Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 17 The Dragonborn Returns
The capital city of Da Yao, the Star-Gazing Platform.

The entire observatory is arranged in the shape of a yin-yang symbol, with the raised jade floor representing yang and the recessed pool representing yin. From the raised area, one can see a clear, bright sky, while in the pool, it is nighttime, with the stars reflected on the surface.

In the Yang region, rows of incense burners were set up, their flames reaching the sky and drawing in the clouds, moving like troops in formation. They were particularly engaged in a fierce struggle with the large vortex in the northeast, like two blankets being pulled apart. After all, the Dragonborn were constantly gathering the clouds from the planets outside the heavens to maintain their passage to the planets, but this had reduced the amount of rain and dew available to the northern regions of the Great Yao.

In the Yin region, the stars reflected in the pool flickered with the immense energy emanating from the pavilion. Their starlight, like sharp swords, was guided and scattered upon those unruly lands, bringing frost or whipping up fierce winds. Each star held a different meaning—drought, flood, misfortune, or good fortune—and the Astronomical Minister regulated these shining stars to harmonize with the divination of the world.

This was a battle of magic, a battle that lasted for three years. The Great Divine God took advantage of the convergence of dragon energy throughout the world to repel many invading forces in the starry sky, especially the "evil dragon clan" that attempted to return to the world.

From the perspective of the Grand Astrologers, these dragon descendants who fled beyond the heavens from the previous dynasty are incredibly ignorant! Other extraterrestrial races have all left the rich and prosperous states of the Grand Astrologer's territory to settle in the surrounding wild lands, but you bunch of down-and-outs actually want to descend directly to the northern interior region! You really have no sense of proportion.

That being said, the area within the pass was indeed the fiefdom of these dragon clans during the previous dynasty (Cheng Dynasty), but now the land has owners.

…Heaven may tolerate some transgressions, but humanity despises these immigrants…

At the beginning of the 25th year of the Xu Tian calendar, the conflict ended, and a vast aurora spread from the north, covering most of the Yao Dynasty. This strange celestial phenomenon foreshadowed the return of the Dragonborn.

If it weren't for the Grand Astrologers disrupting the starlight projection, the Haotian Dragon Clan could easily open the "Gate Between the Two Realms" in the fertile land of the Xiren Realm. However, given the current situation of conflicting Dao forces, the dragon descendants of the Haotian Realm can only open the "Gate" at the north and south magnetic poles of the planet (what the Daoists call the "Gap in the Sky") and reach this realm (this planet) through this gap.

In the Northern Wilderness region, a spatial gate unfolds. The gate is roughly circular, and the frame is a swimming dragon that encircles the gate, extending the spatial boundaries.

The first to leap out of the Dragon Gate were the dragon-horse cavalrymen flapping their dragon wings in the air. Such mounts can also be seen in the Xiren Realm, or rather, they are the same species as those in the Xiren Realm.

Of course, after evolving in different places for tens of thousands of years, and especially due to the erosion of energy from other worlds, the dragon-horses of the two places still retain considerable differences in their tail scales and teeth. The native dragon-horses have upturned tusks like wild boars, while the dragon-horses of the Haotian Realm have downturned tusks like saber-toothed tigers.

After the Dragon Horse troops surged out, the Heavenly Dragon Guards, carrying spears enchanted with Primordial Stones, followed. Clad in armor and sharp weapons, they marched to the beat of the war drums, causing the earth and space to tremble with each step.

Following them were halberdiers, armored crossbowmen, and musketeers carrying two-meter-long muskets.

Besides the dragon race itself, there were also otherworldly troops hired from the Haotian Realm, such as high elf archers with slender bodies who could shoot blazing rockets, and dwarves with short, heavily armored bodies.

Long before the end of the Haotian Realm, some of the Haotian Dragon Clan’s sons foresaw that the catastrophe was irreversible. Therefore, these powerful sons traveled throughout the Haotian Realm, collecting materials and even borrowing the power of chaotic and destructive forces to build an ascension gate to the Xiren Realm.

…In addition, another force that had traveled through time also gained control of the situation. …

In the northern wilderness, the Haotian Dragon Army's fortresses quickly took root. After the rammed earth walls were erected, a dragon swirled in the sky, opening its mouth to spew out bluish-white dragon breath. As the dragon's flames burned through, a miracle occurred: the rammed earth walls became solid and white, as if made of stone. Subsequently, the craftsmen built beams and tiles on these fortresses as much as possible.

The northern frontier is desolate, with few trees. These city towers with green-tiled roofs are essentially "cave dwellings," meaning they could have been built without the tiles. They were simply adorned with beautiful tiles. However, the Dragonborn's pride as a civilized people wouldn't allow them to be considered barbarians.

An oriental dragon, spewing azure flames, descended in the city center. As the city's array rotated, and under the penetrating analysis of yin-yang divination energy, the dragon's form shrank, quickly transforming into a tiny human figure that landed below.
Only after the glowing Eastern dragon had transformed could it be seen that it was a woman.

After the dragon descended, a maidservant draped a magnificent silk robe over her shoulders.
Pu'e is the name of this dragon descendant. As the granddaughter of the Dragon Emperor, she is the most outstanding of her generation, mastering the ability to freely switch between dragon and human forms in just three hundred years.

At the end of the Haotian Realm, the Dragon Emperor led his people to spread across several new known planets in the starry sea. These new generations of Haotian Dragons, upon arriving at planets with weak native civilizations, directly replaced them. Of course, when returning to their ancestral planet, the Xiren Realm, the older generation of dragons should have held a certain degree of awe for this warning. However, Pu'e, accustomed to arrogance in other worlds, represented the radical faction among the dragon descendants. She had received a warning from the Great Emperor of the Xiren Realm while traversing the stars, but for this faction of dragon sons, such a warning only spurred them to establish a firm foothold here.

"To rebuild the eternal Celestial Empire in this world!" This was Pu'e's promise to the people who had migrated with her.

At this moment, in addition to her native identity, Pu'e also had another identity: a "time traveler." Before entering the hall, she activated her time travel system. This system was also visible only to the user.

However, if you compare her system with Xuan Chong's system, you will find that the interfaces are similar, with only slight differences in details.

The slogan on Xuan Chong's system interface is "morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor," while her system says "both intelligent and brave."

The progenitor of the Haotian Dragon Clan, after transforming into human form, mated with a human woman, and their offspring became Dragon Descendants. Dragon Descendants are generally born in human form; if their dragon blood does not awaken, they are like ordinary people, at most somewhat robust. However, once their dragon blood awakens, they can transform into dragons.

Pu'e awakened at the age of ten, leaped over the Dragon Gate within a century, and remained unchanged between human and dragon forms for three hundred years. As a fourth-generation dragon descendant, after switching to dragon form, she was no weaker than those third-generation dragon descendants who had lived for a thousand years, and even comparable to the children of the Dragon Emperors. — This cannot be explained simply by being a genius.

Pu'e's system marked the transformation process between the "dragon" and "human" forms, including various organs and neural tissues. If compared, this "digital simulation" is remarkably similar to the process of Xiaoqing switching between the "human" and "snake monster" forms when Xuan Chong activated the restored gem.
That is, the same technological evolution, only the resulting system is more complex.

Pu'e put a luminous pearl in her mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. Pu'e's white and lustrous hair grew out like a waterfall. She seemed to think the snack was delicious, so she chewed another one.

Leaning back in the cool jade chair, munching on snacks, Pu'e opened her system and casually asked, "Xiao Yun, now that we've arrived in this plane, when can we draw cards?"

Transmigration System: "Your General Card is being prepared—you should know that the 'General Soul' needs to be localized and matched in this plane, creating a similar growth experience and a compatible will."

Pu'e leaned back in her chair. The jade chair and the bronze pillars of the palace were indeed magnificent, but they were far too cold and gloomy for ordinary humans. It would be uncomfortable for ordinary people to live here. However, the master of this palace was a powerful dragon.

Pu'e asked with a hint of anticipation in her eyes, "I calculated that this is my forty-fifth draw. This is the pity system, you know?" The system replied, "It's a male card."

Pu'e nodded in satisfaction. As a dragon, well, dragon nature is something like that again. This is quite normal.

…As a transmigrator, I am familiar with the operating procedures of my own system, but not with those of others…

Inside Tianchi City, as rows of ballistae were gradually cocked, a military officer watched Wu Hanluan with concern. Wu Hanluan remained expressionless, then suddenly swung his sword down, pointing the ballistae at Wu Hengyu, who was currently riding a Suanni named Wuzhui. The Suanni looked down disdainfully at the ballistae a hundred paces away, as if they were mere clay chickens and earthen dogs; while Wu Hengyu, carrying the Xinghan Spear, looked like a dashing star on a red carpet.

As Wu Hanluan swung his sword, the ballistae began to fire rapidly.

On the shooting range, Wu Hengyu, seemingly "ignorant" and "fearless," was completely terrified. However, just as the crossbow bolts flew within twenty paces, Wuzhui suddenly moved. Its movement was quite peculiar; its original shadow dissipated like smoke and dust, and then it appeared in another location with Wu Hengyu.

The crossbow bolt pierced through his side and struck the ground. Three bolts embedded themselves in the ground, while one of them struck a rock, shattering it into several fragments that grazed past Wu Hengyu without causing him any harm.

That is, when the crossbow bolts were aimed at Wu Hengyu, Wu Hengyu had already mentally deduced the trajectory of the crossbow's projectiles and avoided them. He even knew in advance about the potential for scratches from the stone fragments.

On the city wall, Wu Hanluan ordered: "Release them again."

Facing the second wave of crossbow bolts below the city, Wu Hengyu did not dodge directly. Instead, he raised his Xinghan Spear, the tip of which transformed into a sharp double-edged blade, cleaving the incoming crossbow bolts in two, just like a bamboo being split by an axe. The crossbow shafts were also split open in the same way.

Just as the ballista operator hurriedly rubbed his eyes, in the blink of an eye, Wuzhui had already carried Wu Hengyu directly onto the city wall.

As Wu Hengyu ascended the city wall to report to Wu Hanluan, the generals on the wall offered their congratulations on his outstanding martial arts skills. Their congratulations were delivered in a flurry of activity, as if they were presenting gifts to a superior who had been promoted. At this moment, Wu Hengyu might not remember everyone who offered congratulations, but he would definitely remember anyone who didn't.

Wu Hanluan stroked his beard slightly at his son's performance: He had long known of Wu Hengyu's abilities. Just like when he introduced Wu Fei to the generals, this was all a show, to display the most outstanding and convincing side of the younger generation of the Wu family to his generals.

Wu Hengyu's strength lies in charging into enemy lines, and while his ability to do so is formidable, he is not invincible on the battlefield. The environment of malevolent energy on the battlefield is extremely complex. Once soldiers form a battle formation, the wall of malevolent energy they create is far more powerful than what was seen in the previous drills. In those drills, the first wave of crossbow bolts was used sparingly and did not carry much malevolent energy, while the second wave did. However, when the second arrow was deflected by the Xinghan Spear, and the artillery crew saw Wu Hengyu charge onto the city wall, the malevolent energy dissipated.

The malevolent energy has corrosive power, causing objects to age. Hundreds of soldiers with a fighting spirit can make those charging into battle feel as if they are under immense pressure.

Wu Hengyu had just accomplished all of this in perfect condition. Wu Hanluan then had Wu Hengyu sit down beside him. Next, they would wait for another young talent from the Wu family to arrive in Tianchi City. Now, like father, like son; brothers fighting side by side.

…Six hours later, outside Skywing City…

The three hundred troops who originally set out from Yongji Pass arrived at the pass after a ten-day march north. Wu Fei put away the marching formation chart and, from within the ranks, relayed the order for the troops to switch positions.

The original "short and stubby" marching formation began to become "long and thin" to adapt to the city gate ahead. The "short and stubby" marching formation was to facilitate rapid adjustment into a combat formation, avoiding the predicament of the Ming army in the Battle of Sarhu. When approaching their own main camp, they changed into a "long and thin" formation to avoid blockage when entering the pass, allowing supplies and weapons to enter the pass as quickly as possible.

As Wu Fei issued his order, the lightly armored infantry at the front began to trot, while the middle column split into three horizontal lines, with horses and vehicles having their own lane in the middle.

On the city gate of Tianchi City, Wu Hengyu stood on the battlements, watching the army marching below the city with a burning gaze, but deliberately showed an indifferent attitude, while Wu Hanluan behind him stroked his beard.

……

"(It took) only the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn before carriages and horses passed through the city gate."

On the city wall, the gatekeeper bowed to Wu Hanluan and then spoke.

Wu Hanluan nodded, then glanced at Wu Hengyu, implying that it was someone else's child, but Wu Hengyu pretended not to see it.

The details of Wu Fei's troops passing through the city gate are also worth examining. After determining how many other civilian caravans were waiting to enter the city, he first sent a group of people to intercept the caravans and guide them to an open area outside the city gate to wait. Another group of people on horseback conveyed the order to the city gate official.

After confirming that it was safe to enter the city, the troops were instructed to move to the center of the main road. Meanwhile, the soldiers were instructed to reassure (warn) the civilian caravans to wait patiently. Five incense sticks were placed in prominent locations along the roadside, and the cavalrymen cracked their whips to announce that the road blockade would be lifted once the incense had burned out.

Therefore, the waiting caravan stared at the burning incense without making a sound. Some people in the caravan who thought they had connections also refrained from making a fuss, watching the extraordinary army pass by like a spectator.

The baggage train and cavalry entered the city in a very short time. Then, the troops entered the city in formation from the right, while the caravans exited from the right, without interfering with each other. Both the timing and the discipline of the formations were breathtaking.

Merchants and several wealthy townspeople, who had been led to wait by the roadside, also peered out from their carriages to observe the border troops' disciplined and orderly conduct. This imposing military presence was something that was not seen in the escort agency's cavalry, which, even when they had more men, still appeared to be rushing around like a market when crossing mountains.

Wu Hengyu, who was summoned by his father to greet his cousin, no longer mentioned his previous saying, "In warfare, only the general's courage matters."

Although Wu Hengyu had only a superficial understanding of military strategy, he had nonetheless put it into practice and knew the art of war. Besides conquering cities and capturing strongholds, he understood that there were differences in the effectiveness of campaigning and garrisoning. However, being a man of strong character, he would never admit this openly.

(End of this chapter)