After bidding farewell to his companions, Tang Xiaoqi followed the deep, restrained warmth transmitted by the jade pendant on his chest, advancing toward that core region of the Heavenly Dao Palace shrouded in chaotic clouds. The innate cloud sea beneath his feet seemed to possess spirituality, supporting his steps and carrying him toward wherever his intent directed. Surrounding celestial mountains, towers, strange sights, and extraordinary phenomena constantly passed by. Rich Dao rhymes of various colors surged like tides, but he guarded his original heart, not being overly attracted by these obvious fortunes, his goal clearly fixed on that place of summons in the unseen.
He did not know how long he had walked—perhaps mere moments, perhaps several days. In this region where even the laws of time and space were somewhat unusual, the concept of time had become blurred. The chaotic clouds ahead gradually thinned, revealing a building—not particularly grand, yet emanating an incomparably ancient, weathered aura, as if bearing the source of all Dao methods through eternal ages.
It was not a resplendent palace but a nine-story tower built entirely from chaos-colored giant stones. The tower body had no ornate decorations, only countless naturally formed textures like Great Dao trajectories. These textures were not static but slowly flowing, as if recording the epics of universe creation and destruction, the rise and fall of civilizations. The tower tip was not pointed but held aloft a constantly rotating chaotic airflow that evolved earth, water, fire, wind, time, space, birth, and death, emitting a majestic intent of all laws returning to source and deriving all things.
Above the tower entrance hung no plaque, yet when Xiao Qi's gaze fell upon it, his soul naturally understood this place's name—
[Scripture Pavilion].
Completely different from the imagined scene of ten thousand volumes and rows of bookshelves. The moment Xiao Qi stepped into the tower's first level, he was shocked by the sight before him.
The interior space was countless times more vast than it appeared from outside, as if forming its own world. There was no floor, no ceiling—only an endless profound darkness shimmering with soft starlight. And in the void of this darkness floated countless colorful light spheres of varying sizes.
These light spheres were not physical entities but condensed from the purest Dao rhymes and information flows! They were like fireflies in a summer wilderness, like stars in the vast universe, quietly suspended, slowly rotating, emitting strong or weak lights and fluctuations of various attributes.
Some light spheres were blazing like proud suns, with what seemed like golden crows dancing within, containing fragments of Lihuo true intent that could burn the sky and boil the seas; some were gentle as water droplets, their flowing reflections showing phantom images of rivers and lakes, manifestations of Guishui Dao; some were heavy as mountains, emanating Wutu aura that bore all things; some were sharp as swords—merely perceiving the fluctuations they emitted felt like countless sharp blades cutting at the soul, that was the extreme Geng-metal killing Dao; still others were vibrant with life, inside which countless plant seeds seemed to sprout, grow, wither, and cycle, demonstrating the mysteries of Yimu vitality...
Beyond these, there were silver light spheres representing spatial transformations, their interiors folded with countless spatial fault layers; gray light spheres representing the passage of time, emitting heart-palpitating power of ages; purple light spheres representing thunder and destruction, with lightning snakes dancing wildly; golden Buddhist light spheres representing compassionate salvation; dark demonic light spheres representing eerie temptation; and even some light spheres of completely incomprehensible attributes, chaotic in color, emitting unknown law fluctuations...
This was not a place for storing books at all, but a "Dao Law Origin Ocean" gathering the understanding and insights of countless extraordinary individuals from ancient and primeval times regarding the Great Dao of heaven and earth, and even fragments of their life-defining divine abilities!
Each light sphere might be an inheritance imprint left by an ancient supreme being, or a prototype of a long-lost powerful divine ability, or a fragment of unique insight about some heavenly principle. They were not complete techniques but more like seeds of "Dao," waiting for destined ones to awaken and cultivate them, ultimately growing their own towering Great Dao.
Xiao Qi stood at the entrance of this boundless "star sea," feeling as insignificant as dust. He tried to carefully extend his spiritual sense toward a nearby green light sphere emitting gentle vitality.
The moment his spiritual sense made contact, a massive and chaotic information stream instantly poured into his mind! It was a fragmented insight about some ancient "Withered Wood Returns to Spring" divine ability, containing unique understanding of life's withering and revival, mixed with emotional fragments from that unknown originator—sighs over life's brevity, yearning to reverse life and death...
Though the information stream was massive, it was too fragmented and chaotic, like broken mirror shards, impossible to piece together into a complete picture. Xiao Qi immediately withdrew his spiritual sense, feeling his soul slightly swollen and painful. He understood that with his current realm and comprehension, forcefully receiving these overly advanced and fragmented insights was harmful rather than beneficial—he might even be influenced by the residual emotions within, affecting his own Dao heart.
He needed to find "Dao Law Seeds" compatible with his Dao and digestible at his current realm.
He closed his eyes again, no longer looking with his eyes, nor randomly probing with spiritual sense. Instead, he fully activated the Four Symbols jade pendant on his chest while maintaining his Guardian Sword Intent and Purification Origin in a peaceful, open state.
The jade pendant transmitted an even clearer warmth, like a precise navigator in this endless Dao rhyme star sea, screening and guiding direction for him. The Guardian Sword Instinctively made him reject those light spheres full of destruction, slaughter, and chaos; the Purification Origin acted like a sensitive filter, automatically discarding those overly sinister information fragments that might pollute his foundation.
Gradually, in his perception, this originally chaotic "star sea" began to become orderly. Countless light spheres emitting malicious, chaotic, and sinister fluctuations seemed to be separated by an invisible barrier, becoming dim and blurry. While some light spheres emitting positive meanings of "guarding,""purification,""balance,""vitality," and "order" became exceptionally bright and clear like lighthouses in the darkness.
His "gaze" (perception) locked onto a light sphere not too near, not too far, emitting a warm platinum-white glow with a faint lotus phantom circulating within. This light sphere's aura produced strong resonance with his Green Lotus origin and Guardian Sword Intent.
He carefully extended his spiritual sense again, like gentle fingers, touching that platinum-white light sphere.
This time, there was no chaotic information torrent. What entered his perception was a relatively complete, peaceful comprehension filled with compassion and firm will. It was not a specific technique or divine ability but a profound understanding about the true meaning of "purification"—purification was not merely driving away filth; deeper still, it was "awakening" and "returning to truth." Awakening a thing's original pure state, letting it return to its most initial, most harmonious, most Dao-conforming trajectory. Within this lay respect for life's essence, reverence for natural laws, and an unwavering "guardian's heart" that guided all things toward goodness.
This insight aligned perfectly with his own understanding of the Purification Origin, yet was deeper and more systematic, as if opening a new window for him, letting him see the broader world of the "purification" Dao. Many confusions from past cultivation became suddenly clear under the illumination of this insight.
He immersed himself in this wonderful enlightenment experience, absorbing, understanding, and verifying with hunger and thirst. He felt his control over the Purification Origin becoming more refined, and his Guardian Sword Intent had also integrated a gentler yet firmer guiding power.
He did not know how long passed before he emerged from that state, feeling his soul was not tired at all but rather more condensed and fulfilled, his Dao realm showing clear improvement.
He gazed at this boundless Dao rhyme star sea, his heart filled with shock and joy. This Scripture Pavilion was simply an invaluable treasure trove for him! Here, he could trace the sources of various positive Great Daos, absorb the wisdom of ancient sages, and continuously perfect and elevate his own Dao.
He did not rush to touch the next light sphere but instead sat cross-legged in this starlight void, beginning to carefully digest his recent gains while relying on the jade pendant's sensing to search for the next "Dao Law Seed" compatible with his Dao that could help him understand "balance" and "return to unity."
The path of tracing Dao law sources was long yet full of surprises, and he had only just begun.