The Great State Preceptor (Core Formation - Rank A) had been forewarned by the Heavenly Maiden (Nascent Soul - Rank S) about the Heavenly Dao’s judgment. The River God (Core Formation - Rank A) was to be executed, and the Great State Preceptor was appointed as the divine executioner, tasked with the beheading of the Dragon God. Following the proclamation from the Heavenly Maiden’s envoy, the divine light that once shielded the River God flickered and vanished. Simultaneously, one of the River God’s sons was enveloped in a new sacred glow, confirming his succession to his father’s divine office.

  The Huyen Bang Sect (Frost Ice Sect) also dispatched an elite squad, consisting of one Elder (Core Formation - Rank A) and ten inner disciples (Foundation Establishment - Rank B), to escort the Frost Dragon-Slaying Blade to the new capital of the Jade Kingdom. This artifact was specifically brought to execute the former River God. They were given a few days to bid farewell to their families. The Great State Preceptor was chosen to carry out the sentence, for only he possessed the necessary strength, prestige, and immunity to fear of retribution.

  Seven days later, King Chau Ngoc Yen invited the Great State Preceptor to the royal palace for a game of chess. It was a calculated move, timed precisely for the hour of the River God’s execution. Although the Preceptor wished to depart to fulfill his duty, the King refused to let him go, insisting he remain to play chess all day. The Preceptor found himself torn between two heavy responsibilities: his duty as an Elder of the Frost Ice Sect and his loyalty as a high-ranking minister of the Jade Kingdom.

  Feigning extreme exhaustion, the Great State Preceptor slumped over the chessboard and fell into a deep slumber. In truth, his soul exited his body to wield the Dragon-Slaying Blade. Since the soul was invisible to mortal eyes, the King and the citizens believed the blade was flying by its own power to slay the old Water God. In his final moments of life, the Dragon resisted fiercely, spitting out countless orbs of water to attack the Preceptor’s soul before flying toward King Chau Ngoc Yen, pleading for salvation.

  The Preceptor’s soul cast a spell, freezing the water orbs into solid ice and hurling them back at the dragon to slow its flight. Suddenly, the Dragon-Slaying Blade expanded in size, radiating a brilliant azure light as it descended. In a flash, the dragon's head fell into the heart of the royal palace. Witnessing the gruesome scene and the spray of blood, the King collapsed in a dead faint. Before the light left its eyes, the dragon's head uttered a final, haunting accusation: "You promised me... why did you break your word?"

  Afterward, the dragon's head was reclaimed by his sons and grandsons, who carried it to the riverbed for burial. The Great State Preceptor departed in a cold fury; he was resentful that the King had forced him into a position where he nearly offended both his sect and the Heavenly Dao. From that day on, he rarely visited the palace for chess, performing only his barest official duties.

  In the nights that followed, the King was haunted by recurring nightmares of the severed dragon head chasing him. Each time he woke, he was too exhausted to move, yet he dared not sleep for fear of the vengeful Dragon Soul. Ashamed and reluctant to ask the powerful State Preceptor for help, the King sought others. He summoned a man named Vong Tran (Celestial Master Truong) and a White Tiger Demi-human to suppress the Demon Dragon.

  Every night, when the Yin energy was at its peak—and because the palace was still under construction, leaving the protective formations incomplete—powerful spirits like the Demon Dragon could manifest. Its appearance was always preceded by a chilling wind, carrying the mournful wails of the soul: "You are a liar! You promised, yet you failed! Give me back my life!"

  Vong Tran, dressed in yellow Taoist robes, stood upon a "river" of golden talismans linked together, floating in mid-air. Above his head hovered the five-meter-long Black Iron Sword, gripped by two spectral black arms. These arms were entirely invisible to ordinary people; only those with the "Yin-Yang Eye" could perceive them. The Black Iron Sword, forged from mystical ore, had the ability to devour Yin and Demonic energy, causing the Demon Dragon agonizing pain with every strike.

  The White Tiger was a demi-human possessing the bloodline of the White Tiger King, a body of Pure Yang. A single roar from him was enough to send ghosts fleeing as it dispersed demonic and Yin energies, causing the Demon Dragon even greater suffering than the sword. The dragon was utterly powerless against the duo; Vong Tran possessed a unique "Pure Yin Body," meaning Yin energy did not weaken him but rather fueled his strength. As for the White Tiger, he practiced the Yin-Yang Body Tempering Art, making the dragon’s attacks feel like mere itches.

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  The two coordinated to weaken the Demon Dragon's Yin energy to its lowest point, preparing to draw it into the Soul-Reaping Flag. However, on their way to dispose of the spirit, they were blocked by the new River God (Core Formation - Rank A) and his two brothers (Foundation Establishment - Rank B). All three knelt, pleading for their father’s mercy, knowing that once a soul is "processed" by a Celestial Master, it can never return or reincarnate. Above them, the faint image of a green Yinglong (Nascent Soul - Rank S)—also known as the Soul-Guiding Dragon—appeared.

  Knowing he could not refuse, Vong Tran was forced to release the Demon Dragon. Despite their special abilities to counter malevolent spirits, directly fighting three living dragons was beyond the strength of Vong Tran and the White Tiger. They returned to the palace to report their failure. Whenever the two were on guard, the Demon Dragon vanished; as soon as they left, it returned. The Green Yinglong requested that the Demon Dragon be granted 100 days of freedom, after which he would guide the soul away.

  The King realized he could not force the Celestial Master to guard him forever. Seeing that the two were exhausted and falling asleep on their feet, the King invited a master from the Painter’s Clan named Hoa Thuong Xuan. He painted lifelike portraits of Vong Tran and the White Tiger. These paintings contained mystical runes that created an illusionary space. At night, as the Yin energy grew stronger, the illusions became more vivid, appearing as if the two guardians were physically present. These "clones" possessed basic offensive and defensive powers—weak, but effective enough to deter spirits.

  Over time, however, the Demon Dragon began to distinguish between the illusions and the real people. In one instance, the dragon successfully snatched the King’s soul and broke through to the Underworld. He dragged the King's soul into the Hell of Deceit, forcing him to witness demons tearing out the tongues and torturing those who lied or broke their oaths. Seeing that the King’s name was not yet on the scroll of the dead, the underworld officials eventually returned his soul to his body.

  The King woke up in a state of absolute terror. He refused to leave his bed until the Great State Preceptor arrived to explain the situation. The Preceptor said: "To an ordinary person, credibility and one's word are vital. It is better not to promise at all, but if a promise is made, it must be kept even at the cost of one's life. For an oath is not made just to man, but to Heaven."

  "A King must value his word even more," the Preceptor continued, "for a single word from a sovereign can cause thousands of heads to roll. By the time you feel regret, it is too late. Can your apologies bring back a thousand lost lives?"

  The King sighed deeply. "I understand. Is there any other way? I am still young and have much to learn. Please, State Preceptor, guide me."

  "Beyond true repentance, there is no other way," the Preceptor replied. "But as the King of a nation, you must perform a public rite of confession before all your citizens for it to be accepted."

  The King hesitated. "Is that not too extreme? I feel... deeply ashamed..."

  The State Preceptor remained silent, waiting for the King to decide. The King paced back and forth before taking a deep breath. He accepted the Preceptor's advice on one condition: the Preceptor must stand by his side to protect him if his words accidentally angered the Demon Dragon. The Preceptor immediately agreed.

  Chau Ngoc Yen established an Altar of Confession beside the Phuong Giang River. With the Great State Preceptor and Celestial Master Truong standing on either side, the King gathered his people. He removed his royal robes and crown, walking barefoot to show the citizens that he was a mortal man capable of error.

  "I am a man of sin; I beg for forgiveness..." the King began. He confessed his faults: the broken promise to the old River God, his coercion of the Great State Preceptor, and the treasures he had accepted without fulfilling his end of the bargain.

  He ordered the treasures he had received to be returned to the river, along with many other offerings as compensation for his broken word and a sincere apology. The new River God caused the waters to rise to accept the treasures. Then, the three dragon princes rose from the water, transforming into human forms. They presented the King with the Golden Dragon Sword, etched with the image of a golden water dragon, symbolizing the Dragon Clan’s loyalty. Then, they shifted back into their dragon forms and dived into the depths.

  The King’s courage in admitting his faults acted as a spark among the people. Inspired, the citizens began their own "Confessions," admitting to their own greed—how they had overfished the rivers and used nets so fine that they caught even the smallest fry. What began as a somber event turned into a joyful gathering of honesty and laughter.

  From that day on, the Demon Dragon vanished and never disturbed the King’s sleep again. The King established an annual tradition: on this day, he would publicly confess his shortcomings of the past year. This was followed by a festival for the people to enjoy together. He also decreed a tradition of amnesty, pardoning those with minor offenses and reducing the sentences of others, so that everyone could share in the King's joy.