Just a Little Short

"Fellow Daoist's strength is extraordinary!"

"I used a clever trick; winning by cheating is dishonorable!"

"Winning is the only way to win. My 'Golden Light Leaping Across the Land' technique does have its drawbacks; it's somewhat lacking in its ability to withstand harsh winds and waves!"

"It's all because I was too eager to win!"

One side praised, the other humbly declined; Celestial Venerable Yuanshi and Divine Lord Zhenyuan got along extremely well.

Rather than saying the two were competing in flying, it would be more accurate to say they ultimately engaged in a battle of magic, rather than simply comparing who could fly faster in a conventional way.

Divine Lord Zhenyuan's flying skill is extremely high, but it is indeed not as good as Celestial Venerable Yuanshi's. Celestial Venerable Yuanshi's flying speed was very fast in the early stage of his flying golden light technique, and the speed increased with each subsequent flying, becoming faster and faster.

It wasn't until Celestial Venerable Yuanshi approached Divine Lord Zhenyuan, who was desperately flying forward, that Divine Lord Zhenyuan blocked the spell with a wave of his sleeve, thus requiring Zhenyuan Shenjun to rebuild the layers of golden light on the ground. Only then did Divine Lord Zhenyuan realize how he could win.

His methods of winning were not honorable, but Celestial Venerable Yuanshi didn't care. After all, there were not many people in the world who dared to attack him, and even fewer who could defeat him.

A win is a win; Celestial Venerable Yuanshi had no words to say about his defeat.

Just as he conceded defeat in his duel with Zhang Xuezhou, Celestial Venerable Yuanshi also conceded defeat at this moment.

"I have some decent treasures there, fellow Daoist, would you like to come with me and pick one out!"

"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind!"

"They're just some worldly possessions. Speaking of which, my master once told me to use my Law Power power less. I took in some students and gave away quite a few, but unfortunately, few of them are still alive today. Some of the treasures were eventually returned. Alas!"

"Your students were once renowned throughout the land; we could only look up to them in awe!"

"They were all incredibly talented, but all short-lived; none of them achieved immortality. Now, only one remains... Nanji Zi?"

Celestial Venerable Yuanshi shook his head.

He stepped onto the ground amidst the waves, shouted again, and then said "Oh no!" He rushed into the Daoist temple almost simultaneously with Divine Lord Zhenyuan.

"How did Antarctica get into Fate Technique with Shuo Xian? This reckless thing is chasing after Shuo Xian even after he hid in a tree!"

Celestial Venerable Yuanshi cursed, and Divine Lord Zhenyuan's large hand reached into the bushes to grab Zhang Xuezhou's body.

I'll try to see if I can break up the fight!

Divine Lord Zhenyuan inhaled and exhaled, and a golden ring of Fate Technique appeared on his body. This prompted Celestial Venerable Yuanshi to nod, and a golden ring of Fate Technique also appeared on Celestial Venerable Yuanshi's body.

"Their contest of Fate Technique is not over yet; if they can distance themselves now, they will be unharmed!"

Celestial Venerable Yuanshi exhaled a breath of purple qi and reached into the bushes as well.

"Wonderful!"

"Is this considered brilliant?"

A voice filled with fascination came from behind, accompanied by Zhang Xuezhou's puzzled expression.

"This is the sacred path to immortality, how could it not be wonderful!"

Have you learned it?

Zhang Xuezhou and Nanji's voices could still be detected, but Divine Lord Zhenyuan and Celestial Venerable Yuanshi were unable to detect their whereabouts.

Only after the two kept looking upwards did they realize that a towering tree was vaguely emerging, and two fruits that looked like babies were constantly communicating.

"Antarctica, Shuo Xian, what are you doing?"

"The Azure Emperor's supreme path to immortality awaits our comprehension. This kind of immortality is so captivating; I'm certain I can become the second Azure Emperor!"

"Heavenly Venerable One, the Antarctic is clinging to me, please pull me out!"

"Dongfang Shuo, your soul is about to turn into a longevity fruit, quickly return to your body!"

As the various voices mingled, the scene began to descend into chaos.

"I got caught up in the Antarctic battle, and I don't know how to get back into my body!"

"You unfilial disciple, stop right now!"

"Ah, my immortality!"

"Whoever initiates the Fate Technique holds the initiative to end the Fate Technique contest!"

In a short time, there was the angry reprimand from Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, the reminder from Divine Lord Zhenyuan, and Zhang Xuezhou's complaints about Antarctica's obsession with the pursuit of immortality.

When all advice failed, Celestial Venerable Yuanshi began to expound on the Fate Technique, and with the erudite Divine Lord Zhenyuan constantly translating, Zhang Xuezhou was finally able to understand the content of Celestial Venerable Yuanshi's teachings.

"You go and beat him to a pulp in Antarctica until he loses and becomes afraid. He'll definitely withdraw his Fate Technique and escape. Once he returns to his physical body, I'll punish him properly!"

The Celestial Venerable Yuanshi explained repeatedly, while also urging Zhang Xuezhou to beat him to death as much as possible, showing no mercy whatsoever.

Teachers always keep a trick up their sleeve to prevent students from turning against them; even the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi left a secret.

This unorthodox method might not work against others, but it's perfect for targeting Antarctica.

After reciting a few sentences, Zhang Xuezhou felt the blue light that had been enveloping him in Antarctica begin to break apart inch by inch, twisting and turning like a severed centipede.

Ah~

Screams echoed, and Antarctica, whose mind was caught in a frenzy of thoughts, seemed to regain some composure.

"I have truly seen the path to immortality!"

Awakening from his obsession, Antarctica felt a lingering attachment, yet also carried the fear of his Fate Technique collapsing and him dying of old age instantly.

He ultimately failed to gamble on whether he could comprehend the path to immortality before collapsing, and quickly began a hasty retreat.

"I'm so unwilling to accept this! I was so close to achieving immortality!"

"Smack!"

As the azure light formed by the Fate Technique dissipated, Antarctica voluntarily returned to its physical body. When the aura of the Fate Technique dimmed and twenty years of its lifespan were cut off, Antarctica let out a very unwilling cry, and was then swept onto its head by the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi's whisk.

"You rebellious disciple, if the Jade Ruyi hadn't been given to Shuo Xian, I would have smashed three bumps on your head!" Celestial Venerable Yuanshi scolded.

"But..."

Antarctica offered a defense, only to be struck on the head again by a whisk, leaving him no choice but to obediently lower his head.

After finishing his reprimand, Celestial Venerable Yuanshi reached out and grabbed Zhang Xuezhou, who was still motionless. His eyelids suddenly twitched, and then he looked at Divine Lord Zhenyuan was still shining with the aura of Fate Technique beside him.

"Legend has it that the Azure Emperor turned into wood after his death. Could this be the Azure Emperor's remains?!"

The Celestial Venerable Yuanshi's gaze swept over Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan's bodies, then looked at the fruit tree that enveloped Zhang Xuezhou's body.

Two babbling faces emerged from among the fruit trees, vaguely revealing the faces of Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan.

While Antarctica and Zhang Xuezhou were somewhat bewildered, Divine Lord Zhenyuan remained remarkably composed, especially considering that this tree was cultivated by the other party.

As Celestial Venerable Yuanshi gazed at the fruit tree, the aura of his Fate Technique appeared around him, but he found himself unable to re-enter a state of focus to find Zhang Xuezhou and the others.

"You wicked disciple, quickly tell me what happened. Have you really glimpsed the Azure Emperor's path to immortality?" Celestial Venerable Yuanshi asked suspiciously.

"So, did I say I glimpsed the path to immortality, or did I not?"

Antarctica looked nervously at the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi who had beaten him twice. He had previously said that he had glimpsed the Great Dao of Immortality and was beaten. Antarctica felt that if he said he hadn't glimpsed it, he might also be beaten.

After he opened his mouth to ask, he saw a whisk sweep across his head, and his head felt as if it had been whipped.

"What kind of behavior is this, stammering and hesitating?" Celestial Venerable Yuanshi reprimanded.

"I feel like I've glimpsed the path to immortality," Antarctica replied quickly, forcing a smile.

"Then why didn't you make things clear before, and why didn't you seize the opportunity?"

"Well?"

Hearing the reprimand from the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, Antarctica opened his mouth, but felt that he had a lot of bitterness to say but could not express it.

If he had chewed more tea leaves to increase his wisdom, or if Celestial Venerable Yuanshi had returned later, or if Celestial Venerable Yuanshi hadn't pointed out the key to his Fate Technique, or if Celestial Venerable Yuanshi had been more patient, or even just a little bit more trusting of him, Nanji felt he might have been able to seize the opportunity.

If even one of these goals is not achieved, Antarctica will feel utterly defeated.

Ultimately, he was just a little bit unlucky.