Chapter 100: The Emperor Used Armor to Slay the Azure Dragon in the East; Cao Kong Declared, "Execute!" (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Support)

At the moment the rebellion erupted on Green Dragon Mountain, a star above the sky flickered briefly.

This star belonged to the East and was called the Morning Star; of course, it had a more illustrious name—Venus, the Metal Star of the West.

Venus, known as the Morning Star in the East at dawn, was called the Evening Star at dusk in the West.

Upon this star stood an old man, his brows kind and eyes gentle, exuding the aura of an immortal sage.

He pinched his fingers and mused, “Ah, the place where the Green Dragon fell has erupted in turmoil. Someone must possess the essence of Jia wood, thus stirring the spirit of the Green Dragon.”

Venus’s eyes narrowed slightly. The Emperor had killed the Green Dragon in the East by means of Jia and Yi wood energies, yet the Green Dragon’s resentment lingered.

When it perished, it had willingly dispersed the Jia wood essence, leaving only the Yi wood essence hidden in the land, hoping to preserve a thread of life.

Therefore, the Emperor had dispatched him to Green Dragon Mountain to suppress and kill the hidden Yi wood essence formed by the Green Dragon’s transformation. Yet when he descended then, he saw the mountain lush and thriving with myriad living beings.

He realized that to truly suppress the Yi wood essence would mean the withering of Green Dragon Mountain, and his heart could not bear it. Hence, he devised an array using the power of Venus to slowly erode the spirit’s lingering resentment.

But now, only a few years later, upheaval had again arisen. Should the Green Dragon’s spirit be reborn by harnessing Jia wood essence, it would be his grave failure.

He calculated repeatedly but could not foresee the arrival of this disturbance. He concluded that the one causing the unrest in the place where the Green Dragon fell was either uniquely fated or backed by a far superior diviner concealing their presence.

Currently, the chaos of the world had not fully manifested; even with a special fate, he should be able to discern some clue. Thus, it must be the latter.

With this in mind, Venus ceased his pondering. There were many beings of higher rank than himself in the world; he had no need to worry.

Still, he left a shard of starlight to monitor the changes on Green Dragon Mountain, ready to intervene at any moment.

...

Western Bull Continent, Green Dragon Mountain.

The Green Dragon fixed its gaze on Cao Kong, its eyes as deep as an abyss or ocean, laden with an indescribable resentment that struck the heart.

Cao Kong’s expression darkened. He sensed that the Green Dragon before him was not a physical form but a manifestation of Yi wood essence infused with overwhelming grievance.

Coldly, he said, “The vine and rattan belong to Jia wood, adaptable to spring and autumn. You want to seize my vitality!”

Though unaware of the mountain’s full history, Cao Kong realized he had been ensnared.

Not just him alone, but all those in the world bearing Jia wood essence had been counted.

Yi wood is the substance of Jia wood; its nature is to conceal and endure. Even when withered by metal or scorched by fire, encountering Jia wood reignites its vitality, fulfilling the principle of the six yang energies fading while one yin revives.

The presence before him was unwilling to perish, thus leaving only the Yi wood essence behind, hoping one day to resurrect by borrowing Jia wood’s power, like vines clinging to Jia wood.

The Green Dragon did not speak; its eyes showed no flicker, not because it could not speak, but because it deemed it unworthy.

“Borrow your resurrection? What concern is that of mine? Just accept this blessing.”

Suddenly, the Green Dragon shuddered, sensing it was being watched by a formidable presence.

Who was it?

The Green Dragon did not know, but it understood that it must seize Jia wood’s vitality with Yi wood as quickly as possible.

The next moment, the Green Dragon raised its head.

“Aoong—”

A melodious yet subdued dragon roar echoed within Cao Kong’s mind. This was no physical sound but a voice residing in the spirit’s realm.

Their meeting was known only to Cao Kong himself; others at most felt a brief unrest on Green Dragon Mountain.

Suddenly, Cao Kong felt himself fall into a strange realm where nothing existed but a great wind—the wind of Yi wood, also known as the Eight Winds of Heaven and Earth.

These Eight Winds sought to destroy Cao Kong’s spirit, reducing him to an empty shell, allowing the Green Dragon to usurp his body and roam the world in his stead.

The Eight Winds surged at the level of Cao Kong’s spirit. The Green Dragon’s eyes, full of resentment and greed, locked tightly onto him, poised to seize his body at any moment.

Cao Kong’s expression remained calm. Since fate had brought them to this narrow path, they would settle the matter here and now.

A bright point of golden essence appeared. Using spiritual energy, a seed of divine power within his liver palace emitted a blue light, generating the Eight Winds stationed at the Eight Trigram positions. This was the Immovable Eight Winds!

“Already dead, rotting in the earth, do you dare to seize my vitality? You’re nothing but a decayed bone best scattered to the winds.”

Cao Kong sneered.

His breath exhaled fiercely in all directions, countering the Eight Winds with Eight Winds.

Compared to the Green Dragon, even though it had fallen many years ago, Cao Kong was far weaker. Yet amidst the shifting winds, that golden light shone persistently, the eight gusts standing resolute against the Green Dragon’s own Eight Winds.

The Green Dragon grew uneasy. This man controlled the Eight Winds? What a rare and unparalleled gift!

Breathing heavily, the two clashed fiercely. Cao Kong was still too weak to face such an existence. The Eight Winds could only maintain a temporary stand, not a lasting one.

The entire Green Dragon Mountain aided the Green Dragon; how could he contend long?

Then Cao Kong released another sword—this one forged of Geng and Xin metal.

Among the ten Heavenly Stems, Yi wood fears Geng and Xin metal most. Xin metal is the seven-killing star of Yi wood, following the principle of yin metal overcoming yin wood. Geng metal is yang metal, like a giant stone crushing vines.

The sword sliced through the Eight Winds with a sharp whistle, aiming directly at the Green Dragon’s head.

The Green Dragon’s eyes turned cold as it reared back and roared wildly.

“Aoong—”

It expelled even fiercer Eight Winds with a roaring force threatening to shatter the heavens, stirring the Yi wood energy of the entire mountain, with the power to scatter all tangible things in the world.

At that moment, Cao Kong’s eyes changed, gleaming like autumn gold—like the deadly chill of fall, yet carrying his own killing intent.

Immeasurable killing energy surged within the Geng-Xin metal sword.

This was one of the Three Killings of the Golden Luminary.

When a person’s killing intent arises, heaven and earth are overturned!

Using the killing intent in one’s heart to unite spirit, energy, and power, the sword could tear apart the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit; even shred the vitality of a place, causing all things to wither.

Within that speck of golden essence flowed an almost endless stream of Dao energy into the Geng-Xin sword, as if the blade sensed its master’s murderous will.

It sought to cleave heaven and earth, shake mountains and rivers, and shatter all established order.

The sword’s radiance displayed two colors: gold infused with white, drawing upon the celestial power of the Golden Luminary star.

This action inadvertently triggered the Golden Luminary star’s heavenly light to illuminate Green Dragon Mountain, continuously amplifying the sword’s power to a level even Cao Kong found difficult to control.

Originally, the star’s power drawn was residual, but now Venus’s intervention invisibly aligned with the principle of “authority.”

The Green Dragon felt a sudden chill. It was a rootless wood; if struck by this sword, even if it retained vitality, it would no longer be able to resurrect.

“Do not strike with that sword! I am the Green Dragon. I swear not to seek resurrection again. I can become the vine wood clinging to you, protect your great path, and help you strengthen the Eight Winds.”

Cao Kong observed the Green Dragon’s obscure words and curved his lips into a faint smile.

“Do you agree?” the Green Dragon asked.

But immediately, its heart plunged into an abyss, for that smile was so cold.

Then came a single word, like a divine decree:

“Strike!”

Still more to come, rest now, and rise to continue striving!