Chapter 933: The Arrogance of Seizing Destiny

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Ji Yuan put down his brush and looked up towards the courtyard entrance. Almost everyone else in the courtyard was already looking in that direction. The very next moment, an old scholar arrived at the gate and bowed towards Yin Zhaoxian.

"Dean, Mr. Ying and Miss Ying have arrived!"

Behind the old scholar, the old dragon Ying Hong and the dragon girl Ying Ruoli also arrived at the courtyard gate, a step slower.

"Hahahahaha, quite a crowd here! Master Ji, since you returned so long ago, why did you only inform this old man today?"

Ji Yuan quickly stepped around the desk, bowed, and walked towards the courtyard gate.

"Indeed, it was my oversight, I was muddled!"

Yin Zhaoxian also chuckled from the side.

"Please don't take offense, Old Mr. Ying. I thought Master Ji intended to call for you earlier, but he became so engrossed discussing the books with us that he simply forgot for a moment. Please, both of you, come in quickly, come in!"

As he spoke, Yin Zhaoxian also nodded to the old scholar by the courtyard gate.

"You may go about your duties."

"Yes, Dean. You can call for me again if you need anything."

"Very well."

The old scholar actually didn't want to leave, but he had no choice. Since the Dean had spoken, he could only reluctantly depart.

Hearing Yin Zhaoxian's explanation, the old dragon's gaze swept towards Xin Wuya. Xin Wuya's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly gave a wry smile.

"Master Ji and the others didn't invite me here; I came uninvited, and late at night at that. Dragon Lord, please don't misunderstand! I merely added a preface..."

The old dragon naturally knew why Ji Yuan hadn't invited him from the start. The book primarily discusses the yin and yang of the human world. The Ying clan of Tongtian River was currently exploring the desolate sea, and whether they liked it or not, they had, to some extent, become a model for the dragon race. Even if they were cautious, it wasn't suitable for the Ying clan to be directly involved from beginning to end.

Another reason was that this book held immense significance for Wang Li and Yin Zhaoxian, relating to their respective paths. Ji Yuan, as the one orchestrating this, also needed to sort out the essence of the Yellow Springs, so he had to be involved. Apart from himself, Ji Yuan didn't want any other powerful figures to influence Wang Li and Yin Zhaoxian. Even Xin Wuya's writing of the preface was something Ji Yuan had carefully considered. However, a major purpose of this book was also to reshape the path of the Underworld, and for the Underworld Emperor to begin establishing his presence, there had to be a suitable point of entry. Hence, Xin Wuya's preface. As for the latter three volumes, they would be slightly different from the first six, delving into more profound matters, thus having less of an external impact.

"Uncle Ji, how could my father possibly blame you?"

Ying Ruoli said with an amused thought, her smile more brilliant than the blooming plum blossoms in the courtyard. Ji Yuan and the old dragon simply exchanged smiles, without any ill feelings between them. What kind of relationship did the old dragon and Ji Yuan share? Would they really fall out over something like this? It was merely their usual playful banter.

"This book, 'Yellow Springs,' is truly magnificent. It's not easy to acquire outside. But I assume you have more than just the first six volumes here, don't you?"

As the old dragon and the dragon girl entered, they politely faced everyone. Wang Li, who had just finished his greetings, couldn't help but ask curiously upon hearing the old dragon's words.

"Old Mr. Ying, coming from outside, how do you know that 'Yellow Springs' has more than six volumes?"

The old dragon and Ying Ruoli had actually been observing Wang Li. At this moment, they naturally fixed their gaze on him. After a moment of appraisal, the former replied.

"Because the path is not exhausted, and the melody has not ended, Mr. Wang. Am I correct?"

Wang Li paused, not because of the old dragon's words, but because of the old dragon's attitude towards him. He then simply smiled.

"What Old Mr. Ying says is correct."

"You two have arrived at just the right time. Help me examine this Yellow Springs illustration."

Ji Yuan gestured, and both the old dragon and the dragon girl walked over. To their surprise, on the book-sized white paper on Ji Yuan's desk, the depicted scene contained dragon shadows. Or rather, in addition to dragon shadows, there were also shadows of various monsters.

The old dragon looked at Ji Yuan with a slightly surprised expression, while Ji Yuan, with a calm face, asked in a solemn tone.

"The dragon race has two paths after death: transforming into a dragon in life, or preserving their true spirit after death. However, both are paths of extreme peril... Old Mr. Ying, Ruoli, what if there were another choice for the dragon race?"

The old dragon also looked up, fixing his gaze on Ji Yuan. Seeing his friend's serious expression, he couldn't help but frown.

"Master Ji, we are close friends, so what you say can be overlooked. However, my dragon race has always been wary of outsiders interfering with our internal affairs, especially when this path concerns our journey after death. If the Underworld's reach were to extend so far one day, it might not be good for the Underworld itself, would it?"

The old dragon's voice wasn't loud, but an imposing aura, not born of anger, slowly emanated from him. Even Yin Qing and Yin Chong instinctively slowed their breathing. The old dragon's gaze then shifted from Ji Yuan to Xin Wuya.

Xin Wuya's heart thumped wildly. Although he was now called the Underworld Emperor, honestly speaking, it was due to the favor of the Underworld, or rather, the favor of his subordinates. While his position as Underworld Emperor was stronger than many great city gods in the mortal realm, how could he compare to a true dragon, especially the flood dragon Ying Hong?

"Old Mr. Ying, please don't look at me like that. The Underworld has no untoward intentions regarding the dragon race's affairs. At least, I, the Underworld Emperor, am unaware of any!"

"Heh heh, Your Majesty, you worry too much. My father isn't someone who lacks understanding."

The dragon girl smiled, reassuring Xin Wuya. At the same time, she was a little amused. There was no helping it; her father and Uncle Ji were close friends who spoke freely about everything. If her father were to get angry, he wouldn't direct it at Uncle Ji. It was just convenient to show a bit of his attitude towards Xin Wuya.

"Ah, Old Mr. Ying, why are you frightening Emperor Xin? How can the Underworld control the dragons' journey after death? It's just that if there are dragons who don't wish to undertake that path of extreme peril, they could have an additional choice – to try the potential path of reincarnation. Who knows, with good fortune, they might even reincarnate as dragons."

As Ji Yuan explained this, the old dragon immediately broke into a wide smile.

"Hahahahaha... Now that Master Ji puts it that way, this old man does think it's feasible. But is there really a path of reincarnation?"

Seeing her father's abrupt change in demeanor, the dragon girl felt a little embarrassed to stand by him. She subtly took a few steps away, walked around the desk to Ji Yuan's side, and, covering her mouth and nose with a folding fan, pretended to admire the various Yellow Springs illustrations on the table.

In the courtyard, Yin Qing and Yin Chong had resumed reading, while Yin Zhaoxian and Wang Li sat at the table examining the manuscripts. However, everyone was naturally still paying attention to Ji Yuan's side.

Ji Yuan looked at Xin Wuya, who took a few steps closer and said with emotion.

"Although the path of rebirth is difficult to explore, it is not an illusion. In the main hall of my Underworld, there is a grand hall, unlike any other in the realm of the dead, named the 'Hall of Rebirth.' It records hundreds of individuals who, after their souls returned to the heavens and earth, were reborn as humans!"

"After their souls returned to the heavens and earth? Were they all ordinary people?"

The old dragon looked at Ji Yuan, who nodded gently. It was widely known that "souls returning to heaven and earth" meant the complete dissipation of all primordial spirits, transforming into various elemental energies of the world. Moreover, an ordinary mortal's primordial spirit was weak at the moment of soul dissipation, so how could they possibly have another life? But Ji Yuan and Xin Wuya would not and did not need to deceive them about this.

"Uncle Ji... You're not planning to contend with Heaven and Earth for this path, are you? This..."

Ji Yuan glanced sideways at the dragon girl beside him, whose eyes were wide with shock, and chuckled.

"How could I possibly control such a path? This path cannot be controlled by any individual. However... if it belongs to the entire Underworld and benefits all beings in heaven and earth, then I can certainly help promote it!"

Saying that was not much different from directly admitting it! The dragon girl's mouth slightly agape. She knew that Uncle Ji was her father's close friend and, deep down, was as proud as her father. However, he rarely showed it. Yet, whenever a hint of it appeared, it was enough to shake one's soul.

"It seems then, that this path of Yellow Springs might not be false after all? This book..."

The old dragon's gaze swept over the stack of manuscripts in Yin Qing and Yin Chong's hands, then over the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on the various desks, finally returning to Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan, without waiting for him to speak, said.

"The path of the Yellow Springs described in this book has not yet manifested, but it will eventually appear. In the ancient era of great contention, the Yellow Springs led to destruction. Countless years have passed... Now, in the Underworld, the Yellow Springs should reappear..."

The old dragon's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Ji Yuan. In earlier years, he had many conjectures about the mysterious Ji Yuan. Today's words could be interpreted as Ji Yuan being immensely knowledgeable, but the old dragon also had his own understanding. Regardless, Ji Yuan's character and their friendship had stood the test of time.

"Hahahahahahaha..."

The old dragon suddenly burst into laughter.

"Indeed, the way of the world has reached a point where it must change. Even if we do not change ourselves, others will force us to. Comparatively, this old man prefers to be proactive. Master Ji, when the latter three volumes of 'Yellow Springs' are released, would you require a preface from this old man?"

Ji Yuan felt a sense of relief. Even though it was his close friend, who to some extent represented the dragon race, he couldn't be careless about such matters. At this moment, a look of joy spread across his face.

"I couldn't wish for anything more!"

With the old dragon and Ji Yuan's shared laugh, the slightly oppressive and tense atmosphere that had hung over the courtyard melted away like ice and snow. On the plum blossom tree in the courtyard, which had only sparse blooms earlier, many of its waiting buds now burst open.

Meanwhile, the dragon girl's gaze lingered on Yin Qing, Yin Chong, Wang Li, and the others. Ji Yuan had once said that just as there are thousands of kinds of flowers, there are countless paths for humanity. The so-called grand trend of humanity, he hoped, would not be a path of dependence, but one of inherent brilliance, like a hundred flowers vying for beauty, and a hundred schools of thought contending.