"Imperial Dao was not merely the path of conquest through force. Winning people over with one's heart, winning them over with virtue—this was the Imperial Dao of benevolence and virtue!"
"However, you must beware the pitfalls of benevolence and virtue. Benevolence was not tolerance, much less indulgence. The majesty of the Imperial Dao must not be violated!"
"The Imperial Dao of benevolence and virtue... govern the nation with benevolence, put the people first, yet upon the foundation of benevolence, there must be the majesty of the Imperial Dao. Those who defy it must not be indulged..."
Watching those star systems gradually unified through war, with the young Li Huaiyi at their center becoming their spiritual leader, Li Tianming sank into thought.
He recalled when he had first arrived in the Li Clan Star System and taken the Heavenly Emperor Sect's Ascending Heaven Gate assessment, when Pan Yan's subordinates had rebelled.
"This should count as an example of the pitfalls of the path of benevolence and virtue," Li Tianming muttered.
Then he thought of Li Batian's Overlord Dao.
"The Overlord Dao and the Dao of benevolence and virtue stand almost at two opposing extremes. Yet between them, they complement one another; both have methods worth learning from..."
"These two Great Daos each have their own doctrines, but they also have their own bottom lines."
"One was absolute suppression and conquest, yet its bottom line was strength without tyrannical rule."
"The other governed through benevolence and virtue to become a spiritual leader, yet its bottom line was not indulging those who defied it."
Li Tianming comprehended for thirty years before finally fusing these two Daos together perfectly.
When his thoughts completely settled, the world before him shattered like a mirror, and Li Tianming returned to the tower core world.
"He actually