Chapter 1002: The Root of the Dao Speaks

Nearly three hundred years have passed. The Xuanhuang Realm must be even closer to the Immortal Ruins, yet it still hasn't collapsed... Grandmaster Qiaogong's meaning was self-evident.

Li Fan nodded in agreement. "All other realms have perished, with only Xuanhuang surviving," he said. "It's certain that many cultivators like us have fled here from other cultivation realms. Yet, everyone cautiously remains in hiding, perhaps deterred by the power protecting the Xuanhuang Realm."

"To be frank, fellow Daoist, I have some knowledge of array formations. When I first arrived in Xuanhuang, I observed a massive array formation vaguely enveloping the entire world. Its energy level was so high that it might even rival the legendary Immortal-grade arrays. Feeling utterly horrified, I've always kept a low profile."

"I wouldn't dare to establish the Spirit Yuan Sect with such a grand scale, as you have!"

Grandmaster Qiaogong gave a wry smile upon hearing this. "It seems you've been watching me for a long time, fellow Daoist!"

After a moment, Grandmaster Qiaogong explained, "The Spirit Yuan Sect appears quite substantial, but in reality, it's just a disorganized mob. The Myriad Immortal Alliance doesn't pay it any mind. It's merely that Jiushan Prefecture has a unique geographical environment, bordering the Five Elders' Association, making it a chaotic mix of people. Rather than meticulously governing it, it's better to let the Spirit Yuan Sect grow wild."

"At the very least, a portion of the vast amount of source power I acquire each time must be handed over."

"I just don't know what has happened over these past three hundred years..." A hint of gloom flashed in Grandmaster Qiaogong's eyes.

Li Fan chuckled. "You're just scaring yourself, fellow Daoist. In fact, the Spirit Yuan Sect has been flourishing over the years. It only recently suffered an unforeseen calamity, being implicated when the Nine Mountains Prefecture was obliterated in an instant by the sudden appearance of a Celestial Venerable's Dharma Aspect."

As he spoke, Li Fan projected the scene of the Transmitting Dharma Celestial Venerable's Dharma Aspect first displaying its power.

Grandmaster Qiaogong glanced at it, his face twitching, and he exclaimed, "What terrible deed could have provoked the Transmitting Dharma Celestial Venerable to act?!"

"Naturally, it was during a war between two behemoths, where they chose to side with the Five Elders' Association," Li Fan explained.

Grandmaster Qiaogong's face immediately filled with disbelief, and then he uttered bitterly, "How utterly foolish!"

After a moment of bewilderment, Grandmaster Qiaogong seemed to recall something, and then said with a hint of doubt, "That's not right. I clearly sensed that nearly a million people in the world are still cultivating the Common People's Spirit Yuan Art..."

"Oh, that," Li Fan replied calmly. "I couldn't bear to see your foundation utterly destroyed, so I took it over."

Grandmaster Qiaogong was completely stunned by this. "You..."

In an instant, his thoughts raced, and he understood everything. "No wonder you found my location so soon after my resurrection..."

"No, wait, you must have already located the means of my resurrection, haven't you?"

Grandmaster Qiaogong's expression kept changing.

Li Fan nodded slightly. "Rest assured, fellow Daoist, I bear no ill will. Otherwise, I wouldn't have told you everything truthfully."

"Oh? Then, fellow Daoist, what exactly are you..." Grandmaster Qiaogong's face was clouded with uncertainty.

"Naturally, it's because I see your extraordinary craftsmanship, possessing the ingenuity to seize the very workings of Heaven. Therefore, I wish to invite you to join us in achieving a great cause!" Li Fan said with a solemn expression.

Afterwards, Li Fan thoroughly explained the rhetoric of unifying the myriad realms and restoring the True Immortal Dao Lineage of Red Dust Compassion.

"There's actually a True Immortal Dao Lineage?" Grandmaster Qiaogong narrowed his eyes, half-believing, half-doubting.

It wasn't until Li Fan transferred a wisp of golden Myriad Spirit Nectar that Grandmaster Qiaogong was inexplicably shocked once more.

"Source Essence?!" He blurted out a term different from what Daoist Baihua had described.

"Oh? What do you mean by 'Source Essence'? In our Myriad Prosperity Realm, we call this item Myriad Spirit Nectar," Li Fan asked with interest.

Grandmaster Qiaogong stared intently at the object in Li Fan's hand, as if he had seen a peerless treasure. "Source power is the primordial force that drives the advancement of a cultivator's realm. And Source Essence is the fundamental power that gives birth to source power."

"Or, to use an analogy once popular in some cultivation realms: the realm is the core, cultivation is the fruit. Source Essence is the essence of the Dao Flower itself, and as for the ultimate origin and root of everything, that is the Dao that drives the development of all things."

Li Fan's mind recalled Daoist Baihua's description of the Myriad Spirit Nectar.

It was the part discarded by the nameless True Immortal while absorbing traces of the Dao.

"Your analogy is quite novel, fellow Daoist," Li Fan said, pondering the words deeply.

Grandmaster Qiaogong, however, kept his gaze fixed on the Source Essence in Li Fan's hand, unwilling to look away.

"Is the Dao Flower poisonous?" Li Fan suddenly asked.

Grandmaster Qiaogong was startled for a moment, then understood Li Fan's meaning. After a brief ponder, he explained, "It is harmless to believers. But those who do not believe will certainly suffer a backlash!"

"One must understand that the Root of Dao and the Dao Flower are not powers that cultivators like us, who have not yet ascended to Immortality, can control."

"If we wish to utilize them, we must rely on Immortals."

"But Immortals are beings beyond our comprehension. As they pursue the Root of Dao, they will inevitably leave their own traces. Consequently, the Dao Flowers, Dao Fruits, and Dao Cores that are formed are all imbued with their unique aura."

"Ordinary flowers in the world go through the process of taking root, growing branches, blooming, and bearing fruit. However, we cultivators, in our pursuit of the Dao, seek the cause from the effect. We search for the ultimate origin, the Root of Dao..."

"For such an ethereal matter, if one hasn't personally enlightened themselves and wishes to take a shortcut, rushing to trace back to the Root of Dao before fully comprehending the true meaning of the Dao Fruit's power, then one can only rely on the achievements of others."

"I wonder if you understand what I'm saying, fellow Daoist?"

Perhaps because he had witnessed the true Dao Flower with his own eyes, Grandmaster Qiaogong, in his excitement, spoke a great deal in one breath.

"According to your explanation, it seems there isn't much harm in utilizing the power of the Dao Flower?" Li Fan asked.

"Naturally, as long as one doesn't pursue other Roots of Dao in the future," Grandmaster Qiaogong replied.

Li Fan thought for a moment and instantly understood. "One root, one fruit?"

"Exactly. Once imbued with the power of the Dao Flower, one is almost trapped for life. If there's an opportunity for further advancement in the future, one can only follow the predetermined path to seek the Root of Dao to which one is already bound in the unseen realm. However, a True Immortal has already taken the first step on that path..."

Grandmaster Qiaogong smiled. "So, you either become their believer or their subordinate. Or you kill them and become the strongest on that Dao path."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing I forgot to mention. Fruit grows from the root; if the root withers, the fruit will inevitably perish. So, once the Immortal at the source dies, all beings downstream who borrowed their power to imbue themselves with the Dao Flower will also instantly perish."

"However, since they are Immortals, their probability of falling is much smaller than that of us ordinary cultivators."