Chapter 143: Chapter 40: The Seeker of the Limitless Dao (3)
"Actually, if he wanted to reach the Innate realm as a human, it wouldn’t be that hard. Even before the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi began to recover, it probably would have taken around thirty years. But for him to achieve the Innate realm as a Divine Wood Dragon... that’s a completely different matter."
As it spoke, it looked at Su Zhou, the Dragon Species in its eyes, with a rather peculiar expression. "A human’s Innate realm is already Tier One Extraordinary. But for a Divine Wood Coiling Dragon, that’s merely the end of its childhood. Once it matures, reaching the level of a Celestial Spirit Martial God—or even a legendary Demon God—is a simple matter... isn’t it, Young Dragon?"
Su Zhou couldn’t be bothered to argue about being called a Young Dragon, nor did he see the need to. He simply mulled over the National Preceptor’s words, a profound chill spreading through him. ’Divide the nation, reshape the culture, and use war to mask a blood sacrifice... What a perfect plan.’
But why didn’t he use it?
That was Su Zhou’s thought, and that was his question. Gathering his Spiritual Power, he forced a sound from his newly regenerated vocal cords. "Then why didn’t you advise him? You knew the right way to nurture it. It feels wrong to say, but if you had done that, even if the people of this world resisted, it never would have come to this. After implanting the Divine Wood Bloodline, what’s a few hundred years of waiting?"
"You were in a position to advise him, weren’t you?"
"Young man... ah, a Young Dragon, destined for Longevity from birth."
The youthful-looking National Preceptor shook his head and chuckled. "Do you know how old I was before I took the Dragon Transformation Pill and underwent Rejuvenation?"
Then, the National Preceptor answered his own question. "I was one hundred and twenty-seven."
"Back then, this old Daoist had no time to build some nurturing system that would last for millennia. Survival came first! I lived one day at a time, clawing for every extra moment. To my eternal frustration, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi only began its slow recovery in the last decade or so. Think of it! I barely clung to life for over a hundred years, always waiting for the right conditions to advance to the Innate realm. I grew so old it was almost impossible to even perform my Circulations."
"Ah, why couldn’t the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi have recovered sooner? If it had returned while I could still circulate my Primordial Qi, I never would have ended up assisting this short-sighted Divine Emperor. I would have long since gone into seclusion to become a Flying Immortal, to hell with the seasons of the Human World!"
As he said this, the National Preceptor slowly rose to his feet, startling Su Zhou. His own internal injuries hadn’t fully healed yet. ’I can’t believe the National Preceptor has already finished regenerating?’
’No, wait. Look at how he’s swaying. His recovery should be slower than mine!’
The National Preceptor, however, seemed completely unconcerned with his own body. He raised a hand, recalling his Magic Sword and Spirit Pearl with a surge of Thunder Power. He sighed softly. "My life has a limit, but the Dao is limitless. To pursue the limitless with a limited life is folly. Only by pursuing the limitless Dao with a limitless life can one become an Immortal."
"I’m not saying all this to shirk responsibility. What’s so difficult about admitting to the slaughter of millions? The only consequence is being entangled in Cause and Effect, which brings people like you to try and kill me. I’m just telling you, young man,"
"...the price I am willing to pay to advance."
BOOM! Dragging his wounded body, the National Preceptor laughed maniacally as he once again gathered Thunder Light. His entire form then blurred into a streak of green smoke and shot directly at Su Zhou. Left with no choice, Su Zhou gritted his teeth, forced himself back to his feet, and prepared to continue the battle!
But in the next instant, the rapidly flashing figure completely ignored the braced Su Zhou. It shot past him in a blur, trailing arcs of electricity as it charged toward the defense line and the Volcano!
It was only then, as Su Zhou turned his head in astonishment to watch the National Preceptor’s determined back, that he realized his opponent’s true objective!
’That bastard... he’s given up on killing me—’
’He’s going to fulfill his real purpose for being here... to destroy the Divine Soldier capable of slaying immortals!’
