Chapter 603: Collusion (I)
The boy's voice echoed across the sky, and the expressions of those present subtly shifted. Some seemed thoughtful, others nodded slightly, while a few appeared dismissive. Nearby, Tu Longjian's gaze fell on the jade pot in the boy's illusory hand, but he remained silent.
The figure clad in white robes stood quietly amidst the clouds, appearing forlorn. After a few moments of silence, the figure spoke, "In the primordial era, we established morality and ruled through virtue. At that time, the people's wisdom had only begun to awaken; they were innocent and kind. Together with Gong Xu and Zhu Hao, I created a utopian world, where the Five Virtues of the great void emerged alongside the Five Waters and Five Fires, fostering universal prosperity."
"Morality was something we established ourselves. You resent being constrained by it, hoping instead for an eternal, unchanging law of the heavens. But morality, like the Dao Fruit, is inherently vague, ever-shifting, and infinitely extensible." The white-clad figure continued, "This concept is neither lofty nor sacred. Whether revered or hated, if you cannot see through its essence and are still bound by it, how can you ever obtain the Dao Fruit?"
The youth placed down the jade pot, remaining silent. The white-robed figure turned slowly, gazing at the gathered crowd amidst the clouds. Though his face was indistinct, it seemed to carry the hint of a smile.
"What!" In an instant, everyone instinctively took a step back, their hearts pounding in shock. Before their eyes, the two figures began to fade, vanishing into thin air. All that remained was the empty expanse of clouds, with the cold, silent jade wall standing in the distance, leaving no other trace.
The characters carved onto the jade wall began to light up one by one, scattering into streams of light. Each character transformed into radiant streaks that shot skyward before descending again, falling like rays of light onto those gathered below.
Li Yuanjiao's vision blurred, and a dazzling light emanated from his Shenyang Mansion, pulling him away from the scene. Everything before his eyes slowly receded into the distance.
His eyes narrowed slightly as his feet found solid ground beneath him. Lifting his gaze, he realized he now stood within an unassuming Daoist temple. The stone beneath his feet was ordinary bluestone, while a large jar sat in the corner. Incense burned on an altar before him, but there were no deities enshrined.
Directly ahead of him stood a stone wall. A brief glance revealed countless names of techniques carved densely into its surface, each corresponding to various Immortal Foundations. Li Yuanjiao immediately understood, "This is the opportunity… That Three Drums Wall must be where the grotto heaven imparts techniques."