[Ding, host Lin Xian has issued a main quest: Explore the mysteries of "Dao Generates One." Please have System 10086 complete it as soon as possible.] [Ding, host Lin Xian has issued a side quest: Please unravel the ultimate secret of Spirit Summoning and Dispatching. Please have System 10086 complete it as soon as possible.]
System 10086 seemed to hear an illusory voice by their ear. All of a sudden, they had the feeling that they were the "reincarnator"—no, the "host."
But they knew it was an illusion.
Yet from that moment on, System 10086 began to reassess their host.
[Dao Generates One, One generates Two, Two generates Three, Three generates all things. All things bear yin and embrace yang, blending their qi to achieve harmony.]
This saying was widespread throughout the Myriad Realms. It could be found in nearly every Multiverse and could be called the foundation upon which the Dao Sect was established.
System 10086 knew this saying extremely well. They had merely stored this classic in their chip memory, buried deep at the bottom of their database.
Only when Lin Xian brought it up again did they vaguely grasp a trace of its profundity and gain an entirely new insight.
"Perhaps this is one of the reasons systems need to bind hosts."
System 10086 fell into thought. Rigid, mechanical systems bound hosts, observed hosts, absorbed their wisdom and humanity, and ultimately completed themselves.
For some reason, the system suddenly recalled a saying: when people lose their hearts, they become cold machines; when beasts shed their fur, they sit high above the world.
Had transmigrating into the Shrouding the Heavens Universe truly been nothing but an accident?
The system remained silent, listening to Lin Xian's explanation.
"The foundation of longevity for both True Immortals and Red Dust Immortals is Primordial Qi and Longevity Substance. One relies on heaven and earth, while the other relies on oneself. The latter is superior, forming an Immortal Realm of one's own."
"But longevity is longevity, and combat strength is combat strength."
"A Red Dust Immortal's combat strength far surpasses that of a True Immortal. Is that because of Longevity Substance? Of course not. The true difference lies in comprehending the Dao. Living long doesn't mean you can fight."
"Otherwise, the Immortal Emperor, who was born at the end of the Mythic Era, would have long since beaten to death Heavenly Emperor Ye, who was born after Desolate Antiquity."
Lin Xian spoke eloquently. "A divine person might comprehend ten thousand Great Daos in five hundred years, while a genius might comprehend one hundred Great Daos in fifty thousand years. Even if you gave that genius five hundred thousand years, they would only comprehend a thousand Great Daos. They would be destined to lose against that divine person who comprehended Myriad Dao in five hundred years."
"Then how should one comprehend the Dao?" System 10086 could not help asking. The Main System had never taught them such things, because they had once merely been consumable material for a low-level system. No one would pay excessive attention to standardized products on an assembly line. As long as their basic functions were not damaged, they could be deployed into the Myriad Realms.
"Dao Generates One, One generates Two, Two generates Three, Three generates all things. It is a process of creation. Everything our gaze reaches is among all things." Lin Xian pointed around the world, then said meaningfully, "What if we reverse that process?"
System 10086 immediately trembled. Reverse it? How could it be reversed?!
Destroy all things to see Three, destroy Three to see Two, destroy Two to see One, destroy One to see Dao.
This was a World-Ending path of great destruction and great annihilation.
It could be called evil, but it could not be called incorrect.
"Host, you seem a little extreme," System 10086 advised. They were a Check-In System, not a World-Ending System. They could not handle this kind of work.
"What are you thinking? Where would I get the power to end the world?" Lin Xian laughed, pointing outside. "The Great Dao lies in heaven."
"In the Ancient Immortal Era, both Primordial Essence Qi and Postnatal Essence Qi were abundant. Countless strands of immortal qi shrouded the Dao, leaving little of the Great Dao visible, so True Immortals had the weakest combat strength. By the Dharma-Ending Era, Primordial Essence Qi had been severed and Postnatal Essence Qi had grown thin. The Great Dao had crumbled and partially revealed itself, making it easier to comprehend. That was why Red Dust Immortals possessed such great combat strength."
"In the Age of Severed Spirits, both Primordial Essence Qi and Postnatal Essence Qi dissipated. Not a single cultivator remained, and the Great Dao collapsed—yet it was also entirely exposed."
"A Red Dust Immortal cultivated in such a realm might not be the strongest, but he would certainly be the fastest, because he had witnessed every Dao."
"And isn't the universe before us infinitely close to one where spirits have been severed? Its physical laws are stable to the extreme, allowing only the tiniest spells. Even if you pried open this world, the impact you caused would be minuscule."
"How could a universe like this not be cherished?"
"The Great Dao is visible at a glance. Perhaps that is the fundamental reason immortals of this world can attain immortality."
"Whether Red Dust Immortals, True Immortals, or One-Man Immortals, any immortal who can live forever is a good immortal."
System 10086 fell silent for a long time. They were considering something: their host's constitution was in the sixth tier, but his aptitude for comprehending the Dao was clearly not in the sixth tier. He was somewhat like Ruthless.
"Ding dong!"
A crisp, pleasant sound rang out. The progress bar reached one hundred percent, and the ultimate secret of Spirit Summoning and Dispatching had finally been unraveled.
"Bind divine spirits, dispatch the generals of the heart. So that was it."
"All immortal arts seek inward. Controlling the souls of others to gain power is certainly formidable, but it ultimately seeks outward—it is the path of gathering the masses."
"But the path of inner sanctity lies neither in spirits nor generals, but in binding and dispatching."
"To bind is to hook. Become a soul-hooking emissary, transform into Impermanence, and from then on, one may reach the Ninefold Netherworld."
"To dispatch is to indulge. When heart and spirit unite, indulge the Primordial Spirit, and from then on, one may transform into a divine spirit."
"You may call to heaven and have heaven answer, call to earth and have earth respond. This art reaches heaven and penetrates earth."
Lin Xian sat cross-legged on the ground. Rolling white smoke flowed from his eyes—it was his vital soul. Under the effects of Spirit Summoning and Dispatching, it left his body without dispersing. Then he visualized a divine spirit and suppressed it within his heart, making his body eternally firm and his Primordial Spirit undying.
"I am the Water God, I am the Water God..."
Lin Xian's mind fused with the deity he had visualized, dispatching his own heart general to aid him. In an instant, he sprang to his feet and danced with a wave of his hand. Water formed in the void, and a long river truly wound around his body like a flood dragon bowing beneath his feet and obeying his command.
At that moment, he seemed like the Water Earl and River God of mythic legend, able to command all waters beneath heaven. For a time, he truly grasped the divine ability to control water.
"So it is indeed!"
Lin Xian laughed loudly. Having mastered this art that reached heaven and penetrated earth, he changed the divine spirit again and silently recited in his heart, "I am Fire God Flame Emperor. I shall command all fires beneath heaven!"
Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus!
Eight Extremities Collapse!
Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Bodies!
Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art!
Great Desolate Imprisoning Heaven Finger!
After each shouted invocation, only a few sparks bloomed in the void. Other than that, there were no further phenomena.
"Still just an illusion?"
Lin Xian murmured, but he was not disappointed. Flame Emperor might be illusory in this world, but the Heavenly Emperor from another universe was unquestionably real.
It's decided, then! Come out, Ye Fan.
The heart general deity changed once more, becoming a supreme divine spirit: the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body.
"Host, this is no longer Spirit Summoning and Dispatching!" System 10086 could not help crying out. Stop! This was not one of the Eight Extraordinary Skills at all.
"No, this is Spirit Summoning and Dispatching."
Lin Xian revealed a brilliant smile, raised a thumbs-up, and said, "This is the super-evolved version of Spirit Summoning and Dispatching—Heavenly Emperor Stand-In! The true art of calling to heaven and having heaven answer, calling to earth and having earth respond."