Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

As Long Chen walked out of Dragon Tree Forest with eight hundred young disciples, he couldn’t help but feel curious.

Although he didn’t know what the old race leader had said to Huai Yushan, he knew their plans had changed due to his arrival.

They had only just met, yet because of a single mark, the race leader trusted Long Chen enough to change his plans entirely. While that trust felt good, Long Chen also felt a bit guilty. If their positions were reversed, would he be able to place such unwavering faith in the Undying Dragon Tree race?

Just what kind of bond existed between them and the Butterfly Spirit race?

Compared to this unquestioning trust, the human race seemed riddled with suspicion. Was that wariness born from centuries of betrayal? Or was it simply an innate flaw of human nature?

Seeing Long Chen frowning and lost in thought, one of them thought that Long Chen was worried and comforted him.

He said, “Long Chen, don’t worry. You should know, Yushan is the number one genius of our Undying Dragon Tree race in a trillion years. She can challenge mid-stage Divine Emperors alone and even hold her own against late-stage Emperors of our race. She might not win, but escaping from them is no problem at all. You don’t need to be concerned about our safety.”

“That’s right. To use your human race’s words… what’s the phrase? Right, no need to fear the sky is falling,” added a maiden.

“If anyone dares to block our path, they can’t blame us for their own blindness. Even without Yushan, we can teach them a lesson on our own,” said a short, tanned man confidently.

The Undying Dragon Tree race’s disciples truly had no sense of scheming. All of them expressed that as long as an enemy appeared they’d show off their abilities to Long Chen.

All of them were incredibly excited as this was their first time leaving the oversight of their seniors. To put it frankly, they were finally free, like horses freed from their reins.

“Don’t be so confident. There is always a heaven beyond heavens, an expert beyond your understanding. Who knows how many monsters slumber within the nine heavens and ten lands? The Undying Dragon Tree race can only count as an unremarkable little race amongst the ten thousand races. If you look down on the other races, you will definitely suffer,” scolded Huai Yushan.

The disciples’ faces turned red with embarrassment. One of them muttered, “We were just trying to comfort Long Chen since he looked nervous.”

Huai Yushan remained cold, saying, “But all of you seem entirely too pleased with yourselves. Your arrogance is written all over your faces. It doesn’t seem like you’re just comforting someone.”

Long Chen chuckled. He hadn’t expected Huai Yushan to be so strict.

Seeing the atmosphere become awkward, Long Chen said, “Many thanks for your concern, everyone. In truth, I’m not worried at all. I’m just… moved. If the human race could be as united and sincere as you, it would be wonderful.

“I often like to brag and say that I’m unrivaled, but when I look back, the mountain of corpses I’ve climbed is filled with members of my own race.”

Long Chen’s voice softened, and a trace of loneliness crept into his expression. He had fought countless battles, yet the ones that weighed on him the most weren’t against demons or devils—but against his fellow humans.

He dreamed of a world like the Spirit race’s, where people could live in peace, free from constant struggle. But the reality he faced was always cruel, always exhausting.

“Wow, you’re able to brag that much with this level of power? That’s impressive!” said one of them.

Just as he said this, Huai Yushan glared at him. He clearly didn’t understand the important point of Long Chen’s words and only heard that he was bragging.

She turned back to Long Chen and said, “Our patriarch once said that the most complex race in this world is your human race. It’s a good thing the humans aren’t united. Otherwise, perhaps the entire world would already belong to you.”

“If the human race ruled the world, would that be the end of the world?” Long Chen asked with a wry smile.

“It would precisely be that,” Huai Yushan replied, nodding without hesitation.

How embarrassing. Long Chen was speechless. What was he supposed to say in response to that? Perhaps they would start fighting before they even left the Undying Dragon Tree race’s territory.

Huai Yushan continued, “The patriarch said that humans lack respect, their greed is never satisfied, and they always crave more. If the human race truly controlled the world, it would mark the end of it. The primal chaos war is the best example.”

Long Chen couldn’t help but frown. He said, “You say that the human race lacks respect, that they’re insatiably greedy, and that they always want more. I won’t argue with that. But to claim that the world would end if the human race ruled? That’s too much, isn’t it?

“As for the primal chaos war, how much do you really know about it? Blaming it entirely on the human race seems unfair.”

Huai Yushan pondered his words before nodding. “You’re right. But I’m simply repeating what our ancestors passed down. And I trust their wisdom.”

Long Chen couldn’t argue any further. If he did, perhaps things would become awkward. He might just lose control.

Long Chen directly changed the subject. “What else do you know about the primal chaos war? Can you tell me?”

Without hesitation, Huai Yushan answered, “The war began because the human race was not satisfied with the constraints of the nine heavens. They defied the laws of heaven and earth, provoking the wrath of the heavens. That led to heavenly punishment, and devils from beyond the heavens invaded.

“The calamity brought forth by the human race resulted in an era of mass extermination. Rivers of blood flowed. The nine heavens and ten lands were so damaged that they entered an era of decline that has continued to this day.”

Long Chen’s mind reeled. Defying the heavens? Heavenly punishment? Devils from beyond the heavens? A man-made catastrophe? A world in decline?

Images flashed through his mind—glimpses of a war so ancient, its echoes still shaped the present.

Huai Yushan was only repeating what she had been taught, yet her words carried a weight that unsettled him. Was this truly the history of the primal chaos war?

Or was it just the Undying Dragon Tree race’s version of it?

And if they believed this, how many other races shared the same belief?

Sensing Long Chen’s silence, one of the disciples coughed lightly. “Let’s not talk about such heavy topics…”

Long Chen waved his hand and said, “It’s fine. At the very least, I’ve learned how the Undying Dragon Tree race views that war. Thank you.”

Regardless of whether their history was accurate, it gave Long Chen a glimpse into how the Undying Dragon race viewed humanity. After all, Huai Yushan wouldn’t lie about what she had been told.

In that case, probably quite a few other races carried the same viewpoint.

After traveling for two more hours, they neared Undying Demon Forest.

Suddenly, space twisted. One translucent figure after another emerged from the void, silently surrounding them.