Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 561 - 420

The Central Region Academy was one of the Five Great Academies of the Human Race.

In past years, the first academy formally established by the Dragon Sun Emperor, Dong Zheng Yang, was the Central Region Academy.

Thus, it was subtly acknowledged that the Central Region Academy was the foremost among the Five Great Academies!

In recent days, the Central Region Academy had been bustling, with an increase in liveliness.

This was because the Great Dream Seeds had all gathered here, and so had their mentors.

A breeze blew, passing through the bamboo grove.

In the bamboo grove, Hong Yuan, in his Sword Body form, was walking and chatting leisurely with the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint and Hua Menghuang.

Although the Revelation Ceremony for the nine Great Dream Seeds was tomorrow, Hong Yuan wasn't too anxious, and Hua Menghuang was exceptionally calm.

Tomorrow's Revelation Ceremony didn't really matter much to Hong Yuan and Hua Menghuang.

However, the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint couldn't quite keep calm.

Her frenzied search for Great Dream Seed students had one purpose: to cultivate the Human Race Destiny and counter the Demon Clan's Destiny, "Xuan Guangqiao"!

Had it not been for her strategic misjudgment back then, perhaps "Xuan Guangqiao" wouldn't have become the Demon Clan Destiny. Maybe the Cloud Rock Martial Saint and the Lightning Martial Saint wouldn't have died either. Otherwise, with her family background, she could have led a good life, never needing to get involved in the struggle for the Human Race Destiny.

"Darling, don't overthink it," Hong Yuan said soothingly, gripping the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint's small hand tightly. "That "Xuan Guangqiao" has always stayed at the Dragon God Sacred Land; I find it unimpressive. You need to learn to trust the Emperor's Son, trust the Heavenly Palace."

"Yeah, Great Master. You can rest assured. I will certainly push through everything, become the Destiny, and kill that "Xuan Guangqiao," who is as timid as a mouse," Hua Menghuang said confidently, patting her chest.

The Butterfly Sword Martial Saint perked up, a smile appearing on her exquisite face. "Mhm, I know."

With that, she grasped Hong Yuan's fingers in return, holding on tightly. She leaned into him like a young girl deeply in love, and Hong Yuan felt her softness.

Her mood was not at all as relaxed as her words suggested.

Fortunately, a walk outdoors lightened the atmosphere considerably.

Hong Yuan was leading the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint and Hua Menghuang towards the waterfall bank. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes, staring at a small pavilion nearby.

Enemies truly do walk a narrow path, Hong Yuan sighed to himself.

He had run into unexpected people.

Li Shenyu and his disciple Xiao Yuan, as well as Shi Lingfang and her disciple Shi Xiangmin!

Xiao Yuan was dressed in blue robes. His features were handsome, but his expression was indifferent and emotionless, like an unmelting block of ice.

Shi Xiangmin wore a violet dress. Her appearance was delicate, her brows exuded a watery tenderness, and she wore a constant smile.

Xiao Yuan and Shi Xiangmin were both Great Dream Seeds, naturally entwined in irreconcilable conflict. Yet now, they seemed to be on amicable terms, presenting themselves as allies.

The moment Hong Yuan's group noticed them, they too spotted Hong Yuan and company.

It was a standoff.

The gentle breeze suddenly ceased. The birds in the forest stopped chirping. The surroundings fell silent, leaving only the rushing roar of the cascading waterfall.

Hong Yuan was no fool, and neither was the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint.

Through the Ji Clan's channels, they both understood why the Daxuan Dynasty had urgently summoned reinforcements: the influence of Li Shenyu and Shi Lingfang lurked behind it all.

Neither Li Shenyu nor Shi Lingfang underestimated the resources that the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint could muster.

Thus, as enemies met, their animosity was palpable!

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

After a while, Hong Yuan subtly positioned himself in front of the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint and Hua Menghuang, effectively shielding them.

On the other side, Li Shenyu also stepped forward alone, taking Xiao Yuan and the others under his protection.

Li Shenyu, with a narrowed-eyed smile, said, "Brother Bo Qing, since our parting in the 'Eternal Azure Lotus Dreamland,' it has been several years since we last met, hasn't it?"

"Heh, it's better if we don't meet," Hong Yuan replied with a cold chuckle.

"You are mistaken!" Li Shenyu exclaimed in a deep voice. "I have long heard of Brother Bo Qing's exceptional strength, and the sight of such prey excites the hunter within me."

An overwhelming and majestic aura, as vast as the heavens, suddenly erupted from Li Shenyu.

CLANG! 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The sound of a sword being drawn pierced the air, instantly shattering Li Shenyu's imposing aura.

Li Shenyu looked at Hong Yuan with surprise and doubt, thinking to himself, Didn't Third Martial Uncle say that Bo Qing was exhausted and his life essence nearly depleted from being hunted by the Phoenix Creek Great Saint? How is this fellow still so vigorous!

Shi Lingfang was also greatly shocked. "Bo Qing" had suddenly advanced from the seventh to the eighth rank and then managed to flee Phoenix Creek Great Saint's assaults.

She had thought "Bo Qing" had exhausted his potential by burning his life force, and his current state was merely a façade. But reality proved her wrong—hey, "Bo Qing" wasn't pretending; he could still protect Hua Menghuang!

BUZZ... BUZZ...

Hong Yuan calmed the eager Heavenly River Sword at his waist. He checked on the status of his Life Spirit Plant, the Blue Primordial Treasure Lotus, and sighed inwardly:

It's still in a withered state. If I don't heal you within a hundred years, my Sword Body and the Heavenly River Sword will likely perish.

With his Sword Body facing a life-span crisis, Hong Yuan felt a sense of urgency.

But he wasn't overly anxious, as his Power Body and Demonic Body had already begun searching for ways to heal the Blue Primordial Treasure Lotus.

If all else failed, he would have no choice but to challenge the Reverse Saint Array and set foot in the Reverse River.

The waters of the Reverse River could surely revive the Blue Primordial Treasure Lotus!

"Brother Bo Qing, surely you know: a tree that stands taller than the forest will be felled by the wind; a bank that juts out from the shore will be scoured by the current; a person who stands above others will be criticized by the masses," Li Shenyu said, his smile unwavering as he tilted his head, attempting to catch a glimpse of Hua Menghuang.

Hong Yuan expressionlessly blocked Li Shenyu's line of sight and said disdainfully, "As a bearer of Destiny, if you lack the courage to be a pioneer for the world, how can you shoulder the Human Race and oppose the Demon Clan?"

"…"

After a round of pointless debate, both parties parted unhappily.

After all, true resolution came from actions, not words. Words had their place, but their impact was limited.

The initial confrontation began hastily and ended just as quickly.

Yet, this brief encounter greatly bolstered Hua Menghuang's confidence!

Strolling leisurely along the bluestone pathway, Hua Menghuang raised her head. Her eyes gleamed brightly as she said to Hong Yuan and the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint, "Great Master, Second Master, I don't think Xiao Yuan and Shi Xiangmin are all that special. Against opponents like them, I could take on ten!"

「That night.」

Scattered stars twinkled, and magpies flew south. The sleeping owl opened its eyes and began to stir.

The night wind was somewhat cold, causing a small white rabbit sleeping in the grass to shiver involuntarily.

Yet no matter how cold the night breeze was, Tang Tianlong felt it could not compare to the iciness in his heart.

Hong Yuan, I will kill you! Tang Tianlong's eyes brimmed with murderous intent, filled with rage.

Tang Tianlong was the eighteenth prince of the Daxuan Dynasty. He was also a Great Dream Seed, born with the mission of restoring greatness to the Daxuan Dynasty. Whenever he recalled the tragic deaths of his Second and Third Imperial Brothers at Hong Yuan's hands, his heart grew heavy.

「On the eaves.」

Shang Yaoqin, dressed in a green silk dress, sat cross-legged.

She lifted her head to gaze at the bright moon in the night sky. A slight smile touched her lips, and a cheerful expression lit her face. It was because Ye Zhuyin had once told her that she would accompany her silently, like the moon.

Elder Sister, I will definitely do my best, Shang Yaoqin cheered herself on.

After a moment, however, she recalled Ye Zhuyin mentioning Hong Yuan in a letter and thought, Hong Yuan, the foremost individual among mortals... Does Elder Sister intend for them to become Dao companions, so Hong Yuan can then help me achieve Destiny? Hmph, as long as Elder Sister likes him, even if it means tying him up, I will bind Hong Yuan to Elder Sister's side.

At this moment, Shang Yaoqin suddenly found a new goal to strive for.

Shang Yaoqin had no interest in any of it—not the grand righteousness and responsibilities of the Human Race that Ye Zhuyin used to speak of, nor the conflict between the Human Race and the Demon Clan.

In her heart, there had always been a rebellious thought: If the Human Race needs me to save them, they might as well be utterly destroyed by the Demon Clan.

What Shang Yaoqin truly cared about had always been only Ye Zhuyin, who was like a sister and a mother to her!

「Under the eaves.」

The Phoenix Creek Great Saint sat silently on the threshold, drawing from an old tobacco pipe.

PUFF~

Rings of smoke slowly drifted up from the pipe.

Eighth-rank Saints were rare; eighth-rank Great Saints, even rarer. Although the Mythical Sound Pavilion was also an Overlord Sect and had produced Quasi-Emperor figures, it still lagged far behind top-tier Sects like the Qinglu Taoist Temple and the Phoenix Creek Sect. In the current era, the position of Great Saint of the Mythical Sound Pavilion was completely vacant.

Therefore, for a Great Dream Seed like Shang Yaoqin, the Sect Alliance had adopted a rotational mentorship strategy, with different Great Saints overseeing her for several years each.

Always be on guard against the Demon Clan's invasion. Heh, those people from the Heavenly Palace are still too cautious, the Phoenix Creek Great Saint leaned against the wooden door, unconvinced in his heart.

An incompetent soldier is but one loss; an incompetent general means a whole unit lost. The kind of person leading dictates the kind of troops they command!

The Phoenix Creek Great Saint knew that "Xuan Guangqiao," the Demon Clan's Destiny, was currently lying low in the Dragon God Sacred Land. This demon was an existence with a cultivation philosophy similar to Han Jiuming's. Therefore, "Xuan Guangqiao" would definitely not leave the Dragon God Sacred Land until he had grown to his full potential.

Hence, the Phoenix Creek Great Saint concluded that the Demon Clan would not risk a large-scale attack. They wouldn't send forces to assassinate the nine Great Dream Seeds, as that would mean risking substantial elite casualties in the process.

「Meanwhile.」

Within the dazzling palace, in the brightly-lit inner hall.

The Dragon Sun Emperor's Child, East Supreme Saint, was present. Mou Liang Great Saint, the Elders of the Five Great Academies, and other high-ranking members of the Human Race were also gathered there.

"Have any Demon Saints entered the Central Divine Continent yet?" Kong Yande, Elder of the Eastern Wilderness Academy, asked softly.

Mou Liang Great Saint gazed at the snow-white crystal ball before him and shook his head. "No, not a single one. The Demon Clan's confidence in "Xuan Guangqiao" is far too great!"

Upon the mention of the name of the Demon Clan's Destiny, "Xuan Guangqiao", everyone fell silent for a moment.

They had all studied detailed intelligence on "Xuan Guangqiao", and many among them were veterans of the great clash between the Human and Demon Clans.

Therefore, they were all the more aware of how terrifyingly gifted and talented "Xuan Guangqiao" was, and his current composed nature sent chills down their spines.

It could only be said that the feat of "Xuan Guangqiao" killing the Cloud Rock Martial Saint—achieved by transcending ranks upon first entering the Saint Realm—had left too deep an impression on them.

Transcending ranks to challenge opponents was already difficult, a feat only a few trendsetters of an era could achieve, let alone doing so within the Saint Realm. Killing a seventh-rank Saint while at the sixth rank, and slaughtering them like a dog—such a sight would unsettle anyone.

""Xuan Guangqiao"... I believe "Xuan Guangqiao's" cultivation realm should have already passed the first heavenly calamity and earthly tribulation of the sixth rank."

""The Dragon Sun Emperor once said, 'In all matters, prepare for the worst, and strive for the best.' We can compare "Xuan Guangqiao" to the Azure Lotus Heaven Lord.""

""In that case, he should have passed the *second* heavenly calamity and earthly tribulation of the sixth rank!?""

"HISS~ That's too terrifying! Such rapid progress! Won't he reach the seventh rank in just over twenty years?"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, assessing "Xuan Guangqiao's" strength.

Strategically, they would disdain "Xuan Guangqiao"; tactically, they would take him very seriously.

The Dragon Sun Emperor's Child, East Supreme Saint, silently repeated the name "Xuan Guangqiao" in his mind, a cold light flickering in his eyes.

He was determined to completely annihilate this generation's Demon Clan Destiny.

Everything would begin with tomorrow's Great Dream Seed Revelation Ceremony!!!