Meditation Cushion Hides Xuan, Great Dao Is Simple

The resonance between the meditation cushion and the compass grew increasingly apparent. Li Wuyang felt the meditation cushion beneath him was no longer just providing a cool aura, but was beginning to vibrate at an extremely subtle frequency, as if transmitting a unique rhythm.

Even stranger, the bronze compass in his embrace, its needle originally pointing ambiguously, began to slowly turn, finally settling on an incredibly tiny scale at the center of the compass that Li Wuyang had never noticed before. That scale had no text, only a simple symbol representing "one."

At the same time, the Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice (Dao Rhyme) as he lectured, entering Li Wuyang's ears, began to change.

Those complex Dao truths and golden runes, which made him dizzy, seemed to be filtered through an invisible sieve, simplified, stripped of all their ornate exteriors, leaving only the most core, most essential... patterns.

No longer specific spiritual power techniques, no longer profound law expositions, but a pure sense of rhythm regarding "operation." Like the rhythm of breathing, the rhythm of a heartbeat, the rhythm of celestial bodies in motion, the rhythm of the changing seasons...

"The Dao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things..." This originally profound sentence, in Li Wuyang's perception at this moment, was no longer philosophical speculation, but had become a clear "growth" rhythm, like a seed breaking through the soil, like a cell dividing.

He still couldn't understand the specific "Dao," but he began to "feel" the most fundamental rhythm of "motion" and "stillness," "birth" and "death."

This feeling acted directly on the depths of his soul, generating a low-frequency resonance with the Primordial Great Dao Imprint in his sea of consciousness. The Great Dao Imprint, like a slumbering giant, was gently tapped by this simple rhythm, and the purple aura that flowed out became softer and more vibrant.

Li Wuyang involuntarily closed his eyes, no longer "listening," but "feeling." He forgot he was in Zixiao Palace, forgot the three thousand great beings around him, and even forgot the existence of the Dao Ancestor. His mind completely sank into that wondrous rhythm, rising and falling, flowing with it.

His breathing, unknowingly, adjusted to synchronize with the rhythm. The speed at which the Golden Core in his dantian rotated also matched the rhythm. Even the Huang Ting Jing cultivation technique he practiced began to operate spontaneously and more smoothly, driven by this rhythm.

He did not comprehend any specific spells or principles, but he felt his "foundation" was being cleansed and solidified by the purest power. It was a most fundamental closeness to and experience of the "Dao."

In this state, time lost all meaning.

After an unknown amount of time, perhaps an instant, perhaps a thousand years.

The Dao Ancestor's voice abruptly ceased.

In Zixiao Palace, the golden lotuses dissipated, and the runes vanished. The great beings gradually awoke from their deep states of enlightenment, each face beaming with the joy of harvest or the depth of contemplation. The Three Pure Ones were surrounded by swirling clear qi, Nuwa's eyes flowed with creation, and Jieyin and Zhunti showed compassionate expressions... Clearly, all had benefited greatly.

Li Wuyang also slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was much clearer, with less impulsiveness and more tranquility. He looked inward; his cultivation had not significantly increased, but his Golden Core was more rounded and translucent, his True Qi was several times purer and more condensed, and his divine sense perception had become more acute and delicate.

An indescribable sense of "steadfastness" filled his entire body.

"It feels like... I didn't understand, but also like I understood something?" Li Wuyang scratched his head, feeling it was very peculiar. He looked at the meditation cushion beneath him, which had returned to its calm state, and then touched the compass in his embrace. He understood that the credit for this unique experience was mostly due to these two items.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun's gaze swept over everyone again, and he said plainly, "This lecture has lasted for three thousand years and concludes now."

Three thousand years?! Li Wuyang was startled; it felt like only a short while had passed! Truly, "days in the mountains are like years in the world!"

Hongjun continued, "You all have your own destinies. Ponder them well. The next lecture will be scheduled at a later date. Disperse."

With that, his figure slowly dissipated on the cloud bed.

The palace doors reopened.

The three thousand guests of the mortal world rose one after another. Some eagerly left to go into seclusion to digest their gains; others began discussing and debating their insights in small groups.

Li Wuyang also followed the crowd out of Zixiao Palace and stood in the plaza, gazing at the vast sea of clouds, his heart filled with emotion. Although he hadn't comprehended earth-shattering spiritual powers like the other great beings during this lecture, that unique feeling of the Great Dao's origin had undoubtedly laid an incredibly solid foundation for his future cultivation path.

Just then, a gentle voice sounded beside him, "Young friend, please wait a moment."

Li Wuyang turned his head and his heart skipped a beat.

The one who called out to him was none other than the one seated on the foremost purple meditation cushion, the future leader of the Six Sages—Taishang Laozu!