Proving the Way with Literature, the Literary Path Emerges!

After bidding farewell to the people of Tianyuan City, Liu Bai, accompanied by San Xiao and Zhao Gongming, stepped onto an auspicious cloud and drifted across the azure, rippling surface of the Eastern Sea.

Jin'ao Island was at that moment shrouded in a myriad of radiant beams. The Immortal Slaying Four Swords hung suspended in the sky above the island's heart, their Sword Qi soaring to the heavens yet restrained, subtly linking to the Dragon Veins of the Four Seas. The island's halls stood in close array, all forged from Innate Spirit Materials. Beyond the halls, clouds and mists coiled, and countless Jie Sect disciples sat cross-legged in meditation on the Dao or practiced formations—a scene of thriving grandeur. As soon as Liu Bai landed, a young attendant stepped forward to guide him: "Senior Brother, the Master awaits you in Biyou Palace."

Within Biyou Palace, Sect Master Tongtian sat upright on the Nine-Dragon Agarwood Throne, draped in the Chaos Dao Robe. His countenance was ancient and majestic, and as his eyes opened and closed, visions of cosmic birth and destruction flickered within. Flanking him on both sides were the Jie Sect's personal disciples—Daoist Duobao, Holy Mother Jin Ling, and others—all gathered in silent attention. Sensing Liu Bai's presence, they turned their gazes toward him in acknowledgment.

Liu Bai stepped forward and bowed, his voice steady: "Master, this disciple returned to the Human Race with a matter on which I seek your decision."

Sect Master Tongtian gave a slight nod, a wisp of chaotic primordial qi swirling at his fingertip: "Speak of it in detail."

"Master! It is like this: this time, this disciple returned to Tianyuan City at the invitation of my cousin to participate in the once-a-century Sea Beast Tide trial. Because our Jie Sect relocated to Jin'ao Island, which neighbors Tianyuan City, my cousin wished to establish friendly relations with our sect. Tianyuan City could open a market to facilitate trade for our Jie Sect disciples, and together we could maintain peace and stability along the shores of the Eastern Sea! This disciple dared not act on his own authority and has come especially to report to you!" Liu Bai recounted the matter in detail to Sect Master Tongtian.

Sect Master Tongtian's eyes carried a hint of a smile as he spoke lightly: "Oh? And what are your thoughts on this?"

"Reporting to Master! Tianyuan City lies at the border between the Human Race and the Dragon Clan, a hub for trade and coexistence among the various races of the Eastern Sea. The previous City Lord, Su Bai, laid its foundation, and the current City Lord, Liu Suifeng, is a prodigy of the Human Race and also the son-in-law of the Dragon Clan, commanding deep prestige." Liu Bai narrated slowly, describing the scene of the bay's Sea Beast Tide trial and the tempering of the young human cultivators.

"Cousin Liu Suifeng made it clear that Tianyuan City requires the protection of top-tier Great Experts, and that the Jie Sect's relocation to Jin'ao Island is intended to safeguard the living beings of the Eastern Sea, fulfilling the tenet of 'seizing a thread of life for all beings.' The ideals of both sides align. On the public front, we can leverage Tianyuan City's role as a hub to widely spread the Jie Sect's Dao lineage; on the private front, as a member of the Liu family, this disciple also hopes that the Human Race and the Jie Sect can watch over each other and jointly protect the peace of this region."

He paused, then added: "This disciple observed that the people of Tianyuan City are simple and honest, its cultivators self-reliant and unyielding, and with its alliance with the Dragon Clan, all races coexist harmoniously. It is truly an excellent place to practice the Master's Dao lineage. The Jie Sect could establish a preaching point in Tianyuan City, taking in fated individuals from all races. This would both help Tianyuan City stabilize its defenses and allow the Jie Sect to recruit talented individuals—a perfect arrangement for both sides."

Upon hearing this, a gleam of approval flashed in Sect Master Tongtian's eyes. The Nine-Dragon Agarwood Throne beneath him trembled slightly, and as the clouds and mists outside the hall churned, the Sword Qi of the Immortal Slaying Four Swords softened by three parts: "What you say is correct. When I founded the Jie Sect, I never discriminated by race—only talent mattered, seeking only to seize a thread of life for all beings in the Primordial World. Tianyuan City connects the Human Race, the Dragon Clan, and the Sea Clan; it is precisely a key location for spreading the Dao lineage. As the senior disciple of the Jie Sect, you may handle these matters as you see fit!"

At that moment, Sect Master Tongtian was inwardly chuckling with delight, thinking: I was just worrying about lacking a supreme treasure to suppress the Jie Sect's fortune. The Human Race is flourishing now, and that Jiang He kid is no easy mark either. If Tianyuan City wants to test my Jie Sect, they'll have to pay a price!

He raised his hand and waved, and a beam of golden light flew from his sleeve, transforming into a scroll of golden decree inscribed with profound runes, radiating the pressure of a Sage: "This is my Sage Edict. Take it to Tianyuan City and tell them: if they want the Jie Sect's protection, a mere Tianyuan City is not enough. This is an alliance pact with the Human Race. Have him deliver it to that Jiang He kid—if we are to form an alliance, it must be with the entire Human Race. A tiny Tianyuan City is far too petty!"

"Ah! This..."

Liu Bai was stunned by Sect Master Tongtian's maneuver. At least from his tone, the Master seems familiar with the Clan Leader! Never mind—I'll just deliver the message!

The Sage Edict drifted down into Liu Bai's hands, its warm Sage power flowing through his body, stabilizing his Dao heart. Liu Bai was about to give thanks when he suddenly felt the entire Primordial World tremble violently. A boundless Merit Golden Light surged up from the western sky, piercing through the clouds and scattering across the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands. Even the protective formation of Jin'ao Island rippled with layers of waves.

Sect Master Tongtian raised his eyes toward the west, his expression shifting slightly: "Such dense merit energy... it is the sign of a new Law being born... The Primordial World has gained another path of cultivation."

At the same time, at the Jixia Academy in Luo Shui City.

This gathering place of the Human Race's literary lineage was now enveloped in a sky full of golden light. At the top floor of the library, the Academy's Libationer, Feng Luo, clad in a blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back before a window. Around him, visible Literary Qi and talent energy swirled, transforming into countless tadpole-like runes in circulation. After three thousand years in seclusion, having read through the billions of texts from all eras stored in the Small World within the Academy—tracing the governance of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, exploring the thoughts of the Hundred Schools of Philosophy—he had finally broken through the essence of the Literary Dao: Literary Qi was no ethereal substance, but a fundamental power condensed from the wisdom, faith, and virtue of the Human Race. It could nourish the Dao heart, evolve Laws, and prove the Dao to attain immortality.

At this moment, Feng Luo's brow suddenly cleared, and a ten-foot-long phantom of the Literary Dao Law slowly emerged, like an unrolled Primordial Heavenly Book. Upon it, the five characters "Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust" shone brilliantly, resonating with the Laws of Heaven and Earth. He exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi, his voice clear as a bell: "Heaven and Earth have their Dao; the Literary Heart is the foundation. Talent energy as the guide, prove the Dao for eternity—this is the 'Heart of Literature Proves the Dao Art'!"

The moment his words fell, a long, deep sigh seemed to echo through Heaven and Earth. Then, boundless Merit Golden Light cascaded down like a waterfall, converging above the Jixia Academy to form a massive Merit Golden Lotus. The lotus bloomed, and billions of golden rays scattered down, all pouring into Feng Luo's body.

Feng Luo felt the Literary Qi in his Dantian surge wildly, merging with the power of merit. His Dao foundation was instantly nourished to an incomparably profound level, and his Cultivation Level soared—from the early stage of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, breaking through to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, and reaching the late-stage peak of Golden Immortal of the Origin! Laws swirled around him. Though he had not yet attained Sagehood, he now possessed combat power at the peak of the Quasi-Sage realm, his aura so vast that it rivaled that of seasoned old Quasi-Sages.

Inside and outside the Academy, countless human scholars and cultivators looked up at the boundless merit in the sky, their faces filled with awe and ecstasy. Someone shouted: "It's the Libationer! The Libationer has created a cultivation method for the Literary Dao, drawing the Merit of the Heavenly Dao!"

"Our Human Race has gained another Quasi-Sage!"

"From now on, we scholars and literati can also prove the Dao through Literary Qi, no longer relying solely on the Martial Dao or Immortal Path!"

Feng Luo slowly opened his eyes, literary light swirling within them, reflecting Heaven and Earth. He could clearly sense that he was now tightly connected to the entire literary lineage of the Human Race. The wisdom and faith of countless humans flowed into him as an unending source of power, supporting his Dao foundation. He understood in his heart that he had become the third Quasi-Sage of the Human Race itself—the first being the Human Race's common leader, Jiang He; the second being Feng Li Yue, who had received personal instruction from Empress Nuwa and awakened the power of Nuwa; and he himself had opened a completely new path through the Literary Dao.

The Merit Golden Light gradually faded, but the Literary Qi in the Primordial World grew ever denser. Countless scholars and students who had originally cultivated Literary Qi sensed the clear surging of Literary Qi within their bodies—no longer as vague as before—and began to practice according to the methods of the "Heart of Literature Proves the Dao Art." In an instant, the sound of literary recitation flourished across the Human Race, and the scent of books filled the air.

Within Biyou Palace on Jin'ao Island, Sect Master Tongtian gazed at the lingering merit-hued clouds in the western sky, stroked his beard, and laughed: "The fortune of the Human Race is indeed flourishing, to be able to give birth to the Literary Dao system. That Feng Luo is a man of great opportunity and bold vision. I certainly did not bet wrongly!"

Liu Bai's heart was also filled with a myriad of emotions. The birth of the Literary Dao not only strengthened the Human Race but also diversified the paths of cultivation in the Primordial World. For the Jie Sect's tenet of "embracing all beings without discrimination," this was also a blessing. He gripped the Sage Edict tightly in his hand and looked toward the Eastern Sea: "Master, since the alliance is settled, this disciple will immediately return to Tianyuan City to carry out the matter of spreading the Dao."

Sect Master Tongtian nodded: "Go. Remember, the alliance between the Jie Sect and the Human Race is one of mutual support. You must uphold the heart of 'seizing a thread of life,' treat all beings with kindness, and never disgrace the name of the Jie Sect."

"This disciple will bear your teachings in mind." Liu Bai bowed, then turned and withdrew from Biyou Palace. His figure transformed into a streak of light, speeding toward Tianyuan City. And in the Primordial World, the news of the newly born Literary Dao had already spread like thunder, shaking all races to their core.

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