From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 117 Overpowering All Heroes and Displaying Fame

As soon as Palace Mistress Lengyue finished speaking, all eyes turned to me again. I took a deep breath, met their probing gazes, and slowly said, "The unity of heaven and man is not something that can be achieved overnight; it is a gradual process. As I said before, 'perfect harmony' is the foundation. Only by merging oneself with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth can one perceive the existence of the power of heaven and earth..."

As I spoke, I channeled my spiritual energy, condensing a crystal-clear droplet of water at my fingertip. The droplet hovered in the air, slowly rotating, emitting a faint glow. "This drop of water is the manifestation of my own spiritual energy. And the surrounding air is the spiritual energy of heaven and earth..."

With a gentle wave of my hand, the water droplets merged into the air and disappeared. "When we can perfectly blend our own spiritual energy with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, we reach the state of 'perfect harmony'."

I paused, then continued, "And the 'Transformation Realm' elevates this fusion to a higher level. In this realm, we no longer merely perceive the power of heaven and earth, but are able to begin to utilize it. Just like this wind..."

I reached out my hand, feeling the gentle breeze. "The wind is formless and intangible, yet it contains immense power. When we can harness the power of the wind, we have achieved a preliminary understanding of the 'Transformation Realm'."

"As for 'harmony between man and nature,' that is the ultimate goal. In this realm, we become one with heaven and earth, able to freely mobilize the power of heaven and earth and unleash power far exceeding our own." As I spoke, I condensed another drop of water, flicked it gently, and the drop of water transformed into a water arrow, shooting towards the distant stone pillar.

With a deafening boom, the stone pillar shattered. The entire audience gasped in astonishment; everyone was stunned by my feat.

The next round of debate began, and my opponents seemed still reeling from my brilliant performance in the previous round. They all hesitated, unsure how to respond. They looked at each other, and for a moment, no one took the initiative to speak.

The silence lasted for a while, until it was finally broken by Daoist Huoyun. His face was ashen, clearly very dissatisfied with my previous performance. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and roared, "Nonsense! How can the unity of heaven and man be achieved so easily? You're just trying to attract attention!"

He spoke forcefully, throwing out an even more extreme argument: "In my opinion, the path to immortality lies in defying the heavens, fighting against the heavens and the earth! Only by constantly challenging our limits can we break through our own limitations and ultimately achieve the Great Dao!"

His words were laced with hostility, clearly directed at me. I knew he was trying to disrupt my thoughts and make me lose my composure. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. I knew I couldn't let him provoke me.

I was about to retort when I saw Fairy Qinglian also stand up. She smiled slightly, her tone gentle, but she threw out some complex additional conditions, further refining Daoist Huoyun's argument and attempting to lead me into an even more complicated predicament. "What Daoist said is quite right, but going against the heavens is not simply about reckless action. We need..." She paused, her gaze falling on me, "...to find a balance." Her smile deepened slightly, "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, what do you say?"

The Azure Lotus Fairy smiled sweetly, her seemingly gentle tone concealing a sharp edge. Her proposed "balance point," seemingly neutral, actually complicated Daoist Huoyun's extreme views, like a meticulously woven net attempting to trap me. I felt the air around me solidify, and everyone's gaze, filled with inquiry and anticipation, fell upon me.

I smiled slightly and calmly met the gaze of the Azure Lotus Fairy. She wanted to use this method to disturb my mind and throw me into disarray, but unfortunately, she miscalculated. I have experienced much more difficult predicaments than this, and this little trick is not enough to shake me.

“What you say is quite true, Fairy,” I said calmly, “Balance is indeed a crucial factor on the path of cultivation. But finding that balance is no easy task. Daoist Huoyun’s words about ‘going against the heavens’ are not entirely without reason. In ancient times, there were many great beings who defied the heavens and changed their fate, ultimately achieving the Great Dao…”

I paused, and images of ancient legends from ancient texts floated into my mind—those extraordinary and brilliant predecessors whose deeds inspired and motivated me. "For example, in ancient times, there was a powerful figure known as the 'Star River Ancestor.' Born into poverty with extremely poor spiritual talent, he defied fate with his indomitable will, ultimately cultivating to become an immortal and even establishing his own lineage..."

As I spoke, I recounted the story of the Star River Ancestor in detail, from how he overcame his own shortcomings to how he challenged the traditional concepts of the cultivation world, and finally how he achieved the Great Dao. Every detail was told clearly and vividly.

"The story of the Star River Ancestor tells us that going against the heavens is not about blindly forcing things, but about finding one's own strengths and maximizing them. And 'balance' is not about compromise, but about constantly adjusting oneself in the process of going against the heavens, ultimately achieving harmony between humanity and the universe..."

I cleverly combined the story of the Star River Ancestor with the Azure Lotus Fairy's concept of "balance," and further elaborated on my understanding. I noticed that as I spoke, the smile on the Azure Lotus Fairy's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a hint of solemnity. The Fire Cloud Daoist's initially angry expression also softened, seemingly moved by my words.

I continued, “As I said before, ‘perfect harmony’ is the foundation, ‘transcendence’ is the advancement, and ‘unity of heaven and man’ is the ultimate goal. These three realms do not exist in isolation, but are interconnected and mutually influential. Only by integrating these three realms can one truly master ‘balance’ and ultimately achieve the Great Dao…”

I combined my own understanding of "harmony between man and nature" with ancient legends and the common knowledge in the cultivation world to form a complete theoretical system. This theoretical system is not only logically rigorous, but also extremely persuasive, which convinced everyone present.

I looked around and saw admiration on everyone's faces. I knew I had successfully defused the difficulties posed by Fairy Qinglian and Daoist Huoyun, and further solidified my position.

Just as I was about to continue explaining my point of view, I felt a cold gaze fall upon me... The Palace Mistress of Cold Moon slowly spoke...

The Cold Moon Palace Master's voice was like an icy spring striking a stone, clear and sharp: "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, your eloquence and extensive knowledge are truly admirable. However, isn't your statement about 'going against the heavens' a bit too radical? We cultivators should follow the way of heaven in order to attain the Great Dao. If we go against the heavens, aren't we just courting death?"

Her words, seemingly questioning my point of view, were actually a diversionary tactic, an attempt to steer me in another direction. I took a deep breath and, maintaining a calm tone, said, “Palace Master, you are mistaken. ‘Going against the heavens’ is not about reckless action, but about daring to challenge tradition and break free from constraints. Just as a butterfly emerges from its cocoon, how can one ascend to immortality without experiencing a painful metamorphosis? The Way of Heaven is not static, but constantly evolving and developing. We cultivators should dare to explore and innovate in order to drive the development of the cultivation world and ultimately achieve the Great Dao.”

I paused, glanced at everyone, and continued, "As I said before, 'perfect harmony' is the foundation, 'perfection' is the advancement, and 'unity of man and nature' is the ultimate goal. And 'going against the heavens' is the only way to achieve 'unity of man and nature.' Only by constantly challenging one's own limits can one ultimately achieve harmony between man and nature."

My words were firm and powerful. I saw the Palace Mistress of Cold Moon frown slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with my answer but unable to find a reason to refute it.

I pressed my advantage and continued to elaborate on my point of view: "'Balance' is not about blindly following the natural order, but about constantly challenging oneself while conforming to the natural order, ultimately achieving harmony between humanity and the universe. This is like alchemy; it requires the balance of yin and yang and the proper timing of the fire to refine a perfect elixir. If one only knows how to blindly follow the formula without knowing how to adapt, how can one refine a miraculous elixir that surpasses the formula?"

I used the example of alchemy to express my point more vividly, making it easier for everyone present to understand. I noticed that the Free and Unfettered Hermit was frowning, seemingly deep in thought. He would sometimes lower his head in contemplation, and sometimes look up at me, his eyes filled with inquiry and doubt. I knew he was trying to find flaws in my argument, but to no avail.

I continued, “The path to immortality is long and arduous. We must not only learn from the experiences of our predecessors, but also be courageous in innovation and continuous exploration. Only in this way can we constantly break through our own limits and ultimately achieve the Great Dao.” I combined the story of “Ancestor Star River” with the experiences of several other ancient powerful figures to further enrich my argument and make it more persuasive. I even quoted some little-known ancient texts to demonstrate my extensive knowledge and profound understanding.

I saw the confusion on Xiaoyao Sanren's face deepen. He tried to refute me several times, but didn't know where to begin. Finally, he gave up, shook his head dejectedly, and sighed. I knew he was completely convinced.

I looked around and saw admiration on everyone's faces. I knew I had successfully overpowered them all and won their approval. Just as I was about to elaborate on my point of view, I felt a warm gaze fall upon me… True Monarch Ziyang looked at me and slowly spoke… “Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao…”

True Lord Ziyang looked at me, his eyes gleaming with admiration. He spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful: "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, your discourse on the Dao is brilliant and breathtaking. I have immersed myself in cultivation for thousands of years, and hearing your words today is more valuable than reading ten years' worth of books!"

His words were undoubtedly the highest praise I could receive. I smiled slightly and replied humbly, "You flatter me, Your Excellency. I have only gained some knowledge and dare not accept such praise."

Ziyang Zhenjun stroked his beard and looked at me with profound eyes: "Fellow Daoist, there is no need to be too modest. Your talent and insight are evident to everyone present. I believe that, given time, you will surely become a leading figure in the cultivation world."

His words were full of affirmation and expectation, which warmed my heart. I bowed to him again to express my gratitude.

Just then, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. I looked around and saw faces filled with admiration, and a sense of pride welled up inside me. I knew I had successfully outshone everyone and won their approval.

The applause lasted for a long time before gradually subsiding. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my excited emotions. I knew that although this debate had ended, my path of cultivation had only just begun.

I sensed several complex gazes, some admiring, some envious, and even a hint of barely perceptible hostility. A chill ran through me; I realized that this victory might conceal a new crisis.

I secretly extended my divine sense to try and find the source of this hostility. I discovered that this hostility mainly came from Palace Master Lengyue and Daoist Huoyun. Palace Master Lengyue's face was gloomy, and her eyes were filled with resentment and bitterness. Daoist Huoyun, on the other hand, looked defiant and seemed ready to explode at any moment.

I remained inwardly vigilant, but outwardly remained calm. I knew that in this dog-eat-dog world of cultivation, one could never let one's guard down.

Just then, a clear voice broke the silence of the hall. "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, your discourse on the Dao is truly brilliant, I admire you the most." It was Fairy Qinglian who spoke. She walked up to me with a sincere smile on her face.

I smiled slightly at her and replied, "You flatter me, fairy."

The Azure Lotus Fairy continued, "Fellow Daoist's talent surpasses even my own. I wonder if there will be an opportunity in the future for us to exchange ideas and discuss cultivation experiences together?"

Her tone was sincere, and her eyes were clear; she didn't seem to have any ill intentions. I thought about it for a moment, then agreed to her request.

"Of course, it would be an honor for me to communicate with a fairy."

The Azure Lotus Fairy smiled sweetly, then turned and left. Watching her retreating figure, I felt a vague unease. Was her appearance a coincidence, or did she have another purpose?

Just as I was pondering, a figure appeared silently behind me... "Xiao Yao..." a deep voice rang in my ear.