Chapter 62: Now this is Madness!

Finally, Dao Wei reached the stage. It was an open platform, surrounded by swirling mist that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. As soon as his foot touched the stone, a brilliant white flame erupted at the center of the stage. The flame hovered in mid-air, flickering and twisting, its light pure and unyielding. It radiated an aura that was both majestic and oppressive, like the presence of an ancient sage whose wisdom could crush mountains.

The flame flared briefly, and an unseen force pressed down on Dao Wei, trying to force him to kneel. The pressure was immense, like the weight of the heavens, but Dao Wei's stance remained firm. His knees did not buckle, his spine did not bend. He would kneel for no one, not even for the trial that had claimed the lives of so many before him.

"What, and why is Tao?" The flame's voice was ethereal, resonating deep within his mind, yet it was clear and commanding.

Taitai commented from the floating cloud. "Tao? All of us are looking for that answer."

Her words sparked a flurry of discussion among the disciples and elders who had gathered to witness the trial.

"The Tao... isn't it the path to immortality?" mused Jian Hong, a young disciple with a penchant for philosophical debate. "To transcend the mortal coil and achieve true enlightenment?"

"No, no," retorted Elder Shen, his brow furrowed in thought. "The Tao is more than just immortality. It's the harmony between all things, the balance of nature, life, and death. It's the way the universe flows, and to understand it is to understand all things."

A third voice joined in, belonging to Mei Lian, one of the more experienced disciples. "But isn't the Tao also deeply personal? Each person's Tao could be different, based on their experiences, their beliefs. It's not just a universal truth but also a personal journey, a path one must carve out for themselves."

The discussions grew louder, each disciple and elder speculating on the nature of the Tao, yet none seemed to reach a consensus. It was as if they were grasping at shadows, each catching only a glimpse of the truth but never the whole picture.

Tao is a broad topic that is not necessarily fixed. It represents the natural way of the universe, transcending mere conceptual understanding. Rather than a fixed idea, it's experienced through everyday living. It contains concepts like everyday living. The Tao encompasses meanings like 'way,' 'path,' and 'principle'. The Ancients also described as the underlying order of existence, eternally nameless yet evident in our aliveness.

Meanwhile, Dao Wei paid them no mind. He sat down cross-legged on the cold stone, his back straight and his eyes closed. He had learned long ago that the opinions of others could cloud one's own thoughts. The flame's question echoed in his mind, but he knew that the answer could not be found in words alone. It was something deeper, something that transcended mere logic.

The murmurs from the crowd continued, but Dao Wei shut them out, focusing inward. He steadied his breath and entered a state of deep meditation, letting his consciousness sink into the depths of his being. In his mind's eye, he found himself standing beside his vast Sea of Qi, the boundless energy that flowed through him like an endless river.

As he walked along the shore of this internal sea, memories began to surface, memories of his past lessons, his encounters with great teachers and powerful figures who had shaped his understanding of the world.

The first memory was of his mentor, the 'old man', a stern yet loving figure who had introduced him to the concept of the Tao when he was just a child. "The Tao is like water, your Highness," the old man had said, his voice deep and resonant. "It nourishes all things without trying to. It flows to the lowest places, content with humility. Remember this, your Highness. The Tao is both humble and mighty, a force that shapes the world quietly."

Another memory emerged, this time another of his mentor, the wise and enigmatic Elder Roland. "The Tao is the way of nature," Elder Roland had told him during one of their many training sessions. "It is the natural order of things, the rhythm of the seasons, the cycle of life and death. But it is also more than that. It is the truth that lies beyond the visible, the eternal principle that governs all existence. To understand the Tao is to understand the heart of the universe."

The scene shifted, and Dao Wei found himself recalling a conversation with Rin, the beautiful girl who had once guided him in his time of need. Her voice was like the gentle breeze that stirred the leaves, full of wisdom and warmth. "The Tao is neither good nor evil," she had said. "It simply is. It is the force that drives all creation, and it cares not for the affairs of mortals. But those who align themselves with the Tao can achieve greatness, for they move in harmony with the flow of the universe."

The final memory was of a wandering swordsman he had encountered on his journeys, a man who lived by his own code and seemed to embody the very essence of freedom. "The Tao is the path you choose," the swordsman had told him over a shared meal. "It's the choices you make, the actions you take, the way you live your life. There's no one right answer, no single path that fits everyone. Your Tao is what you make of it, and only you can walk it."

As these memories played out in his mind, Dao Wei's understanding deepened. The Tao was not a single concept, not a rigid doctrine to be followed. It was fluid, ever-changing, and deeply personal. It was the essence of life itself, the force that connected all things, yet it was also the path one chose to walk in life.

Time passed, though Dao Wei had no sense of it. He was lost in contemplation, his mind clear, his heart steady. The flame circled around him again, its light casting long shadows on the ground.

"What is the Tao?" the flame asked for the third time, its tone curious, almost impatient.

Dao Wei opened his eyes, his gaze steady as he rose to his feet. He faced the white flame, feeling its immense power but no longer intimidated by it. The memories, the lessons, the insights—they all coalesced into a single, undeniable truth.

"I am the Tao," he declared, his voice calm but filled with conviction.

For a moment, there was silence. The flame pulsed, its light intensifying as if it were reacting to Dao Wei's words. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, the flame exploded outward, a shockwave rippling through the air.

"Bang!"

The crowd gasped in unison, their eyes wide with shock.

"What?!"

"What does he mean, 'I am the Tao'?" One of the elders, an elderly man with a long white beard, shook his head in disbelief. "Has he gone mad? Does he not understand the gravity of this trial?"

The murmurs among the disciples grew louder, their unease palpable. "No one has ever passed the eighth level," one of them whispered. "They say those who fail die on the spot, their bodies consumed by the flame."

"What if he's wrong?" another disciple added, her voice trembling. "What if he fails? Will we lose him too?"

The anxiety in the crowd was almost tangible. Even the elders, usually composed and stoic, exchanged worried glances. They had seen many disciples attempt the eighth level, and they knew the consequences of failure. None had ever dared to answer the flame in such a bold and presumptuous manner.

Yet Dao Wei remained unfazed. He stood tall, his eyes locked on the white flame as it gradually calmed, its light stabilizing. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a sword, but Dao Wei's confidence never wavered.

The flame hovered before him, its light no longer oppressive, but rather gentle, almost reverent. For a long moment, it seemed to study him, as if weighing the truth of his words. Then, to the astonishment of everyone present, the flame dimmed and flickered out, leaving only a lingering warmth in the air.

Dao Wei stood alone on the stage, the oppressive aura gone, replaced by a profound silence. The crowd stared in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Finally, Elder Shen, the same elder who had previously voiced his doubts, spoke in a hushed tone. "He… he passed the eighth level."

"What does it mean?" another elder asked, his voice trembling. "How could he say that he is the Tao?"

No one had an answer. The truth was, Dao Wei's words were beyond their understanding, a concept that eluded even the most learned among them. Yet one thing was clear: Dao Wei had done what no one before him had. He had faced the trial and emerged victorious.

"Hum..." As soon as the White flame disappeared, a majestic glass like door appeared out of thin air. It looked like a gate to another dimension. This was the so-called Legendary 9th Level of the Sword Peak. In history, there are only a few people who've entered the gate of Life and Death. However, only two made it out, the first sect Elder and the Sword God himself. The others dared not enter the gate of Life and Death.

Dao Wei approached the gate, the crowd parted before him, their expressions a mix of awe and fear. The unease had not disappeared, but it had been tempered by a newfound respect, a recognition of the profound truth Dao Wei had touched upon.