Chapter 498 The Green Dragon’s Discourse

The Sword Light clashed violently with the beam.

"CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!"

The Sword Light's cutting edge reached its ultimate sharpness at this moment.

This Sword Light actually split the beam apart, WHOOSH! racing backward along its path, swiftly charging right back to the White Tiger itself.

Boom!

The beam before the White Tiger shattered, and the very space and ground behind it were torn asunder.

This terrifying collision came to an end.

A thin red line appeared on the White Tiger's body, rapidly extending until it covered its entire form.

SPLIT! The White Tiger was nearly bisected. If it had been a true Broken Realm White Tiger, it would have perished at this moment.

But unfortunately, this wasn't the real deal.

The White Tiger, about to be cleaved in half, merged back together.

"Impressive!"

At this moment, the White Tiger had to admit defeat.

Is this what a Celestial Lord can do?

Or is it the Nine Lives Celestial Lord?

The White Tiger had faced Celestial Lords before and had a sense of their strength. But could even a reborn Celestial Lord pull off what Lu Ye just did?

Probably not.

The reason Lu Ye was so powerful now wasn't because he was a Celestial Lord, but because he was Nine Lives!

"Good fight!"

Lu Ye also smiled. Although he hadn't used the Celestial Lord Fist in this battle, it had been one hell of a fight, and he was thoroughly pleased.

His sword skills had leveled up big time; otherwise, this strike might have only ended in mutual destruction with the White Tiger's beam.

That Primordial Power packed one hell of a punch, completely overwhelming the White Tiger!

"So do I pass?"

"Naturally. With such power, you've more than earned the Four Spirits' blessing!"

"Good. Then I'm off to see what tricks the Black Tortoise has up its sleeve."

The White Tiger nodded with a smile.

Lu Ye disappeared in a flash.

Soon, he arrived in the small world where the Black Tortoise resided.

The Black Tortoise sized him up with curiosity—a hybrid of the Mystic Turtle and the Soaring Serpent.

"Respects, Elder Tortoise," Lu Ye said, fist pressed to palm.

"Lu Ye, did we know each other in our past lives? Why do I feel a strange sense of familiarity when I see you?" Black Tortoise asked with a smile.

"We did."

Lu Ye answered plainly.

He didn't just know Black Tortoise—he was acquainted with all four Celestial Spirits, as they were basically extended family to Vermilion Bird.

"If we knew each other, we must have had a good relationship, right?" Black Tortoise chuckled.

"We got along. What, do you want a drop of my blood to read the future?" Lu Ye asked with a smirk.

Black Tortoise?

"You knew about that?"

Seems like they really were close!

"Yes, I know."

Black Tortoise grew excited. "Since you know, how 'bout giving me a drop of blood? I’ll accept you immediately!"

"No!"

Lu Ye refused outright, dashing Black Tortoise’s excitement.

Wait, what?

"Nope. Not happening."

This time around, Lu Ye wasn’t the same doormat as before. In his past life, Black Tortoise had dragged him into immense karma, forcing him into the War of the River of Time. He wouldn’t let that happen again.

He could join the War of the River of Time, but not by coercion.

"Did I... screw you over in our past life?" Black Tortoise asked.

Lu Ye shot it a look that screamed, *What do you think?*

Black Tortoise ducked its head guiltily.

"Alright then, I won’t ask. There’s no test here—you’re clear."

Lu Ye sighed as he looked at Black Tortoise.

Whatever. No use harping on it.

Lu Ye’s figure vanished, and the Serpent bumped the Tortoise’s head.

"Did we really trick him in our past life?"

"Possibly..."

Stepping out of Black Tortoise’s domain, Lu Ye arrived in the Azure Dragon’s domain.

The Azure Dragon had assumed human form, sitting cross-legged.

"Fellow Daoist, have a seat."

The Azure Dragon was among the oldest beings in existence. Though its strength might not rival that of the Reincarnation Celestial Worthy, the difference was marginal.

No one knows how many eons it has lived. Sometimes, the Azure Dragon might not even manifest for an entire epoch.

Some say it is the scion of the Ancestral Dragon, while others claim the Ancestral Dragon is its son.

The Ancestral Dragon hailed from an age beyond memory, but it is certain that the Azure Dragon was also present during that time.

Lu Ye sat before the Azure Dragon.

"I pay my respects, Elder Azure Dragon."

The Azure Dragon nodded.

"Since we have nothing better to do, let us discourse upon the Dao, Fellow Daoist. Do not worry about time—time’s river in this realm bends to my will," the Azure Dragon said with a smile.

"In that case, let us ponder eternity!"

A spark ignited in the Azure Dragon’s gaze, and it couldn't help but feel startled. After all, everyone knew the Azure Dragon possessed an ageless existence, yet now Lu Ye was speaking to it of eternity?

"I would like to hear the details!"

"Pray tell, Elder, does eternity exist in this world?"

The Azure Dragon nodded.

"It does!"

"What constitutes eternity? Before heaven and earth were formed, there was only primordial chaos—unbegun, unending. That could be called eternity. Yet, in an instant, a gust of wind, a spark of fire, or a glimmer of light could rend the fabric of chaos, and the chaos would be lost, giving rise to the beginning of heaven and earth. If chaos, which had no beginning, could still come to an end, how then can mortal things claim eternity?"

"Your reasoning falters. Chaos itself was never eternal, nor is heaven and earth. But if one remains indestructible, if one's Great Dao endures forever—I sprang forth from the womb of chaos, appearing before heaven and earth existed. I have weathered the cataclysms of ages without perishing. My will stands unshaken, and I endure. Even if the Dao perishes, I remain. Even if heaven and earth perish, I remain. Is that not eternity?"

"You err..."

The two began a refined and scholarly debate on the Dao.

They unfolded their discussion around the topic of eternity.

Was there truly an answer to this question?

Not necessarily.

Both knew there might not be, yet they still debated.

Because only through debate could they have a chance to discover whether it existed or not.

The process of debate was, in essence, a clashing of their Daoist truths.

Lu Ye had personally witnessed the birthing of a cosmos within. In that moment of genesis, he beheld sights he had never seen in his entire life—annihilation and genesis.

In that process, nothing could truly be eternal. Eternity proved but a fleeting mirage.

The flow of time had indeed changed within this small world.

During their debate, Lu Ye had struck down the Azure Dragon 715 times, yet the dragon remained unconvinced.

However, Lu Ye harvested profound insights from their exchange, especially in terms of insights.

The Azure Dragon was indeed an immensely knowledgeable being. Even though this wasn't Lu Ye's first time discussing the Dao with the Azure Dragon, he still felt immensely enriched.

His path of seeking the Dao had already reached the level of a Quasi-Emperor. Perhaps before long, he could attain the realm of an Emperor and condense his Dao fruit (a cultivation milestone).

Of course, Lu Ye's current strength was still insufficient to truly condense a Dao fruit. While he could attempt the condensation, he lacked the capacity to contain and sustain it.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!"

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!"

After their satisfying discussion, the Azure Dragon, with clear neck bruises, cupped his hands respectfully.

Lu Ye returned the gesture.

He remained unharmed, as the Azure Dragon at this level was no match for him at all!

After gaining the Azure Dragon's acknowledgment, Lu Ye's figure arrived at the realm of the Vermilion Bird.

What greeted him was a graceful figure with flushed cheeks and dazed eyes, as if intoxicated, squirming restlessly on a large bed behind a gauzy canopy.

Lu Ye blinked in confusion.