Retreating to the Background

Chapter 34

"You fool, wake up quickly!"

Like a thunderclap on level ground, the voice exploded.

Li Changmeng suddenly opened his eyes and saw Taoist Baiyun looking at him with concern.

"Master... What happened?"

"You started to comprehend the Dao, but somehow got trapped in an illusion and couldn't wake up. Maybe the karmic obstacle affected you; otherwise, you wouldn't have almost failed to wake up."

There was worry in Taoist Baiyun's words. It wasn't unheard of for someone to comprehend the Dao through killing, but it was extremely rare to enter the path of the Dao by killing ordinary people.

The reason was simple: the impact of karmic obstacles on cultivation was too great, adding unnecessary bottlenecks and tribulations, and even attracting heavenly punishment.

"Was I in a coma..."

Li Changmeng stared blankly ahead, recalling what he had seen and heard during his Dao - comprehension.

The strange bug from outside the realm and the mysterious veil over his own origin made him even start to doubt his identity as a human.

"What's wrong? During the process of comprehending the Dao, you can feel the power of the Dao. The Dao is the rule, the law of heaven and earth. You have too little experience, so it's normal to be impacted by the operation of the Dao. Don't doubt yourself."

Seeing Li Changmeng looking dejected, Taoist Baiyun comforted him.

The power of the Dao?

No, that bug must be real. He had seen it in his dream when he was still an ordinary person before starting to comprehend the Dao!

Li Changmeng shook his head, then looked up with bright eyes and asked, "Master, I've always been curious. People pursue immortality, and demons, ghosts, and other beings also strive for it tirelessly.

But if both humans and non - humans can become immortals, then is this immortal still human? Or has the immortal transcended race?"

"This..."

Taoist Baiyun was at a loss for words. It was true that cultivation was for the sake of becoming an immortal, or simply for achieving long - life and eternal vision.

"Your question is quite ingenious, disciple. All sentient beings in the world who step onto the path of cultivation aim to become immortals. Naturally, an immortal transcends all sentient beings. It is neither human, nor demon, nor beast, nor ghost. It is a transcendent being."

After thinking for a while, Taoist Baiyun gave an answer he thought was reasonable.

Li Changmeng nodded silently.

Actually, he understood these principles.

Since one is seeking immortality, why worry about one's own origin?

After becoming an immortal, everything will lose its meaning, whether it's being human or being that bug.

All of this can be described in two words - opportunity!

This was Li Changmeng's opportunity. Who else could reach the fourth realm of Dao - comprehension, the Transforming - into - the - Dao Realm, at the Foundation - Establishment stage?

That bug had stuffed its understanding of the Dao into his mind all at once, which was the root cause of his coma.

As for his own identity, with the arrival of the high - level Dao - comprehension realm, Li Changmeng wasn't so concerned anymore.

Everything would lose its meaning after becoming an immortal.

Immortality was the ultimate goal of all races. What did race matter before achieving immortality, except for the changes brought about by some supernatural powers?

Moreover, he was truly in a human body now.

"Are you really okay?"

Taoist Baiyun was still a bit worried and asked again uncertainly.

Li Changmeng didn't answer but just raised his hand. A drop of blood flowed from his fingertip and then exploded with a bang.

"You've reached the Hearing - the - Dao Realm of the Dao. Well, there's really no problem. Now that things here are settled, I'll take Xiaocui back to the sect.

Changmeng, remember to avoid conflicts with others in the future. Stay away from things like secret realms, ancient cave ruins, precious spiritual herbs in the mountains, and the appearance of rare treasures.

You're a cultivator of the Incense and Divine Dao. Those external things aren't very important. You yourself are the foundation. Once I gain a firm foothold in the sect, I'll be your greatest support. Remember, stability is the best."

Taoist Baiyun gave his final instructions. At this moment, he even felt a bit reluctant to part.

Although they were master and disciple who had met by chance, they had developed a certain affection.

"Don't worry, Master. I understand. I wish you a safe journey."

"Okay, no more words. I'm leaving."

Taoist Baiyun disappeared as if he had never been there.

Li Changmeng got out of bed and walked outside. It was noon, and the spring sun still carried a bit of chill.

"Master of the Cult, the Ancient Immortal Cult has taken control of all regions of the Xuanfeng Kingdom. What should we do next?"

Zhang Lin had been waiting outside day and night during Li Changmeng's coma. Even though he had completely occupied the Xuanfeng Kingdom, he didn't dare to make any decisions without permission.

"Establish a new country. Name it Yong'an. I'll give you the throne. Make all the people in the country believe in the Ancient Immortal Cult. You can decide how to do it on your own."

"Master, you..."

Zhang Lin was a bit worried. It sounded like Li Changmeng was arranging his own funeral.

Could it be that Master was seriously injured in that battle?

"Don't think too much. I'm going to leave and spread the greatness of the Dao Lord in other places."

Li Changmeng coughed and saw what Zhang Lin was thinking from his eyes.

"Sorry, Master of the Cult."

Zhang Lin immediately knelt down and kowtowed. That thought just now was really disrespectful. Fortunately, Master didn't take it to heart.

"Okay, go and do it. Every year at this time, select some qualified soldiers to come to this temple for a blessing, and then let them join the Sect - Protection Army."

After thinking for a while, Li Changmeng added another instruction. The Sect - Protection Army was the military foundation of the Ancient Immortal Cult in the mortal world. Even though it would consume a lot of incense and wishes, it needed to be maintained in the long run.

Zhang Lin nodded in agreement and leaned in to listen for further instructions.

But after a long time, there was no sound. He dared to look up, and Li Changmeng was nowhere to be seen.

Outside Huangrang Township, Li Changmeng found a secluded mountain and built a cottage to live in.

Things in the mortal world had been mostly arranged. At least within the Xuanfeng Kingdom, the Ancient Immortal Cult was now unstoppable.

Feng Chulai, whose cultivation had been destroyed, was released by Taoist Baiyun while Li Changmeng was in a coma. He was probably on his way back.

The fact that the Ancient Immortal Cult had a Core - Formation cultivator backing it up was enough to make other forces not dare to have any other ideas.

So, Li Changmeng didn't need to worry about mortal affairs anymore. He could just let them develop on their own.

This was the inevitable path of the Incense and Divine Dao. A god just needed to watch from above.

Li Changmeng even took his natal spiritual fetus with him.

It was because of the second - grade techniques of the Spiritual - Building and Fetus - Changing Technique: the Soul - Stabilizing and Summoning Method and the Aperture - Opening and Spiritual - Building Method.

Now, Li Changmeng had opened three apertures and formed three great caves. Nearly a thousand mortal souls were living inside, providing incense and wishes.

Especially because of the existence of the Inner - Scene Land, the Incense of the Divine Point inside could be projected into each aperture and cave, greatly increasing the acquisition of incense and wishes.

Li Changmeng even admired his own choice of the Foundation - Establishment spiritual item. It was so suitable for his cultivation method.

The incense statues left in the Ancient Immortal Cult would also occasionally use the Soul - Stabilizing and Summoning Method on the believers to continuously increase the number of living souls in the apertures and caves.

In this way, he could obtain more incense and wishes.

After that, once he had obtained a sufficient number of living souls, he would head to the Heavenly Star Domain to seek greater development.