The Daoist sat on a bluestone platform wreathed in clouds and mist. His crimson Daoist robe blazed like fire, utterly at odds with the cool, ethereal aura of Kunlun Mountain, yet somehow strangely blending into it.
He had a round, smiling face and clear, bright eyes carrying a hint of carefree mischief. The enormous red gourd at his waist was even more eye-catching, emanating a heart-stirring heat and the fragrance of wine.
Li Su's bamboo body paused slightly. His divine sense swept over the man, only to find his aura as unfathomable as an abyssal sea. He could not discern its depths at all. At the very least, this man was a True Immortal—perhaps even higher!
Moreover, his aura was upright and peaceful, carrying a carefree Dao Rhythm. He was no demonic cultivator or heretic. Li Su did not dare be negligent and respectfully saluted. "This junior is Mo Xing. Greetings, Senior.
May I ask what guidance Senior has for me?"
"Guidance? Hehe, I wouldn't call it that." The red-robed Daoist waved with a grin and patted the bluestone beside him. "Come, come, sit and talk first.
I've been waiting here for quite some time and have been terribly bored. I found this bamboo of yours rather interesting, so I manifested myself specifically to keep you company."
Manifested? Li Su's heart stirred. Could it be that this was not his true body? He sat down beside him as instructed, his bamboo roots coiling beneath him, and cautiously asked, "May I ask how I should address Senior?"
"A name is merely a designation." The Daoist shook his head, untied the red gourd from his waist, and pulled out its stopper. A rich wine fragrance mixed with scorching spiritual energy instantly spread through the air, invigorating anyone who inhaled it.
"As for me, I have some connection to Kunlun Mountain. I usually enjoy wandering among its mountains and clouds, finding kindred souls to drink with and discuss the Dao. You may call me Fire Cloud Daoist."
Fire Cloud Daoist? Li Su searched his memories but could not find any corresponding title among the legends he knew. Still, since this man had ties to Kunlun and could manifest here at will, he was surely no ordinary figure.
"Come, have a taste of the Samadhi Fire Cloud Wine I brewed myself. It will greatly benefit that body of yours that absorbs Stellar Evil Energy!"
Fire Cloud Daoist did not stand on ceremony. He pointed at the gourd's mouth, and a stream of crimson wine, like liquid jade, flew into the air and hovered before Li Su, radiating scorching yet gentle energy.
Li Su could sense the immense spiritual power contained within the wine, along with a peculiar essence of Samadhi True Fire. It would indeed be immensely beneficial for tempering his bamboo body and purifying his Stellar Evil Energy.
Yet he did not accept it immediately. He merely said, "This junior and Senior have never met before. How could I dare accept such a generous gift?"
"Tsk, you bamboo. You're young, yet quite cautious."
Fire Cloud Daoist did not force the matter. He took a large gulp himself, exhaled a breath of hot air carrying sparks, and laughed. "Relax. If I wanted to harm you, I could press you back into your original bamboo form with one finger. Why would I need poison?"
Though blunt, his words made sense.
Li Su no longer stood on ceremony. A bamboo branch lightly tapped, drawing the glob of Fire Cloud Wine into one of his bamboo joints.
The wine entered his body and immediately transformed into a warm current. It did not burn him; instead, it nourished every minute part of his bamboo body like warm sunlight, purifying his power and even bringing a sense of comfort to his divine sense.
[Absorbed the essence of Samadhi Fire Cloud Wine. Physical body strength slightly increased, Stellar Evil Energy purification increased, fire resistance increased.]
It truly was good stuff! Li Su sincerely said, "Thank you for your generous gift, Senior."
"Hehe, it's nothing." Fire Cloud Daoist waved his hand and studied Li Su with great interest.
"Say, Mo Xing, along your journey, you've devoured souls, drawn down starlight, fiddled with arrays, and even picked up some of the old stone scent of 'Buzhou' along with the Western Sect's protective intent. Your path is quite wild, isn't it?
Aren't you afraid of becoming scattered and unfocused, of taking the wrong road?"
Li Su's heart tightened. This man's insight was sharp enough to see through nearly all his secrets.
He said gravely, "All methods return to one source. In seeking survival within this Primordial World, this junior merely draws whatever nourishment he can reach, tempers himself, holds fast to his original heart, and feels his way forward."
"All methods return to one source—well said!" Fire Cloud Daoist's eyes lit up. "But where is that source? And what exactly is your original heart?"
Before Li Su could answer, he suddenly tossed the red gourd in his hand into the air!
The gourd spun rapidly and instantly expanded. Its mouth aimed at Li Su, and a terrifying suction force abruptly erupted!
This suction was not aimed at his physical body. It directly targeted his mana, divine sense, and even his comprehension of the Dao!
Li Su felt all the powers he had cultivated—Soul-Devouring Evil Energy, starlight power, array insights, Bedrock Rune intent, Guardian Dao Rhythm—stirring restlessly beneath the pull, nearly tearing free of his body to be sucked into the gourd!
The various powers clashed and surged against one another, causing his bamboo body to shudder violently and flicker chaotically. His cultivation became unstable, and even his Dao foundation showed signs of wavering!
This seemingly playful act was in fact extraordinarily perilous!
Li Su instantly understood. This was a test of his "Dao"! A test of whether he could truly achieve "all methods returning to one source," rather than merely haphazardly piecing things together!
He forcefully steadied his mind. Ignoring the terrifying suction, the Dao Rhythm of the Bedrock Rune lit up across his bamboo body first, anchoring his unstable foundation. The Guardian Dao Rhythm circulated, protecting his spiritual platform from being lost.
Then his divine sense spun madly. Taking the Minor Chiliad Array Analysis as its guiding framework and his own unyielding will as its core, he forcibly sorted through and harmonized the many powers within him!
Soul-devouring power settled into his roots, starlight power circulated through his bamboo body, array runes gleamed upon his bamboo leaves, and Bedrock intent protected his core. Though these powers possessed vastly different traits,
at this moment, they were forcibly integrated by his powerful will and array framework, forming a temporary whole that was imperfect yet stable, resisting the gourd's suction together!
"Oh? Interesting!" Seeing this, Fire Cloud Daoist not only did not stop, but his interest deepened as his fingers secretly formed a hand seal.
The gourd's suction intensified again! At the same time, three-colored flames spewed from its mouth—spirit, essence, and qi—the Samadhi True Fire!
The flames did not burn his body. Instead, they directly tempered Li Su's forcibly unified power system, seeking to refine away its impurities and disharmonies!
Pain! It felt as though his entire "Dao" was being scorched and hammered!
Li Su gritted his teeth, his divine sense taut, and pushed the Array Heart Clarity divine ability to its limit. He continuously adjusted the balance and fusion of his powers, like a master craftsman forging his own "Dao" within the blazing flames.
The essence of the Fire Cloud Wine he had absorbed earlier also came into play now, helping him better endure the tempering of the Samadhi True Fire.
No one knew how long passed. Just as Li Su felt he was about to reach his limit, the gourd's suction suddenly vanished, and the Samadhi True Fire withdrew into the gourd.
The red-robed Daoist retrieved the gourd and burst into laughter. "Wonderful! Wonderful!
Though immature, forcibly pieced together, and riddled with flaws, it has at least taken shape. Your foundation was not damaged; instead, it has become somewhat more condensed! Not bad, not bad!"
The light around Li Su's bamboo body gradually calmed. After that bout of "torment," he found that although the total amount of power within him had not increased, it had become purer. The connections between his powers had also grown slightly closer, and his control over them had become more natural.
He let out a long breath, knowing he had gained a benefit, and saluted again. "Thank you for perfecting me, Senior!"
"Perfecting you? Hardly. I simply found you pleasing and lent a hand." Fire Cloud Daoist resumed his joking manner. "But boy, your path will not be easy.
There is nothing wrong with integrating myriad methods, but you must find that true 'one' before you can command the 'many.' Otherwise, it will all be a castle in the air.
Your Bedrock intent and your desire to protect may serve as the foundation that anchors that 'one.' Think on it carefully."
He rose to his feet and dusted off his rear. "All right, the wine has been drunk and the Dao has been discussed. This Daoist shall be off!
The road ahead is long, boy. Take care of yourself! Perhaps one day, we may meet again before Master! Hahaha!"
Before his laughter faded, the red-robed Daoist's figure dissipated like clouds and smoke, as though he had never appeared.
Li Su stood where he was, reflecting on everything that had just happened and Fire Cloud Daoist's words. He had gained immensely.
That "true one" plunged him into deep thought.
After resting for a while, he continued up the steps. Following Fire Cloud Daoist's "trial," he felt that the pressure ahead had lessened considerably.
After walking farther, the clouds and mist ahead dispersed once more, revealing a small stone pavilion.
A cold, stern young man in a moon-white Daoist robe sat within the pavilion. He was none other than the disciple of Yu Ding Zhenren whom Li Su had met once before—Yang Jian!
Yang Jian's gaze was sharp as lightning as he looked at Li Su and coldly said, "Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, my master requests your presence."
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