Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 709 - 483: The Battle of Tao Master
"All tyrannical and violent Fire Tao powers are paper tigers."
"At first glance, the tyrannical and violent powers of Fire Tao appear terrifying, but in reality, they possess no truly remarkable strength."
"From a long-term perspective, the truly powerful force does not belong to the tyrannical and violent Fire Tao. It belongs to the Wood Tao that nourishes heaven and earth and creates all beings!"
"We must act, strive, and revolutionize. Having nothing at all, like a blank slate, is all the better for writing the newest, best texts of the Great Taoism and for painting the newest and most beautiful diagrams of the Great Taoism."
"This path is tortuous. But the future must be bright!"
"..."
In a corner of the Yellow Heaven, Hong Yuan shared the spirit of Human Tao that he felt from the "public" classic text, inspiring and energizing his followers.
Although Hong Yuan could make use of Slave Tao methods to force his followers to "voluntarily" carry out their duties without any mistakes, that would be inferior, making it difficult for these Wood Tao Saints to become the seeds, to become the sparks.
Keep in mind, a single spark can start a prairie fire, something impossible for Slave Tao!
If he truly enslaved these followers, causing their wills to sink, the Pre-Heavenly God Fire would likely gloat with joy.
This is not what I seek! The situation has not deteriorated to that point!!
And, as Hong Yuan explained, golden lotuses sprang up, and purple clouds filled the air.
Unnoticed, this place became very peaceful and secluded, with an air of detachment from the world.
The expressions on the faces of all the saints were serene and tranquil. From time to time, they nodded or shook their heads in understanding of the "Great Taoism" as explained by Hong Yuan.
The spirit of Human Tao reemerged as the sound of the Great Taoism of this era.
It chimed, DING DONG, clear and agile, cleansing the saints of their leaden weights and enlightening their true hearts.
Naturally, one by one, they consciously drew closer to Hong Yuan, their spirits lifted and invigorated.
"SNIFFLE! Our lord has finally cheered up!" The Flower Elf's delicate and adorable face inadvertently flashed a hint of surprise; her eyes curved in a lovely smile.
"Fight for our immortality, fight for our homeland!" The Vine Ghost's gaze was steadfast, intensely focused on Hong Yuan's figure, ready to dedicate everything to create a future for their Wood Tao race.
"Sky-reaching Green Wood elder, do you see, do you see? Our lord has great prospects, great prospects," the elderly Tree Demon, covering its face with a hand and bowing its head, wept with joy. The sacrifice of the Sky-reaching Green Wood elder for the lord was finally not in vain.
"..."
Saint after saint of the Wood Tao had realizations, and the anxiety of many days was dissolved, leaving their spirits clear and bright.
On the high platform, Hong Yuan's eyes half-closed; he quickly swept a glance over the saints below, taking in every expression on their faces.
When he saw that the saints' faces showed no hesitation, he nodded silently in his heart.
Yes, just right. It was worth giving a lecture on Taoism. If the mood had really been dreary, then I would have had no choice but to employ Slave Tao methods partially.
A moment later, Hong Yuan's tone changed:
"Retain the masses, lose the land; all lands are retained. Retain the land, lose the masses; all lands are lost."
"Now our Wood Cultivators are not sharp, and we lack allies; we truly cannot contend with the Fire Cultivators."
"However, the Fire Cultivators' ranks are tyrannical, lacking in Creation. They can conquer the world, but are hard-pressed to defend it; I fear all clans have long been dissatisfied."
"Therefore, my heart is set on the Endless Sea Area, on the Ninth Heaven. I resolve, for now, to retreat from the Five Great God Continents, to prepare for war. When the day comes that our troops are strong and our swords are sharp, we will point them at the Five Great God Continents!!"
No sooner had Hong Yuan spoken than the Wood Tao Saints abruptly looked up, staring intently at the figure on the high platform.
Several very old Wood Tao Saints, their lips trembling slightly, in the end, said nothing.
What was there to say? Whether in disagreement or agreement, nothing suited the situation! Who doesn't know that the Five Great God Continents are the heart of the world, and who doesn't understand that the practice of Wood Tao is exceptionally favored on the Five Great God Continents, an unparalleled fertile ground for cultivating new Wood Taoists? But the problem is, the Five Great God Continents have long been occupied by the Fire Cultivators, led by the Pre-Heavenly God Fire. The previous miserable defeats were because they wanted to establish a Wood Tao base, resulting in the Pre-Heavenly God Fire slaughtering them into a hasty retreat. They also thought of leaving the Five Great God Continents, but apart from the Five Great God Continents, the environments of the Endless Sea Area and the Ninth Heaven are really not suitable for cultivation!!!
"Since there are no objections, let this decision stand."
Hong Yuan subtly settled the future course of action and moved on from this matter.
Indeed, I am also aware of the downsides of taking root in the Endless Sea Area and the Ninth Heaven. The status of the Five Great God Continents as the heart of heaven and earth is not just lip service; it represents actual tangible benefits. But if I want to truly experience the combat styles of Tao Masters, it's best to take my followers away from the Five Great God Continents. After all, I only have that many Wood Tao Saints; if we continue to forcibly encroach upon the Five Great God Continents, we would really just be handing over our heads to the Pre-Heavenly God Fire. And even though the cultivation environment in the Endless Sea Area and the Ninth Heaven is far worse than that of the Five Great God Continents, I have enough confidence to bridge that gap! Because I have a trick up my sleeve!
「...」
「The great plan decided, it was time to act.」
But how could the Pre-Heavenly God Fire, enjoying such an advantage, allow her arch-enemy, the Eternal Azure Lotus, to have its way?
In this era, the Tao Heritages of many races persisted, and the Five Great God Continents housed many Emperor Tao Heritages, with both Emperor Arrays and Emperor Artifacts present.
Though Emperor Artifacts and Tao Soldiers certainly could not compare to the living atypical Tao achievers, if the Eternal Azure Lotus launched a sneak attack, they could still hold out for a while, until the Pre-Heavenly Tao Fire arrived.
By then, it would be the doomsday of the Eternal Azure Lotus!
Therefore, in such a situation, the Pre-Heavenly God Fire was quite at ease about her own rear base.
She could take the initiative to actively pursue and kill the Eternal Azure Lotus!!
At this moment, in one corner of Yellow Heaven, the Pre-Heavenly God Fire had tracked down the trace of the Eternal Azure Lotus.
The two atypical Tao achievers met.
"Azure Lotus, die for me," the Pre-Heavenly God Fire's eyes turned cold as her delicate jade hands struck forth.
On the outside, her form as an Innate Taoist Body was like a delicate and peerlessly ethereal woman in white.
But when she moved, nine mighty layers of magnificent Immortal Fire burst forth, burning the Nine Heavens and striking at the Eternal Azure Lotus... or rather, at Hong Yuan.
BOOM!
In just a moment, the land of Yellow Heaven dimmed, and a whole Star Region was wiped out by the Pre-Heavenly God Fire, all life withering away.
Whether it was the inhabitants of the Five Great God Continents or the Nine Heavens, or the creatures of the Endless Sea Area, their bodies all trembled, wanting to bow down to the terrible Immortal Fire and beg for mercy.
"How dare you!" Hong Yuan roared, a divine green radiance filled the sky, turning Yellow Heaven into Green Heaven.
The cold sword in his hand pierced the universe, its sharpest radiance breaking through to emit a light of world-ending divinity, aiming for the head of the Pre-Heavenly God Fire.
RUMBLE—
The Immortal Fire and divine light neutralized each other, countless Tao Marks of Fire Tao and Wood Tao filled the dome of Yellow Heaven.
A chilling aura burst forth, shattering the void.
To the naked eye, a corner of the Yellow Heaven was broken! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
This was the Nine Heavens, the very foundation of heaven and earth, incredibly sturdy, something humans could never destroy.
Yet, just the aftermath of the clash between the two atypical Tao achievers had broken off a corner.
If it happened in the Mortal Realm, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Perhaps, only the Black Heaven could accommodate such a battle between atypical Tao achievers!
BANG!
The Pre-Heavenly God Fire, in her fluttering white clothes, radiated immortal light all over her body, like countless galaxies being reborn, invoking the powers of the laws of heaven and earth from all directions, continuously elevating her own state.
Hong Yuan even saw many Fire Cultivators' shapes in this!
A battle of Tao Masters... Isn't this a fight for the dominion over heaven and earth...
In that moment, Hong Yuan immediately understood the essence of the Tao Masters' battle.
If this continues, as long as the Pre-Heavenly God Fire does not reach her Life Span's limit, then as long as Fire Cultivators are not destroyed, the Pre-Heavenly God Fire will not perish.
In the midst of this realization, the Pre-Heavenly God Fire's hair fluttered wildly, her fingers flicked.
Terrifying flames flew out, transforming into a sky full of Fire Rain, a divine fire of heaven and earth that reached the ninth level, unparalleled in the world!
Once entangled by it, the consequences would be unimaginable. Naturally, I know this all too well, so I understand it's time to fight while retreating. As of now, I am still not a match for the Pre-Heavenly God Fire before the Wood Tao cultivators grow stronger. Unless I burn my own Life Span again and perform the Heavenly Demon Dismantling!
"Hmph, beings destined for the grave, you know nothing of heaven's heights nor earth's depths!" Hong Yuan's voice was cold and indifferent, his black hair wildly dancing, his presence commanding.
He revealed his Original Body of the Eternal Azure Lotus, bursting with a dazzling radiance that lit up eternity.
Since the Eternal Azure Lotus itself was an ultimate Tao Weapon, its full power release had awe-inspiring divine might.
On the body of the Eternal Azure Lotus, lights streamed, Immortal Qi swept through, and Wood Tao Marks roared.
In an instant, lights, Immortal Qi, and Tao Marks wrapped up together, spreading outwards like divine chains of heaven and earth.
"Good, good!" The Pre-Heavenly God Fire's face flushed with excitement.
She was eager for the Eternal Azure Lotus to fight her to the death, for then she would surely win!
But in the next moment, the Pre-Heavenly God Fire's expression darkened, and she furiously roared, chasing forward with a fierce look upon her face.
Because Hong Yuan—had run!
"Azure Lotus, to think you, as an Azure Lotus Emperor, are as cowardly as a mouse."
"How infuriating, I swear to peel your skin, to burn your blood!!"
"..."
Under the astonished gazes of many Masters, the Pre-Heavenly God Fire was unable to entrap the Eternal Azure Lotus and even let him escape.
Listening to the Pre-Heavenly God Fire's furious stance, quite a few of the Emperor Tao Heritage rulers on the Five Great God Continents suddenly felt that the Azure Lotus Emperor was not so incapable after all.
Because the Azure Lotus Emperor was no longer as inept as before, handling the Emperor Divine Fire's pursuit with increasing ease.
Admittedly, this was facilitated by the environment of the Nine Heavens. But still, this demonstrated the prowess of the Azure Lotus Emperor!
Maybe we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket with the Emperor Divine Fire. Better safe than sorry. What if the Azure Lotus Emperor actually manages to turn the tables?
"It's time to hedge our bets. Which lineage should we dispatch to be more suitable?" Many Emperor Tao Heritage rulers contemplated such matters in their hearts.
「...」
After the initial battle of the Tao Masters, Hong Yuan also gained some insight.
He immediately understood the essence of the Tao Masters' battle:
To nurture the cultivators of my own Tao lineage, to vie for the rule of heaven and earth! This is quite interesting. Because, from a certain perspective, it seems that for a Tao Master to become stronger, one must cultivate the world and give back to it in return. Working for heaven and earth?
