Lord of the Earth

As the Ziwei Emperor's sermons, as grand and rhythmic as the movement of stars, resonated, the entire Yaochi seemed to be drawn into an endless cosmic sky.

In the view of summer.

Above the head of the Ziwei Emperor, countless fine "lines of rules" shimmering with various mysterious lights appeared and intertwined, forming an extremely complex yet orderly network.

This is the "Dao" as described by the Ziwei Emperor, which is the rule governing the operation of heaven and earth!

These regular lines, some as fiery as the sun, represent the rule of "fire"; some somber and heavy, represent the rule of "earth"; some sharp and incomparable, represent the rule of "metal"; some vibrant, represent the rule of "wood"; some vast and flowing, represent the rule of "water"... and there are even lines symbolizing time, space, fate, cause and effect, order, chaos, etc., shimmering with indescribable light!

The path of cultivation in the Eternal Land... Saints utilize the laws, gods control the rules, and true gods pursue the "Great Dao"...

The so-called "Great Dao Fifty" symbolizes the basic framework that constitutes all existence and operation in the myriad realms, including the eternal land. However, the Great Dao is formless and cannot be directly perceived by ordinary people!
The reason why true gods are true gods is that they can not only perceive and utilize the most fundamental "Dao" of heaven and earth, but also extract and weave these "powers of rules" from them, integrate them into their own understanding and will, and finally condense them into "Dao fruits" that belong to them alone!
What the Ziwei Emperor is showing now is the power emanating from the "Ziwei Dao Fruit," which he has woven around the core of "stars" and "emperors" and can govern the entire universe!
"Hiss, Fellow Daoist Ziwei, you have indeed made another step forward... With the Dao of Emperors and the Dao of Stars as the core, you have actually drawn upon such a vast power of rules... Perhaps, you have already stepped into that realm."

Even Zhen Yuanzi, Mazu, and others who are also true gods couldn't help but show some amazement on their faces!
Only those who have reached their level can understand the significance of the "rules of heaven and earth" invoked by the Ziwei Emperor.

"The way of the emperor is not about absolute supremacy, but about order, about governance, about balance... Observing the arrangement of the stars is like discerning the loyalty and treachery of officials; understanding the movement of the stars is like observing the rise and fall of a well-governed era... By substituting one's own heart for the heart of Heaven, and by establishing order to govern the universe, all things can be controlled, and all spirits can find peace..."

Summer, being a "pseudo-quasi-god," naturally had no idea about the intricacies of this matter.

However, every word from Emperor Ziwei struck Xia Tian's mind like "falling stars".

hold head high!
This caused the "Imperial Dragon Qi" within his body to boil involuntarily, resonating strongly with the power of the Ziwei Star, which represents "the center" and "the emperor" in that starry sky.

"So that's how it is. It's slightly different from what I initially thought. Emperor Ziwei doesn't actually follow the 'Path of Fortune,' but rather the 'Path of the Stars,' transforming the stars into his own 'subjects' to form the 'Path of the Emperor'..."

"And my Qianxia now has a population of hundreds of billions, which in my previous life was comparable to the number of stars in the Milky Way. So we can do the opposite... start by governing the country, making every citizen shine like a star, with each person living in their place and fulfilling their duties, then order can be established, and a true god can be expected..."

Summer brings a surge of emotions.

He seemed to see an incomparably vast galaxy, each star a subject of the Qianxia dynasty.

The central imperial star does not suppress the stars by force, but rather uses its own gravity, its radiance, and its various predetermined orbits to allow all the stars to go their own way in an orderly manner, together forming a magnificent sea of ​​stars!

In particular, with the "Jade Pool Wine" constantly cleansing his soul and enhancing his understanding, Xia Tian's understanding of the "Way of the Emperor" deepened at an unprecedented speed.

He no longer viewed "the way of the emperor" merely as a symbol of power politics, but also deeply understood the connotation of human emperors as "order builders," "balance maintainers," and "civilization leaders"!

"As expected of a true god preaching, this one passage alone is enough to save me years of progress..."

Summer couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

He had read in many ancient books and legends that when those great beings of the primordial era and sages preached the Dao, golden lotuses would fall from the sky and sweet springs would gush from the earth, and those who listened to the Dao would suddenly understand and make great progress in their cultivation.

He had been somewhat skeptical before, wondering if simply "preaching" could really produce such miraculous effects.
But now, as he personally found himself in a field where the divine essence intertwined, he deeply realized that this was by no means a simple transmission of words, but rather a direct evolution and resonance of the rules of the Great Dao.

For him, who was standing on the threshold but had always lacked a guide, this was nothing short of a guiding light shining in all directions!
Although the "Dao" described by the Ziwei Emperor is somewhat too "profound" in some parts, Xia Tian's current level of understanding is still like looking at flowers through fog, making it difficult to fully grasp and comprehend it.

But this initial guidance, this insightful perspective, is exactly what he needs right now!

"Now that the Daoist energy is surging, I should seize the opportunity to form the initial shape of my own Dao-building fruit..."

Summer decisively ate the "Huangzhongli" plum.

As the fruit was swallowed, a dazzling light suddenly burst forth from Xia Tian's body.

At the core of his soul, countless threads of rules, each shimmering with different lights and drawn from the "Net of Rules," were intertwining and entwining in an incredibly profound way.

Summer understood even more clearly.

The so-called condensation of the Dao Fruit is not about creating something out of thin air, but about perceiving, receiving, and extracting the "rule threads" that are most compatible with oneself from this vast "net of rules," and then weaving and condensing them into a "seed" or "fruit" that belongs only to oneself, with one's own will and understanding as the core!
The Great Dao between heaven and earth is like a tree of rules containing infinite possibilities, and one’s personal understanding and accumulation are like the “fruit” that grows on the tree. This is the origin of the name “Dao Fruit”!

True gods are able to modify, reshape, and even define the rules of heaven and earth within a certain range by relying on the "Tao Fruit" they have condensed!

With a single thought, a deity can transform into a mortal to experience the mortal world, and a mortal can be elevated to a deity to wield power. This is a partial manifestation of the powers of the "Dao Fruit"!

"Fellow Daoist Ziwei has already begun to expound on the Way of Imperial Order. Next, let Fellow Daoist Gouchen also expound on the wonders of thunder."

I don’t know how long it took.

After Xia Tian completed the core shaping of his own "Dao Fruit", he heard the voice of Emperor Donghua again.

"Can!"

Immediately, lightning flashed around Emperor Gouchen, and the entire Yaochi seemed to be instantly enveloped in a lightning domain.

But unlike ordinary destructive thunder, the thunder displayed by Emperor Gouchen has the supreme majesty of creating heaven and earth and judging all things, the creative power of yin and yang colliding and giving rise to life, and the killing power of being swift and representing the execution of the authority of heaven and earth!
"Thunder is the pivot of heaven and earth, the dynamism of yin and yang. It is not only for punishment and killing, but also for life and growth... Its speed is like chasing light and lightning; its power is like collapsing mountains and splitting rivers; its might is enough to drive away evil spirits; its life force is like withered trees coming back to life... He who wields thunder acts on behalf of heaven to carry out punishments, and also holds the reins of creation..."

The Daoist voice of Emperor Gouchen was like rolling thunder, shaking one's very soul. "This is... enlightenment of the Dao of Thunder?"

Xia Tian's lightning power surged wildly, and he saw the boundless vitality born within the lightning that represented destruction, which was evolved by the "Great Emperor Gouchen".

This coincides with the concept in the way of the emperor that "thunder and rain are all blessings from heaven."

In this way, the condensation of one's own "Dao Fruit" was further strengthened, and a bolt of lightning gradually wrapped around it...

"Since all of you fellow Daoists have already given your explanations... then I will also explain the 'Path to Subduing Demons' and the 'Path of Water'."

The True Martial Emperor spoke, his voice cold and resolute, carrying an unparalleled will to vanquish all evil.

The tortoise-snake phantom behind him roared, evolving into a boundless sea of ​​blood and endless demonic shadows, yet it melted away like ice and snow under his sword intent and divine power.

"Exorcising demons is not merely about killing, but about protecting the Way and upholding order. Demons arise from the mind and from circumstances... When one understands one's true nature, inner demons will not arise; when the world is clear and bright, external demons will not invade... The foundation of our Way lies in 'protection' and 'purification,' using killing to stop killing, using war to stop war, protecting all living beings, and purifying the heavens..."

Wu Song listened with rapt attention.

The concepts of "Guardian Kill" and "Purification War" of the True Martial Emperor were of great inspiration to him!

As the "General Who Guards the Prison" of Qianxia, ​​it is his duty to suppress demons and maintain the order of Yin and Yang. Now, upon hearing the true words of the Great Dao, he felt that the road ahead was suddenly clear, and his Dao heart and divine duty were more closely integrated.

"Since...you all have spoken of the fundamental principles of heaven and earth, this old Daoist will also make a fool of himself and explain the way of the earth..."

Afterwards, Zhenyuan Daxian held a jade whisk and waved it gently. It was as if everyone's feet were connected to the entire eternal earth, and they felt the magnificent power that nurtured all things and sustained all life.

"The way of the earth prioritizes 'bearing' and 'carrying,' as well as 'concealing' and 'generating.' It bears the weight of all things and carries the karma of all beings; it conceals inexhaustible treasures and generates endless vitality... The lineage of Earth Immortals is close to nature, senses the earth's veins, and sees the vastness of heaven and earth within a small space..."

Houtu radiated a gentle and compassionate light.

What she expounded also belonged to the "Way of the Earth," but it was different from Zhen Yuanzi's!

"Heaven and Earth, with their profound virtue, bear all things."

"But all things have a beginning and an end, and the soul has a place to return to... The earth is not only the mother of life, but also the land of rest and the foundation of reincarnation... Establishing order with the power of the true god, guiding the souls of the dead, balancing yin and yang, and ensuring the endless cycle of 'heaven, earth, and humanity' is the more enduring home of our human race..."

Zhen Yuanzi leans more towards the "bearing" and "concealing" of the "earth"; while Houtu's way focuses more on the "destination" and "reincarnation" of the "earth".

Summer can clearly feel the differences and complementarities between the two Daoist principles, which makes his understanding of the rules of "earth" more comprehensive.

"The way of water is to benefit all things without striving!"

The "Way of Water" that Mazu later described is full of blessings, guidance, purification, and inclusiveness, which is different from the "Way of Water" described by Zhenwu the Great, which focuses on killing and purification. It is more gentle and expansive...

"This path of education lies in teaching without discrimination; all living beings, including humans and demons, can embark on the Great Dao... The cultivation of demons emphasizes accumulating good deeds and virtuous conduct... Therefore..."

Afterwards, the Old Mother of Lishan and the Immortal of the South Pole also took the stage to preach.

In the summer, he focused all his energy on circulating his divine soul, using the effects of Huangzhong plum and Yaochi Immortal Wine to continuously absorb the Daoist essence that best suited him!

The reason why immortals' cultivation often takes a long time is precisely because comprehending the rules of the Great Dao requires painstaking effort.

But here, in this special environment where the gods preach, the passage of time seems to be distorted, and the efficiency of enlightenment is enhanced to the extreme.

It should be understood that the many "true gods" in this "human race immortal court" possess the ability to formulate and influence rules. In the Jade Pool, which is shrouded in their Daoist aura, the manifestation of the rules is far clearer than in the outside world.

As one "true god" after another began to preach, the voice of the Great Dao flowed like a trickle into a mighty river.

Xia Tian, ​​Wu Song, and Huang Rong were all completely absorbed in the endless ocean of "Daoist charm," and their cultivation levels continued to improve.

"Is this... the prototype of my Dao Fruit?"

After an unknown amount of time, Xia Tian's body suddenly trembled, and he was shocked to see a "prototype of Dao Fruit" that was between reality and illusion, constantly emitting the light of rules, appear above his head!
At its core radiates a noble purple-gold light, containing the aura of dominance, order, and balance. This light is the "rule of the emperor" refined from the combination of his own "Qianxia emperor's fortune and merit" and the Daoist charm of the Ziwei Emperor!
Surrounding the Emperor's Rules is a blazing, violent purple lightning bolt, containing both destruction and life, speed and power—the "Thunder Rules" inspired by the Great Emperor Gouchen!
The outermost layer consists of five rays of light of different colors, interacting and cycling with each other... This represents his current understanding of the "Five Elements Rules," which are like loyal subjects and solid foundations, harmonizing the core imperial power and the power of thunder!

As the saying goes, thunder and rain are all divine grace; governing all things and balancing yin and yang; the five elements revolve, creating heaven and earth...

The moment this "prototype of Dao Fruit" was formed, Xia Tian's aura surged dramatically, and the bottleneck that had been stuck at the peak of the supreme god level was easily pierced like a thin sheet of paper.

At the same time, an aura far exceeding that of an ordinary quasi-true god spread out, and it could even be vaguely compared to a senior quasi-true god like Lü Dongbin!

At this moment, he officially ascended to the realm of Quasi-True God!
"Today, I, the Emperor, have achieved the status of a quasi-god..."

Feeling the "prototype of the Dao Fruit" within my body, which contains infinite possibilities and is closely connected with the rules of heaven and earth.

Summer slowly opened her eyes, and it seemed as if a galaxy was turning and thunder was rising and falling in her eyes, and a true "imperial majesty" was naturally revealed!
He knew that from this moment on, he had truly embarked on the path to the highest realm, possessing a solid foundation to protect the people and the foundation of Qianxia in the even greater storms to come! (End of Chapter)