Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 1043 Singing and Dancing
On the banks of the Yangtze River, Xu Xuan wiped the river water from his face.

He casually tossed the already soaked agarwood stick into the waves, watching it spin and disappear.

He glanced down again at the table, incense burner, and sacrificial offerings that had been swallowed by the river, but his face showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, a calm smile appeared on his face.

You didn't kill me? Then let's continue!
"Cough cough!"

"Why should a dignified Dragon King keep people at arm's length?"

The sound wasn't loud, yet it seemed to penetrate the roaring water and reach deep into the heart of the river.

He straightened his clothes, which were slightly damp from the water vapor, and stood with his hands behind his back on the turbulent riverbank, striking a pose. His figure appeared somewhat thin in the misty air, yet he exuded an undeniable determination.

"Since you refuse this offering of incense, then..."

"As a scholar, I can only... express my feelings through poetry."

Clearing his throat, he faced the raging torrent that seemed capable of swallowing everything and began to recite aloud, his voice strangely drowning out the roar of the river:

“In ancient times, King Yu carved out the Kui Gate, and the Wushan Mountains were opened up.”

"Looking at the state of the great river today, it is truly a case of the earth's structure collapsing and the water officials losing control. One can see: turbid waves surging into the sky like collapsing mountains, and raging waves crashing against the shore like thunder."

"The Qutang and Yanyu rivers are completely submerged in the Yellow River, and the Jingchu and Yunmeng regions have all been transformed into a vast swamp. The foam on the summit of Chijia Mountain is like flying snow, and the swirling waters below Baiyan City are like turning wheels."

"Looking at it now, the turbid yellow waters stretch to the sky. Is this not the River God borrowing a passage, and the Sea God vying for balance?"

"Upon closer inspection, it appears as if ten thousand horses have broken free and galloped across the vast wilderness, and a thousand dragons have shed their armor to fight in the dark abyss."

"Where the waves surge, it is as if Gonggong angrily struck Buzhou Mountain; when the whirlpool is deep, it is as if Yuqiang overturned the waters of the Northern Sea. The porpoise dares not expose its gills, and the swan cannot spread its wings. Merchants' sails are buried in the mermaid palace in an instant; fishermen's songs are shattered in the alligator cave in a moment."

With each recitation, the river seemed to be pierced by invisible words, churning even more violently.

Clearly, the flattery praising the Dragon King had a tremendous effect.

This caused the waves to rise higher and higher, crashing heavily onto the rocks on the shore and shattering into a cloud of white foam.

Xu Xuan continued speaking, his tone becoming increasingly drawn out.

With an air of appreciating the landscape and commenting on the water, it was as if the river itself was responding to the wrath of the dragon king, adding to the air of a master.

If this scene were seen by an unsuspecting third party, it would certainly be quite amusing.

A scholar in a blue robe was on the shore, swaying his head and reciting poems to the raging Yangtze River. His words were ornate and full of classical allusions.

The river beneath their feet was like a giant dragon whose tail had been stepped on, churning, roaring, and surging violently, expressing its dissatisfaction and anger at being "commented" in every possible way.

One was babbling on and on, the other was raging.

In this world, a picture of extreme asymmetry yet inexplicable harmony is formed.

As he watched the waves crashing against his face, feeling the undisguised catharsis within them, the smile on his lips deepened.

Of course, the underwater dragon itself... deeply regrets its past actions!
The dragon king lashed out with his tail in frustration, causing the entire waterway to tremble.

Now I truly understand what it means to "watch the show and then see it happen to you."

When Xu Bailian and the Arhat Subduing Dragon were engaged in a fierce battle on the river, the sky darkened and the earth trembled. He watched with great interest from the bottom of the river, even commenting on which side's moves were more exquisite.

Later, when Xu Bailian attacked Dongting and killed Yunzhongjun, he remained calmly seated at the mouth of the three rivers, finding the whole affair quite spectacular.

Who knew that as I looked, I would see my own head!

He wasn't without a premonition; ever since he witnessed that guy's methods, he had a vague feeling that this bastard would drag him down with him sooner or later.

After all, Xu Xuan's courage was as if it were forged from Taiyi refined gold, heavy and hard, and with a resounding clang.

But to my utter surprise, this day came so soon!
"Three years... only three years!"

"This kid has only grown to this level. What will he be like if we give him another three years?"

The more I think about it, the more terrified I become.

Thinking of Kasyapa, he was, in his lifetime, the foremost Arhat, holding a position of great prestige and the duty of transmitting the Dharma—how impressive! Even though he was later driven by the will of Heaven to become a corpse in the past, he would still be a monstrous thing capable of causing catastrophe in any era.

But the result?

They killed Xu Xuan, but their killing intent was dissipated, allowing the White Snake and the reborn Xu Xuan to join forces and kill him in the formation.

Sometimes, life and death, strength and weakness, are not directly proportional. "I reckon Wuzhiqi in the Huai River won't fare well either..."

"No, we absolutely cannot get too entangled with him!"

Even the Dragon King, who rules over the vast Yangtze River, would avoid such trouble if possible.

Engaging in deep communication with that "source of causal pollution"? That could very likely lead to irreversible consequences!
He didn't want to become the next "funny kid".

While Long Jun was still struggling to mentally prepare himself at the bottom of the river, weighing the pros and cons, Xu Xuan on the shore, however, was relentless and began to press his advantage.

As if oblivious to the surging river that his words had made, his voice grew clearer and more resonant, carrying a profound sense of understanding of the world:

"However, the great river has always remained the same:"
Though the turbulent waves may surge into the sky for a time, they will eventually flow eastward into the sea.

Even if a raging torrent sweeps across ten thousand miles, it cannot defy the will of Heaven.

Those who observe the waves today should understand the principle of the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang, and comprehend the way of the mutual generation of softness and strength. How can that overwhelming force last long?

What profound reflections on life, what a profound understanding of the principles of Yin and Yang!
The dragon king at the bottom of the river was so angry that his whiskers stood on end.

What nonsense are you spouting, you human?! The literal meaning is about the river, but the underlying message is clearly a veiled insult!

"However, although it may be temporary, it will ultimately be difficult to last long..."

The Dragon King gritted his teeth and repeated these words in his heart, feeling increasingly uneasy.

In just three or four sentences, Xu Bailian managed to weave in so many words that were both veiled in sarcasm and irony. Her skill in using veiled sarcasm and irony was truly masterful!
It was clearly a sarcastic remark that his anger at this moment was merely a "temporary" outburst, and that he would eventually be forced to "follow the will of Heaven" like the eastward flow of a river. No matter how big the turmoil he stirred up was, it would be "difficult to go against the overall situation" and it simply could not last "long"!
It can only be said that the prejudice in Long's heart is a huge mountain.

boom--!
A deafening roar erupted, as if the rage of the entire Yangtze River had burst forth at that moment!

The river water suddenly burst open, and a dazzling golden light shot into the sky from the center of the river, gathering millions of water droplets, which instantly condensed into the majestic and imposing figure of that "old friend".

When the Dragon King travels, wind and rain follow!
Just moments ago, the waves were only rough, but now the sky and earth have changed color, and an extremely sudden localized storm that only covers this area has suddenly descended!

Large raindrops, accompanied by a fierce wind and with immense force, pelted Xu Xuan on the shore like thousands of arrows.

"Xu Bailian—!"

Amidst the wind and rain, a sharp shout resounded like thunder from the heavens, the anger and frustration within almost solidifying into a tangible form.

Faced with the overwhelming power of the heavens and earth, Xu Xuan raised his hand as a token gesture to shield himself from the fierce rain, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and admonition, as if he genuinely cared for the other person:
"Keep your voice down, keep your voice down... Lord Dragon Lord, please calm down."

As he spoke, he looked around, as if he was really afraid that some unrelated person would overhear him.

Besides, what can't we discuss calmly and rationally?

You splashed water all over me, soaked my incense, and overturned my offerings, and I didn't say anything. I was just moved and wrote an impromptu poem, "Ode to the River Waves," to express my feelings. Why did you... why did you have to pick on my weak spot?

Be mindful of your composure, Lord Dragon.

But humans value magnanimity, while dragons have never been into such things.

"You know to keep your voice down?! Then what are you trying to do, coming all the way to the banks of my Yangtze River to sing and dance like that?!"

The Dragon King's roar, accompanied by wind and rain, came with each word like a thunderclap.

Today I've made up my mind to teach this bastard a lesson. I'll make sure he knows he shouldn't even think about having any ideas!
As the question was uttered, the lightning and thunder in the sky grew even more violent, as if echoing the Dragon King's anger.

The gale-force winds and torrential rain shrouded the entire riverbank in darkness, with turbid waves surging into the sky, truly evoking a sense of apocalyptic devastation reminiscent of a great flood.

Facing such power of heaven and earth, Xu Xuan truly felt the might of the Dragon Lord who controlled the Yangtze River.

In a daze, I seemed to see ancient scales emerging from the turbid river water, engraved with traces older than history books; I also seemed to glimpse a huge dragon claw emerging from the abyss, but when I looked closer, I could not catch anything.

Standing before the dragon's might, one's mind instinctively wants to retreat and observe from afar, but even from a distance, it is difficult to see its full form.

What alarmed him even more was that there was not a single warning sign in his spiritual sense.

There was no sense of crisis, no murderous intent, only an absolute, deathly stillness that seemed to have no bottom.

The feeling seemed to say: There is no life here, no way out, no need to struggle.

This is impressive... truly formidable.

(End of this chapter)