A Ruler

"The cultivation of the Gods-and-Devils path seeks to return one's bloodline to its ancestors. In the end, one cultivates a true Gods-and-Devils deity and returns to an innate true spirit—a fruition comparable to a Three-Calamity Golden Immortal."

"But from my observations, an innate true spirit is, in truth, a framework—a kind of authority. It does not necessarily have to be filled with numinous essence."

Zhao Cheng said.

"And if numinous essence is not involved, achieving that step requires one to continuously communicate with and adjust the bodily deity throughout one's entire body through intent. In fact, setting aside all the countless complexities, the cultivation manuals of every school and lineage that follows the Gods-and-Devils path are, in essence, likewise methods of communicating with the bodily deity."

"Among them, the standouts of the Gods-and-Devils path—the Pan Sovereign Undying Body, the Supreme One Infinite Body, the Myriad Beasts Gods-and-Devils Body—pursue unity of spirit and flesh. At later stages, these manuals even refine all one's spiritual will into the physical body, thus allowing one to devote oneself wholly to a single path."

"But in truth, humans are merely humans. There is no Gods-and-Devils bloodline within them. The Gods-and-Devils they ultimately become are no more than illusory Gods-and-Devils born from the union of numinous essence and human intent, borrowing nothing but the name of Gods-and-Devils."

"If numinous essence is cast aside, these manuals may be impossible to cultivate, but the principles within them still hold true."

"Oh, right. Ancient legends claim that if one simultaneously achieves a Three-Calamity Golden Immortal and an innate true spirit, then unites spirit and flesh, one can ascend directly to the Dao Lord realm. That legend is true."

Zhao Cheng spoke with great fluency.

As he spoke, Zhao Cheng directly demonstrated the bodily deity chapter of the Four Calamities