In the end, it was only after Li Xingkong described his more than ten encounters with the Celestial Venerable that the two stopped.
As for inquiring about the appearance of the Celestial Venerable, neither of them uttered a word.
Even with their combined strength, they could immediately sense if someone depicted them in images or scrolls, let alone the Celestial Venerable.
It's likely that he walked right out of the projection as soon as it appeared.
They certainly revered the Celestial Venerable, but they were also like Lord Ye who loved dragons but was terrified of them. Since they had no real business to attend to, it would be bad if they displeased the Celestial Venerable.
Having traveled through this parallel world, Li Xingkong has come to realize the gap between himself and these top figures in the cultivation world.
Moreover, he also deeply realized that more concepts are not necessarily better.
Multiple concepts may be combined to create a connection, making the effect of 1+1 far greater than 2, but the key to cultivation lies in the mastery of concepts.
Whether it was the Nether River or the Celestial Venerable, their concepts were not as complex as Li Xingkong's, but the aura they exuded left Li Xingkong with no strength to defend himself.
This is the difference between being refined and being broad.
Both have promising prospects, but the problem is that mastering something only requires seclusion and introspection, while pursuing a broader path requires risking one's life and seeking knowledge everywhere.
It's true that Flying Cloud Pass has Concept Bead, and Li Xingkong used them all.
However, the blessing from these few beads is far from enough to qualify as "broad-minded".
Since he began cultivating, Li Xingkong has felt the long-lost sensation of having his cultivation resources restricted.
The last time I had this feeling was when I was still struggling to create Spiritual Qi.
However, while it's easy to create Spiritual Qi from nothing, obtaining more Concept Bead is as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Either go to the front lines to slay immortals, or cultivate diligently to comprehend the Dao. Concepts are unique; there are no other ways to acquire them.
If you encounter problems in pursuing knowledge, there's no need to obsess over them.
Changing direction and taking a few steps towards further improvement is also a good option.
Once I had mastered the concepts of defense, attack, and Traversal, I would have the confidence to go to the front lines.
Wasn't that exactly what the Celestial Venerable said to himself?
The paths and lanes stretch endlessly, making it difficult to distinguish between them.
Going in any direction doesn't matter; if one path is blocked, just try another.
Having made up his mind, Li Xingkong prepared to continue his seclusion and study the concepts he had already acquired.
But just as he was finished making preparations, good news arrived.
The Concept Bead from the Jade Void Base, as well as those from several other checkpoints in different directions, have all been delivered.
These beads were originally stored in various locations at the garrison and checkpoints, occupying a rather awkward position.
Use it, though. Nobody wants to use this thing anyway, but keeping it means risking the original owner taking it away. It's a case of being neither useful nor worth throwing away.
Li Xingkong made his request, and finally, all those beads found a place to go.
Li Xingkong received the news, along with several boxes.
Upon opening the box, several Concept Pearl lay inside.
Li Xingkong counted them; there were 12 in total.
They've struck it rich.
Of course, not all Concept Pearl are so complete; nearly half of the beads have incomplete concepts.
But for Li Xingkong, being disabled is fine...
Even a small, incomplete concept can bring Li Xingkong a significant boost.
A complete concept can be used for in-depth research, but even a fragmented one, if it's just hanging there, can add to one's strength.
Li Xingkong put away the several Concept Bead with a delighted expression.
Preparing for seclusion, and with a new pearl in hand, what are you waiting for?
It's a match made in heaven; even the Heavenly Capital seem to be sending him into seclusion, don't they?
Having such thoughts was like adding fuel to the fire for Li Xingkong, and his desire to go into seclusion only intensified.
Back in his laboratory, Li Xingkong laid out the beads and began to pick and choose.
First, I eliminated the broken beads, leaving a few intact ones in my hand.
As if he had thought of something, Li Xingkong also brought out the Seven Emotions he had not yet mastered.
However, just as he was about to choose a refining flower, Li Xingkong hesitated for a moment.
Seeing so many Concept Pearl almost made Li Xingkong lose his mind.
His original intention in going into seclusion was to refine his existing concepts; however, acquiring a few more beads almost made him forget what he was supposed to be doing.
Did these beads improve upon themselves after fusing? Of course they did.
But if you encounter an opponent you can't beat to begin with, will having a few more of these stones be of any use?
That's not necessarily true.
Unless you encounter a completely counter-attribute, no matter how many beads you have, they won't be of any use.
The previous encounters with Liu Shinian, as well as the standoff between Li Xingkong and Nether River, have already illustrated this point.
He needs to refine his existing concepts before he can make substantial progress in combat capability.
I've already assessed my current state as someone who's broad but not deep, and it's something I need to address promptly.
Thinking of this, Li Xingkong glanced at the beads again, then put them into his pocket.
What's the rush?
Since we already have everything, we can combine it whenever we want, so why rush to consume it all at once?
Having adjusted his mindset, Li Xingkong focused his attention and began to introspect on the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree within his conceptual state.
To truly excel, one should choose one area to study; there is absolutely no reason to research multiple concepts simultaneously.
While multitasking is not difficult for immortals, focusing all their attention on studying a single concept is the optimal solution.
Since he wanted to improve, Li Xingkong's first choice was naturally his current foundation—the Dao of Dao Evolution.
This Dao Evolution is my core concept now, so it naturally has the highest priority.
Li Xingkong immediately entered a state of deep study, focusing all his attention on understanding the concept.
The Dao of Dao Evolution, though complex, is actually quite similar to the concepts of fusion, convergence, and inclusiveness, but it is even somewhat Distortion compared to these concepts.
After all, the Calamity Ash was not a natural product, but rather the embers produced during a battle that had lasted for an unknown period of time, so its concept naturally carries a sense of entanglement.
If concepts could be personified, then Dao Evolution Yan would definitely have some yandere (obsessive/obsessive) traits.
Understanding the properties inherent in a concept is undoubtedly very useful for in-depth study of that concept.
After completing the first analysis, Li Xingkong's comprehension of the concept was greatly enhanced, reaching an even higher level.
As Li Xingkong's understanding deepened, he became increasingly adept at applying this concept.
Previously, Li Xingkong only used the concept of Dao Evolution to construct his own system, but he never used it on an external level. After all, this concept is more of an auxiliary one and has nothing to do with attack or defense.
But at this moment, Li Xingkong mastered a new way to use it.
He can use the concept of Dao Evolution to Distortion and condense all concepts within the range of his Divine Sense into physical entities.
Whether it's a naturally existing concept or an attack from other Human Immortal, as long as Li Xingkong can perceive it, he can transform it into some kind of tangible substance, thus rendering it harmless.