Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 898 Dragon Lord's Gift
Only then can one, with an equal or even higher level of understanding, enlighten and dissolve the Arhat's obsession that transcends time and space.

In comparison, it seems "simpler" to just find a way to kill the opponent again.

That's it, that's it.

Xu Xuan drank the remaining tea in his cup in one gulp, temporarily putting his troubles behind him.

Things will work themselves out; we'll see when the time comes.

Having composed himself, his expression turned serious. He filled the cup with tea, presented it to the Dragon Lord with both hands, and asked earnestly:

"This junior is about to head north, and the road ahead is unknown. Dragon Lord, you are knowledgeable and have a broad view of the Nine Provinces. I wonder how you can teach me?"

Upon hearing this, the playful and lazy expression on Long Jun's face slightly faded, and he became more serious.

"After you go north, do not mention my name casually again."

"It's no use mentioning it. The waters of the Yangtze River can't reach the banks of the Yellow River."

...Look at what you're saying. Do you think I'm the kind of person who carries around a tiger's skin as a banner all day long?

Xu Xuan muttered to himself, "It's just that I occasionally 'borrow' a tiny bit of prestige when necessary."

The Dragon King seemed to see through his thoughts, but he didn't point it out and continued talking.

The following suggestions, however, revealed their true weight and value:
"The northern lands are home to numerous sects, far surpassing the Jiangnan region. This is because the Central Plains have been the core of the Nine Provinces since ancient times, the place where the human race's destiny is concentrated."

"When humanity flourishes, heroes naturally emerge in great numbers. Those who can leave their mark on history and establish schools of thought are like the waves of a great river, one generation after another, without ever ceasing."

"If you truly wish to spread your teachings to the human race, the Central Plains is the only way through, and also the only place to contend for."

"If one cannot establish a foothold here, no matter how powerful one becomes in the border region, one will ultimately be relegated to the status of a 'leftover' item."

"The sects that can make a name for themselves in this place where dragons and tigers meet are all people with profound foundations and extraordinary methods."

After a moment's thought, the Dragon King rattled off several names as if they were his own treasures:

"The Northern School of Chan Buddhism, the Northern School of Pure Land Buddhism, the Northern School of Tiantai Buddhism, the Vinaya School, the Northern Celestial Masters School, the Lingbao School, the Jingming School, the Louguan School..."

"These are just the best among them, renowned and with profound foundations that are far beyond the reach of ordinary sects in Jiangnan. There are also quite a few other top-tier sects."

"Those sects whose names I can remember are all those that have weathered storms and maintained an orderly lineage. Moreover, in the past, none of these sects had 'connections at higher levels'."

The "above" that the Dragon Lord referred to naturally meant the elusive and elusive realm of immortals and Buddhas.

These sects have produced more than one Celestial Master, Arhat, or even Bodhisattva who attained enlightenment and ascended to the higher realms.

Its inherited techniques point directly to the Great Dao and have intricate connections with the ancestral masters of the upper realm.

Of course, there's no one above them now, but their strength is still quite formidable.

When Xu Xuan heard "the Northern School of Pure Land Buddhism," he remained calm and showed no surprise whatsoever.

The nameless old monk had already given instructions, saying that after going north, one could go to Bingzhou and Fenzhou to "exchange scriptures" with fellow disciples of the Northern School.

This can be understood from Xu Xuan's habitual "begging for alms" mindset.

The subtext of this statement is: if you encounter trouble in the north, you can always seek help from your "brothers" there. It is said that the leaders of the Northern Sect are not only extremely skilled in combat, but also highly value camaraderie among fellow disciples and are very loyal.

The relationship between the Northern School and the ancestral temple in Jiangnan was also very harmonious. There was no North-South divide or ideological conflict. They were solid allies who could be relied upon in times of trouble.

Therefore, this force has long been automatically classified as "one's own power," serving as a rare source of reassurance during the northward journey.

As for the other major sects in the north that Long Jun mentioned... Xu Xuan stroked his chin, his mind starting to wander.

This trip north is intended to get to know them better, whether it's through cultural exchanges or military maneuvers. I need to understand their strengths and weaknesses before I can proceed.

"It's best if you avoid dealing with these major sects."

The Dragon Lord's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Xu Xuan's face, abruptly interrupting his plans.

This time, his tone carried a rare, almost "kind" admonition, as if he couldn't bear to see this "second-generation white lotus" wither away before it even began to bloom in the north.

"Why?" Xu Xuan instantly became alert and put away his carefree thoughts.

"Because of a grudge."

He further explained that, apart from those extraordinary talents born in accordance with the destiny of heaven and earth, the power of most cultivators requires a long period of time and rich experience to hone and accumulate.

The years have accumulated into a powerful spiritual force through day and night meditation and breathing exercises, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth; while the trials and tribulations have honed a resilient spirit through countless successes and failures, life-and-death crises.

Therefore, the truly strong people in the world are often quite old.

However, among the major sects in the north, most of the figures who now hold sway and are called patriarchs are over three hundred years old...

This number is quite significant.

"Above them," the Dragon Lord said calmly, yet with a hint of coldness, "they are either already dead, or utterly crippled, barely clinging to life. What do you think caused their deaths?"

Xu Xuan remained silent, as the Dragon Lord's words unfolded a blood-stained and mottled picture before him.

The current group of powerful cultivators in the Northern cultivation world, all over three hundred years old and considered the backbone of the industry, are almost all survivors who struggled to survive the catastrophe of the "White Lotus Rebellion".

The cruelty and destruction they witnessed firsthand far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

That was an era in which sects collapsed, lineages were severed, and teachers, relatives, and friends passed away one after another.

The once powerful Prajna school, consisting of "six schools and seven sects," had most of its gates forcibly opened, its scriptures seized and burned, and its lineage almost severed.

Other Taoist masters suffered similar fates, since the foundation of the "True Scripture of the White Lotus Descent" already incorporated and even "digested" many Taoist mystical arts.

Anyone deemed an obstacle to the White Lotus Mother's "descent to earth to overcome tribulation," regardless of their sect or cultivation level, was subjected to ruthless purge and annihilation.

That was a history truly written in blood and fire, a bloody storm that swept across the north.

After Long Jun's description, Xu Xuan gained a clearer understanding of the situation in the north.

The numerous sects meant that more forces were involved in that catastrophe. The more people died, the deeper the blood feud became.

Enemies... naturally, are everywhere.

Just as the Pure Land School in Jiangnan still enshrines the golden alms bowl left by the Buddha, which of the top schools in the north doesn't have a few ancient and terrifyingly powerful sect artifacts or secret formations?

Once his identity as the "White Lotus Saint Father" is exposed, even if he only reveals the slightest clue, it will attract the all-out pursuit of these sects that have accumulated hatred for hundreds of years...

That ending was quite interesting.

The "negative assets" left by the Holy Mother are indeed a bit too "substantial".

Moreover, it is already deeply ingrained in his lineage and causal foundation, and cannot be severed at all.

“It’s a bit tricky…” he muttered to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the stone table.

But immediately, no fear appeared in his eyes; instead, a highly aggressive, almost excited glint flashed across them.

"But it's not impossible."

Three years in Qiantang, battling through storms and waves, dealing with demons and monsters, mediating with the government, and even confronting the lingering resentment of an ancient demon...

This is no longer the "infancy" of a cult leader struggling to survive in despair.

At this moment, Xu Xuan had already entered the "mature stage" he had planned.

The methods, mindset, strength, and even the resources available to them are all completely different from what they used to be.

He has plenty of methods and abilities.

After discussing such a heavy topic, my thoughts turned to another matter.

Opportunity.

He really put in a lot of effort in that messy Yunmengze incident, and almost lost his life in the process.

The promised "reward" should be delivered by now, right?

The Dragon King's expression turned somewhat strange, as if he were considering his options, before finally speaking decisively: "What do you want?"

Given His status and accumulated wealth, He has far too many things to offer, and each one is a rare and exquisite treasure that is hard to find in the world.

If Bai Suzhen is a "rich woman" with 1,700 years of accumulated wealth, then the Dragon Lord, who controls the Yangtze River and has lived through countless years, is definitely a top-ranking figure in the hidden "asset ranking" of the Nine Provinces today.

Let the kid bring it up himself.

If we can feed this greedy brat, then our plans will have a chance of success.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuan, as expected, didn't mince words and went straight to the point: "Is there still a 'Dragon Gate'?"

I didn't pay much attention to this thing at first, but seeing that Xiao Qing's strength soared after swallowing the Dragon Gate Relics and evolved continuously, becoming incredibly powerful after each transformation, I was really envious.

He felt he still needed to improve his skills a bit, lest he really crash and burn.

The Dragon King glanced at him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"The essence of Longmen has already been incorporated into the 'True Scripture of the Descent of the White Lotus.' You only need to cultivate step by step, and the effect will be far better than external aids. There is no need to do anything else."

Even so, He flicked his finger, and a golden light, extremely condensed and containing vibrant life and ancient majesty, suddenly entered Xu Xuan's arm.

A slight warmth spread across the skin, and a pale golden mark appeared before disappearing.

"Of course, if you really want to experience the entire process of the Longmen Leap again, you can go to Longmen Mountain on the Yellow River on your own."

The Dragon Lord added, "With your current foundation, if you can endure the pain of being burned by flames and undergoing a complete transformation, and successfully cross the true Dragon Gate created by heaven and earth, it will bring immense benefits to your physical body, soul, and even fortune."

"Of course, this isn't my reward. You can choose another one."

The Dragon King is so kind; he even gave me a small gift.

"Then... is there anything that can instantly make me the best in the world, invincible?" Comrade Xu, shameless as ever, pressed his advantage, his eyes shining, asking with complete confidence.

Upon hearing this, the Dragon King thought about it very seriously.

Then he gave an incredibly humorous yet incredibly true answer: "Yes, there is. But you can't control it. And the strong ones who can control that thing... are already invincible."

In other words, the weak cannot use it, and the strong do not need it.

After saying that, He flicked his finger again, and a more refined golden light, containing a certain sense of trial, entered Xu Xuan's other arm.

"If you truly wish to become invincible under heaven, you must first cultivate an invincible heart before you can wield that overwhelming magical power."

"With this mark, you can try going to the bottom of the Huai River, and perhaps you can hone a truly invincible spirit."

The Dragon King is so kind!
They also included a "small gift".

For Xu Xuan, neither the qualification from Longmen Mountain nor the opportunity from the Huai River was a small one, so he gave it away without hesitation.

Not only that, He also appeared exceptionally generous, waving his hand and saying, "What else do you want? Tell me all today, and I will try my best to satisfy you."

No... why is He suddenly being so nice to me today?

Xu Xuan's alarm bells went off instantly.

He knows perfectly well the true extent of their friendship, even though everyone calls him a "friend."

He often abuses his authority and uses the Dragon King's name to bully others.

Theoretically, it's already a sign of the Dragon Lord's good temper that he wasn't beaten to death; how could he possibly receive such good treatment?
Furthermore, they have no "auspicious filter" when it comes to dragons, and they are well aware of their majestic and unpredictable nature.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation!
He immediately knew when to stop, and put on a sincere fake smile.

(End of this chapter)