"Fellow Daoist Xiao, can they hear us when we speak?" A voice like the murmur of insects entered their ears, clearly spoken intentionally by Long Shi.
“We can’t hear anything.” Xiao Wenbing smiled and said, “Senior, don’t worry. This is a change in the Star Dou Illusion Realm. All the pavilions are sealed spaces, like small mustard seed spaces. As long as we close them, no sound will come out.”
Long Shi nodded repeatedly and said, "The Starry Sky Illusion Realm truly deserves to be called a treasure of the world. Not only is it a Starry Sky Illusion Realm, but it also forms its own space. Even the various sects and mountain gates are probably no better than this."
Xiao Wenbing chuckled and said, "Senior Long, don't forget that because the Butterfly Immortal Clan has always been indifferent to worldly affairs, there are countless people who have attained immortality. Before each Butterfly Immortal reaches the Great Completion stage, they send their chrysalis, which has been bombarded by heavenly tribulations, into the Starry Sky Illusionary Realm. Over the countless years, they have accumulated an unknown amount of immortal spiritual power."
He looked at Long Shi, shook his head slightly, and said, "I have seen countless mustard seed spaces, but there is only one that can truly surpass the Star Dou Illusionary Realm, and that is the forbidden area of the mountain gate in the Divine Wood Palace."
Indeed, only the super-large mustard seed space that can accommodate millions of spirits cultivating at the same time can compare to the Star Dou Illusionary Realm.
However, that mountain gate is fixed and cannot be moved, making it far less convenient and free than the Starry Sky Illusion Realm.
Long Shi nodded in agreement, clearly indicating that this old dragon had also been to the Divine Tree Palace and witnessed that super mustard seed space.
With a quick glance, Long Shi said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, I have a few questions for you, what do you think..."
Xiao Wenbing smiled and said, "Alright, as you wish, senior." With that, he waved his hand, and a layer of white mist rose around the pavilion, quickly enveloping the entire pavilion.
Volume 4, The Divine Artifacts, Chapter 339: The Old Dragon's Thoughts
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Looking around at the airtight surroundings, Xiao Wenbing smiled and said, "Elder Long, you can speak frankly now."
Only then did Long Shi feel completely relieved. He nodded slightly to Xiao Wenbing and asked, "Alright, I just wanted to ask, Fellow Daoist Xiao, do you truly want to help the Demon Realm heal the Tree of Life?"
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback. What kind of talk was this? Did the old man not even know such a small thing?
He looked up at Long Shi, only to see the old dragon with a serious expression. Clearly, it wasn't joking.
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Wenbing was unsure of Elder Long's intentions, so he tentatively asked, "Elder Long, doesn't everyone already know about this?"
Long Shi nodded slightly and said, "I know, but aren't you afraid that Fellow Daoist Xiao will have objections in the cultivation world for doing this?"
"Objection?" Xiao Wenbing was taken aback, a sense of foreboding slowly rising in his heart. Hearing what Old Long said, it really was possible! But now, he could only pretend to be confused and ask, "This... is that possible?"
“Of course it will,” Long Shi said with certainty. “The Demon Realm and the Cultivation Realm have been enemies for three thousand years and are still mortal enemies. Fellow Daoist Xiao’s help to them will definitely cause controversy.”
Xiao Wenbing frowned, recalling his master and the Food King's attitude towards the demons, and immediately realized that this statement was true. His eyes darted around, and Xiao Wenbing looked up at Long Shi, sincerely asking, "Then what is Elder Long's opinion?"
Long Shi's expression remained unchanged. However, his tone left no room for argument: "Ignore him."
"What?" Xiao Wenbing was startled. This old dragon was getting more and more mysterious. Was it possible to ignore it...?
"The Demon Realm's lifespan is definitely not long. Even with this replenishment, it will surely be destroyed within a thousand years." Elder Long smiled slightly, with a hint of eeriness in his expression: "We'll just stall it for a thousand years, won't that solve the problem?"
Xiao Wenbing nodded blankly. This old dragon did have some skill; it could actually see that the current situation of the Flame Realm was just a last gasp before death.
His mind raced. Suddenly, he pointed ahead and asked, "Elder Long, don't forget, there are two immortals beside us. Do you think they'll let it go after we back out?"
Long Shi chuckled coldly twice. A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes as he calmly said, "Of course they refuse, but since they've come to our territory, they have no choice."
"How so?"
Long Shi suddenly bowed to Xiao Wenbing and said solemnly, "If Fellow Daoist Xiao is willing to lend a hand, taking down these two will be a piece of cake."
"Me?" Xiao Wenbing pointed to his own nose, speechless with surprise. Although he now possessed the avatar of a giant snake, he was already quite confident in dealing with Quini, and if he included the Mirror God, he could barely manage to handle Shabir.
But winning is one thing, killing them is another. Is this old dragon talking nonsense?
Long Shi's expression was also quite awkward. He was thinking the same thing: this kid is usually so clever and quick-witted, how come he's become so stupid now?
Was he genuinely surprised, or was he feigning ignorance? He waited for a long time, but still received no reply from Xiao Wenbing, so he had no choice but to point it out: "My dear god."
"ah."
After all that fuss, it turns out he meant asking the God of Wealth to help. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
If this were the world of cultivation, as long as he could borrow the divine power of the Treasure God, he wouldn't be afraid of even ten immortals, let alone two who had descended to the mortal realm.
However, his thoughts were completely different from Long Shi's. Long Shi wanted the Flame Realm to perish naturally, but Xiao Wenbing had the exact opposite idea. Putting everything else aside, just the fact that this was a task entrusted to him by the Mirror God made it impossible for him not to do his best.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "Elder Long, is your intention to kill Yan Jie your own, or the intention of the Dragon and Phoenix clans?"
Xiao Wenbing's words were quite profound. If it was merely the old dragon's own opinion, then Xiao Wenbing wouldn't need to pay any attention. However, if it represented the Dragon and Phoenix clans, then the trouble would be immense. If these two clans interfered, and the demon race stirred up trouble, the cultivation world would be thrown into turmoil.
A strange light seemed to flash in his eyes as Long Shi said, "Before entering the Demon Realm this time, the Dragon King and Phoenix Lord had already instructed that if there was an opportunity, this scourge should be completely eradicated. Does Fellow Daoist Xiao understand now?"
Why do this?
"How can I allow others to sleep soundly beside my bed?"
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Is that the reason?"
"Yes, that reason is sufficient."
"Wouldn't doing this be a grave sin?"
"Sin? Hmph..." Long Shi sneered disdainfully, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, have you seen that the Demon Realm is barren of minerals and can't even produce many decent magic treasures? However, their cultivators have the qualities of an army, and because of the harsh conditions, their personal will is firm. The number of experts is definitely no less than that of our cultivation world."
Xiao Wenbing nodded subconsciously and asked, "So what?"
"Nothing much has happened, but I can guarantee that if the Tree of Life in the Demon Realm were to regain its lifespan, the war between our two realms would inevitably break out again. By then, Fellow Daoist Xiao would probably have already ascended to the Immortal Realm, and I wonder who should bear the consequences of this sin."
"Another war? Impossible."
"Hmph... Unless the passages between them are sealed off, the wealth of the cultivation world will inevitably attract the covetousness of the demons."
Are you so sure?
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, if you were starving and freezing, with no food left at home, while your neighbor was incredibly wealthy, possessing mountains of gold and silver... and..." Long Shi smiled coldly, his handsome eyes fixed on Xiao Wenbing, as if trying to see through his heart... "And, your strength is no less than your neighbor's. So, what would you do?"
Xiao Wenbing moved his lips slightly and then fell silent. Although he wanted to object, his inner feelings told him that Long Shi was absolutely right.
Even if he successfully pulls Yan Jie back from the brink of death today, the possibility of war breaking out is still quite high as exchanges between the two places deepen.
It's not that the people of the Flame Realm are insatiably greedy, but rather that humans are inherently selfish. Desires are never-ending; wanting more after getting what one has is human nature, and the people of the Flame Realm are no exception. Perhaps Ronald's generation will still remember Xiao Wenbing's kindness, but what about their next generation?
Who will remember Xiao Wenbing now? Who will give up such great benefits in order to commemorate a benefactor they've never met thousands of years ago?
Seeing that Xiao Wenbing seemed tempted, Long Shi sighed softly, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, please think carefully..."
After a long silence, Xiao Wenbing asked, "Senior, do you still remember the thundercloud storm in our cultivation world?"
"Of course I remember."
"Then may I ask you, senior, besides the Tree of Life in the Flame Realm, where else in the world can contain this energy? If we ignore it, I fear that a hundred years from now, the Flame Realm will still exist, but our cultivation world will perish first."
“Otherwise, haven’t we already retrieved the Qiankun Ring? We can let it continue to suppress the thundercloud storm.” Long Shi shook his head repeatedly, saying, “At this time, there are only four Earth Immortals in the Flame Realm. If we leave these two behind, then the remaining two will be indulging in wishful thinking if they want to retrieve the Qiankun Ring from the thundercloud storm. In this way, even if the people of the Flame Realm break the seal, they will not be able to come to the cultivation world again. This is a perfect solution. Fellow Daoist Xiao, what do you think…”
Long Shidi suddenly stopped speaking because he saw Xiao Wenbing's face turn ashen. His eyes seemed to hold a deep resentment.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, what's wrong?" Long Shi asked in surprise.
Shaking his head slowly, Xiao Wenbing said emphatically, "This is absolutely impossible." His words were resolute, leaving no room for discussion.
Long Shi was taken aback, still unable to figure out where he had offended Xiao Wenbing, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, what is the meaning of this?"
“Elder Long, you should know that the Qiankun Ring belongs to my friend Zhang Yaqi. She sacrificed herself once to stop the thundercloud storm. So this time…” Xiao Wenbing’s voice suddenly turned stern, sounding somewhat resolute: “I will absolutely not allow it.”
Long Shi was taken aback, his gaze towards Xiao Wenbing filled with doubt and confusion.
Turning his head, Xiao Wenbing said coldly, "Other things can be discussed, but sacrificing Yaqi again is absolutely unacceptable."
“Sigh…” Long Shi nodded as if he understood, and then slowly said, “Fellow Daoist Xiao, saving billions of lives in the cultivation world is a great merit. I think even if Fellow Daoist Zhang were to do it again, she would make the same choice.”
“Perhaps she will, but I will not allow it.” Xiao Wenbing turned around and looked at Long Shi. His voice gradually turned icy cold: “If anyone tries to interfere, I will use every means to exterminate their entire clan.”
Long Shi's expression changed. As the number one expert of the Dragon Clan, how could he not be furious upon hearing such a blatant threat? Powerful auras gradually surged from Long Shi and Xiao Wenbing, and they confronted each other fiercely in this small space, neither willing to give in.
After a moment, Long Shi suddenly let out a long sigh, dissipating his imposing aura, and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Xiao does not agree, then there is another way."
"What?"
"Didn't Fellow Daoist Xiao set up an energy conversion array under the Tree of Life in the Demon Realm?"
"Exactly."
"Then, please make some modifications, Fellow Daoist Xiao, and turn it into an attack formation."
"you……"
"That's right. The Tree of Life was already hanging by a thread. If it were to be struck by the thundercloud storm, it would be guaranteed to die on the spot, with no chance of survival."
For some reason, Xiao Wenbing felt a chill rush up his spine and into his brain. This method was too ruthless; it was practically a permanent solution.
"Elder Long," Xiao Wenbing forced a smile and said, "but this formation requires someone to activate it, and the person who activates it will surely die. Do you want me to go and die?"
"Otherwise, if Fellow Daoist Xiao agrees, then I, Old Dragon, will take charge of this task..."
Xiao Wenbing's body trembled. He raised his eyes and carefully examined the old dragon before him. His heart was deeply shaken. From the old dragon's open gaze, Xiao Wenbing knew that the old dragon spoke without any selfish motives; in his heart, there was only the future of the cultivation world…
Volume 4, The Divine Artifacts, Chapter 340: Inner Demons
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After seeing Long Shi off, Xiao Wenbing sat in the pavilion, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. He hadn't felt this lost and confused since achieving Nascent Soul stage.
He sighed deeply; faced with this reality, he was truly unsure of what to do.
Long Shi's words make a lot of sense. Logically speaking, as a person from the cultivation world, he shouldn't pity the people of the Flame Realm.
However, after his trip to the Flame Realm, Xiao Wenbing's views changed somewhat. He saw the people of the Flame Realm as nothing more than a group of pitiful people struggling in their death throes.
If someone had committed the act of destroying the Flame Realm without understanding the situation, that would be one thing. But now that they know, allowing them to do it again would be a grave sin.
To be honest, there are many people in Long Shi and the Yan Jie Temple who are willing to sacrifice themselves for their people, but Xiao Wenbing is not cut out for that!
If his life were to be exchanged for the safety of the Flame Realm or the Cultivation Realm...
This is truly a headache! Xiao Wenbing shook his head, banishing the thought from his mind and deliberately ignoring it.