Chapter 2445 - 2413: Li Chen’s Discourse on the Dao

Chapter 2445: Chapter 2413: Li Chen’s Discourse on the Dao

Li Chen originally did not want to speak.

Seeing them in the midst of a heated debate, Li Chen knew that his goal was temporarily achieved.

No matter how you look at it, their lineup was much weaker than the opposition, and only a method akin to a clever tactic would give them hope for victory.

However, Li Chen never expected that the opponent would have someone like Autumn Water Dao Saint.

Although Li Chen had seen Autumn Water Dao Saint before, there was no doubt that he did not know that Autumn Water Dao Saint possessed such peculiar abilities.

If he had known earlier, he would not have proposed this battle.

Earlier, because of the abilities of Autumn Water Dao Saint, it accidentally triggered... the Black Qi within him, which had remained dormant!

Therefore, he used a method almost like self-harm to barely maintain his composure.

Although the Black Qi in his sea of awareness wouldn’t enter as easily as before, it was always settled in his body, even altering his clothing due to its presence.

This Black Qi had always been a worry for Li Chen, but it was unfortunate that even he had no effective means of expelling it from his body.

At most, he could barely suppress it.

Moreover, up until now, Li Chen had yet to understand what this Black Qi truly was!

Noticing the gazes from around him, Li Chen’s expression remained calm. He knew that he couldn’t avoid this Dao debate unless he relinquished it like Autumn Water Dao Saint.

However, it was evident that after the atmosphere reached this momentum, he could not abandon it. If he did, those aware of discrepancies might revert to the starting point.

Thus, he could only cast some ideas, whether or not they were groundbreaking, which nonetheless aligned with the ultimate truths of his Dao.

"What is Dao? This question is quite intriguing." Li Chen began slowly, pulling out a somewhat sarcastic, strange smile to prevent others from noticing his poor condition.

"Just as you all discussed earlier, everyone has different views and understandings of Dao. But have you ever wondered, if Dao is truly so supreme, what do you count as? Seekers of the Way? Or slaves to the Dao?"

Changing his posture, Li Chen continued to recline on the Lotus Seat, his gaze sweeping over each face present: "What do we cultivate? Unquestionably, it is the Dao! Yes, we are pursuing the Dao. But have you considered, if one day, we each find the Dao we seek, what should we do next?"

"A thousand people have a thousand views on Dao. Everyone’s understanding of Dao is different, so how do we discern whose Dao is right or wrong?"

With a series of rhetorical questions, Li Chen rendered those who were exuberantly discussing earlier into silence.

"So, Red Dust Predecessor, how should we interpret your previous statement?" At this moment, an Ancient Ancestor from the Heaven and Earth Realm suddenly stood up and addressed Li Chen at the top.

Li Chen turned his head to look. Beside the Ancient Ancestor was Yu Xiu, who was smiling respectfully at him.

Undoubtedly, Yu Xiu truly discovered what he had left behind.

For a powerhouse adept at using the blade, there was nothing more gratifying than finding a successor who also favored and excelled in blade use.

Returning a smile to Yu Xiu, Li Chen slowly withdrew his gaze.

"My words? After saying so much, is it still hard to understand?" Li Chen chuckled softly, "It is precisely because the Dao is boundless that each individual’s understanding of Dao is entirely different. This enables us in the Palm Realm to converge and manifest our own Dao."

"If there were only one path to mastering the Dao, then how could others converge and verify their understanding?"

"Therefore!" Li Chen’s eyes focused: "My perspective is quite simple."

"Why should we care about others’ Dao?"

"I have my own Dao, which is also the crystallization of my own insights."

"The Dao of Heaven takes away from the excess and supplements the shortcoming. The Dao of Man takes away from the shortcoming and enhances the excess. Who can have enough to benefit the world? Only those who possess Dao!" Li Chen’s voice was as calm as an ancient well.

Tao Wu Dao Saint’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, challenging, "Then in Red Dust Friend’s view, does the Dao of Man need to be founded upon the Heavenly Dao?"

Li Chen laughed heartily, "Tao Wu, would you dare to loudly tell me how people address you now?"

"Dao Saint!" Before Tao Wu could reply, Li Chen answered his own question.

"What is a Dao Saint? A sage among the Dao! If even pursuing a position above the Heavenly Dao is absent, how can one be worthy of the title ’Saint’? A Dao Saint masters the source, connecting to the Universe’s Origin Force, whereas Origin Realm powerhouses can already create a universe, becoming a true Source of the Universe! So, who says the Dao of Man cannot stand above the Heavenly Dao?"

"You think the Dao of Man should be lower than the Heavenly Dao, but that’s merely being shackled by your own habitual thinking. Let me say something unpleasing here: if you all continue to maintain this thinking, I fear you’ll never break through your current realms, and instead remain trapped in this ’prison’ forever!"

Li Chen’s words were forceful, like a sledgehammer striking deeply upon everyone’s hearts.

Including the Dao Saints on the Lotus Seats, and even those strong individuals gathered below at Molting Dream Mountain who had not yet departed, were deeply immersed in thought.

The Heavenly Dao, representing the will of the universe, has always been supreme. It is a fundamentally ingrained consensus among many cultivators.

But Li Chen’s words seemed to open a different window for them.

Does the Dao of Man truly need to stand above the Heavenly Dao?

After saying his piece, Li Chen refrained from speaking further.

Originally, he did not wish to speak, but the current atmosphere was driven by him; if he remained silent, unforeseeable changes might occur.

Reclining again on the Lotus Seat, Li Chen settled his mind, preparing to continue suppressing the restless Black Qi within him.

Just then, Li Chen noticed the Demon Saint of Qingqiu suddenly turn, bowing deeply towards him.

"Thank you, Brother Red Dust, for dispelling the confusion. Qingqiu... will never forget the favor of imparting the Dao today!"

One could see gratitude brimming in Qingqiu Demon Saint’s eyes.

At the same time, many people noticed that the aura around Qingqiu fluctuated violently.

"This is..."

Many suddenly widened their eyes in disbelief as they looked towards Qingqiu.

"Breakthrough?!"

At that moment, Qingqiu, who had been stuck at the Early Palm Source Realm for many years, due to Li Chen’s words, finally shattered the barrier that had showed no progress for years, successfully stepping into the Mid-Stage Origin Palm Realm!

At this time, the gazes directed at Li Chen were completely different.