In other words, if you donât have a deep understanding of the Great Dao, if you lack the accumulated power that comes from long and arduous cultivation, youâll find it difficult to reach a new level.
For the Demon Race, Realms are more about purifying oneâs bloodline.
However, that doesnât mean the Demon Race has no need to comprehend the Great Dao.
Both bloodline and comprehension of the Great Dao are equally important to the Demon Race.
What, then, is the Dao?
Scholars of the Confucian School can attain the Dao by continuing the lost teachings of past sages and establishing peace for all generations.
Daoist Sect cultivators can attain the Dao by comprehending the heavens and the earth, understanding nature, and grasping their true selves.
Disciples of the Buddhist School can attain the Dao by enlightening the masses and accumulating merit through good deeds.
Rangers of the Mo Family attain the Dao in pursuit of the justice within their own hearts.
Even the Hehuan Sect uses...
Er...
Letâs not talk about that. You donât need to know, Xiao Mo.
In short, there are thousands upon thousands of Great Daos in the world.
But in the end, itâs all about following the path one has chosen for oneself.
As long as you believe the path you walk is right and follow it with unwavering conviction, you can attain the Dao.
If you ultimately feel your path is wrong, then the higher your Realm, the more likely your Dao Heart will become unstable, or even shatter.
Unless you can shatter your old self and be reborn, your Realm could plummet drastically.
Do you understand what Iâve said, Xiao Mo?
Xiao Mo, who was gathering Spiritual Power in the Array, opened his eyes and slowly nodded. "I think I understand some of it. Sister Bai, if you follow the Dao to the very end, do you truly become free of all desires?"
"Hehehe... How could that be possible?"
Bai Ruxue chuckled, covering her mouth.
"That depends on which path the cultivator walks. Unless one cultivates the Forgetfulness Dao, the vast majority of cultivators will never be free of desire, no matter how far they progress.
Quite the opposite.
The further most cultivators go in their cultivation, the more their personalities and preferences will reveal themselves.
For example, a lecherous person might pursue beautiful women even more.
A greedy person will become even greedier.
But the higher their Realm, the more they will pursue a different kind of beauty, a different kind of treasure."
"Oh, I see." Xiao Mo nodded.
"Good that you understand. Next, letâs talk about Spiritual Power.
What is Spiritual Power?
Spiritual Power can be divided into two types. The first is absorbed from the heavens and the earth.
The other is the Spiritual Power generated by the cultivator themselves.
Realm and Spiritual Power can be seen as having a cause-and-effect relationship.
When a cultivatorâs Realm is higher, they produce more Spiritual Power within their body, and they absorb more external Spiritual Power with each passing moment.
But why is it that among people of the same Realm, there are still differences in strength?
Ultimately, it is because the quality of their Spiritual Power is different.
The quantity of Spiritual Power affects the scale of the Magic one can cast.
The quality of Spiritual Power affects the power of the Magic one casts.
And Xiao Mo, you must remember.
A cultivatorâs combat strength can never be determined by their Realm alone.
Every cultivator has a different primary Cultivation Technique, different practical experience, and a different aptitude for combat. Naturally, their fighting abilities will not be the same.
So you must never assume someone is an easy target just because their Realm is low.
No matter who you face, you must never underestimate your opponent. Do you understand, Xiao Mo?"
"Mm-hm." Xiao Mo nodded. "I understand, Sister Bai."
"Good." Bai Ruxue stopped walking. "You are now a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, already far surpassing the vast majority of cultivators. Starting today, I will help you open the three major Cave Mansions within your body. After they are opened, Xiao Mo, you will be able to..."
As Bai Ruxue was halfway through her sentence, her brows furrowed.
The next moment, streaks of white light smashed down toward Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo!
Bai Ruxue stepped forward, shielding Xiao Mo with her body.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The white beams of light slammed down around Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo, kicking up clouds of sand several meters high.
The enemyâs attack gradually ceased. As the sand and dust settled, a sea-blue barrier was revealed, covering the two of them.
"Sister Bai..." Xiao Mo looked up at Bai Ruxue.
"Donât be afraid, Xiao Mo. Itâs just a few uninvited guests. Iâll take care of it quickly."
Bai Ruxue smiled and ruffled Xiao Moâs hair, then threw out a Scroll.
An Array emerged from the Scroll, enveloping Xiao Mo.
"To think the Lord of the North Sea is protecting a young Human Race boy. How interesting."
Li Feng Mountainâs voice echoed from the sky above.
Bai Ruxue looked up to see an old man and a young man floating in the air.
Bai Ruxue sensed their Spiritual Power fluctuations.
âThe young one is at the Cave Mansion Realm. The old oneâs Realm... itâs probably no lower than my own.â
"My North Sea has never provoked your Human Race. What is the meaning of this?" Bai Ruxueâs eyes transformed into imposing, golden vertical pupils, her voice carrying an authority that needed no anger.
"It means nothing. Iâm just here to take your life."
Li Feng Mountain wasted no more words. He reached out an aged hand and pressed it downward.
A massive golden palm fell from the sky!
"Xiao Mo, donât leave this Array. Iâll be right back."
Bai Ruxue took a graceful step and shot toward the golden palm.
In an instant, pillars of ice erupted around Bai Ruxue, following their master to shatter the golden Palm Seal to pieces.
"Disciple, fall back!"
Li Feng Mountain barked, his fingers forming the signs for the All Things Technique.
In a flash, the vast, heavy clouds churned, coalescing into the Dharma Aspects of ancient Divine Beasts like the True Dragon, Qilin, Phoenix, and Zhen!
ROAR!!!
The Divine Beasts formed from clouds bore down on Bai Ruxue with the force of wind and thunder!
With a single palm strike, Bai Ruxue obliterated the leading Phoenix Dharma Aspect, scattering it into mist.
Yet the remaining Divine Beastsâ assault didnât falter, reaching her in an instant.
Meanwhile, Li Feng Mountain formed a sword-finger and gestured toward the blazing sun high above.
Several fiery ropes like molten gold, resembling the claws of a Golden Crow, tore through the air, snaking toward Bai Ruxue like chains.
Bai Ruxueâs brows knitted. She cast a furtive glance at Xiao Mo on the ground.
âI donât want to reveal my true form in front of Xiao Mo. Iâm a Demon, after all, and the relationship between the Human Race and the Demon Race is incredibly tense right now.â
âIn this climate, with a war between humans and demons imminent, even a remote little fishing village like Huanyu Village, which used to have a somewhat favorable view of the Demon Race, has been affected.â
âNow, the villagers of Huanyu Village speak of the Demon Race with a hint of vigilance.â
âEven though Xiao Mo is still young and doesnât understand anything, heâs been influenced by what heâs heard. He probably doesnât have a very good impression of the Demon Race either.â
âBut this old man is very strong, and he came prepared. If I donât use my true form to fight, Iâm afraid even Xiao Mo will be in danger!â
ROAR!
In the end, Bai Ruxue decided to transform into her White Flood Dragon true form and charge straight up.
She was not one to hesitate.
Although on a normal day, Bai Ruxue might seem like the same little girl from three thousand years ago.
In reality, she only ever revealed that innocent appearance to one particular person.
Over the past three thousand years, she had experienced countless battles. She was already the North Sea Dragon Lord who commanded tens of thousands of miles of ocean, a genuine Demon Emperor.
"What an impressive Immortal Realm Evil Flood Dragon!"
Li Feng Mountainâs heart skipped a beat as he looked at the White Flood Dragon, a colossal beast stretching over twenty-five hundred feet long.
He had killed many Flood Dragons, but he had truly never seen a White Flood Dragon like this one, so close to a legendary True Dragon.
If it werenât for the few remaining Flood Dragon characteristics on its body, Li Feng Mountain would have thought he was facing a genuine True Dragon!
Meanwhile, Su Renâs body trembled uncontrollably as he stared at the White Flood Dragon that blotted out the sun and sky.
A mountain-like draconic pressure bore down on Su Ren.
If Su Ren hadnât been protected by a Magical Treasure, he would have felt like he was suffocating.
Xiao Mo, sitting on the beach, was also in absolute awe. After so many years, this was the first time he had seen Ruxueâs true form. She looked divine.
"Such a dominant bloodline should be mine to command!" Li Feng Mountain declared with a wave of his hand.
The heavy clouds once again transformed into massive Celestial Pillars, attempting to bind Bai Ruxue.
Bai Ruxue charged recklessly, shattering the Cloud Pillars. She then spat out a mouthful of Dragon Breath, striking Li Feng Mountainâs body directly.
After the Dragon Breath passed, Li Feng Mountainâs body reformed. He then threw out a golden basket.
The basket expanded rapidly, flying down toward Bai Ruxue to trap her.
In her past trials, Bai Ruxue had encountered replica Dragon-Catching Baskets before.
But this was no replica. It was a genuine Immortal Soldier!