"This sword, I shall reclaim for the Heavenly Sect, Xiaoyao Zi."
Daniel Davis pulled the Xueji Sword from Xiaoyao Zi's chest, his eyes scanning the fallen leader briefly before shifting to Yan Dan, who was struggling back to his feet. Although Xiaoyao Zi had briefly survived thanks to the Daoist healing technique Ten Thousand Things Renew, the wound was fatal, and this was merely a fleeting moment of clarity.
"Enough, Yan Dan. It's time. Unleash the Mechanical Azure Dragon. Let me witness the legendary machine said to hail from the age of Emperor Xuanyuan."
The Mohist Four Sacred Mechanical Beasts—White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise—were remarkable achievements, yet Daniel doubted the Mohists had the capability to create something as advanced as the Mechanical Azure Dragon. The dragon's overwhelming power suggested it was far beyond the Mohists' technology, even with their mastery of mechanized constructs.
"The Azure Dragon, a creation of the Mohists? You must be joking," Daniel said. "This city wasn't built as a utopia but as a vault to hide the Azure Dragon. The reason the Mohists never deployed it isn't their philosophy of Universal Love or Non-Offense—it's because activating the Azure Dragon means the destruction of the city itself. Isn't that right, Yan Dan?"
"What… how do you know this?" Yan Dan's shock at Daniel's revelations was written across his face. The secret of the Mechanical Azure Dragon was known only to the Mohist leadership, passed down through the generations.
Daniel smirked. "I know far more than you can imagine. Did you think I came all this way to deal with your pitiful rebellion? No. My true purpose has always been the Azure Dragon."
At that moment, the ground trembled violently, followed by an earth-shattering roar echoing through the Mechanical City.
The Awakening of the Azure Dragon
As the quakes intensified, cracks snaked across the ground and walls. Daniel turned to Tian Yan and gave her a signal before vanishing from the hall.
"Yan Dan, the Azure Dragon is activated. You should leave."
Watching Daniel disappear so casually, Yan Dan seethed. The Grandmaster's dismissive attitude made it clear: Yan Dan, the Crown Prince of Yan and leader of the Mohists, wasn't even worth his attention.
"Giant, you—" Zhang Liang hesitated, unsure how to console Yan Dan. Even his renowned intellect was powerless against the overwhelming strength Daniel displayed.
Power and wisdom must go hand in hand; otherwise, one becomes either an easily exploited brute or a powerless schemer. In this moment, Zhang Liang understood that he lacked the balance required to counter someone like Daniel.
Yan Dan clenched his fists. "Don't worry. I will kill him, no matter the cost. The rest is up to you."
With that, he turned and headed deeper into the collapsing city. Zhang Liang and Wei Zhuang exchanged a glance before retreating. They knew better than to waste their lives here.
The ground beneath the Mechanical City split open. From the ruins emerged a colossal construct: the Mechanical Azure Dragon.
Spanning nearly thirty meters, the dragon gleamed in shades of blue, its metallic surface reflecting the sunlight. Massive wings unfurled on either side, clearly designed for both propulsion and stability. Its head, adorned with sharp ridges, housed a large cockpit. Clawed limbs completed the machine, lending it a blend of mechanical ingenuity and an almost otherworldly beauty.
"So, it's like a mechanized mecha-dragon," Daniel mused, noting the cockpit beneath the dragon's head.
Within the cockpit, Yan Dan sat gripping the controls. He stared in disbelief at the figure floating in mid-air before him.
"He's flying… a human, flying?" Yan Dan muttered, his voice trembling.
The Mohists had mastered flight with their Mechanical Vermilion Birds, but a person flying unaided was beyond anything Yan Dan had imagined.
From below, Zhang Liang and Wei Zhuang, having narrowly escaped the city's collapse, also spotted Daniel hovering in the sky. Their faces darkened. The last shred of hope they had placed in the Azure Dragon seemed to waver.
"Die!" Yan Dan roared.
The Azure Dragon opened its maw, unleashing a torrent of flames. The fiery inferno engulfed the area, turning the sky red and consuming Daniel in a sea of fire.
The Clash
"Impressive power. The range even exceeds Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation," Daniel murmured, encased in a shield of concentrated energy. While the flames would devastate armies, they barely fazed him.
From below, Yan Dan, Zhang Liang, and Wei Zhuang allowed themselves a moment of relief. In their minds, nothing could survive such a conflagration.
But then, a voice cut through the fire.
"Wood Dragon Jutsu."
The flames parted as a massive wooden dragon surged forth, coiling around the Azure Dragon with incredible speed. The wooden construct, spanning hundreds of meters, tightened its grip, immobilizing the mechanical beast.
Yan Dan struggled with the controls, trying to free the Azure Dragon, but it was no use.
"This thing is sturdy," Daniel muttered, noting how the dragon's wings remained intact despite the immense force applied by the wooden dragon. "Still, it's time to end this."
With a blur of motion, Daniel appeared above the Azure Dragon. Channeling his strength, he drove a devastating kick into its head. The impact sent the mechanical construct hurtling downward like a meteor.
The crash shook the mountain range, sending plumes of dust and debris into the air.
"Such a shame," Daniel said, hovering above the wreckage. "I wanted to destroy it during the Red Star Ascension. Oh well."
Aftermath
The dust cleared, revealing the Azure Dragon lodged in a massive crater. Its once-pristine surface was now battered and scarred. With a gesture, Daniel used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to create massive wooden arms that dragged the dragon out of the crater.
He landed gracefully atop the machine and tore open the cockpit, pulling out a defeated Yan Dan.
"The Azure Dragon was disappointing," Daniel said, shaking his head. "Not because it's weak, but because I'm too strong."
Using his abilities, Daniel searched Yan Dan's memories, confirming his suspicions. The Azure Dragon's power was immense but limited by its energy consumption. The fuel required to maintain its devastating attacks was unsustainable for prolonged use.
"You hoped to destroy Xianyang with this? Foolish. Even if you succeeded, Ying Zheng would escape. All you'd accomplish is earning eternal infamy."
Yan Dan glared at him, his spirit broken.
"Gentlemen," Daniel said, turning to Zhang Liang and Wei Zhuang. "Let's have a conversation."
"You think we'll agree to anything?" Wei Zhuang sneered.
"Oh, you will." Daniel smirked. "You both want to revive Korea, don't you? I have the perfect place for you."
He drew a map in the dirt, outlining an island chain to the east.
"There's plenty of space, only primitive tribes to contend with, and no interference from the Empire—at least for now. Rebuild your kingdom there."
Zhang Liang narrowed his eyes. "And when the Empire comes to take it, what then?"
"Then you'll have fulfilled your purpose," Daniel said bluntly. "Your choice: seize this chance or face total annihilation here."
It was an unmistakable ultimatum. Though they recognized it as a trap, the logic was irrefutable.
"Fine," Zhang Liang said at last. "But don't think for a second that we trust you."
"Trust?" Daniel chuckled. "You're free to distrust me. Just don't waste this opportunity. I'll give you time to gather your people. Rebuild your six nations—over there."
The deal was struck. The rebels would leave, carving out a future far from the Empire's reach—at least for now. The Empire would bide its time, ready to claim the fruits of their labor when the moment was right.
Daniel smiled. "A new beginning, far from the Central Plains. Let's see how far you get."
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