222: Fifth Incarnation: Heavenly Physician (14)

These words exploded in Xu Yuan's mind like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens! He felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to his crown, as if his blood were about to freeze!

"I never expected... the Shangqing Dao Lineage's control over 'Dao-creation' to be so strict!"

A tumultuous storm raged within Xu Yuan's heart.

"The so-called 'innovation' is merely spinning around within seven 'circles' it has already designated! One must never step even half a step outside these circles! Otherwise, one is considered a heretic of the Dao, and both body and soul will be destroyed!"

He forcibly suppressed the shock and chill in his heart, allowing a look of gravity and thirst for knowledge to appear on his face at the right moment. He bowed deeply and respectfully, his tone carrying just the right amount of awe and curiosity:

"Revered Master's teachings are truly enlightening! This Disciple... has been taught!" He took a deep breath, as if digesting this astonishing information, then raised his head, looking at Jiang Tingyun with clear eyes, and asked the most critical question:

"May I ask, Revered Master, what exactly are these seven core Daos that form the Foundation of our Shangqing Dao Lineage? This Disciple is dull-witted and wishes to hear the details, so as not to accidentally go astray in future cultivation!"

Seeing Xu Yuan's grave expression and respectful attitude, and noting that he showed no signs of retreating due to the strict rules but instead humbly sought guidance, a trace of satisfaction flashed in Jiang Tingyun's eyes.

He nodded slightly and flicked his sleeves; the star Formation Plate swirling around him shifted, as if evolving the mysteries of the Dao.

"Since you ask, there is no harm in telling you. These seven Daos are the Foundation of our Shangqing Dao Lineage's eternal Legacy, and also the manifestation of the Dao Laws of this realm. You must keep them firmly in mind."

"The first is the Kunlun and I Ching Dao!" He pointed to the surrounding Formation. "This Dao encompasses everything, focusing on change, deduction, layout, and Formation; it exhaustively studies the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, calculating the interactions of all things. The 'Array Cultivation' that Revered Master governs is a branch of this Dao. Those in the sect who excel at divination, setting up Formations, and refining Formation Plate Magical Artifacts mostly originate from this Dao."

"The second is the Cauldron Alchemy and Creation Dao!" A wisp of misty medicinal Qi appeared at his fingertip, evolving into living creatures. "This Dao focuses on refining, creation, vitality, and enlightenment; pills, medicine, and healing, enlightening all things, and even molding spirit bodies and cultivating spirit plants all fall within the scope of this Dao. The alchemists, pharmacists, and even the creation lineage among the Artifact Refiners within the Dao Lineage all originate from here."

"The third is the Slaughter and Weaponry Dao!" In an instant, phantom images of armored horses and weapons seemed to flash through the Formation, filled with chilling Killing Intent. "This Dao focuses on warfare, slaughter, destruction, and protection; all offensive Divine Abilities, battle Formation methods, and Body Refining killing techniques fall under this Dao. The slaughter lineage among the Sword Cultivators, battle Cultivators, and Body Cultivators in the sect are the sharp blades that protect the Dao Lineage."

"The fourth is the Divine Soul Dream Dao!" The scene changed again, dreamlike and illusory, with reality and fiction intertwined. "This Dao focuses on the Divine Soul, illusions, dreams, and bewitching the heart; it specializes in the power of Divine Sense, manipulating the seven emotions and six desires, and constructing illusory dream realms, making it eerie and unpredictable. Those who excel in illusions, Divine Soul attacks, seduction, and dream cultivation mostly follow this Dao."

"The fifth is the Natural Five Elements Dao!" The power of the Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—rotated within the Formation, endless and continuous. "This Dao focuses on elements, creation, nature, and balance; it controls the basic elemental powers of heaven and earth, such as the Five Elements, wind, thunder, light, and darkness, and communicates with all things in nature. It is the most common and most balanced Foundation of the Dao among all Daoist magical arts and Divine Abilities. The vast majority of Disciples who cultivate basic Five Elements Daoist arts fall within the scope of this Dao."

"The sixth is the Netherworld Reincarnation Dao!" The scene became deep and dark, with phantom images of the Yellow Springs seeming to flow. "This Dao focuses on death, Reincarnation, souls, and the netherworld; it involves ghost cultivation, corpse Dao, the mysteries of Reincarnation, and delivering souls to the afterlife. Although it appears eerie, it is an indispensable part of the cycle of heaven and earth. Cultivators in the sect responsible for delivering the dead, suppressing evil, and communicating with the netherworld are mostly related to this Dao."

"The seventh," Jiang Tingyun's tone paused slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce through the palace, looking toward the distant, invisible river of Luck, "is the Dao of Karma and Heavenly Mandate!"

Countless fine golden threads emerged in the Formation, weaving into a net that connected all things, evolving the Reincarnation of destiny, carrying an unpredictable heavenly might that could manipulate fate and determine Karma.

"This Dao focuses on Karma, destiny, Heavenly Mandate, and tribulations; it holds the wheel of fate, deduces the trajectory of life, lays plans for millennia, and even interferes with destiny and shifts calamities. Those in the sect who excel in divination, astrology, numerology, and even some who are involved in planning Luck and manipulating the great trend all belong to branches of this Dao. This Dao is the most profound, and also the most dangerous to be tainted by."

After speaking of these seven core Daos, the phenomena around Jiang Tingyun subsided, and his gaze fell back onto Xu Yuan, his tone deep: "Yuan'er, have you remembered clearly? All the methods and all the Fruit Positions of our Shangqing Dao Lineage originate from these seven Daos. If you wish to 'create a Dao' in the future, you must remain within this framework! Remember this, remember this!" He paused slightly, his tone softening, "Of course, if you only follow the routine and do not involve yourself in 'creation,' naturally there is no need for such strictness; you only need to act within the regulations of the Dao Lineage."

Xu Yuan imprinted every word deeply into his mind; his heart was turbulent, but he suddenly saw things clearly!

"This Disciple will keep Revered Master's teachings firmly in mind! The seven core Daos encompass the ultimate truths of heaven and earth. Only today does this Disciple realize the vastness of the world and the strictness of the Dao Lineage! This Disciple will certainly cultivate with concentration and will never dare to overstep the boundaries!"

Seeing Xu Yuan's calm expression and clear eyes, Jiang Tingyun nodded with satisfaction.

"Mm. It is good that you understand. The path lies beneath your feet, but also within the rules. Since you think this way, Revered Master is relieved." Jiang Tingyun waved his hand, "Go now, and cultivate well. If you are short on resources, you may go to the Deacon Hall to collect them."

"Yes! Revered Master! This Disciple takes his leave!" Xu Yuan bowed respectfully once more and slowly retreated from Tingyun Palace.

Walking out of the main hall, away from that suffocating pressure and insight, Xu Yuan finally let out a long sigh of relief. That conversation just now contained a massive amount of information.

Xu Yuan strolled along the mountain path in the sea of clouds, his face calm, but in his heart, he was calculating rapidly:

"The rules are clear, and the bottom line is defined."

"My Overlord Fate from my previous life belongs to the Imperial Dao, but the Imperial Dao is not among the seven Daos of the Shangqing Dao Lineage. Although, if I simply follow the routine and do not attempt to 'create a Dao,' relying on my Overlord Fate would be enough to support me in reaching the Late Golden Core Stage."

"But, how could I be content to stop here?"

"The urgent priority is not to act rashly, but to accumulate strength! I must fully utilize all current resources, especially the profound heritage of the Array Cultivation lineage, to crazily absorb knowledge, broaden my horizons, and solidify my Foundation!"

With his plan decided, Xu Yuan no longer hesitated. His figure turned, transforming into a streak of light. He did not head straight for his own Immortal Cave, but flew toward a towering, solemn giant pavilion deep in the mountains that radiated the vast aura of books and the brilliance of countless Restrictions—the Scripture Pavilion of the Array Cultivation lineage!

Although it was named the "Array Cultivation" Scripture Pavilion, as an important core of a Fruit Position True Person's dao field, how could its collection be limited only to books on the Dao of Arrays?

In just a moment, Xu Yuan arrived before the pavilion.

He saw that the building was nine stories high, piercing straight into the clouds. Runes flowed between the flying eaves and brackets, spiritual light shimmered, and an aura of knowledge that had accumulated over eternal ages rushed toward him.