Xuan Qing emerged from seclusion without alerting anyone. Everyone had been diligently cultivating during this time so they could understand more when they listened to the Dao.
Xuan Qing returned to the Heart Nurturing Hall and sprawled out in his chair. He wanted to brew some tea and eat some spiritual fruit to rest, only to discover that he had used it all up during his breakthrough. He had no idea where Qing Ling had put what she had collected.
After thinking it over, Xuan Qing decided to refine a Spiritual Treasure for storing all kinds of items. Otherwise, once he had too many different things in the future, it would be inconvenient to retrieve them.
He acted immediately, taking out the Cauldron of Creation and placing the Spiritual Materials and various ores he had gathered inside. Following his ideas, he slowly shaped them into a small room, carved several Formations into it, and, just as it was about to take shape, inscribed Innate Dao Patterns of the Law of Creation onto it.
In just several tens of thousands of years, a High-Grade Postnatal Spirit Treasure with thirty-six restrictions was completed.
However, Postnatal Spirit Treasures possessed Postnatal Dao Patterns. This treasure was more effective than ordinary Postnatal Spirit Treasures, so Xuan Qing added several Innate Dao Patterns and waited for it to advance on its own.
To become an Innate Spiritual Treasure, it needed Innate Undying Spiritual Light. That would require the Qiankun Cauldron's power. Xuan Qing placed the Spiritual Treasure inside the Heart Nurturing Hall, making it convenient for everyone to retrieve items in the future.
After some thought, Xuan Qing went to pick some spiritual fruit and, while he was at it, test the effects of the Creation Holy Water. He came before several High-Grade Innate Spiritual Roots that served as Formation nodes, watered them with some Creation Holy Water, and began to observe them slowly.
Several thousand years passed. Other than becoming more vigorous, the High-Grade Innate Spiritual Roots showed no other effects. He then tried several Medium-Grade Innate Spiritual Roots, which could promote growth and fruiting, but the effects were still far from ideal.
Finally, he tested Low-Grade Innate Spiritual Roots and Acquired Spiritual Roots, discovering that the effects were quite good, comparable to a weakened version of Three Lights Divine Water.
In any case, he had plenty of Creation Holy Water. If he ran out, he could produce more with the Law of Creation. In the future, he could plant Acquired Spiritual Roots on a large scale throughout the Prehistoric Era.
Xuan Qing placed the Cauldron of Creation in the Storage Room. Qing Ya and the others would have plenty to do from now on.
The time was about right. He could inform them that it was time to listen to the Dao. He immediately flew above Xuan Qing Dao Palace, his aura spreading across all of Azure Nether Island.
"I, Xuan Qing, Island Master of Azure Nether Island, have seen how difficult cultivation is for countless living beings. Ten thousand years from now, I shall give a Dao lecture at the Central Plaza of the Dao Field. All living beings may come and listen."
After speaking, Xuan Qing arrived at the open space before Xuan Qing Dao Palace. With a wave of his Magic Power, a plaza large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of living beings formed. He then sat cross-legged atop the high platform and waited for everyone to arrive.
Not long after Xuan Qing's announcement, Han Xi, Qing Ya, and the others instantly arrived at the plaza. Seeing Xuan Qing in meditation, they did not dare disturb him. They went straight to the front row, sat cross-legged, and imitated Xuan Qing by entering meditation.
Soon, ten thousand years had passed. Every living being on Azure Nether Island who could come had arrived. All of them were Mysterious Immortals and above, numbering roughly several thousand. More than eight hundred were Golden Immortals or above. It seemed Azure Nether Island had developed quite well over the years.
Xuan Qing examined Han Xi's cultivation. She had stabilized at Perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal and was accumulating her foundation.
The two girls, Qing Ya and Qing Ling, had also reached the Later Stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal in realm, though their cultivation was at the mid-stage. They had seriously followed his advice: one's realm should always surpass one's cultivation.
With the aid of the island's abundant resources, the Heavenly Horse Patriarch had also broken through to Perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Bai Yu was a little behind, having only reached the Early Stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal. Counting carefully, there were now five Grand Unity Golden Immortals on the island.
Seeing that all the living beings who could come had arrived, Xuan Qing ignored those who had not. It would not have suited them to listen anyway. He immediately released the aura of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal and said:
"Ten thousand years have passed. The Dao lecture begins!"
"Heaven and Earth endure because they do not live for themselves; thus, they are able to live forever...
The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of all things; the named is the mother of all things. Mystery upon mystery, the gateway to all wonders."
And so, ten thousand years passed as Xuan Qing lectured on the Dao. When he stopped, countless living beings remained immersed in the Dao Sound.
Some were ecstatic, as though they had glimpsed the path before them.
Others were bitter, having discovered that they had strayed from the Great Dao.
Most living beings below the Golden Immortal realm began to break through. Xuan Qing used a divine ability to isolate a space, preventing their breakthroughs from disturbing the others' enlightenment. Countless sounds of breakthroughs rang out.
Gradually, more and more living beings awoke. Even the Golden Immortals had broken through a minor realm, while the several Grand Unity Golden Immortals had discovered their own shortcomings and could slowly make up for them.
Once everyone had awakened, Xuan Qing swept his gaze over them. They came in all kinds of forms, and the sight was rather uncomfortable. He then said:
"Seeing that you living beings come in all manner of strange forms and have no path toward transformation, I shall next lecture for another three thousand years on the Transformation Dao. Listen carefully."
"Breathe between the chambers and guide it into the dantian, use the clear waters of the jade pool to nourish the Spiritual Root, examine your capacity for cultivation and you may endure forever, Yellow Court..."
The three-thousand-year lecture on the Transformation Dao also came to an end. This lecture had mainly been intended for living beings below the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. The Heavenly Horse Patriarch and Bai Yu were already Grand Unity Golden Immortals, and with Great Dao inheritances, they could naturally transform into human form.
After hearing the Dao, many living beings immediately began their transformations, no longer appearing before others in their original forms or beastly bodies.
"Thank you, Island Master, for lecturing on the Dao! We are endlessly grateful!"
The living beings who had listened to the Dao all bowed to Xuan Qing together, thanking him for what he had done for them.
At that moment, Great Dao Merit suddenly descended. A massive cluster of Merit flew toward Xuan Qing, while part of it fell upon the plaza, turning the entire plaza into a place of enlightenment.
The Dao Xuan Qing had explained transformed into Dao Patterns and appeared in midair. Xuan Qing hurriedly took out Xuan Qing's Record of Seeking the Dao, and the Great Dao Merit entered it as a new name appeared.
The Dao Patterns flew into it, and Xuan Qing's Record of Seeking the Dao became the Dao Scripture.
Thus, this book appeared in the Prehistoric Era. This was also the first Dao lecture in the Prehistoric Era, teaching and enlightening all living beings, and the reward bestowed by the Great Dao.
There was simply too much Merit this time. Last time, he had merely summarized methods for assisting cultivation. Xuan Qing stored the Merit within his Dao Wheel, directly replenishing the expenditure from breaking through the Heaven-Defying Three Flowers, with some remaining.
Xuan Qing tried flipping through this Dao Scripture to see how it differed from what he had taught. At a glance, he fell directly into Enlightenment.
An unfathomable aura shrouded the entire plaza. Every living being felt as though their Destiny were being held in someone else's hands. Han Xi and the Heavenly Horse Patriarch exchanged a glance and cried out:
"The Law of Destiny!"
Han Xi had never imagined Xuan Qing could be so heaven-defying. As a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, he had comprehended a second Law—and it was the Law of Destiny. This was not a Law that living beings could comprehend.
Three kalpas slowly passed. The outline of Xuan Qing's Heaven Flower had completely appeared, and an illusory golden Heaven Flower stood close beside the Earth Flower. Xuan Qing's Magic Power had also gained the characteristics of the Law of Destiny.
Xuan Qing awoke from enlightenment and looked at the Dao Scripture in his hand, overjoyed.
This scripture would be placed in the Library Pavilion and entrusted to Qing Ya's care. From now on, he would no longer need to worry about their cultivation. This was a treasure with the value of a Chaos Spiritual Treasure!
Looking at the few people in the plaza, he saw that they had already absorbed all their gains from listening to the Dao and were simply waiting for him. Xuan Qing laughed heartily and led them back to the Heart Nurturing Hall.
Qing Ya suddenly noticed an extra room in the hall. She turned back to stare at Xuan Qing, as if asking what it was.
"This is the Storage Room I refined. From now on, you can put the spiritual fruit and other things you collect inside, sort them by category, and make them easier to use. There are surprises I left inside as well!"
As soon as Xuan Qing finished speaking, Qing Ling darted inside in one swift motion.
"Ah! An Innate Supreme Treasure!" A shriek rang out, and the others immediately followed her inside.
When they entered, they saw Qing Ling stroking the Cauldron of Creation while drooling, as though she wanted to eat the Spiritual Treasure as a delicacy.
"Qing Ya, this is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Cauldron of Creation. It is extremely useful for cultivating Spiritual Roots, but it is of little use to me. I have already erased my mark from it. From now on, it is yours. Refine it!"
Xuan Qing spoke directly. The Cauldron of Creation truly had little use for him. Qing Ya had to manage the Dao Field, so it was perfect for her. She also happened to lack a Spiritual Treasure, and this one could protect her as well.
"Master, I want one too! I want one too!"
Qing Ling refused to accept it. Her Sister had one, so why did she have nothing at all?
"Do you think these are weeds by the roadside, something you can have whenever you want? Qing Ya has great responsibilities, which is why I gave it to her. Once I borrow the Qiankun Cauldron in the future, I will refine several Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures for you."
Xuan Qing could only comfort them. However, he was not wrong. With the Qiankun Cauldron and the Cauldron of Creation, he really could produce Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
Now that he had broken through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, and his strength was already close to the Grand Luo Peak, he could deal with the Dragon Clan blocking his door.
Although he had no use for the surrounding islands, he could leave them for other living beings. Such a vast blessed land was the finest harbor for living beings who disliked conflict.
Azure Nether Island was large, but Xuan Qing did not intend to casually allow living beings to enter. If they disrupted the peace of his Dao Field, would that not simply be making trouble for himself?
Xuan Qing looked at Han Xi. She only needed to comprehend the Law now. Since she had only recently emerged from seclusion, there was no need for her to enter seclusion again. He could go out with her and take a look around.
"Master, are you going out again? Can you take me with you?" The moment Qing Ling saw that Xuan Qing wanted to leave, she hurried over. She had been stifled to death on Azure Nether Island.
"Come on, call your Sister Han Xi too. Let's go take a look around. After all these years, who knows what it has evolved into?" Xuan Qing sighed with emotion.
Before you continue