The slight unpleasantness did not affect the Nine Great Dao Children's enthusiasm for conversation. They discussed mysteries and debated the Dao, exchanging cultivation experiences, and all gained greatly.
The Azure Wood Dao Child excelled in wood-element spells and techniques, the Myriad Beast Immortal Sect Dao Child in raising, nurturing, and controlling spirit beasts, the Shangqing Lingbao Sect Dao Child in artifact refinement... All of this filled Jiang Ding with admiration, and he learned many things.
Over more than ten days, the Dao Discussion Meeting proceeded in full swing.
"Jiang Ding Zi,"
During the banquet, the Azure Wood Dao Child Ji Liuyue asked a question.
"Do you believe there is truth in the saying that eternal life and vision are paramount, the Great Dao is singular, and everything else may be cast aside?"
"There is, but it is incomplete."
After a moment's thought, Jiang Ding said, "Longevity is important, but the 'True Self' is equally important."
"The True Self is a cultivator's ideals, convictions, and emotions. That is what distinguishes people from dead things."
"Like that stone."
Jiang Ding pointed to a meteor flying past beyond the immortal garden. "It has existed since time immemorial and will continue to exist. It may turn into dust, turn into soil, change its form, but it still exists. Is that not longevity?"
"Yet what benefit is there in the longevity of such a dead thing?"
His words moved the other Dao Children. Deeply stirred, they fell into thought.
"That makes sense."
The usually taciturn Myriad Beast Dao Child Liu Kuang agreed strongly. "The ascension of dead things is not what cultivators like us seek. Severing all emotions and desires, Extreme Detachment—this is not the righteous path."
"Not so."
"You two are too extreme. You have imagined an absolutely extreme scenario."
The Xuanwu Dao Child