If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1205 Elimination
Rainmaking is also a test; some dragons succeed in making rain, while others fail to do so perfectly.

Either the timing was missed, or the rainfall occurred at the wrong point.

Grand Tutor Yu gave them several more chances and did not immediately order the Heavenly Court to execute them.

After all, dream simulations should also take reality into account.

In reality, at least at this time, the Heavenly Court would not, and dare not, immediately execute the River Gods chosen by her if they failed to bring rain once or twice.

To put it bluntly, with Grand Tutor Yu as their backer, they had a considerable margin for error when they first took office.

Just half a month after Zhao Mudan successfully brought rain, she faced a new "elimination round".

Taibai Xingjun quietly descended to the mortal realm, secretly entered the Dragon Palace to find her, and had a private conversation with her, saying, "The demise of the Great Qin was ordained by Heaven, and the floods on both sides of the Yellow River this year are also ordained by Heaven."

The Heavenly Emperor commanded you to actively spread disasters, so why did you immediately retreat into the Dragon Palace and refuse to leave after just one rainfall?

"Whatever amount of rain the Heavenly Emperor commands, I will make. If the Heavenly Emperor commands me to do anything else, I will certainly obey as soon as the decree is issued." Zhao Mudan pretended to be ignorant while knowing the truth.

Taibai Xingjun gave her a deep look and said, "Yu Fengxian was able to bestow the divine position upon you with the tacit approval of the Heavenly Emperor."

If you fail to fulfill your divine mandate, the Heavenly Emperor will naturally strip you of your divine position and reduce you to a mortal dragon.

After threatening him, Taibai Xingjun patiently persuaded him, "Actually, at this point, you don't need to worry about the Qin Dynasty or Yu Fengxian's thoughts anymore."

The previous River God was killed because he broke a taboo.

He actually interfered in the power struggles of the mortal court while holding the identity of a celestial deity.

Now, apart from bringing rain, you stay in the Dragon Palace to cultivate and avoid causing trouble outside.

"Cause and effect, karma and power cannot find you, and even Yu Fengxian can't do anything to you."

Seeing Zhao Mudan begin to hesitate, he pressed on, saying, "This Star Lord can represent the Heavenly Emperor to promise you—if you are merely following the Heavenly Decree to bring disaster and are besieged and killed by Ye Jiutian and his group, the Heavenly Court will send 100,000 Heavenly Soldiers and Generals down to the mortal realm to protect you."

The Heavenly Court simply did not wish to clash with the mortal dynasties, not to allow mortals to act recklessly.

Yu Fengxian hasn't crossed any lines, so we can tolerate all her actions.

Once she crosses the line and exposes obvious incriminating evidence, the Heavenly Court will surely deliver a thunderous blow to her.

Humanity's fortune can only protect those who haven't strayed from the right path, but it will abandon those who go against it.

"I'll do my best," Zhao Mudan finally relented.

Master Qin swallowed hard, beginning to worry about her, and his eyes also secretly glanced at Grand Tutor Yu beside him.

Grand Tutor Yu remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

In the days that followed, Zhao Mudan indeed began to attempt to create disasters.

But her disaster-spreading skills were poor, and she was very impatient.

Whenever the Great Qin Rain Master casts a spell to save her from disaster, she would struggle to make amends two or three times before returning to the Dragon Palace to continue her secluded cultivation.

Master Qin gradually began to understand the meaning behind it.

The Heavenly Star Lord Taibai was not stupid either; a month later, he descended to the mortal realm again to coerce them.

"Star Lord, it's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that my abilities are limited, and I'm no match for Jin Zhong, Jin Guang, and Jin Long!" Zhao Mudan said aggrievedly.

"Your abilities are limited, but you can try harder. Why did you create a few rain showers and then return to the Dragon Palace to cultivate in seclusion?" Taibai Xingjun questioned.

"I'll go home and cultivate my Taoist arts to improve my skills in warding off disasters. This is called sharpening the axe before chopping wood," Zhao Mudan said emphatically.

"How long do you need to sharpen the knife?" Taibai asked again.

Zhao Mudan said sheepishly, "I'm not very talented, and it's taken me three hundred years to cultivate to my current level. And even now, I haven't fully mastered control of the Yellow River."

With a dark expression, Taibai Xingjun coldly ordered her to work harder before returning to Heaven.

Zhao Mudan worked even harder, but it was no use.

Three years passed in this way, and the Heavenly Court no longer urged the dragon gods of the mortal world to bring disasters.

The destiny of "constant natural disasters in China" has ended (this is a dream manipulated by Grand Tutor Yu, and is not the reality).

The Qin Dynasty held out for five years before finally collapsing.

The rebel army entered Guanzhong and massacred the city of Xianyang. Grand Tutor Yu led a group of Ying clan members to flee in panic, only to be intercepted and killed on the way by the "True Son of Heaven" and his men.

Grand Tutor Yu died and his spirit vanished; his head was even preserved with lime by the rebels and sent to the Central Plains.

Zhao Mudan was heartbroken and secretly cried for Da Qin and Grand Tutor Yu. She even burned a stack of paper money for Grand Tutor Yu in the backyard of the Dragon Palace.

After waiting for a few days, she found an opportunity, secretly transformed into a mortal, stole the half-dried head of Grand Tutor Yu that was hanging outside Xianyang City, and then tried her best to find her remains.

After nearly half a year of fussing, Grand Tutor Yu was finally able to lie completely intact in his coffin.

Zhao Mudan selected several precious treasures from the Dragon Palace and placed them in the coffin as burial items for Grand Tutor Yu.

The burial site was specially chosen to be a geomantically auspicious location on the banks of the Yellow River.

For the next hundred years, she would burn paper money for Grand Tutor Yu on the anniversary of his death.

A century later, although she no longer went to pay homage to Grand Tutor Yu every year, she instructed her subordinates to regularly repair the Grand Tutor's tomb.

As the new dynasty gradually forgot its hatred for Grand Tutor Yu, she built a small shrine next to the tomb to collect incense offerings for Grand Tutor Yu.

Qin Changshu, the master outside the "screen," breathed a sigh of relief, feeling deeply moved: Zhao Mudan's divine position was secure, and no one cared more about Grand Tutor Yu's kindness than she did.

If "repaying the kindness of Grand Tutor Yu" is considered a test point, Zhao Mudan's score is indeed the best.

If she can get 100 points, Zhao Dezi, who came in second, can barely pass with 60 points.

Zhao Dezi could only lament in the Dragon Palace: "Grand Tutor Yu was a hero for a lifetime, yet he has come to such an end."

He sat in the Dragon Palace, drinking alone for half the night with a sorrowful expression. He did so on behalf of the Great Qin and Grand Tutor Yu.

As for whether he had considered risking offending the new emperor by stealing Grand Tutor Yu's head, Qin, his sect did not know, but he certainly had not done it, not even tried.

Even so, Zhao Dezi still managed to get second place. Because the others weren't as good as Zhao Dezi.

When Long heard the news of Grand Tutor Yu's death, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Grand Tutor Yu is finally dead. I can finally rest easy!"

Master Qin thought the dream test was over, but little did he know that the story on the screen was still going on.

Time flies, and six hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. Zhao Mudan has not only completely gained control of the Yellow River's water rights, but has also mastered the various true dragon supernatural powers taught to her by Grand Tutor Yu in her early years.

Her power and authority, if not surpassing that of the former River God, are at least enough to suppress the Dragon Gods of the Yellow River system.

At this point, she no longer needed to be careful or suppress herself at all.

The Heavenly Court tasked her with causing calamities, and like the River God of yesteryear, she took the initiative and fulfilled her destiny.

If any rain master dares to oppose her, she will suppress them severely.

Ten thousand years passed, and the new "Dayong Empire" gradually declined, reaching the end of its mandate.

Zhao Mudan received another imperial decree: to devastate the land and reduce the population of the Central Plains to less than one-tenth.

Zhao Mudan was deeply shocked; this was the first time she had ever seen such a terrifying decree of calamity.

But she strictly obeyed the divine decree.

Even when the Yellow River's waterways dried up, she still hid all the river water in underground water veins, preventing the people of the world from seeing a single drop of rain.

Even as hundreds of thousands of people wept and pleaded before the Dragon King Temple, the sky remained scorching hot, without a single dark cloud.

Even when the rain master of the Imperial Observatory of the Dayong Empire prayed for rain, she refused to let the rain fall.

As soon as clouds gathered, she immediately dispersed them.

Later, the Dayong Empire sent a celestial master to the Yellow River Dragon Palace to request Zhao Mudan to "show leniency within the law." She didn't need to violate the heavenly decree "no rain," as long as she didn't interfere with the rain master's rainmaking ritual.

Zhao Mudan has been the River God for over ten thousand years, and her authority has grown stronger day by day. She no longer takes the human celestial master seriously.

When the Rain Master prayed for rain again, she impatiently unleashed a bolt of lightning, turning him into charred remains. Before her very eyes, tens of millions of people in the Central Plains resorted to eating tree bark, digging up soil to devour, exchanging children to eat, and killing people to preserve their flesh—ultimately, only one in ten survived.

The following year, the Heavenly Court issued another decree, decreeing that the fertile lands of the Central Plains should be transformed into a vast, swampy region this year.

Zhao Mudan was shocked, but she did not hesitate and led a group of dragon gods to frolic in the sky.

Finally, Grand Tutor Dayong could no longer tolerate it and personally led a group of Qi cultivators to the Yellow River Dragon Palace to surround and kill River God Zhao Mudan.

Zhao Mudan was incredibly powerful and invincible, killing hundreds of Qi Refiners.

The more she killed, the heavier her karma and calamity became, and ultimately, the bloodlust from her killings interfered with the operation of the Yellow River's water rights.

Taking advantage of the moment, Grand Tutor Da Yong struck her vitals with his sword. As he drew his sword again to slash at her head, Zhao Mudan was momentarily dazed and cried out in despair, "Grand Tutor Yu, spare me~~~"

Grand Tutor Dayong was not Grand Tutor Yu; he was a dignified old Taoist priest with three long strands of beard.

"What Grand Master Yu?" The old Taoist priest was taken aback.

Zhao Mudan blinked and murmured, "You're not... you're not Grand Tutor Yu. I thought I just saw Grand Tutor Yu."

Hesitation and reluctance flickered in the old Taoist's eyes, but in the end, his expression remained indifferent as he chopped off her dragon head with a single sword stroke.

The screen displaying Zhao Mudan's dream flickered a few times before gradually fading away.

Like all the dragon species that were eliminated before.

Looking at the darkened void, Shi Men Qin's heart was in turmoil, and he was unable to calm down for a long time.

He said in a hoarse voice, "Zhao Mudan can no longer become the River God?"

Grand Tutor Yu sighed softly and pointed to the other two screens that were still playing out the story. "There are only two Dragon Balls in total, corresponding to the two divine positions of the Yellow River and the Ji River. I can't openly cheat!"

Those who fail will be eliminated through a series of hurdles.

Those dragons who survived to this day must have achieved even greater results than those who were eliminated.

Grand Tutor Yu had previously promised that it would be fair and just, and that whoever performed better would be selected.

Zhao Mudan unfortunately ranked third, missing out on two divine positions.

“But Zhao Mudan knows how to be grateful the most.” Shi Menrou, the younger sister of Shi Menqin, couldn’t help but speak up for Zhao Mudan. “Zhao Dezi still remembers the Grand Tutor’s kindness.”

But Ao Nie was cold-blooded and ruthless. Even after the Grand Tutor was beheaded, he remained expressionless, offering no sacrifices, nor expressing any remorse.

Not only her, but the rest of the sect members were also confused and even agitated.

They felt that Zhao Mudan had absolutely no problems; she was capable enough, had the strongest talent, and was the most grateful.

Not only did they come in first place, they also left the second place far behind.

It's an outrage against Heaven that she wouldn't become the River God!

Grand Tutor Yu said, "But the three conditions I offered didn't include any gratitude towards me!"

The disciples were stunned for a moment before they remembered. Before the dream assessment, Grand Tutor Yu had clearly outlined three key points for the test.

First, one must have ability; second, one must be worthy of the attention of the Heavenly Court; and finally, one must have a compassionate heart that pities all living beings.

Zhao Mudan remembered the kindness of the Qin Dynasty and the Grand Tutor, but she still failed to pass the final test.

Seeing Grand Tutor Yu die a tragic death, Ao Nie, who remained expressionless, was the one who felt the most pity.

There was no need for the Great Master Yong to find him, nor for him to witness the deaths of millions of lives before his eyes; he had already begun to slack off. Heaven commanded him not to send rain, and so he did not.

When others prayed for rain, he pretended not to see them. The Heavenly Court sent a star deity to the mortal realm to reprimand him, but he not only ignored it, but also petitioned the Heavenly Emperor, saying that Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life and begging the Heavenly Emperor to change his mind and allow him to make rain.

The Heavenly Emperor refused and sternly rebuked him, but he still did not give up. He appeared in his dreams to his believers, telling them to quickly migrate to the Yangtze River basin and the Huai River region in the south to avoid disaster.

Zhao Dezi's compassion was not as great as his, but it was better than Zhao Mudan's.

He obeyed the Heavenly Emperor's order to spread disasters, but seeing the starving people everywhere, he couldn't bear it and began to openly slack off.

"Is it really of no use to be grateful to the Great Qin and the Grand Tutor?" Master Qin asked.

Grand Tutor Yu said, "Of course it's useful. If their scores at other test centers aren't significantly different, I'll choose the one who remembers gratitude the most."

At this point, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhao Mudan, "I'm human too, of course I like people who know how to be grateful."

If Zhao Mudan passes the final test, she will become the 'River God'.

"Who is the River God now?" Master Qin asked.

"Whose grades are the best?" Grand Tutor Yu asked in return.

After a moment of silence, Shi Menqin reluctantly said, "It seems to be Ao Nie."

"Then he is the River God!" Grand Tutor Yu announced in a deep voice.

"But he showed no gratitude to the Grand Tutor, even after you made him the River God. When he learned of your tragic death, he didn't even show any extra emotion," Shi Menrou said.

“At least he didn’t laugh,” said Grand Tutor Yu.

She felt that Ao Nie was just more reserved in his emotions; his gratitude was certainly not as great as Zhao Mudan's, but it was not necessarily less than Zhao Dezi's.

Shi Menrou couldn't understand, "Just not smiling is enough?"

—Grand Tutor Yu, you don't seem like such a kind and benevolent person!

Although she didn't say what was on her mind, it was written all over her face.

Grand Tutor Yu glanced at her and said, "I am not choosing the River God for myself or for the Great Qin."

I am electing the God of the Yellow River on behalf of all the people of China.

If I have selfish motives, I cannot represent the will of the people.

The will of the people is the will of Heaven.

I cannot represent all the people, nor do I have the will of Heaven. On what grounds should I bestow the title of River God?
"If I cannot bestow titles upon them, and cannot hand over the divine position to them, what is the point of all this trouble I've gone through?"

She was certainly not a kind and benevolent good person.

On the contrary, she is a bit petty.

Neither Ao Nie nor Zhao Dezi's attitudes toward her could satisfy her.

When Zhao Mudan collected her body and repaired her grave and built a temple for her, Grand Tutor Yu felt warm inside and was deeply moved.

But she couldn't let her personal feelings get the better of her.

Conferring the title of River God did not simply mean handing over the divine position to a dragon god.

The divine position is not a magical artifact that anyone can wield. It possesses divine authority and is encrypted with the help of the "Heavenly Way".

Because of her selfish motives, she will lose the right to be granted the title of River God.

Just like the secret techniques of the Ancestral Dragon, once selfish motives arise, even the secret techniques that have been mastered will be ruined.

Moreover, according to Xiaoyu's true feelings, Zhao Mudan's indifference towards the people was indeed unsatisfactory.

Zhao Mudan has been the River God for ten thousand years, enjoying the sacrifices of the people on both sides of the Yellow River for ten thousand years, and witnessing the people multiply and thrive for ten thousand years, yet she remains cold and ruthless. Judging from her gratitude to Grand Tutor Yu, she is not truly heartless.

This only shows that she regarded ordinary people as ants.

This is a major taboo for a deity, or at least a major taboo in Yu Taishi's values.

—Zhao Mudan still needs some training. When I have time in the future, I'll teach her properly!

She secretly preferred Zhao Mudan.

Dragons don't know how, but we can teach them!

(End of this chapter)