CHAPTER 486: CHAPTER 392: WHY NOT CALL HIM BACK?

The solemn and sacred interior of the Sect’s Grand Hall was eerily silent, so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.

After such silence persisted for a quarter of an hour, the Sect Master of the Phoenix Creek Sect glanced at Hong Yuan and finally spoke, "Yuan, are you interested in taking command of the legion?"

In that instant, the silence was shattered.

The other True Disciples of Phoenix Creek were all staring intently at Hong Yuan, especially Lin Bu Jing and Long Zhandu, who were the most anxious.

With Hong Yuan’s near-reclusive attitude of non-involvement in worldly affairs, the Phoenix Creek Sect was almost entirely under their control. They were accustomed to wielding life-and-death authority and being high above the rest. But they were also aware that in the hearts of the Supreme Elders, Hong Yuan’s status was far above their own!

"This is not good, Bu Jing," Elder Dan said solemnly in the sea of consciousness. "Hong Yuan’s status far exceeds yours. If he is willing to take command of the Sect’s army, then you have no chance of competing with him."

Lin Bu Jing’s face remained calm, giving nothing away about his thoughts. Yet beneath his wide-sleeved, pale moon-white robe, his palm was clenched so tightly that his fingernails dug deep into his flesh, causing waves of excruciating pain.

It was too humiliating.

Since when had he, Lin Bu Jing, become a mere alternative?

On the other side, Long Zhandu also felt a complex mix of emotions and humiliation. Though he showed nothing outwardly, his heart was already storming.

At this very moment, Lin Bu Jing and Long Zhandu suddenly realized:

This is a world where martial prowess is revered, and everything must give way to strength!

Upon hearing the Sect Master’s question, Hong Yuan slowly came back to his senses.

Indeed, commanding a Sect’s army and being involved in the confrontations between top Sects and the Daxuan Dynasty would be highly beneficial to any Martial Artist aspiring to become a Martial Saint. But this did not include Hong Yuan.

Perhaps taking command of a Sect’s army was a valuable position that Lin Bu Jing and Long Zhandu would fight for at all costs, a great opportunity. For Hong Yuan, however, it was almost useless. Becoming a Saint was not a challenge for Hong Yuan; what was difficult was his aspiration for his Original Body to reach the Supreme Grandmaster Realm in the cultivation of the Dream Tao. Moreover, commanding a Sect’s army and gaining fame on the front lines of a great war was extremely contrary to Hong Yuan’s principle of keeping a low profile for his Original Body. As for the struggle for resources, that was something to be left to his Demonic Body and Sword Body.

Amidst the others’ anticipation and unease, Hong Yuan shook his head, "Sect Master, I am acutely aware of my shallow strength and limited experience. I shall abstain from military command."

BOOM!

Everyone suddenly looked up, staring at Hong Yuan in disbelief. No one could have expected that Hong Yuan would voluntarily give up such a great opportunity.

The Sect Master opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. An opportunity he would have cherished was so easily relinquished by another. Hong Yuan’s action was quite a shock to him. What could he say? He certainly couldn’t say, ’I can do it for you...’

"How can this be? Brother Hong Yuan has extraordinary strength and is skilled in command," Long Zhandu suppressed the excitement in his heart and quickly cupped his fists, "However, since Brother Hong Yuan does not wish to involve himself in commanding the army, then I, Long Zhandu, will boldly volunteer."

Lin Bu Jing sneered, "I am also very interested in commanding the army. Moreover, I have an irreconcilable enmity with the Daxuan Dynasty. Who else but me should lead?"

...

After Hong Yuan declined the position of commanding the army, the other True Disciples of Phoenix Creek argued tenaciously for the spot, none willing to back down. The powerful and elite of the mighty Phoenix Creek Sect, much like villagers arguing over land and water allocation, fought red-faced and unyielding.

In the southeast corner, Hong Yuan sat lazily in a carved, red chair, casually picking up a teacup and taking a sip, completely at ease.

Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curved upwards slightly. It turned out that his Original Body had successfully begun refining the Holy Artifact, the Dream Worm, and was able to incorporate it into his body.

...

Rainbow Fire Peak, within the Peak Master’s cultivation dwelling.

The scenery inside the cultivation dwelling was beautiful, with rolling hills, lush vegetation, and waterfalls cascading down—a truly spectacular sight. Perhaps because Hong Yuan had set up numerous Space Tao Formations, the area had expanded considerably.

In a picturesque pavilion, surrounded by pine trees and winding springs, the Original Body of Hong Yuan observed with joy the white Fairy Butterfly—the Holy Artifact Dream Worm—within his body.

"Seeking high and low, in the end, my Original Body still can’t sever ties with worms..." Hong Yuan’s tone grew melancholic. "Being esteemed as the ’Bee Taoist,’ it seems, was not without reason."

Hong Yuan’s gaze deepened, and he pursed his lips.

From the beginning of his journey in Martial Arts, he had obtained the recipe for the Sting Bee Worm by killing Yue Yun. Later, he managed to mysteriously refine a miraculous Worm called the Cultivation Worm by combining martial arts with worm cultivation. Such events were numerous.

At times, he had contemplated creating his own Worm Tao sect, much like the Soul Killing Demon Emperor forged an era for Soul Tao cultivators. Hong Yuan, too, considered marking the start of an era for Worm Tao cultivators. But ultimately, these fleeting thoughts were all extinguished by him. Because such endeavors were suitable only for a Great Emperor, and he, Hong Yuan, was not qualified.

SWISH! SWISH!

The breeze blew, fluttering his clothes. The cool air also blew away Hong Yuan’s fleeting thoughts, restoring him to the present.

He laughed softly to himself, turned, and proceeded towards the inner chamber, intending to refine Dream Tao Tao Marks and reach the tally of three hundred thousand Tao Marks as soon as possible.