Chapter 1418: Frogs At The Bottom Of A Well

"What kind of mount is this? It only has two wheels, yet it can move so swiftly and fiercely?"

"And that four-wheeled thing ahead is even more terrifying. It doesn’t emit any life force, nor can I sense any treasure aura, yet it can speed away. Such a bizarre mount, I’ve never heard of it in all my years!"

"Fellow Daoists, look quickly! That broom the person is using to sweep the ground seems to be a desolate artifact!"

"*Gasp*..."

"Just what kind of place is this? Its foundation is so terrifying!"

As the group of elders stepped onto Shadow Island, they were immediately stunned by what they saw and heard along the way. Gone was the demeanor of ancient beings; they now resembled a group of old men visiting the city for the first time, their excited chatter rising and falling.

It was truly an eye-opening experience.

Compared to the others, Jiang Yuan managed to maintain a somewhat composed expression, but his heart was also in turmoil. Following the gazes of the group, his shock grew with each passing moment.

After walking just a few steps on the sidewalk, he widened his eyes as he looked at the smooth road to his right.

The long road stretched straight into the city, seemingly endless.

At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than an exceptionally flat surface, seemingly ordinary. Yet, it exuded an indescribable, peculiar aura, as if it could rival any palace corridor made of immortal jade in the world.

Could it be that even the roads outside the city are extraordinary?

This is truly a grand display.

The more Jiang Yuan looked, the more curious he became. Unable to resist, he took a few steps to the left and stomped hard on the road.

To his surprise, not a single trace was left behind.

Instantly, Jiang Yuan frowned and stopped in his tracks.

"This..."

"What kind of material is this road made of? It’s so incredibly sturdy! Could it be that even the roads here are constructed using desolate artifacts?!"

Hearing this, the other elders also turned their heads in shock.

"Desolate artifacts used to build roads?!"

"Old Jiang, you must be joking!"

"Holy crap!"

After just a few moments of closer inspection, the old men’s eyes grew wider and wider. Some even began to mimic Jiang Yuan, stepping on the road and examining it closely, their faces filled with confusion. To an outsider, it might have looked like they were studying some kind of magical treasure.

Judging by their demeanor, it seemed that unless they satisfied their curiosity about the strange sights before them, this group of old men would have a hard time moving forward.

Helpless, Wu Tao turned back and casually explained a few things.

"There’s no need to be surprised, everyone. This asphalt road is made from the condensed flesh and blood of demons, so it’s naturally quite sturdy. There are many other unique aspects of Shadow Island. You’ll get used to them after staying here for a while."

"Now, let’s head into the city."

His casual remark left the group of sages utterly dumbfounded.

"*Gasp*!"

"Dem... demon flesh and blood used to build roads?!"

"This!"

Shock.

Including Jiang Yuan, the five ancient elders were so stunned that their mouths twitched uncontrollably.

In their understanding, demons were terrifying beings that wreaked havoc across the galaxy, especially with their incredibly strong demonic bodies. Even back in the day, when Jiang Yuan joined forces with many other sages and risked his cultivation, they only barely managed to stabilize the situation on Cloud Star.

Yet here on Shadow Island, demons were merely materials for building roads?

Holy crap!

After struggling for two epochs, it turns out they were just playing children’s games!

This is outrageous!

With such power and resources, just how strong is Shadow Island?

They had once thought that Shadow Island was playing with fire, but now it seemed that demons were nothing more than road-building materials. Forget playing with fire—even playing with it ten times over might not be a challenge.

Thinking back to their earlier righteous speeches, Jiang Yuan’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Amidst the awkwardness, a wave of immense shock swept over the group. The ancient sages exchanged glances, not even daring to breathe heavily, their feet practically digging out a three-bedroom apartment beneath them.

It took a long while before they finally regained their composure.

From a distance, they glanced at the bustling city and quickly bowed in response.

"Yes, yes..."

"Please forgive our ignorance, sir. We’ll trouble you to lead the way."

Unconsciously, the attitudes of the five elders had become several times more respectful.

Following Wu Tao into the city, they were met with constant surprises along the way. When they passed by a park and saw a group of ordinary-looking aunties dancing, their auras were so powerful that the elders couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

Instantly, their eyes were filled with nothing but reverence.

When they caught sight of two old men fishing by the artificial lake, even Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

"I never expected that after waking up again, we’d be reduced to mere ordinary people. This era is truly not one we are qualified to interfere in. Our previous ignorant actions now seem utterly laughable."

"Today, after visiting this precious land, we’ve come to realize that we are nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well. To have the opportunity to witness such a place is truly an honor for us."

The other four elders also looked ashamed and bowed toward Wu Tao.

"Please forgive us, sir. We were too shallow."

Seeing the well-behaved demeanor of Lei Qianjue and the others, Wu Tao smiled and reassured them.

"There’s no need to be so nervous. We are all part of the human race, and you once protected Cloud Star in ancient times. Your contributions are eternal. A small misunderstanding like this is nothing to worry about."

"From now on, you can rest and recuperate on Shadow Island. Here, you’ll have complete freedom, and no foreign races will dare to disturb you."

"Everyone, this is the city center. Take some time to familiarize yourselves with the surroundings. If you need anything, just look for me, Wu Tao. My fellow disciples and I have some matters to discuss, so I’ll take my leave now."

With that, Wu Tao stuffed his hands into his pockets and led his team toward an office building in the city.

At the crossroads, the five elders bowed in unison, their faces filled with respect.

"Thank you, sir. Please take care."

By the time they straightened up, Wu Tao had already disappeared. Jiang Yuan’s eyes still held a trace of gratitude as he murmured to himself.

"We will forever remember the kindness of Sir Wu Tao."

"I wonder what kind of extraordinary genius could have established such a force and nurtured a talent like Sir Wu Tao. If we could have the fortune to meet such a person, it would make our two epochs of existence worthwhile."

"From now on, being able to reside here is truly a great blessing."

Hearing this, the old men behind him also looked yearning, and some even seemed to have a sudden realization.

"Old Jiang speaks wisely."

"Old Jiang, please forgive us. We once had selfish intentions and nearly caused a great disaster. Only now do we realize that there are always people greater than us. Our past actions were truly laughable. Our perspective was far too narrow."

"We beg for your forgiveness, Old Jiang. From now on, we will definitely reform ourselves and never dare to act inappropriately on Shadow Island."

Their few words were filled with emotion.

The group of old friends exchanged light smiles, their eyes filled with longing as they gazed at the bustling city streets.

To the passersby, their expressions were nothing out of the ordinary—just a group of newcomers, wide-eyed and curious. Seizing the opportunity, Xiong Fen and his son, who had just gotten off their vehicle, stepped forward with an air of importance and clasped their fists in greeting.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists. Have you ever heard of the Path of Internal Competition?"

The profound statement immediately caught the attention of the five elders. Even though the newcomers seemed ordinary, the elders didn’t dare to underestimate them and cautiously returned the gesture.

"Please enlighten us, sir."

Before long, Xiong Fen and his son, with their silver tongues, had the five elders fired up with enthusiasm. As they gazed at the city’s nightscape, their faces were filled with anticipation.

The dazzling neon lights were so brilliant that even the starlight seemed dim in comparison.

Deep within the endless starlight, the demon realm was even darker.

Endless demonic energy swirled, and all kinds of demons lurked in the shadows.

Only the Black Tower in the demon capital was brightly lit. From within the grand hall, bursts of laughter could be heard from time to time, a stark contrast to the usual oppressive and gloomy atmosphere. It seemed as peaceful and harmonious as Shadow Island.

Inside the hall, various demon clans competed to report their achievements, boasting about the fallen human prodigies. Their proud expressions seemed more like they were seeking rewards, as if the greater the casualties, the more excited they became.

After all the reports were finished, the Demon Sovereign nodded in satisfaction.

"Good, very good."

"The plan is progressing smoothly. Long Tian has slain many elites, and the contributions of all the clans are noted. However, this alone may not be enough to fully gain the trust of the humans."

As he spoke, a glint of light flashed in the Demon Sovereign’s blood-red eyes.

"If my predictions are correct, Long Tian’s aura as a member of the Black Flood Dragon Clan may have already been detected by some human cultivators."

Instantly, the hall fell dead silent.

The demons were so shocked that their eyes widened in disbelief.