"Master, are there really flood dragons in the North Sea?"

Above the North Sea, a young man asked his master beside him.

The man's master was an elderly man with white hair and beard, looking like an immortal with an otherworldly bearing. He appeared just as the world would expect a hermit master to look.

The elder was named Li Fengshan, an ancestor of the Ten Thousand Manifestations Sect and a cultivator at the peak of the Immortal realm.

In the elder's hand, he held an array jade disc.

The pointer on the jade disc kept spinning, as if locating something.

"Of course there are. How could there not be? This North Sea has a Dragon Lord, a flood dragon at the early stage of the Immortal realm."

The Ten Thousand Manifestations Sect master stroked his beard and smiled.

"Under her command, there are eight Dragon Kings. One green dragon is her sister who handles North Sea affairs for her, while the other seven Dragon Kings are positioned in seven directions of the North Sea, guarding the Dragon Palace.

This North Sea is located at the border between the Demon Realm and the Ten Thousand Laws Realm.

Plus, the North Sea Dragon Palace doesn't usually stir up trouble, so the human race mostly turns a blind eye to it."

Hearing his master's words, the young man named Su Ren's eyes flashed with worry, "Master, the North Sea is so powerful. Disciple thinks we should forget about it. Disciple can cultivate well on my own. If we really harm the North Sea Dragon Lord, the entire North Sea might turn to the Demon Realm, which would be disadvantageous to our human race's battle line."

"Silly child."

Li Fengshan smiled, his old face full of wrinkles.

He reached out and patted his disciple's head, "Su Ren, you are too kind, but you must understand one thing. Humans are humans, demons are demons. Those not of our race must have different hearts!

Do you really believe this North Sea Dragon Palace is just neutral?

Heh heh heh.

The North Sea Dragon Palace is just waiting for the Demon Realm to offer a higher price!

As for the goodwill emanating from the North Sea Dragon Palace, it's just the Dragon Palace trying to paralyze the human race.

When the time is right, the North Sea Dragon Palace will not hesitate to bare its fangs at the human race!"

"Is it really like this?" Su Ren showed innocent eyes.

"Su Ren, you are still young, so naturally you don't understand the evil hearts of these demons." Li Fengshan sighed.

"Ten thousand years ago, after the first great war between the human and demon races, the conflicts between humans and demons became irreconcilable. Over these years, both sides have had constant friction, and the accumulated resentment is too deep.

Do you know what the greatest tribulation is for serpents seeking to transform into dragons?

It's not the so-called heavenly tribulation, but us humans.

Dragons are treasures from head to tail. Most flood dragons that transform while crossing rivers will be hunted and killed, with only a small portion able to escape into the deep sea.

Do you think, under such circumstances, the dragon race wouldn't hate us humans?

They wish they could skin us alive and extract our tendons, wish they could use our souls as lamp oil!"

"..." Hearing his master's words, Su Ren lowered his head and fell silent.

"All demons are like this."

Li Fengshan patted his final disciple's shoulder again, a burning light flashing in the depths of his eyes.

"Disciple, you need not think too much about it. Although you are only fifteen years old with cultivation at the Cave Mansion realm, you have exceptional talent. You possess the Returning Ruins Sacred Body, rare to see in a thousand years, capable of devouring all things, returning to origin, and converting nutrients for your own use.

Cultivation bottlenecks are almost non-existent for you.

This master doesn't have many years left to live, but fortunately still has this cultivation level.

That North Sea Dragon Lord is merely at the early stage of the Immortal realm, while this master is two small realms higher than her.

Although this master cannot easily achieve victory, I have prepared for so long that even if we perish together, I must kill her.

This is not only to eliminate a great threat for our human race, but also for you!

As long as you absorb this flood dragon's essence blood and combine it with our Ten Thousand Manifestations Sect's Ten Thousand Manifestations Formula, you need only cultivate well afterward, and your future will be limitless!"

"But master... what about you..." Su Ren was reluctant to part with his master.

Su Ren had originally been an orphan but five years ago, Su Ren was found by Li Fengshan and thus embarked on the path of cultivation.

For Su Ren, his master was like a father to him.

"Heh heh heh, it doesn't matter. You just need to do your part well. This is for the greater good of the world, for the eternal existence of the Ten Thousand Manifestations Sect. Do you understand?" Li Fengshan's tone carried reproach.

"Disciple understands." Su Ren lowered his head.

"Let's go quickly." Li Fengshan smiled at his disciple, "Master has already located her position. Today we will severely damage the North Sea!"

"Yes, Master!"

On a deserted small island in the North Sea.

A young man sat on the beach, with a spirit-gathering formation drawn around him.

The material used to draw this formation was Nine Nether Liquid from the Dragon Abyss.

Usually, even a few drops of Nine Nether Liquid would cause countless rogue cultivators to fight desperately over it but now, this large bottle of Nine Nether Liquid was being used as if it cost nothing, beneath Xiao Mo's feet, merely to draw a spirit-gathering formation.

Any cultivator who saw this would lament "what a waste of heavenly treasures."

The white-dressed woman stood with her hands behind her back, her long legs beneath her dress taking small steps around the young man as she walked and spoke,

"Today, sister will explain knowledge about cultivation to you.

First, let's talk about realms.

What are realms?

Qi Refinement, Foundation Building, Cave Mansion, Dragon Gate, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Jade Simplicity, Immortal, Ascension.

So-called realms are actually human-made divisions.

For the human race, realms are a cultivator's comprehension of the Heavenly Dao and the results of accumulated cultivation.

In other words, if you don't thoroughly comprehend the Heavenly Dao and lack the solid foundation from diligent cultivation, it's difficult to enter a new level.

For the demon race, realms are more about bloodline purification.

However, this doesn't mean demons don't need to comprehend the Heavenly Dao.

Bloodline and comprehension of the Heavenly Dao are equally important for demons.

What is the Dao?

Confucian scholars continue the lost teachings of past sages and establish peace for all generations, thus they can prove the Dao.

Daoist cultivators comprehend heaven and earth, understand nature, and thoroughly grasp their original heart, thus they can prove the Dao.

Buddhist disciples teach and transform sentient beings, perform good deeds and accumulate virtue, thus they can prove the Dao.

Mohist wanderers prove the Dao for the fairness in their hearts.

Even the Joyous Union Sect uses...

Eh...

Let's not talk about that. Little Mo doesn't need to know.

In any case, there are countless Heavenly Daos in the world but in the end, they are all about walking the path in one's heart.

As long as you believe the path you walk is correct and walk it with unwavering faith, you can prove the Dao.

If you eventually feel your path is wrong, the higher your realm, the more likely your dao heart will become unstable or even shatter.

Unless you can rebuild after destruction, your realm might plummet.

Do you understand what I'm saying, Little Mo?"

Xiao Mo, who was gathering spiritual energy in the formation, opened his eyes and slowly nodded, "I should understand somewhat. Then Sister Bai, will one truly become desireless and without wants after proving the Dao?"

"Heh heh heh, how is that possible?"

Bai Ruxue covered her mouth and laughed lightly.

"This depends on what path the cultivator walks. Unless one cultivates the Path of Forgetting Emotions, otherwise, most cultivators cannot possibly become desireless and without wants as they progress.

On the contrary, most cultivators, the more they cultivate, the more they reveal their personalities and preferences.

For example, those who are lustful may pursue beauty even more.

Those who are greedy may become even greedier but the higher their realm, the more they will pursue different kinds of beauty and different kinds of treasures."

"Oh, I see." Xiao Mo nodded.

"Good that you understand. Next, let's talk about spiritual power.

What is spiritual power?

So-called spiritual power is divided into two types: one is absorbing the spiritual power of heaven and earth.

The other is the spiritual power produced by the cultivator themselves.

Realm and spiritual power can be seen as a cause-and-effect relationship.

When a cultivator's realm is higher, the more spiritual power they produce internally, and the more they absorb from the external world each moment but why do people at the same realm still have different levels of strength?

Ultimately, it's because the quality of spiritual power is different.

Different quantities of spiritual power mean different sizes of spells that can be cast.

Different qualities of spiritual power mean different powers of spells cast.

Moreover, Little Mo, you must remember.

A cultivator's combat strength cannot be determined solely by realm.

Each cultivator practices different main techniques, has different practical experience, different levels of combat sensitivity, so their fighting abilities naturally differ.

So you must never think someone is easy to bully just because their realm is low.

No matter who you face, you cannot underestimate them. Do you understand, Little Mo?"

"Mm-hmm." Xiao Mo nodded, "I understand, Sister Bai."

"Good that you understand." Bai Ruxue stopped walking, "You are now a Foundation Building realm cultivator, already surpassing most cultivators by far. Starting today, sister will help you open the three great cave mansions in your body. After opening them, Little Mo, you can..."

When Bai Ruxue was halfway through speaking, her willow eyebrows furrowed.

The next moment, beams of white light crashed down toward Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo's direction!

Bai Ruxue stepped forward and protected Xiao Mo in her arms.

"Boom boom boom!"

The white light beams struck around Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo, raising sand and dust several meters high.

The opponent's attacks gradually stopped. When the dust settled, a sea-blue barrier covered the two.

"Sister Bai," Xiao Mo looked up at Bai Ruxue.

"Don't be afraid, Little Mo. Just some uninvited guests. Sister will handle it quickly."

Bai Ruxue smiled and rubbed Xiao Mo's head, then threw out a scroll.

The formation manifested by the scroll enveloped Xiao Mo.

"The North Sea's master actually protects a human youth. How interesting."

Li Fengshan's voice came from the sky above.

Bai Ruxue looked up to see one old and one young floating in the air.

Bai Ruxue sensed their spiritual power fluctuations.

The young one's realm was at Cave Mansion, while the old one's realm was probably no lower than her own.

"My North Sea has never provoked your human race. What do you mean by this?" Bai Ruxue's eyes turned into majestic golden vertical pupils, her voice carrying natural authority.

"Nothing special, just want to use your life."

Li Fengshan didn't waste words and pressed down with his aged palm.

A massive golden palm fell from the sky!

"Little Mo, don't leave this formation. Sister will be right back."

Bai Ruxue stepped lightly with her lotus feet and rushed toward the golden palm.

In an instant, ice pillars emerged from around Bai Ruxue, following their master to shatter the golden palm print.

"Disciple, retreat!"

Li Fengshan shouted and formed hand seals for the Ten Thousand Manifestations Formula.

Instantly, heavy clouds rolled in the sky, condensing into the dharma forms of ancient divine beasts like true dragons, qilins, phoenixes, and fierce creatures!

"Roar!"

The divine beasts formed from cloud qi, carrying the momentum of wind and thunder, charged directly at Bai Ruxue!

Bai Ruxue struck with one palm, dispersing the leading phoenix dharma form into scattered clouds but the remaining divine beasts' attacks didn't diminish and reached Bai Ruxue's eyes in an instant.

At the same time, Li Fengshan pointed his fingers like a sword and hooked toward the blazing sun in the sky.

Several molten gold-like scorching fire ropes, like the claws of the Golden Crow, broke through the air and descended, wrapping around Bai Ruxue like chains.

Bai Ruxue frowned and quietly glanced at Xiao Mo on the ground.

She didn't want to reveal her true form in front of Xiao Mo. After all, she was a demon, and relations between humans and demons were currently extremely tense.

In this environment where humans and demons were about to go to war, even Huan Fishing Village, such a remote small fishing village that originally had some good feelings toward demons, had been affected.

The current villagers of Huan Fishing Village spoke of demons with wariness.

Even though Xiao Mo was still young and didn't understand much, through constant exposure, he probably didn't have much favorable impression of demons either.

But this old fellow in front of her was very strong and had come prepared. If she didn't use her true form to fight, even Xiao Mo might be in danger!

"Roar!"

Bai Ruxue still decided to transform into her white flood dragon true form and charged upward.

She was not one to hesitate.

Although normally Bai Ruxue still looked like that little girl from three thousand years ago, in reality, that innocent appearance of hers would only be shown to one particular person.

Over the past three thousand years, she had experienced countless great battles and had long become the North Sea Dragon Lord ruling tens of thousands of li of sea territory, a genuine Demon Emperor.

"What a fine Immortal realm evil dragon!"

Seeing this white flood dragon that was two hundred and thirty zhang long, Li Fengshan was shocked.

He had killed many flood dragons, but a white flood dragon like the one before him that was close to the legendary true dragons, he had truly never seen before.

If not for the opponent still retaining some flood dragon characteristics, Li Fengshan would have thought she was a genuine true dragon!

On the other side, Su Ren looked at this white flood dragon that covered the sky and earth, his body trembling continuously.

The mountain-like dragon's might pressed down on Su Ren.

If Su Ren hadn't had protective magical treasures, he felt he would almost suffocate.

Xiao Mo sitting on the beach was also very shocked. After so many years, this was the first time he had seen Ruxue's true form, like a deity.

"Such domineering bloodline should be mine to use!" Li Fengshan waved his hand.

The heavy clouds transformed into pillars again, trying to bind Bai Ruxue.

Bai Ruxue charged forward, shattering the cloud pillars, then breathed out dragon's breath, hitting Li Fengshan's body directly.

After the dragon's breath, Li Fengshan's body condensed again. He threw out a golden fish basket.

The fish basket rapidly expanded and covered Bai Ruxue.

When Bai Ruxue was crossing rivers to transform, she had encountered imitation dragon-catching baskets but this was not an imitation, but a genuine immortal weapon!