The stone cavern lay deathly silent, leaving only the sticky sound of mud collapsing and dispersing. The demonic form had completely caved in, turning back into a pool of slowly writhing dark gold filth. There was no longer the slightest sign of it transmitting thoughts; only an instinctive hunger to devour churned across the mud's surface. The stench of sulfur and chaotic demonic intent filled the air, yet it could not suppress the stormy waves surging within Ying Zheng's heart.
That shattered thought, that fleeting vision— the white jade talisman above the Nine Heavens! The purple-gold shackles binding the Ancestor Dragon True Spirit and the earth veins of Mount Li! The cold logic of deduction and fragments of words like "Heavenly Court," "anchor point," and "External Interference" branded themselves like hot irons onto everything he understood about power, fate, and even his own existence!
"Heavenly Court... shackles..." Ying Zheng's voice was low as grinding glaciers, echoing through the hollow stone cavern. He slowly withdrew Tai'a Sword. His body beneath the mysterious black dragon robe remained upright, but the depths of his dragon eyes no longer held pure, icy killing intent. Instead, they churned with astonishment enough to burn away the Nine Provinces and... furious rage at having been deceived!
He, Ying Zheng, had swept across the six kingdoms and unified the realm, inherited the Ancestor Dragon's destiny, and held the imperial authority of mankind. He had always believed himself favored by Heaven! Yet how could he have imagined that behind this glorious destiny might lie strings manipulated by another? The Ancestor Dragon True Spirit, which he regarded as the Power Origin and foundation of the empire, might itself be bound in shackles?
"Am I... a puppet?" The thought bit into his heart like a venomous serpent, instantly igniting the most