan, forgive me… I learned it behind your back."
With that, he charges at the branch-covered monster.
Then,
The scene shifts back to Dan Feng.
Beads of sweat cover his forehead as he continues channeling the Dragon Sovereign's power.
Until, at last, he sees Baiheng stir within the egg!
She's alive?
She's alive!
It worked—it worked!
The Vidyadhara are saved!
Baiheng is revived!
But,
An unforeseen catastrophe occurs.
Baiheng's body begins convulsing, sprouting thick fur as it elongates.
Horns grow from her forehead.
Baiheng disappears, replaced by a half-dragon, half-beast monstrosity.
"How… how could this happen?"