Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar

Lu Sheng walked away, his spine slightly bent and a smile on his face as he left the Dongyu District Official Hall.

Hong Yuan, however, approached the water tank once again to observe the Red Dragon Carp.

Previously, he had only glanced at it without examining it too deeply.

The Red Dragon Carp closely resembled a regular red carp.

The difference, however, was that the Red Dragon Carp had two faintly bulging horns on its head, and its scales carried traces of barely visible, pale gold Luck Tao runes.

A Luck Tao Variant Seed... I wonder if you can survive past the intelligence-awakening stage, Hong Yuan mused.

Heaven is both fair and unfair.

Variant Seeds like the Red Dragon Carp commonly awakened their intelligence later. They usually underwent this process at the third-tier humanoid Dao Body stage, suffering a significant disadvantage compared to ordinary Demon Beasts that could awaken their intelligence in the first or second tier.

Correspondingly, however, these Variant Seeds naturally earned the favor of a particular Tao, allowing them to progress on their cultivation paths much faster than ordinary Demon Beasts.

The Ice Armor Python was also a type of Variant Seed—an Ice Tao Variant Seed!

SPLASH! SPLASH!

The Red Dragon Carp swam in the large water tank, splashing water, and Hong Yuan's gaze followed its movements.

For some reason, Hong Yuan felt a stir in his heart.

This water tank was specially made, engraved with numerous Energy Arrays to prevent the Red Dragon Carp from leaping out.

Simultaneously, under the influence of the Energy Arrays, the water flow was fixed. The Red Dragon Carp was currently thrashing about in the water tank, going with the current and using its momentum in an attempt to leap out.

Capitalize on the situation, go with the flow.

'Beckon from a high place, and though your arm is not longer, you are seen from farther away. Call with the wind, and though your voice is not stronger, you are heard more clearly.'

These famous sayings flowed through Hong Yuan's mind. Just then, he sensed a change in his proficiency panel and immediately checked it.

[Name: Hong Yuan]

[School: Luck Tao (Ordinary)]

Seeing "Luck Tao (Ordinary)" added to his cultivation schools, a smile appeared on Hong Yuan's face.

To have grasped it so quickly... is this the comprehension of a Martial Arts Heavenly Talent? What a thrill!

「...」

「One day later.」

Dongyu District, Giant Whale Trade Union.

Lu Sheng, Leader of the Giant Whale Gang, stood on the second-floor balcony, looking across the street with triumphant pride at Zhang Kaihe, Chairman of the Long Lake Commerce Guild.

"Gang Leader Lu, your methods are truly impressive," Zhang Kaihe said, his face gloomy.

He had been on the verge of completely crushing the Giant Whale Trade Union, driving these canal boatmen out of Dongyu District and monopolizing the canal profits.

But he never expected that fellow Lu Sheng to actually collude with that damned Hong Yuan, forcing him to back down.

"Hehe, the Giant Whale Gang doesn't need True Transmission Zhang's concern. True Transmission Zhang should rather think about how to answer to Elder Master Li's questioning," Lu Sheng mocked with barbed words, infuriating Zhang Kaihe to the point of grinding his teeth.

"Hmph!" With an angry snort, Zhang Kaihe swept his sleeve and departed, no longer engaging with Lu Sheng.

Zhang Kaihe was furious, absolutely furious!

Because of Hong Yuan, he had already suffered two major setbacks.

Zhang Kaihe only returned home in the afternoon.

When he saw his shifty advisor Huang Kou administering 'private justice' to a maidservant, his eyebrows knitted together slightly.

"Big Brother, what's wrong?" Huang Kou asked, hurriedly following Zhang Kaihe into the inner courtyard.

Without a word, Zhang Kaihe rushed back to his room. Huang Kou closed the main door behind them, ensuring no sound escaped.

"Damn it all! That Hong Yuan has foiled my plans again!" Zhang Kaihe grumbled, slumping onto a stool. He grabbed the teapot and guzzled tea directly from the spout.

Huang Kou quickly moved to Zhang Kaihe's side and began to massage his back.

"Big Brother, since it's come to this, why don't we..." Huang Kou made a throat-slitting gesture.

Seeing this, Zhang Kaihe's expression changed drastically. He sized up Huang Kou from head to toe.

"Huang Kou, have I not treated you well?"

Zhang Kaihe stared coldly at Huang Kou, making the hairs on Huang Kou's back stand on end.

If Huang Kou couldn't provide a reasonable explanation, then Zhang Kaihe would not hesitate to disregard their sworn brotherhood.

「...」

Ever since meeting Lu Sheng, Hong Yuan had resumed his routine: arduous daily cultivation of the Myriad Silence Origin Skill and the Misty Smoke Fast, and playing with Yue'er when he grew bored.

Many individuals of notable status in Pengcheng had also sought an audience with him, but Hong Yuan paid them no mind.

He didn't need any friendships or connections; he only needed to maintain his fraternal bond with his Senior Brother, Mo Jiuyou.

Time passed, bit by bit.

「A week later.」

In the training room in the rear courtyard of the Dongyu District Official's residence.

Hong Yuan opened his eyes. A small, mantis-shaped Worm, seemingly composed of black smoke, appeared in his hand.

At this moment, the black smoke mantis Worm, guided by Hong Yuan's will, flew around him like a wisp of black smoke, enshrouded in a dense mist.

Nearly a month... I've finally cultivated the Misty Smoke Fast to the Perfected Transformation realm. This Cultivation Worm... I'll call it the Misty Mantis, Hong Yuan murmured.

[Name: Hong Yuan]

[Cultivation Technique: Misty Smoke Fast (Perfected Transformation 145/16,000)]

Unlike the Cloud Ladder Step, which emphasized instantaneous bursts of extreme speed, the Misty Smoke Fast focused on evasion and pursuit. It offered not only high speed but also a highly deceptive movement technique. Themostup‑to‑dateversionisonM4VLEMP4YR.

Now, the only escape-focused Cultivation Technique I bought from the Sect that I haven't practiced yet is the Light Martial Skill.

Hong Yuan retrieved the Light Martial Skill manual from his storage bag and began to study it, full of determination. As long as he refined another Cultivation Worm from it, he was determined to create an escape-type killer move, greatly enhancing his ability to flee.

「...」

Meanwhile, Hong Yuan the Demon Beast was also making good progress.

His python tail was gradually transforming, and the progress was heartening.

At this rate, in just another week or two, he would undoubtedly succeed in his transformation and could then host the "Transformation Party."

Under the pretext of the "Transformation Party," he could once again replenish his depleted private coffers, making them gleam with treasure once more.

「Two weeks later.」

Zero Desolate Sea Area, Ice Frost River.

As the last thunder from the Tribulation Cloud dissipated, Hong Yuan the Ice Armor Python roared, and a large expanse of the river's surface instantly froze over.

A streak of white light flashed. A graceful and handsome young man appeared on the surface of the Ice Frost River. Dressed in white and holding a red fan, he fanned himself gently, looking utterly dashing and unrestrained.

"Taoist Zhenyi truly looks handsome in this form!" exclaimed Crab General Xie Four.

"Indeed! Apart from the Monarch, I fear no other Demon Cultivator in the entire Zero Desolate Sea Area can outshine Taoist Zhenyi in looks. Gui Qu, wouldn't you agree?" Shrimp Soldier Xia San asked Turtle Prime Minister Gui Qu.

Gui Qu was a recently advanced major cultivator of the turtle kin within the Black Dragon Palace, renowned for his intellect and cunning.

The Black Dragon Demon Saint had specifically assigned him to assist Hong Yuan in hosting a magnificent "Transformation Party," thereby showcasing the profound heritage of the Mysterious Water Snake clan to the major islands.

"Naturally," Gui Qu nodded decisively.

Regardless of the truth, the most handsome individual in the Zero Desolate Sea Area could only ever be the Black Dragon Demon Saint.

Hong Yuan briefly familiarized himself with his new humanoid Dao Body, then moved through the waves towards Demon Cultivators like Shrimp Soldier Xia San, Crab General Xie Four, and Turtle Prime Minister Gui Qu.

"Gui Qu, proceed with the original plan. Send out invitations to all the major islands of the Zero Desolate Sea Area, and to all the Taoist Zhenyi and Taoists within the Black Dragon Palace," Hong Yuan instructed.

Following Hong Yuan's command, the situation across the Zero Desolate Sea Area was instantly set in motion.