Hearing such words caused him great dissatisfaction, but he had no plans on breaking the rules he had set down right from the beginning, which involved using the Demon Suppression Statuary and the Traitorous Demon sword. If he wanted to win, then he could only rely on his geographic advantage, make time, and recover spiritual qi.
The more intense the battle grew, the clearer his thoughts became. As he fled, he flicked his fingers randomly and sent water arrows flying out. Zhu Lie became even more furious, pursuing him relentlessly.
As Li Qingshan maneuvered around, the jade tablet on his waist flickered with light. The spiritual qi in his body recovered slowly but surely.
He had used the water element as his foundation for cultivation for all this time, but he mostly relied on the fangs and claws of the tiger demon and the abilities of the ox demon to triumph over opponents.
Even when he assumed his human identity, he relied on his tough body to use Ocean Wielding, to wield the Heavy Water sword and launch powerful attacks to overwhelm the opponent. This was the first time he purely used water element techniques to fight.
In the beginning, it felt extremely repressive. He did not like this style of battle. He still preferred taking his opponent by storm and landing every single attack on flesh. However, he could only silently endure for the sake of victory.
Although Zhu Lie’s flames were violent and vicious, they could not last for too long and gradually dimmed. As for Li Qingshan’s spiritual qi, he had already recovered fifty percent of it. The scales of victory had begun to tip. If he actively approached Zhu Lie now and engaged in attacks for attacks like earlier, Zhu Lie would definitely be the first to give way.
However, Li Qingshan was in no hurry to take action. Instead, he seemed to be in thought, vaguely understanding the reason for the problems. Suddenly, he recalled a saying.
To be Good-natured like water. Water benefits all living things while avoiding conflict, occupying a place where all others loathe. It is akin to the Dao.
TL: This comes from the first half of chapter 8 of the Dao De Jing. It’s basically an analogy between water and the Dao, drawing comparisons to their similarities. Water is “good-natured” in the way that it benefits all living things—you can’t live without water. It occupies a “place where all others loathe”—water is called the “universal solvent” because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid. You use it for washing and cleaning, taking away and dissolving unwanted filth. Water also always takes the path of least resistance, thus avoiding conflict. It always flows to a “lower” position, which can be interpreted physically and metaphorically. These are all properties of the Dao described in the Dao De Jing.
To be good-natured like water, yet I am vicious and brutal. Water must “avoid conflict”, yet I am filled with fighting spirit.
The water element is about triumphing over force with gentleness, remaining discreet and enduring silently. It is about going with the flow, yet I forge ahead valiantly, doing whatever I want. Even if I temporarily shrink back and endure in silence, it’s only because of my circumstances. I stop doing that and behave flagrantly as soon as the opportunity arises.
For all this time, my temperament and the temperament of water have been completely opposite.
My temperament is staunch. Even when I practise a water cultivation method, I’ve chosen the destructive Arts of the Boundless Ocean. Although I have the god-like talent of the spirit turtle, and I control vast amounts of water in the Ruyi commandery, I haven’t truly merged with and understood the utmost flexibility and gentleness of water.
It’s no wonder that I’ve become stuck at a bottleneck after I reached the fourth layer of the spirit turtle. I’ve always wanted to merge water and fire, yet I haven’t even merged with and understood the word “water”!
Li Qingshan sighed inside, but he became reinvigorated. He had finally found an answer to what had troubled him for all this time!
Suddenly, his expression became calm and peaceful, while his movements became gentle too. He was like a fish swimming around in a lake.
He stopped intentionally using techniques. As he retreated, he waved his arms around, drawing circles freely. The water flow binded around Zhu Lie like silk bands.
Zhu Lie waved his trident and easily ripped through them, but the water bands wrapped around him endlessly.
Zhu Lie wanted to catch up to Li Qingshan and take him on in a battle to the death, but it became even more impossible for him to get closer with the water bands obstructing him. The flames on his body became even weaker. Even his roars became rather hoarse!
Gu Yanying struck her palm gently with her delicate, jade fan and smiled. “The outcome has been decided.”
Si Qing furrowed his brows firmly. Losing this battle had completely taken him by surprise. As he stared at Li Qingshan, he thought, Such an ability to control water definitely isn’t something a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator can possess.
A while later, Li Qingshan had already gained the upper hand. Zhu Lie held on desperately, but his fighting spirit had already been mostly eroded away. He did not follow the rules of the arena, so the concept of forfeiting did not exist to him. He only thought of dying here, which would save him from the torture and humiliation the Si Qing outside would give him.
By now, Li Qingshan only needed to approach him and give him a few kicks and punches to emerge victoriously, but he forcefully held back this urge. Since he understood the source of his problem already, he had to find a way to deal with it.
Since his temperament was incompatible, then he would start with his temperament and change the way he acted. He silently swore, From today onwards, I’ll do whatever a tortoise- oh wait, it’s a spirit turtle. I’ll do whatever a spirit turtle does. Sigh, it’s basically all the same anyway!
Normally, based on his past temperament, he would have rushed over a long time ago to rip Zhu Lie apart and dig out his organs so that he could vent his anger.
But now, he constantly took in deep breaths as he muttered to himself inside.
Li Qingshan, take it slowly. There’s no hurry. There’s still plenty of time. This otherfolk might have a foul mouth, but he’s just a pitiful person oppressed by that bastard Si Qing. Why do I have to kill him? If I look closer, doesn’t he seem quite handsome too?
Zhu Lie’s face was contorted. “If you want to kill me, then kill me, but don’t even think of humiliating me!”
Chapter 602: The Outcome Decided, the General's Call | Legend of the Great Sage
Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow and was about to say, “If you want to die, then I’ll give you what you want!” However, when it reached his mouth, it became, “You want me to kill you? Then I’ll do the exact opposite! I refuse to kill you!” He muttered to himself, “Handsome, handsome!”
Zhu Lie howled about and charged right over. This time, Li Qingshan did not dodge. Right as the trident was about to reach his waist, he raised his right hand, and a stream of extremely pliable and tough water wrapped around the trident. It followed the pole and wrapped around Zhu Lie, trapping him in the water.
“Hurry up and forfeit, and I’ll spare you dog life!”
Zhu Lie cursed loudly. His voice passed through the water, becoming unclear.
Li Qingshan shrugged helplessly. A crude and powerful hand immediately plunged into the water, grabbing Zhu Lie firmly by the throat.
Li Qingshan pulled Zhu Lie closer in a brutal manner and said with a heavy voice, “My patience is limited. Let me ask you one last time. Do you want to live, or do you want to die?”
All of Zhu Lie’s hairs stood on end. He stared into Li Qingshan’s eyes in surprise and confusion, catching something that seemed like a flash of dark red light. A ruthless malice forced its way into his heart. Originally, he would not show fear even if he died in battle, but he could not help but become slightly afraid from that moment onwards.
Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 601-Chapter 700)
Dream Teller's books
- Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 1-Chapter 100)
- Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 101-Chapter 200)
- Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 201-Chapter 300)
- Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 301-Chapter 400)
- Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 401-Chapter 500)
- Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 501-Chapter 600)
- Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 701-Chapter 833)