The Dantian nurtures spiritual energy... this is the Qi Condensation stage. When spiritual energy fills the Dantian, it transforms into a spiritual river... this is the Foundation Establishment stage. Spiritual energy condenses into a core... this is the Core Formation stage. The Sea of Consciousness solidifies into an infant... this is the Nascent Soul stage. The Sea of Consciousness expands and takes shape... this is the Purple Mansion...
"These realms above are known to all, yet in the past ten thousand years, not a single Divine Transformation Daojun has appeared. You millions of cultivators, does any one of you know why..."
After nine days of lecturing, sitting cross-legged on the futon atop the giant peak, Wu Tao saw that among the millions of immortals below, some were lost in a trance, delirious with joy, some were deep in thought, their faces etched with confusion, and some were driven to madness, utterly enraptured...
Divine Transformation Daojun Wu Tao couldn't help but frown and asked in a deep voice.
"Master..."
"Father God..."
"Lord..."
The millions of cultivators from all races, upon hearing this, exchanged awkward glances. They looked at each other and shook their heads. None of these myriad beings knew why...
Subsequently, as if struck by an idea, the millions of cultivators from all races began to kowtow, murmuring in unison, "We implore our teacher to guide us."
Dong~dong~dong~~
The sound of the Dao-seeking bell, like a monstrous tidal wave, surged one after another, rising higher and higher, eventually forming a sweeping force that could pierce through the Nine Provinces and resonate throughout the Four Seas.
Following the sound, the millions of cultivators from all races beheld an ancient, unadorned cauldron suspended before Wu Tao. Beneath it swirled a five-colored light, like a miniature world, so clear that mountains, rivers, cities, and stars were all visible, with billions of beings within.
All things and beings in the world possess spirituality and are divided into the Five Elements. Wind and thunder are no exception. The so-called Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—are the fundamental basis of the universe, and through their differentiation and propagation, the Great Thousand Worlds were formed.
The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth lies in the Dao of the Five Elements. The Dao of the Five Elements has cycles of mutual generation and mutual restraint. Mutual restraint means Metal restrains Wood, Wood restrains Earth, Earth restrains Water, Water restrains Fire, and Fire restrains Metal. Mutual generation means Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, and Earth generates Metal.”
"The Sages said... the Five Elements' spiritual energy must be based on mutual generation and restraint. This is a great fallacy, and it has misled all beings for countless years..." Wu Tao held the world in one hand, his tone suddenly changing.
"Have you not seen raging fires extinguish water, and floods breach dams? In this case, Fire can also restrain Water, and Water can also restrain Earth. Clinging to the theory of mutual restraint of the Five Elements is like carving a boat to seek a lost sword. The fundamental Dao of the Five Elements is neither mutual restraint nor mutual generation, but mutual transformation."
"All things possess the spirituality of the Five Elements, and are divided into the Five Elements based on their strength. Things belonging to Wood are not entirely devoid of the four natures of Metal, Water, Fire, and Earth; their presence is simply weaker."
"Moreover, the Five Elements' attributes are in constant flux. This is why vast seas turn into mulberry fields. Mutual transformation of the Five Elements means using the power of the mind to adjust and change the Five Elements' attributes of a certain thing or oneself to adapt to the prevailing circumstances."
"Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, the unification of the Five Elements is the unification of Heaven and Earth. This is the Dao of Divine Transformation, the root of eternal life. Therefore, if you wish to attain the Dao fruit of Divine Transformation, you must first comprehend the Great Dao of the Five Elements."
"To comprehend the Great Dao of the Five Elements, one must first understand the changes of the Five Elements. The mutual transformation of the Five Elements requires the cultivation of the will of the Five Elements first. The Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth are referred to in the ancient cultivation world as 'Heng', 'Sheng', 'Bian', 'Wang', and 'Rong', respectively. That is to say, the Five Daos of Eternity, Growth, Change, Destruction, and Inclusion. The Five Elements are the foundation of all things, and also the laws of all things."
Profound, too profound. What Wu Tao spoke of was the supreme Great Dao. The millions of beings from all races could feel a subtle tremor and excitement deep within their souls. Yet, when it entered their ears, they were lost and clueless as to its meaning.
This feeling of entering a treasure mountain only to return empty-handed almost drove the millions of beings to madness, regardless of their cultivation level or race.
"Why, the pronouncements of the Great Dao are here, yet I am so useless..."
This question surfaced in the minds of the millions of beings, like a demonic obsession.
"Could it be..."
Those with sharp minds and quick wit cast their gaze towards Wu Tao, who was seated on the futon.
"Purple qi transforming into three thousand Daos, Five Elements Spiritual Golden Lotus!"
Those with sufficient knowledge exclaimed in unison. Is that golden lotus not formed from the Five Elements? A wisp of unified Five Elements transforms into the Purple Dao. And Purple qi is the primary root of the Divine Transformation Dao.
After understanding the crux of the matter, before the millions of beings could rejoice, an even more wondrous scene unfolded beside them.
The most eye-catching was the "torrent of purple qi surging, transforming into countless strands of purple silk, shooting into the bodies of the millions of beings."
"This is... the gift of a Divine Transformation Daojun!"
The surging purple silk that entered the bodies of the countless beings revealed infinite mysteries. It was clearly visible that this was not the manifestation of Dharma power or the condensation of true essence, but a genuine great fortune, enough for everyone to feel the path to eternal life and the profoundness of the Dao.
After a moment of silence, an elder Purple Mansion ancestor, who had been trapped at the peak of the third realm of the Purple Mansion for thousands of years and was on the verge of his lifespan expiring, suddenly pushed through the crowd and walked to Wu Tao.
Under the watchful eyes of the millions of beings, he seemed oblivious, solemnly straightened his robes, performed a great礼, bowed his head, and kowtowed.
"Disciple, greets Master."
After the ceremony, he rose and calmly ascended to the source of creation, closing his eyes and meditating.
His Primordial Spirit Dao, the gate of eternal life, seemed to have finally straightened out from a tangled mess, and immeasurable mysteries surged into him. For a time, he was lost in a trance, comprehending some of the principles of the Great Dao.
The millions of beings closed their eyes to comprehend the Dao.
The myriad phenomena of the mortal world, with its six desires and seven emotions, were merely the cultivators' and practitioners' perceptions of heaven and earth. They constrained themselves and forcefully suppressed them. Normally, they appeared like clay sculptures and wooden statues, lacking human warmth and worldly charm.
Instantly, the millions of beings all attained enlightenment.
The Heavenly Dao is impartial; how can Dharma be lightly transmitted?
Upon understanding this principle, one, two, three... and then a million, ten million. All the beings present, regardless of their cultivation level, status, or race, bowed their heads and kowtowed.
"Disciple, greets Master!"
"Disciple, greets Master!"
"Disciple, greets Master!"
Their voices shook the heavens and stirred the universe.
The Nine Heavens trembled, and the Four Seas submitted.
It was thus: Millions of beings gathered on the giant peak of the firmament, bowing in homage to the Divine Transformation Daojun Wu Tao!
Dharma cannot be lightly transmitted, and Dao cannot be lightly imparted. The Heavenly Dao is impartial; how can there be only the desire to receive and no willingness to give?
Therefore, this disciple's bow was offered willingly by the cultivators of all races, without any trace of humiliation or resentment.
To spread the Dao throughout the world is to earn the right to receive the homage of the world's beings as a teacher.
The salutations of millions of cultivators calling him Master, such a grand occasion, such honor, was perhaps unparalleled since the Desolate, Ancient, and Primordial eras.
Above and below, all directions are the universe; past and present is time. The concept of the universe encompasses space and time, and is the origin of all things. Within the universe, one Yuan marks the passage of time, a cycle of 129,600 years.
During the Yuan periods of the Desolate, Ancient, and Primordial eras, powerful beings dominated the world, conquering with tyranny and terrifying with destruction. They never spread the Dao throughout the world in such a manner, teaching those who were destined... From the Desolate era onwards, up to the current cultivation era, almost every generation of powerful beings, upon gaining insights, would hoard them, let alone spread them.
Wu Tao's actions can be considered the first of their kind in history!
This bow, he truly deserved!
Millions of immortals, demons, ghosts, and spirits all bowed their heads. After kowtowing, they all suppressed their excitement and, straightening their robes, ascended to receive a wisp of purple qi as the root of eternal life and the means to prove the Dao.
As they perceived the Five Elements of the purple qi, it was as if, in an instant, the entire world was changing, becoming more intimate and transparent. It was like a fish swimming in water, an eagle soaring through the sky, or a multicolored deer grazing. They experienced an ineffable sense of freedom.
In this moment, within the vast land of the Nine Provinces and the boundless Four Seas, only Wu Tao's voice of lecturing could be heard.
The auspicious signs of the Heavenly Dao manifested within the thousands of miles of the firmament's giant peak, with various phenomena and the myriad forms of beings appearing one after another.
Below the ten-thousand-zhang giant peak, millions of beings, seekers of the Dao...
Some were ecstatic, as if listening to celestial music, experiencing inexplicable joy through some wondrous method; some were pondering with great difficulty, as if facing insurmountable confusion, making them restless... Some were as still as stones, some could not contain their joy; some wept and laughed heartily, achieving great enlightenment, while others were utterly disheartened, as if mourning their parents...
At that time, what were Nascent Soul True Lords, what were Purple Mansion Old Ancestors, what were Qi Refining novices... what were human cultivators, what were demon kings and monstrous beasts, ghost cultivators and strange beings, bloodthirsty demon heads... There were only individuals engrossed in the Great Dao, unaware of the passage of time, all seeking the Dao.
One day, two days... Three months later...!
How hateful the swift passage of time was at this moment! When a bell chimed and woke the millions of beings who were lost in the Great Dao, unable to extricate themselves, countless cultivators wished they could turn back time and listen to the Great Dao once more.
Alas, the Dao of Time and Years is the foremost among the Three Thousand Daos, the power of heaven and earth. Even Wu Tao, the Divine Transformation Daojun who was lecturing the beings from the platform, could not grasp its subtleties or fathom its depths. How could others?
The thoughts and desires of the millions of beings were ultimately mere pipe dreams.
Immersed in infinite regret, the millions of beings now had no room for anything else in their hearts, only gazing longingly at Wu Tao, the Divine Transformation Daojun, who sat motionless on the platform, unchanged in any way from three months prior.
The collective thoughts of beings could not be lightly disregarded. The fervent gazes of the millions of beings and immortals were almost tangible, a pressure that no one in the world, except for Wu Tao, the Divine Transformation Daojun, could withstand.
This included figures at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm.
"Good, good!"
Sensing the intentions of the millions of beings and immortals, Wu Tao smiled slightly and said softly, "The Dao follows nature, unpredictable and ever-changing."
"From the uncreated genesis of heaven and earth and all things, before the Desolate, Ancient, and Primordial periods, up to the present new era, it has been solely for me, Wu Tao."
"I have imparted the entire Dao of Divine Transformation to you all. You shall use a wisp of purple qi as proof and the Five Elements of heaven and earth as a foundation. This is the method of proving the Dao through Divine Transformation."
As he spoke, myriad phenomena manifested above Wu Tao's head.
—The Transformation of Chaos—The Five Elements as the Foundation!
"Today, Wu Tao shall also use the three thousand strands of purple qi as proof, lecturing for one hundred and eight days, establishing the method of the Heavenly Cycle's fate, and laying the foundation for eternal immortality!"