200: Yuan Hai Wu Zhen
Deep within the Myriad Dao Origin Sea, the scene could no longer be described by the energy mist of the outer regions. It resembled a shattered, solidified Law Universe. Massive, purely colored fragments of Dao Laws floated like mountains, either crushing against each other, unleashing devastating shockwaves, or strangely merging, giving birth to brief and bizarre new Law phenomena. More often, however, they circulated and collided endlessly, like headless flies following some broken trajectory.
Time and space completely lost meaning here. Liu Qingtian felt as if he had stepped into a dynamic, abstract painting drawn by a mad artist, where every step could lead him into a completely different “Dao Law environment.”
His progress became increasingly difficult. The Returning to Ruin force field could no longer completely deflect or neutralize every impact. Many times, he needed to instantly judge the attribute of the incoming Dao Law and use the corresponding Great Dao he had comprehended to intervene and guide it precisely, barely managing to pass through. This placed extreme demands on his skill in utilizing the Great Dao, his reaction speed, and his mental expenditure.
Finally, after experiencing countless near-death encounters, he arrived at a relatively “calm” area.
Calling it calm didn't mean it was without danger; rather, the conflicts between the Dao Laws here were occurring in a more internalized and fundamental manner. Innumerable Law fragments, tiny as dust yet containing complete Great Dao Imprints, slowly flowed and spun like stardust in this region, forming a massive, slowly rotating Law Vortex. From the center of the vortex, a subtle attraction resonated, causing even Liu Qingtian's dao foundation to tremble.
It seemed that a trace of the most fundamental “Origin Power” from the beginning of the Myriad Dao Origin Sea's creation remained there.
“This is the place.”
Liu Qingtian could feel that although this place was dangerous, it was an excellent spot for comprehending the Dao. The countless Law fragments flowing around were like countless open Dao Law textbooks—chaotic, yet pointing directly to the core. Furthermore, the trace of Origin Power at the center of the vortex could help him better integrate and understand these complex Great Daos.
He stopped moving forward. At the edge of the Law Vortex, he found a small, relatively stable “reef” formed by the accidental interweaving of several defensive Dao Law fragments, and he sat down cross-legged.
He remained seated like this for thirty years.
Thirty years of silent meditation, neither speaking nor eating nor drinking, his mind completely immersed in comprehending the boundless Dao Laws around him.
His consciousness seemed to split into hundreds of millions of parts, each attaching itself to a flowing Law fragment, rising and falling, colliding within this chaotic Origin Sea.
He “saw” that the Dao Law of “Fire” did not only contain heat and destruction; its core held the vitality of “leaping” and “rising,” sharing a marvelous commonality with the Dao Law of “Life.” Furthermore, extreme fire would ultimately exhibit the characteristics of “coldness” and “annihilation,” subtly aligning with his Returning to Ruin Dao.
He “heard” the whispers of the Dao Law of “Water Flow,” understanding its essence of “flexibility” and “permeation.” He further comprehended the great power of “Time” and “Perseverance” contained within the phrase “dripping water penetrates stone,” as well as the “inclusiveness” and “depth” Concept of the vast ocean—how similar this was to the Returning to Ruin's ability to “accommodate all things.”
He “touched” the gravity and support of the Dao Law of “Earth,” realizing the importance of “stability” and “Foundation.” He “felt” the freedom and tearing power of the Dao Law of “Gale,” experiencing the impermanence of “flow” and “change.” He “analyzed” the swiftness and judgment of the Dao Law of “Thunder,” discerning the true meaning of “explosion” and “purification”... Regardless of their superficial appearance, every type of Dao Law, under Liu Qingtian's analysis guided by the Myriad Manifestations Returning to Ruin Dao, began to shed its mysterious outer layer, revealing its most fundamental Law structure, energy operation method, and intricate connections with other Dao Laws.
More importantly, he began to understand why these seemingly disparate Great Daos could ultimately be accommodated and concluded by the “Returning to Ruin.”
Because the “Returning to Ruin” is not simple destruction; it is the ultimate return of a “state,” the ultimate balance of energy, the ultimate annihilation of information, and the ultimate answer to existence. Whether it is scorching fire, icy water flow, heavy earth, or free-flowing gale, when they reach their own extremes, or when the “existence” supporting them is stripped away, what they ultimately manifest is that state of “Returning to Ruin,” without light or darkness, without beginning or end.
The five-tenths of the Great Dao within him that were originally relatively dim began to be illuminated, understood, and mastered at an astonishing speed.
His comprehension of “Space” deepened from simple traversal and distortion to understanding the essence of its “dimensions,” “folds,” and “cornerstones of existence,” realizing that the Returning to Ruin is the ultimate collapse and reconciliation of space.
His understanding of “Time” extended from controlling its flow rate to perceiving its “long river,” “tributaries,” and the “entanglement of Karma,” realizing that the Returning to Ruin is the point where the end and beginning of time intersect.
His grasp of “Karma” progressed from superficial interference to discerning its “threads,” “network,” and “trajectory of fate,” comprehending that the Returning to Ruin can sever all Karma, allowing all things to return to the initial state of “non-cause and non-effect.”
His experience of “Chaos” was elevated from merely adapting to its “impermanence” to mastering its “order within disorder” and the “two sides of creation and destruction,” understanding that the Returning to Ruin is the ultimate form of Chaos, and also the cradle for new life... In the twenty-fifth year of his silent meditation, the aura surrounding Liu Qingtian had undergone earth-shaking changes. The ten-tenths of the Great Dao no longer differed in brightness or dimness, but were integrated into a single entity, like a complete, flowing dark star river, perfectly fused with his own Myriad Manifestations Returning to Ruin Dao Foundation. A Concept of “Dao Manifesting the Physical Body” and “Words Become Law” Perfection naturally emanated from him.
He had completely comprehended the ten-tenths of the Great Dao he carried!
Not only that, but based on his complete comprehension of all Great Daos, his understanding of his own “Myriad Manifestations Returning to Ruin Dao” also reached an unprecedented height. This Dao was no longer merely about devouring and ending; it was also a form of governance, a form of inclusiveness, and an articulation and practice of the ultimate Laws of all things.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Within his eyes, there were no longer any scenes of creation or destruction, only a bottomless “darkness” that seemed capable of accommodating and concluding every color in the Universe. This darkness was not deathly silence, but contained ultimate tranquility and power.
He gently raised his hand. Without needing to deliberately circulate Demonic Essence, as his mind moved, a patch of fiercely conflicting “Sharpness” Metal Dao Law fragments and “Heaviness” Earth Dao Law fragments in front of him were smoothed out by an invisible large hand. The conflict vanished, they slowly fused, and finally transformed into a wisp of pure Chaos Qi stream, which was naturally absorbed by his palm.
Words Become Law, Myriad Dao Returning to Ruin!
Thirty years of silent meditation, the cultivation reached Perfection.
He stood up, his gaze directed toward the center of the Law Vortex. The remaining trace of “Origin Power” no longer held much attraction for him, as his own Great Dao was already complete and self-sufficient.
“It is time to leave.” Liu Qingtian felt the flawless, harmonious power within him, capable of summoning the Great Dao with every move, and his heart was utterly tranquil.
Forty-nine years remained.
He took a step, his figure piercing through layers of chaotic Dao Law obstacles like a phantom, heading toward the outside of the Myriad Dao Origin Sea. This time, the surrounding dangerous Dao Law turbulence automatically subsided and disintegrated when it approached three zhang around him, as if subjects had encountered their king and dared not cause the slightest offense.
Liu Qingtian, having achieved Perfection in Dao comprehension, now possessed the Foundation to truly converse with Luo Jiuxuan as an equal!