Most people were pessimistic about the situation.
This pessimistic outlook had a profound impact, creating a great schism within the Godslaying Alliance and even the Fusang Tribe.
This brought the discussion to the last point: the internal situation and crisis.
Because the Celestial Realm had always been so high and mighty, some people felt that resisting it was utter nonsense. After all, the beings who truly ruled the Celestial Realm could turn them to dust with a mere wave of a hand.
Since resistance was doomed to fail, they argued it was better to quit while ahead and negotiate directly with the Celestial Realm. All that mattered was maintaining the Human Race’s current status. They couldn’t afford to truly burn their bridges with the Celestial Realm.
Another faction was simply a hidden group of capitulationists.
Like the Divine Spirits from the Celestial Realm who secretly aided the Godslaying Alliance, these people were nothing more than human traitors hidden within the Alliance’s ranks.
Some even appeared to stand with the Godslaying Alliance on the surface, but in reality, they had been bought off by the Celestial Realm long ago and were trying everything they could to create chaos from within.
...
All these convoluted matters were a tangled mess, leaving the Godslaying Alliance in poor shape internally. To make matters worse, rumors had recently spread that the Celestial Realm was preparing to offer amnesty to some of the Alliance’s tribes, causing widespread panic. Everyone feared being backstabbed by those in their own camp.
Hearing all this, Li Chang’an sank into deep thought.
’Honestly, based on the current information, the Celestial Realm’s attitude is really strange.’
’It goes back to the same old argument: the conflict between the True Gods who cultivate the Incense and Candle Divine Dao and the humans who practice the Martial Dao is irreconcilable.’
’Once humans cultivate the Martial Dao and possess their own Extraordinary Power, the Incense received by the Divine Spirits will quickly become impure.’
’After all, once they have the power to protect themselves, humans will be completely unwilling to waste vast amounts of time and resources on the thankless task of worshipping Divine Spirits as they did in the past.’
’If the True Gods of the Celestial Realm were really as powerful as they’re said to be, there would be no need to get so entangled with the Godslaying Alliance. They could just kill them as they come, one by one or two by two.’
’As long as they displayed sufficient power, then no matter how attractive the Martial Dao was to the Human Race, anyone who wanted to cultivate it would first have to weigh the consequences.’
’But the problem is, the Celestial Realm has tried many methods to extinguish the flames of Martial Dao cultivation in the Mortal Realm, yet has never succeeded.’
’So what exactly is wrong with the Celestial Realm? Is it really that they’re just too aloof and can’t be bothered to wipe out the Martial Dao?’
Li Chang’an didn’t think so.
Legend told of thirty-six True Gods, twelve Emperors, and the Four Celestial Monarchs in the Celestial Realm. These were all terrifying powers who stood above the clouds. If any single one of them had taken action, this farce would have ended long ago.
There would have been no need for all these convoluted schemes.
Yet, up to now, the Celestial Realm had only sent a single True God, and only when they were pushed into a corner.
None of their other top-tier combatants had appeared at all.
Just as Li Chang’an was pondering what kind of trickery was afoot, the Fusang Tribe’s grand ceremony to welcome the return of their Guardian God was being planned in full swing.
When people heard that Li Chang’an was the very Guardian God who had taught Man Yu the Martial Dao, countless eyes widened in utter astonishment.
After all, in their minds, the so-called "Ancestor of Martial Arts" was a figure who had passed into history long before the death of the Martial God, Man Yu.
Compared to the world-renowned Martial God, the so-called "Ancestor of Martial Arts" was far, far less famous or well-known.
Many people didn’t even have a clue who or what the so-called "Ancestor of Martial Arts" was.
For this figure to suddenly reappear now was something many found difficult to process.
Of course, regardless of what the other tribes thought of the matter, they still had to show the Fusang Tribe respect. Every tribe that had joined the Godslaying Alliance sent representatives of sufficient stature to observe the ceremony on the day it began.
"WHOOOOOM..."
A sound like a call from Ancient Times echoed from the massive horn on the altar. Lu Sang and the women of the Divine Shadow Guard, now dressed in ceremonial attire passed down through generations, stood on either side of the Temple.
Watched by tens of thousands, the women pushed open the great doors of the Temple. Li Chang’an had already assumed his dragon form, his body swollen to an appropriate size.
As the doors swung open, Li Chang’an extended his massive head from within the Temple. A pair of vertical, golden pupils slowly opened, sweeping over everything he could see of the world outside.
When the crowd saw Li Chang’an’s head emerge from the Divine Hall, the entire ceremonial grounds instantly erupted in an uproar.
It was important to remember that because they had embraced the Martial Dao and abolished the worship of Guardian Gods, the people of the Three Rivers Region had not seen a Guardian God of such imposing majesty as Li Chang’an for many years.
His massive draconic body looked as if it were forged from tempered steel, every inch glinting with a metallic sheen. Arcs of electricity flickered on the pale purple horn atop his head, looking as if they could summon furious Thunderbolts from the highest heavens at any moment...
Everyone, including the people of the Fusang Tribe, found their mouths hanging open, their gazes fixed on Li Chang’an, filled with profound shock.
They all knew that the Fusang Tribe’s ancestors once had a formidable Guardian God, who, according to legend, was also the Ancestor of Martial Arts who had taught the Martial God Man Yu. But now, seeing his true form with their own eyes, everyone couldn’t help but hold their breath.
Li Chang’an had made his appearance, sending a clear enough message to everyone.
Having done this, he retreated back into the Temple. The ceremony outside continued, but it no longer had much to do with him.
Of course, the ceremony was not entirely without its rewards for him.
At the very least, Li Chang’an discovered that after making that brief appearance, his Incense Fire Divine Dao Cultivation, which had been stagnant for many years, had unexpectedly made significant progress.
After the Transformed Form stage comes Molting.
Shedding the old husk, to be reborn anew.
This was the key to Molting.
...