The heart that sought the Dao, the Stele of the Great Dao

Rumble...

As the fragments of the Heaven Beyond Heaven fell into the Long River of Time, all the Dao Proving One also disappeared from the Purple Firmament Palace.

The whole process seemed long, but in reality it only took a few breaths, so fast that most of the Dao Proving One didn't even realize what was happening.

When Li Boyang actually appeared in this Heaven Beyond Heaven.

Looking across the entire Heaven Beyond Heaven, only the half-ruined Purple Firmament Palace remained, standing precariously in the void. "I'm finally free!"

Standing on the only remaining section of the stone tablet, the Dao Ancestor smiled as he gazed at Li Boyang in the distance.

Not far from the two, Xiluo, contrary to her usual behavior, remained silent and even took the initiative to pull back Lü Yan, who seemed to want to say something.

Although she hadn't known Dao Ancestor for very long, Xiluo had already glimpsed his Dao Ancestor nature.

The pool was neither a certain aspect of Li Boyang nor his peak state, but something purer and more transparent. Thanks to her understanding of Li Boyang, Xiluo felt that this Dao Ancestor was closer to his true self than his pool incarnation.

Especially his air of complete control yet silent demeanor infuriated Xiluo, as if she were truly seeing Li Boyang. "Relief?"

Faced with the Dao Ancestor's words, Li Boyang raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.

The next second, Li Boyang broke through the void and appeared instantly on the remaining stone tablet, facing the Dao Ancestor.

"You actually think that way?"

"As my seeker of the Way, I thought you would treasure this ' Stele of the Great Dao '?"

Li Boyang's words, which revealed the true nature of the Dao Ancestor, surprised the only two bystanders present.

Xiluo's expression was one of sudden realization and surprise, while Lü Yan's was more of a mixture of astonishment and bewilderment.

"Stele of the Great Dao? A heart seeking the Way?"

Regarding the former, Lü Yan had a vague feeling when he came into contact with the fragment.

Holding the fragment, Lü Yan felt as if he had grasped the very essence of Sword Dao, a profound understanding even more profound than [Lucid Sword Heart]. However, Lü Yan never imagined that the Dao Ancestor who granted him this fortuitous opportunity would be Li Boyang's yearning for the Dao?

But what's more important now is, what does Li Boyang plan to do?

Thinking of this, Lü Yan, who was also an incarnation, trembled and couldn't help but look at the Dao Ancestor again.

Xiluo did the same thing as Lü Yan; she also felt a sense of unease, her gaze constantly sweeping between Li Boyang and Dao Ancestor.

However, Xiluo ultimately stood on Li Boyang's side, forcing herself to ignore the existence of the Dao Ancestor.

If Xiluo's initial opposition stemmed from her fear that Li Boyang Dao Proving enlightenment and face certain death...

After experiencing all these events and witnessing everything Li Boyang did in his pursuit of the Dao, Xiluo ultimately chose to let go. Although she still couldn't understand Li Boyang's obsession with transcendence, or why he would give up his current life for the sake of the Dao, as a friend and family member, Xiluo had gradually begun to understand and support his choice, moving beyond her initial anger and stubbornness. "If I were still your incarnation, I would naturally cherish this ' Stele of the Great Dao,' which records Three Thousand Great Daos and eight hundred side paths," the Dao Ancestor, gazing at Li Boyang with a complex expression. He had long been prepared for this outcome.

"But from the moment you decided to separate me from you, I ceased to be your embodiment."

"I have a desire to seek the truth, but I also have selfish motives."

At this point, the Dao Ancestor paused slightly.

"You were born as a human being, experiencing the seven emotions and six desires, and the myriad aspects of life, before deciding to seek transcendence through the Tao."

But what about me?

"I have been incomplete from the beginning. I only have the obsession with seeking the Way, but I don't know why I am seeking the Way."

The Dao Ancestor sighed deeply, and for the first time, a sense of resentment and anger as a "human being" appeared on his face, and this emotion was highly targeted.

At the very least, Li Boyang clearly hadn't expected the Dao Ancestor to have such thoughts.

Now that I'm returning to you, it's actually a relief for me.

"In this way, I no longer need to struggle with whether I am your seeker of the Way or a truly independent individual."

For Dao Ancestor, if he were merely pursuing the Dao like Li Boyang, then he would naturally be fixated on transcendence.

However, the crux of the problem is that he was no longer a pure seeker of the Way; his heart had been mixed with his desires as an individual. "So that's how it is. This is the liberation you speak of!"

Having understood the Dao Ancestor's entire thought, Li Boyang looked at the Stele of the Great Dao beneath his feet with a slightly melancholy expression.

This Stele of the Great Dao is not a Law Treasure.

However, as a tool for Li Boyang to Dao Proving path, it is an object of great commemorative value.

"Baby..."

Just then, Xiluo finally couldn't help but frown and interrupt their conversation.

Smiling, Li Boyang turned to look at Xiluo, gestured for her to be quiet, and then turned back to the Dao Ancestor with a smile.

"Unfortunately, you probably won't get your wish."

"I'm not here to smash the Stele of the Great Dao, nor to reclaim you."

"Your understanding of cause and effect is too superficial. Ever since I entrusted this Heaven Beyond Heaven to you, the cause and effect between us has been severed." Before he finished speaking, Li Boyang suddenly waved his sleeve at the Dao Ancestor.

With expressions of astonishment, bewilderment, and disbelief, the Dao Ancestor was directly shaken off the stone tablet and, like the other Dao Proving One, fell into the chaotic Long River of Time.

"Since you've harbored selfish desires and wish to experience the seven emotions and six desires, and the myriad aspects of human life, then go and try it yourself, becoming human!" Under Li Boyang's smiling gaze, the Dao Ancestor was not only swept into the Long River of Time, but also suffered the backlash from the [Jade Disc of Creation]. His power weakened at a visible rate...

The physical body is also shrinking at a rate visible to the naked eye...

When he finally fell into the Long River of Time, the original Dao Ancestor had become a white-haired, white-browed boy.

Having witnessed the entire change, Lü Yan was so nervous that she didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Lü Yan was not afraid of death. Having attained enlightenment as a "Sword Immortal," Lü Yan had the ambition and courage to defy fate, but he never wanted to suffer the same undeserved calamity as the Dao Ancestor.

"Perfect, you can also get rid of the title ' Dao Ancestor ' and have a name that truly belongs to you."

Li Boyang didn't care whether the Dao Ancestor could hear his final words; he simply stared at the ever-churning Long River of Time below, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

The [Jade Disc of Creation], which had been swirling upside down in the sky, unknowingly fell behind his head, making him appear almost divine. "To seek the Dao, one must first relinquish the heart that seeks the Dao."

"Riding an ox to find another ox, change is all around you; let everything follow its natural course, and you will find the ultimate truth."