Initial Enlightenment of I Ching, Resonance of Literary Qi

Xuanjizi shared and discussed his insights into the "Birth and Death of Order" and "Understanding Rather Than Confronting," along with Yun Su's example of "Turning Annihilation to One's Own Use," with all the core disciples and even some outstanding registered disciples at the Hall of Discussing the Dao.

At first, many disciples still felt lost; after all, the essence of the Aura of Annihilation was too ethereal and intangible, transcending their existing scope of cognition.

However, Xuanjizi did not lose heart. Combining the characteristics of his own "Seeking" Literary Heart, he deduced day and night, attempting to find a solid theoretical fulcrum for this vague direction.

He repeatedly studied the ancient Jade Slips in the Scripture Repository that had been manifested by Wanhua, which involved the Creation of Heaven and Earth, the Evolution of Yin and Yang, and the principles of the Birth and Death of All Things.

Especially those vague records describing how the world was born from chaos into order, and then cycled from order toward the Return to Void.

"Chaos gives birth to Taiji, Taiji divides into the Two Modes, the Two Modes transform into the Four Symbols... Endless Vitality, cycling back and forth..." Xuanjizi muttered to himself in the Stillness Chamber.

The "Platform of Seeking" Literary Palace within his Sea of Consciousness shone brilliantly, and countless principle Runes flickered like stars, being born and dying in turn.

"Annihilation... Return to Void... This is one end of the cycle, like the alternation of day and night, the cycle of the four seasons; it is not an absolute end, but... the beginning of another form?"

He felt as if he had touched a key threshold, yet he remained separated by a thin veil, unable to truly break through.

The Aura of Annihilation continued to permeate, the dimming of the Academy's Literary Radiance and the stagnation of the disciples' cultivation persisted, and the longer it dragged on, the greater the potential damage to the foundation of the Academy.

Just as Xuanjizi was exhausted and on the verge of despair, Wanhua's voice sounded like the light of a lighthouse piercing through layers of fog.

It rang quietly in his mind, not as a specific technique, but as a maxim containing supreme wisdom:

"Know the male, keep to the female, be the ravine of the world. Being the ravine of the world, constant virtue will not depart, returning to the state of an infant.

Know the white, keep to the black, be the model of the world. Being the model of the world, constant virtue will not fail, returning to the infinite."

This passage exploded in Xuanjizi's Sea of Consciousness like a thunderclap! He was instantly struck by a flash of inspiration!

"Know the male, keep to the female... Know the white, keep to the black... It is not retreating, but... accommodating!

It is understanding the opposite and using it as a paradigm for one's own existence!

Returning to the infant... returning to the infinite... It is returning to the source, returning to the initial state that contains infinite possibilities!"

"I understand!" Xuanjizi opened his eyes abruptly, a brilliant light erupting from them that had never been seen before. "Annihilation is not an enemy; it is the link in the principle of 'Change' where 'Stripping' ends and 'Return' begins!

It is an indispensable part of the operation of all things! My Literary Dao pursues order and existence, but true eternal order is not rigid and unchanging.

It is the Unchanging Change that can accommodate, understand, and even master 'change' and 'ending,' while maintaining its own core!"

Boom!

With this realization, the "Platform of Seeking" Literary Palace in his Sea of Consciousness underwent a earth-shattering change!

Originally standing at the pinnacle, symbolizing persistent exploration, it now began to evolve into a pattern of Yin and Yang flowing.

Beneath the base of the platform, a vortex of the Return to Void seemed to be hidden, while above the platform, the clear Qi of the infinite rose! His Literary Heart, within "Seeking," had integrated the artistic conception of "Mastery of Change"!

A brand-new, more inclusive, and more profound Literary Qi erupted from his body!

This Literary Qi was no longer just upright and peaceful; it carried a nimble implication of insight into change and constant circulation!

Literary Radiance revived, wonderful methods first appeared.

Xuanjizi could not wait to walk out of the Stillness Chamber and come to the center of the Academy square.

He did not perform any powerful supernatural abilities; he simply stood there calmly, drawing the Literary Qi containing the realm of "Unchanging Change" within his body, and slowly spread it outward.

A miraculous thing happened!

The Aura of Annihilation, which was formless and intangible, constantly eroding the Literary Radiance Dao Charm in the air, upon coming into contact with this new Literary Qi of Xuanjizi.

Instead of causing the Literary Qi to disintegrate as before, it was like a stream flowing into the sea, quietly "accommodated" and "channeled" away by the Literary Qi that embraced change!

Although it could not be immediately dispersed or purified, a relatively "clean" space was successfully carved out within the area it covered!

The Literary Radiance Dao Charm within this space restored its former nimbleness and vitality!

"Success! Senior Brother Xuanjizi succeeded!" some disciples exclaimed, feeling the long-lost smooth cultivation experience, and were incredibly excited.

Xuanjizi did not stop; he tried to integrate this artistic conception into specific supernatural abilities.

He pointed his fingers like a brush, writing in the air. This time, it was not the sharpness of the "Evil-Slaying Brushstroke."

Nor was it the effect of a single character, but a flowing "Yi" (Change) Rune that seemed to contain the changes of Yin and Yang!

As soon as this "Yi" Rune appeared, it actively attracted the surrounding Aura of Annihilation, and the Rune itself balanced and flowed subtly between "Order" and "Void."

It actually "fixed" the Aura of Annihilation in that small area for the time being, greatly slowing down its erosive power!

"This method can be called--Yi Li Ding Ji!" Xuanjizi announced loudly, his voice full of exhaustion but even more exhilarated.

He immediately passed on the "Unchanging Change" realm he had comprehended and the preliminary method of "Yi Li Ding Ji" to Elder Teng, Yun Xi, Jin Li, Mingxin, and other core disciples without reservation.

Elder Teng, combining this principle with his "Benevolent Resilience" Literary Heart, comprehended the meaning of "Endless Vitality, Cycle of Wither and Flourish," and his Literary Qi's ability to nourish the vitality of plants greatly increased.

He could even accelerate the rejuvenation of plants eroded by annihilation.

Yun Xi's Guardian light integrated the artistic conception of "Interdependence of Void and Reality," making the light shield more resilient and significantly enhancing its resistance to the Aura of Annihilation.

Jin Li's ferocity gained a bit more "resilience and transformation," and Mingxin's Light of Wisdom could better see the "opportunity of change"...

The core disciples each had their own realizations, and although they could not "fix annihilation" like Xuanjizi, they could better protect themselves and slow down the erosion of the Aura of Annihilation based on their new understanding.

Xuanjizi led the core disciples to key nodes of the Academy--such as the Scripture Repository, the Hall of Preaching, the Spirit Vein Hub, and other places.

By taking turns casting Yi Li Ding Ji or using its conceptual realm to provide protection, they drove solid piles into the murky torrent, initially stabilizing the academy's defensive line.

The dim Literary Qi shrouding the academy began to brighten bit by bit, using these "piles" as its core!

Although it was far from returning to its peak, the despair-inducing, continuous decline had been successfully halted!

The Dragon Palace was terrified, having blundered into a self-defeating trap.

Deep within the Dragon Palace, Turtle Prime Minister, who had been vaguely sensing the movements of the Aura of Annihilation through secret arts, was the first to notice the anomaly.

"This isn't right... the erosion of the Aura of Annihilation within the Myriad Dao Academy's perimeter... has slowed down?"

"It is even... being repelled at certain nodes?" Turtle Prime Minister's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with disbelief. "How is this possible?"

"That is power originating from the Sea of Annihilation! An existence that even the Ancestral Dragon feared! How could they... how could they possibly resist it?!"

He reported this shocking discovery to Ao Guang. Upon hearing the news, the Dragon King, whose dragon body was already severely damaged from invoking the Aura of Annihilation, shook violently once more.

For the first time, his dragon eyes revealed a fear deeper than what he had felt when facing Sage Wanhua—it was a fear of the unknown, of things that exceeded the scope of his understanding!

"They... not only blocked it... but are adapting? And even... utilizing it?"

Ao Guang's voice trembled. "What kind of monster have we unleashed? And what kind of opponent have we... provoked?!"

He had originally thought the Aura of Annihilation was his final trump card for mutual destruction, but he had never imagined this.

Not only did the opponent not collapse in despair, but they had instead used this ultimate power as a Whetstone to temper an even more terrifying ability!

A massive sense of regret and panic, like a venomous snake, gnawed at every core member of the Dragon Clan involved in this affair, realizing they had blundered.

They realized that they might not be destroying their opponent, but rather helping them complete a terrifying transformation!

Within the Myriad Dao Academy, the crisis had not been completely resolved.

Xuanjizi's Yi Li Ding Ji could only temporarily stabilize the situation and open up a Safe Point, but it could not eradicate the pervasive Aura of Annihilation.

Moreover, this method consumed a massive amount of the caster's mental energy and Literary Qi, making it impossible to maintain for long.

However, this was undoubtedly the first ray of light in the darkness, a great breakthrough in a desperate situation. It proved that the Confucian Dao possessed the potential and resilience to deal with unknown and ultimate threats.

After this battle, Xuanjizi's prestige in the academy reached an unprecedented height; he was not only the First Disciple but a pioneer who led the way and blazed a new trail during a time of crisis.

All the disciples realized that the breadth and depth of the Confucian Dao went far beyond what they had currently learned, with endless mysteries still waiting to be explored.

In the Chaos Space, Wanhua sensed the growth of his disciples and the initial stabilization of the academy, nodding slightly.

The purpose of the tempering had been partially achieved. However, he also knew that the root of the Aura of Annihilation brought by the Dragon Palace remained, and the hidden danger had not been eliminated.

Furthermore, the "Yi" principle newly comprehended by the disciples was merely a beginning; how to deepen it, systematize it, and ultimately resolve the source of the Aura of Annihilation was the true challenge that lay ahead.

The undercurrents of the Primordial Era did not subside because of the academy's initial stabilization; instead, they became even more turbulent and unpredictable due to the Dragon Palace's panic and the astonishing potential displayed by the academy.

The true storm was perhaps only just beginning to gather its strength.