"Because I want to use this dragon vein to save Xi Yao's mother!"
"Right now, Xi Yao's mother needs this dragon vein more than Xi Yao herself. She really can't hold on..."
"Hold on... not anymore."
As he spoke.
Tears welled up in Father Han's eyes, and he seemed to age considerably in an instant.
"I know I'm a bit selfish, not a good father, and didn't protect my daughter well."
"But Ning Xiang is my wife, and I can't just watch her die before my eyes."
What!?
Han Xi Yao's mother!
She was still alive?
Zhang Yang was shocked.
He clearly remembered Han Xi Yao saying that her mother had passed away long ago.
How could she still be alive?
This...
It was simply unbelievable.
Father Han, standing beside him, saw Zhang Yang's disbelief.
He immediately wiped the tears from his eyes, turned, and walked to the side.
He carried the woman out from the excavator's cabin.
The woman was well-maintained, showing no signs of being over forty.
Her dewy skin and delicate face made her look like a girl in her prime.
If not for her strong resemblance to Han Xi Yao, Zhang Yang would never have believed it.
"It's really Ning Xiang?" He Ao exclaimed.
"Uncle, you know Xi Yao's mother too?" Zhang Yang asked curiously.
He Ao nodded, took a couple of steps forward.
He stared at the woman in Father Han's arms, lost in thought, and began to speak.
"When you were abandoned in the old residential area, Jiangnan City had already experienced turmoil because of the dragon vein."
"Ning Xiang, like the abbot of Lingtai Temple, was a guardian of the vein. If Ning Xiang hadn't had an accident back then."
"That girl Xi Yao probably wouldn't have been connected to the dragon vein beneath our feet."
"To put it plainly, that girl Xi Yao is just a substitute for her biological mother."
With He Ao's confirmation.
Zhang Yang no longer doubted the identity of the unconscious woman in Father Han's arms.
Zhang Yang sighed inwardly.
He hadn't expected such a tragic backstory.
Because of a dragon vein, both Han Xi Yao and her mother had fallen into a coma.
Now, this situation...
Zhang Yang suddenly found himself in a dilemma.
"Zhang Yang, Ning Xiang is at the end of her rope. If she misses this opportunity, she will truly pass away."
"Xi Yao has other hopes. Please, give me the dragon vein." Father Han said with tears streaming down his face.
For so many years.
What should have been a happy family had become fragmented.
In reality, Father Han himself suffered the most.
He had been constantly striving for his wife.
Consequently, he had lacked care for his daughter.
Including her disappearance after waking up last time, the reason he hadn't seen Han Xi Yao was actually him searching for his wife...
Zhang Yang opened his mouth, his throat moved.
But no sound came out.
However, He Ao, standing beside him, disagreed.
"No. The Jiangnan City dragon vein is equally important to the Five Dragons of China. I cannot give it to you."
Father Han's gaze turned cold. Zhang Yang's cultivation level was similar to his.
Since the other party was also trying to save his daughter, he could choose to negotiate.
As for He Ao, Father Han had no intention of yielding to him.
"Your tone is bigger than your strength. Do you really think I don't know about the shady things you've been doing behind our backs?" Father Han said sternly.
He Ao's heart skipped a beat, sensing a bad omen.
He exchanged a look with Jiang Pan and assumed a fighting stance.
Instantly.
The atmosphere in the room became tense.
And at this moment.
Tang Ruxue, who was not paying attention, quietly retreated.
"He Ao, Jiang Pan, I don't want to be too blunt because I still need your help to save Xi Yao."
"But that doesn't mean you can bargain with me by relying on Zhang Yang."
"Or do you think that what Qian Mian did can be hidden from me?"
Father Han didn't explicitly state it.
But when he uttered the name Qian Mian.
He Ao and Jiang Pan's faces changed drastically!
Qian Mian.
He was also one of the Five Dragons of China, a master of the True Essence realm.
However, he was not adept at frontal combat.
He specialized more in disguise and intelligence gathering.
At this moment, Father Han directly naming him.
He Ao and Jiang Pan understood that Father Han knew everything they had been doing behind Zhang Yang's back.
"It seems you have quite a few secrets yourself." He Ao narrowed his eyes slightly.
Father Han was merely from a small family in Jiangnan City.
Yet he possessed such extraordinary strength and could know so much about them without them noticing.
And to do so without them detecting him was truly incredible.
"Heh, likewise. I'm just a husband and father who wants his family to be reunited."
"Besides, don't you have secrets too? But don't worry, you don't need to be concerned about my identity."
"If I truly had ill intentions towards you, do you think I would have waited until now to reveal myself and speak?" Father Han shook his head slightly, looking directly at He Ao.
A moment later.
He Ao also nodded, saying nothing more.
The mysterious conversation between the two seemed like a tacit understanding.
They tacitly agreed to not mention what they had just discussed.
Only Zhang Yang was left completely bewildered, asking with a puzzled expression.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand a word."
"It's nothing, Zhang Yang. You decide about this dragon vein yourself." He Ao shook his head.
Clearly.
He Ao would not reveal the truth of their recent conversation.
Because, to be frank, this matter.
They both had elements of using Zhang Yang.
If Zhang Yang were to know.
It would definitely create a rift in their relationship.
"Zhang Yang, I've told you the reason. Can you give me the dragon vein now?" Father Han said.
Having dealt with the Five Dragons of China, Father Han didn't want to wait a moment longer.
He was eager to save his beloved wife.
This...
Zhang Yang hesitated again.
He looked at Han Xi Yao in his arms, his face full of indecision.
His situation was now exactly the same as Father Han's.
Both of them wanted to contend for this dragon vein for the sake of the women they loved.
The only difference was.
Should it be to save Xi Yao, or to save his mother-in-law?
"Uncle, how likely is it to find the Dragon Transformation Water?" Zhang Yang suddenly turned and asked.
Hearing this.
He Ao pondered for a moment.
Father Han's appearance earlier had, in a way, helped them somewhat.
Because.
Initially, the person absorbing the dragon vein was Li Dabai, not Zhang Yang.
This had also caused a deviation in their plan.
There was no way for Zhang Yang to absorb the entire Jiangnan City dragon vein and become the pillar of the Five Dragons of China's rise.
Fortunately.
The final outcome had not changed.
Han Xi Yao needed the Dragon Transformation Water to be successfully rescued.
And this Dragon Transformation Water.
Was located at the headquarters of the Five Dragons of China, which would be their condition for negotiation with Zhang Yang next.
"To put it nicely, there's an eighty percent chance. In reality, it's sixty percent, and in the worst-case scenario, less than a thirty percent chance." He Ao said.
He didn't completely shut down the possibility, leaving Zhang Yang with a sliver of hope.
Worst case, only thirty percent?
Zhang Yang frowned, looked down at Han Xi Yao in his arms.
Then he turned his gaze to Ning Xiang, who was unconscious in Father Han's arms.
Finally, he sighed and gave a wry smile.
"Alas, I can't just stand by and watch someone die. I hope I won't regret this in the future."
Zhang Yang didn't say it explicitly, but Father Han understood his meaning.
His heart immediately relaxed.
If Zhang Yang had continued to stubbornly refuse to yield the dragon vein.
Then it would have been his turn to be conflicted.
Zhang Yang was trying to save Han Xi Yao, and Father Han couldn't bring himself to resort to open conflict.
"Zhang Yang, thank you. Don't worry, I'll help with the Dragon Transformation Water. Xi Yao is my daughter, I won't stand by and do nothing." Father Han promised.
"My woman, I'll save her myself." Zhang Yang thought for a moment and shook his head, refusing.
Ning Xiang's condition was almost that of a dying ember.
Even if she absorbed the dragon vein to exchange for vitality, she would still need time to recover.
Zhang Yang naturally wouldn't let Father Han accompany him to search for the Dragon Transformation Water.
"Haha, good kid, you've got guts. You're not any less than I was back in the day." Father Han laughed heartily and gave Zhang Yang a thumbs-up.
It was unclear if he was praising himself or Zhang Yang.
Having received Zhang Yang's agreement, Father Han eagerly walked towards the center of the dragon vein.
However...
Just when everyone thought the matter was settled and everything would be happy,
Tang Ruxue suddenly said with a dark expression.
"You're all celebrating too soon. Did you ask for my permission to take the dragon vein?"
"Girl, leave this place. I don't know which faction you belong to, but you won't be able to touch this dragon vein."
"Otherwise, your fate will be the same as those outsiders!"
Father Han's gaze was icy as he looked at Tang Ruxue standing at the center of the dragon vein, threateningly.
Tang Ruxue's face changed drastically upon hearing this.
Her fists clenched tightly, and her voice trembled.
"No wonder I couldn't contact the elders. Did you kill them all?"
"Some are dead, some have fled. Although I don't know where you come from or what your intentions are, if you don't want to die, get out quickly." Father Han said sternly.
About to obtain the dragon vein, and his wife could awaken.
At this moment, Father Han didn't want any unexpected complications.
However.
Tang Ruxue remained motionless.
Upon hearing that Father Han had killed everyone who came to help.
As if she had suffered a great blow, before descending into madness, her face was filled with inexplicable desolation and sorrow.
"It seems... I can't go home in this lifetime."
Tang Ruxue looked up at the sky, uttering words that puzzled everyone.
Then.
Her expression turned incredibly frenzied. She stared directly at Zhang Yang and the others, roaring.
"To be able to go home, my junior sister and I have prepared for more than ten years, but you have destroyed our hope of returning home!"
"It's all because of you. If it weren't for you, I could have gone home!"
"Damn it, you all deserve to die! Everyone in Jiangnan City deserves to die!"
Tang Ruxue's voice grew louder as she spoke.
The ground around the dragon pit even shook, causing rocks to fall.
But.
What she said gave everyone a sense of unease.
Father Han, who was closest to Tang Ruxue, unleashed a surge of energy from his hand.
Zhang Yang also felt a palpitation.
He stepped forward with his right leg and slammed his palm towards Tang Ruxue.
Martial Skill, Carefree Palm.
Facing the attacks of the two strongest individuals in the dragon pit.
Tang Ruxue should have defended herself cautiously.
However...
Tang Ruxue made no defensive move. The True Essence erupting from her body was aimed at the dragon's head of the dragon vein.
A black, sharp sword was suddenly plunged into the ground.
That was precisely where the dragon's head was!
"You extinguished my hope, so you can all go to hell with me!" Tang Ruxue roared in madness.
Pfft~
After shouting.
Tang Ruxue, under the combined assault of Zhang Yang and Father Han.
Could no longer bear it and died on the spot.
However!
The black sword from before had already penetrated the dragon's head.
The black sword, whatever it was, caused the previously calm dragon vein to become extremely agitated.
"Roar!"
A dragon's roar echoed, and the ground at the bottom of the dragon pit suddenly cracked extensively.
As if something was about to break through the earth.
With a rumble!
Suddenly.
A dark green dragon broke through the ground.
Its head was enormous, occupying half of the dragon pit.
Its bell-like eyes glared furiously at everyone in the dragon pit!
This scene.
He Ao and Jiang Pan were very familiar with.
Because they had seen it before!
"So it was them! Damn it, how could we have forgotten them!"
"Run! The dragon vein has been demonized. We can't contend with it in our current state." He Ao and Jiang Pan shouted urgently.
"Demonized? Why did it become demonized? Is there no way to fix it?" Father Han asked anxiously.
Hope was within reach, only to be shattered. Father Han could not accept it!
"They are people from the Demonic Sect! There's no time to explain, run!" He Ao shouted.
He had already hoisted Li Dabai onto his back, preparing to flee the dragon pit.
Zhang Yang also grabbed Father Han's shoulder, trying to persuade him to leave.
But Father Han stood rooted to the spot, unmoving.
"Uncle, please go first. Now is not the time to hesitate." Zhang Yang said anxiously.
The emergence of the dark green dragon put immense pressure on Zhang Yang as well.
"I can't leave. If I leave now, what about Ning Xiang?" Father Han shook his head.
If he missed this opportunity, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
"Zhang Yang, you take Xi Yao and leave. I want to stay. If I don't come back, I'll entrust Xi Yao to you from now on." Father Han said seriously to Zhang Yang.
Father Han seemed to be entrusting his legacy, like making final arrangements.
Clearly.
The other party had already prepared himself for death.
Today, either he would resolve the demonized dragon vein and allow his wife to survive.
Or...
He would die here, and no one could stop him.
"Uncle, you..." Zhang Yang was furious.
Why wouldn't the other party listen to reason!?
After thinking about it.
Zhang Yang gritted his teeth and made a resolute decision.
"Alright, since you want to stay, I'll stay with you!"
If Father Han didn't want to leave, Zhang Yang wouldn't leave either.
Otherwise, if something happened to Father Han.
Even if he managed to revive Han Xi Yao later, Zhang Yang would have no face to face him.
"Zhang Yang, you..." Father Han was deeply touched, but he shook his head resolutely.
"No, you hurry and leave. It's okay if something happens to me, but Xi Yao cannot be harmed!"
Zhang Yang silently turned, placed Han Xi Yao in a relatively safe position, and then walked back.
"Uncle, stop talking. Let's fight."
Seeing that the two were not leaving.
He Ao and Jiang Pan, who were already preparing to climb out of the dragon pit, exchanged glances.
Finally, they hardened their hearts and made a bold decision!
The Five Dragons of China protected China.
Even though the Five Dragons of China no longer existed, their responsibility remained.
Moreover, this demonized dragon could absolutely not be allowed to escape.
Otherwise...
Jiangnan City would surely be ravaged and suffer unbearable disaster.
"Damn it, the Five Dragons of China are gone, and I still have to fight for them!"
"I've lived a long life, so if I die, I die!"
The two cursed,
And walked back, standing with Zhang Yang and Father Han!
The four of them looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.
Zhang Yang's gaze was even more determined.
He stared directly at the massive black dragon in front of him and said in a deep voice.
"I never thought I'd have the chance to slay a dragon in my lifetime!"