Chapter 371

"Vast and profound, boundless and endless."

"Each step is exquisitely mysterious; it appears to be evolution, yet is in truth transformation."

"The supreme is the origin, and this origin is shaped from the beginning, bit by bit, into true supremacy."

"Its core lies in tracing back and strengthening the origin, fortifying the foundation."

"Unify immense power within oneself, expand the origin from within, transform all matter and energy into a source, forge the foundation, and thereby extend it."

The embodiment of Heaven's Dao paused, then voiced all his insights and realizations.

"Ha, if this first step were summed up in one phrase, it would be: furnace, unity."

Li Mo chuckled softly and spoke calmly.

"Furnace... unity..."

After a moment's thought, the embodiment of Heaven's Dao trembled slightly, a mysterious aura rippling across his body—as if he had grasped something profound. The entire Honghuang realm quaked faintly at that moment.

As if the embodiment's realization had stirred the very fabric of Honghuang, causing the realm itself to resonate.

"Refine all methods into one, using the origin as the furnace, condensing and gathering power into unity, making it the origin point, then extending from that source..."

Whispered words issued from the embodiment of Heaven's Dao, each syllable exquisitely mysterious, each laden with profound dharma, as if constructing and evolving into countless marvels. Strange phenomena arose across heaven and earth, and spiritual energy seemed to awaken.

After a long while, the embodiment of Heaven's Dao awoke, his eyes now bright as the sun and moon in union, radiating brilliant light.

"Thank you, Venerable One, for your guidance. I now have a faint understanding of how to proceed with the second step, and my Dao has been reorganized—my origin and foundation will grow even more stable."

"Your grace, I shall never forget. Should you ever require it, I shall spare no effort, at any cost—even if I perish and my Dao dissolves, I shall not hesitate."

Rising and bowing, the embodiment of Heaven's Dao declared solemnly and reverently.

In the depths of the heavens, a great rumbling echoed, as if a projection of the origin itself responded to the embodiment's words.

"You've certainly learned to flatter and speak well since gaining sentience."

Li Mo smiled.

"No, I do not flatter. Every word is from my heart. This is how I truly think, and this is how I shall act. I beg the Venerable One to bear witness!"

The embodiment of Heaven's Dao declared solemnly.

"Enough. Tell me your thoughts."

Li Mo, without further preamble, gestured to the embodiment of Heaven's Dao.

"The first step is condensation, unity—transforming all unnecessary energy into one's own use, reducing all complexity into simplicity."

"If all is gathered into oneself, strengthening the self and feeding back to the foundation, this is the first step—and it is unity."

"When unity reaches its peak, when the origin is perfected beyond measure, when all power has been extended to its limit, the strongest foundation is forged, and no further variables remain."

"At this point, it becomes expansion, extension—using the origin as the core, and Honghuang as the source, extending Honghuang itself. This is what the second step requires."

"I have only grasped that the core of the second step is extension. Beyond that, I have no clarity. I humbly beg the Venerable One to guide me."

The embodiment of Heaven's Dao said gravely.

"Correct. The second step is extension—extending from the Honghuang realm, from wholeness to zero, then from zero extending into all."

"What do you feel is missing from Honghuang's origin?"

Li Mo said calmly.

"What is missing from the origin..."

The embodiment of Heaven's Dao fell into deep thought, his fingers moving unconsciously as if calculating. Threads of rule-like energy flickered across his body, as if countless great paths were being constructed and extended from him.

After a long while, the embodiment froze, then suddenly understood.

"The Dao!"

The embodiment of Heaven's Dao declared firmly.

Dao!

All who are supreme possess their own Dao.

Like Hongjun and others, they each established a Dao, making it their path to supremacy.

But He—Honghuang—now lacks this core, lacks its own Dao.

It was only after contemplating the three thousand rules that the embodiment realized this.

"I understand. My next step must be to forge a Dao unique to Honghuang—a Dao that reflects and safeguards all other rules."

The embodiment of Heaven's Dao murmured to himself.

"Precisely."

"Now, Honghuang's Great Dao has become rules, and these rules are the foundation. Since they are the foundation, extend them."

"The Dao gives birth to one; one becomes two; two gives rise to three; three transforms into all things."

"Since you already understand the first step is unity, why not try to unify the three thousand rules?"

Li Mo spoke calmly.

There are three thousand Great Daos, and countless minor paths.

But do not forget: the core of those countless minor paths, their origin, remains those very Great Daos.

If those can be united, why cannot the Great Daos themselves be united?

If united, they become supreme!

The origin within oneself—the foundation of the Dao!