If his arms hadn’t been tightly wrapped around the azure reef, he probably would have been swept far behind by this colossal wave long ago.

Hold on, hold on.

Hong Yuan clenched his teeth, a wisp of black light flickering in his eyes.

[Rhythm Tao +200]

[Rhythm Tao +200]

[Faction: Rhythm Tao: None → Common (3%)]

Thanks to the success of the fifth act of the dream, Hong Yuan narrowly avoided this disaster. However, Yao Guang Great Saint, who was right behind him, was not so lucky.

The giant waves of the Reverse River swept over with great momentum.

As Yao Guang Great Saint observed the reversing true meaning within, he couldn’t help but gnash his teeth in frustration.

Feeling the seemingly unstoppable giant waves of the Reverse River before him, Yao Guang Great Saint took a deep breath. His body suddenly trembled as a powerful force erupted from his limbs. The light emitted was so bright that it made him appear like a Star God.

Facing the giant waves of the Reverse River, he did not retreat but advanced instead, waving his hands and charging with determination.

BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

Yao Guang Great Saint was like a luminous eel, twisting and turning within the colossal waves, demonstrating extraordinary cultivation attainments.

Even Hong Yuan couldn’t help but praise such skill.

Damn old thing, he sure does have some moves. Unfortunately, I’m no youngster myself! Hong Yuan praised internally, though his expression was disdainful.

Watching Yao Guang Great Saint’s burst of power, Hong Yuan was not to be outdone, instantly unleashing the greatest potential of his body.

He even set his sights on the "Heavenly Demon Dismantling" Divine Power on the proficiency panel!

The "Heavenly Demon Dismantling" Divine Power was a technique that temporarily enhanced combat strength by consuming Life Span; it was quite formidable.

SPLASH... SPLASH...

SPLASH... SPLASH... SPLASH...

The waters of the Reverse River tumbled and churned, wave after wave.

The further forward they went, the more intense the reversing true meaning became. The raging waves turned into gently flowing river water, but both Hong Yuan and Yao Guang Great Saint’s swimming speeds slowed down even more!

Gradually, both Hong Yuan and Yao Guang Great Saint nearly came to a halt, struggling to move forward.

They were both trapped in the middle of the Reverse River!!!

Yao Guang Great Saint’s hair was disheveled, and his eyes were cold. He felt an increasingly strong sense of rejection from the Reverse River, yet he laughed instead of growing angry.

Tears glistened in his eyes as three figures flashed across them: his deceased wife, daughter, and father...

In the Reverse River, one must temper perseverance!

Hong Yuan knew how to conquer the Reverse River, and Yao Guang Great Saint, as a member of the Human Race Heavenly Palace’s Star Observation Platform, naturally understood as well.

But knowing how to do it doesn’t mean one can achieve it.

Knowing and doing have always been different matters, perhaps even severely conflicting ones.

"An Eternal Azure Lotus Reincarnation? Heh, I’ll make sure you have no place to be buried," Yao Guang Great Saint’s voice was sinister, his cold words piercing Hong Yuan’s heart like icy water.

No matter what, at his core, Yao Guang Great Saint was a Great Saint. As long as Hong Yuan was washed away by the Reverse River, then it would be Yao Guang Great Saint’s domain!

Hong Yuan lowered his gaze and sighed softly in his heart.

He knew he had to cultivate "perseverance" in the Reverse River. He also knew how to conquer the Heaven Earth Secret Realm, the Reverse River.

But at this moment, he truly could not conquer the Reverse River with just a Tao Heart. Besides, if he really could conquer the Reverse River, he, Hong Yuan, would have solved the sixth act of the dream and advanced to the seventh. But that was absolutely not allowed.

Because even the strongest leader of the Human Race, Dragon Sun Emperor’s Child—East Supreme Saint, had only made it to the sixth act!

Advancing to the seventh act of the dream would be too dangerous.

One must know oneself... Hong Yuan breathed out a sigh.

Quietly, his gaze fell upon the proficiency panel, especially the "Heavenly Demon Dismantling" Divine Power section.

After a long while, his gaze left the Divine Power section and moved to the data record table. This glance immediately made him raise his eyebrows.

Rhythm Tao!? Hong Yuan was somewhat astonished.

Could one really comprehend Faction attainments through suffering? Such Great Emperor-level talent and aptitude were simply monstrous.

Looking at the continuously rising mastery of Rhythm Tao, Hong Yuan’s lips curved slightly upward, a sense of joy blossoming in his heart. The Rhythm Tao was a Faction not inferior to Food Tao or Luck Tao, and one of the most mysterious major Factions. It was said that this Faction once produced an exceptionally brilliant Great Emperor. Even using the Power of Rhythm Tao, this Great Emperor deduced the mysteries of heaven and earth, searching for the secret of eternity. Unfortunately, in the end, that Rhythm Tao Emperor still perished due to insufficient Life Span.

Now that he suddenly gained insight into Rhythm Tao, how could Hong Yuan not feel elated? One should know that the Rhythm Tao Faction was exceptionally effective for strengthening the Immortal Aperture Origin of a burgeoning small world.

With its assistance, the growth of his Demonic Body’s Destiny Demon Realm could accelerate even further!!!

BOOM——

A wave from the Reverse River, shaped like black and white robes, struck, momentarily breaking Hong Yuan’s train of thought.

It was at this moment that Hong Yuan’s eyes brightened.

That’s it! Now that I have a slight understanding of Rhythm Tao, can I imitate the Reversed River Body Protection Seal Divine Power and create a Dream Tao protective Divine Power—the ’Reversed River Dream Robe’?

Just like the Five Finger Fist Dream Sword, by that time, relying solely on my Dream Tao attainments, I will be able to defeat the Heavenly Horned Ant Emperor in one fell swoop and take another big step forward towards achieving sainthood in Dream Tao!

Hong Yuan felt joy in his heart as he fantasized about the wonderful prospects.

This mysterious Great Emperor Dreamland, seemingly related to the ’Eternal Azure Lotus,’ has truly brought me many surprises!

[Rhythm Tao +500]

[Rhythm Tao +500]

[...]

[Faction: Rhythm Tao (Common 95%) → Master (3%)]

When he sensed that his Rhythm Tao attainments could no longer advance, Hong Yuan’s attention turned to his Divine Power—Heavenly Demon Dismantling.

He had a premonition that if he used such a desperate, shortcut method, there might still be a slim possibility of conquering the Reverse River.

However, in the end, Hong Yuan gave up. After all, this was a dreamland, and his breakthrough record could not be said to be stronger than that of East Supreme Saint. Most importantly, the Heavenly Demon Dismantling Divine Power required the sacrifice of Life Span. And coincidentally, although the Sword Body, unlike the Demonic Body, could not enjoy the Life Span of the Original Body, the Sword Body could be produced repeatedly. But in the era when East Supreme Saint was still alive, it was best not to do so!!!

Damn thing, just you wait until next time. See if I don’t smash your dog head then.

Hong Yuan glanced back, glaring at Yao Guang Great Saint with hidden resentment.

After that, he leaped onto a giant reef. With a BANG, Hong Yuan actively disintegrated in the upper reaches of the Reverse River.

CRACK! CRACK! CRASH!

The sound of shattering grew louder, and Hong Yuan’s consciousness fell into a brief state of chaos.

The dreamland shattered; he stopped at the sixth act!

「The real world.」

In the Southern Border of Divine Continent, on Taolin Mountain.

The immense Mysterious Emperor’s Dreamland suddenly erupted with a tremendous divine light. The terrifying radiance surged in all directions like a vast ocean.

As the terrifying radiance spread, shockwaves rippled out, shaking heaven and earth as if an Ancient Great Evil were reawakening. This roused the layers of world-shaking formations laid by the Human Race Heavenly Palace, and various dreadful auras manifested frequently.

In the void, a sky-reaching phantom of an Azure Lotus was reflected, showering down rays of azure divine light and ethereal radiance.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that these rays of azure divine light and ethereal radiance were composed of countless Tao Marks from Wood Tao, Sword Tao, Rhythm Tao, Dream Tao, and others, their auras terrifying beyond measure.

The Great Saints of the Human Race in the Cloud Sea Palace Cluster were astounded, staring dumbfoundedly at the Mysterious Emperor’s Dreamland.

Even Dragon Sun Emperor’s Child, East Supreme Saint, was disturbed and looked over from afar.

Under the gazes of the Great Saints, a figure as elegant as the Sword Immortal of Qingping stepped out from the dreamland’s circle of light.

Behind him, an Azure Lotus Tao Shadow materialized, even vaster than ancient Stars. It stretched to the ends of heaven and earth—immense and boundless. It reached up to the Chaos above and suppressed the Nine Nether below, its height an unknown number of tens of thousands of feet.

This spectacle was too astonishing, leaving all the Great Saints dumbstruck.

"Is this... is this the aura of the Azure Lotus Heaven Lord?!"

"No, not only that, it’s also the aura of the Eternal Azure Lotus Reincarnation. Could it be that Bo Qing is also an Eternal Azure Lotus Reincarnation?"

"Good, good, good! Heaven favors us! The Human Race has produced another peerless genius!!!"

"..."

Countless thoughts raced through the minds of the Great Saints, especially the Incarnations of Li Shenyu and Shi Lingfang.

In the end, they all stared eagerly at Hong Yuan’s Sword Body, their minds captivated.

At this moment, it would be impossible for the Great Saints not to have complex feelings.

This was the aura of the Azure Lotus Heaven Lord, and it might even be the presence of the Eternal Azure Lotus—the supreme being who, according to legend, achieved the Eternity Realm by transcending nine great calamities of the River of Time!

"No, Bo Qing is not an Eternal Azure Lotus Reincarnation," East Supreme Saint said softly.

After a moment, East Supreme Saint instructed Mou Liang Great Saint, who was beside him, "Nonetheless, Bo Qing must be related to the Eternal Azure Lotus. Mou Liang, I would like you to bring Bo Qing to me."

"Yes, Emperor’s Son," Mou Liang Great Saint replied, suppressing the colossal waves of shock in his heart as he hurried towards the Cloud Sea Palace.

In the Central Palace, East Supreme Saint gazed at Hong Yuan’s Sword Body from a distance, squinting his eyes. A profound and unpredictable Purple Gold Divine Light flashed within his majestic, sacred dragon eyes.

Its divine might could seize one’s mind and startle one’s soul!