Reversing the Path?

Shen Qian was shocked. Although he couldn't experience it firsthand, just thinking about it made him realize how crazy this was!

The great way cannot be reversed; once it is reversed, one will be destroying one's own future.

Number 56's mask distorted, vividly revealing his pain, but he quickly regained his composure and even showed a relieved smile.

"It's just a road, so be it... Get ready!"

Number 56 gave the two a final reminder, and just as Da Fu turned her gaze to him, the "Tao" above his head finally reversed completely.

The world seemed to freeze for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, number 56 uttered a soft whisper.

"Things will turn into their opposites when they reach an extreme."

These four simple words seem to possess an astonishing magic.

Rumble!

The illusory image of the Great Dao No. 56 began to crumble inch by inch, and at the same time, flames sprang from those cracks.

He had never seen such dazzling flames before, like leaping sprites, colorful and vibrant, yet also like deep thunder containing fury, posing a deadly danger.

"When the great principles are reversed, things reach their extremes and then reverse; therefore, the ultimate 'water' becomes the ultimate 'fire'..."

At that moment, Shen Qian understood No. 56's intention.

His own "Way of Water" causes minimal harm to these vines; in fact, it can be said to nourish them. Only by reversing his Great Way and obtaining the ultimate fire can one damage the branches of this ancient tree of life.

The five-colored flames instantly engulfed the Great Dao above No. 56's head, or rather, they used his Great Dao as nourishment, turning it from a spark into a raging inferno.

As No. 56 pointed forward with all his might, a raging fire burst forth, instantly engulfing the vines within a radius of dozens of meters in front of him.

Immediately, the multicolored flames spread forward, quickly passing in front of Chen Qian and Venus, and then engulfed the Great Protector standing at the top of the tree.

Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Qian and Venus followed closely behind the fire, rushing towards the Great Protector.

Venus's golden light shone to its fullest extent; she resembled a sun goddess or a burning comet as she charged toward the Great Protector.

"Shadow Blade!"

Shen Qian roared inwardly and unleashed a powerful slash, gathering all his strength.

The vines were burned to ashes in the blink of an eye. Looking at the oncoming fire and the two people's desperate attack after the fire, the Great Protector's aged face finally showed some emotion.

For the first time since the beginning, he raised his staff.

"Duo!"

He first uttered a syllable that Chen Qian couldn't understand.

Buzz!

A large golden bell descended from the sky, enveloping the Great Protector.

The flames struck the bell, producing a clear, ringing sound. Although the bell swayed constantly as it burned, it was never quite shattered.

Thump!

Venus rushed over and crashed into the golden bell.

The golden bell finally shattered completely with a "crack," but before Venus could launch a second attack, another golden bell fell from the sky, separating the two.

"Beep!"

The Great Protector uttered another syllable that Chen Qian couldn't understand.

Countless blades made of gale force appeared out of thin air, then converged into two hundred-foot-long wind arrows, which pierced towards the frozen Venus and the blade light unleashed by Shen Qian.

boom!

The blade's edge clashed with the arrow, and the chaotic spiritual energy of heaven and earth transformed into a violent storm, sending Venus and Shen Qian flying far away.

Venus steadied herself and quickly looked up, only to see that when the chaos subsided and the Great Protector still stood majestically atop the tree, despair appeared on her pretty face.

"According to the Five Elements theory, fire is not actually the most restraining of wood; metal is, right?"

At that moment, she heard a loud question.

Venus subconsciously turned her head, only to see Shen Qian staring intently at her, his face showing no sign of discouragement.