The Urban Dao Child

Yang Dao stopped kicking the guy and with after panting for a few bits, he caught up to his breath. His breathing was not ragged because he was tired but because he was excited when he fought with the young salamander. Never has he experienced the lethality of elemental fights at such an intensity.

The people were surprised to see there youth champion losing to the Heavenly emissary, who did not even know how to use a spear or even the fire element. It all looked so easy to them, they could not even think about using the sand on the ground to diffuse a spell. This was very shockening to them. Ryu Jinshi was scared deep inside his heart. After all, the Dao child was standing against fire and he even took some wounds.

His neck had second degree burns, while his face had some freckles caused by the sparks. Quickly he stepped inside the ring and was about to use the earth source energy to heal,when Yang Dao waved his hand and stopped him.

The boy said, "You may be looking down on emotions but this thirst to prove oneself in front of everyone is an emotion we call pride. The disdain when he looked down upon me is an emotion, when you all nodded in his favor is called confidence.. So, tell me are all of you weak?"

His calm voice rang out among the people and shook their hearts like an earthquake. They did not say anything an even bowed their heads in shame. Yang Dao saw that none of them gave any answer so he said, "You people are the beings of fire. Fire is not only to burn things but it is to provide warmth. It is to make the dark go away. The essence of fire is not only brutal strength but also, life giving.

The food you eat is cooked with fire and in turn gives you energy to keep on living. When a mother holds her child in her arms, that is warmth. That is fire, the fire of affection. When two people are in love and they find spending time with each other relaxing, that heat between the two people is not only physical need but also the heat of passion and love.

That rage you feel when someone tries to threaten your people, that is the fire you need to protect people. Is that all not emotion? What sort of bland fire will you master if you give up on the basic element that made you better then the other people? Fire of nothingness? Are you all really that weak that in order to get strong you need to make sacrifices other than your time and effort?"

His words were nothing less then molten lava raging on to burn down the mental restraints these guys have created around themselves. In the eyes of Yang Dao, disregarding their emotions was nothing more than just weakness. This 'emotions are for the weak' was nothing more than an excuse to hide their weakness.

The people were all ashamed on being reprimanded by the Dao Child. They had never been so humiliated. One of the younger children walked out of the crowd and from the side of the ring asked, "Lord, how can we get stronger with emotions?"

This question may have been asked by a child but it was something everyone in the Salamander race wanted to know. They had become used to live like this for far too long. They were a barbaric race but who said, barbarians had no concept of emotions?

Yang Dao said, "Do you want to protect your family from facing any trouble?"

The young child nodded without hesitation. Yang Dao smiled and said, "That is the emotion you need to hold on to and walk forward. Keep it in mind that your strength must be used only to protect those who needs protection. You are a salamander, originated from fire. What did I say about fire before?"

Hearing Yang Dao asking him what he said about the fire, the child replied, "Fire is to light up the dark, give warmth to the people, and to make them feel safe."

This answer brought a smile on Yang Dao's face. He walked forward and crouched in front of the child and asked with a smile, "What is your name child?"

The boy said, "Ifrit."

Yang Dao smiled and said, "You are a smart child, Ifrit."

This remark brought a smile to the child. Yang Dao stood up after patting the head of the child and turned to face the elders, he said, "It is your duty to make sure that the people are on the right path. If they gave up emotions in pursuit of strength, then what use will be that strength? A living creature without emotions is dead.

Pursuit of life and death may look like it needs you to sacrifice but this thirst of knowledge itself is an emotion. Do you understand what I am trying to say?"

The supreme elder of the Salamanders knelt on the ground on his knee and said, "I understand, Lord. I will make sure that the balance of their heart is not lost ever again."

The surrounding people also knelt and said in unison, "Lord, we will correct our ways."

Yang Dao waved his hands and said, "It is upto you. Just know this, if you are speaking empty words, then you will cause the destruction of this whole world. You are the spirits of fire. You should be more aware of what you can achieve by lining your heart with the nature."

The people were all enlightened by what he said. He did not even need to use the Dao resonance. The equation of balance was as such. Imagine a tangled ball of hair. The tight your hold is the harder it becomes to undo the hair.

The easy you take things the calmer you are the better you can solve the problem. It may not be the best analogy but it is still somewhere along the lines. Spiritual awareness makes you closer to finding your balance and spirit is free so how can you become aware about spirituality by force?

Yang Dao saw that the people were indulged in epiphany. He said to Ryu Jinshi, "Shall we head back? It may take some time for them to wake up. When they wake up, we would not be needed here."

Ryu Jinshi nodded with a smile and said, "Lord, this method you used to shatter their corrupted views, is admired by this humble one."

Yang Dao tilted his head and said, "I did not expect the dragon of wind to be so good with eloquence." and then he chuckled as he saw Ryu Jinshi blushing in shame.

Sushi had been silent the whole time. She asked at this moment, "Master, is there anyway I can be this big back in that world? I cannot eat much food you know?" her tone was very pitiful.

Yang Dao looked at Ryu Jinshi who shook his head in helplessness.

Yang Dao coaxed the sylph. Ryu Jinshi waved his hand and the gateway of the spirit realm appeared in front of them. The trio crossed the gate way and the golden gate was now even more brilliant than before. The patterns all had some sort of color radiating from them.

Yang Dao asked, "Ryu, I did not meet any of the other species except the four spirit races?"

Ryu Jinshi said, "Master, these species all live in a aland other than the spirit race islands. We did not go to their places. Shall we go back?"

Yang Dao thought about it and asked, "They do not cause any imbalance?"

Ryu jinshi said, "They are not that intelligent yet. So without intelligence their is no balance or imbalance. They only follow their instincts."

Yang Dao nodded and said, "Maybe we can back in the future."

Ryu Jinshi nodded with a smile and asked, "Would you not like to consolidate what you have gained?"

Yang Dao said, "I will do that back at the Dao island. It will take too much time here. Already been six days."

He was eager to go back home as a bad premonition was hitting him. Ryu Jinshi nodded and then he contacted Atsuji Kurogame with his spirit sense. Instantly the space crack appeared in front of them.

Yang dao said, "Sushi, hold Ryu tightly."

Sushi was shocked but then she saw, Ryu Jinshi taking the initiative. He placed his hand over their shoulders as they walked inside the space crack. Last time when he was returning from the space crack the boy had encountered a void beast.

This time he hoped nothing like that happens. The initial steps were all nice but suddenly a figure formed in front of Yang Dao. The people were forced to stop. However, before Ryu Jinshi could say anything, a few more figures formed around him. One of the void beasts had a contrasting outline and had red light for eyes.

It pointed his figure towards yang Dao and seemingly meant something but Yang Dao's instincts were crying loudly. He sighed and said, "Ryu, I can use other laws in the space cracks with greater strength?"

The azure dragon nodded and the next moment the figures started to wail. Yang Dao had used the law of death directly. These beasts were neither alive and neither were they dead. Thus, the laws were poison to them.

After a few seconds when the void beasts were dead the space crack turned into a wormhole and sucked the people towards themselves.