Chapter 45: The Origins of Daoist Arts and the Arch-Enemy

The once-arrogant giant dragon was so frantic that before long it had transformed into a dragon barely an inch long. The old man in black-and-white Daoist robes, with black brows and white hair, reached out and caught it in his palm. He wore a smile, then let out a soft sigh.

“Old friends are rarely welcomed these days. Just when I was feeling particularly despondent, I never expected to run into you, little fellow.”

The Frost Dragon lay trembling in the old man’s hand. Where was the pride of a true dragon now? All its dignity and domineering majesty had been replaced by something else.

Cuteness.

Yes, cuteness.

“If Mister Wu hadn’t been here today, we remnants of the Yun Clan would probably have ended up in Lord Reis’s stomach. Lord Reis has always hated us with a passion.”

A veiled figure appeared beside the Daoist elder, her voice dreamy and ethereal. It was the woman whose voice sometimes sounded like an old crone and sometimes like a young girl.

As she spoke, she reached out and lightly prodded the Frost Dragon with one finger. The dragon sprang into the air, only to fall back into the old man’s palm. It was simply too small now. Even when it strained to roar, it looked adorable.

The Daoist elder known as Mister Wu shook his head.

“Even your grandmother had not reached your level of cultivation at your age. Even if you could not defeat them, you should at least have been able to escape.”

Elder Quan went straight into a state of dizziness.

What in the world was happening today? He had merely entered a city, only to have several Transcendents suddenly appear. Then it turned out that the clan of a barbarian town was actually the Yun Clan of old. Finally, a ferocious old man had appeared, addressing Lord Reis as a little fellow.

Even the Dragon Sovereign was younger than Lord Reis.

If Elder Quan was already this shaken, then there was even less need to mention Violet Flame, Golden Armor, and Red Armor. The lofty arrogance had long since vanished from their faces without a trace.

Violet Flame swallowed hard.

“What do we do? Do we still take the young master? Can Lord Reis be saved?”

Elder Quan gave a bitter shake of his head. Today, he had suddenly realized that his cultivation was rather inadequate. Forget the mysterious Mister Wu—even against the veiled woman, he did not believe he could win.

Some people were sorrowful, while others were delighted.

There was no need to mention Hai Qing, whose blood was boiling with excitement. The old man who swallowed fire was utterly thrilled. So the clan he had served was actually this powerful!

He had originally planned to leave the Hai Clan after this matter was over, but now he would have to think it over carefully.

No—what was there to think about?

He had to cling tightly to this towering tree.

From the moment the Frost Dragon had soared into the sky, Wu Yue and the others had retreated without hesitation, so they had not clearly heard the conversation. But Wu Yue had watched with his own eyes as the Frost Dragon shrank into a miniature dragon and fell into the old man’s palm.

Wu Yue’s first reaction was to retreat.

The spectacle was growing larger and larger, and the figures making their entrances were becoming more and more extraordinary. As a mere spectator, he seemed far too weak.

But once the Frost Dragon disappeared, the temperature began to rise again. The little tank was evidently dissatisfied with this. It suddenly yanked Wu Yue forward, dragging him toward the spot where the Frost Dragon had been.

When the people present saw the newcomer, most of them were startled.

If appearances were ranked according to order of entrance, then this person had appeared last. Shouldn’t that mean he was the most powerful of them all?

Although he was frightened inside, he was not afraid of death—he simply cherished his life. Thus, he smiled and deliberately put on an expression of calm.

The Daoist elder in front smiled.

The clouds in the sky scattered, the heavy snow ceased, and the Frost Dragon transformed into a miniature dragon.

Could it be that the younger generation was no weaker than the older?

The newcomer had not made nearly as grand an entrance, but the effect was still remarkable. When Chai Qingshan saw Wu Yue, he clasped his hands and smiled. Hai Qing also gave him a faint smile in greeting.

Violet Flame found it inexplicable, but he still offered a cautious smile. Who knew whether this fellow might be some ancient monster?

Golden Armor and Red Armor smiled as well, though their smiles were exceedingly strange.

The little tank glimmered faintly. The Daoist elder surnamed Wu pointed at it from across the air and uttered a single word:

“Condense.”

The faint glimmer suddenly grew dazzling.

When the light faded, the chill had vanished completely, and the little black tank had transformed entirely into silver.

Beep.

Energy replenishment complete.

The Daoist elder surnamed Wu then gave Wu Yue a faint smile.

Elder Quan and the fire-swallowing elder smiled. Perhaps to prove that they could smile too, the veiled woman let out a laugh as clear as silver bells.

And so everyone present began to laugh.

Their laughter was somewhat inexplicable.

Seeing that he had caused such a tremendous reaction, Wu Yue found it difficult to smile.

He was just preparing to slip away quietly when the old man suddenly spoke in a gentle voice.

“Since you have come, stay and watch for a while. There are so many important figures here. When I was young, I loved watching gatherings like this.”

Wu Yue clasped his hands and thanked him.

Now he could not leave even if he wanted to. Still, the old man’s words were also an implicit guarantee of his safety, so he might as well stay.

“Um, Elder…”

Seeing that the atmosphere had relaxed somewhat, Elder Quan walked over to the Daoist elder and spoke respectfully.

“Would you be willing to…”

As he spoke, he glanced at the Frost Dragon. The miniature dragon was currently baring its teeth and claws at the veiled woman without pause.

“If you have something to do, go ahead,” the old man said. “Since you have come all this way, it would be a pity not to complete your mission. You violated the agreement this time, so I will bear the consequences for you. This little dragon has a rather bad temper. Let it stay here with me for a while so I can temper it, lest it cause trouble for your Sky Tower. Things are not easy for you these days either.”

After speaking, the old man sighed. His expression clearly said: I am helping you shoulder the burden, so do not stand on ceremony. If you insist on being polite, I will make sure you regret it—and if I make sure you regret it, then you are finished.

Elder Quan wanted to refuse.

He wanted to refuse ten thousand times over.

But he did not dare.

Just as he was caught in a difficult predicament, a voice suddenly rang out. To Elder Quan, it sounded like music from heaven.

“Realm Master Wu, would you be willing to do this junior a favor and release Lord Reis?”

A man in white arrived with effortless grace.

Like a leader giving the signal, numerous figures emerged from Black Curtain City. Every one of them was a major figure within the city.

A clan had its patriarch, a nation had its sovereign, and naturally, a realm had its realm master.

When an emperor grew angry, millions might lie dead and rivers might run red with blood. But what of the master of an entire realm?

Anyone with even a little sense was left in a daze.

As for whether the man was truly the Realm Master, no one thought to question it. There was no need.

He was, of course, the Realm Master of the Immortal Spirit Realm.

Wu Yue was equally shocked—then delighted.

Da Lie had told him that the Realm Master of the Immortal Spirit Realm, Wu Daofa, owed Lishan a favor.

“I am afraid your favor alone is not weighty enough,” Wu Daofa said.

“Then let us add Lishan to it.”

What did that mean?

Why Lishan?

Wu Yue did not quite understand. He looked at the man in white. His bearing was flawless, and he was extraordinarily handsome—if anything, even more so than Wu Yue. There was also something faintly familiar about him.

But why did Wu Yue suddenly feel like punching him?

The impulse was difficult to suppress.

Wu Yue frowned in thought.

Why?

“My favor is not so cheap,” Wu Daofa said expressionlessly, looking at the Frost Dragon Reis in his hand. “And it may be used only this once.”

The man in white bowed with clasped hands.

Elder Quan’s gratitude surged like a flood. He was practically ready to become sworn brothers with the man in white.

Violet Flame’s eyes widened as well. He could not believe that the bastard was actually so—so incredible.

He thought for a long while, then settled on the word “incredible.”

Seeing this, Wu Daofa seemed to recall something. A look of remembrance appeared in his eyes.

“You people of Lishan are all strange ones.”

“But since this is your own choice, it benefits me as well. Favors have always been the most difficult things to repay.”

“However…”

Wu Daofa suddenly smiled mischievously.

Wu Yue inexplicably felt that some great disaster was about to befall him.