The Scent of War
The trade winds rise, and the sun sets on a bright, sunny day.
What does this mean? I have no idea either.
Anyway, I don't know where it started, but it became popular to summarize a long passage in four characters, and people at the time called it an "idiom!"
Previously, humans were either slaves or deeply resentful, and hardly created any brilliant culture. Therefore, it is almost impossible for humans who cultivated into human form through the [Innate Dao Body] to inherit much culture from other humans.
They were also eager to separate themselves from their original race, so they "spontaneously and voluntarily" created all sorts of cultural phenomena, trends of thought, and ideas.
Yang Ning's guidance certainly played a role, but it was also a choice made by society itself.
The immortals had no shortage of food, and humans had a strong desire to express themselves. When they communicated with each other, new ideas were easily sparked in their conversations.
If enough people accept this new idea, it will form a trend of thought and begin to influence people on a large scale.
If the influence of this new idea lasts longer, or even continues to be passed down through generations, it will become a school of thought.
The emergence of many schools of thought was also a spontaneous choice by humankind, because it was too difficult for previous races to attain enlightenment, and they had almost exhausted the Dao of the Myriad Spirits of the Immortal Dao Era.
In other words, society has developed to a point where it has reached the limit in terms of thought and enlightenment.
To comprehend a new Dao, to give birth to new Xuanxian, Daluo, or even Supreme Sage, a new school of thought is needed to lead the era.
Only new trends of thought can give birth to new ideas, and only new ideas can lead to new paths. This is also the view of one school of thought among the many schools of thought on humanity.
Many Demon Race lie down, hoping to become immortals, but they don't continue cultivating after becoming immortals. It's not because they're lazy, but because they see a future where they can't achieve enlightenment.
If enlightenment is impossible, why bother striving?
Now that humanity has arrived, hope has arrived!
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Not long after Pan Wu took flight, he immediately transformed into the shape of a giant black sheep. Before long, he saw a fairy flying in the sky beside him.
The fairy was dressed in a fiery red robe adorned with flame-like patterns, and exuded an aura of celestial grace.
It's easy to tell that this outfit was created from the feathers on the body during the transformation, not bought.
"Are you... Fellow Daoist Hong Yuan?" Black Sheep asked, leaning closer.
"Pan Wu?" Hong Yuan looked the black sheep up and down, then shook her head speechlessly. What era is this? There are still people who don't wear clothes and consider animal form beautiful?
"Uh, fairy, don't misunderstand!" In the blink of an eye, Pan Wu had already transformed into human form. He said, "Don't you think that our human form is a foundation for attaining enlightenment?"
"Of course I know!" Since a school of thought has been formed, the idea that humans are the foundation for enlightenment is naturally widely spread. Hong Yuan is a female cultivator, so she is well-informed, and she has also found a principle that suits her and is preparing to try it out.
However, this couldn't be told to Pan Wu, so Hong Yuan decided to play dumb. "What foundation for enlightenment?"
"Hong Yuan, this is no fun!" Pan Wu said speechlessly, "I don't believe you can't see the opportunity in the [Innate Dao Body]!"
"Okay, what do you want to say?" Hong Yuan asked.
"What I'm trying to say is that even if the [Innate Dao Body] is the foundation for achieving Dao, it probably can't contain many Daos!" Pan Wu said, "Back then, the Immortal Dao only contained three thousand Profound Immortals. Could the [Innate Dao Body] possibly contain any more?"
Hong Yuan blinked. "And then?"
"Then, the number of immortals stuck at the True Immortal level is not just three thousand, but probably thirty million!" Pan Wu said, "Thirty million people vying for three thousand positions of enlightenment—that's just a drop in the ocean!"
Hong Yuan's lips curled into a smile. He actually knew idioms; I was quite interested in that too.
"What do you mean?" Hong Yuan asked again, "You're a man, don't be so fussy, okay? Just say what you want to say directly, why are you beating around the bush!"
"Fine!" Pan Wu was speechless. I've made it so obvious, and you still don't understand? It seems this girl isn't very bright, and probably won't have a chance to achieve enlightenment. I won't associate with her anymore.
"What I mean is, since the competition is so fierce, we should reduce some of our competitors!" Pan Wu said.
Hong Yuan's eyes flashed, and she took several steps back. "You want to kill me?"
Pan Wu felt like vomiting blood. "Who wants to kill you? I mean, you shouldn't participate in the tournament in human form; using your beast form would be better!"
"Huh?" Hong Yuan was taken aback, then heard Pan Wu continue, "Now the [Innate Dao Body] has spread throughout Zizhou. It's my fault for not thinking that far ahead back then, otherwise I would have made a move long ago. It's not too late to realize this now!"
"As long as all the cultivators in Zizhou disguise themselves as beasts and never mention the [Innate Dao Body], it won't leak to other states. The cultivators in those other states won't know about the [Innate Dao Body], and naturally they won't compete with us for the foundation to achieve Dao!"
"This..." Hong Yuan was taken aback. "What you said seems to make some sense!"
Yes, now the [Innate Dao Body] is only circulating in Zizhou, which means that their only competitors for achieving Dao are the cultivators of Zizhou.
Therefore, she should indeed use her beast form to advance; it would be best not to pass on the [Innate Dao Body] to other states!
"The reason I arrived so early was to intercept all the cultivators from Zizhou on the road and force them to enter the venue in their beast forms!" Pan Wu said. "Now that I see Fellow Hong Yuan, I should be much more relaxed. With Hong Yuan's speed, I should be able to notify even more people!"
"Yes!" Hong Yuan nodded. "This matter is in our best interest, so I will do my best to help!"
"That's good!" Pan Wu nodded and said, "Then you go east, and I'll go west. If we encounter any cultivators, we'll take them with us!"
"Good!"
After the two finished their discussion, a flash of red light appeared on Hong Yuan's body, and she transformed into a bird engulfed in flames. With a flap of her wings, she vanished.
Pan Wu watched Hong Yuan's departing figure with a deep, melancholy gaze.
Kill?
Yes, there really is such a method!
The exchanges between Zizhou and the outside world are not limited to this Hundred Clans Conference. Although it cannot be communicated now, it may not be in the future.
The best way to prevent someone from attaining enlightenment is through killing!
In the blink of an eye, Pan Wu recalled the history of the immortal realm in High Antiquity times.
The immortal realm wasn't always so peaceful. Previously, everyone lived in different star systems and on different planets, and the distance was too great for battles to be convenient.
Once they all came together in one world, they fought many wars over things like appearances, Dao Path, treasures, and habitats.
Back then, the celestial realm was hardly a celestial realm; it was utter chaos and turmoil.
At that time, there wasn't even a realm called Supreme Sage. It wasn't until hundreds of Great Luo Immortals perished, and the victors gained the insights of the defeated, that a new path was born as the Great Dao converged.
"If the path of immortality can incite war, the path of humanity might not be immune, and..."
Before the concept of the Supreme Sage existed, the war was not so fierce. It ended after Supreme Sage.
But now, the Supreme Sage has dominated the world for 300,000 years. Countless people have felt the Supreme Sage's power, and countless Great Luo Duns have bowed their heads in anger, regretting why they didn't work a little harder back then, otherwise they would have become the Supreme Sage!
If another war were to break out, these people would surely fight with all their might.
Those who aspire to become Xuanxian, Daluo, or Supreme Sage will undoubtedly take this war even more seriously than in the last one.
"This new war may be even more brutal than the last one!"
However, the Supreme Sage in the last war, but he is this Supreme Sage. If the Supreme Sage were to intervene, the battle might not even begin.
"In short, let's prepare for battle!" Pan Wu had decided that once the conference was over, the entire tribe would be mobilized to prepare war supplies!