Under One Person: I Have a Billion Taoist Gods Within Me

The words fell.

All eyes were on the younger generation.

A brief silence.

Although the young people are passionate, they are under a lot of pressure being the first to perform.

If you perform well, you will naturally become famous and renowned; but if you make a mistake, you will lose face in front of all the heroes of the world.

Moreover, among the younger generation present are not only the renowned Da Luo Palace's Heavenly Daoist Master and Longhu Mountain's Little Celestial Master.

There's also Lu Jin from the Sanyi Sect, the Lu brothers, Lu Ren and Lu Ci, from the Lu family, and many other well-known figures.

Making the first move undoubtedly puts oneself under the scrutiny of the entire audience.

It was in this subtle moment of hesitation that...

"Haha, since you're all so kind, then I'll make a fool of myself!"

A clear, resonant voice, tinged with a touch of untamed spirit and boldness, suddenly rang out, breaking the momentary silence.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

At a table in the southwest corner, a young man suddenly stood up. He was about twenty years old, not very tall, but stood very steadily.

His slightly messy black hair was casually tied back with a dark red cloth strip, and his eyebrows were broad and his eyes were bright and open.

What was most striking was his ochre-red short jacket, with several faint scorch marks on the hem and cuffs.

It was clearly a mark left from practicing some kind of martial arts, but he wore it without any concern, which instead showed a bit of the carefree spirit of a martial arts enthusiast.

He didn't exude any deliberate air of authority, but his eagerness and decisive "now is the time" attitude had already earned the approval of many elders.

This person was none other than Feng Ping, the true disciple of the Fire Virtue Sect Master, who was nicknamed "Little Fire God".

"I am Toyohei Katoku!"

Fengping clasped his hands in a salute towards the main seat, his voice loud and clear, carrying the enthusiasm and openness unique to young people.

"Today is the auspicious birthday of Elder Master Lu. Having nothing to offer in return, I have resorted to displaying some of our humble skills to celebrate his birthday and to add to the festivities for all of you!"

He paused, then grinned, revealing his neat, white teeth:

"If there are any shortcomings, I hope that all seniors and fellow practitioners will not hesitate to offer their guidance!"

"Fengping thanks you in advance!"

Having said that, he strode to the spacious area that had been prepared in the center of the courtyard, maintained a just-right distance from the main table, turned around, and stood still.

The Huode Sect has a long history, with its core being the control of the most yang and powerful fire energy in the world. Its techniques are fierce and outwardly displayed, and it has always been known for its practical combat skills.

As the sect leader's personal disciple, Feng Ping was renowned and was known as the "Little Fire God." Everyone was eager to see his true abilities.

At that moment, the entire room fell silent as he stood still.

"Excellent! I haven't seen the Fire Virtue Sect's ultimate technique for many years!"

It was unclear which elder cheered loudly, but thunderous applause followed.

Fengping took a deep breath.

He did not immediately use his internal energy, but instead faced the main table and bowed deeply to Old Master Lu once again.

Grandpa Lu nodded with a smile, his eyes showing appreciation.

The ceremony is over.

Feng Ping straightened up, his arms hanging naturally at his sides, his eyes slightly closed.

The originally ordinary aura around him began to undergo subtle yet dramatic changes.

At first, only faint steam rose from the cracks in the bluestone slabs beneath his feet.

Then, his hands, hanging at his sides, with slightly bent knuckles and palms facing down, seemed to be holding something loosely.

"call--"

A faint rustling sound arose, not from the outside wind, but from the air around him, which began to flow slowly in one direction, as if being pulled by an invisible vortex.

Immediately afterwards, the temperature around Toyohira began to rise at an alarming rate.

It's not the scorching sensation of flames rushing towards you and forcing you to retreat, but rather a more restrained and solid "heat".

It is the warmth that naturally emanates from countless pure fire energies after they have been compressed, refined, and condensed to the extreme.

Two points of crimson gold shone in the depths of Feng Ping's originally dark eyes.

He suddenly opened his eyes!

In that instant, everyone seemed to hear the roar of flames suddenly bursting into flames.

He suddenly raised both hands, palms facing the sky, his five fingers blooming like lotus flowers.

"Fire Virtue Sect - Crimson Flame Palm!"

A clear shout.

Fengping thrust his right palm out into the air.

There are no fancy palm techniques or complicated footwork; it is just a simple and direct push palm.

However, at the very moment he spat it out from his palm.

"boom--!"

A burst of intensely hot, yet pure and unblemished crimson-gold flame erupted from his palm!

The flames were not a scattered mass, but rather, like a living thing being exquisitely manipulated, they condensed in the air into a pillar of fire about ten feet long, shooting straight into the sky!

When the pillar of fire rose to about three zhang high, it suddenly exploded!

It wasn't an out-of-control explosion, but rather like festive fireworks, a planned and layered display!

In the first stage, the flames transformed into countless fireflies, like stars falling from the sky, illuminating the entire courtyard, yet quietly extinguishing before hitting the ground, without harming a single person or thing.

In the second stage, the remaining fire energy rapidly condensed in the air, transforming into a lifelike red-scaled fire carp!

The fire carp was about three feet long, its entire body was reddish gold, its scales were distinct, its fins fluttered like flames, and its eyes were lively and lifelike.

It swam in mid-air, wagging its tail, and circled the field, leaving warm trails of light in its wake.

Then, with a soft "poof," it transformed into a sky full of red clouds, slowly dissipating.

The third and final layer.

Feng Ping thrust out both palms simultaneously, his expression more focused than ever before.

A deeper, almost pure white flame slowly rose from between his palms.

The flame did not rush to expand; instead, it contracted, compressed, and shaped itself inward.

As everyone watched with bated breath, the white flame gradually took shape.

It is a seal script character for "longevity".

The characters are full and rounded, with vigorous and powerful strokes. The whole body is filled with a warm and brilliant white-gold light, which floats in front of Fengping's chest and rotates slowly.

This scene was breathtakingly beautiful.

Even more shocking is...

The character "寿" (longevity) is not simply a flame shape. Each stroke and line is composed of highly condensed and extremely stable fire energy, and contains a certain blessing and heartfelt intention.

Fengping's forehead was already sweating, and his breathing was slightly rapid, clearly indicating that this move had taken a great toll.

But his gaze was firm, his hands steadily cradling the "longevity" character. He turned to face the main table, his voice slightly hoarse from wear and tear, yet still resonant:

"This junior, Fengping, has used the humble skills of the Huode Sect to condense this 'Longevity in Fire'."

"This fire is the purest Yang energy in my heart, meant to symbolize endless life."

May the old master's legacy be passed down like a torch, bringing him longevity and happiness, year after year, his spirit undiminished and his vitality unbroken!

After saying that, he gently pushed his palms forward.

The platinum "Longevity" character, like a celestial lantern, slowly floated towards Old Master Lu.

It flew slowly and steadily, scattering specks of light along its path, making the air warm and peaceful wherever it passed.

Old Master Lu had already stood up, his expression deeply moved.

As he watched the "Longevity in Fire" coin drift towards him, a glint of light appeared in his eyes.

When the character "寿" (longevity) floated to within a foot of him, he stretched out his hands and gently caught it.

That ball of white flame seemed to possess a spirit.

The moment it landed in his palm, it silently merged into his aura, transforming into a warm and bright halo that enveloped him before slowly dissipating.

However, that warm, vibrant feeling lingered for a long time.

"Good! Good boy!" Old Master Lu's voice trembled slightly as he nodded repeatedly to Feng Ping.

"This gift is accepted by this old man! It is accepted! The Huode Sect has a worthy successor; the Sect Master has taken on a fine disciple!"

The entire room fell silent for a moment.

immediately--

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted like a tsunami!

"Little Vulcan! Little Vulcan!"

"What a brilliant Crimson Flame Palm! What a brilliant 'Longevity in Fire' technique!"

"With such a successor, how can the Huode Sect not prosper!"

Countless admiring, amazed, and appreciative glances fell upon Fengping.

He scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, his hearty smile carrying a hint of youthful shyness and satisfaction. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to those around him before quickly walking back to his seat.

However, even after he sat down, his chest was still heaving violently, and the faint scorch marks on the edge of his sleeves had expanded slightly.

He truly gave it his all in this performance.

At the main table.

Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing stroked his beard and smiled, then said to the sect leader of the Fire Virtue Sect beside him:

"Your disciple has a solid foundation and a pure heart. What's even more remarkable is that he uses this domineering technique with such grace and charm."

"The three characters 'Longevity in Fire' cannot be achieved without utmost sincerity."

The sect leader of the Huode Sect was a middle-aged man with a resolute face and slightly graying temples. Upon hearing this, he quickly replied humbly:

"Master, you flatter me. I am but a humble disciple who has only shown off my limited skills before you all. I am sorry to have made you laugh at me."

Even so, the pride and satisfaction in his eyes were impossible to hide.

Zuo Ruotong nodded and said, "Fire is intense and easily gets out of control."

"It is truly rare for your disciple to be able to refine the fire energy to such a high level, control it with ease, and integrate emotion into the technique."

Li Yuan's gaze had been fixed on Feng Ping ever since he stood up.

At this moment, he watched Feng Ping return to his seat, surrounded by cheers. Feng Ping simply smiled innocently, bowed his head to accept the tea offered by his fellow disciple, and gulped down several mouthfuls, showing no trace of arrogance.

A complex look, imperceptible to outsiders, flashed across Li Yuan's eyes.

"Huodezong, Fengping..."

Inside the Great Luo Palace.

The gods associated with "fire," such as the Fire God, Zhu Rong, and Huilu, had their pure light subtly flowing, creating a faint resonance with the fire energy that Feng Ping had just unleashed.

The fire energy was pure and intense, carrying vigorous vitality and sincere blessings; it had indeed obtained the true essence of the Fire Virtue Sect.

However, what Li Yuan saw was not just this moment.

What he saw was the future.

In the future, Fengping will be listed as one of the "Thirty-Six Thieves".

It wasn't because of evil deeds, nor because of ambition.

It was simply because of a journey to seek the truth, an attempt with a few like-minded people to uncover the mysteries of the world.

However, he became the target of the righteous path, a stain on his sect, and a "traitor" that everyone in the world of supernatural beings avoided like the plague.

His fire now shines to celebrate a birthday and burns for blessings.

Later, the fire could only eke out a living amidst escape and slaughter.

Ultimately, Toyohira faded into obscurity amidst the undercurrents of history.

No one mentioned the name "Little Vulcan" anymore.

No one will remember him today at the Lu family banquet, for the "Longevity in Fire" that warmed the entire courtyard.

—As if it had never existed.

Li Yuan withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and looked at the clear tea in the cup, silently pondering:

The Fire Virtue Sect's martial arts are extremely yang and intense, emphasizing both intention and power.

Its essence lies in the word "ignite"—ignite one's own vital energy, ignite the enemy's formation, ignite everything flammable in the world, and with the unstoppable force of the fire, achieve a devastating victory.

"However, the fire that Feng Pingfang just displayed is no longer a simple 'burning'."

"The Crimson Flame Palm materializes into a carp, swimming with affection; within the fire, longevity energy gathers to form characters, offering heartfelt blessings."

"I have already faintly touched upon a higher level of the Fire Virtue Sect's cultivation techniques—not in 'burning out,' but in 'transformation and creation.'"

Fire can destroy all things, but it can also warm life, ripen grains, and refine metals. However, its life-giving aspect is often overlooked by those who practice this path.

"Fengping, however, stumbled upon this realm unintentionally through his intuition; his talent lay not in the intensity of his fire, but in the sincerity of his heart."

Li Yuan slightly raised his eyelids and looked again at Feng Ping, who was whispering with his fellow disciples.

"pity..."

Those who are sincere are often the most easily hurt.

When you treat the world with sincerity, and the world responds with encirclement and contempt, if that sincerity cannot be transformed into something stronger, it will only burn you to the core.

"The Thirty-Six Thieves...The Rebellion of Jia Shen..."

Deep within his inner vision, in the vast Great Luo Palace, countless divine positions shimmered with clear light, reflecting cause and effect, and penetrating the most subtle and profound.

The value of Toyohira lies not in his strength, but in his "betrayed sincerity."

"If we could have given him another way of 'returning home' before he fell into despair, perhaps he wouldn't have had to perish in despair."

"And this, too, is a hidden move in the unfolding ko fight of the future."

Despite these thoughts, Li Yuan's expression remained calm and composed.

He simply set the teacup down gently, his movements slow and natural, as if he had just tasted an ordinary cup of tea.

However, Bai Ling, sitting beside him, keenly sensed that almost imperceptible "change".

She glanced sideways, her beautiful eyes sparkling, her red lips parted slightly, and she chuckled softly in a voice only Li Yuan could hear:

"The way Daozi looked at that little fire god just now... didn't seem like he was simply admiring a junior."

Li Yuan remained unmoved and spoke softly in a voice only they could hear:

"Fellow Daoist Bai Ling is overthinking it."

"I simply feel that if the fire in this world could be used more for warmth and illumination, and less for burning and killing, how wonderful that would be."

Bai Ling's eyes flickered, a half-smile playing on her lips.

She didn't ask any further questions.

Some things are best left unsaid.

Like that "Longevity in Fire," though it has dissipated, its warmth remains.

—The warmth still lingers.

The cheers and discussions in the courtyard gradually subsided.

Fengping's performance undoubtedly set a wonderful tone for the "entertainment segment" of this birthday banquet.

However, the atmosphere of eagerness to try was even stronger among the younger generation.

After all, who wouldn't want to show off their skills in front of all the heroes of the world?

Moreover, Fengping just said, "If there are any shortcomings, I hope that all seniors and fellow practitioners will not hesitate to offer their guidance."

The term "fellow practitioners" is clearly a challenge to their peers.

By this time, Fengping had already downed two cups of tea, and his breathing had calmed down considerably.

He put down his teacup and calmly glanced around at the seats occupied by the younger generation.

Those eyes, still carrying a trace of fiery energy, were bright, passionate, and utterly fearless.

He grinned, and this time, in addition to his hearty smile, there was a hint of eagerness and sharpness in his expression.

"I was so busy celebrating the old master's birthday that I had a good time and forgot about something very important."

As Fengping spoke, he stood up and bowed deeply to the people around him.

"For us extraordinary people to cultivate, it is absolutely unacceptable to shut ourselves in and work in isolation."

"Today, heroes from all over the world gather together, and talented peers are all present. If I don't take this opportunity to learn a few tricks from you all, wouldn't I be entering a treasure mountain and leaving empty-handed?"

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping frankly over the young faces—some composed, some sharp, some eager—his tone sincere and fervent:

"I wonder if any fellow practitioner would be willing to offer me a few pointers?"

"The Fire Virtue Sect's techniques are fierce and difficult to stop, but Feng Ping will definitely stop when he has made his move, and will not let this damage the harmony."

"If anyone is willing to offer their guidance, Toyohei would be more than happy to do so!"

He spoke frankly and openly, without any pretense.

This is exactly the style of the "Little Fire God" of the Huode Sect—no scheming, no beating around the bush, fight when you want, and make friends when you want.

Among the younger generation in the audience, many of their eyes began to gleam.

Some looked at Lü Ren, some at Lü Ci, and some at other renowned talents.

Many people also subconsciously looked at the figure with an extraordinary air, dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, sitting next to the main table.

But everyone knows that Riyuu Michiko would not personally intervene in such a situation.

He stood there, and he was already a mountain.

So, who will be the first to accept the challenge?