Refining the Dao into Oneself
Hahahaha----
A deep, resonant laugh suddenly rang out from the depths of the high-hanging sea of clouds, dispelling the suffocating silence and lingering aura of destruction between heaven and earth.
Amidst the laughter, those enormous eyes, which were originally cold, angry, and imbued with the indifference and tyranny of "Heaven's Will," rippled violently and dissipated like a punctured bubble, and the runes of the Principle of heaven and earth flowing within them quickly dimmed and collapsed.
In the blink of an eye, the awe-inspiring "Eyes of Heaven's Will's Will" lost all their brilliance, turning into two slowly dissipating halos of chaotic light.
Immediately afterwards, at the core of where the halo dissipated, the void rippled out like water.
A tall, imposing figure, like a god emerging from the ancient Savage Wilderness, took a step forward.
His bare upper body was muscular and bulging, like ancient dragons in slumber, containing explosive power.
His face was resolute, as if carved by an axe, his thick eyebrows like halberds, and his eyes seemed to hold the imagery of countless stars being born and dying, and the void being broken and reassembled.
An ancient, untamed, and domineering aura, yet imbued with a profound understanding of the ways of the world, naturally permeated the air, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.
It is indeed the Desolate Halberd Heaven-Rending True Lord!
Upon seeing that familiar figure, the last trace of hesitation in Qi Yun's eyes vanished, and the weight that had been hanging over his heart for so long finally lifted. He bowed slightly and said, "Disciple Qi Yun greets Desolate Halberd True Lord."
In fact, ever since he personally "experienced" the clearly emotional targeting and suppression of the "Heaven's Will" of that realm in the Azure Gate Realm, Qi Yun had planted a seed of doubt in his heart.
The Heaven's Will is the original will of Heaven and Earth, perfectly just and reasonable, without emotion or desire, maintaining balance, and rewarding and punishing with moderation.
However, the "Heaven's Will" of Azure Gate and Lingyong, these two realms, differ from their "perfectly just" nature in their style of action, emotional expression, and even the "humanized" choices in certain details.
Especially Lingyong 'Heaven's Will final "recruitment" and "turn against" of him.
It is more like an "individual" with independent likes and dislikes and the ability to calculate pros and cons, rather than a pure collection of rules.
Therefore, Qi Yun had long suspected that these two places, the so-called "Heaven's Will," were very likely not naturally formed, but rather—man-made.
With a single step, the Desolate Halberd True Lord arrived in the void, level with Qi Yun.
He did not immediately respond to Qi Yun's greeting, but instead used his deep, universe-like gaze to carefully scan Qi Yun.
Even with his vast knowledge and unwavering Daoist heart, a clear look of surprise flashed across Desolate Halberd True Lord's eyes upon seeing this.
He remembered clearly that when they parted ways, this boy was only in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Although he had a solid foundation and an extraordinary temperament, he ultimately did not amount to much.
However, now, in just about a hundred years, the person before me possesses a harmonious and profound Daoist aura, an aura as deep as the sea, and a restrained yet subtle divine light. His every movement resonates subtly with the Principle heaven and earth.
He has clearly already firmly established himself at the peak of the Great True Person Realm!
A hundred years, from the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage to the Peak Great True Person?
What an astonishingly rapid pace of progress!
Throughout the ancient history of Xuanhuang, those with such cultivation speed are extremely rare, and all of them possess extraordinary fortune.
A person of great karmic influence.
"Good lad!"
Desolate Halberd True Lord withdrew his gaze, his face revealing undisguised admiration, and his voice booming like a bell.
"In just a century, you've risen from the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage stage to this level. The speed of your cultivation advancement truly astonishes even me!"
Qi Yun bowed again with a humble expression, saying, "It is entirely thanks to the guidance and fortuitous opportunity bestowed upon me by the True Lord that I have made some progress."
Fortuitous opportunity everyone can have; whether you can seize them, and how many you can seize, depends on your own ability.
Desolate Halberd True Lord waved his hand, his gaze lingering for a moment on Qi Yun's calm yet sharp eyes.
"At such a young age, your cultivation is so high, your character so profound, and you've seized so many heavenly Creation. Don't follow the old path of the Wudao."
"The old path of the True Lord Wudao?" Upon hearing this, Qi Yun's gaze suddenly sharpened. He was about to ask about the intricacies of the matter when the Desolate Halberd True Lord waved his hand, clearly unwilling to discuss the topic further.
Let bygones be bygones.
The time is not yet ripe. Knowing more will not benefit you; it will only disturb your resolve.
The tone of the Desolate Halberd True Lord was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
He raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the heavens of Lingyong, looking into its depths. He then changed the subject. "Compared to this, since you can see through the 'illusion' of this realm's Heaven's Will, you must have made some guesses along the way, right?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yun composed himself, knowing that what was about to be discussed was the key point of the day.
He nodded slightly and pondered for a moment before saying, "This disciple's opinion is merely a presumptuous conjecture."
"These Six Realms Heaven, which are connected to the six external heavens, must all be your doing."
Desolate Halberd True Lord remained calm and said indifferently, "Actually, there are only five; the other one was obtained by chance."
His gaze fell upon Qi Yun again, carrying a sense of scrutiny and consideration. "Your cultivation has now reached the peak of the Great True Person Realm, and your temperament and wisdom have been evident in the events of this world."
"Some of the secrets of heaven and earth and the barriers to cultivation that can only be known at the True Lord level are indeed worthy of my attention."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yun's heart trembled slightly, and his expression immediately became solemn.
He knew that what he was about to say would touch upon the highest level of cultivation secrets in this world, the very foundation by which True Lord looked down upon all living beings and transcended worldly affairs.
He said no more, but simply sat up slightly, adopting a posture of attentive listening.
Without keeping him in suspense, Desolate Halberd True Lord casually waved his hand, and the chaotic void around him, which had not yet completely calmed down, the remaining tribulation clouds and lightning, and even the majestic scene of the divine palace below, instantly blurred and dissipated like a faded painting.
Instead, there was a familiar valley scene of tranquility and peace, with peach blossoms in full bloom and petals falling everywhere—the very peach grove where the two first met in the Wuji Sacred Sect.
The two were already seated facing each other on either side of an ancient stone table in the woods.
On the stone table, two cups of clear tea appeared out of nowhere, their fragrance wafting gently, exuding a Daoist aura.
Desolate Halberd True Lord picked up his teacup, took a sip, and gazed into the distance, as if traversing endless time and space. He slowly spoke, "To become True Lord, the primary task is not the accumulation of Law Power, nor the comprehension of Divine Ability abilities, but rather, one must first attain the Fruition Status."
Qi Yun nodded silently. Having already experienced the Dao-proving True Lord of the Youquan, he naturally knew the key to this.
"However, becoming True Lord and attaining the Dao Fruit is merely the beginning of another, much longer and more arduous journey of cultivation."
Desolate Halberd True Lord changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious.
"The path after True Lord lies in how to painstakingly and gradually peel away and refine this Dao Fruit, which was bestowed by Heaven and Earth and is closely connected with the Great Dao, from the embrace of Heaven and Earth."
Ultimately, it will be fully integrated into my own Dao Path, becoming the complete Dao Fruit.
"It is not the Dao Fruit within me."
"This process is called Refining the Dao into Oneself!"
Desolate Halberd True Lord put down his teacup, his gaze sharp as lightning, and looked at Qi Yun: "Do you know why this process was so incredibly difficult?"
Qi Yun had a vague understanding in his heart, and following the True Lord's words, he speculated. "It is because the Dao Fruit is formed by the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and also has a status bestowed by Heaven and Earth."
Forcibly refining or stripping away is tantamount to usurping the authority of heaven and earth and weakening heaven and earth's control over this path.
Therefore, it will inevitably attract the rejection and aversion of the fundamental will of heaven and earth.
"Good!"
Desolate Halberd True Lord nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"This child is teachable. The process of refining the Dao Fruit is a process of continuous confrontation, struggle, and contention between the True Lord and the origin of heaven and earth."
With each refinement of a Dao Fruit, one's control over the Great Dao deepens.
But the aversion and rejection from heaven and earth will also accumulate.
This "dislike" is not an emotion, but a resistance at the level of the Heavenly Dao order.
When accumulated to a certain degree, it will trigger a backlash from heaven and earth, which may result in stagnation of one's cultivation or even instability of Dao Fruit.
They might even be forcibly rejected and suppressed by the Principle of heaven and earth, or even have their Fruition Status forcibly seized!
Upon hearing this, a look of sudden realization flashed in Qi Yun's eyes.
So this is the greatest secret and danger on the path of cultivation for True Lord!
They are not high above or carefree.
Instead, it is constantly Dao Contention with "Heaven".
Every step forward could backfire!
"So----"
The tone of the Desolate Halberd True Lord carried a clear understanding that revealed the essence of things.
"Now you understand why the True Lord of the Xuanhuang Home Realm, despite having the foundations and lineages of their sects here, are mostly elusive and rarely reside in this realm. They often leave behind avatars or designated acting sect leaders to oversee things, while they themselves spend their years traveling, exploring, and even establishing separate abodes in the outer void and myriad worlds, right?"
Qi Yun a deep breath and slowly said, "It's not that the True Lord are unwilling to stay in the Xuanhuang Home Realm, which has the most abundant resources and the most complete lineage, to cultivate in peace."
Rather, it's because—in the Xuanhuang Home Realm, the [Heaven and Earth's Aversion] accumulated during their refining of Dao Fruit cannot be dispelled, and may even accumulate more rapidly due to their deep connection with the Realm.
Only by leaving Xuanhuang can one slowly cleanse and eliminate the [Heaven and Earth's Aversion] accumulated from refining the Dao Fruit.
Only after the [disgust] is cleared or reduced below the safety line can one return to Xuanhuang and continue to the next stage of refining.
"That's right." Desolate Halberd True Lord confirmed Qi Yun's conjecture, his gaze turning beyond the peach grove, as if he could see the vast and boundless myriad worlds.
"For us, Xuanhuang is home," it is our foundation, the place where our traditions lie, but it is also a cage, a source of pressure."
These celestial realms scattered throughout the void, whether naturally formed or secretly guided and shaped like mine, have become our True Lord relief valves, safe havens, and retreats for testing new methods, accumulating external skills, and exploring the path ahead.
"I see----"
Qi Yun muttered to himself, and many of the doubts in his heart suddenly became clear.
The "mystery," "etherealness," and "infrequent presence" of the True Lord conceal a cruel yet real essence of spiritual practice.
To Dao Contention with Heaven is to tread carefully at every step.
The so-called carefree life is nothing more than a helpless act beneath the surface.