BOOK 2: CHAPTER 431: HEAVENLY RIVER TRUE METHOD, PERFECTLY SEAMLESS

Vol 2 Chapter 431: Heavenly River True Method, Perfectly Seamless

After expressing disdain for his own disciples, the Tianhe Venerable turned his gaze to Zheng Fa, his eyes unconsciously filled with some anticipation.

“Anything else?”

The exploration of the essence of living beings was actually crucial—just as Zheng Fa had said, since cultivation is the evolution of life, understanding what life truly is is the only way to know in which direction to evolve.

Under the watchful eyes of the Tianhe Venerable, Zheng Fa paused and pondered in his heart. He indeed had some immature ideas, but they had never formed a complete system. Now that the Tianhe Venerable was present, this was a good opportunity to seek guidance.

“There is more...” Zheng Fa saw the Tianhe Venerable listening attentively and continued, “This concerns the essence of life, but for humans and cultivators, spiritual intelligence might be even more important.”

The Tianhe Venerable’s eyes brightened, and he spoke with some impatience: “Go on!”

“In my view, spiritual intelligence itself is a supreme and exquisite form of order.”

Zheng Fa carefully chose his words.

Here, the order he referred to was actually an algorithm or a structure.

In the human body, this order is rooted in the structure of the nervous system.

In the field of computers, this order manifests as the algorithmic design of artificial intelligence.

“And this kind of order can, in turn, analyze its own order and even comprehend the rules of heaven and earth...” Zheng Fa paused, then continued, “That is a miracle.”

Einstein once said something very famous: the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it can be understood.

Wisdom is a peculiar existence that is very difficult to explain.

Of course, Zheng Fa was not here to discuss philosophy with the Tianhe Venerable, so he shifted the topic and said:

“Spiritual intelligence even seems to exhibit a form of life—like how cultivators refine spirit treasures, isn’t that spiritual intelligence producing spiritual intelligence?”

“And as Your Reverence said, Golden Immortals govern creation and the world, which is more like a form of reproduction.”

The Tianhe disciples listened in a daze, feeling there was some profound meaning in this, but could not articulate what exactly it was.

But the Tianhe Venerable smiled:

“What are you trying to say?”

“If Your Reverence asks about the essence of cultivation or the Dao—I shall speak tentatively—Dao gives birth to me, I become the Dao, and cultivation is the reproduction and growth of the Heavenly Dao.”

If explained in modern terms, Zheng Fa’s words meant that intelligent life is a descendant of the universe, just like silkworms are the larval form of moths;

humans are initially in a larval form and only grow into the universe through cultivation.

On the star observation platform, silence reigned for a moment.

Starlight poured through the openings and sprinkled on Zheng Fa, outlining him with a dazzling silver edge.

The Tianhe Venerable stared at Zheng Fa for a long while, suddenly burst into laughter, took three steps to the right, and pointed to the adjacent blue brick path: “Come up here.”

Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned but then stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Tianhe Venerable.

The Tianhe Venerable placed his hand on Zheng Fa’s shoulder and lightly pushed him, turning Zheng Fa to face the gathered disciples.

Only then did Zheng Fa see that these Tianhe disciples stood in neat formation, respectfully performing the disciple’s salute towards him.

Just as Zheng Fa was about to raise his hand to stop them, the Tianhe Venerable pressed down on his shoulder and said, “What you said just now deserves this salute.”

The Tianhe Venerable paused, then added, “I have nothing more to say.”

The Tianhe disciples lifted their heads, and their eyes were filled with reverence as they looked at Zheng Fa.

“How about it? He has inherited my Heavenly River Dao lineage. Do any of you have objections?”

“No!”

Zheng Fa turned to look at the Tianhe Venerable and opened his mouth to speak.

The Tianhe Venerable asked, “Do you have any questions?”

“Disciple dares to ask, what exactly is spiritual energy?”

This was Zheng Fa’s most curious question, and it concerned the future decline of spiritual energy in the Xuanwei realm.

The Tianhe Venerable smiled as if unsurprised: “Look at those stars.”

Zheng Fa looked through the openings but was momentarily puzzled.

“Look carefully, at the chaos beside the stars.”

Zheng Fa’s heart stirred as his gaze settled on the boundary between the stars and the chaos, his eyes suddenly widening.

“Spiritual energy originates from chaos?”

The Tianhe Venerable nodded:

“Chaos is the origin of all things, the place where the Dao resides, where all laws are hidden.”

Zheng Fa glanced at that darkness, still not quite understanding.

“When living beings comprehend the Dao with wisdom, the spirit intersects with chaos, divides into yin and yang, transforms into the five elements, and spiritual energy is generated.”

This...

The more Zheng Fa listened, the more confused he became.

He could understand the Tianhe Venerable’s words.

To give a rough analogy, chaos is like an infinite mine filled with various rules.

The spirit, intelligence, and soul of all things are the mining machines;

once they understand the rules, it’s like having the manual, and they can extract the corresponding spiritual energy from chaos.

In simpler terms, knowledge produces spiritual energy!

“The nameless is the beginning of all things;

the named is the mother of all things,” the Tianhe Venerable said leisurely, “It is just like that.”

Zheng Fa frowned and asked, “Then what about the decline of spiritual energy?”

“I do not know.”

“...”

The Tianhe Venerable looked at Zheng Fa with righteous confidence: “If I knew everything, would I be like this now?”

...Makes sense.

“In my early years, I had to improve the Heavenly River Method on one hand and figure out how to deal with the threat from the Four Sects on the other. I was truly powerless to investigate spiritual energy.”

Zheng Fa asked doubtfully, “Then Your Reverence raised the sword to strike heaven back then...”

“That was for the Heavenly River Method, and also to leave a legacy.” The Tianhe Venerable pointed at him, “For you.”

“The inheritance of the Heavenly River Method?”

Zheng Fa’s heart jumped, unable to suppress the excitement within.

The Tianhe Venerable condensed a jade cylinder in his hand and handed it to Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa took the jade cylinder and listened as the Tianhe Venerable explained.

“The limitation of the Heavenly River Method lies in self-attachment.”

Zheng Fa nodded lightly.

“Compared to the Yang Spirit Method and the Dharmakaya Method, the Heavenly River Method has a major weakness—it cannot draw upon the wisdom of all beings.”

“Back then, when I attacked the mountains and temples, it was partly because they were all inheritances of the Four Sects, antagonistic to my Heavenly River Sect. It was also to improve the Heavenly River Method.”

Speaking of that bloody and violent period, the Tianhe Venerable’s tone was casual.

Zheng Fa could understand.

Back then, the Heavenly River Sect and the Four Sects had the appearance of harmony but not in their hearts.

The Four Sects had secretly cultivated many traitors within the Heavenly River Sect.

The Tianhe Venerable’s campaign to attack each sect, gather resources and cultivation techniques, and cut off the wings of the Four Sects was only natural.

This venerable had a measure of benevolence, but to say the Xuanwei hegemon was someone who never got his hands bloody and was kind-hearted would be a bit ridiculous.

“Later, I finally took the next step in the Heavenly River Method but faced a choice.”

“What choice?”

“The Heavenly River Sect and the Heavenly River Method—I could only preserve one at that time.”

“Why?”

“You’ll understand if you look.”

Zheng Fa pressed the jade cylinder against his forehead, letting his divine consciousness flow as he studied the formula contained within.

After a moment, he opened his eyes in surprise:

“The Myriad Immortal Formation? It’s cutting me?”

The Tianhe Venerable seemed even more surprised and asked:

“You understood it so quickly?”

Zheng Fa nodded: “It’s quite easy to understand.”

The Tianhe Venerable was stunned for a moment, then turned his gaze sideways toward the disciples.

Honestly, the Heavenly River Method was much easier for Zheng Fa to grasp than the Yang Spirit Method or Dharmakaya Method:

The next step of the Heavenly River Method could be summed up in eight characters: networked, open-source, decentralized.

Xuanwei Formation Dao’s formations are primarily arranged with spirit stones, supplemented by various magical tools.

The Tianhe Venerable arranged formations using his innate treasure.

This was somewhat like Zheng Fa using the Tongjian to build an internet.

If these Tianhe disciples practiced the same method, using innate treasures to form arrays, they could easily unite.

Zheng Fa looked down at the Tianhe disciples.

“Senior brothers, have you cultivated the Myriad Immortal Formation?”

“Form the formation!”

Over ten thousand Tianhe disciples shouted in unison, countless immortal swords pointed toward Zheng Fa in the void, and their fierce aura even surpassed that of scattered immortals!

It should be noted that the highest cultivation realm among these disciples was only Unity!

Setting aside how beneficial the Myriad Immortal Formation was for cultivation, the increase in combat power for the cultivators was obvious to the naked eye.

Zheng Fa looked at this group of disciples with bright eyes, recalling the Jiushan Military Academy.

Jiushan Military Academy had been studying immortal formation techniques all along, but immortal formations required cultivators to cast formation spells to communicate mentally;

none were as fast as using innate treasures to connect.

The Myriad Immortal Formation seemed to combine the strengths of both immortal formation techniques and Xuanwei Formation Dao!

Bringing back the Myriad Immortal Formation to improve immortal formation techniques would surely boost the combat power of Jiushan cultivators immensely!

Seeing Zheng Fa’s bright gaze, the Tianhe Venerable curled his mouth into a slight smile, obviously proud.

The Formation Dao was his own path, and Zheng Fa, as the heir to the Dao lineage, recognizing its value, gave him some comfort.

But Zheng Fa’s next words caused his expression to shift.

“Although the Myriad Immortal Formation can be called an unprecedented innovation in formation Dao,” Zheng Fa said sincerely, “to me, cutting myself is the deed that makes Your Reverence worthy of reverence by future generations!”

The Tianhe Venerable looked at Zheng Fa and remained silent for a long time, then simply extended his hand, and two bronze wine cups appeared out of thin air between them.

“It is a pity we could not drink together in the hall just now.”

Zheng Fa took a cup, his attitude firm: “I raise this cup in respect for the method of cutting myself alone.”

He was not just putting on airs or flattering.

If it were only the Myriad Immortal Formation, Zheng Fa would be amazed but not so respectful.

The Myriad Immortal Formation was already incredibly miraculous.

On one hand, this method was extremely powerful in combat, making it the ultimate way to protect the Dao in any sect.

On the other hand, cultivators within the formation could communicate mentally and shared the same formation spells, naturally absorbing the essence of each other’s cultivation to perfect themselves.

With just these two advantages, the Heavenly River Method was already not inferior to the Yang Spirit Method and Dharmakaya Method.

But the most admirable aspect of the Tianhe Venerable was “cutting myself,” which broke through self-attachment.

Simply put, it meant decentralization and equality among Dao methods.

Anyone cultivating the Heavenly River Method could see the entire method openly and even modify it freely.

When later cultivators progressed and their formation spells became more profound, their methods would become the orthodox.

Compared to the Yang Spirit Method and Dharmakaya Method, which regarded the Dao method’s origin as supreme, the Heavenly River Method of the Tianhe Venerable was... far too egalitarian.

Looking again at the jade cylinder in his palm, Zheng Fa’s hand grew heavy as he finally understood the weight of this inheritance.

Had this Tianhe Venerable truly broken his self-attachment?

Perhaps not, but his obsession was so immense that even he himself was insignificant.

If the Myriad Immortal Formation reflected the Tianhe Venerable’s talent, then “cutting myself” left Zheng Fa in awe of his magnanimity.

He was silent for a long time before asking:

“When Your Reverence raised the sword to open the heavens back then, was it to cut myself?”

“Partly.” The Tianhe Venerable nodded. “I said earlier, only one of the Heavenly River Sect or the Heavenly River Method could survive.”

“The Heavenly River Sect... many disciples did not want to follow me.”

Zheng Fa was silent upon hearing this.

He had previously thought the Tianhe Venerable was poor at nurturing peers, but now he understood that the venerable had no choice.

It should be known that there was a honeymoon period between the Heavenly River Sect and the Four Sects.

Many cultivation techniques were even shared between them.

The Tianhe Venerable himself might not have been aware of the vast difference between the Heavenly River Method and the Dao Fruits of the others.

Once a rift appeared, everything was too late.

From the perspective of later generations, Zheng Fa naturally knew where the Heavenly River Sect’s problems lay.

But if they were in the same situation as the Tianhe Venerable, they would admit they could never have foreseen the outcome.

The Heavenly River Sect could not inherit the Heavenly River Method;

the more the Heavenly River Method developed, the more the Heavenly River Sect split.

That was why the Tianhe Venerable said only one could exist.

“I gave up the Heavenly River Sect.”

The Tianhe Venerable’s tone was somewhat low.

It was clear he also understood that although there were traitors in the Heavenly River Sect, many disciples remained loyal to him...

“That sword, naturally, was to test the Heavenly River Method.”

“Did Your Reverence succeed?”

The Tianhe Venerable nodded gently.

“Then why did Your Reverence perish?”

Zheng Fa was growing more confused. “Cutting myself” was only a cultivation method;

how could the Tianhe Venerable truly die?

“I discovered Lu Mo’s identity, and he was about to achieve the Dao.”

...

Zheng Fa was suddenly shocked: “Hadn’t he already undergone three tribulation transformations...?”

“There have been three already.”

Hearing this, Zheng Fa’s mind was struck like thunder, finally realizing what he had overlooked:

Lu Mo had long since undergone three tribulation transformations!

The first was the Demon Emperor, who as Demon Race Royalty was naturally a Golden Immortal!

The third incarnation was the Primordial Demon Ancestor, founder of the Dharmakaya Method and the ancestor of the Demon Sect. Having reached Golden Immortal was naturally not a problem.

The only question was the second incarnation, the First Ancestor of Haori Mountain.

Zheng Fa had always heard people refer to Lu True Immortal, assuming this ancestor had only reached True Immortal cultivation.

But now he realized this was illogical:

Haori Mountain was the hegemon of the Divine Dao Era, and its first ancestor’s True Immortal realm was far too low.

Moreover, Haori Mountain appeared earlier than the Demon Ancestor.

According to the tribulation transformation method, the First Ancestor of Haori Mountain came first, the Primordial Demon Ancestor came later.

Lu Mo could not have undergone the demon sect’s cultivation method without having become a Golden Immortal in his second incarnation!

Therefore...

“Lu Mo had already reached Golden Immortal by the third tribulation proof?”

“He had already reached the point of three tribulations merged into one, but his ambition was too great. He wanted the Life and Death Register to achieve Da Luo, which slowed his progress.”

“Da Luo?”

“Above Golden Immortal, there are two realms: Taiyi and Da Luo.”

“Is Da Luo stronger than Taiyi?”

“Stronger, yes, but there is actually no hierarchy of realms. Da Luo is the orthodox Heavenly Dao, the ultimate Dao Fruit.”

“Orthodox...”

Zheng Fa was secretly shocked. If cultivators’ ultimate goal was to embody the Heavenly Dao, then Da Luo would be the highest Heavenly Dao?

He could imagine that the Tianhe Venerable was probably shocked when he discovered Lu Mo’s identity.

“So back then, Your Reverence...”

“Lu Xuan’s second incarnation achieved the Dao with Fusang Wood, becoming the Great Sun.”

“...Fusang Wood?”

Zheng Fa felt a chill run down his spine.

Of course, the Demon Emperor had achieved the Dao using Fusang Wood;

naturally, he wouldn’t let go of this supreme yang spiritual root.

The second incarnation achieving the Dao with Fusang Wood was only natural.

“At that time, I wanted to see what a world without spiritual energy would be like, and I didn’t want Lu Mo to achieve the Dao, so I struck the Great Sun with a sword.

I wondered how Fusang Wood fit so perfectly in the modern world... turns out it was an original disassembled part!”