True Monarch Li Huo

"I disagree with that. Fellow Daoist Shen has only become famous in recent years, while Fellow Daoist Xu has been famous for a long time. In terms of fame, Fellow Daoist Xu is more well-known. However, in terms of strength, Fellow Daoist Shen should be the superior one."

Ye Hongyao said with a smile.

"A mere reputation is useless. In the Immortal Realm, strength reigns supreme. I have no way to destroy the Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother using divination techniques."

Heavenly Mystery Rogue said.

"Whether it's Fellow Daoist Shen or Fellow Daoist Xu, they are both outstanding Nascent Soul Cultivator; there's no need to rank them."

Lin Qian smoothed things over.

Shen Long nodded and said, "What Fairy Lin said is true. By the way, I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Xu something."

"Fellow Daoist Shen, please speak freely. I will tell you everything I know."

Heavenly Mystery Rogue said.

"Divination is the art of divination to glimpse the secrets of heaven. Is every cultivator's fate fixed and unchangeable? If it is fixed, then there's no need to cultivate it! It's all predetermined anyway."

Shen Long said.

"Diviners can glimpse the secrets of heaven, but they only know the general outline. Human will can overcome fate; it all depends on human effort."

Heavenly Mystery Rogue said.

"Man can conquer nature? Why then do we say it depends on man?"

Ye Hongyao asked in confusion.

"Some people believe in fate. No matter what they gain or lose, they feel it's their destiny. Others don't believe in fate. Even in a seemingly hopeless situation, they believe they can fight their way out. Fate is a difficult thing to predict, so I say it depends on the person. Do you believe in fate, or do you believe that human will can overcome destiny?"

Heavenly Mystery Rogue spoke slowly, his gaze falling on Shen Long.

"Believe three parts in fate and seven parts in yourself. Divination and beast taming are merely auxiliary methods. Throughout history, how many Spirit Transformation cultivators have appeared in the Gan Yang Realm? Are all Spirit Transformation cultivators destined to advance to the Nascent Spirit Transmutation Realm? Not necessarily. Personal effort cannot be ignored, but the Dao Heart is the most important."

Shen Long said seriously.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, does a firm Dao heart guarantee a longer journey on the path of immortality? Not necessarily! Some cultivators advance to the Nascent Soul Realm only because of their ancestors' blessings or sheer luck. They haven't encountered any major setbacks, yet they still manage to reach the Nascent Soul Realm."

A portly old man in a golden robe questioned him.

"That's why I say you have to accept three parts of fate. There's a saying in the secular world: if your fate is set, you don't need to look it up. That's the same principle. Those cultivators who achieve Nascent Soul status by relying on their ancestors' blessings or by doing something stupid are ultimately a minority. The vast majority of cultivators don't have the conditions to become like that."

Shen Long shared his opinion.

"Fellow Daoist Shen is right, I agree with Fellow Daoist Shen's opinion."

Ye Hongyao wholeheartedly agreed.

The cultivators chatted idly, discussing everything under the sun. When they got to the Western Desert Cultivation World, they naturally started talking about Ghost Creature and the Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, could you please show us that Spirit Treasure of yours that can pinpoint the location of the Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother? It's even more powerful than the Ghost-Seeking Disk."

"I asked curiously."

"It was destroyed by the Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother during the battle."

Shen Long made up an excuse.

Many Nascent Soul Cultivator were very curious about this treasure. If they had it, they could do whatever they wanted in the Mysterious Yin Grotto-Heaven. Shen Long could only say that the treasure was destroyed.

"That's a real pity. If we had this treasure, it would be much easier to search for treasures in the Mysterious Yin Grotto-Heaven."

Lin Qian said in a regretful tone.

"Fairy Lin, will Senior Lin appear at this year's Ten Thousand Swords Assembly? Will he Preaching?"

Heavenly Mystery Rogue asked curiously.

"I don't know what our Old Ancestor is up to either. The last time I saw Old Ancestor was more than a hundred years ago."

Lin Qian said.

She took out a Red-Glowing Dharma Disk, cast a spell, and excitedly said, "Daoist Xu has also come to participate in the Ten Thousand Swords Assembly."

"Fairy Lin, are you referring to True Monarch Li Huo?"

Chu Buyu asked curiously.

"Indeed, does Fairy Chu know Daoist Xu?"

Lin Qian asked.

Chu Buyu nodded and said, "I have met Fellow Daoist Xu once before."

"True Monarch Li Huo! He's a disciple of the Green Lotus Sword Venerable! This is going to be quite a spectacle."

Ye Hongyao said with a smile.

The Green Lotus Sword Venerable is Spirit Transformation cultivator from the North Sea Cultivation World. He is proficient in Sword Control Technique and has been famous for many years. True Monarch Li Huo is his disciple.

"Speaking of which, it's been many years since I've seen Daoist Xu."

Zhou Hualei said.

Not long after, a burly young man in a red shirt walked in. He carried an exquisite Red Sword Case on his back, with a Crimson Flame engraved on Sword Case surface. He exuded a strong Sha Qi.

The young man in red quickly swept his gaze across the cultivators present and landed on Shen Long.

"Daoist Xu, it's been a long time."

Lin Qian greeted them.

True Monarch Li Huo nodded and said to Shen Long, "You must be Fellow Daoist Shen Fellow Daoist Shen! I have long admired Fellow Daoist Shen name. Would you be willing to offer me some guidance?"

He had been stuck at a bottleneck for many years, and had been sparring with powerful Nascent Soul Cultivator all this time. He came to the Ten Thousand Swords Assembly to find an opponent.

Shen Long was stunned; he hadn't expected True Monarch Li Huo to make such a request.

"Daoist Xu, with so many Nascent Soul Cultivator present, why did you only choose to spar with me?"

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

"I've already sparred with Fellow Daoist Zhou. If any other fellow Daoists are interested, they can also spar with me."

True Monarch Li Huo spoke in a calm tone, showing no regard for the others.

The Nascent Soul Cultivator present exchanged glances, none of them daring to challenge them.

True Monarch Li Huo was a disciple of Spirit Transformation cultivator and one of the Ten Immortals of the North Sea, and his reputation was widespread.

"I'm stuck at a bottleneck and want to spar with other fellow Daoists to break through it. Fellow Daoist Shen, please don't misunderstand, I have no other intentions."

"True Monarch Li Huo explained."

"Fellow Daoist Shen and Daoist Xu are very strong. I'd also like to know who is more powerful."

Heavenly Mystery Rogue showed an expression of interest.

"Both of you fellow Daoists possess considerable Divine Ability, so let's limit it to three moves! This will prevent any unpleasantness from escalating."

Chu Buyu suggested.

"That's right, that's better."

Ye Hongyao wholeheartedly agreed.

"That won't help me break through my bottleneck. This is a Fourth-Order Spirit Flame. If you win, Fellow Daoist Shen, it's yours. If you lose, give me ten bottles of Fourth-Order Pill. How about that?"

True Monarch Li Huo took out a Jade Bottle that shimmered with a blue light and said.

"Fourth-Order Spirit Flame!"

The gazes of Ye Hongyao and several other Nascent Soul Cultivator became fervent.

Shen Long pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright! But this isn't the place for a duel, let's find another place."

"There is an open area to the southwest of the Marketplace where you two can spar and fight."

Ye Hongyao said.

"Daoist Xu, if I defeat you, will I obtain Fourth-Order Spirit Flame?"

The old man in the golden robe spoke.

"Exactly. If you lose, you have to pay the corresponding stake; you don't need to bring out ordinary items."

The True Monarch Li Huo spoke calmly.

"No problem, I'll wager a 1,500-year-old Heaven Soul Ghost Lotus, how about it?"

The old man in the golden robe spoke.

"No problem! Are there any other fellow cultivators who would like to participate in the competition?"

True Monarch Li Huo looked at the other cultivators.

No one responded. The True Monarch Li Huo had been famous for many years and possessed formidable strength.

"Alright! Let's have a three-on spar!"

"True Monarch Li Huo said."

They left the Marketplace and flew southwest. After flying more than 300 miles, they appeared over a vast plain.

Who wants to go first?

"The True Monarch Li Huo asked."

"I'll go first!"

The old man in the golden robe spoke.

Shen Long and the others retreated to a distance to watch the battle, with the golden-robed elder and the True Monarch Li Huo several hundred feet apart.

"I am Chen Xin, and I humbly request your guidance, Daoist Xu."

After saying this, the old man in the golden robe made a hand seal, and his body shone with golden light, releasing a large amount of Golden Poisonous Mist that engulfed Chen Xin's body.

Golden Mist churned and surged, and a Golden Giant Hand, over ten feet in size, appeared, heading straight for True Monarch Li Huo.

The right hand of the True Monarch Li Huo shone brightly with red light. He slashed at the void, and a huge Red Sword Light swept out, cutting the Golden Giant Hand in two and heading straight for Chen Xin.

Chen Xin unleashed a large swath of shimmering golden sand. With a quick hand gesture, the Golden Sand solidified into a Golden Giant Blade over ten feet long, which he then used to meet the attack.

The Golden Giant Blade collided with the Red Sword Light, which instantly disintegrated, and the Golden Giant Blade slashed towards the True Monarch Li Huo.

With True Monarch Li Huo unleashed a red-glowing flying sword from its Sword Case, radiating astonishing Spiritual Qi.

"Spirit Treasure!"

Shen Long frowned. The Sword Case couldn't possibly contain only one Spirit Treasure level flying sword. It seemed that True Monarch Li Huo possessed a complete set of Spirit Treasure. He was indeed worthy of being a disciple of Spirit Transformation cultivator.

The Red Flying Sword collided with the Golden Giant Blade, producing a muffled sound of metal clashing. The latter instantly disintegrated, turning into a large patch of Golden Sand. The Golden Sand suddenly condensed, enveloping the Red Flying Sword Red Flying Sword smoke.

With True Monarch Li Huo technique, the Red Flying Sword shone brightly, unleashing a large Crimson Flame. Golden Sand fell off, and the Red Flying Sword headed straight for Chen Xin.

The Red Flying Sword disappeared into the Golden Mist, like mud entering the sea.

Golden Mist churned and surged, and Golden Arrow shot out one after another. At the same time, a ripple appeared in the void above the head of True Monarch Li Huo, and a huge Golden Dragon Claw appeared, slamming down as if to crush True Monarch Li Huo into dust.