Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1785: Chapter 1083: Discussing the Dao (Part 2)

”I can’t sense the Void anymore!” His eyes nearly popped out.

Yang Zhenshan smiled softly, walked slowly to the main seat on the steps, and sat down. ”Haha, be more mindful in the future. I am the master of the Immortal Palace!”

His words carried a warning tone, yet he spoke as if it were a joke.

Actually, he was targeting Xuanzhen, because he understood this fellow too well. Xuanzhen was the kind who needed a beating every few days to stay grounded.

Even though he’s over a hundred years old, his personality hasn’t changed a bit.

If he doesn’t get a little admonishment, he might just get too cocky.

Xuanzhen heard and smirked, ”Yes, this humble Taoist pays respect to the True Monarch!”

Yang Zhenshan, stroking his beard, said thoughtfully, ”Isn’t the title True Monarch too general? Don’t you think I should have a more resounding title?”

True Monarch is an honorific for Golden Core cultivators. Each Golden Core cultivator is referred to as a True Monarch, some Demon Kings are even addressed this way.

But those in higher positions have different titles, such as Ancestor, Supreme, Demon Venerable, and so on.

”Of course, how about this humble Taoist gives you one!” Xuanzhen’s eyes darted around.

Yang Zhenshan glanced at him and said, ”No need, I’ve already decided!”

”Oh, what is it?” Xuanzhen asked curiously.

Yang Zhenshan rose, stood with hands behind his back, and said, ”True Monarch of Life and Death!”

”Dao Venerable? Isn’t that title a bit grand?” Xuanzhen remarked.

”Then let’s call it True Monarch of Life and Death for now!” Yang Zhenshan said indifferently.

He wasn’t really bothered by these vain titles; he chose one for convenience so that others could address him.

True Monarch, True Monarch, there are already four True Monarchs and a Demon King in the Spirit Source Land, all called True Monarch, hard to differentiate.

Previously they added a surname, but it didn’t sound as good as a two-word title.

Since it wasn’t easy for others to give him a title, he simply gave himself one.

Compared to the Path of Void, he preferred the Path of Life and Death. Using Life and Death as a name could showcase his Divine Skills and match his intentions.

Actually, he had an even more favored title, which was the word ’Longevity’: True Monarch of Longevity or Longevity Daoist Monarch.

However, the word ’Longevity’ was far too grand, and he wasn’t thick-skinned enough to use it.

Longevity, longevity, the goal countless cultivators pursued for billions of years.

Yet how many in this world truly achieve longevity?

Or is there really such a thing as longevity in this world?

So far Yang Zhenshan hadn’t heard of anyone achieving immortal longevity.

Even an Authority Master is merely long-lived for ten thousand years, and a Taoist Master is less than an Authority Master.

”True Monarch of Life and Death! So-so!” Xuanzhen laughed cheekily.

Yang Zhenshan glared at him; he knew this ox-nosed Taoist couldn’t speak nicely.

But he was broad-minded, too lazy to argue with this fellow.

”Have you chosen the palace?”

”I have, it’s the palace where I secluded myself, I’ve renamed it to Xuanzhen Dao Palace!”

”Hmm, do you have any other questions?”

”Yes, my Divine Skill is the Path of Golden Light, but I’m a bit unclear on its origins.” Xuanzhen said, his expression turned serious.

Every Golden Core cultivator’s Divine Dao Intent is different, yet tracing their origins can often be found in the Heaven and Earth Great Dao, though some Divine Dao Intents are particularly eccentric, and beyond common understanding.

Xuanzhen practiced the Eight Great Divine Spells, and the foundation of the Eight Great Divine Spells is the Golden Light Divine Spell, so it’s not surprising he comprehended something like the Path of Golden Light.

However, the origins of the Eight Great Divine Spells are somewhat peculiar, not belonging to conventional Immortal Cultivation Techniques, and should be considered quite unconventional.

Despite Xuanzhen’s deep attainment in the Golden Light Divine Spell, he had just formed the core and his understanding of Divine Dao Intent remained surface-level; being unable to trace its origin was normal.

Yang Zhenshan also practiced the Golden Light Divine Spell, though currently only at a small achievement level, yet his understanding of Divine Dao Intent was far beyond Xuanzhen’s.

Especially now that he’s touched upon the origin of the Path of Void, applying this understanding to other Divine Dao Intents, he holds a unique comprehension.

”Path of Golden Light? Golden Light Divine Spell? Eight Great Divine Spells!”

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a moment before speaking, ”Golden Light, born before Heaven and Earth, is the pure Yang True Qi.”

”It appears empty, yet touching it is warm; silent to the ear, powerful when exerted. One cannot grasp its shape, its traces may be seen to follow. It encases the six realms without overflowing, nurtures all spirits without depletion.”

”Its Qi expands but does not fill; its light quietly shines, never extinguishing. Shadow cannot cover it, evil cannot invade it, not winning by strength, winning by true nature.”

He spoke at length about these profound concepts, causing Xuanzhen to furrow his brows deeply.

”What does it mean to be born before Heaven and Earth?” Xuanzhen asked.

”Too Easy, Too Beginning, Too Initial, Too Elemental, Too Extreme,” Yang Zhenshan said.

”When does pure Yang True Qi emerge?” Xuanzhen continued to ask.

”Too Easy is emptiness, Too Beginning is the start, Too Initial is the source, Too Elemental is true, Too Extreme divides Yin and Yang, pure Yang naturally arises from Too Extreme!” Yang Zhenshan replied.

Xuanzhen stroked his beard, showing a thoughtful expression.

Yang Zhenshan spoke of the Innate Five Tai, representing the Universe’s five stages of evolution from infinity to the point before Heaven and Earth opened—an entire process from nothing to existence, essential in the initial stage of Realm formation.

Too Easy can be understood as the Void, boundless Void, Realm born from the Void, thus born of Too Easy.

The so-called Too Beginning, is the Innate One Qi, understood as the seed of Realm, the beginning of its formation.

Then, Too Initial marks the formation’s start, transitioning from formless to form, the source of all under Heaven.

Too Elemental is the transformation from form to substance, thus considered true.

Too Extreme is the stage creating all things, the Dao of Heaven and Earth, using Yin Yang to create all things. Earth, sun, moon, thunder, rain, seasons, midnight and noon, as well as male and female, hard and soft, dynamic and still, visible and concealed, everything divides Yin and Yang.

This insight only came to Yang Zhenshan after deeply perceiving the Path of Void, considered a process of Realm formation.

However, his comprehension remained one-sided, as a Realm’s formation contained boundless Dao, hardly expressed in mere words.

Yang Zhenshan’s insights were quite profound.

For Xuanzhen, Yang Zhenshan’s words felt like opening a direct door to the Dao’s origin, giving him fresh comprehension of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao, displaying its complexity and depth.

Still, Xuanzhen found it challenging to understand his own Divine Skill.

Observing Xuanzhen’s thoughtful appearance, Yang Zhenshan chuckled lightly, ”The Dao cannot be easily transmitted, nor forced, as the Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. Named reveals the mother of all things. Thus, the constant void allows observation of its mysteries; the constant named allows observation of its boundaries. These two arise together yet differ in name, together they are called mysterious, the mysterious upon mysterious, the gateway to all wonders.”

Dao, can’t be clearly explained or easily transmitted; others can’t teach it to you, and you can’t force yourself upon it.

Seeking enlightenment requires going with the flow.

When comprehension is due, it naturally occurs; if not, it remains elusive despite efforts.

Xuanzhen returned to his senses and sighed lightly, ”I was too impatient!”

”Haha, we’re all the same at first glance, everyone thinks they can see through everything, yet in reality, both of us are just at the starting point of the Dao journey.”

”Take your time, soon enough you’ll calmly face it!”

Yang Zhenshan shared his experience as one who has progressed.

Going with the flow isn’t merely words, it’s mentality.

On the Immortal Path, resources are scrambled for, opportunities seized, only the Dao Heart cannot be scrambled or seized, only maintained with perseverance, going with the natural flow.

Yang Zhenshan often secluded himself for enlightenment, yet he never set a goal in his seclusion, contemplating whatever came his way, achieving what could be achieved.

Enlightenment, mentality is crucial.