Flood: I, the Nine Turns of the Golden Pillar, all want to eat me!
Chapter 6 - Cultivating the Four Realms, Viewing the Great Dao

Chapter 6: Cultivating the Four Realms, Viewing the Great Dao

“Essence—every being possesses it. Every life contains Essence. Each of the three—Essence, Qi, and Spirit—has its origin. When they are harmonized, they form the origin of life itself. The absence of one leads to serious trauma.

In the Immortal Realm, cultivation begins with Qi. By absorbing the innate aura and refining various resources, one condenses pure mana. As mana condenses, it forms the Origin of Qi. Upon comprehending the Great Dao to a certain level and integrating it into the Origin of Qi, the Dao imbues it with its characteristics. This grants it an immortal quality—self-restorative even when damaged—due to its connection to the Dao’s rhythm. This is why it is called Golden Immortal Immortality.

In the Taiyi Realm, one cultivates Essence. Essence represents the physical body, and by refining it through resources, one evolves the Essence of Origin. When the Great Dao is comprehended to a sufficient degree, it can be incorporated into the Essence of Origin. This results in a body infused with the Great Dao, rendering it indestructible. Hence, this stage is known as Taiyi Indestructibility.

At the Great Luo Realm, one cultivates the Yuan Shen. The Yuan Shen represents the soul, and through tempering and evolution, it constitutes the Origin of God. The Origin of God continuously intertwines with the Great Dao, absorbing its principles of immortality and indestructibility until it condenses into a Dao Fruit. This Dao Fruit signifies one’s realization of a specific Great Dao, a state in which all dharmas become imperishable. Thus, it is called the Great Luo Dao Fruit.”

Laozi paused, allowing Xuan Qing to absorb the knowledge.

Xuan Qing nodded in silent understanding. He could now see the grand framework of cultivation and its underlying structure.

“The Immortal Realm cultivates Qi, Taiyi refines Essence, and Great Luo refines the Yuan Shen… Essence, Qi, and Spirit merge to evolve the Origin. If this Origin integrates into the Great Dao, it becomes the Origin of the Dao. Master, I understand…” Xuan Qing’s voice carried newfound clarity.

Such profound concepts would have been difficult for many to grasp, yet for him, the understanding came naturally. Perhaps it was due to Zi Yun’s enlightenment, or perhaps it was the influence of countless metaphysical texts from Earth that allowed him to comprehend it so effortlessly.

“Not bad, not bad…” The First Heavenly Father stroked his beard approvingly. “Xuan Qing is truly enlightened. In such a short time, he has comprehended the cultivation path clearly and even shows signs of progress.”

Laozi was also satisfied, nodding in approval. “Disciple, now that you understand the cultivation method, go forth and cultivate. Remember, the path of cultivation cannot be rigidly documented. One must not chase after speed alone; cultivation is a process of transformation.”

“This disciple shall honor the master’s teachings.” Xuan Qing bowed respectfully.

—

Returning to his place of cultivation, Xuan Qing prepared to begin his practice. At the same time, Zi Yun transmitted her voice: 「The Great Dao analysis is complete. The Great Dao of Dan contained within the Tai Qing Dan Scripture has been thoroughly analyzed. It is now engraved within the Great Dao Treasure Pearl, allowing the master to access it at any time.」

Xuan Qing nodded. “Good. Before cultivating, I will first comprehend the Great Dao of Dan. Once I grasp its essence, the cultivation method derived from it will naturally follow.”

With that, Xuan Qing silenced his mind and, with Zi Yun’s guidance, began to observe the Great Dao of Dan.

He found himself within a special space. Three illusory objects floated before him, their forms indistinct yet recognizable.

“The Great Dao of Change, the Great Dao of Dan, and the Great Dao of Force.”

These were the three Great Daos inscribed within the Great Dao Treasure Pearl. The Great Dao of Change originated from the Transformation Immortal Decision, the Great Dao of Force from the Nine Revolutions Xuan Gong, and the Great Dao of Dan from the Tai Qing Dan Scripture.

Xuan Qing focused on the Great Dao of Dan. As he observed, he gradually felt its presence. The Great Dao was laid bare before him, its principles unfolding clearly for him to grasp.

For cultivators of the Flood, comprehending the Great Dao was an arduous task. Laozi had once said that to attain enlightenment, one must calm the mind, observe the heavens and earth, and contemplate the Flood itself. Many spent millions of years in quiet meditation before achieving even the faintest understanding.

Yet, Xuan Qing could directly perceive the Great Dao from cultivation methods and divine abilities. Through visualization, he could place the Dao before his eyes and study it directly.

This was the power of the Great Dao Treasure Pearl—a divine ability that turned the most difficult aspect of cultivation into the simplest one. What others struggled to grasp, Xuan Qing could comprehend with ease.

—

Xuan Qing immersed himself in comprehension, entering a deep meditative state. In the blink of an eye, several years had passed.

He exhaled slowly. “My divine soul is still too fragile… Participating in enlightenment for several years has pushed it to its limits.”

Zi Yun’s voice echoed softly. 「Indeed. Comprehending the Great Dao requires visualization, which is directly tied to the strength of the divine soul. Even with the master’s talent, his soul remains too weak to sustain prolonged visualization. If not for the protection of the Great Dao Treasure Pearl, approaching the Dao would have destroyed his mind entirely.」

Zi Yun extracted the Great Dao and transformed it into a visual form. Through the method of visualization, Xuan Qing was able to observe and comprehend it. Yet, even with her protection, his soul could not endure for long. Without Zi Yun, the mere presence of the Great Dao’s aura would have crushed him instantly.

“Still, I have made progress. I now understand the System of Dan and the Tai Qing Dan Scripture. It is time to cultivate.”

With that, Xuan Qing transitioned into a meditative pose. He closed his eyes and fell into deep cultivation.

The benefits of first comprehending the Great Dao of Dan became immediately apparent. The cultivation method, derived from the Dao itself, now felt intuitive. There was no hesitation, no unfamiliarity—only a natural, fluid execution.

With ease, Xuan Qing circulated his cultivation technique, as though he had practiced for countless years. He drew in spiritual Qi, guiding it into his body and condensing it within his dantian.

Through a special method, the energy within him ignited into a searing flame.

This flame—his inner fire—was the first step to refining the divine elixir within his body. Just as external alchemy required fire to temper pills, so too did the body need fire to refine its divine essence.

Igniting this inner flame marked the true beginning of his cultivation journey.

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