The Imperial Great Dao Advances Again

Haotian secretly transmitted his voice to Martial Spirit and explained, "The plan has changed."

"During the preaching, I gained additional insights."

"The journey to East Kunlun will be postponed. I have decided to preach at Mount Wuyi for a hundred years, to consolidate this affinity and deepen my enlightenment."

"A... a hundred years?" Martial Spirit was even more astonished. This was more than ten times longer than the original plan!

Yet he knew that the Mountain Lord's actions always held profound intent. Though he did not understand the exact reason, he did not dare ask further. He hurriedly steadied his mind, bowed, and replied by voice transmission, "This disciple understands. I will certainly do my utmost to assist and maintain order during the preaching."

Haotian nodded slightly and transmitted, "This is also your opportunity."

"During these hundred years of preaching, the spiritual aura of Mount Wuyi will gather, and all living beings will turn toward the Dao. As the Mountain Spirit, you can use this chance to deepen your resonance with the entire mountain range, stabilize your spiritual body, and grow familiar with wielding the Power of Mountains and Rivers."

Upon hearing this, Martial Spirit was immediately delighted. "This disciple obeys! I will certainly not disappoint the Mountain Lord's high expectations!"

Afterward, Haotian kept his promise and began answering the cultivation doubts of the many living beings both inside and outside the hall.

His words were profound yet simple. Often, with only a few brief sentences, he struck straight at the crux, leaving those who asked suddenly enlightened and weeping tears of gratitude.

Three days of answering questions passed in the blink of an eye...

The Second Preaching began as scheduled.

Haotian continued his preaching.

This time, he was no longer limited to teaching selected portions of abstruse scriptures.

He began with the foundations—from the most basic Induce Qi into Body and tempering the flesh... to how one became immortal and stabilized one's immortal body... and even how one comprehended laws, condensed Dao resonance, and attained the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit of eternal life and indestructibility...

He laid it out in orderly detail, advancing layer by layer, systematically recounting a relatively complete Cultivation Path of the Mystic Gate's orthodox Dao.

The Dao Sound was vast and majestic, like great bells and grand chimes, resounding throughout Mount Wuyi.

Countless living beings immersed themselves in this immense and systematic ocean of knowledge, drinking it in hungrily.

From that day onward, their cultivation paths had a clear direction, sparing them countless detours and perils.

Haotian himself was also immersed beyond escape in his interaction and resonance with Mount Wuyi's "momentum."

As the preaching continued, the Imperial Dao Seed within his Primordial Spirit seemed to have found the richest soil and sweetest rain. It grew at an astonishing pace, and his cultivation rose with the swelling tide.

His control over and perception of Mount Wuyi also deepened day by day, changing from the initial "affinity" into a subtle connection that was nearly as effortless as moving his own arm.

Mount Wuyi's "momentum" toward Haotian had shifted from initial "recognition and acceptance," to later "closeness and reliance," and now faintly showed signs of "gathering in defense and returning in allegiance."

The immense earth qi of the entire Immortal Mountain and the power of countless beings' wishes seemed to bless him invisibly, propelling his Imperial Great Dao forward at breakneck speed.

"Wonderful!"

"So enlightening a region, setting its order straight, and gathering the 'momentum' of countless beings' wishes and the spiritual aura of the Earth Veins—who would have thought it could aid the Imperial Great Dao so greatly!" Haotian felt incomparably exhilarated.

He could feel that the speed at which his cultivation was advancing now was even fiercer and more direct than when he had previously comprehended Dao resonance with the aid of a Saint's Dao resonance at Purple Firmament Palace.

This was his own true "Dao" taking root, sprouting branches, and spreading its leaves.

He also realized that, with his current cultivation realm, perfectly spreading his Dao Sound and Dao resonance across a supreme blessed land on the scale of Mount Wuyi was already his limit.

If he wished to expand the scope of "enlightening" and "gathering momentum" to vaster lands, his cultivation and realm would have to rise to another level.

In the mountains, there are no calendrical cycles; when the cold is gone, one knows not the year.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred years slipped quietly away amid the unbroken Dao Sound.

"Mystery upon mystery, the gateway to all wonders."

As the lingering echoes of that final true phrase, containing infinite Dao mysteries, slowly melted into the clouds, mists, and rosy light of Mount Wuyi, Haotian finally brought this century-long preaching to an end.

At the same time, the Imperial Great Dao Seed within his Primordial Spirit had completely transformed from its former lustrous white radiance into a noble, profound purple.

Its brilliance was restrained, yet its Dao resonance was immense, marking its vigorous growth beyond its "youthful stage" and its formal entry into a relatively "mature" phase.

Haotian felt a stir in his heart. At this pace, if I can find another suitable region and carry out this act of enlightenment and momentum-gathering... the day I advance to Golden Immortal Late-stage should not be far away.

A hundred years of preaching—its merit was immeasurable.

By now, all the living beings who had listened to his teachings inside the hall had successfully undergone Form Transformation. The men were handsome, the women beautiful. Though their cultivation levels varied, every one of them possessed a solid Dao Foundation and clear eyes, and all were filled with heartfelt reverence and gratitude toward Haotian.

"We thank Dao Lord for the grace of transmitting the Dao and imparting his teachings!"

Without anyone to lead them, the hundreds of thousands of beings inside and outside the hall who had gained Spiritual Intelligence—as well as many who had only recently developed it—bowed in unison toward the High Platform. Their voices converged with incomparable sincerity, stirring a faint resonance from Mount Wuyi's Earth Veins.

Haotian calmly accepted their bow and said warmly, "Rise."

"Since you have entered my gate and inherited my Dao lineage, you must remember this at all times."

"Do not use strength to bully the weak, and do not rely on power to commit evil."

"Carry compassion in your hearts, perform more good deeds, diligently cultivate merit, honor Heaven and revere the Dao, and protect this pure land."

"Only thus will you not fail the affinity of hearing the Dao today, and only thus will it benefit your own Dao Path."

"We respectfully obey Dao Lord's decree!" The multitude bowed once more, their voices shaking the mountains as they carved these teachings deep into their hearts.

Thus, this grand preaching came to a perfect close.

The living beings departed in order. Some returned to their Cave Mansions to consolidate their gains, while others gathered in company to discuss the Dao and spar. From top to bottom, Mount Wuyi brimmed with life, suffused with Dao resonance, and took on an entirely new air.

Haotian turned his gaze to Martial Spirit, who had stood by his side for a hundred years.

The present Martial Spirit possessed an aura as deep and still as mountains. Whenever his eyes opened and closed, the spiritual radiance of the Earth Veins faintly flowed within them, while the Dao rhythm around him had become utterly one with all of Mount Wuyi.

The grandeur of his might was no less than that Mountain and River Geography Beast of old, which had been formed purely from the manifestation of the Earth Veins.

Indeed, possessing complete Spiritual Intelligence and bolstered by Haotian's Dao lineage, he seemed even more profound and unfathomable.

"After listening for a hundred years, it seems you can now fully command the Power of Mountains and Rivers of Mount Wuyi, resonating flawlessly with these Earth Veins," Haotian said approvingly.

Martial Spirit respectfully lowered his head, his voice carrying the steadiness of the earth. "It is all thanks to the Mountain Lord's hundred years of expounding the Dao, enlightening all living things and gathering Mount Wuyi's fortune until its Spiritual Aura circulated in perfect completion."

"As a Mountain Spirit, this disciple has risen with the tide, and only then have I been able to fully grasp the authority of this mountain."

"Now, even the most minute changes in every blade of grass, tree, stone, and stream In the Mountain are within this disciple's perception."

"The flow of earthly qi throughout the entire mountain range and the distribution of Spiritual Aura can likewise be subtly adjusted at this disciple's will."

"Good." Haotian nodded. "With matters here concluded, I will depart after picking the Spirit Tea."

"I entrust the Mount Wuyi Dao Field entirely to you."

After a brief pause, he continued his instructions. "Later, I will establish several grand formations throughout the mountain's core region and its surrounding vital points—formations to conceal aura and hide one's form, evade Heavenly Secrets, bewilder and trap enemies, gather spiritual energy, and defend."

"The Formation Diagram's hubs are linked to your Spiritual Body. You must comprehend them carefully and employ them well. Conceal the Mountain Gate in ordinary times; when danger arises, mobilize them flexibly. You must ensure that this place is secure beyond all doubt."