The Talented Jiang Lixin

Chapter 69

The Zhengxuan Sect was one of the top three forces within the Ten-City Alliance.

The sect leader was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and there were three Nascent Soul elders, dozens of Golden Core cultivators, and countless Core Formation and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Jiang Lixin, you've already reached the third realm of Dao comprehension. You're walking your own path. This treasure of mine is useful for those who haven't comprehended the Dao or are at a lower level of comprehension. It might not be of much help to you."

"True Monarch Mingyao, I beg you to grant me this opportunity. I've reached the peak of the Harmony Dao stage, just a step away from the Transformation Dao stage. But I have no clues on how to proceed. I just want to see if I can gain some insights by analogy..."

Jiang Lixin's tone was sincere, with a hint of eagerness.

The realms of Dao comprehension were divided into Hearing the Dao, Comprehending the Dao, Harmonizing with the Dao, Transforming with the Dao, and the subsequent Achieving the Dao.

Comprehending the Dao was more difficult than cultivation.

In theory, a Nascent Soul cultivator's corresponding Dao comprehension realm should be the Transformation Dao stage. However, in reality, most cultivators' Dao comprehension levels were lower than their cultivation levels.

In the cultivation world, it was common to first raise one's cultivation level, then use the stronger spiritual sense and higher realm to elevate one's Dao comprehension.

Jiang Lixin, considering himself a genius, naturally didn't want to follow this path. He aimed to reach the Transformation Dao stage while still at the Core Formation stage.

He Mingyao nodded. He had brought back this Dao Flower to provide some convenience for the younger generation's Dao comprehension. Jiang Lixin, as the most talented junior in the Zhengxuan Sect, was someone he wouldn't refuse.

He took out the flower, and the rhythm of the Dao filled the cave:

"I discovered this in a cave in the Li Mountain Range. It contains the Dao of Yin and Yang. I'll lend it to you for comprehension."

"Thank you, True Monarch!"

Jiang Lixin was overjoyed. He took the Dao Flower, excused himself, and immediately returned to his cave to begin seclusion.

Inside the cave, Jiang Lixin sat cross-legged before the Dao Flower. The small cave was soon filled with an intimate aura.

However, Jiang Lixin didn't mind. The Dao Flower inherently contained the Dao of Yin and Yang, so such an aura was normal.

On the contrary, within this aura, the clear Dao rhythm was like a naked jade maiden lying before him, offering herself for his observation.

"My Dao is the Dao of the Sword—unyielding, unstoppable. The Dao is vast. Cultivators comprehending the Dao are like blind men touching an elephant, their understanding always partial.

Thus, even if the Dao comprehended is the same, its manifestation can be vastly different."

Jiang Lixin immersed himself in the fluctuations of the Dao of Yin and Yang. He had borrowed this treasure precisely because he had heard of its external Dao rhythm.

Such a spiritual object could at least be considered a fifth-tier treasure.

"The transformation of Yin and Yang, the operation of heaven and earth..."

Jiang Lixin, immersed in this state, gradually grasped the mysteries of the Dao of Yin and Yang.

If he hadn't comprehended the Dao before, he would have been able to comprehend the Dao of Yin and Yang now.

A person could only comprehend one Dao.

However, observing another Dao could sometimes supplement one's own Dao.

"My Dao is too rigid. Once the sword is drawn, there's no turning back. Perhaps it's because of this rigidity that I've been unable to progress further. I need to incorporate softness into my rigidity."

Jiang Lixin was deeply engrossed in his comprehension, unaware that the intimate aura in the cave was growing denser, filling the space with a pink mist.

With each breath, he inhaled an unknown amount of this mist.

Gradually, Jiang Lixin felt something unusual within his body.

His Dao comprehension realm was loosening!

The Hearing Dao stage involved sensing the rhythm of the Dao, the Understanding Dao stage involved grasping the laws of the Dao, the Harmonizing Dao stage involved synchronizing with the Dao and beginning to draw upon its power. The Transforming Dao stage involved gradually becoming a vessel for the Dao, forging a Dao body.

The gap between the Harmonizing Dao and Transforming Dao stages seemed small, but the difference was like heaven and earth.

"It seems my path is correct. The Dao of the Sword cannot be purely about killing, about 'me or them.' Incorporating both rigidity and softness is the right path."

Feeling his Dao comprehension realm loosening, Jiang Lixin experienced the wondrous effects of the Dao Flower. Directly sensing another Dao to supplement his own shortcomings—such a treasure could add immeasurable depth to a sect.

Seizing that spark of insight, Jiang Lixin decided to push forward in one go, aiming to break through.

A gentle touch brushed his cheek, like the soft hand of a woman seeking something.

In the cave, Jiang Lixin, deep in his Dao comprehension, was unknowingly enveloped by the petals of the Dao Flower.

At this moment, the Dao Flower's slender petals overlapped densely, swaying gently. The male stamen at the center withered, while the female stamen stepped forward, approaching Jiang Lixin, who was wrapped in petals.

Opening its embrace, the petals surged, enveloping the female stamen as well.

Jiang Lixin's consciousness was now in a vast, desolate land, surrounded by swords embedded in the ground, each emanating different sword intents.

Suddenly, a flower bloomed in the midst of this land.

It stood out starkly against the surroundings.

"The Dao Flower!"

Jiang Lixin approached the flower, and as he did, the surrounding swords began to tremble and hum.

"The Dao of Yin and Yang contained within this Dao Flower is different from other Daos. It seems it can merge with my Dao of the Sword."

This was the world of Dao comprehension. The appearance of the Dao Flower here indicated that Jiang Lixin had grasped some of its Dao.

"However, my Dao is the Dao of the Sword. I borrowed the Dao Flower only to gain insights and advance my Dao of the Sword. I don't need another Dao."

Jiang Lixin casually drew a sword from his surroundings and slashed at the Dao Flower.

At this critical moment of Dao comprehension, the Dao of the Dao Flower had to be removed!

With one slash, the Dao Flower was split in two.

But in the next moment, something began to grow on Jiang Lixin's hand.

It was the petals of the Dao Flower!

"What's happening?!"

Jiang Lixin tore them off, but they grew back instantly.

They grew back wildly.

Eliminate the Dao Flower?

Jiang Lixin's entire body was immobilized by the surging petals growing on him.

Not only that, but the world of Dao comprehension also began to sprout Dao Flowers everywhere. The entire world was dyed pink.

The Dao of the Sword?

The Dao of Desire.

Jiang Lixin's Dao of the Sword was completely eradicated. When he used the Dao Flower to comprehend the Dao, when he inhaled the aura secreted by the Dao Flower, he had already been corrupted.

Through his state of Dao comprehension, the corruption invaded his Dao, causing his Dao of the Sword to vanish.

The petals wrapped around Jiang Lixin loosened, revealing him.

Jiang Lixin was embracing the female stamen, his expression intoxicated and flushed.

After a long while, he opened his eyes.

"I need more nourishment. The female stamen also needs to consume consciousness to grow."

It was clear that Jiang Lixin's body was now connected to the female stamen by a flower stem.

He was Jiang Lixin, yet he was not Jiang Lixin.

He had Jiang Lixin's memories, cultivation level, and realm, but these were merely inherited.

Now, he was the Dao Flower—or rather, the Flower of Desire.

Having absorbed everything from Jiang Lixin, he had achieved initial growth, stepping out of his infant state.

Deep within his memories, he knew he had been created by a great deity, whose name was—Mimeng Wangqing Daojun.

And Jiang Lixin was now a vassal of this revered deity.