Chapter 415

In the final analysis, it's all just cultivating the Great Dao; the so-called differences are nothing more than the difficulty of cultivation, and beyond that there is no difference whatsoever.

Things like special requirements or special reasons and so on are nothing but thresholds added by novels to pad their word count; the Dao is the source.

The source, that is the Dao.

If one wishes to rule it, then go and comprehend it.

Even if there are special requirements, they are nothing more than enabling oneself to comprehend and master this Great Dao faster.

Take the Great Dao of Fire for example: if one cultivates in a land of flames, undoubtedly the cultivation speed will naturally be much faster, and the same applies to the rest.

Things like cultivating the Great Dao of Fate requiring some Fate Stone or some Fate Book and the like are pure fabrication, and entirely unnecessary.

"This is the difference between an ordinary path of cultivation and the Supreme Dao."

"Ordinary cultivators cultivate the surface, entering from the outside in; because of this, although there is a possibility of attaining the Supreme, the difficulty is as hard as ascending to the heavens."

"Not only that, it is also difficult to obtain authority and gain power during the process; only at the end of the path can one wield the power one is able to wield."

"But the Supreme Dao, once stepped upon, is the source, is eternal proof; all who step upon it are illuminated by the source, and even if they have not reached the Supreme, they can still enjoy the source authority of that Supreme Dao."

"The only difference is that the higher one's cultivation base, the greater the might of the authority one can wield."

Li Mo's voice was calm as he spoke slowly.

Every word like a heavenly decree, every phrase like a celestial sound, echoing boundlessly, wondrous methods without end; as if a misty aura were born, as if profound mysteries gathered, as if heavenly flowers rained down and golden lotuses sprang from the earth, each strand of Dao-sound transforming into boundless Dao-fruits, as if a heaven-reaching power illuminated the firmament and the earth.

Profound and unfathomably deep, wondrous beyond words, like the wonder of all wonders, like the source of all sources.

Containing everything, holding all.

Gathering in the myriad things of all under heaven, creating in the birth of all living beings.

"Ordinary... Supreme..."

"From the outside in... from the outside in..."

Ming Li's body trembled slightly, his heart seemingly stirred, his gaze gradually brightening, as if with sudden enlightenment, as if with a flash of realization; the aura about him also gradually rose, as if undergoing a transformation, as if receiving a baptism.

"I understand!"

His gaze was bright, dazzling, resplendent; Ming Li's heart surged, his face flushed with emotion, and he immediately bowed to Li Mo, saying: "Many thanks to the Honored One for pointing out the way through my confusion."

"The Supreme is, from the very beginning, creating the foundation, creating the source; from the source it then extends, and from that extension it contains the surface — this is the Supreme Dao."

"The difference between the two is that the normal path goes from outside to inside, from the empty to the real, taking a single point as the starting point, then expanding bit by bit, and finally perfecting it completely."

"But the Supreme Dao, from the very start, is Supreme; first one creates a Supreme source, and then expands from that source."

"That is, one evolves from the outer periphery to the inner core, while the other is the core from the very beginning, and then fills and perfects those outer surfaces and peripheries."

After all, he was a Chaos Demon God, and added to that being a special Demon God, his own comprehension was still very strong; Li Mo had only given a rough outline and he already understood.

"Not bad."

Li Mo nodded slightly.

This was the reason he had spoken bit by bit.

After all, comprehending it oneself is certainly better than having someone spell it all out at once, isn't it? The degree of comprehension and mastery is entirely different.

"Honored One, then what should be done with this core, that is, this source-point at the beginning? I still don't quite understand this part."

Ming Li scratched his head and said.

One can see that one has comprehended it, but that doesn't mean he can directly cultivate it.

If it were that awesome, then the heavens and myriad realms would have countless Supreme paths already.

Nor would existences such as the Main God Space, even those standing above the heavens, still be indefinitely far off from the Supreme source — precisely because it is too difficult.

If one told Ming Li how to begin, then given him ample time he might be able to perfect it; but if he doesn't even have a beginning, then Ming Li naturally could not do it.

"How to take the first step? Just look at this world, look at these living beings."

Li Mo's face bore a faint smile, his gaze turning toward the void; in a single thought, everything of the entire Primordial was gathered and transformed into a projection appearing before everyone.

Birds and beasts, mountains and rivers, all things of the world...

Everything, without exception, appeared, flashing by one after another.

"Living beings... the world?"

Ming Li's expression went blank, as if sensing something, as if comprehending something; his body trembled, the Great Dao of Fate projected itself in his eyes, and on his body it seemed as if the power of fate was weaving and interweaving, as if a misty primordial aura overflowed and dispersed, boundless wonders arising and perishing.

"So that's how it is, I understand!"

"Many thanks to the Honored One for pointing out the way through my confusion!"

As if an instant, as if an eternity; after a long while, Ming Li's body trembled, and his entire aura had undergone an earth-shaking change, as if obscure, as if profoundly deep.

As vast as an abyss, as immeasurable as a source.

Difficult to see the end, difficult to fathom or imagine.

Subtly, a hint of the Supreme's flavor gradually rose, yet as if because he had not yet stepped upon it, there were still some fluctuations.

"Oh? Let's hear it."

Li Mo gestured.

"All things of the world, whether living beings or objects, anything that exists has fate."

"Even inanimate objects are no exception."

"Take Buzhou Mountain for example: although it is an inanimate object, although it is a mountain range, its fate is still ever-changing; if blessed, it can exist forever, but because of its ever-changing fate, it is ultimately utterly destroyed."

"Even for inanimate objects, that only means they are difficult to change; but if there is no fate, then it is true death, and the same applies to living beings."

"I who hold fate, hold the fate and destiny of all living beings."

"Comprehending all living beings, gathering all things, condensing the fate of a realm, gathering fate into my single self — that is the completion of my Supreme."

"If I control the fate of the heavens, if I rule the fate of the ten thousand realms, then I shall achieve the supreme throne of the heavens."

Ming Li held his head high and chest out, speaking with ringing force.

"Not bad; this is the first step of the Supreme Dao of Fate."

"Fate resides within you; all destinies are held in your grasp."

"With a single thought of yours, you may bestow fate or scatter it."

"If fate is bestowed, all may transform, and all shall have opportunities."

"If fate is scattered, there shall be no destiny left, signifying its erasure from the very root."

"Should one day all fates of the heavens and myriad realms be within your control, you shall be the supreme ruler of the heavens and myriad realms."

"The ordinary path of fate is to comprehend the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and the Great Dao of Fate, while the supreme path of fate is to comprehend the fate of all living beings and the fate of all things, gathering all fates into your body, and comprehending all fates to turn them to your use."

"This is the supreme path of fate!"

Li Mo's voice was like a heavenly sound, resembling war drums, akin to heavenly thunder, majestic and boundless, echoing throughout this world.

It was as ancient and profound, as boundless and endless, reflecting within the root and piercing straight to the peak of the soul.

Those who heard it, whether Fate or other great powers, were all spellbound, all gaining profound insights.

Even those who did not cultivate the path of fate received great inspiration under the principle that a stone from another hill can polish jade; their auras subtly increased, as if they had obtained a tremendous karmic connection.

"Thank you, Venerable One, for bestowing this method! Your grace is something Fate can never repay in a lifetime; if needed, even at the cost of all, even if body perishes and Dao vanishes, I shall, without hesitation!"

Fate's face grew solemn; taking a deep breath to suppress his surging emotions, he bowed deeply to Li Mo and shouted loudly.

His Dao has been achieved!

A special Great Dao: Fate!

And it is the supreme path of fate!!!

"Next, who?"

Nodding slightly, Li Mo turned his gaze to Resurrect Pangu and others as a signal.

"We beg the Venerable One to bestow upon us the supreme path."

Order Demon God Iron Law stepped forward and spoke respectfully.

"If you become supreme, then the supreme path of Iron Law may become the supreme path of Order."

"Just now, when I expounded the Dao to Fate, did you gain any insight into the supreme path?"

Li Mo went straight to the point and spoke slowly.

"The normal path of cultivation proceeds from simple to difficult, while the supreme path proceeds from difficult to simple: first establish the supreme foundation, then derive the supreme manifestations."

Iron Law pondered briefly and said tentatively.

"It is, and it is not."

Li Mo shook his head, his face calm with no significant emotional fluctuation.

This was very normal.

Everyone is different, so their comprehension naturally differs; Fate Demon God, among all the great powers in the entire Primordial World, ranks among the top in comprehension, which is why he could understand at a glance and draw inferences from one instance.

Yet Iron Law was clearly not as clever and quick as Fate.