The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 200 How do you know I can't make this rain?
To say that such a profound cultivation level is comparable to that of the God of the Sun is certainly an exaggeration.

Even so, their cultivation level was far above mine.

Otherwise, how do you explain the ripples on the water mirror?
Therefore, Heilong couldn't help but repeatedly ponder Du Yuan's words. Could it be that his years of unwavering delusion had ultimately imprisoned him here?
But this shouldn't be the way Xi Shen is. In his memory, Xi Shen has always been straightforward and decisive; once he imprisoned him, he would never leave any room for maneuver.

There is no way to extricate oneself unless He comes in person.

But there was no reason for such a major overhaul to deceive him, and besides, those words had indeed stirred up a storm in his heart.

The black dragon's gaze fixed on the lock, and the force with which its claws rubbed against the chain links unconsciously lessened, the rustling sound of its scales rubbing against metal also diminished.

Ultimately, I am merely a subordinate of the God of the Sun, and my understanding of Him mostly comes from hearsay. Perhaps the truth is as this Taoist priest says? It's just that the God of the Sun has never mentioned it to me.

After all, this is something you realize on your own; how can you realize it if someone else tells you?
After hesitating for a while, the black dragon looked at Du Yuan, who was standing on the water mirror: "Daoist, according to what you said, how should I extricate myself? I really can't bear the suffering of being imprisoned at the bottom of this well any longer."

The voice contained the weariness accumulated over ten thousand years.

He really couldn't take it anymore.

When he was imprisoned by the God of Dawn years ago, he thought he would be free in a thousand years at most. In terms of the lifespan of a true dragon, a thousand years is not a blink of an eye, but it is not something to be afraid of either.

Who would have thought that even after the cataclysmic upheaval that turned the world upside down, they would still be trapped here.

Over the years, he had thought about ending his life countless times, but he never had the courage to do so.

Therefore, even Du Yuan could clearly hear the sincerity in his words.

Du Yuan lowered her head and saw that his huge head had drooped down, and most of the ferocity she had seen before had disappeared, replaced by a look of bewilderment like a trapped beast.

If it's just a prisoner wanting to get out and no longer wanting to be imprisoned, then he's naturally very sincere.

This doesn't prove that he truly repented.

Therefore, we still have to follow our own strategy.

"Ask yourself, is it these copper chains that bind you, or is it that incident from back then that made you unwilling to submit to the law?"

Black Dragon's thoughts drifted back to the past.

He was originally a true dragon, and his cultivation and bloodline were among the best in his clan. Although he dared not utter a single word of criticism against the God of the Sun, he was unwilling to toil and struggle every day just to bring rain to mortals.

As time went on, they gradually became perfunctory. At first, they were just resentful, but later they dared to delay for a moment and adjust the amount slightly.

Seeing that no one was held accountable, they grew increasingly emboldened, no longer caring about the timing of rainfall and deciding the amount of rain to be given entirely at their whim. Until that day—

The God of the Sun issued a decree, ordering him to immediately travel to the Sea of ​​No Worries and disperse the clouds and rain.

Although he set off immediately, it was not out of reverence for the imperial decree. He feared that the messenger, Gan Linwei, would impeach him for negligence in the Cloud and Rain Dispatch Department, and he was even more afraid that the matter would reach Xi Shen.

Since Wuyouhai was far outside his jurisdiction, his resentment grew stronger on the road.

He cursed inwardly: "The Cloud and Rain Dispatch Office has many gods, both big and small, and there are quite a few dragons around the Sea of ​​No Worries. Why did they have to send someone from so far away?"
As his resentment surged, a wicked thought suddenly arose in his mind. Instead of delaying any longer, he sped up and arrived at the Sea of ​​No Worries ahead of schedule.

Upon arriving, instead of dispelling the torrential rain caused by the great magical battle, he summoned wind and rain, aiding and abetting the evildoer, turning ordinary flooding into a catastrophic disaster. Only when the surrounding seventeen cities were completely submerged and corpses littered the fields did he finally prepare to disperse the rain, satisfied.

At that very moment, the god of dawn, who was far away in another heaven, glanced at this place for some unknown reason, and then...
Thinking of this, the black dragon was nearly terrified. The God of the Sun hadn't even shown himself, nor had he sent a high-ranking official to arrest and punish him; he had simply hurled a long bronze chain down from the sky. In a single glance, it was firmly bound, dragged, and slammed into the earth, imprisoned there forever!
Thinking of this, the black dragon said in fear:
"Daoist Master, I have long since realized my mistakes. I was indeed plagued by demonic possession in the past, which caused me to ruin everything. But, but I have been tormented for so many years, you really should let me go!"

Du Yuan nodded and stood up, then grabbed the long bronze chain that hung beside her and plunged into the water mirror.

The copper chains rattled, and the black dragon's heart pounded with unease.

It was as if the sound wasn't coming from the copper chains, but from his heart.

“Now that you’ve truly let go, things are simple,” Du Yuan said, stroking the copper chain in her hand. “Let me ask you, how long ago was the last time you tried to open this lock?”

The black dragon lowered its head slightly to look at the clasp on its claws and said:
"I can't remember exactly, I only remember trying day and night to break free and pry it open at the beginning. But later on, I never tried again."

The more one struggles, the more one realizes the vast difference between oneself and the God of the Sun.

Each struggle only brought deeper despair, a torture akin to being slowly sliced ​​to death.

Over time, even after going through so many tribulations, he never once had the slightest thought of breaking free—as long as the Water Mirror hung above his head, the prison remained as solid as a rock.

Du Yuan nodded and smiled slightly: "In that case, why not give it another try?"

The black dragon abruptly looked up at the lock between its claws, then its eyes widened in astonishment. This bronze lock was exactly the same as before!
Just as he was about to ask further questions, his pupils suddenly contracted—a few fine cracks appeared on the lock in that instant!
Suddenly, Heilong's breathing became rapid, and his chest heaved violently.

Seeing this, Du Yuan looked at him seriously and said:

"If you have truly let go, this is your moment of liberation!"

Black Dragon was oblivious to everything else; boundless ecstasy had already overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

In an indescribable surge of excitement, he suddenly pulled at the lock that had bound him for more than ten thousand years.

Only one thought remained in my mind: I'm free, finally free!
But with his sudden, forceful tug, instead of the lock breaking and the copper chain scattering, the bronze chain tightened abruptly, causing the dragon scales between his claws to crack and ooze blood. That momentary loosening had vanished like a fleeting dream!
In an instant, the black dragon raised its head and roared, filled with rage and bewilderment: "Why?! Why is this happening?! I believed you, so why am I still trapped here?!"

Du Yuan looked at him and shook her head repeatedly, then slowly spoke:
"You believe that the chains can be broken, but you don't believe in the word 'letting go.' Since you haven't let go, how can you talk about liberation?"

Upon hearing this, Heilong was once again stunned, as if struck by a heavy hammer.

He neither willingly submitted to the law nor completely relinquished his rights.

He was just scared.
After all, how could he, a true dragon, suffer such a great torment because of a bunch of mortal ants?!

Watching Black Dragon's half-hearted enlightenment attempt.

Du Yuan sighed and said:
"You, just stay here and repent properly!"

Upon hearing this, the previously dejected Black Dragon instantly lost his composure, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on. All traces of despondency vanished from his eyes, replaced by rage.
"No, you can't leave! So what if I haven't let go? If you still want this rain, you have no choice but to cooperate with me!"

"Taoist priest, let me tell you, either let me go and I'll bring you rain, or you can watch those insects outside die of thirst!"

Looking at the powerless and furious black dragon before her, the trace of pity in Du Yuan's eyes vanished completely, leaving only satisfaction at having successfully tested its true nature.

Du Yuan calmly met the black dragon's angry glare, then let out a sneer:
How do you know that this rain wouldn't fall if I didn't have you?

(End of this chapter)