137: The Lord's Visit and the Koi's Discussion

The joint visit from the Three Ancient Masters, though politely declined by Yun Feng on the grounds of "raising fish," did not dampen their resolve; instead, it only strengthened their desire to establish a connection with the Cloud Court. At their Realm, their skin had long been cultivated to be thicker than the barriers of the world; a slight rejection was nothing at all.

A few days later, three auras, whose magnificence defied verbal description, quietly descended upon the Star Domain on the outskirts of the Cloud Court. They did not force their way in, but rather, like three ordinary visitors, stopped outside the Realm boundaries, emitting peaceful and clear fluctuations of intent that spread throughout the entire Cloud Court:

"From the Ruins of Time, Shi Jin, bringing one 'Eternal Hourglass,' has come specifically to pay respects to the Lord of the Cloud Court to discuss the Dao and seek the truth."

"From the Chaos Abyss Mansion, Hun Qing, bringing one 'source core fragment,' has come specifically to pay respects to the Lord of the Cloud Court to verify the Dao."

"From the Void Illusion Sea, Xu Li, bringing one 'Illusion Sea True Spirit Pearl,' has come specifically to pay respects to the Lord of the Cloud Court to ask for the method of transcendence."

The three Dominators not only came in person but also brought gifts that could be called treasures of the Realm! This sincerity, or perhaps this "tuition fee," was enough to drive any faction mad.

Throughout the outskirts of the Cloud Court, those Holy Land Leaders who had just relocated, feeling these three vast and boundless wills, were trembling with excitement, looking toward the outside of the Realm as if on a pilgrimage.

"It's those three! The ancient existences from legends who long ago ceased to concern themselves with worldly affairs!"

"They actually came in person! And they brought such generous gifts!"

"Will the Yunting Master... meet them?"

Everyone's gaze was focused in the direction of the Star Gazing Hall.

Inside the Star Gazing Hall, Yun Feng was squatting by the "small Pond" behind the hall, which he had created with supreme magical power. Swimming in the Pond were a few koi that looked ordinary but actually contained Dao Rhyme within. He held a bit of fish food in his hand, seemingly contemplating which one to feed.

The figure of Nie Li appeared behind him, respectfully reporting: "Court Master, those three... are still waiting outside. The gifts are very heavy."

Yun Feng did not even turn his head, accurately tossing the fish food in front of a koi that was entirely silver-white, save for a single dot of gold on its forehead. Watching it elegantly swallow the food, he slowly said: "Let them in. Hmm... we shall meet right here by this Pond."

Nie Li bowed and accepted the order, thinking to himself, receiving the Three Ancient Masters by this Pond? The Court Master's style is truly becoming more and more grounded.

Soon, the three Dominators, Shi Jin, Hun Qing, and Xu Li, guided by Nie Li, arrived at this seemingly ordinary Pond. Their gazes swept over the Pond, the koi, and the green-robed figure focused on feeding the fish, with a trace of imperceptible gravity flashing in their eyes.

At their Realm, they could long ago see the essence through the appearance. This Pond, how could it be a mere Pond? It was clearly a projection of the "Initial Chaos Sea" compressed to the extreme! Inside each of those few koi flowed complete chains of Law, and their swimming movements pulled at the trajectories of the Dao! And that Lord of the Cloud Court, with his back to them, his very existence was like the "Sea-Stabilizing Needle" of this world; seemingly ordinary, yet tightly connected to the Origin of all things, unfathomable!

"Lord of the Cloud Court, sorry to disturb you." Dominator Shi Jin spoke first, his voice gentle and carrying the vicissitudes of time. He held a seemingly ordinary hourglass in his palm, but every grain of sand inside it seemed to be a frozen era, flowing with an eternal aura.

Dominator Hun Qing was a Chaos cyclone constantly changing form, with only a "source core fragment" pulsating like a heart in the center, emitting the Dao Rhyme of creation and termination. Dominator Xu Li's figure was ethereal, like a reflection in water, and within the "Illusion Sea True Spirit Pearl" in her hand, it seemed to contain a world where infinite possibilities and reality were intertwined.

Yun Feng then slowly turned around, his face devoid of any special expression, and he just casually pointed to a few stone stools by the Pond: "Sit."

The three Dominators followed suit, sitting down as instructed, keeping their postures very low, completely lacking the tension or unfathomable air that the outside world imagined when Dominators met.

"You have come from afar and even brought gifts; you are very thoughtful." Yun Feng's gaze swept over the three supreme treasures capable of triggering bloodbaths at the Dominator level, his tone as plain as if he were evaluating local specialties sent by a neighbor: "Put them on the side."

Nie Li stepped forward and carefully took the three treasures, feeling them heavy in his hands—not just in weight, but in the meaning they represented.

"Fellow Daoist Yun," Dominator Hun Qing's voice was like thunder at the beginning of Chaos, carrying a trace of inquiry, "We have come presumptuously because of confusion in our hearts. Fellow Daoist's attainments in the Dao of 'Definition' are already close to the source of 'Law follows the spoken word'; I wonder... how does Fellow Daoist view the 'reality' and 'illusion' of this endless Void Realm?"

This was a question pointing directly to the Origin of the Dao, involving the ultimate mysteries of existence and cognition.

Yun Feng did not answer directly, but instead sprinkled another handful of fish food into the Pond, watching the koi scramble for it, and slowly said: "Look at these fish in the Pond; do they know of the world outside the Pond? To them, this Pond is their 'reality.' The rise and fall of the Pond water, the timing of the feeding, these are their 'rules.'"

He paused, pointing to the koi with gold on its forehead: "And this one, perhaps due to Destiny, swallowed a few more bites of bait containing a trace of my Dao Rhyme, and felt itself to be different; its scales are brighter, it swims faster, and it can even slightly stir the ripples of the Pond water. It might think that it has touched 'reality' and surpassed its kind."

The three Dominators listened intently, lost in thought.

"However," Yun Feng changed the subject, his tone still plain, "it is still in the Pond. Its so-called 'transcendence' is still within the rules of the 'Pond' I set. If it thinks it has seen through the truth, that is an even greater illusion."

He looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the endless Void Realm, landing on the three Dominators: "You ask me about reality and illusion? Jump out of the 'Pond' of your cognition and look again. When you are no longer obsessed with what is 'true' and what is 'false,' and no longer try to 'define' them, perhaps, you will be able to see a trace of true 'reality.'"

With these words, the three Dominators shook violently!

Yun Feng's words were like a great bell, striking upon their Dao Heart! The "reality" they had been struggling to pursue, the power of "definition" they relied on for existence, were, in the other's eyes, still just the cognition of "Pond fish"? What kind of scene must that true "reality" be?

The speed of the sand flowing in the Eternal Hourglass in Dominator Shi Jin's hand suddenly became chaotic; the Chaos cyclone around Dominator Hun Qing slightly stagnated; Dominator Xu Li's ethereal figure became a bit clearer, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.

The side of the Pond fell into a long silence, with only the slight sound of koi occasionally leaping out of the water.

After a long time, Dominator Xu Li spoke in a hoarse voice: "In Fellow Daoist's opinion, how should we... jump out of this 'Pond'?"

Yun Feng smiled, picked up the fish food again, and his tone returned to its previous laziness: "What's the rush? First, tidy up your own 'Pond' before talking about it. When the Pond water is clear, the fish will naturally live comfortably. As for jumping out of the Pond..."

He glanced at the three of them, a plain look that nonetheless made the three Dominators feel that all their secrets and all their Dao paths had been seen through at a glance.

"...Wait until the time when you can, just like I feed these koi, casually manipulate the 'rules' in your cognition without feeling like it's anything remarkable, then come and talk about 'jumping out.'"

The three Dominators were silent again. Yun Feng's words seemed simple but contained a supreme Dao Realm. It was a state of complete transcendence, complete control, yet returning to simplicity.

The supreme treasures they brought and the profound questions they were prepared to discuss seemed so pale and ridiculous by this Pond, between the koi and the fish food.

This visit had no earth-shattering phenomena of discussing the Dao, no mysterious clashes of legal principles, only a few plain words and a few metaphors about the Pond and the fish.

But when the Three Ancient Masters left, their backs carried unprecedented gravity and... a glimmer of sudden enlightenment. What they gained was countless times more precious than the "gifts" they had given.

The news spread like wildfire.

The Lord of the Cloud Court discussed the Dao with koi by the Pond, and with just a few words, he made the Three Ancient Masters feel enlightened and leave in a daze!

This rumor once again pushed Yun Feng's reputation to an unthinkable height. The Holy Lands that had attached themselves became even more devoted, and deep in the endless Void Realm, more ancient existences also began to cast their gaze toward this originally inconspicuous Star Domain.

Behind the Star Gazing Hall, Yun Feng continued to feed his koi.

Nie Li couldn't help but ask: "Court Master, did those three... really gain some enlightenment?"

Yun Feng sprinkled the last bit of fish food, watching the scrambling school of fish, and said faintly: "Whether they gained enlightenment or not is their business. I just shared some insights on feeding fish."

"Besides," he stretched and stood up, "staying with fish for a long time is more comfortable than dealing with people."

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