The mechanisms of the birth and death of Chan Yinsha's water and Hong Yi, the profound meaning of Hong Yi's various contemplations, the nurturing charm of Jin Xun'er's compassion, and even the martial arts essence of the Dragon Elephant Dharma Seal for tempering the body—all these insights flowed, collided, and surged within his primordial spirit and Dao heart like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.
Using his unparalleled insight that transcends all realms as the framework and the vast foundation of the Shrouding Method as the furnace, these "stones from other mountains" from this world were rapidly decomposed and refined. Their essence was thoroughly understood, their quintessence was extracted, and then, with his Dao heart that had reached an inconceivable state, they were reinterpreted, sublimated, and integrated.
He was not a stingy person. Although the cultivation paths and realms displayed by the three people were far inferior to his, the unique perspectives and concrete explorations of the Great Dao of this world they contained did open a new window for him to observe the laws of this world more closely.
To give a peach in return for a plum in return is the natural order of things; this is the inherent principle of the cycle of life.
After about three breaths of silence, Li Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes. A primordial scene of chaos being created and stars reversing flashed in his eyes and then disappeared, finally returning to a deep and calm state.
His gentle light swept over the three people before him, and he spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet carrying a calming and soothing power. "The birth and death of water and thunder depend on a single thought; contemplating all phenomena is rooted in the Fortune of the mind; compassion nourishes us, originating from the light of our true nature."
" Marrow Training, ultimately returning to the reflection of qi and blood." Each of his words pointed to the core principles the three had just demonstrated. Then, his tone shifted slightly, a hint of detached confidence creeping into his voice, "Your paths are each unique, each with its own strengths. But do you know that above all these techniques and myriad realms of understanding, there exists a principle that governs their changes and determines their birth and death?"
Chan Yinsha's mind trembled slightly, as if she sensed something, but it was like trying to see flowers through a fog. She couldn't help but humbly inquire, "Senior, could the principle you speak of be a supreme law that transcends specific supernatural powers and methods? This junior is dull-witted; though I occasionally have a feeling, it's like the blind men and the elephant—I can't grasp its whole picture."
Hong Yi's eyes also shone brightly, as if sparks were flying. He recalled the "investigation of things to acquire knowledge" he pursued during his studies, which vaguely echoed what he was saying now. He couldn't help but bow and say, "Please enlighten me, senior. In my practice of various methods, I often feel that there is a common thread behind them, but it is always separated by a thin layer of paper, which I find difficult to break through."
Even Jin Xun'er raised her senses; though she was confused, she instinctively felt that what she was about to hear was something extraordinary.
Li Qingshan smiled slightly, not answering directly, but instead extending a finger. His fingertip emitted no light, yet it seemed to create some invisible ripple. "Look at this seawater." The crowd followed his fingertip and saw a drop of seawater lifted into the air by an invisible force. "In your eyes, it is water, capable of transforming into lightning, freezing into ice, nourishing all things, and also capable of capsizing boats. This is its use," he said, referring to its "appearance."
He paused, and the water droplet suddenly trembled slightly, a fleeting glimpse of a miniature galaxy rising and falling, of Yin-Yang shifting within it. "But what is the fundamental reason that drives its changes, determines why it is water and not fire, and how it can condense thunder into ice?"
All three fell silent in thought, vaguely sensing that they had touched upon a level they usually took for granted but had never deeply considered.
"Today, I will not tell you the specific tricks to condensing water into thunder, nor will I discuss the detailed diagrams of visualizing a certain deity or Buddha." Li Qingshan's voice suddenly became grand and ethereal, as if merging with the pulse of the surrounding heaven and earth. "The 'Dao' and 'Principle' I speak of are the fundamental veins and source laws that drive water and fire, manipulate stars, create and destroy the divine soul, and evolve all things."
After speaking, the Daoist voice resounded again.
The voice was still not loud, but it was like the resounding bell of Primordial Divine Mountain, each syllable seemingly striking directly at the listener's foundation of Tao and the origin of their soul;
The language remained concise, yet each sentence seemed to tear away the fog of appearances, revealing the true framework and structure that constitutes the operation of this world.
This is no longer about imparting a skill, but about revealing why power is power, why rules are rules, how the soul can resonate with heaven and earth, and what unknown deep mysteries lie within that resonance.
Some of the truths expounded in it even subtly touch upon the original foundations and fundamental laws of this world's cultivation system, which have become blurred or been obscured by the dust of history.
As he narrated, strange phenomena appeared and Daoist energy surged within this isolated little world:
In the Void, golden lotuses appeared out of nowhere, condensed from pure primordial energy and Dao principles. They slowly rotated, scattering golden light that entered the brows of those listening to the Dao.
In the eastern sky, a purple aura, like a dragon, meandered in. Although it manifested outside the barrier, its vast and auspicious meaning penetrated the barrier and permeated the area, bringing clarity to the mind.
Countless pure white, crystalline petals, seemingly both real and ethereal, drifted down like celestial flowers, transforming into a cool, refreshing Daoist energy upon touching the body, nourishing the spirit and flesh.
A spiritual spring seemed to echo from the seabed, faintly carrying the gurgling sounds of Daoism.
In an instant, golden lotuses appeared, purple mists rose from the east, celestial flowers rained down, and springs of Dao energy gushed from the earth. All sorts of mysterious and indescribable phenomena intertwined, making this place appear like an ancient Daoist temple, sacred and extraordinary.
Chan Yinsha, Hong Yi, Jin Xun'er, and even the thousand-year-old clam that was enveloped in the water sphere and whose intelligence had been awakened, were all immersed in the boundless Daoist rhyme and the Daoist mantra that pointed directly to the origin.
Chan Yinsha felt that many obscure and difficult points in her past cultivation, where she knew the "what" but not the "why," were now melted away like ice and snow after being touched by that great truth, and she suddenly understood.
In particular, the knowledge that thunder is not merely about violent destruction, but also contains the true meaning of "life Fortune " and "judgment order" at its core, as well as the principles of how the soul can more subtly sense and mobilize the power of heaven and earth at different levels, was like a wake-up call for her. The bottleneck of her Ghost Immortal immortality loosened dramatically, and her thoughts became increasingly clear and transparent.
Hong Yi was even more shocked.
His knowledge is quite diverse, encompassing Buddhism, demonism, martial arts, and other disciplines, which sometimes inevitably leads to conflicts or difficulties in integrating these different approaches.
Listening to Li Qingshan explain the essence of "power conception" from a higher dimension, the common core of different concepts, and the way of purity and change of the soul and thoughts, he seemed to see a clear direction to integrate what he had learned and walk his own path.
Many of the most mysterious and profound words in the scriptures now have tangible and real correspondences. Not only is the Yin Spirit more solid, but with each thought, a faint glimmer of its own unique "reason" shines forth.
Jin Xun'er had the least cultivation, but her intuition was sharp.
Although she could not fully understand those profound principles, the boundless vitality and gentle Daoist charm contained in the Great Dao's true words and the myriad phenomena in the sky naturally resonated with a certain deep-seated feeling in her blood.
Her demonic power flowed more smoothly, and the connection between her soul and body became closer. In her dazed state, she seemed to have a more genuine affinity for the word "cultivation."
The ancient clam, its shell slightly open, emitted a luminous white light that flickered rhythmically, as if breathing in harmony with the Dao. The moonlight essence accumulated within its shell was being purified and transformed on its own, with an efficiency far exceeding that of ordinary arduous cultivation by hundreds or thousands of times.
The sermon lasted for an hour, but for the listeners present, it was nothing short of a profound spiritual baptism and a deepening of their spiritual foundation.
The lingering sound of the Dao fades into silence.
The various strange phenomena, such as the golden lotuses filling the sky, the purple aura coming from the east, and the falling flowers, gradually faded away and returned to nothingness. Only the pure starlight that was drawn from the heavens remained, like gauze and mist, quietly falling and illuminating this sea area as if it were a dreamlike fairyland.
On the lotus platform, Chan Yinsha, Hong Yi, and Jin Xun'er had different expressions, but all of them had their eyes slightly closed and their auras were deep. They were obviously still immersed in the afterglow of the Great Dao that pointed directly to the origin, carefully savoring the layers of enlightenment ripples rising from the depths of their souls.
Li Qingshan didn't urge them, but simply watched them quietly.
As the tremor of profound understanding between the three gradually subsided and their aura returned to its harmonious state, he smiled slightly, his gentle light sweeping over them, his voice calm yet clear, reaching each of their ears. "In this discussion of the Dao, the methods and paths you three have described and expounded have, for me, been both interconnected and insightful. Such a connection is truly rare."
He paused slightly, allowing his words to settle in the hearts of the three before continuing, "The path of the Great Dao lies in sensing and responding. Since you have shown me your sincerity today, I should respond accordingly, so that this discussion under the starry night will not leave only an echo."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qingshan's gaze fell on Chan Yinsha, whose aura had completely changed.
There were faint electric sparks and swirling water vapor around her, clearly indicating that the sermon had benefited her the most and touched her the most.
A knowing glint flashed in Li Qingshan's eyes, and he nodded, saying, "Fellow Chan Yinsha."
Upon hearing the sound, Chan Yinsha immediately became solemn and looked over respectfully.
"You possess exceptional talent and a solid foundation in the arts of water and thunder," Li Qingshan said calmly, yet with a penetrating insight. "Your interpretations of the birth and death of water and thunder, and the Dharma form of the Thunder God, have already glimpsed the gateway to the fusion of these two systems of Dao. However!" He shifted his tone slightly, "While the gateway has been seen, once you've entered the inner sanctum, how do you strengthen the pillars, build the dome higher, and ultimately withstand heavenly tribulations and storms without wavering? This requires further refinement and practice."
With just a few words, he pointed out the subtlety of Chan Yinsha's current realm. She had reached the Peak of the Late Ghost Immortal Stage, and her future was clear, but she lacked the final step of thorough tempering and the opportunity for perfection.
Although he had only been in this world for a few hours, Li Qingshan's understanding and mastery of the two fundamental paths of "divine soul immortality" and "martial arts blood qi" in this world had already reached a profound level that Chan Yinsha and Shrouding Method could not imagine or reach. He saw through her true nature and needs at a glance.
Li Qingshan remained calm, raising his right hand as if plucking a flower, and gently guiding it towards the endless starry sky above.
This gesture seemed to touch an invisible string that draws the stars in the heavens.
The vast starlight, which had been evenly cascading and permeating the space, suddenly seemed to find an outlet, emitting a deep and melodious hum!
Visible to the naked eye, the wisps of silver light, moonlight, and the remaining essence of the sun, as well as the azure and Ziwei light of the deeper stars, all converged and collapsed towards his palm, instantly condensing into a pillar of light whose brilliance could not be described in words!