Zhang Yu nodded to Daoist Ming Zhou and said, "I'll trouble Fellow Daoist Ming Zhou to relay the message."
Daoist Ming Zhou bowed once more, then vanished along with the Clear Vault Aura.
Zhang Yu said to Yan Ruohan and Daoist Zhengqing, "With me here, the two of you may return to the court first and report."
Yan Ruohan and Daoist Zhengqing gave him a clasped-hand salute. As golden light descended from above, they left the grand formation one after the other.
After the two of them, the many Profound Venerables also departed in succession. Before leaving, every one of them solemnly gave him a Daoist salute.
Zhang Yu stood silently within the formation hub, watching everyone return. Once all had left, the great formation became utterly empty. Within the void, only those starlights that seemed to have existed since time immemorial continued to glitter.
At that moment, a figure silently appeared at his side and said, "Whether it is Upper Firmament Heaven or Huanyang, their Dao methods still cannot escape the old rut of the past. Later generations of disciples can only walk the paths laid down by their predecessors. Even if they cultivate superior methods, they are merely Dao within Dao, not the Great Dao."
Zhang Yu said evenly, "By your reasoning, then are not those who followed you into the Dao of Chaos also walking Dao within Dao?"
Huo Heng said, "That is not so. The Dao of Chaos does not follow the old, conservative path. Perhaps foolish and clumsy people would imitate every step, but those endowed with superior talent can naturally open a path of their own."
Zhang Yu did not continue the discussion with him. Instead, he stood with his sleeves behind his back and gazed into the distant void.
Huo Heng said meaningfully,