149: The highest good is like water

“There are thousands of Great Daos in the world. Which one should I Cultivate?”

Li Xiangyun sat cross-legged, asking his true self, which was also asking about the Dao.

Frost Dao Intent, this was the Dao Intent he had comprehended earliest, and also the Dao Intent easiest for him to Cultivate, as he possessed an Ice Spiritual Root.

After that came Sword Intent, because he originated from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and was a Sword Cultivator.

As for the final The Dao Intent of Life and Death, it was a Dao Intent he had comprehended three years ago after suffering severe injuries, breaking through and rising anew.

Logically, his Ice Glaze Dao Intent, which he had Cultivated for decades, should have been stronger than The Dao Intent of Life and Death, which he had only Cultivated for three years.

But the truth was, when he fought Zhou Huanyu in their final battle, he used the Other Shore Forbidden Technique, not a Frost Forbidden Art.

This was a very realistic problem.

As a derivative of water, the Dao of Ice was not weak; it could be used for offense and defense.

But the problem lay precisely here: ice was, after all, a derivative of water, and water was one of the Five Elements.

Therefore, the Dao of Ice itself was inherently weaker than the Dao of Life and Death.

“The Dao does not distinguish between high and low, but it does distinguish between superior and inferior.”

Li Xiangyun recalled words he had seen in his previous life.

“The essence of the ‘Dao’ is the origin and operating law of all things in the Universe, thus it universally exists within all things.

Whether it is an ant, a weed, a piece of rubble, or something grander or more minute, the ‘Dao’ exists within it.

Therefore, all things are Dao, and Dao is all things; all things are equal, without distinction of high or low, noble or humble.”

Li Xiangyun had no doubt that any Dao, Cultivated to its Peak, would become extremely powerful.

But at the same Realm, the Dao of Life and Death was indeed stronger than the Dao of Ice; this was an unquestionable fact.

Just as all things are equal, and every thing’s existence has its own meaning, an elephant is simply stronger than an ant.

“Perhaps, I really should make a change,” Li Xiangyun thought.

Perhaps he had anticipated this long ago, but the Dao of Ice had accompanied him for too long, and coupled with the lack of an opportune moment, he hadn't had the time to make a change.

But now... it was time... However, he wasn't going to abandon the Dao of Ice, but rather thought of a completely new path, a path truly suitable for him.

“Since you all want to eliminate anyone who dabbles in The Dao Intent of Life and Death, then what if I go a step further?”

“The highest good is like water; water benefits all things without contention!”

The Dao of Ice was originally a derivative of the Dao of Water.

If that was the case, why couldn't he use the Dao of Ice to reverse-engineer the Dao of Water?

He acted immediately, and in an instant, insights into the Dao of Water surfaced in Li Xiangyun’s mind.

“Water is the softest, yet it can wear through stone!”

Like a trickling stream, seemingly gentle, day after day, year after year, it can grind through hard bedrock.

Therefore, one of the essences of the Dao of Water is to overcome hardness with softness, and to conquer strength with weakness.

“Water is formless, yet it can take the shape of its container.”

It takes the shape of a cup when in a cup, the shape of a river when poured into one, it vaporizes into Qi, condenses into ice, changing in myriad ways.

This is another Realm of the Dao of Water — adapting to circumstances and going with the flow.

Water can gather to form a sea, or it can evaporate and disperse.

Water can cleanse all things and purify the soul.

Water is the source of life, nourishing all things... In an instant, Li Xiangyun's mind raced, and countless insights about the Dao of Water flooded his heart.

Gradually, Li Xiangyun's body began to shimmer with blue Dao patterns, and the surrounding environment also became humid.

A drop of water suddenly dripped from the cave wall, landing on Tang Fu's chubby cheek, startling him awake from his meditation.

Opening his eyes, he realized that at some point, the entire cave was filled with mist, and even his clothes were damp.

Just as he was about to look for the cause, he saw Li Xiangyun sitting upright in the mist not far away, his entire body shimmering with blue light waves.

“The Dao Intent of Water, but how is this possible?”

As a Cultivator from Xuanwu Star, Tang Fu recognized it as the Dao Intent of Water with just one glance.

But precisely because of this, Tang Fu was even more surprised.

After all, he had already learned that Li Xiangyun Cultivated the Dao Intents of Ice, Sword, and Life and Death.

Although somewhat shocking, the Dao Intent of Water was not among them.

“Did he comprehend the Dao Intent of Water in such a short time?”

“But how is that possible!?”

After all, to heal an injury and also comprehend a Dao Intent — what kind of Prodigy was this?

But very quickly, Li Xiangyun proved this point.

He suddenly whispered, “The Dao of Water is the Dao of resilience, the Dao of change, the Dao of inclusion, the Dao of nurturing.”

“It is not as fiery and flamboyant as the Dao of Fire, nor as rigid and direct as the Dao of Metal; it is more like a silent sage.

In the long river of time, it quietly accumulates, slowly flows, yet it contains the power to overturn the Universe.”

The more Tang Fu listened, the more alarmed he became, because some of these insights, even he, a Cultivator of the Dao Intent of Water, had not yet comprehended.

Before he could react, at that moment, Li Xiangyun suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, “Water, come!”

As the voice fell, Tang Fu seemed to hear the sound of raindrops pattering down; he heard the gurgling of a small stream; he heard the surging sound of a great river.

At this moment, the black mist that had been howling outside the cave briefly stagnated, and a clear stream appeared out of thin air, winding inside the cave, moistening the cracked rock walls.

Under the influence of the Dao Intent of Water and the Dao of Life, the moss where the water flowed grew greener, and even a few delicate white flowers bloomed, exuding a refreshing vitality.

This made Tang Fu involuntarily swallow his saliva.

Then he saw a stream of water encircling Li Xiangyun’s body.

Immediately after, this stream of water continuously changed its forms at his fingertips.

Sometimes a lion, sometimes a tiger, then transforming into a Water Dragon, majestic and lifelike, exceptionally agile.

“What kind of talent is this?” Tang Fu couldn't help but wonder.

Because such a vivid evolution, even he couldn't achieve it; even if Li Xiangyun comprehended the Dao Intent of Water in just a day or two, it shouldn't be so powerful, right!?

This made Tang Fu somewhat question his perception of reality.

He had originally prided himself as a Genius, believing that at merely three hundred years old, being at the Golden Core Peak meant boundless prospects.

Even if he was temporarily down on his luck, with his soul in Li Xiangyun's hands, so what?

Once he achieved a Nascent Soul Breakthrough, he could retrieve it and repay today's humiliation a hundredfold.

But now, seeing Li Xiangyun's Prodigy-like nature, Tang Fu couldn't help but wonder if he should try to curry favor with Li Xiangyun.

After all, Tang Fu, who hailed from the Xuanwu Star Domain, knew very well how much of a Prodigy someone who comprehended the Dao in a single day was.

If he could become acquainted with such a Prodigy, even in such an insulting manner, it might not be entirely unacceptable.

Li Xiangyun, unaware of Tang Fu’s thoughts, merely glanced at him casually before closing his eyes again.

In just an instant, Tang Fu felt as if he had fallen into the Reincarnation of Life and Death; the sharp Sword Intent stung his eyes, the sound of rushing water in his ears grew louder and louder, and even his heart couldn't help but pound “thump-thump.”

As if being continuously struck by water currents.

Fortunately, this feeling did not last too long, disappearing as Li Xiangyun closed his eyes.

But even so, Tang Fu couldn't help but feel a little wronged.

He had diligently acted as Protector, even contributing the Powder of the Nether Blossom, only to find that the first thing Li Xiangyun did upon waking was to warn him.

In fact, Li Xiangyun truly didn't know it would be like this.

He merely wanted to see what Tang Fu was doing, and seeing him sitting quietly, he paid him no mind and continued his Dao comprehension.

He hadn't expected that during his Dao comprehension, the Dao Intent within his body would be too active, completely uncontrollable, and his eyes were also the window to the soul.

Thus, it influenced Tang Fu through his eyes...