Chapter 77: The Sage's Thoughts

Chapter 77: The Dao Ancestor’s Thoughts

Within the purple-hued palace, Luo Feng wore a look of perfect obedience. In the past, he had always been the one to appear unexpectedly and startle others—never did he imagine today he would be the one startled by the Dao Ancestor. He couldn’t help but marvel at the ever-turning wheel of fate.

However, when the Dao Ancestor mentioned that he had already reached the Golden Immortal stage, Luo Feng replied timidly, “Revered Dao Ancestor, I believe I am merely at the stage of Innate Foundation Establishment. I have yet to coalesce a Golden Core—how could I possibly be a Golden Immortal?”

The Dao Ancestor paused for a moment. Innate Foundation Establishment? Golden Core?

What kind of Foundation Establishment is this?

To prove the Dao with innate primordial energy, to be untouched by all calamities, immortal as the heavens—these are the traits of a Golden Immortal! The essence is already present; what’s lacking is merely the accumulation. The gap between his current state and truly becoming a Golden Immortal was only a matter of time and diligent effort.

At this moment, Luo Feng was like a towering jug—his foundation was set, but there was still far too little water within. If he were to find a place in the vast wilderness and cultivate for ten thousand years, comprehending the changes of the five elements, allowing his techniques to nurture spiritual essence, the water would naturally rise.

To a true cultivator, cultivation itself is the only hard truth. No matter how fearsome the primeval beasts of the wild, if their cultivation is lacking, after tens of thousands of years, they turn to dust all the same.

The Dao Ancestor’s voice fell calmly, “Why don’t you tell me about the stages of your cultivation? As a junior of our sect, allow me to offer you a bit of guidance.”

Luo Feng nodded respectfully. “Master, I began with the art of breathing, gathering the three energies at the crown to form the innate state, then uniting the five energies to form the Golden Core. I have some understanding of these two stages. Next, I’m working to deduce the Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation stages, but I have not yet glimpsed the path ahead. However, I boldly speculate that the Nascent Soul stage is when the true spirit’s primordial energy returns to the Golden Core, transforming into a primordial king, opening a universe within the core, becoming one with the celestial heart. As for the Divine Transformation stage, it likely concerns time and space, projecting spiritual intent across all realms, shaping legends and myths. Beyond that, I cannot fathom the subsequent stages of the immortal path.”

The Dao Ancestor was left speechless by these words. For the first time in countless eons, his heart was stirred.

With a soft “snap,” he placed another white piece on the board and chuckled, “You are truly talented.”

Joy flickered in Luo Feng’s heart—so the Dao Ancestor was quite pleased with him. His life was likely out of danger now.

With a solemn expression, Luo Feng declared with righteous fervor, “All the myriad laws of the world originate from the Dao Ancestor. The Dao Ancestor is the Great Pioneer, and his merit to all living beings is immeasurable. I am but a humble disciple, following the Dao Ancestor’s footsteps, striving ever forward.”

The Dao Ancestor let out a short laugh, “Enough with the flattery. I’ve heard such praise for eons—truly tiresome.” He waved dismissively. “You’re rather interesting. Very well, choose one and take it with you.”

Luo Feng was momentarily taken aback, then looked at the chessboard. The Dao Ancestor’s words must have meant for him to select a piece and leave.

With a crack, the elements of earth, wind, water, and fire surged and intertwined. Infinite rays of light spun before his eyes—each chess piece was an entire universe, a grand world unto itself. Within every universe, something was being suppressed—sometimes a magical treasure, sometimes an artifact, sometimes a mystical technique, sometimes a spiritual root, sometimes a system, sometimes a fragment of the Lord God’s domain...

Looking east, Luo Feng saw a magical treasure evolving universes within universes, layer upon layer. The Pond Universe: a treasure shaped like a pond ten meters long, two meters wide, and about three to four feet deep, with lotus leaves floating at the edges and layered earthen banks within. There were three or four internal spaces. The first was a watery realm of over a thousand cubic meters, with fish born of ripples swimming within. Touching them would trigger an electric jolt before they vanished. Other than this, the space was barren; the water shimmered with shades of jade and blue. The second layer was a small world a hundred thousand miles long—those who entered would be shrunk to the size of fish or shrimp, and their energy would be absorbed and transformed into stars in the heavens. The third layer was an endless star domain... the fourth, the true and illusory heavens...

Turning west, Luo Feng saw a mystical art floating between universes, manipulating life and death.

The Art of Life and Death Reversal: one of the soul’s mystical arts. It manipulates the mysteries of life and death, inverting prison and cage. It can transform the beings, laws, and regions of a universe into a dead domain, and turn the netherworlds of departed souls into the magical nations of the living above. Like the flip of a coin, the outcome is determined before it lands—a technique capable of reversing right and wrong, altering causality, turning death to life and life to death, unfathomable and chilling.

Looking south, he saw a monumental stone stele suppressing the heavens and earth, mysterious and unknowable, impossible to fully describe. The Southern Emperor’s Heavens-Stealing Stele: a stone monument recording a fantastic, mythical history, bearing an aura of indescribable power. The inscriptions were already worn and faded.

Looking north, in the boundless cosmos, there was only a single fragment of radiant light—both familiar and strange.

Suddenly, Luo Feng smiled. He knew what he should choose. All those treasures and mystical arts were powerful, but they were not his path.

The Dao Ancestor spoke nonchalantly, “All these things were once brought by transmigrators, reincarnators, reborn souls. Their owners were always making trouble, trying to stir up some grand spectacle—so naïve. They caused such a disturbance that I couldn’t bear it, so I stripped away their golden fingers and placed them here.”

Luo Feng’s heart grew even more cautious, his respect deepening. Inwardly, he praised himself for following the right path—within the myriad worlds, only by being cautious could one endure! Prudence was the only way to achieve the Dao!

“Master, I have made my choice. I wish to take the Lord God fragment,” Luo Feng said, bowing respectfully.

The Dao Ancestor nodded without surprise, then pointed a finger. A brand new Lord God fragment flew into Luo Feng’s body, radiating with light before merging into one with him.

“Then go,” said the Dao Ancestor. “Furthermore, the world you inhabit has been drawn into the great cycle of the primeval universe. You are no longer an outsider demon, but a cultivator who has ascended from the lower realms.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, the world was remade.

Luo Feng found himself back in the valley, as if nothing had changed. Yet, some ineffable sense told him that this was now the lower realm of the primeval universe. The history and the river of time here had shifted in mysterious and profound ways.

For example: the ancestral master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Zhang Daoling, had not died, but ascended to the upper realm of the primeval world! For example: many once-illusory myths had become true history! For example: the time ratio between the lower and upper realms was now one hundred to one.

Thoughtful, Luo Feng rose, straightened his robe, and bowed toward the heavens. “Your disciple thanks the Dao Ancestor for his grace. Luo Feng will forever remain the most loyal disciple of the Daoist sect!”

Only now did he understand why the Dao Ancestor had regarded him so favorably.

The Dao Ancestor was one with the Dao of Heaven; the primeval universe was the Dao Ancestor, and the Dao Ancestor was the primeval universe. Thus, the advancement and elevation of the primeval world was equivalent to the Dao Ancestor’s own progress and elevation. The world of “Under One Man,” though small, held differing rules, changes, and principles from the primeval universe. This was fundamentally different from the Dao Ancestor creating a world and integrating it into the primeval cycle.

Drawing the world of “Under One Man” into the great cycle brought immense benefit. And this was only the first—there would be more lower realms in the future.

As for why he was chosen rather than other transmigrators, it was, of course, because he was obedient, prudent, and steady in his actions. Caution is the key to longevity! Only then could he shoulder this great responsibility! Those arrogant, brash protagonists who knew nothing of humility held no appeal for the Dao Ancestor; their golden fingers had been turned into mere chess pieces.

Reflecting on all that had happened, Luo Feng felt it was fraught with peril. He mused silently, “Indeed, in these times, it is unwise to try to be a domineering protagonist. To survive among the myriad worlds, only steadiness and caution lead to longevity.”

(End of chapter)