Master of Strange Dao

It's been a long time since we last met, I didn't recognize you at first, I hope Emperor Gen forgives me.

Years have passed since we parted, yet Emperor Gen's majestic presence is undiminished from the past."

"I thought you had died so many times you'd forgotten everything."

"Emperor Gen jests, no amount of amnesia could make me forget Emperor Gen, the greatest in the world."

The Fire Bird, the incarnation of Dali's national fortune, not only possessed spiritual wisdom but also displayed great politeness, unconsciously assuming a posture inferior to the Mountain Lord.

"Don't try to flatter, just like the First Generation Emperor Li from back then, you practiced none of the wisdom of Wen Jun or Primordial Lord, instead becoming such a deceitful face, simply annoying to look at."

The Fire Bird did not refute, retaining an expression of stoic acceptance.

The Fire Bird glanced at Yu Ziqing, the flames in its eyes forming the character for Li, flickered slightly, and then paid its respects.

"Li, greetings to the current Emperor Dui."

"No need for such courtesy." Yu Ziqing returned the salute with an unchanged expression.

"Congratulations to Emperor Gen on his return, Li shall not disturb further. Should you need anything, Emperor Gen, please summon me at any time."

The Fire Bird retreated a few steps, and after paying respects, its form dispersed, transforming into a cloud ablaze in the sky before slowly vanishing.

Yu Ziqing led the Mountain Lord all the way to the Health Club in Almsgiving Town, brewed tea, and could no longer contain his curiosity after pouring it.

"Elder brother, are you Emperor Gen? Is there truly a fifth Divine Dynasty, the Dagen Divine Dynasty?"

The Mountain Lord savored the tea, and unhurriedly put down the cup.

He sat there with great majesty, his gaze blazing, rarely showing a trace of seriousness, and spoke with a resolute voice.

"I am Dagen.

The place where I stand is the Dagen Divine Dynasty."

As his words subsided, the terrifying power of the Divine Dynasty remained latent but suddenly emerged.

Yu Ziqing's figure was forcibly pushed away.

Looking over, he saw that within the expanse of three zhang surrounding the Mountain Lord, nothing else could exist.

That mere three zhang, in Yu Ziqing's eyes, seemed to stretch infinitely vast and distant.

A single person seated there embodied an entire Divine Dynasty.

Yu Ziqing's ingrained understanding was forcibly shattered.

How could a person alone be considered a Divine Dynasty?

How could a Divine Dynasty with only Emperor Gen possess such immense power?

No, the Mountain Lord said he is Dagen.

His standing place is the Dagen Divine Dynasty.

It's not as if he himself is the Dagen Divine Dynasty.

Yu Ziqing rubbed his head, feeling it ready to explode, the revelation rendering his mind abuzz.

"Can you explain what's going on?"

"That's simply how it is, I am Dagen.

When the present world first appeared, after the final battle.

I went to suppress those fallen ones, and didn't partake in subsequent events.

I alone could uphold the name of Dagen, so I took on the title.

From the very beginning of the present world, Dagen has never existed, for when the Divine Dynasty was founded, I was already absent from the present world.

Otherwise, how do you think I've lived up to now?

Why am I still here, when all others have perished and drifted through time?

It's not solely due to my power; primarily, it's because I am Dagen.

My wisdom is far inferior to theirs; my knowledge and perspective are far less than theirs.

Only because I possessed some power, able to uphold the name of Dagen alone.

They let me live, merely hoping I would act as a backstop.

Later on, just as others foretold,

after the world of the Deities fell into the Abyss, the present world too began slowly slipping toward the Abyss.

Dadui was the first corner to fall, until Dadui disappeared entirely.

If events continued to deteriorate, everything sliding toward calamity.

If it reached a degree where an entire Divine Dynasty vanished, I would emerge to act as a support.

Even if it meant ceasing the suppression of those fallen ones, I would reenter the present world.

Bringing Dagen back to the present world, filling the void left by the missing Divine Dynasty with my presence.

Supporting the fallen corner.

Thus, at least granting an era's time to redress everything.

If after an era, our human present world still tumbled into the Abyss,

then it means this era's people are too incompetent, and there is nothing I can do.

I merely have what little power I possess, and can achieve nothing more.

I cannot lead people to accomplish anything.

But, since you became Emperor Dui, and brought Dadui back.

The situation has not worsened any further.

Now, with the Heavenly Devil King and King Jiunian having fled, it hasn't improved, either.

When Cha Wang was finally obliterated, I knew it was time to return to the present world.

To complete a better world, create better conditions, and a broader path forward.

I think this might be the era the others spoke of.

All I can do is what I've done...

Because I can't even kill those fallen ones, what use is this power then?"

The Mountain Lord spoke with some melancholy, candidly expressing regret over his inability to eliminate the deities or Great Devils.

He seemed sincerely mournful over being merely a vessel of power.

Yu Ziqing was speechless for a moment, trying to understand and empathize.

Though he could follow the logic, he couldn't fully share the Mountain Lord's emotions.

Finally, after deliberating over the right words to both speak the truth and offer comfort,

"Elder brother, don't put it that way, were it not for you shattering their true forms, breaking their ranks, and extinguishing their power.

Left with only an Undying Body, yet so weak they couldn't muster any resistance.

Without that, my actions alone wouldn't have sufficed to wipe out Cha Wang completely."

As he spoke, Yu Ziqing took out the bamboo slip as an example.

"See, I was busy dealing a death blow to Cha Wang, without concern for Crisis Devil King.

It was his own lack of strength that led to him being entangled and sealed in the bamboo slip.

Do you think, if he had been at his peak, with full power and complete rank,

he'd have fallen to such a fate?"

The Mountain Lord reached out to take the scroll, but in the next moment, recoiled as if shocked.

Upon the scroll, a strange power surged; just a touch and he experienced an overwhelming despair and agony, as if countless intense emotions were unleashed at once.

The inherent power was not exceptionally strong, yet it left him feeling on the verge of collapse.

"What... is this power?"