Chapter 2422: Seeking the Dao

Fate really has a stubborn inferior pen.

In the normal trajectory of life, Lu Shuanghe almost became Jiang Wang's first teacher.

But now he has become the first seeker of the Way in Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace, the first one to stand before Jiang Wang.

The young child Jiang Wang's hesitation at Fengxi edge, and his however in the water bottom of Fengxi, now have an exquisite echo.

Jiang Wang is no longer that Jiang Wang.

Lu Shuanghe is still that Lu Shuanghe.

The disastrous defeat at Xian Lin seems to have had no effect on him.

Regrettably, it also didn't bring him much progress.

With his cultivation, talent, Dao heart, and accumulation, he should have stepped onto the absolute peak long ago.

But he hasn't.

Does he seem forever trapped in that one day?

But not quite like it either.

His splitting open the palace door still holds that sharpness uniquely belonging to Lu Shuanghe.

Or rather, just by his name Lu Shuanghe, to come and seek the Way from Jiang Wang. From almost taking away Jiang Wang's "Immortal Master" to becoming a "Seeker of the Way" asking for teaching from Jiang Wang, this kind of nearly heaven-and-earth-upside-down transformation is not something an ordinary person could face.

Lu Shuanghe's heart seeking the Way is still the purest sword under heaven, or at least one of the purest.

"Does True Monarch Jiang Wang agree to teach me?" Lu Shuanghe stood still in the palace.

Jiang Wang sat upright there: "This Heaven Palace rises for seeking the Way. If there is even a one-ten-thousandth that can be explained, I must give it without reservation."

Lu Shuanghe raised his eyes slightly: "This Heaven Palace for seeking the Way still has a threshold, it doesn't refuse whoever comes. Why don't you refuse me?"

In the Heaven Palace, one sat and one stood, both quiet and with Dao light.

Golden hair seemed to burn, frosty hair seemed to melt.

Perhaps life is the process of death, and the Dao is the way of vanishing.

And who can transcend all this, and grasp eternity between life and death?

"At Fengxi edge back then, you also didn't refuse me," Jiang Wang said.

"It seems the current you already know I am right," Lu Shuanghe said.

Jiang Wang looked at him faintly: "I don't acknowledge it. But you have your correctness."

"Still different paths." Lu Shuanghe pressed his sword and sank, but his snow-white hair lightly lifted: "Does True Monarch Zhen River transmit the Dao without seeking people of the same Dao?"

"The path is underfoot, not in words. The Dao is in acting, not in asking," Jiang Wang said. "I don't ask, nor seek. I walk my path, and whoever comes or goes along this path is casual."

"Even if contrary to the Dao?" Lu Shuanghe asked.

"The selection is Ji Zhenren's business, I am only responsible for transmitting the Dao," Jiang Wang said indifferently. "If I refuse you today, the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace will lose its meaning."

"No longer promoting good and suppressing evil?" Lu Shuanghe asked again.

Lu Shuanghe is not a person of many questions, and indeed came today to seek the Way. Jiang Wang is also not a person who likes to chat much, but he is in the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace today.

Asking is doubt, answering is transmitting.

Jiang Wang replied: "I don't think my eyes can see clearly the good and evil of human hearts, or rather, compared to my personal judgment, I believe more in the distinctions of laws and rules."

"But the law didn't distinguish me," Lu Shuanghe said blandly.

Compared to Jiang Wang's sword techniques, secret skills, and cultivation insights, he seems to care more about why he could walk in.

The Heaven Human Dharma has a similar blandness: "I said, I am only responsible for transmitting the Dao."

In the past, Lu Shuanghe passed by Fengxi edge and didn't care who he took away.

Today, the Heaven Human Dharma sits in the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace and doesn't care who the comer is.

The seats seem to have the distance of mountains and rivers. Across the vast great hall, Lu Shuanghe looked at Jiang Wang's gold and silver double pupils. In those double eyes, he saw himself directly.

It seemed like Heaven Dao reflecting Heaven Dao.

But he knows, Lu Shuanghe's not caring at Fengxi edge, and Jiang Wang's not caring in the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace, are not the same thing, nor are they on the same path.

The former's not caring is the utmost public-like emotionlessness of Heaven Dao. No matter who lives or dies, this heart is neither partial nor impartial, and does not rise in waves.

The latter's not caring is the infinite vastness of Heaven accommodating all things. Nothing but seeking the Dao and stating the Dao, without restricting comers.

Of course, neither is absolute.

He walks Heaven Dao and has an obsession, only seeking to create a sword that can cut off himself, or has the qualification to be cut off by himself.

The Heaven Human Dharma walks Heaven Dao and has a private heart, a heart toward the sun, willing to give all beings fairness and the power to ascend.

Neither of them can be considered true Heaven Dao.

Or perhaps, true Heaven Dao, originally, does not exist in human characteristics.

Lu Shuanghe gazed at such a Jiang Wang for a long time, finally saying: "Your Sun Moon Heaven Seal is not balanced."

Jiang Wang stretched his feet on the cushion, bland and casual: "I know what I want, I don't need to sit that upright."

Lu Shuanghe was quiet for a while, then said: "Received the teaching."

And with that, he pressed his sword and turned his body.

Jiang Wang's techniques, secret skills, and even combat skills are not what he seeks.

He knew early on what kind of path Jiang Wang was walking. He just wanted to know which direction the post-absolute-peak Jiang Wang would walk. The names passed down in the world are ultimately not specific enough.

He holds Heaven Dao's emotionlessness, but hasn't thoroughly thrown himself into Heaven Dao. One is that Heaven Human is hard to prove, he lacks heaven and earth merit, and also needs chance coincidences to fill it. Two is that he has the strongest obsession, while Heaven Dao is without obsession.

Jiang Wang has already proven that the Heaven Human path is not the strongest.

Jiang Wang's path certainly cannot lead to the strongest Lu Shuanghe.

He came to seek the Dao, and has heard the Dao.

Having heard the Dao, he leaves.

"True Person Liu!" Jiang Wang called out to stop him: "Since you've come, why not sit down for a discussion? I sense that not only you have come today. Even if you can no longer gain from me, you might not necessarily be unable to gain more from others."

Lu Shuanghe thought for a moment, found a cushion nearby, and sat down.

The main buildings of the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace currently are only two: the Zang Fa Pavilion and the Lun Dao Hall.

The Zang Fa Pavilion records all of Jiang Wang's unique secret laws and Dao techniques, sword techniques and body methods, cultivation methods, and various thoughts on his cultivation path from his journey so far. He has opened them without reservation to this cultivation world.

It is simply Jiang Wang's personal cultivation path, but detailed in words and recorded in graphics, it is piled up like mountains.

From this, one can almost glimpse Jiang Wang's life, because the vast majority of his life until now has indeed been spent cultivating.

Every word in the Zang Fa Pavilion is soaked with his sweat, a summary of past times. Day after day, year after year.

The Lun Dao Hall has nothing else, only Jiang Wang's Dharma sitting within, ready at any time to transmit the Dao and resolve doubts for people, and also ready at any time to welcome spars.

The Zang Fa Pavilion is for self-study and self-cultivation. Everyone who enters it is in a separate space and will not be disturbed by others.

The Lun Dao Hall is open for anyone to come and go as they please. Everyone is in the same hall, and everyone can discuss with each other, or even draw swords and ask for the Dao.

As soon as Lu Shuanghe sat down, the light and shadow outside the hall rippled. A person with a beard like wild grass, covering his face, wrapped in a piece of clothing of unclear material, walked into the hall.

He had a pair of abnormally bright eyes, which penetrated through the beard as if from a gap in the forest. He simply looked at Jiang Wang with these eyes and said very directly: "I have come to seek the sword."

The guardian of the Heaven Earth Sword Box, numbered as "Sword Maniac," Sword Master Wan Xiang!

Except for facing Feng Qi, no other True Person under heaven could get within ten steps of him without dying. He could be called the first True Person to kill within an inch, and invincible within ten steps.

Of course, whether it's divine soul or killing power, or killing within an inch, or the first in the Central Domain or North Domain... these "firsts" at the Cave True level were all established only before Jiang Wang broke the limit of Cave True.

To be precise, they were established after Jiang Wang ascended to the peak.

Jiang Wang looked at this Sword Maniac. Although the Heaven Human Dharma was bland, there was a slight doubt.

After all, Sword Master Wan Xiang coming out of the mountains is still a relatively rare thing.

This Sword Maniac has been isolated from the world for a long time, almost never leaving the Heaven Earth Sword Box. How could he pay attention to the news of the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace and rush here at the first opportunity?

An extremely faint doubt was captured by Sword Master Wan Xiang.

He rarely comes out of the mountains. He catches emotions like catching a sword, and almost treats this as a formal question, seriously saying: "Cabinet Master Si opened the box and called me out. He said I took a cheap shot before, and wants me to take it back."

"What cheap shot or not cheap shot, I know you don't care. What you seek is only the sword," Jiang Wang's eyes were as quiet as water: "Please be seated, you will see my sword."

As soon as the words fell, a person wearing heavy armor, covered with a robe, and with their face armor also closed, tightly sealed, just walked into the hall.

This person first raised their head and looked at Jiang Wang, nodded arrogantly, and commented: "So-so."

It was as if they were here to lecture the Dao in this palace!

Their voice was a kind of forcibly pinched duck throat, obviously wanting to hide their identity to the end.

After taking two steps, they looked at Lu Shuanghe and Sword Master Wan Xiang again, muttering softly: "Why are they all old guys?"

Lu Shuanghe's face was expressionless.

Sword Master Wan Xiang sat cross-legged on a cushion, seriously looking at the ground in front of him, not moving at all—the word "Pick" written there, stroke by stroke, were all sword marks left by Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang felt inexplicable. This was the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm. He was a member of the Tai Xu Cabinet with the highest authority in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, and the creator of the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace. What kind of person could hide their identity in front of him?

Unless they were a transcendent one!

This person was deceiving themselves and others, and was still very arrogant, really making people unable to figure it out.

But the Heaven Human Dharma's emotions were extremely faint, and he didn't say anything, only: "Please be seated."

The comer said: "The upper seat is fine!"

He strode forward, walked to the cushion engraved with "First," and sat down.

"That, I have a question—" this person sat down casually, and opened their mouth very naturally, but immediately thought of something else, and turned to say: "First meeting, how should I address you?"

Jiang Wang looked at him: "Everyone has come to seek the Dao, addressing each other as Dao friends is fine."

"You won't hold back?" this person asked.

Jiang Wang's face was expressionless: "I don't prove myself, you should know in your heart."

This person said again: "You transmit the Dao to the world without seeking, doing a losing business. Won't you teach halfway and then need to add something?"

This fellow was now being cautious instead.

Quite like someone bitten by a snake once, fearing a well rope for ten years.

"Entering the palace has already paid the tuition," Jiang Wang said. "You asking me is also teaching me."

"Exactly!" this person slapped their thigh: "Could ordinary people encounter these problems? Could I ask an ordinary person? We are mutually not losing, neither is taking advantage of the other. Don't even say who is teaching whom!"

Jiang Wang didn't comment.

This person said again: "I have a friend, a heaven's favorite who covers the world, he practices heavy swords. He has this problem, look ah—"

"Wait for everyone to arrive, then discuss the Dao together, how about that?" Jiang Wang interrupted him: "Your problem might be a problem others are also thinking about."

Jiang Wang put himself in the position of a Dao discussant, not a Dao transmitter. He didn't think his words were the only truth. Perhaps others would have better answers, and he would also be happy to learn.

The person under the heavy armor and robe muttered a few more sentences, something about "quality not quantity," and "not waiting for just anyone." Seeing no one responded, they also quieted down.

Another roll of yellow cloud floated in.

Huang Sheli, with flowers in her hair, walked in with vigorous steps.

She had a kind of healthy, brilliant beauty, and waved her hand casually at Jiang Wang: "No need to entertain, I'll come myself."

She patrolled left and right in a circle, her gaze lingering slightly only on Lu Shuanghe's face. She strode to the front, and sat down on the third cushion in the first row.

Once seated, she did nothing else, just stared intently at Jiang Wang.

Regardless of why others came, she was simply purely appreciating the Heaven Human Dharma. Usually, she would tell Jiang Wang to change his Dharma or something, and Jiang Wang might not pay attention—pursuing beauty always as one pursuit, how is that not a kind of Dao-seeking spirit?

Qin Zhi Zhen, in black clothes and with a black knife, walked into the Heaven Palace after Huang Sheli.

He sought the ultimate realm, sought perfection, and would not miss any effort or opportunity.

And the ultimate of Cave True was just ahead. How could he miss getting Jiang Wang's unreserved guidance?

Step by step, extremely steadily, he walked to the front row position and sat down on the fourth cushion.

His goal was always very determined.

He had no choice but to seize the advantage.

"Elder Cabinet Member Ju's assessment illusion realm design doesn't seem very good," Qin Zhi Zhen said in a low voice after sitting down, then Huang Sheli complained.

Everyone was in the same Tai Xu Cabinet, and were completely intimate, and couldn't help but chat.

Qin Zhi Zhen was a steady person. He first turned his head to look around, then confirmed that Ju Kui was not present, and after thinking carefully about his words, said: "I also feel that. True Person Ju is sometimes too dogmatic, which just leads to—"

The great door of the Heaven Palace was pushed open once more.

The expressionless Ju Kui and the upright Zhong Xuan walked in.

"I came to confirm whether it is effective," Ju Kui said stiffly.

"I came to record the situation of the first opening of the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace," Zhong Xuan said, as if reading from a script.

If the Magic Ape Dharma were here, he would definitely joke a bit.

The Heaven Human Dharma only said: "Two Dao friends, please take your seats."

Ju Kui sat behind Huang Sheli, and Zhong Xuan sat behind Qin Zhi Zhen, which were the ninth and tenth positions.

Qin Zhi Zhen pursed his lips uncomfortably, but sat still, like a mountain or a reef.

"Cabinet Member Huang feels, where is this assessment illusion realm not good?" Ju Kui asked seriously.

Huang Sheli didn't seem uncomfortable at all, and said casually: "Something is lacking."

"For example?" Ju Kui asked.

"For example, control over facial features."

"Facial features?"

Huang Sheli's voice was heavy and long: "The Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace is such an important place, and the opening of the Heaven Palace is also the first major event for our Tai Xu Cabinet in three thousand nine hundred and thirty years. You must recruit some people with good facial features, right?"

Ju Kui was silent for a moment, realizing he was a bit like playing the lute to a cow, but still couldn't give up and asked: "What is considered good facial features?"

"Good-looking," Huang Sheli's words were simple and clear.

Ju Kui decided not to pay attention to her opinion anymore.

But Huang Sheli turned around and very seriously emphasized her idea: "Beauty is power. Being born good-looking is a praise from creation. This itself is the embodiment of the Dao.

Elder Ju—"

Her endless talking stopped abruptly, and she stared straight at the direction of the hall door.

"What's wrong?" Ju Kui was puzzled.

"I even blamed you wrongly!" Huang Sheli said, and actually stood up.

Ju Kui followed her line of sight and turned his head—only to see a corner of black clothes lightly floating up, like a pure flower.