Chapter 304: Son of Heaven? Not at All!

"Create your own Son of Heaven Wu Gong?"

Li Guanyi was stunned; he had practiced many disparate Wu Gong, numerous divine arts and supreme techniques, among which at least the spear techniques 【Crush Mountain】 and 【Shatter Peak】, as well as 【Crimson Dragon Subdues the Nine Provinces】, could be classified as Son of Heaven Wu Gong level.

Though all were extremely powerful divine arts, they did not seem to warrant the attention of an ancient Crimson Dragon specifically coming to instruct him.

Li Guanyi pondered: "Master, are you suggesting there is a great difference between a self-created Son of Heaven Wu Gong and one learned by later generations?"

The ancient Crimson Dragon, upon hearing this, showed slight surprise, then spoke in a broad, majestic voice:

"Ruzike Sect."

"You are far wiser than your great-grandfather, who only knows how to swing his sword."

The ancient dragon's voice was broad and calm, yet a faint irritation could be heard; Li Guanyi glanced at the dragon's horns, which bore unmistakable sword-cut fissures, and decided to behave himself.

The ancient Crimson Dragon no longer mentioned the Son of Heaven Wu Gong; with a flick of his tail, he swept Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin toward the Mystical Realm discovered by the Duke of Chen, at the maximum speed they could endure.

Looking down, the vast Shanhe unfolded, clouds and auroras swirling, staining vast expanses with golden-red radiance; the open vista stirred a surge of grandeur within his heart.

Upon entering the Mystical Realm, the monstrous beasts prostrated themselves, daring not to move; after Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin descended, Li Guanyi could not help but feel a pang of reflection as he gazed upon this Mystical Realm he had visited multiple times.

The ancient Crimson Dragon spoke in a low voice: "Since we are here, let us first see the gift prepared for this little one. As for the Son of Heaven Wu Gong, this matter is of great consequence—let us speak of it shortly."

The Fire Qilin hurried forward, closely following the ancient Crimson Dragon; Li Guanyi thought for a moment, then glanced toward the monstrous beasts, still motionless, and the medicinal herbs planted five hundred years ago by the Duke of Chen.

All excellent herbs!

Li Guanyi took a pouch from his waist and began harvesting the medicinal plants.

Since we came at all.

So many herbs—leaving any behind would be a waste.

Besides, these monstrous beasts dare not move now.

Li Guanyi diligently plucked various herbs; the other monstrous beasts could only glare at him, powerless to protest due to the Crimson Dragon's presence, forced to watch as he took the herbs.

Yet Li Guanyi did not uproot them; he took only the medicinal portions, leaving the plants intact so they could continue growing, still capable of gathering primordial energy and converging the essence of heaven and earth.

The ancient Crimson Dragon watched, and gave a slight nod.

The Fire Qilin closely followed the ancient Crimson Dragon, speaking in human tongue:

"What did the previous Fire Qilin look like? What is my relation to it?"

"What did it leave behind for me?"

The ancient Crimson Dragon did not answer; instead, he led the Fire Qilin and Li Guanyi to a cliff face, where faint traces of scorching fire remained, immensely grand—within it lay a cave, radiating intense heat and the scent of flowing water.

The ancient Crimson Dragon said: "This is what the previous Fire Qilin left behind."

Its claw extended, and streams of blue light converged, forming a deep-blue water droplet, within which the waters of the Four Seas seemed to gather; near it, one could clearly hear the roar of surging waves.

Li Guanyi said: "This is…"

The ancient Crimson Dragon spoke slowly: "This is the 【Four Seas Contain Spirit Pearl】, forged from the purest waters of the world. A single drop can transform into a lake—a divine object, the purest manifestation of the Four Spirits."

The Fire Qilin gazed at the pearl, murmuring: "I feel it—I have deep karmic ties to this pearl."

The ancient Crimson Dragon spoke slowly: "A Qilin has no parents; it is an embodiment of heaven and earth. When the previous Fire Qilin died, its fire did not extinguish; after three hundred years, it spontaneously transformed from flame into an egg—called an egg, yet truly a 【transformation】."

"It is a divine birth, neither viviparous nor oviparous."

"The previous Fire Qilin could be called its former incarnation."

"It died because of this 【Four Seas Contain Spirit Pearl】."

Li Guanyi stared at the water droplet.

The Fire Qilin gazed at the object, its body radiating golden-red flames, watching the thing that had once taken its life; its scales shimmered with faint flame-light, as if gazing across fate itself.

"How did I die because of this pearl?"

The Fire Qilin's voice echoed mournfully: "Did I fight its master, defeat it in the end, but perish from grievous wounds after seizing this treasure, burning my body in this mountain?"

The ancient Crimson Dragon shook his head.

The Fire Qilin emitted magnificent firelight, like a deity bathed in golden-red flames, and said: "Then—did I acquire this treasure, reach the end of my lifespan, suppress it here, and wait for me to come?"

The ancient Crimson Dragon looked at the pretentious little Qilin, its face expressionless as ever: "Your past self found this thing."

"Thought it looked pretty, like a rare treasure, and probably tasted good."

"Decided to try its flavor."

"Got greedy, swallowed it whole—water and fire clashed, and you burst from overfilling. I was fighting outside; when I returned, I saw a scene I can't bear to recall."

The pretentious Fire Qilin: "…………"

The diligent herb-picking Li Guanyi: "…………"

After three breaths, both realized what had been said.

The little Qilin's pretense of ancient wisdom vanished instantly; it stammered: "Wha—what?!!"

The ancient Crimson Dragon stroked its beard: "Got greedy, made itself a soup."

"Ate it."

"Died."

The little Qilin: "…………"

Its scales visibly reddened; the little Qilin stammered: "I—I'm merely the fire essence of the previous Fire Qilin, reassembled and reborn—I'm already two separate beings!"

"It—it's not me!"

"Not!"

Li Guanyi burst into loud laughter, doubling over, nearly unable to straighten up; though the previous Fire Qilin's death was truly tragic, he could not control his mirth—it was too hilarious.

"No wonder you're such a glutton, ahahaha!"

The little Qilin pressed its claws to the ground, furious and embarrassed, then slammed its head into the cliff wall; rocks tumbled down, revealing hidden inscriptions beneath:

【Tasted excellent—cool and refreshing】

【My descendants, you must try it!】

The Ancient Crimson Dragon said succinctly: "This is His final words."

Li Guanyi could no longer hold back and burst into loud laughter.

The little Fire Qilin leapt straight into Li Guanyi's arms, stomping angrily on his chest, demanding he stop laughing; Li Guanyi barely managed to suppress his laughter when the Ancient Crimson Dragon exhaled a breath of qi, and the luminous aura entwining the 【Four Seas Soul-Storage Pearl】 dispersed.

The Ancient Crimson Dragon said: "Now that the Fire Qilin has returned, this object should be returned to you."

"Eight hundred years ago, before the Crimson Emperor's era, an Emperor shot the Kun Dragon with a colossal divine bow; this object is the beast's relic, and now it is time to return it to its rightful owner."

The little Fire Qilin stared at the seemingly delicious pearl.

Then turned its head: "I don't want it!"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon's voice, ancient and vast, murmured: "I have some guesses as to why the previous Fire Qilin swallowed the 【Four Seas Soul-Storage Pearl】. It was a pure fire body, immensely powerful, yet unable to reach my level."

"And since it often accompanied me, it likely yearned to match my strength, so it took a desperate risk—hoping the 【Four Seas Soul-Storage Pearl】 could elevate it from a purely blazing Fire Qilin to an ice-fire Qilin balanced by water and fire. Alas, alas."

"This object involves awakening and transformation; water and fire natures are most volatile. To swallow it rashly led to death—perhaps it realized too late. It could only feign detachment, leaving its final words carved into the rock wall, unwilling to cause me sorrow."

Li Guanyi understood: "So that's why…"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon sighed over the difficulty of divine beast essence transformation, but Li Guanyi suddenly recalled Hou Zhongyu's method and said: "I heard from one person a way for a Qilin to change its type."

The Ancient Crimson Dragon was startled, its eyes turning toward Li Guanyi.

Li Guanyi manifested his Qilin Form.

This Qilin Form had originally been gifted by the little Fire Qilin, later enhanced by mountain marrow essence, and successfully transformed into a Fire-Earth Auspicious Qilin through Hou Zhongyu's research; the Ancient Crimson Dragon gazed at this Fire-Earth Auspicious Qilin Form, listening to Li Guanyi's method.

After a long silence, the Ancient Crimson Dragon sighed: "Fire and Earth generating each other—this is possible? Had such a person existed eight hundred years ago, my old Fire Qilin friend would never have rashly swallowed the 【Four Seas Soul-Storage Pearl】 and died."

"Who is this person, with such extraordinary insight?"

"A genius!"

Li Guanyi answered: "Hou Zhongyu."

The Ancient Crimson Dragon asked: "Where is this person?"

Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin exchanged glances, awkwardly replying: "Dead."

The Ancient Crimson Dragon lamented: "Such a genius, with such a short life—truly a pity. Do you two know who killed him?"

Li Guanyi: "…………"

Fire Qilin: "…………"

The two had no idea how to answer—could they tell the Ancient Crimson Dragon that Hou Zhongyu had been pierced countless times by Li Guanyi's war sword and war halberd, then burned to charcoal by the Fire Qilin's ancient fire for a full incense stick's duration?

The Ancient Crimson Dragon, being what it was, understood in an instant how the great alchemist had died; it merely sighed and murmured: "A pity. Yet, using the Fire-Earth generation method to grant the Fire Qilin Wu Earth power is feasible."

"Without rashly swallowing spiritual objects, one can slowly enhance oneself."

"If this little Fire Qilin gains the opportunity to obtain Wu Earth power, it may swallow the 【Four Seas Soul-Storage Pearl】—using Wu Earth as foundation, balancing water and fire—perhaps even breaking through its limits…"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon murmured:

"If it cannot break through its limits, it will remain no more than a human Grandmaster's technique. But if water and fire are balanced, eventually forming a full Five Elements cycle, transforming fully into a Qilin—not merely a Fire Qilin or Earth Qilin—it may one day reach my level."

"That is the legend of mortals, the myth of the world: watching the rise and fall of mortal realms for eight thousand years."

The little Fire Qilin's gaze sharpened and asked:

"Can it surpass the Old Qilin of Zhongzhou?"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon said: "Yes."

The Fire Qilin said nothing, but its eyes gleamed with eagerness; the Ancient Crimson Dragon murmured: "If I observe correctly, there are few places in this world where fire and earth power coexist."

"One is in the Northern Region, where there is the 【Five Lotus Volcanoes】, but now a great Yin-Yang Master of the mortal realm has sealed something there—its vitality unextinguished; if you go, trouble may arise."

"The other is in the Western Regions."

"In the Western Desert, the heat is fiercer than in the Central Plains; there is a place called Flame Mountain. If you have the opportunity, visit these two places and seek the Wu Earth veins—you may become a Fire-Earth Qilin."

"Pity you killed Hou Zhongyu."

"Otherwise, he might have deduced the original foundation of the Five Elements cycle."

Li Guanyi watched the little Fire Qilin's eager expression and memorized the location of Flame Mountain in the Western Desert; the Ancient Crimson Dragon handed the 【Four Seas Soul-Storage Pearl】 to the Fire Qilin, then turned to Li Guanyi and said: "This object has finally returned to its rightful owner."

"When you enter the Western Regions, pay attention—if you become a Fire-Earth Qilin, come find me. I will personally guide it along the path of water and fire."

"As for you…"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon gazed at Li Guanyi and said: "You have cultivated the 【Son of Heaven Divine Art】—have you ever wondered why these divine arts, once famed in their time, are no longer the strongest in later generations?"

Li Guanyi had indeed wondered.

Whether the 【Crimson Dragon Qi】 or 【Crush Mountains】 or 【Shatter Peaks】, none could be called weak—but they were only comparable to Xue Shen's Wu Gong, or slightly stronger than the level passed down by Xue Shen, nowhere near capable of founding a great legacy.

The Ancient Crimson Dragon murmured: "Because their era has passed."

Li Guanyi pondered: "Era?"

He gained a faint insight, his expression subtly shifting.

The Ancient Crimson Dragon said: "Your guess is correct. The 【Son of Heaven Divine Art】 possesses the nature of an era—or rather, the 【Son of Heaven Divine Art】, 【Qi Yun】, and 【Divine Weapon】 are inseparable; only when all three unite do they become true 【Supreme Art】."

"Like my old friend's 【Crimson Dragon Shakes the Nine Provinces】—combined with the 【Chixiao Sword】 and the 【Crimson Emperor Legend】, they allowed him to reach the peak of his age, achieving power rivaling legendary martial masters despite only having Grandmaster foundations."

"Like the Chen Wu Di of Chen State three hundred years ago."

"The Chen family's supreme art, their divine weapons and armor, and the vast momentum forged by their achievements—all three united, with the Son of Heaven martial art, then the era changed. Later generations lacked that overwhelming Qi Yun; even holding divine weapons and practicing those ancient arts, they could never reach those masters' levels."

Li Guanyi frowned slightly: "Qi Yun?"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon circled the void, its gaze descending upon Li Guanyi: "The Qi Yun of the ten thousand people, the Qi Yun of the realm—that is the Son of Heaven's Qi Yun. Hundreds of thousands of households, tens of thousands of li of territory—the great momentum of dragon and tiger contesting."

"That is the Emperor's Qi Yun—entering the game alone, stirring the heavens' and earth's Qi Yun."

"Then concentrating that Qi Yun upon a single individual."

"Internally through the 【Son of Heaven Divine Art】, externally through the 【Imperial Divine Weapon】, united as one—upward determining the floating clouds, downward determining the earth's axis."

Li Guanyi suddenly understood why Chen Dingye and Jiang Wanxiang possessed strong martial arts, yet the Central Crimson Emperor lineage's arts grew weaker with each generation—they all cultivated the Son of Heaven's supreme arts, intrinsically tied to their territory and populace.

The Ancient Crimson Dragon said: "The Qi Yun of the ten thousand people is forged into one body."

"You have already amassed a mighty righteous momentum, so great that no common man can stand against it—this is the Son of Heaven's Divine Art. Throughout your journey, I have lurked among the clouds watching you. Now, you control a territory two thousand li across in Jiangnan, with over a million households. Every deed you've done has stirred the great tides and winds of the world."

"You also possess a divine weapon."

"I once made a pact with you, originally sworn to protect Murong Longtu's life—but I broke that vow, and thus owe you a debt. Therefore, I shall lend you my aid: unite your divine weapon, the people's qi, and the momentum of Jiangnan into one whole."

"Thus helping you forge your own path."

"To create your very own Son of Heaven's Divine Art."

"If my prediction holds, with this surging momentum, forging your own path will surpass the effectiveness of kings in Zhongzhou, Ying, and Chen who merely cultivate the methods of their predecessors. You are currently at the early stage of the Fifth Heaven Realm—forge ahead in one breath, shatter through the Fifth and Sixth Heaven Realms."

"Later, when your domain expands further and your population grows larger."

"Drawing upon the people's fortune to forcibly shatter the Master Realm will be simple."

"And if you one day unify the realm, harnessing the world's momentum and destiny, attaining power rivaling that of martial legends is not absolutely impossible."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong solemnly pledged.

With his cultivation and his insight, when he spoke now, it was no jest—he truly believed cultivating the Son of Heaven's Divine Art could help Li Guanyi break through his barriers, even reach the legendary power that had blocked countless prodigies.

Though it was legendary power, not a realm.

Yet it was still a tremendous temptation.

Li Guanyi's heart rippled with thoughts. His Wu Gong was at the early stage of the Fifth Heaven Realm—impressive for his age, yet compared to the world's elite, he was merely fit to be a general.

Now, he could reach out and claim it.

Li Guanyi could not help but be tempted. Instinctively, he murmured: "The fortune of millions gathered upon one body, cultivating divine art, forging divine weapons, dominating the world, cutting through clouds above and severing earthly threads below—under my decree, none dare disobey. This is the Son of Heaven's Art. This is the Son of Heaven's Dao."

Li Guanyi was truly tempted. He reached out toward the Taigu Chilong. The dragon's colossal head hovered in midair, its golden gaze fixed on the youth. The dragon's whiskers stirred slightly—but Li Guanyi's hand froze.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong saw ambition in the boy's eyes—the same ambition shared by all great heroes, the same hunger for power that defined warriors. His battle robe flared as he extended his hand.

Then his palm halted. His fingers dropped.

His eyes closed briefly.

The outstretched hand withdrew, casually, as if nothing had happened.

"I don't need it."

Li Guanyi answered.

A faint ripple appeared in the Ancient Taigu Chilong's eyes.

"Oh?"

"Master-level power, legendary ability—even the Son of Heaven's destiny, the dragon's qi—I am willing to grant you these. Don't you desire them?"

Li Guanyi said: "Of course I do. But—"

He looked at his own hand, softly speaking:

"Grand Elder divined that sliver of hope. Master Confucius toppled the Confucian aristocracy crushing the minds of scholars. My comrades and I fought together across the land, and died."

"They did not want me to rise up."

"And seize the people's fortune to crush them beneath me."

"To absorb the people's qi, turning it into one man's cultivation—this method."

Li Guanyi's fist clenched tightly.

"I refuse."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong fell silent for a long while, then shook his head. "Foolish stubbornness."

Li Guanyi smiled lightly.

"If I didn't hold to this, Li Guanyi would be no different from anyone else."

"Countless tyrants and warlords have risen throughout history—there's no shortage of one more Li Guanyi."

"But I do have an idea."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong regarded Li Guanyi. "Oh? Have you changed your mind, Li Guanyi?"

Li Guanyi said: "Not changed my mind. But the Son of Heaven's Divine Art gathers the qi of mountains and rivers, the fortune of the people, then channels it all into one body through a divine weapon, forging an overwhelmingly dominant divine art."

Li Guanyi said: "It's not a change of heart—just that the Son of Heaven Divine Art gathers the qi and fortune of thousands of miles of Shanhe, gathers the destiny of countless people, then uses a divine weapon as its foundation, and concentrates it all within one person to achieve an overwhelmingly dominant divine art."

"Could it gather the fortune of the people, and channel it into a divine weapon instead?"

"Then, reverse the flow—return this force of destiny back to the people. Would that count as blessing every individual with fortune? For example, making everyone healthier, cultivating faster, crops grow more easily."

"Then reverse the flow of this force of fortune and feed it back to the common people—wouldn't that count as bestowing a fortune upon everyone, such as making everyone healthier than normal, cultivating faster, and making the land easier to grow crops?"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong fell silent for a long while.

He watched Li Guanyi sitting cross-legged, thinking earnestly.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong felt this young lord, who had devoured a territory so swiftly, was unlike any tyrant he'd met before. He found Li Guanyi's idea absurd, incomprehensible—yet strangely intriguing. After a moment's thought, he replied:

The Ancient Taigu Chilong felt that this young lord who had swallowed an entire region whole was different from the tyrants he had encountered before; he found Li Guanyi's question absurd and incomprehensible, yet somehow intriguing, and after thinking for a moment, replied:

"But the effect will be weak."

"Perhaps only a ten percent boost in cultivation, a ten percent increase in crop yield—merely stabilizing the gathered destiny, far less potent than channeling it into yourself."

"It might only boost one person's cultivation progress by ten percent, or increase crop yields by ten percent—merely gathering fortune and fixing it in place, far less useful than concentrating it within you."

"That much!"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong choked.

The youth, seemingly unaware of how much he'd gained, chuckled softly:

"You're a divine dragon—you don't understand human life."

"An extra ten percent of grain means ten percent more people fed. Ten percent fewer starve. Who is that father? Whose child? Whose brother? Whose sister?"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong frowned slightly. "You don't wish to become a Master?"

Li Guanyi answered: "I do wish to."

Li Guanyi replied, "I hope so."

"But the reason I wish to become a Master is precisely this."

He lifted his face, revealing a brilliant smile.

"I have Mr. said: do not chase your goal while forgetting what you truly seek; do not neglect the root for the branches."

"Then, I rely on Elder Chi Long to help me walk this path."

The Ancient Chi Long sighed and shook his head. "In eight thousand years, no such person has been seen."

"This is not the Way of the Son of Heaven."

Li Guanyi declared firmly: "Then he is a child of man, a child of the people."

The Ancient Chi Long regarded Li Guanyi.

Not the Son of Heaven...

But a man?

Not the Son of Heaven.

As a Sovereign of Men.

The Ancient Chi Long shook his head and said: "I merely wished to repay the promise I failed to keep back then. Since you have made your decision, do not regret it."

"I am also curious."

"How far you will go."

"Come then, let us see your resolve and prowess!"

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