Chapter 487: Seeking Guidance from the Dao Ancestor

Chapter 487: Seeking Guidance from the Dao Ancestor

The Grand Ethereal Dream Dao and the Supreme Dao, one illusory and the other solid, could also be seen as one soft and the other firm. They appeared to be independent of each other, but in reality, they should be one and the same.

"Both the Dream Dao and the Supreme Dao originate from the Grand Cyan, so to speak. It seems that the Grand Cyan has conceived a new idea for the martial path."

Even Li Xuan had to admit that the Grand Cyan was indeed formidable.

However, since Tai Miao was entangled in the contradiction between the Dream Dao and the Supreme Dao, it was clear that the Grand Cyan had merely conceived a new idea but had not perfected it. Perhaps due to other reasons, he may not have had time to perfect it before his demise.

Li Xuan turned to Xin Mengrou and said with a smile, "There's no need for self-contradiction. Whether it's the Dream or the Supreme, they are ultimately paths of martial cultivation.

"Just as the Dream Dao and the Supreme Dao can exist independently, they can also be combined.

"The Dream is illusory, the Supreme is solid; the illusory is soft, the solid is firm; the soft is yin, and the firm is yang. This is the endless cycle of yin and yang..."

Li Xuan imbued the Dream Dao and the Supreme Dao with the concept of yin and yang, offering guidance and then turning to the people present, he said, "The Dao of Yin and Yang is in harmony with the heavens, the earth, and all things. A lone yin cannot thrive, nor can a lone yang exist. The heavens and the earth naturally have their own yin and yang, thus they are ever-changing, but in this world, the yin and yang are chaotic, and reincarnation is without order..."

Old Man Xiao and the others had solemn expressions on their faces as they listened reverently. This was a Dao Ancestor imparting the profound mysteries of the Dao of Yin and Yang.

If they could comprehend even a fraction of it, it would be a great opportunity!

After explaining the Dao of Yin and Yang, Li Xuan smiled and said, "The Dao of Yin and Yang may be too profound for you at this point. However, understanding the concept of yin and yang will surely benefit you in the long run."

Finally, he turned to Xin Mengrou and said, "If you wish to unify the Dream and the Supreme, in terms of yin and yang, the distance is too far, and it is impossible to achieve enlightenment in a short time.

"Tell that little girl, 'The heart is Supreme, the intention is Dream; with the intention of the Supreme, there is also a heart of the Dream...' "

Xin Mengrou murmured to herself, "'The heart is Supreme, the intention is Dream; with the intention of the Supreme, there is also a heart of the Dream...'"

In a daze, she seemed to have a sudden realization, but at the same time, she felt that she didn't quite understand it.

"Thank you, Senior, for guiding me out of my confusion!"

Xin Mengrou bowed respectfully.

Old Man Xiao marveled in his heart. Indeed, he was a Dao Ancestor. With just a few words, he explained the profound mysteries of a grand dao and directly pointed out a path for Tai Miao to resolve her contradiction.

"Tai Miao, if you can unify the Dream and the Supreme, your strength will advance even further."

Old Man Xiao sighed with emotion.

Next, it was his turn to ask a question. What doubt should he clarify?

Old Man Xiao pondered. The previous explanation about the Dao of Yin and Yang had cleared up his confusion about the heavens. However, he still hadn't found the way forward.

Taking a deep breath, Old Man Xiao was about to open his mouth and ask the Dao Ancestor respectfully when he saw Ao Yuxue, looking timid, step out from behind Xu Yan.

"Can, can I ask a question?"

Ao Yuxue asked timidly.

Li Xuan laughed out loud. Ao Yuxue, in human form, looked pure and adorable, and was quite endearing.

"What do you want to ask?"

Li Xuan asked with a smile.

This girl, she's not going to ask how to avoid being subdued, is she?

Or maybe, how to break free from the control of the Dragon Subduing Seal?

Ao Yuxue was a bit nervous. She fiddled with her clothes and glanced at Xu Yan before timidly saying, "He used a martial art called Dragon Subduing Palm to defeat me, a strong dragon, with weakness. I want to ask if I can also cultivate the Dragon Subduing Palm?"

Li Xuan was stunned. He never expected Ao Yuxue to ask such a question.

Xu Yan and the others were also taken aback.

Dragon Subduing Palm was one of Xu Yan's ultimate skills.

It was his most powerful martial art aside from his sword techniques. Although it was based on subduing dragons, the power of the Dragon Subduing Palm was incredibly strong.

And here was Ao Yuxue, a true dragon, asking if she could cultivate the Dragon Subduing Palm?

This was a technique for subduing true dragons. How could a true dragon want to cultivate it?

Ao Yuxue felt the astonished and shocked gazes of the group, and she became even more nervous. Her jade-like face turned slightly red, and she fiddled with her clothes, looking timid and weak.

She thought hard for a long time before finally figuring out what she wanted to ask.

"The Dragon Subduing Palm is a palm technique used to subdue true dragons. If I cultivate the Dragon Subduing Palm, and being a true dragon myself, when I use the Dragon Subduing Palm, won't I be invincible among the true dragon clan?"

The more Ao Yuxue thought about it, the more excited she became, and she immediately decided to ask this question.

Li Xuan had a strange look on his face. What was going on in this girl's mind?

He looked at Xu Yan and then at Ao Yuxue, and he couldn't help but smile wryly, "Why do you have this idea?"

Ao Yuxue glanced at Xu Yan again and, seeing no anger on his face, relaxed a little. She timidly said, "I think that the Dragon Subduing Palm can subdue dragons. If I, a true dragon, can also use it, won't I be invincible among the true dragon clan?

This question was one that even Li Xuan had never considered.

When he had initially created the Dragon Subduing Palm, he hadn't given it much thought.

Li Xuan fell into deep contemplation. Could a true dragon cultivate the Dragon Subduing Palm? After a moment of reflection, he arrived at an answer.

After all, he had already attained the Dragon Subduing Principle, and this principle, like a colossal dragon, coiled within his spiritual soul.

Li Xuan smiled and said, "The Dragon Subduing Palm is a technique used to subdue dragons, using the power of dragons themselves. In theory, a true dragon should be able to cultivate it, especially since you, as a true dragon, can transform into a human form.

"However, the ability to cultivate it does not guarantee success. It depends on one's talent and understanding to grasp and wield it effectively.

"Ultimately, it comes down to innate talent and insight."

Ao Yuxue's eyes lit up with joy, and she nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Senior. I understand."

Li Xuan had expected the girl to seize the opportunity to ask him for guidance in cultivating the Dragon Subduing Palm, but instead, she shyly retreated back behind Xu Yan.

"Interesting!" Li Xuan found the situation amusing. After experiencing the harsh lesson of her defeat, this girl had definitely become more astute.

From her expression, it seemed likely that she intended to seek guidance from Xu Yan on cultivating the Dragon Subduing Palm. Whether Xu Yan would teach her or not was something Li Xuan decided to stay out of.

His disciple had already grown powerful and no longer needed his constant guidance. It was time for him to step back and let his disciple forge his own path.

Everyone looked at Ao Yuxue with peculiar expressions, as her question had caught them all off guard.

Old Man Xiao's expression was strange. Was this girl aiming to become the leader of the true dragon clan? Was she planning to force her grandfather, Ao Lie, to step down? This was an internal matter of the true dragon clan, and Old Man Xiao had no interest in meddling in their affairs.

With a respectful bow, Old Man Xiao asked, "Dao Ancestor, I have a question regarding my cultivation. I humbly request your guidance!"

"Go ahead," Li Xuan nodded.

He had a pretty good idea what Old Man Xiao's question would be.

As a realm lord, Old Man Xiao was already extremely powerful, but he was not a small world master, and his strength had reached its limit.

Small world masters attained their power through the purple light of creation.

Old Man Xiao had essentially reached his peak, and the only way for him to progress further would be to obtain the same purple light of creation that had benefited Tai Cang and the others, thus becoming a world master.

However, it seemed that this purple light was a rare occurrence, having only appeared once during the long lives of Tai Cang and his companions.

"Senior, I have cultivated to my current state, but I cannot see a path forward. Not just me, but the other realm lords are in the same situation. It seems impossible for us to break through our constraints and reach the level of Tai Cang and his companions.

"Tai Cang and the other six once stood in the unformed chaos and received the purple light, thus becoming world masters.

"If I wish to progress further, is the only way to seek out that mysterious purple light?" Old Man Xiao asked respectfully.

The others listened quietly, as this concerned the secrets of their world's existence.

As Old Man Xiao spoke, Xu Yan fell into deep thought, beginning to understand the fundamental difference between the martial path taught by Li Xuan and that of the Tai Cang world.

Old Man Xiao had reached a point in his cultivation where he could no longer progress. To be precise, he had hit a dead end. "My master always emphasized that the martial path has no limits. If it truly has no limits, how could there be no path forward? This suggests that the Tai Cang martial path is flawed, and that's why I once called it a false martial path, which is not entirely inaccurate.

"According to Old Man Xiao, they received the purple light and became world masters. Without the purple light, he is stuck and has no path forward.

"But the martial path that my master taught me has no such limitations. The path is always there, and it's up to one's talent and effort to continue progressing." Xu Yan spoke, his understanding growing clearer.

He thought of the Heavenly World realm, where one became one with the heavens and the earth, essentially becoming a world itself.

With this realization, Xu Yan knew that once he broke through to the Heavenly World realm, he would leave the Tai Cang martial path far behind. This was why even a small breakthrough in this realm resulted in such a tremendous increase in strength.

The perfection stage of the Heavenly World realm was already comparable to the supreme stage of the Tai Cang martial path.

From the Heavenly World realm onwards, the two paths were incomparable. The Tai Cang martial path had reached its limit, while the Heavenly World realm was just the beginning of the true martial path.

After all, only those who attained the Dao Establishment realm had the qualifications to establish their own Dao, pass on their Dao lineage, and truly comprehend the martial path! Xu Yan's heart raced as he realized that he was not far from the Heavenly World realm. Within three to five years, he would surely break through, and once he did, he would firmly establish himself on the true martial path.

"The path of Tai Cang, forged from the unformed chaos and blessed by the purple light, has opened up the heavens and the earth. For you later practitioners, with Tai Cang as your pinnacle, how can you surpass him?"

"The martial path has no limits, and the journey ahead never ends."

"If you feel that your path is blocked, it's merely because your talent and understanding are lacking, causing you to become lost."

"Of course, that's not the most crucial point. The key is that the Tai Cang martial path hasn't continued to progress, so it's natural that you would find yourselves unable to break free from your constraints."

A desolate expression crossed Old Man Xiao's face as he understood the meaning behind the Dao Ancestor's words. The Tai Cang martial path had stopped evolving after Tai Cang's death, leaving them with no way to surpass their master's limits.

Tai Cang represented the pinnacle of this martial path. For later practitioners to surpass that peak, they would need talent and wisdom surpassing Tai Cang himself.

But who could achieve such a feat?

Li Xuan continued, "The purple light is not the only path. Becoming the master of the heavens and the earth is not the sole means of advancement, though it does bestow considerable power. However, it also binds you to the heavens and the earth."

"To make oneself the heavens and the earth, to have one's heart become the heavens and the earth, to transcend the worldly heavens and earth and become one's true self, free from constraints..."

Li Xuan spoke enigmatically, then added, "Of course, for you, wanting to walk this path is almost impossible. Your foundations are already set, and you have been too deeply influenced by Tai Cang."

"However, that doesn't mean there's no way to break through and find a new path forward!"

Old Man Xiao's eyes lit up at these words, and he asked eagerly, his tone filled with reverence, "Please, Dao Ancestor, show me the way!"

Li Xuan twirled the jade scepter in his hand and looked up at the sky. "Whether it's the heavens and the earth, the unformed chaos, or the myriad things in this world, they all follow the Grand Dao. Only when the heavens have their own Heavenly Dao can they be considered complete. Without an established Dao, the heavens and the earth are like rootless duckweed, weak and unsupported, no more substantial than a bubble."

"Your path forward lies in comprehending the Heavenly Dao and cultivating it!"

Old Man Xiao's heart stirred, but he was still perplexed. "Comprehend the Heavenly Dao and cultivate it? Senior, we practice the Tai Cang martial path, and the Tai Cang heavens and earth were created by Teacher Tai Cang. At our level of cultivation, we have already understood the Heavenly Dao. How can we further comprehend it?"

Li Xuan smiled faintly and replied, "The Heavenly Dao I speak of is not the same as the one you have comprehended. The Heavenly Dao you understand is illusory, no more than a bubble."

"Look at this tree, born of the heavens and the earth. Since you have comprehended the Heavenly Dao, you should be able to control this tree with your understanding of the Heavenly Dao."

"Can you turn this tree into a sword, a blade, or a spear?"

Old Man Xiao furrowed his brows in thought, then hesitated, "That shouldn't be too difficult, should it?"

"Then give it a try." Li Xuan said with a smile.

"Alright!"

Old Man Xiao didn't understand the Dao Ancestor's intention, but he took a deep breath and raised his hand. In an instant, he plucked the tree from the ground and refined it into a sword.

"What do you think, Senior?" he asked.

However, Li Xuan shook his head. "The sword in your hand has form but lacks the Dao."

Li Xuan then turned to his senior disciple, Xu Yan, and said, "Disciple, turn that other tree into a sword."

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan nodded and, with a mere thought, instantly transformed another tree into a sharp and imposing sword. One could sense the vitality and characteristics of the tree within this sword.

Old Man Xiao stood stunned. He had known that Xu Yan's sword techniques were extraordinary, but now he truly understood just how astonishing they were.

Comparing the sword in his hand to the one Xu Yan had created, he felt deflated. He tossed his sword aside and bowed down, pleading, "Please, Dao Ancestor, show me the way out of my confusion!"

Li Xuan's smile was warm and benevolent, and the halo of the Dao Ancestor behind him seemed to pulsate with the rhythm of the Grand Dao. His voice, like the sound of the Grand Dao itself, resonated through the air.

"These heavens and earth are incomplete. How can you truly comprehend the Heavenly Dao? And in your unformed chaos, you have lost yourself, making it even harder to find your path forward.

"Only by comprehending and cultivating the Heavenly Dao can you move forward."

Old Man Xiao's heart stirred once more. The Dao Ancestor's words were clear: the Tai Cang heavens and earth lacked the Heavenly Dao, and without it, they were incomplete.

If he wanted to advance further, he needed to comprehend and cultivate the Heavenly Dao, but first, the Tai Cang heavens and earth must possess the Heavenly Dao.

"Senior, where can I find the Heavenly Dao, and how can I comprehend it?" Old Man Xiao asked reverently.

The halo behind Li Xuan shone brightly as he smiled radiantly. It was time to nudge Old Man Xiao, a realm lord, to help accelerate the spread of the Heavenly Purple throughout the heavens and earth, allowing all martial artists to comprehend and cultivate the Heavenly Dao.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end