Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 187 - 180: Dragon Sun Martial Emperor! Swords Unleashed in Qing State!
Phoenix River Town.
In the Mulberry Bamboo Courtyard, the Sword Tao Incarnation stood beneath the bamboo forest, listening to the rustling of bamboo.
The Sword Tao Incarnation was tall and slender, with a refined face. Dressed in a cyan robe, he stood with one hand behind his back, exuding an air of quiet elegance, entirely devoid of the sharp aura typical of a Sword Cultivator.
Looking at the list of names in his hand, Hong Yuan’s eyes grew pensive.
[Ye Xunwen, Wood Tao Martial Artist, Third Order Peak cultivation...]
[Cheng Hu, Transformation Tao Martial Artist, Fourth Order Elementary cultivation...]
[Zhang Chenye, Fire Tao Martial Artist, Fourth Order Elementary cultivation, currently serving as the Pengcheng Canal Transporter of Nanyang Government’s C-rank cities]
[...]
[Zhang Baicun, Slave Tao Martial Artist, Fourth Order Peak cultivation, currently serving as the General of Pengcheng in Nanyang Government’s C-rank cities]
[Li Zixing, Sword Tao Martial Artist, Fifth Order Elementary cultivation, currently serving as the General of Luo City in Nanyang Government’s B-rank cities]
The list contained a total of nine names and their information.
They were all individuals who had risen to prominence by participating in the killing of Mo Jiuyou and his wife.
In the past few years, Hong Yuan had been doing more than just increasing his cultivation level and raising Yue’er. He had also been identifying those who had killed Senior Brother Nine Nether and his wife, and gathering intelligence on them.
Now, Hong Yuan mentally reviewed the steps of his revenge plan, checking for any mistakes or oversights.
"As a Martial Artist and a General, one should be prepared to die on the battlefield," Hong Yuan said, lifting his hand to catch a falling bamboo leaf. "This is fair. In the world of the Transcendent, the strong rightly win everything."
With a gentle pinch, the bamboo leaf turned to powder, and Hong Yuan’s figure also vanished, heading straight for Fengqing County.
Fengqing County had a Flying Boat Dock.
When Hong Yuan last returned to Qing State from Nanyang Government, he had disembarked at Fengqing County before returning to his Sect. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
This time, without Yue’er by his side, Hong Yuan managed to reach Fengqing County in just one day and one night.
...
Perhaps due to the direct exposure to the tumult of the frontline battlefield, the atmosphere in Fengqing County was not as peaceful as in Phoenix River Town.
Even with the annual Dragon Sun Festival approaching, very few shops on the streets were hanging lanterns, certainly not enough to form a Flower Street.
The Dragon Sun Festival commemorated the Dragon Sun Martial Emperor, the first Great Emperor of the Human Race, who had protected his people.
Throughout history, the Human Race had produced ten individuals who reached the Ninth Order, known as "Martial Emperors" and "Demon Emperors."
These ten figures spanned the long history of the Human Race, from the Distant Ancient Era, through High Antiquity, Middle Antiquity, and into Recent Antiquity. Each was an absolute power in their time, overwhelming the Ninth Heaven and Five Lands, their might extending over the Endless Sea Area.
Yet, each possessed unique characteristics and vast differences.
There was the tenacious Dragon Sun Martial Emperor, the murderous Soul Killing Demon Emperor, the compassionate Le Tu Buddha...
Among the ten Great Emperors of the Human Race, the one who sparked the most discussion was the Dragon Sun Martial Emperor, the first to achieve emperorship among humans.
He was born half-human, half-snake in the Divine Continent of Central State.
Because of his unique origins, his life was fraught with endless trials and misfortunes.
He lost his father in childhood, his mother in youth, his wife in his prime, and his son in old age.
After becoming the first saint-level figure of the Temporal Tao, he lived a life of simplicity and few desires, devoted to seeking the Tao. He aspired to travel upstream across the river of time to change the course of his life.
However, his attempt to reverse the flow of the river of time caused widespread outrage, leading to the combined wrath of all Demon Saints. The Demon Court even placed him at the top of their execution list.
It was from that time that the Human Race was officially expelled from the Demon Clan, forced to stand alone against myriad other races.
The Dragon Sun Martial Emperor was incredibly tenacious. After becoming a Great Emperor, he ascended to the Demon Court, becoming its ninth co-ruler, yet he did not rush to purge the Demon Clan.
He established the Five Great Academies, teaching all beings. Under his deliberate and sometimes unintentional mentorship, the Human Race gradually grew in strength, eventually rivaling the Ten Thousand Demon Holy Land.
Patience was his virtue. When he was over three thousand years old, he used the laws of righteousness to bring various Heaven Earth Secret Realms under the Demon Court’s control, then slowly transformed them into the foundation of the Human Race, laying the groundwork for its rise.
Consequently, among the ten Great Emperors of the Human Race, he had the most adherents, with countless individuals claiming to be inheritors of his True Transmission.
He had a vast number of disciples. As the Grand Master of the Five Great Academies, he taught the most students, and these students, in turn, taught their own, making him the ancestral founder of countless Sects.
These disciples were scattered across the Five Great God Continents, though today they are primarily concentrated within the Five Great Academies. The Five Great Academies that received the True Transmission of the Dragon Sun Martial Emperor were collectively known as the "Emperor Tao Heritage."
"To have revolutionary ambitions is to dare to ask the sun and moon to change the skies," "To know what you know and to acknowledge what you do not know—that is true knowledge," "In my youth, I wished to be an ordinary tutor." These are his famous words.
Time flowed on, and the world transformed. Countless heroes and legends faded into mere tales, yet the Dragon Sun Martial Emperor’s mark on history remained as vast as the sun, illuminating the Human Race.
Even the Dragon Sun Martial Emperor, such a great figure, couldn’t achieve immortality, let alone eternal life.
Now that I have control over the source of eternal life, I must not miss this opportunity.
I must adhere to prudence as my core principle and never abandon it.
Hong Yuan steeled his resolve.
After paying two hundred thousand Energy Stones, the Sword Tao Incarnation boarded the Sea Swallow flying boat, heading for Nanyang County.
...
「Half a month later.」
The Dragon Sun Festival arrived.
Phoenix Creek Sect was adorned with lights and decorations, brimming with a festive joy that carried the essence of the New Year.
This evening, Hong Yuan took Yue’er’s little hand, and they went together to the Waxia Outer City to wander the Flower Street.
Yue’er wore a splendid outfit, red on top and white on the bottom. Her two pigtails swayed enchantingly as she walked, making her look incredibly cute.
"Uncle, I’m tired," Yue’er’s eyes twinkled as she stretched out her arms and wheedled, "I want to be carried."
Hong Yuan looked at her indulgently and picked her up.
Feeling the warmth of Hong Yuan’s chest, the corners of Yue’er’s mouth curled up. Being with Hong Yuan, she always felt a solid sense of security, as vast as the mountains.
Upon reaching Waxia Outer City, they were immediately greeted by a crowd performing a dragon dance and beating drums, occasionally throwing Talismans to create the sound of firecrackers.
Yue’er stretched her neck but couldn’t quite see everything.
"Don’t worry, come on up," Hong Yuan said, lifting Yue’er onto his shoulders.
His tall stature was a great advantage; in the vast crowd, Yue’er could see every detail of the dragon dance performance, clapping and cheering from time to time.
After watching, Hong Yuan walked down Flower Street with Yue’er, enjoying the flowers and lanterns and tasting the snacks and delicacies.
Yue’er now held a sticky rice cake in one hand and a chicken drumstick in the other.
"Uncle, you eat too," she said with a smile, offering Hong Yuan the sticky rice cake. They looked for all the world like a father and daughter.
It wasn’t until late at night that Hong Yuan finally took the reluctant Yue’er back to the White Frost Stone House.
On the bamboo-lined path in front of the White Frost Stone House, Yue’er suddenly stopped Hong Yuan.
"Uncle, let me down. I have a gift for you," Yue’er said with a mysterious expression.
"Oh? A gift... What a coincidence, I have a gift for you too," Hong Yuan spoke warmly.
Hong Yuan set Yue’er down on the stone path. Then, with mutual understanding, they both turned around to retrieve their gifts.
A plain and poorly crafted peace charm...
A delicate and beautiful Phoenix Feather Butterfly...
"Look, Uncle, I embroidered this for you! Do you like it?" Yue’er handed the peace charm to Hong Yuan, her eyes hopeful, sparkling like stars.
"I love it. I truly love it," Hong Yuan crouched down, his words earnest. Yue’er was so happy she started to jump for joy.
Only then did she turn her attention to the Phoenix Feather Butterfly, exclaiming in wonder, "Wow, this little butterfly is so beautiful, even prettier than Little Carp!"
"This is your gift. Take it," Hong Yuan said, handing the Phoenix Feather Butterfly to her.
The Phoenix Feather Butterfly looked at Hong Yuan warily. As soon as he let go, it immediately fluttered over to Yue’er, seeking her protection.
Yue’er opened her hands, and the Phoenix Feather Butterfly landed in her palm, flashing its wings in a show of submission.
The Phoenix Feather Butterfly, with its graceful appearance and gentle temperament, was extremely loyal to its recognized master. It was the perfect spirit companion, which was why Hong Yuan had given it to Yue’er.
"Thank you, Uncle," Yue’er’s eyes curved into smiles as she pocketed the Phoenix Feather Butterfly. She then beckoned with a wave. "Uncle, come closer, please."
Hong Yuan, still half-squatting, drew nearer, and she gave him a big hug.
At the entrance of the White Frost Stone House, Master Lin Daoyan watched Hong Yuan, almost grinding his back teeth to dust in jealousy.
Feeling his niece’s affection and the peace charm gripped tightly in his hand, the sword in Hong Yuan’s heart grew more bloodthirsty.
"Nanyang County, I’m finally arriving," the Sword Tao Incarnation murmured softly. "Pengcheng, I’m back."
