Chapter 301: Chapter 291: Born of the Same Root, Why the Urgency to Contend

「The next day.」

The Broken Leaf Army and the Gathered Forest Army set aside their past grievances and launched a breakthrough operation. These two polar forces decided to join hands and drive out the Zero Desolate Army. This was to prevent unforeseen complications and to stop Hong Yuan from reinforcing his troops excessively, lest he create an overwhelming momentum capable of swallowing mountains and rivers.

「Yong City Ocean Area, Ten Thousand Bamboo Forest Sea.」

A gust of Qing Feng breezed in, causing the bamboo forest to rustle and sway, making a pleasant, melodious sound.

Ye Qing descended from midair, drifting slowly along a muddy path toward the bamboo forest.

When he heard the beautiful sound of the Jade Flute coming from deep within the bamboo forest, Ye Qing snorted disdainfully, his lips curling into a mocking sneer.

"To think you’re already halfway to becoming a hegemon, yet you’re still indulging in the sounds of silk and bamboo music.

"Tsk, tsk, what good prospects can there be for a practitioner of Sound Tao? It seems you, Lin Wenti, really are living more in the past with each passing day!"

The sound of the Jade Flute was almost tangible. It scattered yet cohered, forming pale white waves that hindered Ye Qing’s advance.

As a Heavenly Talent and demon hero who ranked even higher than Lin Wenti on the Heavenly Scenic Tower leaderboard, Ye Qing naturally would not be stopped here.

He blew out a breath. Instantly, it was as if an invisible great hand had pulled the very origin from the trees in the bamboo forest. Heeding his command, this origin transformed into a swarm of green wooden spears that surged powerfully against the waves of flute music.

BANG—

A deafening blast sounded, the air tide surged, and leaves from the bamboo forest scattered.

"Alas, Brother Ye truly does not understand elegance. Back in the day, you and I used to be..."

"Silence! This Ye despises associating with degenerates like you!"

Deep within the bamboo forest, Lin Wenti, who was holding the white Jade Flute, fell silent for a moment, a touch of desolation appearing on his handsome and gentle face.

But then he steeled himself again, waiting for the approaching guest, Ye Qing.

The Jade Flute’s sound ceased, and Ye Qing also stopped activating the trees’ origins.

In a short while, he arrived deep within the bamboo forest and met with Lin Wenti.

"Lin Wenti, although our two armies have decided to join forces against Xuan Guangqiao, there must still be a primary and secondary hierarchy among monarchs and ministers," Ye Qing declared, holding his head high and speaking with authoritative arrogance. "Otherwise, as with Lang Fanyun and Zhu Jiushi, where the roles of monarch and minister are unclear, we will only be defeated one by one by Xuan Guangqiao, becoming mere stepping stones."

Lin Wenti nodded placidly, "Brother Ye speaks the truth."

"Since that’s the case, I want the position of Alliance Hierarch!" Ye Qing stated fiercely, staring obstinately at Lin Wenti.

Lin Wenti diverted his gaze and countered, "I hear that Xuan Guangqiao has obtained the Holy Artifact, the Dragon Sparrow Zither. How do you plan to contend with that?"

After a debate, Ye Qing left, satisfied.

Lin Wenti watched Ye Qing’s retreating figure and smiled helplessly.

It was common knowledge that both he and Ye Qing were Variant Seeds of Spirit Plants that had assumed human form. Since they first embarked on their paths, it had been difficult to determine which of them was superior.

But what even fewer people knew was that he, Lin Wenti, and Ye Qing actually originated from the same root. Both their Original Bodies were Wood Tao Variant Seeds of the Through-Heart Bamboo!

In their youth, they were intimate companions with nothing to hide from each other. Unfortunately, as the world changed, much became difficult to speak of.

In the end, they became like strangers on diverging paths, the most familiar of strangers to one another.

"Born from the same root, why be so anxious to incinerate each other?" Lin Wenti sighed softly.

For some reason, he recalled the words of the Dragon Sun Demon Emperor. The Emperor had spoken them when facing the Heavenly Court’s demand that the Human Race and the Demon Clan sever their roots and go their separate ways.

...

...

The Dragon Sun Demon Emperor is the only True Dragon in this world.

His body, soul, and fortune are all in the form of a True Dragon.

It seems that my Demonic Body is growing and transforming along his path.

Within the Monarch Palace, Hong Yuan gazed at the manifestation of his fortune, especially observing his fortune’s Dragon-transforming White Python.

It was said that the True Dragon absorbed the essence of various Variant Seeds:

Its horns resembled those of a deer, head like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, neck like a snake, belly like a mirage, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, paws like a tiger, and ears like a cow.

And at this moment, the Dragon-transforming White Python of Hong Yuan’s Demonic Body validated this concept.

The pair of dragon horns on the head of the Dragon-transforming White Python were quite similar to deer horns, and its dragon scales also closely resembled fish scales.

Unfortunately, apart from the dragon horns and scales undergoing transformation, the other parts still retained the appearance of the Cold Moon Dragon.

According to the strategy’s progress, I have pulled the progress bar to two-ninths completion, with seven-ninths still undone.

Once the progress bar fills up, it will transform into a Fortune True Dragon. And my identity as the Son of Fortune of the Demon Clan will be fully established.

A glimmer of enlightenment flashed in Hong Yuan’s eyes.

He didn’t dwell on it further. Instead, he continued to refine the Water Orders from the various oceans, transforming the fortune of all beings into his own. This process drove the transformation of his fortune’s Dragon-transforming White Python.

Inside the Purple-Gold Furnace, a creature that resembled a red sparrow manifested.

However, closer inspection revealed that this red sparrow was actually a red Token engraved with profound and mysterious symbols. The red sparrow form was merely an external representation.

Hong Yuan’s refining speed was fast; in just an hour, he had refined a red Water Order.

This was not only due to the Tao Marks of Refining Tao but also because of the Purple-Gold Furnace, a Tao Species of the Food Tao.

CRACK—

Under Hong Yuan’s manipulation, something marvelous happened!

The Dragon-transforming White Python, baring its teeth and claws, effortlessly suppressed and devoured the red sparrow. Its pair of python eyes then began to transform, slowly evolving into the eyes of a True Dragon.

Had Hong Yuan not known that the True Dragon’s eyes resembled those of a rabbit, he might not have noticed this growth at all.

The growth is too minimal. I need to refine more Ocean Water Orders, transforming all the fortune of beings into my own. Hong Yuan was exhilarated.

He looked around and discovered he had already refined and absorbed the Water Orders from the six new oceans. To obtain more Ocean Water Orders, he would have to wage war.

And to wage war, he would need more Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals.

Thus, Hong Yuan picked up the military report scroll and began to review it.

The content of the military report was roughly as follows:

[In the Vermilion Bird War Zone, the recruitment of soldiers is not going well; many of the local Demons are in a wait-and-see state, not believing that our army can defeat the Ye-Lin Allied Army in cross-domain warfare...]

Reading the content of the military report, Hong Yuan’s eyebrows couldn’t help but knit together.

Now, after transforming his Blood Tao Tao Marks into Food Tao Tao Marks, Hong Yuan’s strength had made a significant leap.

His power was now comparable to that of an ordinary Demon Saint. However, if he lacked sufficient Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals under his command, converging the fortune of all beings would remain a mere pipe dream.

Should I forcefully conscript? No, there’s no need!

Hong Yuan thought of the ninety legions that were en route to his location, and his furrowed brows instantly smoothed. I wonder how far my ninety legions have reached?

...

「In the Hurricane Belt Ocean, where the Green Dragon War Zone borders the Vermilion Bird War Zone.」

Passing through the Hurricane Belt Ocean, legions from the Green Dragon War Zone could proceed to the Vermilion Bird War Zone, and vice versa.

At this moment, a vast army marched vigorously forward across the Hurricane Belt Ocean. This army boasted numerous Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals, their warships as plentiful as ants.

Hurricanes fell, but the warships remained steadfast, with only their sails and flags fluttering.

These sails and flags belonged to the Zero Desolate Army!

In one month at most, they would reach the Desolate Flourishing Sea Region where Hong Yuan was located. There, they would consolidate their forces, becoming the fangs and claws for Hong Yuan’s conquest of the Vermilion Bird War Zone.