Chapter 665: Awakening

The great demon Yuan Cang wanted to kill Wu Yong, and Wu Yong was no less eager to kill this great demon; in this back-and-forth battle, eliminating the enemy's top combatant was a tremendous victory—whichever side succeeded could shatter the fragile balance of the frontline.

"Yuan Cang's strength surpasses mine; if we truly clashed, I'd likely lose—but I wouldn't be crushed," Wu the Daoist mused inwardly: "Thankfully, the Bald Daoist forged me a suitable Dao artifact; otherwise, I'd never dare face a great demon head-on."

His strength was not among the peak of the Three Flowers experts Li Yi had brought.

Previously, when Wu the Daoist had fought great demons at the Golden Academy, he had been defeated—but back then, his defeat stemmed from inferior weapons; now, things were different, for Li Yi had brought the Bald Daoist along.

During this time, the Bald Daoist had forged him a Dao artifact, greatly enhancing his strength and giving Wu the Daoist the means to stand against great demons.

"Wu Yong, you're no match for me. Prolong this battle, and you will surely lose," Yuan Cang replied coldly. "Your frontline won't hold. Let me be frank: our reinforcements are coming soon."

"Reinforcements? You think such tricks scare me? If you truly had confidence in defeating me, you'd have struck long ago—why wait till today?" Wu the Daoist sneered. "You think only you have reinforcements? Does Earth have none? And there are dozens of experts like me—my strength is barely the lowest. Didn't you learn from the three great demons you lost at the Golden Academy?"

At these words, Yuan Cang flew into a rage—but suppressed his impulse to strike.

Because what the other said was true.

Earth was not merely defended by Wu Yong; there were also the experts who had slain the great demons Xiong Bi, Qingjiao, and Fengyu—though these experts had not yet shown themselves, he knew that if the frontline ever fell, they would surely emerge.

Thus, this current back-and-forth was merely mutual probing of each other's strength, and preparation for a full-scale invasion of Earth.

Of course.

It would be best if this opportunity allowed them to eliminate several of the enemy's top experts.

"Wu Yong, don't grow arrogant—you have few days left. I'll eventually crush your skull with this staff," Yuan Cang roared. Then, seeing the Celestial Demons had safely withdrawn, he had no further patience. He swung his Purple Gold Mixed Iron Staff and turned to leave.

Though his form was massive, he moved with astonishing agility, covering dozens of kilometers in mere steps, fleeing at high speed away from Earth's frontline and returning to the Demon God Realm.

Wu the Daoist understood well: the great demon's appearance had been solely to escort the Celestial Demons' retreat, so he had no intention of engaging. After all, a real clash would only harm him—and if the enemy swung his staff at the frontline, countless lives might be lost.

So he merely watched as the demon departed.

"What a pity—if he'd arrived just a little later, all those Celestial Demons would've died here," Wu the Daoist sighed, then waved his hand, dispersing the sky-spanning five-colored radiance, and flew toward Li Yi.

"Taiyi, are you alright?"

Li Yi shook his head. "I'm fine. Thank you for arriving in time—if you hadn't, I'd have been overwhelmed by a dozen Celestial Demons."

"They didn't recognize you, Taiyi—why today, out of character, did they cross the frontline to attack?" Wu the Daoist asked, puzzled.

Li Yi said: "I found a hidden Celestial Demon within the frontline and killed it with this divine bow. The enemy's Celestial Demons recognized the bow and went mad, desperate to reclaim it."

"That bow left behind by the great demon Fengyu? Indeed remarkable—it can pierce even Dao artifacts, its power immense. Their eagerness to recover it is understandable."

Wu the Daoist nodded slightly. "In the Demon God Realm's battlefield, Taiyi, use the divine bow sparingly."

Li Yi replied: "I have no suitable Dao artifact—I could only kill it with the divine bow. You know the Dao artifacts from before: I lent them to Immortal Xiangxiang, and many were damaged."

"That's true," Wu the Daoist said. "Earlier in the council chamber, I couldn't speak freely—but here, I can. I'll summon the Bald Daoist and have him forge you a Dao artifact to boost your strength."

"Last time was rushed—we had enough materials for only one armor. That was our negligence. I hope Taiyi won't hold it against us."

He felt ashamed.

After all, they had crossed over to protect Li Yi's growth. This time, a minor oversight had caused so many problems—it was unacceptable. Earth now had many Three Flowers experts. Yet Li Yi had been left alone near the frontline, targeted by a dozen Celestial Demons, with no Three Flowers expert to guard him—this should never have happened.

"Forgive me for asking, but where are Xuan Yuezi and the other Three Flowers elders?" Li Yi asked.

Wu the Daoist said: "Immortal Xuan Yuezi is temporarily in seclusion—she has fully opened her Three Flowers and must stabilize her cultivation. The Bald Daoist wanders Earth, seeking alchemical materials and hunting transcendent and even mythic creatures. Feiyunzi is unfortunate—he came with me to the frontline but was gravely wounded by a great demon and is now recovering. Cang Erzi—you know him—he has gone into hiding on the Xuanxian Continent."

"Lately, the Xuanxian Continent has been quiet, not attacking Earth—likely because of Cang Erzi. As for Liu Guzi and Qian Daozi, they are no longer Three Flowers experts. Liu Guzi remains in Tianchang City, protecting its safety while re-cultivating her Three Flowers, striving to restore her peak."

After hearing this, Li Yi suddenly felt the experts were still insufficient.

But mainly because the last battle against the great demons had been too costly: Xiangxiangzi had perished, and Liu Guzi and Qian Daozi had lost their Three Flowers, their realms collapsing.

This meant Li Yi had effectively lost three Three Flowers experts in one stroke.

"Should we cross over again and bring more elders for support?" Li Yi asked.

Wu the Daoist said: "More people aren't always better. Our main goal isn't to protect Earth's safety—it's to safeguard your growth. If you were to send all Three Flowers experts to fight the Demon God Realm, that would be unwise."

"After all, hearts are unpredictable. They may fight for you—but not necessarily for Earth. If the battle turns bloody and Three Flowers experts fall, who knows what might happen? I can't predict it."

Hearing this, Li Yi's heart tightened.

!

He understood Wu the Daoist's meaning.

Though dozens of Three Flowers experts had sworn the Self-Sacrifice Oath, it all rested on one condition: Li Yi must give them hope, must offer them survival. If he sent them to fight the Demon God Realm, to die—

In such a case, rebellion might well arise.

They had survived the End of the Dao Age—none of them were gentle souls. When the time came, never assume they wouldn't do something extreme.

Take Xiangxiangzi: she treated Li Yi with courtesy—but to anyone else, she'd have crushed them underfoot long ago.

Li Yi knew this well. Thus, he handled these Three Flowers experts with caution, fearing chaos.

"Thank you for the warning, Elder. I understand," he said solemnly, bowing deeply.

Wu the Daoist sighed. "I speak plainly because I'd feel the same—if I were ordered to fight a great demon, I wouldn't want to go either. But now we're in this realm, many things are beyond our control. Yet Taiyi, understand this: if Earth's crisis proves unsolvable, I hope you'll cross over and flee—don't think you can single-handedly turn the tide."

"One person's strength is limited—even with forty-odd Three Flowers experts behind you, it won't suffice. Your urgent task is to achieve Three Flowers Converging at the Crown, Five Qi Flowing to the Origin. Only then can you command others. Otherwise, disorder will inevitably arise."

He spoke these words from the heart.

Li Yi nodded deeply in agreement.

"Taiyi, let's leave here. The Demon God Realm has already marked you. You must not remain exposed for long—if a great demon fixes on you, it will be dangerous."

Immediately, Wu the Daoist led Li Yi away.

And Li Yi, after Wu the Daoist's warning, abandoned the idea of crossing over to bring more Three Flowers experts.

Because he couldn't control so many.

Also, he could not involve himself too deeply in the frontline's affairs.

(End of Chapter)