Discussing the Dao—Brother Hongyun Understands Me

The various Great Powers who had been about to leave could not help but change their minds.

Thinking it over carefully, there was truth to Hong Yun's words. If one could increase one's cultivation simply by secluded meditation, why would everyone have gone to listen to Hongjun expound the Dao?

The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances. Then Laozi nodded slightly toward Hong Yun. "You speak reasonably, Daoist friend. In that case, this poor Daoist and my two brothers will trouble you!"

"That's wonderful! Nuwa has been wanting to ask Daoist Brother about the Path of Creation!"

Before Fuxi could speak, Nuwa had already agreed.

Fuxi gave his sister a strange look. She had never been so proactive before.

Nuwa's ears turned slightly red, and she glared back at Fuxi.

In the end, everyone's gaze converged on the brothers Di Jun and Tai Yi.

Di Jun smiled. "For such a grand occasion, my brother and I naturally won't miss it."

"Good! Please, everyone!"

Hong Yun made an inviting gesture, then led everyone back to the loft where they had received guests and tasted tea earlier.

After everyone returned to the loft.

Besides the Enlightenment Tea, Hong Yun also brought out a batch of spirit wine he had brewed for many years, as well as the spiritual essences he had obtained by exploiting the system's rewards, to entertain everyone.

When the Twelve Ancestral Witches saw them, each one became like a cat that had caught the scent of fish, astonishing everyone.

When Hong Yun opened the clay seal on the wine jar, its rich fragrance immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Come, Daoist friends, have a taste. This poor Daoist has named it 'wine.' Its effects may not compare to the Enlightenment Tea, but it has a flavor all its own."

Hong Yun took out jade bowls, poured the wine into them, and distributed them among the others.

As for the Ancestor Witches, aside from Xuan Ming and Houtu, who used jade bowls because outsiders were present, the rest simply hugged the jars and drank heartily.

"Ah, now that is wine! What a fiery taste!"

Tongtian was the most curious. He lifted his bowl and downed it in one gulp, only to flush bright red from the spiciness and nearly make a fool of himself.

Only after using his mana to dispel the alcohol did the redness on his face slowly fade.

Seeing this, the others did not dare swallow it in one gulp like Tongtian, but instead sipped it carefully.

"This stuff is excellent. It's quite domineering and suits my taste!"

After taking a sip, a glint flashed through Tai Yi's eyes, and he could not help praising it.

Seeing his brewed wine receive such praise, Hong Yun felt honored as well. He casually said, "If you like it, once our discussion of the Dao is over, this poor Daoist will give each of you a hundred jars. You can take them home and savor them properly."

"Really? Then this poor Daoist will accept them gratefully!"

As if afraid Hong Yun might change his mind, Tongtian quickly agreed, provoking a burst of laughter from everyone.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Nuwa's throat burned after she took a sip, and she could not help coughing several times.

When she noticed everyone's eyes turning toward her, her stunningly beautiful face was covered in a blush. No one could tell whether it came from the spiciness or her embarrassment.

Hong Yun immediately realized what had happened and said apologetically, "This poor Daoist was careless!"

"Daoist friend Nuwa probably isn't accustomed to strong liquor. This poor Daoist also has some other fruit wine. Daoist friend Nuwa and the rest of you can try it as well."

As Hong Yun spoke, he brought out another jar of fruit wine and used his mana to pour it for everyone.

"Thank you, Daoist Brother Hong Yun!"

Nuwa did not use her mana to dispel the alcohol like Tongtian had. Her peach-blossom-like face looked exceptionally radiant.

If they had been somewhere else, Hong Yun would certainly have taken the time to admire her properly.

After three rounds of wine, once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the discussion of the Dao officially began.

However, when it came to who would be the first to expound upon their Dao, perhaps because they were afraid of embarrassing themselves, the various Great Powers began deferring to one another. Even straightforward people like Tai Yi and Tongtian fell silent.

"Why must all of you be so modest, Daoist friends? Enough! Enough! This poor Daoist will be the one to cast out a brick and attract jade!"

Seeing this, Hong Yun, as the host, had no choice but to step forward.

"This poor Daoist's Dao lies in clouds. The Great Dao of Clouds is formless and shapeless, changing in countless ways. When it encounters wind, it transforms into rain..."

Thanks to the system, Hong Yun had dabbled in all three thousand Great Daos. However, the one he had comprehended most deeply was naturally the Way of Clouds, and the one he was most skilled in was the Law of Clouds.

Laws were the foundation of the Dao, while the Dao was the derivation of laws.

As Hong Yun expounded, everyone listened intently. Whenever they encountered something puzzling, they would ask Hong Yun for guidance.

Though their Daos were different, one could use the stones of other mountains to polish one's jade. For a time, everyone benefited greatly.

This lecture lasted a thousand years.

"That concludes this poor Daoist's understanding of the Way of Clouds. I hope it can offer all of you some inspiration."

After Hong Yun finished speaking, he drank some tea to moisten his throat. The others, however, wore complicated expressions. Some were astonished, some confused, and most of them impressed.

It was all because Hong Yun's explanation of the Great Dao of Clouds had been too detailed. It could even be said that he had held nothing back.

Yet when he reached the depths of the subject, it became abstruse and difficult to understand. Even with the cultivation of Mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortals, none of them could fully comprehend it.

"Daoist friend Hong Yun, forgive me for asking, but what is your cultivation level now?"

At Tongtian's question, the other Great Powers pricked up their ears.

Hong Yun set down his teacup and gazed through the window at the firmament. After a long while, an embarrassed look appeared on his face.

"It is embarrassing to say, but after cultivating for so many years, this poor Daoist has only just reached Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Perfection. I truly have failed the tireless teachings of Saint Hongjun."

Upon hearing this, everyone's minds were shaken.

Hong Yun's explanation had just shown them that his cultivation was very high, but they had never expected it to be this high!

The Three Pure Ones wore complicated expressions. They prided themselves on being Pangu's True Lineage, with talents no weaker than anyone else's, yet after the incident with Hongjun, they had suffered another severe blow at Hong Yun's hands.

Nuwa and Fuxi looked impressed, both by Hong Yun's cultivation and by his moral character.

Di Jun fell into deep thought, seemingly pondering something, while Tai Yi stared at Hong Yun with Fighting Spirit blazing in his eyes.

The Ancestor Witches rolled their eyes in unison. Brother Hongyun was good in every way, except that he loved putting on airs a little too much.

"I've learned it! I've learned it!"

Dijiang's eyes glowed. He wished he could record every word and action of Brother Hongyun in Great Dao characters.

"All right, this poor Daoist has finished. Which Daoist friend will be next?"

Hong Yun was quite satisfied with everyone's reactions.

This was even after he had held something back. If he had expounded upon his insights into the realm of Primordial Golden Immortal, these people's Dao hearts would probably have become unstable.

Alas, who could blame him? He was the most benevolent person in the Primordial Wilderness!

"Daoist friend's Way of Clouds has benefited this poor Daoist greatly. Next, this poor Daoist will explain to everyone what the Way of Non-Action is. The Way of Non-Action lies in..."

After Hong Yun finished, Laozi stepped forward without yielding to anyone.

The others had no objections. As a Pangu Descendant and the leader of the Three Pure Ones, Laozi deserved everyone's respect.

This lecture lasted another thousand years!

After Laozi finished, everyone was still savoring and contemplating his words.

Laozi, however, noticed that Hong Yun wore a calm and carefree expression, as though he had been completely indifferent to the Dao Laozi had expounded. He immediately felt displeased.

He furrowed his brows slightly and asked Hong Yun, "Daoist friend Hong Yun, may I ask what insight you have into this poor Daoist's Way of Non-Action?"

Laozi's words caused everyone to look over. Hong Yun, meanwhile, was completely dumbfounded.

He had been checking the System Reward just now!

That was right. Even while everyone was discussing the Dao, he had not forgotten to exploit the system. Who would have thought Laozi would catch him in the act?

Hong Yun was not flustered, however. In the Primordial Wilderness, no one understood the Way of Non-Action better than he did.

Not even Laozi!

One had to know that the Great Dao Insight Fragments Hong Yun had obtained from Laozi did not only belong to the present. Some also belonged to the future Laozi.

If the Way of Non-Action had not been incompatible with Hong Yun, Laozi would probably have needed to ask Hong Yun's permission before proving the Dao in the future.

"Daoist friend's Way of Non-Action is truly exquisite. This poor Daoist has indeed gained some insight!"

Hong Yun pretended to look enlightened, making Laozi somewhat suspicious.

Could this poor Daoist have wrongly blamed him?

Just as Laozi was about to speak, he heard Hong Yun continue, "Thanks to Daoist friend's Way of Non-Action, this poor Daoist has comprehended a sentence: 'Supreme Goodness is like Water; water benefits all things without contending.' I wonder what Daoist friend thinks of it?"

Boom!

Laozi, who had been displeased and suspicious, was instantly struck as if by a bolt of lightning.

His eyes lost focus as he muttered, "Supreme Goodness is like Water; water benefits all things without contending! Supreme Goodness is like Water... Supreme Goodness is like Water..."

Laozi repeated Hong Yun's words without pause, and countless insights unexpectedly arose in his heart.

"Elder Brother! Elder Brother!"

Only when Primordial's calls reached his ears did Laozi finally come to his senses as if waking from a dream.

He gazed at the still calm and carefree Hong Yun with an extremely complicated look. There was only one thought in his heart.

"Brother Hongyun understands me!"