223: Tao Te Ching, translator Lin Fan.

Three days passed in a flash.

As the first ray of morning light tore through the clouds, it bathed the majestic Tianzhu Peak in a sacred golden glow.

“Dong—!”

A long, drawn-out bell chime echoed from the mountain peak, reverberating through the clouds.

It’s time!

On the surface of the lake, the millions of Martial Artists who had been waiting for a long time, almost stretching endlessly, all perked up, and an uncontrollable fervor erupted in their eyes!

“It’s open! The mountain gate is open!”

Someone, no one knew who, was the first to react, shouting at the top of their lungs.

The next instant!

The entire lake surface completely boiled over!

Countless figures soared into the sky from the densely packed boats, like a swarm of fish crossing a river, surging towards the mountain gate of Tianzhu Peak!

However, what awaited them was not the smooth path they had imagined.

But an… invisible barrier.

“Om—!”

A faint hum.

The hundreds of Martial Artists at the very front, as soon as they approached within a hundred zhang of the mountain gate, were like crashing into an invisible wall, all of them bruised and battered, knocked off their feet, and in a sorry state.

“What’s going on?!”

“There’s a Formation!”

Just as everyone was filled with doubt, a calm voice came from the mountain peak, clearly resounding in everyone’s ears.

“Those whose Heart-Nature is not sincere cannot enter.”

“Those whose will is not firm cannot enter.”

“Those with too much killing karma cannot enter.”

“To enter my Grand Profound Gate, you must… take one step per stair, kowtow once every three steps, and prostrate yourself every nine steps.”

“Only those who can reach the summit are… destined individuals.”

As soon as the words fell.

Before the mountain gate, which was originally empty, a heavenly path paved with white jade steps appeared without any warning!

The steps stretched upwards, disappearing into the clouds, with no end in sight.

An invisible pressure emanated from the steps.

Silence!

After a brief, deathly silence, the crowd erupted again!

“What kind of ridiculous rule is this?!”

“I traveled thousands of miles to listen to your Dao, not to kowtow to you!”

A hot-tempered Martial Emperor expert immediately exploded, and without thinking, he tried to force his way up the mountain.

However, as soon as he moved.

“Crack—!”

A thick purple divine lightning, as wide as a bucket, struck down from the clear sky without any warning, precisely landing on his head.

“Ah!”

A tragic scream.

That arrogant Martial Emperor expert, without even a chance to resist, was reduced to ashes by the violent lightning.

Hiss—!

Gasps of cold air rose and fell!

Everyone was stunned by this Immortal-like display of power!

No one dared to show the slightest disrespect again.

One by one, they obediently began their… pilgrimage of taking one step per stair from the foot of the mountain.

But how could these seemingly simple steps be so easy to ascend?

With each step taken, the pressure originating from the Divine Soul would multiply!

Countless illusions arose in their minds!

Heart Demons whispered in their ears!

“Thump!”

“Thump! Thump!”

In just the short time of an incense stick burning, nearly half of the Martial Artists could no longer bear the terrifying pressure, their legs gave out, and they collapsed to the ground. Some even rolled their eyes and fainted directly.

Unwilling roars and desperate wails rose and fell.

But, a rule is a rule.

The failures could only watch as their figures were gently sent back to the boats at the foot of the mountain by a soft force.

Time, minute by minute, slipped away.

After one day.

Of the vast crowd of millions of Martial Artists, fewer than three thousand now stood on the heavenly steps!

These three thousand, without exception, were all top-tier Geniuses, chosen for their superior Heart-Nature, will, and talent!

They would be the… Grand Profound Three Thousand Guests who would shake the Nine Heavens in the future!

“Not bad.”

On the mountain peak, Lu Yuchen looked at the sparse but calm figures, and nodded in satisfaction.

He no longer hesitated, sat cross-legged, and his calm voice resonated again.

“The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.”

“The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth; the named is the mother of all things…”

The Daodejing!

The lecture began!

The profound and ineffable truths of the Dao slowly flowed from his mouth.

Every word seemed to contain the ultimate principles of Heaven and Earth, the creation and destruction of the Universe.

But to the three thousand Prodigies below, it sounded like gibberish.

They scratched their ears and cheeks, their faces filled with confusion.

What the hell?

What does this have to do with Cultivation?

Just as everyone was doubting life.

A figure slowly walked out from the crowd.

It was Lin Fan.

He smiled slightly at the equally confused crowd and said loudly:

“Everyone, what Revered Master said is the beginning of the Dao, the source of all methods. It is perfectly normal for you not to understand.”

“Revered Master, that old man, his first sentence, ‘The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao,’ means that all those shoddy Martial Arts you practiced before are all garbage! Forget them quickly!”

“The second sentence, ‘The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth,’ means that if you want to Cultivate Immortality, you must first treat yourself as a newborn infant, a blank slate! Start over from scratch!”

His words were simple, crude, and easy to understand.

Boom!

As soon as these words were spoken, the three thousand Prodigies below were struck by lightning, and also enlightened!

So that’s how it is!

As expected of an Immortal’s Disciple! His understanding is truly profound!

Many people immediately sat cross-legged on the spot, actually falling into a state of Epiphany!

Seeing this, Lin Fan chuckled and continued his “translation” endeavor.

Time, once again, flowed by.

Who knows how long passed.

“I understand! I understand!”

A swordsman suddenly stood up, roaring to the sky, and the long sword in his hand let out a clear sword cry, actually unsheathing itself and circling around him!

He had actually, through this Epiphany, spontaneously comprehended the rudiments of the Yujian Technique!

This was just the beginning!

More and more people awakened from their Epiphanies, their Qi soaring, their eyes filled with endless longing for the Immortal Dao!

Looking at the flourishing scene before him, Lu Yuchen’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, thinking, “These young ones are teachable.”

He knew it was time to unveil the true face of this world to them.

“Today, this Venerable One shall give you a general overview of the Immortal Dao Realms.”

His voice resonated again.

“There are nine Immortal Dao Realms, each step a climb to Heaven.”

“The first Realm, guiding Qi into the body, is ‘Qi Condensation’.”

“The second Realm, condensing Qi into liquid, forging the foundation of the Immortal Dao, is ‘Foundation Establishment’.”

“The third Realm, opening the Qi Sea and condensing the Purple Mansion, is ‘Purple Mansion’.”

“The fourth Realm, liquefying into a pill, the Golden Core Immortal, is ‘Golden Core’.”

“The fifth Realm, shattering the pill to form an infant, the Divine Soul wandering in the void, is ‘Nascent Soul’.”

“The sixth Realm, Nascent Soul transforming into a Divine Soul, initially wielding the power of Heaven and Earth, is ‘Soul Transformation’.”

“The seventh Realm, Divine Soul and body merging into one, manifesting as a giant, is ‘Body Integration’.”

“The eighth Realm, discerning illusions, wandering in the void, is ‘Void Refining’.”

“The ninth Realm, Undergoing the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, transcending the mundane, is ‘Undergoing Tribulation’.”

“Above that is ‘Mahayana’…

After breaking through Mahayana, one is called a ‘True Immortal’, living as long as Heaven and Earth, shining as brightly as the sun and moon!”