On the Dragon-Slaying Platform, I was executed and became Yang Jian's brother-in-law.

"Without Su Bai, the human race could not have achieved its current prosperity!"

"You, Zhang Daoling, might not even have the chance to be born! Let alone achieve enlightenment!"

The Yellow Emperor became more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice trembled.

"And now you're making things so difficult for his reincarnation?"

"What are you doing?"

"Abandoning their ancestors! Ingratitude!"

"You...you're a traitor!"

The last four words exploded in Zhang Daoling's mind like a thunderclap!

Traitor?

Zhang Daoling was completely stunned.

He never expected that the Yellow Emperor would slap such a huge label on him!

Traitor?

This is a crime even more serious than being a traitor!

"Your Majesty!" Zhang Daoling cried out anxiously, "You've misunderstood! That's not what I meant!"

"This humble Taoist priest is merely..."

"Just what?" the Yellow Emperor interrupted him. "Just to convict him? Just to have his soul scattered?"

"Zhang Daoling, do you know what you're doing?"

"You are of human origin!"

"The human race's current state owes much to the contributions of that senior Yinglong!"

"Now you're targeting his reincarnation? What is this if not treason?"

Every word the Yellow Emperor uttered struck Zhang Daoling's heart like a whip.

Zhang Daoling's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He wanted to explain, but didn't know how.

really...

If Su Bai's past life was indeed that of the Yinglong that helped humanity back then...

His current actions are indeed somewhat...inappropriate...

"Your Majesty..." Zhang Daoling began with difficulty, "This humble Taoist really didn't mean that..."

"This humble Taoist is merely following my teacher's instructions..."

Just then—

Another voice echoed in Zhang Daoling's mind.

The voice was calm yet majestic; it was none other than Lao Tzu!

"Daoling," Laozi's voice was unhurried, "The Yellow Emperor was right. Yinglong's assistance to the human race back then was indeed a great act of merit."

"Humanity should never forget this kindness."

Zhang Daoling felt a sense of relief.

It seems the teacher agrees with this...

however--

Lao Jun then changed the subject: "But have you ever thought about this?"

"What's the problem?" Zhang Daoling asked hurriedly.

"Since Yinglong possessed immeasurable merit, why did his reincarnations become progressively worse than his previous ones?"

Lao Jun's voice carried a profound meaning.

"In its first life, it was Yinglong, how powerful was it?"

"In his second life, he was reborn as a Jiaolong (蛟龙), which, although still considered part of the dragon race, was far inferior to the Yinglong (应龙)."

"In the third incarnation, by the time of Yang Chan, she wasn't even a dragon anymore; she became a python! Just a preliminary stage before the dragon's transformation!"

"In this life, although I've become a Jiao again, I'm still just a demonic dragon, worlds apart from the Yinglong of yesteryear!"

Laozi's analysis made Zhang Daoling suddenly realize the truth.

Yup!

If Su Bai truly has immeasurable merits, Heaven should favor him!

But why is it that after he was reincarnated, each life was worse than the last?

"What does the teacher mean?" Zhang Daoling asked tentatively.

"It's very simple," Lao Jun said calmly. "This shows that he still committed a crime."

"And it's a big deal!"

"Otherwise, Heaven wouldn't have made things so difficult for him!"

"We won't let him grow weaker and more miserable with each passing life!"

"This is divine retribution!"

Laozi's words were like a sudden awakening, enlightening Zhang Daoling.

Yes!

Heaven's justice is absolute!

If Su Bai truly possessed immeasurable merit, why would Heaven punish him?

He must have done something later that violated the heavenly rules and offended the way of heaven!

That's why they were banished to the cycle of reincarnation, each life worse than the last!

"Teacher is wise!" Zhang Daoling said respectfully, "This disciple understands!"

"Yes." Lao Jun nodded. "Continue the investigation."

"The old Taoist believes that something must have happened to Yinglong afterward."

"Once the investigation is complete, the truth will naturally come to light."

"At that time, the Yellow Emperor will have nothing to say."

Zhang Daoling took a deep breath and steadied himself.

That's right!

He wants to continue the investigation!

Find out the truth!

Clear my name!

Zhang Daoling is not a traitor!

Inside the Lingxiao Palace.

Zhang Daoling sat back down, his expression returning to calm.

"King Qin Guang," he said calmly, "continue."

"Yes!"

King Qin Guang hurriedly activated the Book of Life and Death, and the scene shifted again.

Over the North Sea.

The Four Dragon Kings looked at the majestic Yinglong in the picture, their expressions growing increasingly solemn.

"No..." Ao Guang muttered to himself, "Something's not right..."

"Brother, what's wrong?" Ao Qin asked.

"Think about it," Ao Guang said in a deep voice, "Back then, when our great-uncle transformed into Yinglong, what an incredibly powerful being he was!"

"Yinglong!"

"One of the strongest forms of the dragon race!"

"Furthermore, judging from my uncle's performance in the Battle of Zhuolu, his cultivation level has probably reached the Quasi-Saint level!"

"Quasi-Saint!"

Ao Guang emphasized these two words.

"A quasi-saint level Yinglong is a top-tier powerhouse in the primordial world!"

"Unless a saint intervenes, who could kill him?"

Upon hearing this, the three dragons realized what was happening.

Yup!

A quasi-saint level Yinglong...

In the Three Realms, this is absolutely a top-tier existence!

"But my great-uncle still perished later..." Ao Run frowned, "and was even reincarnated..."

"What does this mean?" Ao Shun interjected.

The four dragons looked at each other in bewilderment.

"This means..." Ao Guang took a deep breath, his voice heavy, "Unless it's a Quasi-Saint level being, or even higher, making a move!"

"Otherwise, there's no way we could have dealt with our great-uncle!"

Upon hearing this, the three dragons simultaneously gasped in shock.

Quasi-Saint level?

Even higher?

Doesn't that mean...?

saint?

"What exactly did my great-uncle go through back then?" Ao Guang murmured to himself.

Why would you provoke such a being?

The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas were filled with doubt and unease.

Their great-uncle...

Who exactly did they offend?

Inside the Lingxiao Palace.

The immortals, watching the majestic Yinglong in the scene, which helped the Yellow Emperor slay Chiyou and lay the foundation for the human race, were filled with emotion.

Just then—

A murmur of whispers drifted from the direction of Mount Ling in the west.

"Amitabha..." Manjushri Bodhisattva clasped his hands together, a half-smile playing on his lips, "This Senior Yinglong truly possesses immeasurable merit."

"Yes, yes," Bodhisattva Samantabhadra chimed in, his voice laced with sarcasm, "First, he pushed the Dragon Clan to submit to the Heavenly Court, thus establishing the Heavenly Court's first core group."

"Later, they assisted the human race in the Battle of Zhuolu, enabling the human race to defeat the Jiuli and laying the foundation for the human race to become the protagonist of the prehistoric world."

"This achievement, wow..."

Manjushri shook his head: "It can be said that the Heavenly Court and the human race owe their current status largely to Senior Yinglong!"

"A true hero who led humanity to great prosperity!"

"A true hero!"

The Buddhist monks spoke one after another, seemingly praising the monks, but the sarcasm in their tone was impossible to conceal.

"However..." Maitreya Buddha suddenly spoke, a signature smile on his face, "this humble monk is rather curious."

"The Dragon Clan has been under the Heavenly Court's command for so many years, how are they doing now?"

Upon hearing this, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas echoed his sentiments.

"Yeah, yeah, how are the dragons doing these days?"

"I've heard... the dragon race doesn't seem to have a very high status in the Heavenly Court?"

"Not only not tall?" one of the Arhats said sarcastically. "I heard that even the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas have to pull the Great Heavenly Venerable's chariot!"

"Pulling a cart?"

"That's right, when the Great Celestial Venerable travels, isn't it always in a dragon chariot? And those chariots are pulled by the dragons themselves!"