484 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

## Chapter 484: You May Call Me Dao Ancestor Li Xuan gently patted Old Man Xiao on the shoulder. His tone remained gentle, as if calming an anxious child, so naturally and casually. Yet, for Old Man Xiao, this moment felt like a tiny ant confronting an unfathomable heavenly might! Even Tai-Cang had never made him feel this way! Tai-Cang was the foremost among the Seven Great Heavenly Realms, possessing unimaginable strength. Not only Tai-Cang, but even the one from the Unyielding Shrine could not evoke such an impression! The strength of the person before him had already surpassed both Tai-Cang and the one from the Unyielding Shrine. Where did such a powerful individual come from? The Unyielding Domain? Could there be any connection to the Unyielding Shrine? Old Man Xiao was overwhelmed with an inexplicable shock, his eyes widened as he watched the person sitting in the chair, leisurely and at ease, even tasting a piece of pastry. This person seemed like a pampered young lord accompanied by beautiful attendants! Yet, at this moment, Old Man Xiao's heart was trembling. Xu Yan's words floated to the forefront of his mind, and for some reason, he started to believe that what Xu Yan said could be true—it wasn't just boasting! Xu Yan and the others, observing Old Man Xiao’s formidable aura, realized that even an Immortal Heavenly Venerable would seem like an ant before him. As they marveled at Old Man Xiao's immense power, it quickly dissipated. Old Man Xiao, right in the middle of his sentence, abruptly fell silent. Immediately, they saw Old Man Xiao standing dumbfounded, his body slightly trembling, and his legs quivering as though frightened senselessly! Xu Yan couldn't help but mutter, "Master didn't even do anything to him, so why is he shaking? Old Man Xiao's courage is quite lacking!" Meng Chong and others nodded in agreement! Their master had maintained a gentle demeanor; he hadn't even revealed any powerful aura and remained as carefree as usual. Simply by smoothing over the atmosphere, Old Man Xiao became this terrified? "This old man, he is strong, but his courage is quite lacking," Su Lingxiu shook her head. Old Man Xiao, however, had no mind to care about Xu Yan and the others' discussions. His own heart was trembling, forcibly trying to calm himself, but for quite a while, he couldn't control his shock. The higher one's realm, the broader one's experience, and the more profound one's understanding of terror! "Who...who are you?" Old Man Xiao stuttered. "Little friend, be polite, no need to panic, just maintain a usual state of mind." Li Xuan still spoke gently. Suddenly, Old Man Xiao felt another gentle pat on his shoulder. He still didn't sense how the other party reached his shoulder, but more terrifyingly, his trembling heart gradually calmed down, as if those pats had smoothed away his inner panic and unease. How terrifying! What level of strength would it require to achieve this? Though Old Man Xiao’s body stopped trembling and his heart-mind settled, he remained frozen, stuck not knowing how to handle the situation. Li Xuan kept his gentle smile, pacifying Old Man Xiao's anxiety. It was nothing but his divine technique; with Li Xuan's strength, how could Old Man Xiao resist the influence of his divine abilities? Tai-Cang couldn't accomplish such a feat because Tai-Cang's martial path was lacking! It lacked this sort of profound and mysterious divine technique! "Predecessor, are you from the Unyielding Domain?" Old Man Xiao involuntarily addressed with respect. "Yes and no,” Li Xuan smiled and shook his head. "May I boldly ask for your name?" Old Man Xiao gritted his teeth and asked. "My name carries too much karma, little friend, you can’t bear it," Li Xuan chuckled. The aura of Dao Ancestor faintly appeared. "If you must call me something, you may call me Dao Ancestor." Dao Ancestor! In Old Man Xiao’s mind, it was as if thunder rumbled, his heart and mind were agitated, unable to calm for a long time! At this moment, he recalled some of the words Tai-Cang had said. Mixed and unyielding, heaven and earth being crafted, everything was within untouchable, supreme rules; the mysteries of life and death, all encompassing were within it. Just as his martial path was cultivated from these profound mysteries and chance, which gave rise to wisdom in the mingling chaos. He traversed countless years only to barely touch upon this path, never having steadied nor journeyed far! And what Tai-Cang once spoke of was that form without shape, ever-present, profound, yet untouchable path. The shock within Old Man Xiao’s heart was indescribable. While Tai-Cang hadn’t set foot on such a path, the person before him claimed to be a Dao Ancestor! What an unfathomable existence this was! Old Man Xiao was left in a daze, originally curious about Xu Yan’s master, wondering which individual was scheming to teach such a monstrous disciple. But now, upon meeting him, the shock was beyond words! Dao Ancestor?! Old Man Xiao seemed disoriented, his mind having taken an enormous blow, buzzing in his head solely with the words Dao Ancestor. He instinctively realized, from his past conviction about Tai-Cang, that the martial path traveled from such spiritual awakening was potentially linked. Yet today, Tai-Cang’s invincibility, Tai-Cang’s grandeur, was intensely shaken in his heart! He saw someone far stronger than Tai-Cang, much stronger indeed. It felt as though, all the varied paths of the world had been his treadings, and he called himself Dao Ancestor! For a moment, Old Man Xiao couldn't bear the vast impact; he had a sensation of a crumbling belief, finding himself disoriented. "I need some time alone," Old Man Xiao muttered and left in distraction. Xu Yan looked bewildered, about to call after Old Man Xiao, wanting to ask him what was going on. However, Li Xuan waved a hand, saying, "Let this little friend collect himself." Watching Old Man Xiao's departure, Li Xuan smiled faintly. The Dao Ancestor aura withdrew, returning him to a simple and ordinary appearance. He understood Old Man Xiao’s situation, simply encountering—unexpectedly—a being stronger, grander, and more unfathomable than the person of his belief had been somewhat hard to accept. Moreover, the person of his belief had significant body and soul correlations with him. "Tai-Cang indeed," Li Xuan reflected silently. Although Tai-Cang had died, his might still served as a steadfast belief for warriors. Looking skyward, this earth was originally opened by Tai-Cang. And Tianzi was the purple light from the heavens left behind during the opening of the world. "If not for creating Tianzi, maybe Tai-Cang would have been even stronger," Li Xuan mused quietly. That purple light carried great creation capabilities. The Seven Great Heavenly Lords were created from this purple light's creation, opening the heavens and the earth, while those lesser heavenly lords obtained small amounts of purple light to create lesser heavens. Due to acquiring purple light, they established themselves as masters of the lesser heavens. Dao Domain's three hundred worlds were once these lesser heavenly domains. The successors, without possessing the purple light's fabrication, could only be counted as realm lords, whereas the distinction between them and lesser heaven lords persisted. Old Man Xiao wasn't a lesser heavenly lord but a realm lord. He belonged likely to the era after Tai-Cang and others, a second-generation cultivator, for whom Tai-Cang could be considered a master. "Remarkable strength," Li Xuan acknowledged Old Man Xiao’s capability. Even without purple light's formation, his strength wasn't inferior to lesser heaven lords and even surpassed some weaker ones. "Influenced deeply by Tai-Cang," Li Xuan didn't worry about Old Man Xiao’s downfall. To reach such a realm, his will was naturally firm. The sudden shock was tough to accept. A little quietude would restore him. Besides, Li Xuan had just used divine techniques; their influence would ensure no real mental disruption would befall him. Once Old Man Xiao left, no outsiders remained, only their familiar company. Su Lingxiu excitedly tugged Xu Yan’s sleeve, asking, "Senior Brother, where's the dragon, the real dragon?" Fang Hao and the others also wore expectant faces. "Right here!" Xu Yan grinned widely, retrieving the shell of a Yuan Turtle to reveal Ao Yuxue. Ao Yuxue was recuperating and healing when suddenly displaced to the scene, her face immediately showing grievances. "Is this the real dragon?" Su Lingxiu looked puzzled. --- **New Terms and Translations:** 1. **Unyielding Shrine (不化神殿)** - Translated as "Unyielding Shrine" to convey its mystery and perceived invincibility in the narrative. 2. **Unyielding Domain (不化之地)** - This refers to a mysterious and powerful realm, with the name directly inspired by its essence of resilience. 3. **Yuan Turtle (元龜)** - Translated as "Yuan Turtle" to maintain the mythical aura associated with such a creature, typically symbolizing wisdom or longevity in folklore. **Explanation:** - **Dao Ancestor** - The term "Dao Ancestor (道祖)" indicates a supreme being of unparalleled wisdom and power in the Dao, surpassing conventional understanding. - **Purple Light (紫光)** - Mentioned as the essence shaping the heavens itself, indicating a cosmic influence with potential links to great cosmic powers. **Identified Characters:** - **Old Man Xiao (逍老頭)** - Revealed here as a powerful yet unexpectedly fragile character, bound to Tai-Cang's doctrine, seen shaking at the revelation of Li Xuan's identity. - **Ao Yuxue (敖玉雪)** - Presently revealed, but context such as identity and role not deeply explored outright in this passage. This passage required maintaining an ethereal, overpowering tone to convey Li Xuan's previously hidden, grandiose strength, shaping the scene’s dynamics and character realizations. Little hands curiously touched the small horn on Ao Yuxue's head, full of wonder. Ao Yuxue's face turned red, but she dared not get angry. "Reveal your true form for my junior disciples to see," Xu Yan instructed. "You go too far; I'm not a monkey!" Ao Yuxue said with grievance in her voice. "Let’s make a deal. You show your true form, and my junior sister will heal your injuries," Xu Yan contemplated and suggested. "This is the last time!" Ao Yuxue knew she couldn't refuse. With a roar, the pure white, flawless true dragon appeared immediately, exuding its daunting presence despite Ao Yuxue restraining her aura, retaining the majestic might of a true dragon. "So this is the true dragon!" Su Lingxiu and the others marvelled. "Senior Brother, can Yu Xiaolong, this flood dragon, transform into a dragon?" Su Lingxiu thought about her senior brother's pet, Yu Xiaolong. "Whether it can or cannot, I'm not sure," Xu Yan shook his head. Su Lingxiu reached out, stroking Ao Yuxue's dragon body with sparkling eyes, making Ao Yuxue feel uneasy, as if Su Lingxiu's gaze intended to dissect her. "What is your name?" "Ao Yuxue!" "Sister Yuxue, how about we make a deal?" Su Lingxiu eagerly proposed. Alarm bells rang in Ao Yuxue's heart, instinctively feeling that this transaction might not be good. "No, I won't do it!" She quickly shook her head, transforming back into human form, instinctively hiding behind Xu Yan. Xu Yan and the others had peculiar expressions; it seemed Su Lingxiu wanted to study the true dragon's body, much like she had previously explored the Sea-Spirit Tribe. Su Lingxiu felt a tinge of regret but remained undeterred. Since Ao Yuxue would be staying here, there would be ample opportunity. As long as the benefits were enticing enough, she would surely agree eventually. After all, there was no real danger involved, much like Cai Ling'er before. "Here are some pills for you. Recover a bit, as you seem greatly depleted," Su Lingxiu offered a bottle of medicinal pills to Ao Yuxue. Ao Yuxue hesitated momentarily before accepting. Her keen instincts told her these pills would greatly aid in her recovery, bringing delight and astonishment at their efficacy. After all, she estimated that even if she returned to her clan, restoring her current depletion would require numerous treasures and a prolonged recuperation. After encountering the true dragon, the group grew curious about why Ao Yuxue fell into the Divine Domain and lost her sanity, causing chaos everywhere. "Since subduing you, I haven't asked how you fell into the Divine Domain and why you caused such slaughter?" Xu Yan asked gravely. The might of the true dragon had stirred considerable turbulence within the Divine Domain. Though driven by the sinister schemes of the Heaven's Fiend and Earth's Shadow, resulting in Ao Yuxue becoming a victim, she nonetheless erupted into significant chaos. Ao Yuxue, fuming, replied, "It's due to your despicably deceitful people who tricked me, a naïve youngster, trapping me in an unknown place. Until I sensed the Heavenly Tiger's aura, instinctually unleashing my dragon power, I was...well, I was influenced and didn't know what happened." She continued, "In my consciousness, there were only thoughts of killing and chaos, no other thoughts existed. Were it not for my subconscious, knowing that slaughtering the weak was wrong, and my dragon nature controlling me, I would not have avoided excessive killing, only targeting martial artists of the Immortal Realm or higher..." Ao Yuxue's grievance grew as she spoke. "You wretched people, if you wish to slaughter each other, then do so, but to harm me and place the blame on me—it's too much to handle!" "Who deceived you? How did they deceive you?" Xu Yan pondered and asked. Ao Yuxue, in the Divine Domain, caused considerable chaos and slaughter, but she indeed didn't harm any martial artists below the Immortal Realm; most deaths were collateral from the affected grand battles. Initially, it was thought Ao Yuxue killed only Supreme Heavenly Venerables intentionally, but unexpectedly, it was her innate pride as a true dragon. Despising striking the weak, she controlled the chaos to target only the powerful. "I came from the Dragon Realm to play, encountered some people in distress, they begged for my help, and I naively assisted them. Who would've known they had tricked me into a place I couldn't escape from..." As Ao Yuxue recounted, her dragon aura involuntarily trembled with rage, her face flushed with anger. Xu Yan understood, "Were those people martial artists of the Immortal Realm?" "Yes!" Ao Yuxue nodded. This explained why Ao Yuxue harbored such resentment toward the Immortal Realm martial artists. As Ao Yuxue narrated her experiences, Xu Yan and the others roughly grasped the events. Ao Yuxue had been trapped for a long time, her patience and resolve wore down, making her irritable. That place had some unique characteristics; its aura continuously infiltrated Ao Yuxue, meant to assist in collapsing the Dao Domain's heavens and leading its world to fall. With such a young dragon, who had never faced hardship, encountering this, there was no way she could bear it. Naturally, she succumbed, her will breaking, leading her easily toward losing sanity. Her vigilance was insufficient; after all, until something adverse struck, Ao Yuxue had lived peacefully without having tasted adversity's sting! **New Terms and Translations:** 1. **Dragon Realm (龍界)** - Translated as "Dragon Realm" to signify Ao Yuxue's origin, suggesting a distinct draconic homeland. 2. **Heavenly Tiger (天虎)** - Translated as "Heavenly Tiger," a mystical creature influencing Ao Yuxue and hints at the ensuing chaos. 3. **Divine Domain (神域)** - Kept as "Divine Domain," reflecting its significance as a powerful and sacred area within the narrative. 4. **Heaven's Fiend and Earth's Shadow (天煞地影)** - Retained as such, pointing to those who orchestrated the chaos behind the scenes, evoking a sense of ominous manipulation. **Explanation:** - **True Dragon (真龍)** - Represents the narrative’s significant power status, maintaining mythical connotations associated with dragons. - **Immortal Realm (不朽境)** - Indicates a milestone or level within martial cultivation, reinforcing the hierarchical structure of power depicted. **Identified Characters:** - **Ao Yuxue (敖玉雪)** - Gender identified through the narrative as female, a true dragon ensnared in unforeseen perils. - **Su Lingxiu (素靈秀)** - Her character reflection portrays keen interest in mythical beings, suggesting scientific and exploratory inclinations. This passage required careful handling of Ao Yuxue's plight and contextual resolution, where various influences and misunderstandings intertwined to create unpredictable consequences.