Discussing the Dao with the Ginseng Fruit, Taking the Lead

Most of those present had not eaten Ginseng Fruits for the first time. One after another, they circulated their respective inherited cultivation arts, digesting the medicinal power of the spirit fruits.

Seeing this, Randeng also began cultivating. His battle with Tai Yi earlier had shattered the space across a radius of a hundred thousand li, sending Earth, Water, Wind, Fire surging forth and recreating part of the scene of creation. It had deepened Randeng's understanding of the Annihilation Law by several degrees.

His original comprehension of fifty-one percent of the law advanced further to fifty-three percent. To reach the mid-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, one needed to attain sixty percent comprehension of a law. At that point, one could also choose another law to cultivate alongside it, allowing the two to echo and support one another, speeding progress along the Dao path and preparing for the condensation of a rudimentary Great Dao.

In less than a thousand years, everyone awoke from meditation in succession, their auras all having improved. Tongtian had progressed the most; Randeng guessed that his next step would be to condense his Grand Unity Dao Fruit.

As the host of the banquet, Zhenyuanzi spoke first, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoists, on your progress along the Dao path. Let us take this opportunity to exchange insights, test and verify our realizations, and climb another hundred-foot pole."

The Innate Divine Saints all nodded. This was one of the reasons they had attended the Ginseng Fruit Conference. One could not cultivate the Great Dao through lifeless, isolated cultivation alone.

The Hunyuan Grand Unity realm required comprehending a Great Dao, which naturally demanded more than one law. By absorbing others' insights into laws, one could better determine the direction of one's own Great Dao.

Randeng then saw Zhenyuanzi sweep his sleeve. The phantom of an ancient tree emerged in the center of the cave dwelling. Its trunk seemed forged from ancient black-yellow jade, its leaves like layers of condensed emerald clouds. Wutu energy coiled around it, while thirty-six points of spiritual light lay hidden amid its branches and leaves.

"Let me explain this once more for Fellow Daoists attending for the first time. There are two reasons why I host this Ginseng Fruit Conference. First, to provide a place for you all to exchange and discuss the Dao. Second, before each blossoming, my Ginseng Fruit Tree must absorb the Dao Rhymes of laws, so that the Caohuan Pellets it bears will be better."

Only then did Randeng understand. He had always wondered why Zhenyuanzi was willing to bring out the fruits of one of the ten great spirit roots to entertain everyone. So the wool came off the sheep's own back.

Tongtian sent Randeng a voice transmission, his brows and eyes mysterious. "Fellow Daoist, there is more to this discussion of the Dao than meets the eye."

"Oh? Isn't it simply explaining the laws one cultivates, producing Dao Rhymes for the Ginseng Fruit Tree to absorb?"

Randeng was somewhat curious, wondering what twists and turns lay within.

"What you do not know, Fellow Daoist, is that the number of blossoms on the Ginseng Fruit Tree varies according to each person's degree of comprehension of a law's Dao Rhyme. Whoever takes first place can receive three additional Ginseng Fruits."

Tongtian changed the subject. "But the most important thing is still the title of first place. For the past two times, it has gone to Eldest Brother. This time, with Fellow Daoist Randeng here, there is an uncertainty."

Randeng understood Tongtian's unspoken meaning. In the Primordial World, providence was not some vague and intangible thing; it could genuinely aid cultivation.

Among the Innate Divine Saints present, aside from Ice Soul Daoist and Town Mountain Daoist being slightly inferior, every one of the others would become a Great Power in the future. Among them were four future direct disciples of the Dao Ancestor besides Randeng, while the rest would likewise possess illustrious reputations.

If one held the title of first place for long enough, with providence's blessing, the gap between oneself and others would only grow wider and wider.

Just like how Taishang would later become the undisputed first among the three thousand guests of Purple Cloud Palace.

Yet Randeng was more interested in the extra three Ginseng Fruits. He could bring them back for Zhunti and Jieyin to try something new, which would count as praise for guarding the West so well.

As for the title of first place, Randeng thought, no matter how strong Taishang was, would he not still become his Junior Brother in the future?

The discussion of the Dao soon began. Ice Soul Daoist, seated at the very end of the gathering, went first. A crystalline jade needle appeared between her brows. The instant it emerged, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and even their Primordial Spirits faintly felt a chill. She was expounding the law through her companion spirit treasure.

"I didn't expect Ice Soul Daoist's comprehension of the Law of Ice to be so profound."

Randeng put away the slight contempt he had initially held. Sure enough, there were no truly weak ones among the Innate Divine Saints.

While absorbing and comprehending her insights, Randeng and the others continually reflected them against their own laws. For a time, immortal energy swirled beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, laws wound about them, Dao Rhymes drifted ethereally, and wondrous phenomena arose in abundance.

The thirty-six nodes on the Ginseng Fruit Tree continuously absorbed Dao Rhymes, until two flower buds finally grew.

Ice Soul Daoist finished, and it was Town Mountain Daoist's turn. Likewise, two blossoms bloomed.

Then came Fuxi, startling Randeng. Fuxi had cultivated three laws simultaneously back when he was at the Taiyi realm: the Law of Sound, the Law of Wind, and the Law of Water. Randeng faintly sensed within them the rudimentary form of the Innate Eight Trigrams.

"It seems these Innate Divine Saints have all found Great Daos suited to themselves."

In the end, three blossoms bloomed as well.

Nuwa's Creation Law, Yuanshi's Law of Order, Tongtian's Gengjin Law, Zhenyuanzi's Wutu Law, and Hongyun's Law of Wind all produced three blossoms. Dao Rhymes of every sort of law circled the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

Among them, Randeng listened most attentively to Nuwa's Creation Law, taking advantage of this rare opportunity to gain an initial entry into the Creation Law.

At last, it was Taishang's turn to expound the Dao.

"Dao gave birth to One; One gave birth to Two; Two gave birth to Three; Three gave birth to all things. All things bear yin and embrace yang, blending their vital breaths to achieve harmony... One yin and one yang—this is called the Dao."

When the Law of Yin Yang emerged, everyone was shocked. Taishang actually intended to use yin and yang to explain the Dao?

Randeng was astonished as well, but upon thinking it over, he found it only natural. This was the future Grand Pure Moral Heavenly Venerate, whose understanding of the Dao was second only to Hongjun's. It was not strange for him to seek to explain the Dao through yin and yang while still at the Grand Unity realm.

The Dao Rhymes filling the sky were absorbed by the Ginseng Fruit Tree, which ultimately produced six flower buds.

Only then did everyone realize that Taishang had also advanced to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. Their gazes turned toward Randeng in succession. After all, only the two of them here were Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals. Perhaps through this discussion of the Dao, they could roughly distinguish who was stronger and who was weaker.

Randeng brought forth the Spirit Vulture Palace Lamp. The glow of Netherworld Ghost Fire cast upon his face, making it solemn and majestic. Recalling his understanding of the Annihilation Law, he slowly spoke, "Annihilation gives birth to One; One returns to annihilation. Silent annihilation has no form—this is called the root of the Dao. Heaven and earth possess birth, and annihilation nourishes their end; all things possess action, and annihilation guards their stillness..."

The Three Flowers emerged above his head. His Annihilation Dao Fruit blossomed with five petals and revolved quietly. Boundless Dao Rhymes of Annihilation spread outward, accompanying Randeng's Dao words as they entered the Primordial Spirits of everyone present.

"He is using the birth of annihilation to explain the foundation of heaven and earth!"

Nuwa was secretly startled, then immediately immersed herself in the Dao Rhymes. The fundamental Dao Rhymes contained within were also greatly beneficial to her comprehension of the Creation Law.

The final remaining nodes of spiritual energy on the Ginseng Fruit Tree gave rise to flower buds one after another. In a single breath, all the remaining nodes were spurred into budding.

Eight blossoms bloomed!

Two more than Taishang's!

Everyone understood that among them, Randeng's comprehension of laws had indeed gone ahead of theirs. They all offered their congratulations.

"That's all of them? I was planning to speak of the Dao taught by my teacher as well."

But since the required number had already been reached, Randeng had no need to show off further.

Randeng cupped his hands to those around him. "In this discussion of the Dao, I merely held an advantage in realm. The Dao sought by my fellow Daoists has benefited me greatly; I, Randeng, am deeply impressed as well."

"Fellow Daoist, you are too modest. Though our realms are comparable, your understanding of the Dao truly surpasses mine."

Taishang noticed the lingering sense of incompletion when Randeng finished speaking and guessed that he might still be holding something back.

"Since Fellow Daoist has taken first place, these three Ginseng Fruits are yours."

Zhenyuanzi handed the three Ginseng Fruits to Randeng. Randeng thanked him and put them away.