The Azure Dragon Abandons Heaven, the Phoenix Abandons the Emperor

A thousand years of toil, what do I seek?

Gains and losses mingled with joy and grief.

My fate decreed a life of black and red,

Life sentenced me to the lowly depths.

Clouds waxing and waning are commonplace,

Flowers fall and bloom, yet hope remains.

Three thousand years across past and present,

How many can become lords of ten thousand households?

I trusted Heaven, and Heaven deceived me.

I trusted demons, and demons harmed me.

I trusted ghosts, and ghosts tricked me.

So I cast off Heaven, sealed the demons, and wiped out the ghosts!

The vast earth's people honor and revere me; insects fear and obey me. I wish to shed my immortal bones and protect all living beings.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Please do not imitate.