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Chapter 38 - the Dao!
🕑 Added 2025-01-27 13:59:06 +0000 UTCHengsheng stared at the Divine Tree, his curiosity deepening with every moment. This tree was undoubtedly more precious than any ordinary divine-grade treasure. Every branch and leaf glowed faintly, radiating an aura that rivaled, or perhaps even surpassed, treasures of the divine grade. He didn’t know what grade could exceed "divine," but the aura this tree exuded was unmistakably imbued with Dao rhythm.
“It has to be the Dao rhythm in its aura that hurts that monster,” Hengsheng muttered, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation. The tree’s aura wasn’t something an ordinary divine-grade treasure could produce.
From what he understood, the release of such an aura suggested that the tree was undergoing a Dao Blessing. This rare phenomenon occurred when a tree reached an incredibly old age—likely over a million years—and was nurtured in a high-density Qi environment. Once the process was complete, the tree would awaken consciousness and transform into a Spirit Tree, capable of embarking on the path of cultivation.
Hengsheng’s gaze softened as he examined the massive tree. The higher the tree’s grade before its transformation, the greater its innate talent would be as a Spirit Tree. Judging by the purity and strength of its aura, this tree was destined to become a heavenly-defying talent cultivator once it awakened.
“Just imagine,” he murmured to himself, “a tree like this as a cultivator… its potential would be terrifying.”
Yet, despite his fascination with the Divine Tree, his thoughts soon returned to the monstrosity lurking outside the tree’s protective aura. The creature was unlike anything he had ever encountered in this world. Hengsheng frowned as unease crept into his mind.
“Why didn’t the First Elder warn me about something like this?” he muttered under his breath. If it had been another member of the Lan Clan instead of him—someone less experienced, someone who hadn’t faced death countless times through the Simulator—they would’ve been doomed the moment they encountered that thing.
At least now he understood that the monster was weak against Dao. But that knowledge offered little comfort. Hengsheng had no way of utilizing Dao himself. Dao power was exclusive to cultivators in the Dao Threshold Realm, far beyond his current level. A low-rank cultivator like him lacked the soul strength necessary to comprehend, much less wield, Dao power.
He grimaced at the thought. “Maybe a divine-ranked offensive treasure could kill it,” he reasoned aloud, “since those contain traces of Dao power.” But, of course, he didn’t have one of those either.
Time dragged on as Hengsheng wracked his brain for a solution, but nothing seemed feasible. Every option to deal with the monster felt utterly out of reach. If there truly was no way to defeat it, then fleeing might be his only choice. Fortunately, escape was a realistic option for him. Hengsheng was confident he was faster than the creature, and he had plenty of methods at his disposal—especially if he crafted a system specifically for the task.
Yet, the thought of fleeing left a bitter taste in his mouth. The memory of the monster eating his foot gnawed at his pride. His anger burned hotter. He couldn’t let that insult go unanswered.
Hengsheng’s eyes shifted back to the Divine Tree. A bold idea took root in his mind. Perhaps he could use this opportunity to comprehend the Dao. Since his soul is not from this world maybe it can give him an advantage in the Dao comprehension area who knows?
With a resolute nod, he picked up Yunsu, who purred softly in his arms. As he walked through the group of demon beasts lounging around the tree, a few growled at him, as if he had disturbed their peace. Yet none of them dared to act, as they all seemed preoccupied with their own fear of the monster. They, like Hengsheng, were seeking refuge under the Divine Tree’s protective aura.
Eventually, Hengsheng reached the base of the tree trunk. It was so massive that even a hundred men working together could hardly encircle it with their arms. He placed his hand on the bark, its surface humming faintly with an ancient and vibrant aura.
Leaning against the trunk, Hengsheng sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. He focused all his senses on the aura emanating from the tree, hoping to glean some insight. The warmth of the air brushed against his skin, calming his mind. His ears caught the faint symphony of nature—the rustling of leaves, the hum of insects on the ground. Strangely, he even smelled sunlight, which was odd considering there was no actual sun here, only the golden pillar radiating light above.
An hour passed, yet nothing resembling "enlightenment" came to him. His body and mind felt nurtured by the tree’s aura, leaving him in an almost euphoric state of relaxation. However, as far as comprehending the Dao was concerned, he had achieved nothing.
Hengsheng opened his eyes and shook his head. “This is not the way for me,” he admitted, a wry smile forming on his lips. He wasn’t the type of genius who could suddenly enter an enlightened state just by sitting still and attempting to connect with nature.
Frowning, he muttered, “Let’s get back to the basics.” He tried to recall what he had been taught in his clan. But to his frustration, even his elders never really explained what the Dao truly was. It always seemed like an abstract concept, something people used to justify their actions or beliefs.
"For me," Hengsheng thought, "the Dao is just the laws or rules of the world. But then… why not just call it 'Law'? Like the Law of Fire or the Law of Water? Wouldn't that make it easier to understand?"
He continued mulling over the idea, dissecting the concept of Dao and its relationship to the laws of the universe. But the more he thought about it, the more questions he had. For example, why was there something like the Dao of the Sword? If Dao were just the universal laws, did that mean the universe itself wielded a weapon? Does the universe have the Dao of System? na it was unlikely The absurdity of the thought made him pause and shake his head.
From all the fragments of thought swirling in his mind, Hengsheng managed to grasp one thing: the Dao couldn’t be fully explained through words or texts. This was likely why only cultivators with powerful souls could begin to comprehend its meaning. Another realization struck him—Dao was unique to every individual. While it might reflect universal principles, its interpretation was deeply personal.
“So it’s not just the unchanging laws of the universe,” Hengsheng murmured, his voice soft with revelation. “It’s the Way.”
Hengsheng closed his eyes once more He is now entering the stage of Enlightenment. If Dao truly was the Way, then all he had to do was follow his beliefs, embrace what he excelled at, and pursue the image of himself that he aspired to be. With that thought, he entered his mind space again. However, this time it wasn’t entirely disconnected from the real world—he could still feel its presence faintly. It was the Heavenly Dao, responding to his invitation.
In this mind space, Hengsheng was omnipotent. Here, he could do whatever he wished. And if that principle applied to his mind space, then one day, it could apply to the real world as well. Maybe not today, maybe not in a million years, but it would happen. His resolve solidified as he declared aloud, "I am the System Maker. I don’t know if a System Dao exists out there, but if it doesn’t, I will forge it here! And with it, I will crush any enemy in the real world that dares block my path to true immortality. By the almighty Dao of Systems, I will prevail!"
As his declaration echoed within his mind space, the presence of the Heavenly Dao responded. Seven-colored clouds swirled into the shape of a massive, all-seeing eye, emerging within his mind space. Its overwhelming power was undeniable, but here, Hengsheng was supreme. The presence of the Heavenly Dao couldn’t diminish him in any way. The swirling clouds roared, but not in anger at his audacious declaration. Instead, they demanded proof.
Hengsheng understood instantly. With a casual wave of his hand, a blue sphere materialized before him—it was Blue! the System Administrator Core, the heart of his creations. The Heavenly Dao examined it with curiosity, and after a moment of silent observation, it roared once again. This time, however, it wasn’t a roar of challenge or defiance, but one of approval and blessing.
A radiant seven-colored light descended from the swirling clouds. No, it wasn’t just seven colors—that was merely what human eyes could perceive. In truth, the light contained all spectrums thread that waved into the fabric of reality, interwoven into a vibrant and visible cascade that illuminated his entire mind space. Hengsheng’s mind, omnipotent within this domain, instantly understood the blessing’s nature. It was a sample of the cultivation world’s laws, a reward for showcasing his creation.
As the Heavenly Dao’s presence withdrew to where it came, Hengsheng waved his hand, gathering the cascading light into a condensed form—a glowing sphere of seven colors. A triumphant smile appeared on his face. With this as a foundation, he could begin forging the Dao of Systems.
"The path is clear," Hengsheng murmured, his voice filled with determination. "Now, let’s see who dares stand in my way."
