The chaotic clouds churning within the island seemed to undergo a subtle change in their flow the instant the three figures descended.
The lingering coldness, alienation, and heavy, ominous aftereffects of Candle Dragon's departure vanished as if washed away by an invisible spring.
The churning clouds became more lively and dynamic, with wisps of auspicious purple light naturally emerging and intertwining from the depths of chaos, faintly revealing the phantoms of birds, beasts, insects, fish, mountains, rivers, and plants, full of vigorous Daoist vitality, completely different from the silent and cold atmosphere when facing the Candle Dragon earlier.
A gentle atmosphere, imbued with a sense of "teachability," silently spread.
"Good."
A clear and peaceful syllable, like the gentle ringing of a jade chime, resonated directly at the very core of the Dao hearts of the three future Dao Venerable, with unparalleled clarity.
It lacks the warmth of everyday life, yet possesses a strange power to soothe restlessness and draw people in.
The barrier of Hunyuan Dao Charm that separated the inside from the outside, like thin ice under the warm spring sun, silently melted away, revealing a harmonious gateway.
Beyond the gate lay not the magnificent palace one might have imagined, but a winding path, submerged in vibrant, chaotic clouds imbued with the patterns of the Great Dao, leading directly to the central, suspended azure stone platform.
"When the time is right, come inside and we'll talk."
The voice was calm, yet it possessed an undeniable power to Jieyin.
The Three Pure Ones were slightly shaken. They exchanged glances and saw the barely suppressed excitement and solemnity in each other's eyes.
Calming his mind and suppressing the excitement and curiosity of arriving at the sacred Dao Field for the first time, he took steady and reverent steps and stepped onto the misty path.
The Daoist energy flowed through their bodies like a clear spring, cleansing away the slight restlessness and sluggishness in their power circulation that remained after their breakthrough.
With each step, it felt as if I were stepping on some mysterious Daoist node, and my mind involuntarily became clearer and more serene.
On the cyan stone platform, Qing Huan's figure appeared even more transcendent amidst the swirling Chaos Qi.
They did not display any majestic appearance, but simply sat cross-legged, yet they seemed to be the core of the entire Daoist flow, the unmoving axis of heaven and earth. The Three Pure Ones stood below the stone platform and bowed respectfully again, like three blue lotuses absorbing the rain and dew of the Great Dao.
Laozi Tzu, with the most serene posture, looked up at the Qing Huan, his gaze clear, filled with a yearning for the fundamental truth:
"The Sage is merciful. We are fortunate to have glimpsed a corner of the origin of the Great Dao and attained this body thanks to the blessings of our Father God Pangu. However, after 'attaining the Dao,' the road ahead is vast and uncertain, seemingly with countless detours and a state of chaos."
May I ask the Sage, now that this body has attained enlightenment, where will the Dao go? And where is the supreme method to ultimately Hunyuan Limitless Great Dao?
The question gets straight to the heart of the matter and concerns the ultimate goal.
Yuanshi then spoke, his voice carrying an instinctive pursuit of order and law, his brows revealing a hint of caution regarding his own path:
"The Great Dao is formless, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth, governs the sun and moon, and nurtures all things; this is the Dao of Heaven."
I observe that the workings of heaven and earth, the waxing and waning of yin and yang, have their own constant and unchanging principles.
"Through our cultivation, we comprehend profound mysteries, establish principles and laws, and thereby harmonize Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Is this not the true path to align with the Heavenly Dao and reach the Primordial Chaos?"
He focuses on pathways and methods, a combination of "technique" and "principle".
Tongtian's sword aura was the sharpest and most direct, subtly resonating with the omnipresent vitality and Daoist rhythm within the Dao Field.
"The Heavenly Dao is lofty and profound, mysterious beyond measure. Yet, I observe that among the creatures of the Primordial Wilderness, many are ignorant, sinking into the sea of suffering, struggling in the cycle of reincarnation."
Even if a living being occasionally inspired, it is like a candle flickering in the wind, unlikely to achieve great things.
Now that we have entered the inner sanctum and wield the immense power to Heaven-Opening, should we not use this power to educate and enlighten, to awaken the ignorant and guide all beings? Is this very act of 'education' the indispensable torrent of Merit for our attainment of the Dao and the primordial unity?
The problem is full of action and reflection on the use of power, with the core being the word "education" and carrying a strong practical tendency.
The Three Pure Ones' questions, each with its own unique character, represent three fundamental aspirations of seekers of the Dao: the ultimate confirmation of their goal (Laozi), the rational selection of their path (Yuan Shi), and the connection between the practical application of power and external Merit (Tongtian).
Their gazes were intense, like three searchlights embodying all their enlightenment, focused on the Qing Huan Sage, holding their breath as they awaited the sacred pronouncement that might determine their future paths for countless eons.
On the stone platform, the Qing Huan Sage lowered his gaze, as if simultaneously watching the three seekers of the Dao, or as if penetrating them to see a more magnificent vision.
Instead of directly answering anyone's specific question, he raised his hand and casually tapped a slender finger lightly in the Chaos Qi in front of him.
This happened silently.
However, the entire Yingzhou Dao Field underwent a dramatic change!
The chaotic sea of clouds surrounding the stone platform suddenly churned and intensified, with endless Daoist spiritual light frantically converging, condensing, and evolving! In an instant, an indescribably magnificent purple palace phantom rose from the chaotic sea of clouds!
It is not a physical entity, but is entirely formed by the purest laws of the Great Dao and the Xuanhuang Qi of heaven and earth.
Above the palace, Purple Qi Coming from the East thirty thousand miles from the east, auspicious light and mist formed a jeweled canopy, surrounded and guarded by countless stars, exuding a supreme Daoist aura that ruled over all heavens and expounded on chaos.
The Three Pure Ones were shaken to their core! Especially Laozi, whose usually calm face showed a violent emotional fluctuation for the first time. His eyes were fixed on the three characters of Dao, and he unconsciously murmured, "Zixiao... Zixiao..." A kind of throbbing and enlightenment from his bloodline and from the depths of the creation imprint erupted like a dormant volcano!
This is not a prophecy, but rather a kind of "confirmation" from the source of the Great Dao, a preordained beacon that has long existed but has just unveiled its veil to them!
Immediately afterwards, the interior of the illusory Purple Cloud Palace shifted and changed.
Deep within the palace, atop a high platform, sat a blurry yet radiant figure of the Dao Ancestor, exuding boundless light and wisdom. Below the platform lay countless prayer mats, some sacred and majestic, others dignified and solemn, some exuding murderous intent, and still others compassionate and merciful... The figures of countless powerful beings from the Primordial Wilderness appeared and disappeared among them, their Luck intertwined, their Karma entangled.
The figure of the Dao Ancestor on the high platform did not speak a word, but his body naturally exuded the supreme Daoist charm that encompasses the universe and gives rise to all things.
The audience below, regardless of their cultivation level or race, were all immersed in the experience. Some frowned in deep thought, some suddenly realized something, some danced with joy, and some were moved to tears. From their bodies, beams of Pure Light, representing their understanding of the Dao Cultivation and the growth of their wisdom, continuously rose!
The entire palace complex unfolds as a vast scroll depicting the transmission of the Dao, where all things under the frosty sky compete freely and the profound sounds of the Great Dao resonate silently!