Chương 222: Dragon Clan's Opportunity

Ba Yi was shocked by the chaotic spiritual energy that permeated Feilai Peak as soon as he entered it.

After returning to Feilai Peak, Baxia regained his human form, transforming into a round-faced, bearded, innate Daoist figure.

Chaotic spiritual energy has disappeared from the world for a long time, but on Feilai Peak, it is everywhere.

Nourished by the chaotic spiritual energy, the flowers, trees, cranes, and mythical beasts on Feilai Peak have all awakened their intelligence and possessed considerable cultivation.

Not to mention cranes, even an ant has a cultivation level close to that of a true immortal.

If a master of the Refinement of Emptiness and Integration of Dao from a minor world were to ascend to Flying Peak, they might be bitten to death by ants after only a few steps.

These creatures do not take human form because they know that once they do, they cannot stay on Feilai Peak and will be driven out of Jin'ao Island by Fang Yang.

However, the chaotic spiritual energy was just a minor spectacle; it was the star fruit tree growing beside the chaotic spiritual spring that truly astounded Baxia.

A top-grade innate spiritual root is the precursor to an innate saint. Fang Yang even possesses such a treasure. Baxia suddenly felt that he might not be able to see Fang Yang's true potential.

Whoosh whoosh!

Baxia was still marveling at the cultivation environment on Feilai Peak when more than a dozen golden rays of merit shot down from the heavens.

These golden rays of merit covered varying sizes, some as large as a hundred acres, others as small as ten acres. They fell upon Fang Yang, Daoist Qianyao, Daoist Chaotian, and others.

"This is a meritorious deed!"

Baxia's pupils contracted sharply, and its dragon body trembled violently.

How long has it been since he last saw merit? The dragon race declined for an entire eon, and he hasn't seen merit for that entire eon.

The First Emperor loved his son deeply and bore the karma for him, just as Yuan Feng bore the karma for Kong Xuan and Da Peng. However, all the First Emperor could do was help them bear their karma.

Bearing immense karma is equivalent to owing merit. The Western religion is only luckier than the dragon race; they simply don't have karma on their shoulders.

If Baxia owes Heavenly Merit, it is virtually impossible for him to gain Merit.

"What exactly did the master and his fellow disciples do? They sat in the temple doing nothing, yet merits were bestowed upon them?"'

Baxia's emotions were churning.

He realized that by becoming Fang Yang's mount, he had been climbing the social ladder.

Fang Yang knew Baxia would have questions; he could tell from Baxia's expression. He spoke calmly, "I previously shared the Dao with my fellow disciples several times in the prehistoric world. The merit that was just bestowed should be the merit for sharing the Dao."

Preaching is definitely a highly profitable endeavor.

Spreading the word is an investment that yields long-term returns. Whether it's the art of healing plagues or the sacred valley, both have made long-term contributions to the development of humanitarian civilization.

As long as they continue to circulate and promote the development of humanitarian civilization, the merit will never stop.

Ba Xia was taken aback, then seemed to be deep in thought.

A similar situation occurred when their dragon clan was the protagonist of heaven and earth. The ancestral dragon didn't need to leave his home; merit and virtue would continuously descend upon him.

If the dragon race hadn't later stood against all other races and wreaked havoc in the primordial world, the ancestral dragon would have accumulated more merit than he could ever use.

"So that's how it is." Baxia murmured to himself, his voice filled with endless sighs.

"To earn merit, one must first put it into practice and bring blessings to all living beings. It's a pity that the dragon race is no longer the protagonist of heaven and earth. Otherwise, many great sages and sects would surely have come to our dragon race to spread their teachings."

"Fellow Daoist is mistaken!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Yang immediately retorted.

Ba Xia was taken aback, his face full of confusion: "What do you mean by that, sir?"

Fang Yang walked slowly to the Star Fruit Tree, raised his hand to stroke the branches, and said in a deep voice, "The fact that Heaven did not destroy the Dragon Clan means that it left them a glimmer of hope. The many evil deeds committed by the Dragon Clan in the past have already been punished by Heaven. This means that apart from being burdened by karma, the Dragon Clan is no different from other races."

"No difference? That's impossible!"

Upon hearing this, Baxia felt his worldview shatter. He had always believed that dragons were inferior and that no matter how hard they tried, they could never rise above their circumstances.

However, Fang Yang told him that he was wrong.

Fang Yang turned to look at Baxia, his eyes piercingly powerful: "You think the dragon race is inferior, but you're just trapped by the shackles in your own heart. The Heavenly Dao will never condemn a race to death forever because of its origins."

"Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs. This means that in the eyes of Heaven, all living beings are the same and equal."

He said, word by word, "The dragon race was once tyrannical and indiscriminate in its killing, which finally drew the wrath of Heaven. However, this was the dragon race's karma, not its destiny."

Baxia stood there blankly, his gaze trembling slightly, his eyes filled with confusion.

"But we owe too much good karma, and the negative karma on our bodies cannot be cleansed..."'

"That's because you haven't worked hard enough, haven't been diligent enough."

Fang Yang's tone was calm, yet it struck Baxia's heart like a heavy hammer: "Look at the Wu Clan. The Wu Clan also experienced a great calamity, during which they committed acts of slaughter. However, the Wu Clan was not burdened by karma. Why is that? Because the Wu Clan made enough effort."

"The Earth Goddess of the Wu tribe transformed herself into the cycle of reincarnation, and through her own efforts, she carved out a path for survival for the Wu tribe."

"Look at your dragon race again. What have you done? You are afraid of being affected by karma and refuse to face the living beings of the prehistoric world, thus losing the opportunity to atone for your sins."

There were things Fang Yang didn't say, because it wouldn't be pleasant to say them out loud.

Dragons may have the fate of convicts, but they lack their awareness. Convicts know that after committing a crime, they need to reform themselves and accept punishment in order to become new people.

The dragons only want to escape; how can they possibly resolve the karma they carry?

Baxia paused upon hearing this, his face flushed red, and he was speechless for a long time.

Yes, what exactly has the Dragon Clan done all these years?

In the past, when the Ancestral Dragon was alive, the four seas submitted to him, and all races paid homage. But when the great calamity arrived, the Ancestral Dragon perished, and the dragon race collapsed completely.

The descendants of the dragon clan only know how to reminisce about the past glory, guarding the dilapidated dragon palace, possessing great magical power but lacking ambition.

Of course, the Ancestral Dragon and other ancestors transformed into the spiritual veins of heaven and earth, suppressing the four seas and gaining much merit for the dragon race. But these were the deeds of the dragon race's ancestors; what have their descendants done?

They would only hide in the deep sea, complaining and blaming others, lamenting the injustice of fate, and letting their karma entangle them.

"We—we—" Baxia's lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Fang Yang looked at him and softened his tone: "The Wu tribe has the Goddess Houtu, who transformed herself into the cycle of reincarnation to share the burdens of the earth and relieve the suffering of all living beings, ultimately helping the Wu tribe defy fate."

"And the dragons? They only know how to sit back and squander their wealth, clinging to their past achievements and refusing to change."

"Heaven's way is impartial. If the Dragon Clan wants to wash away their karma, there is only one way: to learn from those who are more outstanding, to learn from the Goddess Houtu, to learn from the Dragon Clan's ancestors, to work hard and diligently, and to contribute to the world and all living beings."

He paused, his gaze falling on Baxia: "You are the direct descendant of the Ancestral Dragon, the most influential person in the Dragon Clan today. For you to become my mount is an immense blessing. What the Dragon Clan ancestors could not teach you, I can; what they could not pass on to you, I can. As long as you follow me, deeply understand the spirit of the Dao of Intercepting Heaven, and strengthen your studies, you will surely be able to revitalize the Dragon Clan."

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