The Dao Ancestor preached, true words like thunder, laws manifested, phenomena abounded. Tang Xiaoqi sat on the "vitality purification" cushion, his body and mind achieving unprecedented deep resonance with this law void, with the Dao Ancestor phantom, with the cushion beneath him. His consciousness seemed to shed the constraints of his physical body, transforming into a strand of the purest intent, wandering in the boundless ocean of the Great Dao.
The nourishment of golden springs surging from the ground, the blessing of heavenly maidens scattering flowers, and the Great Dao true word constantly resounding in the depths of his soul, like a triple superimposed catalyst, pushed all his past experiences, realizations, confusions, and persistence toward some critical point.
In his perception, the Great Dao true word was no longer merely guidance, but transformed into the most original "principle" torrent, impacting his inherent cognition.
He "saw" destruction. Not the destruction full of malice and chaos from demon heads, but a part of the universe's natural laws. The annihilation of stars was for the birth of new stars; the withering of vegetation was to nourish new life; the collapse of old order oftennurtureded the sprouting of new order. Destruction was the extreme of "movement," a necessary force pushing the universe's cycle and the renewal of all things. Pure "purification" that attempted to eliminate all "destruction" factors was itself a "stillness" and "imprisonment" that went against the heavenly Dao.
He "saw" chaos. Not the disasters created by evil demons and heretics, but the inevitable disordered state in the process of things' development, the hotbed breeding infinite possibilities. Absolute "order" that rejected all "chaos" would eventually lead to rigidity and death. Water too clear holds no fish.
He "saw" darkness. Not the coldness of demonic qi, but the background against which light could manifest, the necessity for rest and gestation. Without darkness, where would light come from?
In the past, his "purification" Dao tended more toward identifying "filth" and "abnormality," then dispersing or destroying it with green lotus power. But at this moment, illuminated by the Great Dao's source, he suddenly understood!
Purification was not simple rejection and destruction!
True purification was "integration"—using a broad heart to understand the roots and meanings of those seemingly "abnormal" and "filthy" existences; it was "understanding"—knowing they too were part of the Great Dao, with their own "reason" for existence; it was "guidance" and "sublimation"—not brutally erasing, but using one's own pure Dao rhyme as a guide, awakening the "good" and "order" that might exist within them, guiding them toward more harmonious and constructive transformation, even converting negative energy into positive nourishment! Just like chaotic core fire, melting all things, returning to the source, transforming acquired impurities into innate resources!
This was the higher realm of "purification"—not severance and opposition, but transformation and sublimation after inclusion!
At the same time, his understanding of "guarding" also underwent earth-shaking changes.
In the past, his guarding was more embodied as a barrier, a fortress resisting external harm. To protect what he cherished, he would build high walls without hesitation.
But at this moment, he understood.
Guarding was absolutely not imprisonment!
True guarding was not imprisoning what one loved in an absolutely safe cage; that would only make it lose vitality and the possibility of growth. Just like placing a delicate flower in a greenhouse, isolating it from wind and rain, but also isolating it from sunlight and experience.
True guarding was "endowing vitality"—creating an environment where it could grow freely and fully unleash its potential; it was "granting freedom"—respecting its own development laws and choices, providing support when needed, giving guidance when lost, rather than forcibly intervening; it was "maintaining balance"—ensuring its survival and development environment was in a dynamic, healthy balance, free from the destruction of extreme forces.
Guarding Qingxu View did not mean sealing it off, but letting its orthodoxy flourish, letting disciples experience wind and rain in the outside world, growing strong. Guarding the world's beauty did not mean eliminating all darkness, but maintaining the balance of light and dark, letting hope sprout in darkness, letting kindness demonstrate value in chaos.
Guarding was dynamic, full of vitality, the highest level of "love" and "responsibility" that endowed the object with freedom and room for growth!
"Purification" was the means, the path; "guarding" was the original intention, the purpose. Using the sublimated "purification" Dao to practice the sublimated "guarding" thought, this was Tang Xiaoqi's "Dao"!
This thought born, like chaos first opening, primordial beginning to be judged!
In his dantian qi sea, the Golden Core that had already condensed to the extreme, with green lotus and four symbol imprints appearing on its surface and internal structure complex as a nebula vortex, suddenly emitted unprecedented brilliant light!
The entire law void seemed to shake because of this! Even the chaotic qi circulating around the Dao Ancestor phantom seemed to slightly lean toward his direction.
The golden springs surging from the ground became more turbulent, as if cheering; the Dao flowers scattered by heavenly maidens became more dense, like celebration.
Xiao Qi felt all his essence, qi, and spirit, all realizations, all Dao rhymes, all powers—guardian sword intent, purification origin, green lotus phantom, four symbol jade pendant's balance power, a trace of chaotic core fire's origin, even including his longing for parents and master, his feelings for fellow disciples and partners, his compassion for sentient beings... All of everything, at this moment, was crazily absorbed, compressed, and refined by that brilliantly shining Golden Core!
The Golden Core's light grew brighter and brighter, yet its volume was shrinking inconceivably! As if compressing an ocean into a single drop of water!
Extreme compression brought the prelude to qualitative change.
Just as the Golden Core shrank to nearly an infinitely small "singularity," all light suddenly turned inward.
The next moment, a point of "light" whose wonder could not be described in words quietly sprouted from within that singularity.
That was not substantial light, but the radiance of "Dao," the manifestation of "principle," the ultimate condensation of Tang Xiaoqi's unique Dao path!
It was tiny as dust, yet seemed to contain all mysteries of opening heaven and earth; it was tender as a sprout, yet emitted an eternally indestructible resilient aura.
It quietly suspended where the Golden Core had been, slowly rotating, its whole body flowing with warm platinum light, internally faintly showing scenes of green lotus taking root, four symbols surrounding, and chaotic qi being born and extinguished.
Dao Seed!
A Dao seed truly belonging to himself, containing the supreme true meaning of "guarding is Dao, purification returns to truth," formally sprouted in his dantian!
At the moment this Dao seed sprouted, the aura around Xiao Qi's body underwent an essential metamorphosis. No longer simply powerful in strength, but a "Dao rhyme" more intimate and harmonious with the heavenly Dao. He felt his life level had been elevated, his connection with this universe becoming closer. Divine sense extended infinitely, as if it could touch the veins of laws; spiritual energy's nature changed, carrying a unique attribute of creation and guarding.
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze no longer holding sharp sword light or pure white radiance, but a depth and peace that embraced all things and saw through essence. He glanced at Mu Xue, Ao Qin, and others still immersed in enlightenment beside him, then looked up at the Dao Ancestor phantom hanging high above, his heart filled with endless gratitude and understanding.
The Dao seed had sprouted, the path ahead was clear. From now on, his cultivation would no longer be simply accumulating power, but nurturing this Dao seed, letting it take root, sprout, bloom, and bear fruit, until finally growing into a towering Great Dao supporting the ideals of "purifying the world" and "guarding" in his heart!
The fortune of the Transmission Hall was, for him, immeasurable in value. And the true challenges would follow after enlightenment, one after another.