Dragon Nation Arc: Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Manifestation of the Human Emperor (Part Two)

"Mother, Heng'er... truly, I have missed you so much."

"All these years, Heng'er has never slacked off. I have trained with all my might, living only for the day I could return to your embrace and be reunited with you."

At this moment, Ye Heng let go of all his strength and stubbornness, becoming a child revealing his vulnerable heart before his mother. The tenacity and resilience he had forged over the years melted into profound tenderness.

Xuan Bing's hand moved gently through Ye Heng's hair—a touch of maternal power, warm and firm. Her fingertips conveyed a silent strength as she stroked his head, a force of motherly love sufficient to heal all the world's wounds and warm a long-lonely heart.

"Heng'er, you have done wonderfully," Xuan Bing said. "The path you have walked alone all these years—we have seen it all, and it has pained our hearts."

"Mother also regrets not keeping you by my side," she continued. "But the path of service for your father and me was treacherous. The reason I didn't keep you with us was for fear..."

Ye Heng's eyes shimmered with tears. He smiled, though his heart was filled with bitterness. He knew well that if he had truly stayed with his parents, he would not only have been unable to share their burdens but would have become a liability. He understood why they chose to keep their distance; once they met, the bond of blood would make it even harder for his parents to let him go.

"Mother, Heng'er has never blamed you. Look... Heng'er is now an A-rank Martial God." As he finished speaking, his right hand trembled slightly, and a dazzling radiance erupted from his palm, rapidly condensing into a powerful force of Martial God energy.

Such pure light-elemental Martial God power left Xuan Bing both overjoyed and saddened. It was clear that Ye Heng was now a formidable powerhouse, a complete transformation from the child he once was. Such pure light-elemental energy could be considered unique in the entire Martial God world.

Six years had passed in the blink of an eye. Ye Heng's appearance had not changed much; he still possessed that delicate face and those bright eyes. The only difference was that his height had grown into that of a true man. The mischievous little boy had blossomed into a stalwart hero.

His eyes were filled with determination and confidence, as if he could face any difficulty or challenge without fear. His figure appeared tall and imposing under the sunlight, as if he could withstand any storm or bolt of lightning.

Watching Ye Heng, Xuan Bing felt a swell of pride and relief. "Heng'er, you have truly grown up... You are Mother's pride."

"Mother..." His cheeks flushed slightly, tinged by the sunset's glow, revealing an indescribable shyness and joy.

Xuan Bing laughed softly, the sound like ice melting—warm and bright. "What? Can a grown man no longer handle his mother's praise?" She then turned her gaze toward Aishe. Aishe was caught off guard, her cheeks turning bright red as if scorched by clouds of fire. She seemed drawn by an invisible force and lowered her head in shyness.

Xuan Bing’s gaze shifted between the two, her eyes sparkling with wisdom and playfulness. She asked softly, "You... must be the young lady who has captured Heng'er's heart, right?"

At these words, Aishe became even shyer. She leaned closer to Ye Heng, pulling lightly on his sleeve, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum: "A-Heng, the way your mother is looking at me... I don't know what to do."

Feeling Aishe's tension and reliance, Ye Heng reached out and gently took her hand, his gaze steady and tender, as if telling her that with him there, she had nothing to fear.

***

Xuan Bing nodded inwardly at the sight.

However, just as the joy of their reunion wove into a scene of warmth, the harmonious conversation was interrupted by an overwhelming, storm-like aura. A mysterious figure floated arrogantly in the sky, like a gale in the night, ruthlessly tearing apart the peaceful atmosphere.

"To dare ignore this King as if I were nothing? For your transgressions, I shall pass a merciless judgment upon your evil deeds today in the name of the gods!"

Yet, under this majestic declaration, Xuan Bing did not shrink away.

"You dare?" She stamped her left foot, and the void shattered. Cold air surged, and every water molecule in the air seemed to respond to an ancient summons, instantly freezing into thousands of sharp, translucent icicles, weaving a chilling tapestry of frost.

Within the world of ice and snow woven by her power, Xuan Bing’s figure appeared increasingly aloof and divine.

The ice crystals danced, intertwining into a dazzling throne of ice. Each particle contained endless power and purity, shimmering with a mesmerizing radiance. Xuan Bing turned gracefully, waving her long sleeves. In an instant, the surrounding space seemed to be controlled by an invisible hand, and countless ice blades manifested from the void. They hovered around her, their tips gleaming with a biting cold light, waiting like loyal guards for her command.

Seated upon her throne, her dominance was absolute; she was the sovereign of this world.

"Above the throne, no Demon God shall pass; below the throne, all people shall offer reverence."

Such a formation was undoubtedly that of an Emperor-class human. One must know that the Emperors were ancient masters, representatives of the human race's supreme power. Every Emperor could step into the Divine Realm to pursue the unreachable title of True God Emperor.

The mysterious figure wiped away a cold sweat, his resolve wavering for a moment, but then he came to a realization.

"For over three hundred years, I have hidden myself in the world, burying my existence beneath the dust of time, to the point where I almost forgot that former glory and weight."

"I... was also an Emperor of the human race in the Dragon Kingdom."

With that, he burst into laughter—a heroic yet desolate sound that pierced the clouds and echoed across the heavens, as if to awaken the sleeping history and the hero's soul deep within him. "How laughable that my former weakness failed to protect the peace of the Dragon Kingdom's people, disappointing the Dragon Emperor. Now, the inheritance of the Emperor has reappeared, and those lurking in the darkness are stirring, attempting to obstruct this power."

Xuan Bing stood to the side, her gaze cold, her tone devoid of emotion, yet each word was like an ice blade striking the heart: "Even if you were once the Emperor Wang Ping, whose name shook the universe and forced the Nine Immortals of the heavens to retreat, you have harmed my own flesh and blood. For this hatred, I shall settle the score with your blood today. I will show no mercy."

"Three hundred years of the past, and you still have not come to your senses, old man. The current situation, formed by the Great Collapse, is not something you alone can comprehend."

Wang Ping’s eyes seemed to be swallowed by the night, deep and dark, yet the corners of his mouth curled into a meaningful arc. A low, wild laugh echoed in his heart: "Hahahaha... Time flows on; three hundred years have passed in a flash. Those fragile humans who once swayed in the wind have now awakened like dragons, soaring through the skies. They are no longer the simpletons of the past."

His thoughts traveled through the river of memory, each ripple carrying the hardships and glories of the past. Stories of courage, sacrifice, and growth surged within him, causing him to glance at the figure beside him—a face all too familiar. He cast a complex look, one of both recognition and lament.

"Martial God? Hahahaha... Brother Li, you won." Li Ping's voice was low and powerful, every word erupting from the depths of his chest with unquestionable firmness. "You were right, Brother Li. Humans have forged an immortal legend with their flesh and blood. They have written a new chapter of history with their own hands... We, the products of the old era, will eventually fade away, but your will shall be passed down from generation to generation, immortal and undying."

***

As his words fell, the surrounding air seemed to solidify, and an indescribable passion spread between the two. Wang Ping’s gaze pierced the darkness, seeing the memories they once shared.

"The title of 'Martial God' is not only praise for the strongest but a shared title for all who rise in adversity and constantly transcend themselves."

"As witnesses of this history, we should be the dream-builders of the future. If I have not left a name in the new era, I have no regrets, for do I not still have you, my dear friend?" Li Feng’s words were filled with encouragement and expectation. "Come, let us join hands and continue forward. On this stage that belongs to us, let us perform an even more brilliant chapter, letting the name of the Martial God resound through the heavens and become an eternal legend for future generations to praise!"

This impassioned speech not only stirred unprecedented blood and passion in Li Ping's heart but seemed to ignite the very air around them, filling it with infinite possibilities. At this moment, the two seemed no longer separate individuals but an unstoppable force pushing the giant wheel of the era forward. Recalling the river of memory, those fragments of glory and dimness intertwined like stars, brilliant yet lonely. Li Ping stood alone on the other side of time, staring at the vast chasm between the past and the present, his emotions complex and unspeakable. He, once a powerhouse who looked down upon the world in times of upheaval, had now become an ancient relic forgotten by the torrent of this era. His once-mighty heroic posture had gradually faded from the sight of the world, ignored by all.

Li Ping slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting his heart gradually return to calm. "The name of the Martial God is to cut down evil; with the body of a Martial God, to protect the mortals of later generations; with the power of a Martial God, to fight on the front lines. The Martial God merges with the people and should serve the people wholeheartedly." He whispered, his voice soft yet containing unquestionable power. "All these changes stem from you, my dear friend. It was the 'Martial God' system you created that acted like a key, unlocking the potential in the hearts of countless ordinary people, allowing them to stand tall in a world fraught with crisis and protect those they love with their own strength."

Wang Ping curled his lips into a faint smile—an affirmation of past efforts and an expectation for the future. "And the starting point of all this was just you, once as small as dust, yet full of dreams. Honestly, I didn't think much of you back then, but I never expected that you, the weakest of the five of us, would forge a legend. It was you who, with unyielding will and endless wisdom, proved that even the most insignificant existence and the most impossible dreams could leave a heavy stroke on the canvas of history. Your name has transcended the limits of time and is remembered in the hearts of future generations."

"It was also you who pushed me, once insignificant and unknown, to the center of the world stage, allowing me to leave an indelible mark in the long river of history. Even if the world no longer asks after me, I will still move toward that goal in my heart, until the very end."

"Hehehehe..." He chuckled a few times, the laughter mixed with a trace of bitterness and relief. "This mutual understanding between us is so rare. You know that I have asked for little in this life, wishing only to protect the peace and happiness of more ordinary people. When you resolutely refused the position of Emperor back then, I was moved by that determination and clarity. Your choice, though it consigned you to the dust, allowed me to continue walking in this vast world, carrying your legacy and moving forward alone yet firmly."

"Yet, is this loneliness not also a profound freedom and responsibility? It makes me cherish the meaning of every swing of my sword and the value of every battle. Because I know that everything I do is not just for you, but for myself as well."

"You handed the future to me, and to them, so that they could master their own destinies."

Wang Ping's life-weapon also burned fiercely under this belief—an ancient sword that had slept for a hundred years bloomed with dazzling light under this fiery conviction.

"Wildfire may extinguish, but the flames remain; the spring breeze gently blows, and new life buds again; all traces in the human world become the past, and ten thousand leaves eventually enter the natural path of God."

Following his low and firm chant, beneath the heavens, ten thousand maple leaves seemed to respond to an ancient summons, gently breaking free from the branches and turning into a brilliant red sea. Under Li Ping's guidance, they converged into an unstoppable torrent, carrying the heat and resilience of autumn, and launched a magnificent and resolute charge against the impenetrable realm of Xuan Bing.

Each maple leaf seemed to carry the will of life. They rotated and intertwined in the air, weaving a gorgeous yet tragic picture, and finally, with a fearless posture, struck that cold and aloof domain.

"Let me see your strength."

Seeing this, Xuan Bing curled her lips into a faint and mysterious smile. With a flick of her fingertips, the purest chill of heaven and earth was condensed, and thousands of razor-sharp ice blades tore through the sky, carrying a biting cold, and clashed head-on with the tide of maple leaves.

Two diametrically opposed forces met—in this moment, the sword shadows and the maple dance intertwined in the air, performing the most breathtaking confrontation in the natural world.