In the next moment, Yan Taizu's aura surged to its peak once again! But then, immediately, this peak of power rapidly dwindled!
"How is this possible?!"
Yan Taizu let out a shocked and miserable scream. He felt the tremendous vitality within him reverse, turning into decaying, deathly energy!
The [Jiao Tui] had failed. Not only had it failed, but it had caused a massive backlash!
The five dragon heads that had exploded did not recover; instead, the one dragon head that had mastered [Jiao Tui] quickly decayed within the blink of an eye...
Flesh rotted away, foul liquids oozed out, and countless fungi tangled around it. In the end, even the fungi vanished, and it was entirely reduced to ashes.
"A more perfect rebirth? In my [Corruption Breeding Ground], let's see how you can be reborn?!"
Fang Yuan's voice was cold and emotionless.
The crimson sky dome covered everything, and all things would gradually head toward decay. Any healing abilities would lose their original effect, and once used, the so-called healing would turn into equal amounts of decay!
In other words, healing would cause damage!
Of course, this limitation did not apply to Fang Yuan, the one who implemented it.
Yan Taizu's last resort was nullified under the influence of the [Corruption Breeding Ground]. As [Jiao Tui] disappeared, only the final dragon head remained, perched alone atop Yan Taizu's body—this was his original head.
The only remaining dragon head displayed a variety of complex emotions—confusion, disbelief, and rage...
"Hahaha!" In the next moment, Yan Taizu suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly: "The Dao body method of humans really makes me envy!"
"Absurd! How absurd! I, who have accumulated power for thousands of years, have been worn down to nothing by you, this young brat who popped out of nowhere..."
"Who would have thought that in the end, I would have to fight you as an emperor?!"
Yan Taizu sighed, once again transforming into a half-human, half-dragon form. Despite his tattered robes, his demeanor still radiated the imperial aura of one who rules over the world.
With a flick of his hand, a cracked imperial jade seal appeared in his palm.
"As long as the Great Yan Dynasty is not destroyed, I am still the ruler of a nation! Even if the national fortune is shattered, it should still be enough to deal with traitors!"
This jade seal, forged using the national fortune of the Yan Kingdom, could transform the nation's fortune into power for him to wield. Though its strength was far less than during its peak, it was still formidable!
"Traitor, I will bind you beneath the imperial seal and ensure that you can never rise again!"
Yan Taizu's face twisted, his hair standing on end, and he threw the imperial seal toward Fang Yuan!
"I say there are no mountains here; beneath your feet... will only be a grave!"
Boom!!!
The jade seal grew larger and taller as it soared into the sky, transforming into a majestic mountain, crashing down towards Fang Yuan!
Fang Yuan's pupils reflected the overwhelming golden light of the jade seal. He made no move to flee; instead, he stretched his hand towards the sky in an inviting gesture.
It was as if Fang Yuan was welcoming the imperial seal's attempt to crush him.
In the next instant, under Yan Taizu's rigid gaze, the jade seal, originally transformed into a towering mountain, shrank back to its original size and obediently landed in Fang Yuan's hand.
The world seemed to fall into silence. After Yan Taizu's grandiose words and the throwing of his magical treasure, it was as if the jade seal had been handed to Fang Yuan like a gift, creating a very awkward atmosphere.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How can you use the Imperial Seal?!"
Yan Taizu's face turned ashen, and he repeatedly howled at Fang Yuan: "This is my treasure, MY treasure! I am the emperor!"
"Hehe, I'm the kind of person who loves to take what others cherish!" Fang Yuan chuckled lightly. "Before I came, you manipulated the national fortune, and now, you want to control it again? That would mean my effort was all for nothing, wouldn't it?"
The reason the imperial seal chose him was clear. It wasn't like the Seven-Blade Sword, which sided with the stronger. It chose him because Yan Taizu was unworthy!
Yan Taizu used the national fortune to forge the Yellow Dragon, and to seize the Yellow Dragon's body, he tried to disperse the national fortune. Now he wanted to use the national fortune's power to deal with him?
The national fortune was no fool. You can't just use it however you want!
On the other hand, Fang Yuan, ever since being promoted by Chongwu Hou, had been clearing out great evil in the land and resisting invaders. Although it was all for gaining merit, these were genuinely good deeds for the country and people!
To say the hearts of the people were with him would not be an exaggeration!
With such a clear distinction, there was no need for further hesitation.
Unfortunately, Yan Taizu had a point. He was still the emperor of the Yan Kingdom. Even though Fang Yuan had seized the Imperial Seal, he could not use it to deal with Yan Taizu directly.
However, it didn't matter anymore. Yan Taizu's defeat was certain.
The dragon heads were severed, [Jiao Tui] had failed, and now the imperial seal was taken. At this moment, Yan Taizu had truly reached the end of the line.
The dragon eyes, once filled with various emotions, now only contained one: fear... fear of the young man before him!
But even so, Yan Taizu maintained his imperial posture. He looked up at Fang Yuan, floating in the air, and forced a smile that resembled that of a benevolent king.
"Wuwei Hou, can we reconcile? From now on, I will change and become a wise ruler..."
Hearing this, Fang Yuan's laughter grew more raucous: "At this moment? Yan Taizu, are you joking?!"
Looking down below, his health had already recovered to half, but Fang Yuan could hardly wait any longer!
His wings spread once more, and Fang Yuan transformed into a crimson shadow, rushing toward Yan Taizu with unimaginable speed!
Rooted in the Yellow Dragon's body, Yan Taizu was utterly unable to escape!
In less than half a breath, Fang Yuan had arrived before Yan Taizu, and his great sword fell wildly toward Yan Taizu's head!
The strike, infused with both [Corruption] and [Gravitational Pull], two forces symbolizing death, caused Yan Taizu to scream in agony!
As his original body, the last dragon head was the strongest of them all!
Unlike the other dragon heads that were destroyed instantly, Yan Taizu briefly withstood Fang Yuan's attack, which only excited Fang Yuan further!
His eyes were bloodshot as he swung his great sword like a sledgehammer, creating afterimages above Yan Taizu's head!
The sword's edge howled, carrying a force that could destroy heaven and earth, shaking the entire underground world!
Dragon scales cracked open completely, golden blood and brain matter poured out like a river, and the consciousness of Yan Taizu began to fade into oblivion. The cold voice of Fang Yuan echoed in his ears once again:
"How can someone like you change? You can't change. You will only die!"