Demon Master? Progenitor of Writing! A Gathering of Sages Discussing Yin and Yang

Kunpeng came back to his senses. Looking at the spiritual tea curling with mist atop the table, he gritted his teeth, swept his sleeve, and produced a great heap of items, laying them neatly across the hall. They were all spiritual fruits, immortal blossoms, and rare treasures unique to the North Sea's depths.

Though they could not compare to top-tier treasures such as innate spiritual roots or supreme spiritual treasures, they were rare and scarce, requiring exceptionally harsh conditions to grow.

Since the Dragon-Han Calamity had ended, the spiritual currents of heaven and earth had shifted, and the environment itself had changed drastically. Such spiritual materials had become increasingly difficult to find.

For him to bring out so many, he had clearly spent tremendous effort gathering and preparing them.

Kunpeng once more cupped his hands and bowed to Lingxiao. A somewhat embarrassed smile tugged at the corner of his mouth beneath his hooked nose, while unease remained plain on his face. "Please forgive my inadequacy, Fellow Daoist. My fortune is shallow, and I possess little of worth. I only have these humble North Sea specialties. As Fellow Daoist is soon to be wed, I prepared a few meager gifts for use at the wedding feast, as a small token of my regard."

Lingxiao was briefly stunned, then chuckled. "Fellow Daoist, you are thoughtful. I shall accept this sentiment."

Even Xihe, who had always been cool and aloof, softened somewhat, nodding faintly at Kunpeng.

Changxi's almond eyes immediately lit up. Happily rising to her feet, she put away the spiritual fruits and rare treasures one by one. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Kunpeng! These North Sea spiritual fruits are especially crisp and pure. They are perfect for brewing spiritual wine for the wedding feast!"

After some pleasantries and three rounds of tea, the atmosphere in the hall gradually eased.

Yet Kunpeng's expression shifted again and again. His withered fingers clenched and loosened atop the table, then loosened and clenched once more. He was visibly fidgety, as if he wanted to speak but could not bring himself to do so.

Seeing how restless he was, Lingxiao could not help smiling. "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, you presumably did not come today merely to deliver these wedding gifts. If there is something you wish to say, speak freely. If it is within my ability to help, I will naturally not refuse."

Those words seemed to give Kunpeng immense courage.

He suddenly gritted his teeth. No longer caring for the dignity of an innate sacred being, he rose abruptly and gave Lingxiao a deep bow. "Fellow Daoist sees clearly. I truly do have an unreasonable request to make today, and I hope Fellow Daoist can offer me some guidance!"

"Earlier, Fellow Daoist established the Twelve Earthly Branches and set the temporal order of heaven and earth. By drawing upon the power of the stars, you stirred the Heavenly Dao into bestowing immeasurable merit. In all the Primordial World, if Fellow Daoist ranks second in the art of planning for merit, only the Dao Ancestor would dare call himself first."

"In Fellow Daoist's opinion, is there some path suitable for me, one that would allow me to seek a share of merit as well?"

After speaking, he remained bowed, lifting his eyes anxiously toward Lingxiao. His triangular eyes were filled with longing and unease, as though he feared Lingxiao would refuse outright.

He could only sigh to himself.

Merit was useful in every way, and for any cultivator, the more of it, the better. Even if Lingxiao truly knew of a reliable path to merit, why would he casually share it with an outsider?

Putting himself in Lingxiao's place, if he himself had found such an opportunity, he would surely keep it secret and never reveal it to anyone else.

Unless paths to gaining merit were as plentiful as hairs on a cow—but how could that possibly be?

At that thought, Kunpeng had already prepared himself to gain nothing and leave empty-handed.

Hearing this, Lingxiao gently rubbed the warm jade tea cup between his fingers as thoughts raced through his mind.

He first thought of how he had previously enlightened Nuwa to mold clay and create humanity, glimpsing an opportunity for boundless merit.

Then he thought of Dao Ancestor Hongjun's painstaking resolve to protect the Primordial World, even at the cost of merging himself with the Dao to mend heaven.

He further considered that this was not the later age. Heaven and earth had only recently opened, the Great Dao was incomplete, and opportunities to seek merit were as numerous as hairs on a cow. Even with heaven-reaching abilities, he could not personally handle every matter.

In that case, perhaps there was no harm in guiding Kunpeng, who had come sincerely seeking instruction.

After all, he would be the one proposing the opportunity. Even if he did not personally act, once the matter succeeded, he could still receive a share of Heavenly Dao merit.

It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement for them both.

With that thought, Lingxiao looked at the bowed Kunpeng and smiled faintly. "Please rise, Fellow Daoist. As it happens, there truly is a path to merit in this Primordial World that is particularly suited to you."

Kunpeng abruptly raised his head. A sharp gleam burst from his triangular eyes, and his anxious heart instantly leaped into his throat. He hurriedly asked, "Please speak plainly, Fellow Daoist! If I can obtain this opportunity, I will never forget Fellow Daoist's great kindness for the rest of my life!"

Lingxiao set down his tea cup. His tone was calm, yet every word accorded with the profound truth of the Great Dao. "Does Fellow Daoist know what in this Primordial World is best able to connect heaven and earth, expound the Great Dao, establish order, and resolve conflict?"

Without waiting for Kunpeng's answer, he continued.

"Writing. The Great Dao is formless, and oral transmission will eventually fade. Only through writing can the formless Great Dao be turned into tangible symbols, allowing the principles of heaven and earth to be passed down through countless generations."

"The myriad races of the Primordial World stand side by side—scaled creatures, feathered creatures, beasts, aquatic tribes. Every race possesses symbols of inheritance, yet due to differences in form and origin, their scripts have developed into separate systems that cannot communicate with one another. When speech cannot be understood and writing cannot be read, estrangement arises. When estrangement endures, conflict follows. Countless needless slaughters begin from this."

He paused slightly, then slowly expounded the Great Dao significance of writing, his words profound and mysterious.

"One character can explain heaven and earth; one text can carry the Great Dao."

"To write 'heaven' is to draw in the pure spirit of the nine firmaments. To write 'earth' is to contain the deep virtue of the fertile land. To speak 'life' is to embrace the vitality of creation. To say 'destruction' is to conceal the ultimate principle of slaughter."

"Writing is the key to breaking ignorance, the bridge connecting to the Great Dao, and the foundation for dissolving conflict."

"If Fellow Daoist can create a system of writing that all living beings of the Primordial World can use, unify the inheritances of the myriad races, erase barriers of language, and reduce needless slaughter, it will be a great merit that benefits every spirit in the Primordial World. Its importance may not be inferior to establishing the Twelve Earthly Branches."

The scope of these words had already far surpassed Kunpeng's original destined path, where he would merely create writing for the Demon Race and unify its many tribal branches.

Instead, they encompassed all living beings of the Primordial World and pointed directly to the very root of enlightenment and civilization.

Boom!

Kunpeng had always been extraordinarily intelligent. Hearing this was like being struck by lightning. His mind boomed, and in an instant, everything became clear.

Over the years, while dwelling in the North Nether's deep sea, he had often witnessed the various sea demon tribes fight viciously over trivial resources because their writing differed and their inheritances conflicted. Year after year, they slaughtered one another, and blood feuds only deepened.

If a common script could truly allow them to exchange knowledge, pass down cultivation methods, and blend their cultures, it could indeed reduce some meaningless slaughter!

"So that's how it is! So that's how it is!" Kunpeng murmured. The light in his eyes grew ever brighter, while all his former unease vanished, leaving only understanding.

Seeing this, Lingxiao added, "Of course, the scripts of the myriad races each have their own subtleties. Fellow Daoist need not work in isolation."

"You may first draw from the inherited scripts of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans. As the saying goes, 'Dragon Script, Phoenix Seal Script, Qilin Tablet.' The Dragon Clan has Dragon Script, the Phoenix Clan has Phoenix Seal Script, and the Qilin Clan has Qilin Tablet."

"In those days, the three clans ruled sea, land, and sky, standing as the overlords of the Primordial World. Their scripts carried the fortune of heaven and earth and accorded with the principles of the Great Dao, possessing exceptional merits. Fellow Daoist can take these three as a foundation, absorb the essence of the myriad races' scripts, discard the dross, and preserve the refined. Only then can this common script be created."

If Kunpeng could truly unify all writing and create a script suited for all living beings, then he would not be a Demon Master, but the Primordial World's Progenitor of Writing!

"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist! I will never forget Fellow Daoist's great kindness!" Kunpeng could no longer suppress the excitement and gratitude in his heart. He gave Lingxiao another deep bow, completely convinced.

At that moment, a clear voice announcing a visitor suddenly came from outside Lingxiao Palace. It pierced through the golden flame barrier and entered the hall distinctly. "Donghua of Purple Palace Isle has come to visit Fellow Daoist Lingxiao. I apologize for disturbing your quiet cultivation and hope for your indulgence."

Everyone was taken aback. Lingxiao immediately rose with a smile. "So it is Fellow Daoist Donghua. Quickly, invite him in!"

Before long, the dignified Eastern King Lord, dressed in Daoist robes, entered the hall. Seeing everyone gathered within and catching the lingering resonance of Lingxiao's discussion on the Great Dao of writing, his interest was immediately piqued. He simply joined them, and as inspiration arose, they discussed the Great Dao together.

At the gathering for Dao discussion, Kunpeng spoke first of the Daos of wind and water, describing the rising and falling tides of the North Nether and the soaring sweep through the nine heavens, where wind and water aided one another and gave rise to endless wondrous principles.

Eastern King Lord followed with the Pure Yang Dao and Jia Wood Vitality. He spoke of Donghua's lesser yang energy, commanding the male immortals and bringing forth the myriad spirits: pure yang that never extinguished, vitality that never ceased.

Xihe and Changxi then spoke together of the Lunar Dao and Ren Water Origin. They described the waxing and waning moon, its cold radiance nourishing the world, lunar yin condensing into form, and weak waters concealing hidden potential.

Finally, taking the Sun Dao and Fire Element Origin as the core, Lingxiao gradually unfolded a Great Dao framework with yin and yang as its guiding principle and the five elements as its body. Every word accorded with the origin of heaven and earth, leaving all who listened utterly enthralled.

When Lingxiao's voice finally fell silent, the lingering Dao resonance in the hall remained for a long while, and the entire chamber was quiet.

Kunpeng and Eastern King Lord suddenly rose to their feet and gave Lingxiao a deep bow, their eyes filled with admiration.

At the side, Xihe's cool phoenix eyes rippled with tenderness and pride that could not be concealed.

Changxi's almond eyes shone like stars. Her hands clutched the hem of her skirt, and her little face was filled with undisguised worship and delight. She felt that her elder brother was simply the most remarkable being in all the Primordial World.

After the formalities, they took their seats again. Yet Eastern King Lord's face showed a trace of hesitation. After wavering for a moment, he finally cupped his hands toward Lingxiao and asked, "Fellow Daoist sees through heaven and earth and understands the Great Dao. There is one matter that still puzzles me, and I wish to seek Fellow Daoist's guidance—"

"What does Fellow Daoist Lingxiao think of Dao Ancestor Hongjun appointing Fellow Daoist Xihua and me as the leaders of the male and female immortals?"