Imperial Orders Are Hard to Defy

Wuwuwu, I'm going to fail. Please support me.

At this moment, Deep autumn had arrived unnoticed.

The weather had turned cold, and the scorching heat of summer had dissipated by a third.

Today, the temperature dropped sharply. Xuan Ye's attendant had already set up a brazier in the guest room. The roaring charcoal fire dispelled the chill in the room, but it couldn't clear the gloom in his heart.

Under the Emperor's orders, three days ago, he, along with Fang Wenshan of Chiyang City, had visited the Dragon-Raising Temple.

This was actually his sixth visit to the Dragon-Raising Temple. Unfortunately, despite using every means, reasoning with them, appealing to their emotions, and even offering immense benefits, he still hadn't obtained any information about the True Dragon from the Dragon-Raising Temple's higher-ups.

However, from some ordinary Monks, he had managed to uncover many secrets, including legends of Demons and secrets of the Dragon-Raising Temple unknown to outsiders.

This visit, however, was delayed in returning to Chiyang City due to a sudden heavy rain.

The heavy rain had been falling for three days, as if to make up for all the moisture that hadn't fallen throughout spring and summer.

The continuous rainfall had enveloped the entire Dragon-Raising Temple in the chill of late autumn.

With a restless mind, Xuan Ye sat by the bed, flipping through the rare ancient books he had collected.

Records of Emperor Xuan: In the seventh year of Xuanzong's reign, a dragon appeared above Mount Jun. It stirred the waters and whipped up waves, with fierce winds howling. A civilian was lifted hundreds of feet into the air and then thrown to the ground.

Also: In the thirteenth year of Xuanzong's reign, a landslide occurred at Mount Fulong in the Great Wasteland, and giant bones appeared. The villagers of Mount Fulong believed it to be a Dragon Bone. The dragon's head was as large as five bushels, its teeth were ten inches wide, its claws were about a foot long, and its body could reach a hundred meters in length.

"It's a pity those uncivilized people didn't understand the value of the Dragon Bone and dismantled and burned it... Only a small portion was confiscated afterward. What a shame."

Xuan Ye sighed.

He was also aware of this incident recorded in the Records of Emperor Xuan. Some Dragon Bones from Mount Fulong were still preserved in the imperial court.

However, whether they were truly Dragon Bones or the bones of giant snakes was debatable.

Xuanzong was Xuan Qianqiu, the founding emperor of Zhaoyang Country. The Records of Emperor Xuan were compiled by later generations, recording some rumors and stories about Xuan Qianqiu.

Xuanzong himself was very interested in the matter of the True Dragon. After Zhaoyang Country was established, he vigorously searched for traces of the True Dragon.

Unfortunately, he never saw what the True Dragon he searched for his entire life looked like before he died.

This led to generations of emperors in Zhaoyang Country becoming obsessed with searching for the True Dragon in their later years, almost becoming a curse upon Zhaoyang Country.

Xuan Ye initially didn't believe in the existence of True Dragons. Even if they existed, they were likely strange Demons in disguise. But the matter of the Dragon-Raising Temple had begun to shake his resolve.

He picked up another book, titled The Legend of the Fire Dragon:

On the seventh day of the fourth month in the twentieth year of Xuanzong's reign, in Fushan City, southwest of the Great Wasteland, a dragon flew into civilian dwellings. Smoke billowed, and the buildings were all burned down, destroying half the city. It was suspected to be a Fire Dragon.

On the sixteenth day of the fifth month in the twenty-sixth year of Xuanzong's reign, the Fire Dragon reappeared in the world near Fushan, seen within the two rivers surrounding the mountain. On the seventh day of the sixth month, the Fire Dragon was seen on the summit of Fushan, with the sky ablaze visible to the people from afar.

In the middle of the sixth month in the fifty-sixth year of Xuanzong's reign, another Fire Dragon was seen in Longwangyu. It was large at first, then smaller, about several hundred meters long. Everything it passed over—grass, trees, mountain peaks, the sun, the moon, and rivers—was incinerated.

This book recorded the Fire Dragon. However, later imperial court reports suggested that the Fire Dragon was suspected to be a fire-attributed Demon. But this Demon was never captured, and the matter was eventually dropped.

"Your Highness, the weather has turned cold. Please put on another layer of clothing."

Fang Wenshan took a tiger-skin coat from the eunuch and handed it to Xuan Ye.

Xuan Ye heard this, withdrew his scattered thoughts, put down the book, and put on the coat before saying, "I was contemplating the matter of the True Dragon and didn't notice you had returned, Wenshan. How was it? Have you ascertained the extent of this heavy rain?"

The rain at the Dragon-Raising Temple had lasted for three full days without stopping, which was alarming and inevitably led to wild speculation.

Was the True Dragon of the Dragon-Raising Temple angered?

Or had the True Dragon unleashed even more powerful Spiritual Power to summon wind and rain?

Could the divine power of the True Dragon truly reach such heights?

If the previous rains, lasting from a quarter of an hour to half an hour, with limited scope, were considered minor tricks that Zhaoyang Country could handle with its national strength and some forbidden items, then this rain, lasting for three days and three nights, was like a thunderclap that shook everyone and sent their thoughts spiraling.

Fang Wenshan was stunned.

Xuan Ye was even more terrified.

Countless forces also halted their actions, stopping their clandestine maneuvers because of this.

At this moment, Fang Wenshan cupped his hands and said with a heavy expression, "I've basically figured it out. To avoid any errors, I personally traveled east and rushed for 367 li. I discovered that the rain line stopped around the Luo River."

"From the Luo River area, I followed the rain line for another 235 li south. I didn't stop along the way, exhausting seven exotic beasts, but I didn't see any decrease in the rain. Seeing that two days had passed, I had no choice but to return."

"However, even within the currently determined range, the area covered by this rainfall encompasses almost the entire northwestern region of the Great Wasteland."

"The duration and scope are far beyond imagination."

Xuan Ye took a deep breath upon hearing this. Although he had anticipated that the rain might be extensive, its current scale still fell severely short of his estimations.

"Controlling wind and rain, commanding thunder, covering vast territories with a flick of the wrist—what kind of divine ability is this?"

"The power of the True Dragon is truly beyond the imagination of us mortals."

"Wenshan, are you sure it's alright for Zhaoyang Country to scheme against such an existence?"

Xuan Ye said with a wry smile, his heart heavy beyond words at this moment.

He suspected this heavy rain was a warning from the True Dragon.

Fang Wenshan also sighed, saying helplessly, "My Lord, no matter what, this is a task assigned by His Majesty. Regarding the True Dragon, we can only continue to investigate thoroughly. Even if we know it's a dead end, we have no choice but to press on."

After a pause, Fang Wenshan continued with a wry smile, "However, I observe that the True Dragon doesn't seem to be an utterly wicked being. If not for this rain, the drought in Great Wasteland might have continued for who knows how long. Now that this rain has fallen, let alone restoring agriculture, it has greatly relieved the people surviving in the northwest of Great Wasteland."

"To be honest with you, my Lord, even in Chiyang City, most of the common people are now worshipping the True Dragon sculpture day and night in their homes. If they knew that I, their City Lord, intended to scheme against the True Dragon, it might incite a full-blown rebellion throughout Chiyang City."

Honestly, at this point, even Fang Wenshan no longer wished to be involved with the True Dragon matter.

It was too dangerous!

Not only was it from the True Dragon, which was mysterious and unfathomable, leaving no trace so far, but its vast following of believers was also a hidden bomb.

Once it exploded, the entire Zhaoyang Country might fall into turmoil.

But alas, if the sovereign commands, the subject must obey!

"It has already reached this point... What can be done? His Majesty is being foolish."

Xuan Ye sighed repeatedly.

They dared not offend the True Dragon, nor could the Dragon-Raising Temple forcefully suppress it, but with the imperial decree in hand, what could they do?

To defy this imperial decree, one would have to replace the emperor!

Thinking of this, Xuan Ye's expression shifted subtly, and he then said, "Someone, please invite Master Yuanhui over. Tell him that today we will not discuss the wind and rain, but only delve into the principles of Buddha's scriptures!"

Recommending a book, a new work by a quality author.