Looking at the two people before her, Nuwa felt that something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on what. It was rather strange.
When it was Donghua's turn to expound on the Dao, he first explained the spiritual power he had comprehended, Size As One Wishes, and then discussed the Pure Yang Great Dao. He gave a perfectly proper account of his understanding of the Dao.
After Donghua finished, West Queen Mother explained the Moon Great Dao, followed by Tongtian, who explained the Shangqing Vast Void Great Dao. Tongtian had yet to comprehend the Way of Severing Heaven, but after listening, Donghua sensed that Tongtian had already grasped the beginnings of it.
The Innate Deities of Donghua's generation were advancing at an astonishing pace, drawing closer to Hun Yuan with every step.
In the end, they would shine across the Primordial Wilderness, just like Hongjun, Luohu, Ancestor Dragon, Yuanfeng, and the others during the Dragon-Han Period.
Several days had passed since their last discussion of the Dao. During that time, the five of them had all been cultivating together.
Sometimes, when the mood struck, they would even spar.
These past few days, Donghua and Tongtian had spent most of their time discussing formations. They were both very interested in the great formation at the Volcano of Immortality and often debated its intricacies.
The two also often tested each other's swordsmanship. Donghua lost by a hair each time, so to save face, he shared many methods of sword cultivation from the novels of his Previous Life.
Tongtian thought some of those methods had great potential, while others were dismissed outright as nonsense and mere flashy tricks.
In the end, the two would discuss them together, sometimes even putting the methods into practice themselves.
Donghua's swordsmanship improved by leaps and bounds. Drawing on his insights from this life and some theories from his Previous Life, he eventually forged a sword path of his own.
It had three stages: seeing Heaven and Earth, seeing all living beings, and seeing oneself.
These three distinct stages of sword cultivation also represented three manifestations of the Dao.
Tongtian scoffed at the sword path Donghua had comprehended. He thought it was the Great Dao dressed up as swordsmanship, not swordsmanship in its purest form.
Under the influence of Donghua's strange ideas, Tongtian's swordsmanship also reached a new breakthrough.
He forged a sword path that pressed ever onward, cutting through Heaven, Earth, and humanity. He had already gained some understanding of the realms of cutting through humanity and Earth, but he still had no clue how to reach the realm of cutting through Heaven.
Donghua also looked down on Tongtian's sword path of severance. He thought it took a crooked, extreme path instead of following the Great Dao, and would ultimately hurt both others and its wielder.
The two couldn't stand each other, and they would occasionally fight. Still, there was a sense that they recognized something of themselves in one another.
"Daoist Tai Wei, after spending these past few days with you, I have to say you're much easier on the eyes than you were when we listened to the Dao at Purplecloud Palace."
Tongtian took a sip of Big Red Robe and offered his verdict, savoring the taste.
Beside him, Donghua was roasting tea leaves in Pure Yang Divine Fire. Before long, a fragrant batch of tea was ready.
"Do you know how to talk? If you don't, sell your mouth!"
Nuwa and Taizhen, sitting nearby, giggled when they heard that. They seemed to have seen this scene many times and didn't mind it.
Instead, they sipped their fragrant tea and played Go, each holding a piece formed from magical power.
Nearby, Tongtian and Fuxi were playing chess too, though their board was marked by the boundaries between Heaven and Earth rather than the Chu River and Han border.
The past few days had been quiet, so Donghua had brought these two games from his Previous Life into this world. They had immediately become popular, and Fuxi in particular was amazed by Donghua's talent.
As he played chess, Fuxi suddenly sighed, "If only the Witch and Monster Two Clans could settle their differences with a game of chess. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
No one replied. They all knew what the Witch and Monster Two Clans were going to do next. A fight to the death was unavoidable.
The Monster Clan in particular had suffered a great loss last time. They would surely retaliate.
Fuxi still didn't understand. He asked again, "Who do you think will win, the Heavenly Court or the Earthly Court?"
Once again, no one answered.
Donghua thought to himself that Fuxi was devoted heart and soul to the Heavenly Court, where he had placed all his ambitions. As the current Xi Huang of the Heavenly Court, Fuxi was unquestionably doing his job well.
"That depends on whether Xi Huang is asking, or Daoist Fuxi."
Fuxi asked, "What's the difference?"
Donghua smiled. "If Xi Huang is asking, then naturally the Heavenly Court will win. If Daoist Fuxi is asking, then there will be no victor."
Fuxi fell silent, holding his piece without placing it for a long while. At last, he sighed.
Tongtian shook his head helplessly. "You ruined a perfectly good game!"
"Will there truly be no victor? Or could the two clans live in peace and govern Heaven and Earth together?"
"Fuxi, that's enough! If you don't know how to talk, sell your mouth too. If you're not playing, move aside. Tongtian and I will have a match."
As Donghua spoke, he waved his right hand. A chessboard appeared, and he began a game with Tongtian.
"Elder Brother Tai Wei, when I leave, give me some Big Red Robe tea to take with me. I like it."
"Of course. I've already prepared a share for each of you. Take yours when you leave."
Taizhen wasn't pleased to hear that. She stopped paying attention to Donghua and silently returned to her game, thinking that since everyone was getting some, there was nothing special about it.
Nuwa smiled knowingly but said nothing.
They all began to enjoy their tea and play their games.
"Daoist friends, I intend to compile a book called Heavenly Dipper Spiritual Power, in accordance with the thirty-six Heavenly Dipper stars. It will record thirty-six great spiritual powers of the Primordial Wilderness. Would you be willing to support me?"
Tongtian tossed aside his chess piece and chided him with a laugh. "Well, look at you, Donghua! You want to use our spiritual powers to make a name for yourself. How shameless can you be?"
The others joined in, teasing Donghua for his thick skin.
"Come now, Daoist friends, you've misunderstood me. When I compile this book, I'll clearly credit the source of every spiritual power. It will become the fundamental collection of spiritual powers for our Immortal Dao."
"Once the book is complete, I'll give a copy to everyone whose name appears in it. Even if you don't need it yourselves, you can pass it on to your disciples."
"My teacher appointed me Head of Male Immortals, yet I've contributed nothing to the development of the Immortal Dao. I'm ashamed of that, which is why I'm asking for your help."
Only then did the others nod in approval.
Tongtian said, "That's more like it."
Fuxi said, "This is a great deed, Daoist friend."
Nuwa said, "It will bring great merit to the Immortal Dao."
Taizhen said, "Elder Brother, this is the bearing of a Saint."
Donghua sighed inwardly. These people were still too innocent. Once the book was compiled, he would indeed share it with them.
But in the end, he would be the one compiling it, so he would naturally receive a share of its fortune. Every additional person who cultivated these powers would bring him another measure of fortune. Little by little, it would add up.
Nuwa offered Mysterious Creation, Mending the Heavens, and Resurrection; Tongtian offered Chaos Yin Yang and Roaming the Spirit and Commanding Qi; Fuxi offered Foreknowledge of the Future; and Taizhen offered Flowers Bloom in an Instant, among others.
Donghua felt as if he'd won big!
Just then, Crown Prince Changqin, Qianyu, Duobao, Qing Niao, and Jinfeng arrived at the mountaintop.
Over the past few days, while Donghua and the others discussed the Dao and cultivated, these few had served them and gained tremendous benefits in return.
After exchanging greetings, Crown Prince Changqin said, "Emperor Lord, I've come today to say farewell. My father has given the order, and I must return."
Donghua nodded. "Go on, go on. Affinities arise and fade; all things come into being through causes and conditions, and when those conditions end, they fade away."
"Changqin, though you are of the Witch Clan, you have a compassionate, kind, and upright heart. You mustn't always heed your father's words. Bring your own principles to the Witch Clan, and help bring prosperity to the Primordial World and all its people."
Changqin bowed. "I will remember your teachings, Emperor Lord."
He then said farewell to Qianyu, Qing Niao, and the others, and left Southern Heaven.
Fuxi said, "He really doesn't seem like someone from the Witch Clan."
Donghua smiled. "He's a true Witch."
Fuxi was stunned. For a long while, he said nothing.
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