Chapter 858: The National Fortune Dragon

Chapter 858: Chapter 858: The National Fortune Dragon

The National Fortune Dragon soared into the sky, then coiled above the imperial palace dome of Xuanwu Kingdom.

With a resonant roar it took flight into the firmament.

Then the entire capital began to tremble — gently, with no great force. Standing in place, mortals felt only a slight quiver of their heads.

But in moments it stopped entirely, as though nothing had happened.

Yet that National Fortune Dragon had appeared in the sky for all to see.

Everyone began to speak of the yellow dragon that had revealed its form, roared, and flown into the heavens.

Some took it as a blessing. Others as a calamity. Some said it was an immortal’s handiwork.

On Xuanwang Street in the capital.

An elderly Daoist cultivator at the Spirit Transformation stage — wearing a hat, carrying a banner — stood dumbstruck, listening to the ceaseless chatter along the avenue, watching the National Fortune flood dragon rise into the sky.

Then, in a realm invisible to mortal eyes, it dissolved into the National Fortune Blessings and scattered outward.

The largest portion — nearly half — circled back to the palace.

But the fortune that had flowed away was already terrifying in its magnitude.

"Strange... strange..." The Spirit Transformation old Daoist clutched his banner, his expression one of shock.

Such an act of redirecting National Fortune required the sitting monarch’s authority — a formal decree, stamped by the State-Stabilizing Seal, to take effect.

But this was not something a monarch could do simply by wishing it. Otherwise, National Fortune Dragons across the world would have been caged long ago, turned into resources for the immortal sects.

The National Fortune Dragon possessed a spirit.

It was false, yet not false.

It was wrong, yet not wrong.

Though the National Fortune Dragon could not overrule the monarch’s choice, it could refuse a decree so outrageous as to ask its own national fortune to take flight and die in sacrifice.

The only plausible explanation was that the Emperor of Xuanwu Kingdom had made this choice — and the National Fortune Dragon had accepted it, even at the cost of its own dissolution.

The question now was... what decision could make the National Fortune feel that even its own death was worthwhile?

What kind of undertaking could inspire a National Fortune Dragon to act this way?

The greater the cost, the greater the reward.

The old Spirit Transformation Daoist stared at the palace for a long time. Then he stepped forward and began walking toward it.

Life is but an illusion. Cultivation is a thousand forms.

There are ten thousand techniques. Some cultivate karma.

The technique the old Daoist practiced dealt in exactly this kind of mystical reasoning he had never fully understood himself.

But today, the death of this National Fortune Dragon had allowed him to catch a glimpse of a great shift in the world’s fortune... one that would overturn everything.

If his own Dao resonance could touch such heaven-spanning karma — what manner of benefit might that bring?

The old Daoist did not hesitate.

Even if what lay ahead was hell itself, he wanted to see what a heaven-and-earth-shaking hell looked like.

As the old Daoist neared the palace gates, he saw a group of Confucian scholars adjusting their caps and walking in the same direction.

And this group was not the only one.

The old Daoist stopped and watched as batches of scholars and students — scattered, yet unbroken — began making their way toward the palace.

Every last one of them bore some trace of the National Fortune Dragon’s blessing upon their persons.

The old Spirit Transformation Daoist stared blankly, then covered his mouth, laughing silently and wildly.

So this was Li Junzi?

A great Confucian dismissed as delusional. A great Confucian mocked as impractical.

When the old Daoist had come to Xuanwu Kingdom, he had heard about Li Junzi’s New Policy. He had heard about Li Junzi’s absurd ambition to become a Sub-Sage.

And that to pursue this ambition, she had incited the monarch to become a tyrant — to slaughter and suppress with force.

Along the way, condemnation had far outweighed praise.

Insults swept like a flood. The kindest words came only from those same Confucian scholars.

The old Daoist had believed he had observed carefully, and had given his own verdict on Li Junzi — ruthless and cunning, nothing more.

But today, seeing this sight — seeing the yellow dragon die in sacrifice.

Seeing the National Fortune Blessings scatter. Seeing a road that was uncertain and new — even a Spirit Transformation cultivator felt his entire body go numb.

If the New Policy was only the beginning.

Then the road Li Junzi intended to walk next was the true transcendence.

If the yellow dragon’s sacrifice was only the beginning.

Then how rugged would the path ahead be?

"Sub-Sage..." the old Spirit Transformation Daoist murmured. "Li Junzi..."

If the New Policy was not enough to pioneer.

Then what Li Junzi planned to do next would be nothing less than the creation of a new world.

The old Daoist walked to the palace gates. He did not rely on his Spirit Transformation cultivation to force anything. Instead, he respectfully requested an audience from the guards, who were still somewhat dazed by what had transpired.

Whether it was Zhao Xuan, who had bet everything and gone all in, or Li Junzi, who had orchestrated this vast game and endured endless misinterpretation without ever questioning whether she was right or wrong...

The old Spirit Transformation Daoist offered them both his highest respect.

Inside the Imperial Palace of Xuanwu Kingdom.

Half of the returning fortune-dragon blessing flowed back into Zhao Xuan’s body, coalescing again into the State-Stabilizing Seal — now much smaller.

After all, the nation had not collapsed. Even after the yellow dragon’s death, the flow of fortune continued.

But this time, the loss was enormous. The true awareness within the seal might never awaken.

Its protective power would be greatly diminished.

Zhao Xuan’s face was much paler. He reached out and gently touched the State-Stabilizing Seal, now rather small and delicate.

The remaining portion flowed directly into Li Junzi’s body.

As State Preceptor, Li Junzi already stood at the pinnacle of Xuanwu Kingdom in both contribution and status. Under these Fortune Blessings, she was the one who received the greatest share.

Zhao Xuan raised his eyes to look at Li Junzi, whose complexion had improved noticeably. He smiled bitterly and spoke:

"I am dull-witted... and aging. The matters ahead — I can only rely on you, Sir Li."

Li Junzi cupped her hands: "I shall devote myself entirely."

Zhao Xuan let out a breath of relief, a hint of genuine satisfaction finally crossing his face.

"Your Majesty, a joint delegation of scholars, officials, and students from various schools requests an audience at the gate."

Before the person had even entered, the eunuch’s urgent voice carried in from outside.

Accompanying him was the palace’s resident Nascent Soul elder.

The eunuch had barely stepped inside when the Nascent Soul elder crossed the threshold behind him.

The elder bowed to Zhao Xuan first, then his gaze swept over Li Junzi and the State-Stabilizing Seal on the desk.

Zhao Xuan saw the Nascent Soul patron arrive and braced his weakened body:

"Thank you for coming, Patron. I am fine."

The Nascent Soul elder straightened and turned his gaze to Li Junzi. After studying her for a long moment, he bowed deeply to her.

Then, without a word, he dissipated and vanished from the hall — as though he had never been there.

Zhao Xuan’s expression eased. He looked at the eunuch:

"The rest of the matters... Sir Li will decide everything."

Li Junzi looked toward the hall doors and did not stand on ceremony:

"Show them all in."

To truly accomplish something great, one could not do it alone.

In the old days, a Sub-Sage had certainly done her own preparation — but she also needed a monarch willing to step forward and champion her cause.

Today.

They also needed scholars who believed in learning and understanding, who were willing to give of themselves.

They were willing to change everything — for this land and its people.

Together.

Without fear of death.