Learn the Wondrous Dharma, Comprehend Kun's Terrain

Li Zhengyuan focused completely, free of distraction, carefully comprehending the mysteries within. As time passed, he slowly began to perceive the deeply hidden wonders within Heaven and Earth.

Qian symbolized the vast and boundless sky. As the ancient saying went: "Heaven moves with vigor; thus the gentleman strives unceasingly for self-improvement." The sky was immense and limitless, its movement strong and vigorous, never stopping. This, too, enlightened people that they should possess the spirit to strive upward and press forward bravely.

Kun, on the other hand, represented the broad, solid earth. As the saying went, "Kun's terrain is receptive; thus the gentleman carries all things with abundant virtue." The earth bore all things, generous and all-embracing. Such virtue was precisely what a gentleman ought to emulate and pursue.

Between heaven and earth, there existed a kind of qi known as Yu Dan Wuliang Xuanhuang Yuanqing Lingyi Huang Yandao.

It originated at the dawn of chaos. It was an innate life-force qi that accorded with the way of heaven and earth.

This qi transformed without end. Its vitality arose from Jade Radiance in the east, while three dancing streams of spiritual radiance rose from the Kunlun Mountains in the west. Its name echoed the mysterious clear notes above the Nine Heavens, while resplendent five-colored light surrounded it like brocade clouds.

Within a net far removed from the clamor of the mundane world, mysterious divine lamps shone, and seven kinds of pure light illuminated Dark Nether in the north. It drifted lightly upward to the border of the Upper Pure Realm, displaying a majestic bearing as noble as an emperor's.

The moment Li Zhengyuan gained enlightenment, he knew that the newcomer's origins were extraordinarily great. Half of its origin had actually been evolved from the Earthly Dao. No wonder Li Zhengyuan found this qi's aura strangely familiar. The two had originally shared the same root and source, passed down through one lineage!

At this moment, the Heaven-Earth Daoist was personally demonstrating Daoist arts for Li Zhengyuan.

There were two reasons for this. First, Li Zhengyuan was his junior. Second, when he saw that Li Zhengyuan harbored doubts in his heart, he decided to help him unravel them by displaying the Heaven-Earth Dao.

This way, so long as Li Zhengyuan could discern the profound mechanisms within, all his questions would naturally be solved as easily as a blade cutting through bamboo.

Once Li Zhengyuan understood, his face filled with shame, and he was about to bow with clasped hands when the Heaven-Earth Daoist said, "No need. You little one, you truly are amusing. How much of my Heaven-Earth Dao do you think you have learned?"

Li Zhengyuan replied confidently, "About thirty percent. Once I fully comprehend it, I should reach seventy or eighty percent, enough to enter the hall and ascend the chamber."

"Your comprehension is not bad. Back then, I met your female cultivator and saw that her heart in pursuing the Dao was unshakable, so I bestowed a method upon her. Yet she only comprehended ten or twenty percent of it."

Filled with doubt and the thirst for knowledge, Li Zhengyuan once again fired several questions at the Heaven-Earth Daoist in quick succession. The Heaven-Earth Daoist merely smiled and patiently, meticulously answered each of them, occasionally offering crucial pointers and guidance.

Once every question had been resolved, the Heaven-Earth Daoist nodded slightly and said that he needed to head elsewhere to repair the damaged earth veins. After all, although Li Zhengyuan had done his utmost, his cultivation was relatively limited. At present, he had repaired only one-twentieth of the immense and complex earth-vein system near Undying Volcano.

Seeing how warmhearted the Heaven-Earth Daoist was—not only answering so many of his questions, but also willing to travel tirelessly everywhere to repair the earth veins—Li Zhengyuan could not help feeling deeply grateful. At the same time, he realized that this might be a rare opportunity to learn and grow, so he readily expressed his willingness to accompany him. Thus, the two set out together on the long journey of repairing the earth veins.

Time flowed on, and several million years hurried past. During those years, Li Zhengyuan and the Heaven-Earth Daoist tirelessly traveled through every region, striving to restore vitality to the damaged earth veins. With the wondrous Earth Book and his partial comprehension of Heaven-Earth Dao Intent, Li Zhengyuan's speed in repairing earth veins was not slow. Yet whenever he witnessed the Heaven-Earth Daoist's methods, he could not help feeling inferior.

The Heaven-Earth Daoist merely raised a finger and casually pointed a few times. The shattered, twisted earth veins seemed to be granted life, slowly shifting and stretching. Immediately afterward, the configuration of the earth veins underwent subtle movements and transformations, as though an enormous painting were being redrawn stroke by stroke. Before long, the miasma that had filled the surroundings gradually dispersed without a trace, replaced by abundant, dense earth qi filling the area once more.

Once the repairs were complete, the Dao of Heaven bestowed praise again and sent down merit. Li Zhengyuan received several hundred mu of Dark-Yellow Merit, filling him with joy. The Heaven-Earth Daoist received even more, causing the auspicious cloud above his head to grow several sizes larger.

When the two parted, the Heaven-Earth Daoist called Li Zhengyuan over once more and lightly pointed at him. Then he vanished abruptly, leaving behind only the words, "Take care of yourself," which lingered in the air for a long while.

After sighing with emotion, Li Zhengyuan discovered that many things had appeared in his mind—complex and difficult to understand, profound and unfathomable. Li Zhengyuan knew that the Heaven-Earth Daoist was transmitting the Dao to him, so he knelt and bowed toward the direction in which the Heaven-Earth Daoist had departed.

"Many thanks, Teacher, for the grace of transmitting the Dao. This humble Daoist shall never forget it for the rest of his life!"