Chapter 1868: Thunder Region (II) |
“That’s true enough!” nodded the Thunder master, who then looked at Li Hao. “Then do you mean… we should go take a look first and consider what our next steps should be if we can sense the chaos tribulation?”
“That’s precisely what I think,” Li Hao nodded. “Of course, if the Thunder master wishes to leave or finds that staying here too long is too dangerous, you can leave first with Thunder World.”
“How would I ever?!” the Thunder master immediately refuted. “We count as the same team now. Not to mention, I made it to eighth rank all thanks to the fellow daoist. Why would I leave alone?”
“The Thunder master is too polite,” Li Hao smiled. “We simply took what we needed from each other. You don’t owe me anything. This was just a partnership. It benefited both of us. I always hope that it’s a two-way relationship between me and those I work with. I do not wish for them to walk away empty-handed.
“Of course, it’d be even better if the Thunder master does not leave. I am not skilled in thunder dao, yet it is one of the key components in the chaos tribulation. It’ll be easier for me to approach the pillars with the Thunder master helping me. I’ll have a smoother time comprehending the power of calamity.”
“It is my duty to do so!” the Thunder master promptly agreed. This was a minor matter. Since Li Hao wished to understand the chaos tribulations, then he just needed to keep the young man company.
He was also rather surprised that Li Hao wanted to comprehend dao at a time like this. Was the young man confident in himself, too arrogant, or… did he feel that dao comprehension was the required component of cultivation? That whether it was killing people or seizing a world, all of that was just part of the process?
Who knew?
“You two should come with me…” Li Hao looked at the two dao masters.
“You guys can excavate more of the potential in Silver Moon’s dao,” Li Hao explained. “Silver Moon is comprised of both the corporeal and immaterial daos. While it seems that neither contain special daos, they actually do.
“The corporeal dao is centered around sword dao and the immaterial dao around emotions. The division between them is not as strongly opposing as yin and yang are…
“I don’t know if you guys remember,” Li Hao added upon further thought. “When Red Moon strength invaded Silver Moon’s dao universe, it always resulted in thunder tribulations…”
The group nodded. Of course they did.
“Your Lordship, that is a sign of a dao universe rejecting external force…” Gan Wuliang said softly.
“That’s right, no matter if a dao universe rejects the force or not, doesn’t this mean that the dao of thunder occupies an important position within the dao universe? It is pivotal to Silver Moon’s dao!
“It is also a force of punishment, but why are there no strong thunder cultivators within Silver Moon?”
Silver Moon’s dao was highly encompassing and all manner of great dao could be found within it. However, there truly weren’t many practitioners of thunder dao.
There had been one cultivator before—Ying Hongyue. After Ying Hongyue died, almost no one took up that mantle.
“Silver Moon has never been like New Martial. Nor do we have a relationship similar to how the Ash Emperor and Human King can help each other, but also operate independently. They can come together easily and separate just as smoothly,” Li Hao continued. “The two of you neither meld together as smoothly as them nor separate as seamlessly.
“Silver Moon’s dao currently lacks a core…” Li Hao gave it some thought. “Panther inherited a portion of the Monster Spirit Envoy’s ability. The envoy also wielded abilities of thunder and lightning. Its horn could summon fearsome lightning bolts!
“I have an idea of fully combining the world and twin daos, creating a picture of two daos circulating a world! As for the world itself, I hope that Panth can cultivate the power of thunder tribulations and use that as a core to integrate the three into one!
“Gan Wuliang will oversee the world of the mind, Martial Uncle Hong will oversee the world of elements, and Panth will oversee order. Thunder tribulations are a type of order and the power of calamity is not one of disaster, but of order!”
Deep in contemplation, the two men and one dog looked at Li Hao.
Panther was a bit bemused. Am I supposed to switch to a new dao? The dao of order? Or the dao of calamity?
But I don’t understand. I get the power of thunder and lightning because I inherited some of it. The Monster Spirit Envoy of New Martial is skilled at it, but I’m more familiar with the water attribute.
I’m almost a sixth rank now, can I switch to a new dao now?
“I’m doing this because I hope to make Silver Moon one whole entity, which will facilitate its rise to seventh rank!” Li Hao looked back at the three. “Otherwise, we won’t be making that leap just by devouring a few more worlds!
“It’s hard for Silver Moon to enter seventh rank, but there is a chance if it is able to master the dao of calamity!
“As for why I want Panth to give it a try now, it’s because if the thunder pillars are similar to the dao chess like I think they are, then we still have time to start from scratch and comprehend dao from the beginning. I’m not that familiar with every single dao out there, but Senior Dao Chess has helped me greatly in that aspect!
“In addition, with the senior here, I have another favor to ask. I hope that the senior will permit the various Silver Moon exalted emperors to enter the dao chess for a round of comprehension! I will supply all of the resources needed.
“Senior Dao Chess is the dao comprehension left behind by a ninth rank. This is an incredible opportunity for everyone. One can grow stronger through just one single dao, but we do need to have surface knowledge of other daos.
"Only then can we know the opponent as well as we know ourselves. That will broaden our vision and help everyone enter fourth rank, whereas Silver Moon will become a seventh rank world!”
“Not everyone is suited to venture inside…” the hesitant dao chess said after some thought. “I’m afraid that…”
They’ll bite off more than they can chew!
“I understand, but I… also believe in Silver Moon martial masters!” Li Hao nodded. He turned to the rest of the group. “I’m simply having everyone experience something different. This doesn’t mean that you must walk the path of ten thousand squares!
“Whatever is most suited for yourself is the best. But broadening your horizon does not conflict with that. Just do not lose yourself within and become obsessed with assimilating a myriad of daos to become a ninth rank. I think the experience will be beneficial for everyone!”
Silver Moon martial masters looked at each other.
“Don’t worry,” He Yong chuckled. “I can’t be bothered with cultivating a myriad of daos even if you gave them to me. But Gan Wuliang and Hong Yitang can give it a try. I see that these two guys know too little, which means little comprehension filters through to us. It’s actually us supplying them with knowledge instead. That’s such a loss!”
“……” The two masters of dao were quite resigned. There was nothing wrong with what he said! They did indeed lack knowledge and had been passively advancing through everyone else’s efforts. There was nothing that could be raised to refute that.
“Martial Uncle Hong’s dao is one that collects the dao of the people, it is the path of the New Martial supreme. You can try following that as well! As for Gan Wuliang…” Li Hao studied the man. “If I were you… I wouldn’t keep waiting like this. You don’t need to be scared of me. I rarely punish people so long as they don’t act too much out of line.
“You can borrow the divine nation. It’s actually not that good, so perhaps you can partner with the Great Li king.”
The Great Li king started. What does this have to do with me?
“Does milord mean that the humans under the king’s rule are smarter because they don’t believe in the divine?” Gan Wuliang quickly picked up Li Hao’s train of thought. “They’re more cunning and slippery, so I should… become part of them and experience their lives?”
Li Hao nodded.
Citizens of the divine nation were more simplistic, relatively speaking. The ones under the Great Li king’s rule were… hmm… more complicated. They didn’t put their faith in the queen no matter how she beguiled them. It was easy to see what complex minds they had in comparison.
The dao of emotion was the dao of the human heart.
“If you’re not afraid of developing multiple personalities, you can create some replicas and live among them, experiencing different backgrounds, livelihoods, and life experiences,” continued Li Hao. “You improved quickly early on because you rose from the lowest ranks and weathered the changes of life. But now, you’ve actually fallen behind…”
An awkward look crept into Gan Wuliang’s eyes.
“I’m not criticizing you, it’s undeniable that everyone is improving very quickly!” Li Hao emphasized. “If you wish to walk the path of the heart, how will you comprehend it if you do not delve into it?
“Gan Wuliang, I think highly of you and even feel that your dao might be the most unique out of everyone’s dao. The human heart is the most difficult to control!
“Everyone else’s dao is very simple and unchanging. There are even clues to be found for space, calamity, and time. Only the human heart is untraceable!
“It does not only contain desire. The pure dao of desire is sufficient to propel one into eighth rank. If you really grasp the human heart, ninth rank is not out of the question either. Although I am just a sixth rank, I have seen far too many daos…
“I used to think that Martial Uncle Hong’s path is more simplistic, so yours will be more complex. I felt that you could push the martial uncle along if you had a greater comprehension of dao. You would be the driving force for all of Silver Moon’s improvement. And yet, I have not seen that from you…”
Gan Wuliang fidgeted awkwardly.
“You’re too afraid of me,” Li Hao pointed out. “That’s not good. Didn’t I say that I wouldn’t interfere with your cultivation? So long as you do not randomly kill people, you can comprehend whatever dao you like!”
“My thanks for the lord’s tutelage!” Gan Wuliang took a deep breath.
“And these are just suggestions, I don’t mean that you have to proceed according to what I say,” Li Hao nodded. “After all, what’s most suitable for yourself is the best. Try whatever you think is feasible. If it doesn’t work, then try another.”
“No, the marquis possesses great foresight. I highly agree with what you’ve said!” Gan Wuliang seemed to be flattering Li Hao, but not as well. There were notes of sincerity in his voice.
To comprehend the human heart, create multiple replicas, and become part of the complicated world that is the mixture of all…
To experience different identities and roles…
Perhaps this really is an opportunity for me.
Those of the divine nation are too innocent and simpleminded. There’s not much that can be learned from them. The group of humans under the Great Li king’s rule, however, are worthy of study.
The Great Li king was yet to become an exalted emperor—why was that?
Because he was yet to consolidate his rule over these people and have them believe and put their faith in him. They didn’t even view him as their leader yet.
The Great Li king’s path was a difficult one. He might already be an exalted emperor if he’d taken any other! This one, though, would be very, very hard!
But if he succeeded, while he may not break through as easily as drinking water like the queen did, he wouldn’t be slower than the New Martial supreme. His would be a complicated path of collecting the people’s hearts.
What was more difficult was that at least New Martial possessed a world of humans with the same origins. They more or less identified with each other. But the ones in the king’s care… came from different worlds with different languages, habits, and civilizations.
There was nothing alike about them, other than the fact that they were all humans.
The king’s path ahead was long and arduous, but Li Hao thought very well of it! It was one for the long haul, not quick and easy gains.
Li Hao even wanted to seal the king into it and quicken the flow of time. The price of time would be paid to facilitate the world’s integration!
As for the martial improvement of the population… that was a secondary goal. They were different from Silver Moon as Silver Moon sought strength. The humans of this world should attain integration and happiness first, not strength.
Perhaps it would take the deaths of the first generation and the development of later generations for them to slowly become one.
etvolare’s Thoughts
If GWL really does develop multiple personalities from this... I’d like to see some word count dedicated to that lol.